list.in.to.chicago this week: 09.01.2003

I think it may be time to revisit the purpose of this newsletter. On the one hand, it's supposed to be a somewhat entertaining first-person account of the local music scene. On the other, it's a way for me to tell you where and when I'm performing, so that you might, oh, I don't know, come out and see said performances. What I'm trying to say is that attendance at the various and sundry shows (not to be confused with various Sunday shows) I've been playing lately has been somewhat underwhelming.

Yeah, I know, it was a holiday weekend, people were out of town, yadda yadda yadda, but still, I'm not just writing this thing for my own amusement, you know!

Actually, I sorta am writing this for my own amusement, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't like to see some of you more often.

Pick of the week
As far as value for your entertainment dollar, the Hideout Block Party is a no-brainer. Lots of good bands, and you can ratchet up your indie cred at the same time! Everybody wins!

list.in.to.COZ
Nitrous Foxide might be playing at Sean Kaley's in Lemont on Saturday, but (a) that's not confirmed, and (b) contrary to the mini-rant above, I don't actually expect you to hoof it all the way out to the western suburbs. Other than that, just Vaughan's this week, but mark your calendars for Friday, September 12th, which is the next Lindsie Reitz show at Beat Kitchen.

Recap
Nothing other than the shows I actually played last week, and I'm not generally one to rate my own performances. I was gassed from a busy week, anyway. Friends of l.i.t.c. Marigold Engine had a strong set on the Friday Elbo Room bill, marred somewhat by their drummer cutting a gash in his forehead while navigating the low ceilings.

9.01   monday
Trapt with Smile Empty Soul, Three Days Grace, Mindshift (HOB)   SOLD OUT!
Coming off a three-day weekend, I sorta doubt anyone is really hyped on going on tonight, so I'll fill up this space with a short rant about how the current crap of "modern rock" bands somehow thinks it's cool to misspell words in their band names. I think we're all in agreeance that Limp Bizkit started that whole mess, which is one more reason I regret smacking Fred Durst upside the head with a pool cue when I had the chance. Trapt's one single is mildly catchy, and yet thoroughly forgettable, and way too dire and serious-sounding.

9.02   tuesday
Open Mike (Vaughan's)   SEE COZ LIVE!
I had a dream this morning about the Vaughan's open mike. The bar had become a two-story room, with three different stages, and I was late getting there because I started talking to some strangers and then had to rollerblade through the bar to make it over there after the festivities had already started, at which point I jumped on stage and started cracking jokes. Analyze that one at your own risk.

9.03   wednesday
Andrew W.K. with High On Fire, Vaux (Metro)
I think Rolling Stone called out AWK as an artist to watch at about the same time everybody was talking about John Mayer. While Mayer has gone on to headline a summer shed tour, AWK has the obviously much more significant honor (depending, of course, on your definitions of "more," "significant," and "honor") of having a song adapted by Chicago Fire soccer fans for use in Section 8, that song being the anthemic sing-along "Don't Stop Living in The Red."

Tributasaurus becomes Elton John with Motion to Fix (Martyr's)
It's the first Wednesday of the month, so you know what that means. They're even bringing in a string section this time around.

9.04   thursday
Your Little Ponies with Shed Theory (Elbo Room)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
I saw Joey from the Ponies a few weeks back, and he was excited about some new material. That's either great news, or very, very scary, coming from the minds behind "Fried Fuckin' Chicken Tonight."

9.05   friday
7th Annual Hideout Block Party (Hideout)
I've been to at least one of these, and it's a good time. This year's version includes one of my favorites, Tortoise, along with Hideout staples the Handsome Family, Andrew Bird and the Waco Brothers, among others. The festivities run Friday night and all day Saturday.

George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars (Cubby Bear)
The mothership lands in Wrigleyville, of all places. I think it would have been more appropriate for Clinton to make his mothership connection closer to the opening of the New Soldier Field, but that's just me.

Fareed Haque with Abstract Giants (Double Door)
While I was a bit underwhelmed with SF-based jam band Garaj Mahal, of which Haque is a member, he's still one of my favorite formerly local jazz guitarists, and always warrants some kind of mention when he's in town.

9.06   saturday
Guinness Oyster Festival (New City YMCA)
There seems to be an emerging trend of silly band juxtaposition at outdoor festivals lately. The last one was Spin Doctors and The Blank Theory down in Bucktown. This time it's Ben Folds, who has a penchant for mocking disaffected suburban teenagers, and Kill Hannah, who attract lots and lots of the same.

The Changes with Magnus, Barbeau and Sicbay (The Abbey)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Come see if Darren succumbs pressure to actually sing from the center of the stage! Like I said last week, these guys really seemed to have stepped it up a notch with their live show. Looks like they're on first, for those of you who like to be fashionably late.

Vince Neil (Cubby Bear)
Some of you on this list will be excited to hear that the former Motley Crue singer is back on the road. You know who you are. This looks like the first in an improptu monthly series of shows by washed-up hair metal singers, with Poison's Bret Michaels coming to Joe's in October. Both of these guys should probably name their next kids "VH-1," without whom none of this would be possible.

9.07   sunday
Strapping Young Lad with Samael, Cathedral (Metro)
I've mentioned them before in this space, but to review, underground metal band Strapping Young Lad features athletic vocalist Devin Townsend, who some of you probably don't remember from Steve Vai's disappointing Sex & Religion record, as well as drummer Gene Hoglan, who is reported to be a monster with the double bass drums.