list.in.to.chicago this week: 06.30.2003

As a purveyor of the Chicago scene, I feel somehow obligated to chime in on Liz Phair's return. Unfortunately, I haven't heard any of the new stuff yet, so I have no opinion, other than a slight elevation in body heat at hearing she's single again...

Pick of the week
Man, usually I go through the Reader once, then fill in the gaps on Metromix because there are a couple of days where I can't find anything. Not so this week. Top of the list is definitely Elvis Costello (Sunday at Taste of Chicago), with Bernie Worrell (Saturday at Double Door) a close second. And I'm positive that The New Pornographers (Sunday at Metro) will be popular, and I've probably just ensured some interesting search engine hits by recommending them.

list.in.to.COZ
I'm just at Vaughan's this week, and late at that, so if you're looking to see me play sometime soon, save it for next week, when you'll have two better shots at it with Lindsie Reitz on Wednesday, 7/9 (Schuba's) and Nitrous Foxide on Friday, 7/11 (Wild Goose).

Recap
There was much strumming of acoustic guitars last week, with a late appearance at Vaughan's on Tuesday, a debut at another open mike at Moxie on Thursday, and a couple of tunes out in the sunshine before Saturday's Fire game. I think I'm getting the hang of this. I also witnessed the "soft launch" of a new band on Thursday and Friday, but that story may have to wait until I get permission to run it. My apologies to YesMen for not being able to make it over to The Note, as I was drum tech-ing for said (unsaid?) new band across the street at Double Door.

6.30   monday
Foo Fighters with Pete Yorn (Milwaukee Summerfest)
Okay, I said I wasn't going to include Summerfest last week, but I figured I'd test the limits of my influence and see if I could convince anyone to drive to Wisconsin for a show on a couple hours notice.

7.01   tuesday
Open Mike (Vaughan's)   SEE COZ LIVE!
I'll probably be late again, but may be debuting some more tunes this week if I can get them together.

White Stripes (Aragon Ballroom)
I don't know how I feel about these guys. There's so much hype about them being, well, I'm not exactly sure what they're supposed to be, but it's forced me to sort of tune them out. The songs I've heard on the radio are pretty good, but I bristle at claims that anyone is going to "save rock and roll," because there are very few bands that can exist apart from the music industry machine to the point where they can really afford any sort of change. And I still have problems with bands that don't have bass players. They play Wednesday as well.

Cover Girls (Taste of Chicago - Taste Stage, 5:30pm)
Unless there's another band of the same name, this is likely those overweight hirsute guys dressed in drag and playing music from girl bands that were so entertaining when I saw them a few months ago.

7.02   wednesday
Afrodisiacs with Unibrow, Echosend, Electric (Double Door)
Sort of an odd choice of venue for the disco cover band, and one that they're somewhat excited about. Those of you with jobs probably only have to work a half day, if at all, on Thursday, so why not shake your booty a bit?

The Webb Brothers with The New Constitution, Rockets over Sweden (Bottom Lounge)
After seeing them once, I was pretty high on the Webb Brothers. After seeing them twice, it seemed maybe just they were high, and I was bored. So, the jury's still out. And I'd love to see Rockets over Sweden, apparently a new band from members of Verbow, tour with Jets to Brazil, just on principle.

7.03   thursday
Chicago Samba, Chicago Afrobeat Project (The Note)
I'm curious as to how you bill Brazilian and African music as a Fourth of July party. Maybe it's a multilateralist thing, recognizing America's place in the global community. Which means you probably won't find Dick Cheney in attendance.

The Reverend Horton Heat with The Legendary Shack Shakers (Metro)
Only $5 if you buy tickets in advance for this one. Don't know if the Rev still has those t-shirts with Elvis' weight on different planets. I mentioned the Shack Shakers on a friend's recommendation a few weeks ago, so this might be a good opporunity to check them out.

7.04   friday
Soulfix (Taste of Chicago - Taste Stage, 3pm)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Along with Pete Yorn a little later in the afternoon in the Petrillo Music Shell, probably the only compelling reason to brave the holiday crowd in Grant Park.

The Waco Brothers with Urban Twang (Schuba's)
What better way to celebrate Independence Day than to go see some Brits who moved to America playing insurgent country music?

Boston (Tweeter Center)
I actually saw Boston back in 1987, I think. Some people like to romanticize rock and roll and say that you can't be credible as a rocker past the age of, say, 30, but then how do you explain all these "dinosaur" tours? Somebody clearly thinks they still rock.

7.05   saturday
Bernie Worrell and the Woo Warriors (Double Door)
The ex-Parliament/Funkadelic keyboardist brings his own flavor of the funk once again. It's a slightly different vibe than the P-Funk machine, but another great chance to get your groove thang goin' this week.

Arrested Development with Borialis (House of Blues)
One of hip-hops pioneers returns, with it's original lineup. I saw Speech last year with bassist Victor Wooten, which was pretty darn good.

John Digweed, Crystal Method, BT (Congress Theatre)
Heavyweight electronica show here, although it's viability in a live setting is still sorta questionable. Outside of Moby, identifiable "stars" are pretty few and far between, which makes it difficult to motivate fans of the music to see an artist actually perform. Which is also a tricky proposition given the heavy programming elements.

7.06   sunday
Elvis Costello and the Imposters (Taste of Chicago - Petrillo Music Shell, 4pm)
I haven't mentioned lately how freakin' GREAT Costello's last major release, When I Was Cruel, is, so let me remedy that. Quite possibly the record of the year for 2002, if you're into those sorts of proclamations.

The New Pornographers with The Organ, I Am Spoonbender (Metro)
Lots of noise generated with the release of their new CD, Electric Version, so expect to see lots of Chicago's indie rock crowd out for this one. The same CMJ New Music Monthly I quoted last week for Wire calls them "The Best Pop Band Alive" on their cover. I'm not sure I'd go that far, but the record is definitely a good listen.