list.in.to.chicago this week: 06.28.2004

Okay, seeing as how I'm already a day late, I'll try to make this quick.

I'm trying to figure out if Wise Fools just got their dates wrong, or ran an add from a month ago by mistake.

Pick of the week
Ivory Wire will be good on Friday. Los Lobos on Wednesday if you can get tickets. And I'm normally loathe to recommend shed shows, but 2 out of 3 of 311, The Roots and Medeski Martin and Wood (Thursday, Tweeter Center) are worth seeing.

list.in.to.COZ
For the second time in a month, you can see me debut with a new local artist. This time it's Kelly Steward, who I recorded a couple of songs with a few months ago in Tony's basement that came out sounding really good. No, I don't know why I end up playing with so many female vocalists. Some might point out (phrasing specifically to invoke plausible deniability on sounding sexist) that the view from the drum chair is perhaps better than seeing Derek from URT wearing spandex for a Halloween show [shudder].

Recap
Can't believe I forgot to mention the Paul Wertico Trio over the weekend at the Green Mill. Or go, for that matter. I did make it out to see four different bands at three different clubs on Friday. Rockets Over Sweden was loud, which made Jason Narducy's vocal melodies, typically one of the best things about his songwriting, get a little lost in an otherwise strong set. Dunno about "Magnus Hansen" and the trumpet schtick, and it was bit weird that they were wearing the exact same clothes as on the back of the EP being released. Also, for such a tiny drumkit, that Yamaha HipGig sounded fantastic.

Then on to catch a couple of bands at Double Door. Miles of Empty seems to be missing something, perhaps a fourth member to add some depth on guitar and vocals, that could take them to the next level. The level that they're at isn't bad by any means, but there's room to grow. Missile, it turns out, is a favorite of former Regal Standard frontman (sorry to break that news if you hadn't heard yet) Larry Schroeder, who (a) seems to be stalking me and (b) described the band as a pop version of Peter Murphy. I can neither confirm or deny either claim.

Finally, The Paramours at Blue Iguana. Remind me never to go to Blue Iguana. It's just a lousy room. Sound was somewhat problematic, so it's hard to say anything meaningful about the band, and the crowd was every bad Lincoln Park/Lakeview stereotype you could think of.

Since I'm late in getting this out, bonus recappage. Caught the aforementiond Mr. Schroeder and Ryan Powers from Callisto, who I missed at Double Door on Friday, doing the Chicago Rock Club thing at Elbo Room on Monday. That seems to have found its legs as a forum for the local scene, which is good.

6.29   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
Could be yet another Tom-Waits-and-Everlast kind of night for me, we'll see.

New Edition (Petrillo Music Shell)
Nothin' like Taste of Chicago to bring washed up bands trying to make a comeback on the nostalgia circuit out of the woodwork, right?

6.30   wednesday
Kick the Cat with The Renegades (Lyons Den)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Two of the more notable fusion outfits in the city in one night, which means you'll probably get more notes for your entertainment dollar than the rest of the shows on this list put together.

Los Lobos with the Nicholas Tremulis Orchestra (Park West)   SOLD OUT!
Hearing many good things about the latest CD from "the best band in America," and I have no reason to doubt that buzz.

7.01   thursday
Kelly Steward with Driveway Ninjas (Beat Kitchen)   SEE COZ LIVE!
Didn't I just play with Driveway Ninjas on the Marigold Engine show a few weeks ago? I forget. Anyway, regulars of the Vaughan's open jam will recognize Kelly, along with Tony Calderisi and yours truly. Metromix spelled both bands incorrectly for this one, so we can identify the exact point the data entry intern started hitting the sauce.

Soulfix with 311, The Roots, Medeski Martin and Wood (Tweeter Center)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
That's right. Mike, Marlon and Dario scored a side stage gig at this eclectic shed show. You gotta figure The Roots and MMW are going to make 311 look like the unfunkiest band that nominally plays funky music on the planet. ?uestlove from The Roots is also doing an aftershow DJ set at the Abbey Pub, of all places.

7.02   friday
Ivory Wire with Blue October, House of Moist (Schuba's)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Great local band. Great local venue. If we're lucky, the 28-oz. glasses of Sam Adams will still be four bucks, which would make the night near perfect. It was allegedly the June special, so we'll see.

Pat Benatar and Neal Giraldo (Petrillo Music Shell)
Memo to Mr. Giraldo: While I understand that you were certainly a part of her success, no one is going to base their decision to see Pat Benatar based on your name being on the marquee. Myron Grombacher, on the other hand...

7.03   saturday
Liquid Soul (Double Door)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
When I was back in NJ a few weeks ago, I stopped by the music store and Greg had some good funky music on in the background while the regulars told dirty jokes at the counter like it was a neighborhood bar. Turns out it was Liquid Soul, which was cool in an odd, geographically dislocated sort of way. Don't know if this means the band is going to be back with any regularity in town, but we can hope.

7.04   sunday
Nicholas Barron's Hyperactive (Long Room)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Happy 4th of July! Go grill something. And you've probably got Monday off, so take in some tunes until the wee-ish hours. If they're open and doing their regular thing for the holiday, that is. Call first.