list.in.to.chicago this week: 03.17.2003

How's that hangover doing? Still up for going out and hearing some music after all that green beer? Yes, it was green on the way in, too.

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Pick of the week
Gotta go with The E-Mics on Wednesday night, and not just because Wes offered me free beer. "Badass intellipop" seems like an awkward description of the band, but only until you hear them. Past that, it's looking like a mostly light week. The Tony Levin show will be good, if you're into that sort of thing.

Recap
Outside of Tuesday's set at Vaughan's, which I'll comment on later, a bit of a slow week for your humble correspondent. I did make it out to Project/Object on Saturday night, though, and the review is mixed. Original Mothers of Invention keyboardist Don Preston, in particular, was impressive in some of the non-Zappa atmostphere he provided before the show got fully underway, and Napoleon Murphy Brock had more energy and enthusiasm than should be allowed by law. Overall, though, the show lacked impact, at least until everybody revved it up for "Apostrophe." It may have simply been a volume thing. Maybe the band (or at least the sound guy) thinks Frank Zappa's music is too cerebral to be really loud. I dunno. I do know that "Bamboozled by Love" is not necessarily a good date song.

3.17   monday
The Streets with Molemen (Metro)
If any of your Irish friends asks how you're celebrating St. Patrick's Day, tell them you're going to see a British electronica artist of the "garage" variety injected with some social commentary, because Ireland is a part of Britain or something. They love that.

Beer Nuts with High Plains Drifter, The Infamous, Deminer (Double Door)
I think I've seen the Beer Nuts, and I think I remember them being highly entertaining. If I remember it correctly, it's sort of a side project of some of the guys in Million Yen, who may or may not still exist anyway. I know, I'm being really helpful here.

3.18   tuesday
Open Mike (Vaughan's)   SEE COZ LIVE!
Last week we found ourselves a nice little strategy. Let the people decide? I gave a table of my friends my songlist and let them pick what I would play. With the exception of a particularly rocky and out-of-practice rendition of Sugar's "Hoover Dam," it went swimmingly. Requests have to be on the list, though. No Skid Row.

Your Little Ponies (Uncommon Ground)
Just in case they don't have their own mailing list, as I know more than a few l.i.t.c. subscribers dig this dynamic duo.

3.19   wednesday
The E-mics with The Sunspots (Lyon's Den)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Great musicians, great songs, great sound system, and the St. Patty's hangover should have worn off by now.

3.20   thursday
Kelly Osbourne with Har Mar Superstar (Vic Theatre)
I believe this is the "Talent is Overrated" tour, with Osbourne cashing in on her family's sudden rise in popularity, and HMS, from what I've heard, representing the triumph of pure schtick over substance. But given what else is probably going to happen this week, it might be exactly the kind of entertainment we need.

Hookah Brown (Double Door)
This band features obvious pot references and the guitarist from the Black Crowes. I pass this information along at the behest of a friend to whom that is more of an incentive than it is to me.

3.21   friday
Open Drum Circle (Rhythm)
This club, located at 1108 West Randolph, opened a little while back, and I've been meaning to check it out. Wednesdays and Fridays are billed as open drumming nights, where they teach you how to play hand drums from 8 to 9, then let you loose with other percussionists after that. Hopefully that orientation session keeps the proceedings from devolving into a bunch of hippie wannabes getting in touch with their inner something-or-other. Suffice it to say I've had some less-than-stellar drum circle experiences.

3.22   saturday
Godspeed You Black Emperor with Black Dice (Abbey Pub)
I read Monica Kendrick's Critic's Choice in the Reader, and for the life of me, I have no more idea what this band is supposed to sound like than I did before. Another friend has been touting this appearance, though, which includes sold-out shows on Thursday and Friday as well.

Tony Levin Band (Martyr's)
The longtime Peter Gabriel bassist steps out once more on his own. Grammy nomination notwithstanding, his recent solo work borders a bit too much on late-seventies retro prog for me, particularly as keyboardist Larry Fast hasn't really developed his sonic palette since that era. But you're not going to find many better bass players on the planet, and Levin is also one of the pioneers of my favorite musical instrument, the 10-string Chapman Stick.

Light FM with Sour Deluxe, Analog Radio (Bottom Lounge)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
I have nothing new to say about these guys, as they still fall into that "haven't seen them in a really, really long time" category. They were in a battle of the bands on WGN's morning news program recently, though. So that should count for something.

3.23   sunday
Oscar Party (Bottom Lounge)
Since rechristening themselves as more of a local rock scene venue, Bottom Lounge has been having these weekly "theme" nights under the "Stage Fright" moniker. A bunch of local musicians come in, and do stuff vaguely tied into said theme. No, I don't know exactly what. According to their website, "it's not quite open mic, it's not quite karaoke, and it's not quite a tribute show." It looks intriguing, though. Obviously, the Oscars are the underlying thread this time out.