list.in.to.chicago this week: 12.29.2003

Ah, so here it is, the last l.i.t.c. of the year. In some alternate universe, that would come with a big wrapup, maybe with some of my favorite shows of the year or something. Maybe even a stat shot of which local bands I plugged the most (I'm guessing EXO, Regal Standard and Drive). But that would require, oh, I don't know, PREPARATION, so you're stuck with a regular old list.

And if you're doing something fun and/or inexpensive on New Year's Eve, by all means, let me know about it. If Vaughan's falls through, and there's a better than average chance that it might, I'm going to need something to do.

Pick of the week
In terms of value for the money on New Year's Eve, it's tough to beat Drive, American Motherload, Matador Down and Thunderwing at The Note. Then you've got EXO in an early all-ages show on Sunday at Schuba's after you've sufficiently recovered from whatever choice you make for the holiday. Speaking of NYE, there are lots of good musical options too numerous to summarize here. You almost can't go wrong, with the obvious exceptions of Mr. Blotto and Mike and Joe, who will probably now find this via the blatant Googlebaiting and kick my ass. Hey, just not my cup of tea, and it's my list, okay?

list.in.to.COZ
Well, I was hoping to be able to say definitively whether or not we'd be playing Vaughan's on New Year's, but I can't. We'll still be there Tuesday, though, and I would imagine it'll be a light turnout, so I may get to sing more than the requisite three or four tunes.

Recap
Last week? The family celebrated our last NJ Christmas, as my parents are moving to Virginia over the summer. I got a scanner, a watch, Warren Zevon's final album, and no speeding tickets, among other things. And I saw my sister dance in NYC, debuting a piece she choreographed as a work in progress.

For actual music, we have to go back to the week before. The Changes, on Thursday at Empty Bottle, put on a good show, but maybe not as good as when I saw them at Double Door. The lead guitar is sorta important to that band, and it wasn't quite up enough in the mix, I think. Friday was Pat DiNizio, in a solo show at Elbo Room. Not a great turnout, but those who were there got the full run of Smithereens classics, and I got to chat a bit with Pat about Scotch Plains, NJ, where he still lives. Also, some chick fell over in a drunken stupor and cracked a tooth, and I got stuck talking to this one annoying guy and his friend from Denmark for entirely too long. Matt Hoffer's opening set was good. And Saturday I dropped in on Kelly Steward at Galleria Marchetti, which was sort of an odd venue for what turned out to be a very intimate performance, given the massive competition with holiday parties.

12.29   monday
'The Brian Costello Show' with Brian Costello (Empty Bottle)
I know absolutely nothing about this, but you gotta love the name, right? And it will apparently feature both Channel 2's weatherman and "Miss Fireside Bowl 2002." Hmmmm.

12.30   tuesday
Open Mike (Vaughan's)   SEE COZ LIVE!
Last one of the year, and my contribution will likely include new crowd favorite "Hey Ya" along with a reprise of "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch." All eighteen verses. Yeah, I didn't realize it was quite that long, either. And if I had a nickel for every time I've heard that...

Ike Reilly with The Bon Mots (Schuba's)
Reilly is also playing New Year's Eve at this same venue, so it you feel up to it, I suggest going to the show, getting really drunk, and counting down the seconds until midnight. For extra fun, start counting at 10:30pm or so.

12.31   wednesday
The Curtains? (Vaughan's)   SEE COZ LIVE! MAYBE!
As of this writing, I still don't know if this is going to happen, but there remains a chance that some configuration of myself, Tony, Anto and Avi will be playing. Could be all four of us, plugged in. Could be just two of us, acoustic. We just don't know. We'll deal with the name for next time.

Drive with Matador Down, American Motherload, Thunderwing (The Note)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Big ups to SoundArts Management for putting this show together. The three bands on the bill that I've hear are among the best of the local hard rock set, and for $30 (in advance), you get all the rock, two hours of open bar and a champagne toast.

1.01   thursday
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
There's a whole lotta nothing going on, so become one with your couch. You've got your college football, if you're so reclined, as well as marathons of Monk (USA) and Queer Eye For The Straight Guy (Bravo). Me, I'm thinking of heading down to my local cinema, or at least the closest one with stadium seating, for either Bad Santa or Paycheck. Or both.

1.02   friday
Brother Brother with Bamboo Grove, Thomas Pace
With brothers Matt and Jon Spiegel devoting time to Tributosaurus and Blue Man Group, respectively, their own band has sort of fallen to the back burner. Meaning that this is a somewhat rare appearence by the blues-rock outfit.

1.03   saturday
Family Style with Don Tisch/Ian Torres Quintet, Star People (Gunther Murphy's)
I haven't mentioned these guys in a while, but the short synopsis is that I played briefly in a funk band with saxophonist Chris Neal, and I suspect that given his performances with that band, this one is probably pretty darn good, but I haven't seen them yet.

Rollover with Dirty Love, John Kilmer Band (The Abbey)
Waitaminute, Rollover still exists? I remember them from nearly ten years ago, and haven't heard a peep in about five.

CSM with The Miles, Lemondrop (Beat Kitchen)
Any band named after a character in The X-Files is alright by me. Heck, I even extend that to Eve 6. Anyway, I'm assuming that the moniker is in reference to William B. Davis' "Cigarette Smoking Man," who was one of the great TV bad guys until he got outed as the much less imposing C.G.B. Spender and pushed down a flight of stairs by Krycek and Martia Covarrubias.

1.04   sunday
EXO with Julie Korman (Schuba's)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
It's all ages, so it's an early (7pm) start. One of my New Year's Resolutions is to actually start writing CD reviews again, starting with the one I promised these guys back in, um, September. Because you're read down this far, other resolutions include being a little bolder in interpersonal situations, writing a book on music and the Internet, and losing about fifteen pounds.