list.in.to.chicago this week: 06.23.2003

I was all set to hype the fact that I was the voice on the Chicago Fire commercials that started airing on local radio this week, but it turns out I didn't make the final cut. Maybe next time.

And I realize that Milwaukee isn't too far away, but if I started including Summerfest in this thing, it would balloon into an even longer e-mail than it is already.

Pick of the week
Lots of good stuff this week, but Buddy Guy with The Blind Boys of Alabama (Tuesday at Ravinia) really stands out. You've got two chances to see punk legends Wire (Wednesday at Double Door, Thursday at The Abbey), and then there's Cinematic Orchestra (The Abbey) and, if the drive and the horrible sound don't deter you, Peter Gabriel (Tweeter Center) on Saturday.

list.in.to.COZ
Looks like your only shot this week may be at the Fire game on Saturday, although I may try to pop in to the open mike at Goose Island Wrigleyville on Wednesday, unless the Cubs have a night game. And I still may make it out to Vaughan's later in the evening on Tuesday.

Recap
Wow, I suck. Other than the two gigs I actually played, I didn't see anybody. That said, taking Friday night off was probably a good thing, as I played three games of soccer, rode almost twenty miles on my bike and played a two-set Foxide gig over the rest of the weekend. So I'm mostly unapologetic about sucking.

6.23   monday
John McLean Quintet (Green Mill)
One of Chicago's premier jazz guitarist, with a crack band that includes Tom Hipskind on drums and Larry Kohut on bass.

6.24   tuesday
Open Mike (Vaughan's)   SEE COZ LIVE! MAYBE!
I might not make it out this week, but it's a fun time anyway, even without me.

Buddy Guy with The Blind Boys of Alabama (Ravinia)
I don't have his new album yet, but his last one, Sweet Tea, was fantastic. The legendary guitarist could just coast on the standard blues form, but he's decided to take it somewhere else, and we're all the better for it. The Blind Boys of Alabama are no slouches, either, having turned in some eye-opening (if you'll excuse the pun) performances on the first leg of Peter Gabriel's most recent tour.

6.25   wednesday
Wire with The Standard (Double Door)
I love this quote from Wire's Colin Newman in this month's CMJ New Music Monthly, on the traits of some aging fans: "The kind of person who's in their 40s and listening only to the same records they had at university, to me that's sad." These words go a long way to illustrate the challenge that older bands of great influence have to deal with. The same lineup appears Thursday at The Abbey, and Wire will be on WXRT's "Sound Opinions" on Tuesday night.

6.26   thursday
Light FM with Archer Prewitt, M.O.T.O and LAX (Schuba's)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Does anyone else think that Archer Prewitt needs to add an acronym or an initialism (which is what it's called with the initials don't spell a pronounceable word...bet you didn't know that) in order to be taken seriously on this bill? No? Okay, it's just me.

Men Without Pants (Durty Nellies, Palatine)
We can dance if we want to, we can leave your pants behind. Okay, I got nothin' here. I just thought the name was funny.

6.27   friday
YesMen with Dirty Love, The Jesters, Triple Process, At The Spine (The Note)
Got another encouraging e-mail from these guys for mentioning them last time, so I'll keep that cycle going. Gotta love Google. Plus, five bands is a lot of value for your entertainment dollar.

Poi Dog Pondering (Metro)
This band has mutated so many times by now, I have no idea what the heck they're going to sound like this time around. It's likely to be the same sound as new CD they're celebrating with this show, but even that's just a guess.

Erykah Badu (Taste of Chicago -- Petrillo Music Shell)
You've got to give Erykah Badu credit as one of the mainstays of the "neo-soul" movement in R&B, which features live musicians and organic grooves over heavy reliance on samples, drum machines and slick production.

6.28   saturday
Chicago Fire vs. NY/NJ MetroStars (Cardinal Stadium, Naperville)   SEE COZ LIVE!
First off, yes, I know they dropped the "NY/NJ" from their official name, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. Anyway, an afternoon game that sees the return of former coach Bob Bradley, along with honors for retired Fire captain Peter Nowak. And, there's even a real musical tie-in this time, as myself and Andrew Fraker will be entertaining the crowd in the plaza outside the stadium before the game.

Cinematic Orchestra with Chris Widman, WLUW's Abstract Science (The Abbey)
I saw these guys the last time I went to Austin for South by Southwest, and was impressed enough to write down their name and add one of their records to my "to buy" list. Which is different from being impressed enough to actually buy the record, apparently. Still, they were really good. Lots of texture, but not in an overtly electronic way, if I recall correctly.

Peter Gabriel with Sevara Nazarkhan (Tweeter Center)
After kicking off his "Growing Up" tour in Chicago last year, Gabriel added some older material to the set, including "Family Snapshot" and "Shock the Monkey," which would definitely be worth hearing I don't know which elements of the in-the-round stage show have made it to the shed tour, but I'm curious to see if the transparent hamster ball ("Growing Up") and the mini-bicycle ("Solsbury Hill") have resulted in Gabriel slimming down a bit over the course of the tour.

Mulletfest 2003 (Double Door)
How could I possibly leave this out? According to the Metromix listing, the "rock 'n' roll carnival features Nashville Pussy, Cherry Valence, Gaza Strippers, Last Vegas, Cooler by the Lake and Knife of Simpson. Prizes awarded for best mullet and other redneck-theme contests." Brought to you, not surprisingly, by everyone's good friends at The Onion.

6.29   sunday
VANS Warped Tour (Tweeter Center)
There may be a couple of actual interesting bands amidst the punk-pop clones littering this festival's schedule, but then again, maybe not.