list.in.to.chicago this week: 05.26.2003

Last week, I incorrectly reported on Kevin Holland's favorite local bands, and I need to rectify that situation. Lyla Stone has actually slid down to number five for now, with Ivory Wire, Regal Standard, EXO and Two Ton Levy moving past them. So, yes, they've sorta dropped like a...

Okay, I'll spare you the bad pun, 'cause it's a holiday. Have a happy, pun-free Memorial Day. And yes, I know, I dropped a drumstick on TV last night during the Fire-Rapids match on Fox Sports Chicago. The important thing, though, is that I was on TV. I'm definitely becoming the "Where's Waldo?" of Chicago soccer.

Forward. Subscribe. Repeat.

Pick of the week
I'm going to go against my normal policy of not picking other shows on nights when I'm playing, because Tuesday's Tribute to the 12-bar Blues at Buddy Guy's Legends looks really interesting. And if you can figure out who's playing when, the Belmont-Sheffield Music Festival over the weekend looks good, provided that either the sun stays out, or the temperature in the shade improves somewhat over the last couple of weeks. Of May. I try not to complain about the weather, seeing as how this is Chicago, but this is getting ridiculous.

list.in.to.COZ
Just Vaughan's this week. There's some Foxide on the horizon, and finally some Lindsie gigs materializing even further out than that, as the big EP comes nearer to completion.

Recap
Rebounding from a lackluster week, I caught The E-Mics on Wednesday, who have taken simultaneous turns into more Steely Dan-esque pop and progressive rock from their acoustic beginnings, but with the added personnel, that's not unexpected. Thursday was Kevin Holland's new favorite band, Ivory Wire, at Schuba's, followed by his number two choice, Regal Standard, at the same venue on Friday. So it was a good weekend for Kev and fans of catchy tunes everywhere. Well, at Schuba's, anyway. Sunday night featured a little bit of The Ghetto Billies at Lyon's Den, who were entertaining in a slightly absurd way. I haven't seen a band with choreography since URT's little side-step maneuver in "Hyperspace."

5.26   monday
2 Ton Levy with Jesus and the Devil, Twin Wrecks the Memory (Empty Bottle)
Singer Jayh Johnson scolded me on Friday for not telling him about my big solo turn, but he didn't tell me about this one, either, so we're even.

5.27   tuesday
Open Mike (Vaughan's)   SEE COZ LIVE!
There's only one question you have to be asking yourself. Is this the week Coz busts out some David Lee Roth solo material? Okay, maybe more than one question. You'll get an answer to that first one here, though.

12: A Tribute to 12-Bar Blues (Buddy Guy's Legends)
Presented by the Chicago Chapter of the Recording Academy, the guys behind the Grammys, this show honors the blues with such disparate artists as Kelly Hogan, Paul Wertico, Local H and Kill Hannah. Should be entertaining just for the juxtaposition.

5.28   wednesday
The Changes with Paper Airplane Pilot (Schuba's)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Darren and the boys keep slugging it out, and are beginning to make a name for themselves. And I keep putting off seeing them, which will hopefully end this week. It dawned on me last Wednesday that they might be a good match for a double bill with The E-mics.

Kick The Cat with Tom McCarthy (Lyon's Den)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
I'm going to go out on a limb and call KTC Chicago's favorite jazz fusion band, mostly because they're really the only one that springs to mind. Most other electric jazz groups fall into that nebulous "acid jazz" category, or have a more traditional, Pat Metheny Trio-esque thing.

5.29   thursday
Eddie Money (Harrah's East Chicago)
If he's got two tickets to paradise, and he's playing in a casino in East Chicago, does that make East Chicago paradise? Or does it make heaven a casino, which would probably get Bill Bennett off the hook? Ooh, political commentary buried in an entertainment guide, watch out!

Wendy DeBias with Style (Gunther Murphy's)
Debias is playing with a band called Style, she's not necessarily playing with "style," if you know what I mean. She plays more with panache. Or something. I've met her, but haven't actually seen her live yet, so what do I know? Enough to keep you reading this far, apparently. So much for no puns on the holiday.

Sumo (The District)
A couple of interesting listings for this near-West-Side-and-apparently-new venue popped up this week on Metromix, including a rare, non-Sunday performance by the acid-jazz improv group.

5.30   friday
Katie Todd Band with Anne Harris, 56 Hope Road (Abbey Pub)
A good friend of mine designed Katie Todd's website, and insists the band is really good. He also enjoyed the big Coz solo set a week and a half ago, so I'll let you decide whether or not that makes him credible.

5.31   saturday
YesMen with Phil Angotti and the Idea, Ripp Winkler (Lyon's Den)
I figure that if I plug these guys some more, they'll send me more nice e-mails. I can also be bribed with free admission and drinks, just so you know.

Belmont-Sheffield Music Festival (uh, Belmont and Sheffield)
The display ad is clever in that it hypes live appearances from both OK Go and Interpol, but doesn't say when they're playing yet, so if you're the type who plans your weekends in advance, you have to count on attending both Saturday and Sunday, or wait until they hopefully spell it out in next week's Reader. A little digging on official band sites turned up OK Go as Saturday headliners, and Interpol on Sunday.

6.01   sunday
The Beer Nuts, High Plains Drifter, Rock and Roll Daredevils (Bottom Lounge)
I saw these guys once, a few years ago, and from what I remember, they're (a) mostly, or at least partially members of local alt-rock band Million Yen, and (b) really funny, in a schticky sort of way.

Belmont-Sheffield Music Festival (if you still can't figure out where, I can't help you)
See Saturday's entry, for the reasons explained therein.