list.in.to.chicago this week: 07.07.2003

To blatantly steal a bad pun from the Wise Fools Pub ad this week, oh thank heaven for 7/11. Friday the 11th is pretty potent this week, and I think I even left one or two good ones (X and Tributasaurus spring to mind) out.

Pick of the week
Not only does Friday boast an impressive lineup across the entire city, but Lollapalooza (Saturday, Tweeter Center) looks pretty kickass. Of course, I said that about the version Primus was on way back when, and that particular tour was pilloried in the press. For conceptual continuity's sake, Primus' Les Claypool (Friday, The Vic) is in town this week as well.

list.in.to.COZ
Partially because I forgot to schedule some sort of official "33 1/3" birthday party last week, partially because while I'm at a third of a century, Lindsie hits the quarter-century mark this week, and partially because you love us, it's gotta be Lindsie Reitz (Wednesday, Schuba's). And for two of those three reasons, Nitrous Foxide (Friday, Wild Goose). I'll probably get back to the open mike routine next week.

Recap
Elvis Costello was great at Taste of Chicago. The weather, on the other hand, was just plain weird, with a conveniently placed downpour during intermission. Costello's set took a little while to really get going, but two things I noticed were that you couldn't really tell much difference between older and newer material, and that he does a real good job of mixing the two. I may not have the proper historical perspective to say this for sure, but I get the feeling Elvis embraces more of his catalog than most artists, and as a songwriter, he can preserve older songs via arrangements to make the whole thing much more cohesive. Case in point was a more rocked-up treatment of "Every Day I Write the Book."

7.07   monday
Long Count Quartet (Joy Blue)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
I'm taking it on faith that Mr. Gillis and crew are still holding down the fort in some configuration. On the one hand, call first to double-check. On the other, it's free anyway, so if you're committed to going out on a Monday night, what the heck?

7.08   tuesday
Norah Jones (Ravinia)
Okay, I keep telling you to go see Patricia Barber if you like Norah Jones, but if you like Norah Jones, perhaps you might also want to see, oh, I don't know, Norah Jones?

7.09   wednesday
Lindsie Reitz with Quiet Kid, Maggi Pierce & E.J. (Schuba's)   SEE COZ LIVE!
If recent rehearsals are any indication, we very well may blow the roof off the place. This is the Lindsie band's first live show in quite a while, and all that pent-up rock, along with massive amounts of development in the band's sound via the EP recording, should make it quite a night.

The Changes with Capitol Years, The High Strung (Double Door)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
As much as I like these guys, this is more of an FYI, since you're all going to be at Schuba's. They play often enough that you can wait until next time (sorry, Darren).

David Lee Roth with Amazing Device (House of Blues)
My favorite quote from the press conference for last year's "Sans Halen" Tour, which featured Roth and Sammy Hagar, when asked if VH vocalist #3 Gary Cherone would be an opening act: "I think he's performing the Vagina Monologues somewhere." Diamond Dave has another HOB show on the return leg of the tour, so you can skip this one for Lindsie at Schuba's, too.

7.10   thursday
Nicholas Barron (Navy Pier Beer Garden)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Actually, Nick is playing most of the week out on the Pier, but I wanted to recommend this lunchtime (actually 11am) show because you need to get to bed early after being out on Wednesday to see Lindsie in order to be ready for Foxide on Friday. I'm very concerned about your well-being.

Train with Wilshire (Navy Pier Skyline Stage)
Of course, you could also get tickets for this show, and spend all afternoon in the beer garden leading up to it, but I wouldn't want to contribute to your delinquency, you slackers.

7.11   friday
Nitrous Foxide (Wild Goose)   SEE COZ LIVE!
All the rock and roll you've come to expect from the Foxidians, and if you're good, Michelle may show off her expert stage diving technique! This is also the farewell show for Foxide guitarist Erik Peterson, so come raise a drink to the Mantower.

Ivory Wire with Mile One, Somnia, The Regels (Elbo Room)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Okay, I've clearly listed these guys a lot here, because I've run out of witty descriptions for them. I do believe this show may feature the Chicago debut of a new bass player.

The Outfield with Pleasing Betty (Joe's)
Like the Suzanne Vega show at HOB a while back, I'm amused that the Joe's ad feels it necessary to quote a lyric from the 80s one-hit wonders in order to jog our collective memories. Josie's on a vacation far away, and so is any remnant of this band's popularity.

The Les Claypool Frog Brigade (Vic Theatre)
Chalk this one up as "where I'd probably be if I didn't have a gig," as Claypool's post-Primus band routinely adds 30-minute Pink Floyd tunes and King Crimson to their setlists. Apparently, they're no longer fearless OR flying.

George Clinton and the P-Funk Allstars (Finkl Steel Plant)
I have no joke, I just like to say "Finkl."

7.12   saturday
Lollapalooza (Tweeter Center)
A stacked lineup with Jane's Addiction, who release their first album of new material in a long, long time this week, Audioslave, Queens of the Stone Age, Incubus, Jurrasic 5 and The Donnas all on the bill. That's almost enough to make me want to actually suck it up and go see a show at the Tweeter Center. Almost.

7.13   sunday
EXO with Basic Mind, Suite 13
There seems to be a recurring theme this week with local bands debuting new bass players, as I believe this will be EXO's first local electric show since their recent personnel shift.