list.in.to.chicago this week: 07.28.2003

I just have to take a moment to say how proud I am of Chicago's music fans. This weekend, they achieved what no amount of bad reviews had been able to do previously -- get Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst to shut the hell up and get off the damn stage. They also booed Shania Twain, apparently for her unflagging support of Cub slugger and occasional cheater Sammy Sosa, but reports on that were a bit spottier. If they were just booing her on her own merits, I maybe wouldn't mind so much, but at the end of the day, it was a FREE concert. What, you didn't get your money's worth?

Please, feel free to forward this to your friends, and have them subscribe. Unless you're friends with Mr. Durst or Ms. Twain, 'cause they'd probably get mad.

Pick of the week
If you only see one live show all year, well then I have to question why you're subscribed to a weekly newsletter. Aside from that, I'm inordinately excited about Lindsie Reitz, Jayh Johnson and Tony Calderisi at Beat Kitchen this Thursday, so much so that I'm giving it the flat-out pick of the week. You also can't go wrong with either Regal Standard at the very same Beat Kitchen, or Ivory Wire at Elbo Room, both on Wednesday. Unless it means you're too tired to go out on Thursday.

list.in.to.COZ
I will do my best on Tuesday to atone for fucking up the chords on Ziggy Stardust last week, not that I'm dwelling on it or anything. And did I mention Lindsie at Beat Kitchen on Thursday? Last time we had Coyote Ugly bartenders and rock stars. Who knows what might happen this time?

Recap
So, I wound up hosting the Vaughan's open mike last week, which started well enough, but trying to remember chord changes on an empty stomach and a couple of potent cocktails proved too much, and I got pretty grumpy by the end. Also, I didn't play the Journey song. Maybe this week, along with new selections from the likes of The Cure (at the request of Monica the Bartender) and Primus (because I can). Anyway, after that, I sort hit a wall and didn't go see any other music while I cleared my head. Part of that head-clearing involved seeing Lara Croft: The Cradle of Life, which I would NOT recommend unless you just want to remember how much better the Indiana Jones movies were.

7.28   monday
Miles of Empty (Elbo Room)
This is the weekly "Chicago Rock Club" with Carla from Q101. If I remember correctly, there's free beer from 8 to 9, followed by demo listening, lots of schmoozing, and then a set from the band, who shared a bill with Lindsie back in the winter.

Cypress Hill (Metro)   SOLD OUT
Another of those "if someone offers you tickets" situations, as none are available. I've had a soft spot for these guys since they were on The Simpsons for the "Hullabalooza" episode. "Did anyone here order an orchestra? You might have been high when you did it. Cypress Hill, I'm looking at you."

7.29   tuesday
Open Mike (Vaughan's)   SEE COZ LIVE!
Two weeks ago, some girl told me that my speaking voice sounds like Eddie Vedder, and that I should play some Pearl Jam. While not a bad idea, I haven't gotten around to it just yet, and she wasn't back last week anyway.

The Allman Brothers with Karl Denson's Tiny Universe (Chicago Theatre)
First of two nights for the southern rock-cum-jam band, but they're here more for conceptual continuity than anything else. You'll see.

7.30   wednesday
The Regal Standard with Hawk, The Kickouts and The Ankles (Beat Kitchen)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
I'm going to have to get a ruling from Larry on whether it's "Regal Standard" or "The Regal Standard." Either way, it's an important show for them, as there will apparently be important people in attendance, and by that, I don't mean the list.in.to.chicago braintrust.

Ivory Wire with Pleasing Betty, Fin (Elbo Room)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Also an important show with important people, so if you're having trouble deciding, go see the band you didn't see last time. Or, if you have a group, split up and meet up later. If you have an odd number of people, half of Ivory Wire has already been signed to a major label, so maybe the extra friend goes to Beat Kitchen.

7.31   thursday
Lindsie Reitz with Jayh Johnson, Tony Calderisi, Frank Bango (Beat Kitchen)   SEE COZ LIVE!
I think this may be the first annual "no band names" show at the Roscoe Village outpost. Technically, Jayh is listed as 2TonLevy, but he'll be performing solo. You know Tony as the regular co-host of the Vaughan's open mike, and to the best of my knowledge, this is his first set of original music with a band in quite some time. The Lindsie band is hitting stride and rocking out in the process.

Light FM with Woolworthy, The Cells, Dig For Fire (Double Door)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Not unlike the last time Lindsie played, I can only recommend this one if you have one of those electronic ankle bracelets that won't let you leave Wicker Park.

8.01   friday
Supergrass with Paloalto, Matthew (Metro)
First of a two-night stand from the band allmusic.com calls "irreverent, energetic and fun" BritPop. They also have a guy named Gaz Coombes, which makes it worth the price of admission right there. I keep getting Paloalto confused with, I think, Pell Mell, but I've tracked down a song from them on a compilation, and it's sort of a Radiohead/Wilco thing.

Por Vida: A Benefit for Alejandro Escovedo (Fitzgerald's, Berwyn)
Escovedo has been suffering from various medical problems since collapsing at a show in April, reported as complications from Hepatitis B and advanced cirrhosis of the liver, and being a longtime musician, you can imagine the insurance issues. Performers include Fitzgerald's regulars The Waco Brothers, Nick Tremulis, Sally Timms, Robbie Fulks and others.

Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers with Wookie Luv (Martyr's)
Current Allman Brother bassist Oteil Burbridge (see, continuity!) tours with a band called the Peacemakers. I wonder out loud if this is the same band, and if not, whether or not they'd be able to reconcile their differences and, you know, make peace.

8.02   saturday
Spin Doctors, Blank Theory (Wicker Park/Bucktown Community Festival)
This unlikely combination headlines one of about eight million street festivals this weekend, this version taking place at Paulina and Division. No, I didn't realize the Spin Doctors were still around, either, although I'll still defend most of their debut record as worth having. Most, not all.

Poi Dog Pondering (The Chill on Kingsbury)
Another fest, at 1800 Kingsbury. You know, about three blocks up from the strip club. Excuse me, gentleman's club. Or so I've been told. And I have no idea what Poi sounds like these days, but it'll probably be good.

Waco Brothers (Retro on Roscoe)
Did I mention that there are a lot of street festivals this weekend? I thought so.

Baldwin Brothers, J. Davis Trio (Bottom Lounge)
Yes, there are actual indoor shows, too! This one from Chicago's answer to the Propellerheads. For the record, there are no actual Baldwins in this band, and Stephen Baldwin, who played Jane on the critically-acclaimed but mostly-unwatched Firefly, isn't related to all the others.

8.03   sunday
Soul Asylum, Nash Kato (Wicker Park/Bucktown Community Festival)
It's Minnesota's second-best bocce-playing rock band, behind Trip Shakespeare (inside joke), along with the former Urge Overkill frontman. In between the two is the very popular "TBA."

Grandaddy with Earlimar, Patrick Park (House of Blues)
These guys got saddled with the label of the "next Radiohead" a few years ago, and I can't say for sure if they've embraced that moniker or have gone out of their way to debunk it. I can think of one way to find out...