list.in.to.chicago this week: 11.17.2003

If you enjoy this invasion of your mailbox every week, why not get an early start on the holidays and forward it to someone else who might like it? Then they might subscribe, and I might get that jolt of self-esteem I so desperately need!

I guess that last bit was sort of compromised by the exclamation point. Oh, well. On to the shows!

Pick of the week
It's getting late, so I'll keep this short. Guided By Voices is playing two nights at the Abbey Pub over the weekend. Fountains of Wayne is at The Vic on Wednesday. Almost everything else is sold out.

list.in.to.COZ
Just Vaughan's this week, and for the next couple, but early December is likely to be really crazy. You've been warned.

Recap
Man, where to start? Monday seems best. I think it's because I see so many hacks at open mike, but it was refreshing that Dana Lawrence actually has guitar chops. Open chords only get you so far. Tuesday, the aforementioned open mike. Wednesday, Ivory Wire brought the rock, some of it brand spanking new, to Schuba's, with some friends of mine the band apparently converted at the Lindsie EP release party in tow. Thursday, it was the yet-as-unnamed Tony Calderisi trio with a strong early set at Beat Kitchen, even if one of his effects pedals died. Friday, I PLAYED SOLDIER FIELD. We'll just leave out the details, like being mocked relentlessly by a guy in a dalmation suit. Then on to Joe's for Nitrous Foxide, before probably our biggest crowd ever, or at least the biggest crowd who could actually be in the room and see us and hear us all at the same time.

After all that, I don't think you're going to hold it against me for taking Saturday and Sunday off.

11.17   monday
Duran Duran (House of Blues)
Back in high school, you had your Duran Duran fans, and you had your Rush fans. Three guesses which one I was, and the first two don't count. Looking back, I don't know if I ever really had an issue with the band's music. It was more likely that all the girls liked them and not me, and that made me want to kill them. Or listen to even more prog rock. One or the other. First of three sold out shows.

Red Orchid Fund Raiser Party (Elbo Room)
This is a theater company of some sort, but it's significant because I noticed Live Band Karaoke is playing. That's significant because URT did Live Band Karaoke at this very event four or five years ago, and I'm wondering if the current band sporting that moniker was inspired by said very event. In other words, I wonder if they stole the idea from us. I've been wondering that for a while now.

Corey Radford/Scott Anderson Quartet (Phyliss' Musical Inn)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
It's jazz at a rock club, so it much be Monday.

11.18   tuesday
Open Mike (Vaughan's)   SEE COZ LIVE!
We in the house band may spring some new songs on you as we prepare for the live debut of the electric version, which may or may not be December 11th at Mystic Celt.

Korn with Limp Bizkit (Aragon Ballroom)
I'm going to assume that Korn could sell this show out by themselves, because I believe we are all in agreeance that the alternative is too horrible to contemplate.

Duran Duran (House of Blues)
This one's sold out, too, so you should just come to Vaughan's, right? The beer is also lot cheaper.

11.19   wednesday
Fountains of Wayne with Caviar (Vic Theatre)
I only just found out that this band is named after a store that sells, duh, fountains in Wayne, NJ. I have an uncle who lived in Wayne up to this year, so the chances are good that I've driven by said store, none the wiser. Oh yeah, many people say many good things about the band, as well.

The Darkness with The Webb Brothers (Double Door)
Sometimes, I think it's a good thing if people can't tell whether or not you're serious. Such is the case with the latest hot item out of the UK (if you don't count that rumor about Prince Charles, natch), The Darkness. Bombastic may not be the right word, but certainly over-the-top, with a lot of the comparisons I've heard going toward the likes of Queen and AC/DC. Like about half the other shows this week, it's also sold out.

The Straylight Run with The New Amsterdams, Murder By Death and The Format (Bottom Lounge)
If you want to get your band listed in this newsletter, perhaps the easiest way is to take your name from a William Gibson cyberpunk novel.

Duran Duran (House of Blues)
Okay, now I'm just rubbing it in if you wanted to go and waited too long to get tickets.

11.20   thursday
Staind with Sevendust, Lo-Pro (Aragon Ballroom)
Doesn't it bother anybody that all this band seems capable of are power ballads and misspelling their own name? They're not bad power ballads, but really, at least half of these songs could have been on a hair-metal album circa 1987 and not sounded at all out of place.

Chris Potter Quintet (Jazz Showcase)
Somebody help me out here. I think Potter has been the saxophonist with Dave Holland's group as of late, but I'm not sure. If so, probably very good on his own as well. If not, Joe Segal tends not to book slouches for a weeklong stint (Tuesday through Saturday) in his club, so still probably very good.

Jonny Lang with Indigenous (House of Blues)
This one's sold out, too. Just in case you were getting used to having a sold out HOB show in the day's listing.

11.21   friday
Robbie Fulks with Kelly Hogan and The Soul Makeout Band (Fitzgerald's, Berwyn)
It's astounding, given how often Fulks and Hogan play in this city, that I don't think I've seen a full set from either of them. I think I saw Hogan briefly at the Hideout Block Party once, but it might have been with somebody else. And you have to love the "Soul Makeout Band" pretty much calling a spade a spade.

Tom Jones (House of Blues)
Yep, this one's sold out, too. Mike Yerke's working some talent buying magic over there this week.

American Motherload with Loomis (Bar Vertigo)
This Western Avenue bar has only just started ramping up it's local music offerings in the last six months or so. Seeing as how I hardly ever make it down to it's more established neighbor, The Empty Bottle, it shouldn't surprise you that I haven't been there yet. But with local scene mainstays like American Motherload in the mix, it's probably only a matter of time.

Trainwreck with Matt Beckler (Martyr's)
As I said the last time they came through town and I didn't see them, Trainwreck is anchored by Kyle Gass, the non-Jack Black half of Tenacious D. I did a double-take at the opener, as I thought for a moment it was Mark Beckler, who most of you probably don't remember as the guy driving the car the time we got pulled over coming back from the steak burrito place at 63rd and California while I was in college. You mean I haven't told you that story?

11.22   saturday
Guided By Voices with Tobin Sprout (Abbey Pub)
From what I've been told, GBV can be pretty hit-or-miss live, but I've only seen them once, and they were great, so I may be trying to convince myself to quit while I'm ahead. First of two nights.

Eleventh Dream Day with Dump, Sam Prekop (Double Door)
On some level, it's good to see EDD still at it. On the other hand, there's a bit of an element of "Chicago, where once-promising local bands grow old" as well. Then again, they are making good on their promise, only not on the national, major-label scale, which is not really a bad thing at the end of the day. If they can still do their thing, and aren't just getting bitter about the rock and roll machine, more power to them.

Tom Jones (House of Blues)
It's not unusual for me to mention another sold-out House of Blues show.

11.23   sunday
MLS Cup 2003: Chicago Fire vs. San Jose Earthquakes (Home Depot Center, Carson, CA)
What, you thought the whole thing was going to go by without me talking about how there's a Chicago team in a championship match? 2:30 eastern on ABC. Watch for me. I'll be wearing red.

Todd Snider with David Zollo and Keith Sykes (Martyr's)
Sorry, Todd, but you're always going to be "the guy who sang that funny song about Seattle and grunge" to me. You're just going to have to deal with it.

Drive with Egostatic, Mighty Fine Machine (Bottom Lounge)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
I missed Chris, Josh and the band last week. I'm missing them this week. If you go, tell them I meant well. Strong bill for a Sunday night, though.

Guided By Voices with Tobin Sprout (Abbey Pub)
See Saturday's listing.

Tom Jones (House of Blues)
Seven consecutive sold-out shows. Amazing.