list.in.to.chicago this week: 11.15.2004

The big lesson for the week is, if you're going to take a nap before going out on a Friday night, don't do it right before you're going out, otherwise you might be inclined to skip that pesky "going out" part.

I've said it before, I'll say it again. This whole "having a job" thing is killin' me.

Pick of the week
If it weren't at the venue formerly known as the Rosemont Horizon, I'd probably be more enthusiastic about Velvet Revolver on Friday, just 'cause I'm a fan of rock and roll swagger in general. That being said, Ivory Wire at Elbo Room on Friday, with an acoustic opening set from Jayh Johnson seems the safest bet of the bunch.

list.in.to.COZ
Four hours of open bar for $25, Nitrous Foxide on the big stage and me in the front room doing my acoustic thing? It's gotta be the sixth annual Scorpio Party, this Saturday at Joe's on Weed Street. Oh, and come to Vaughan's on Tuesday so we don't get fired.

Recap
Um, yeah, about the recap. I fell asleep watching a TiVo'd soccer game on Friday night. Sorry about that.

Saturday's RipleyDiver show apparently had some guy named Charlie on guitar and vocals. Who knew? Full story on notabbott.com.

11.15   monday
The Pixies with The Bad Plus (Aragon)   SOLD OUT!
Yes, I know I'm recommending a sold out show on a day when you're not receiving this (via e-mail, anyway) in time to really do much about it anyway. What can I say? Mondays are tough all over.

11.16   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
To provide some conceptual continuity, and keep up the tradition of playing songs from artists in town, I may tackle "Wave of Mutilation" in all of it's less-than-two-minutes glory. This was the first Pixies song I ever heard, via having to cover it with Ice Fish (a combination of predecessors Icemen and Zen Fish) in college.

The Pixies with The Coctails (Aragon)   SOLD OUT!
In another sense, sold out shows offer what we in the business call "filler." And yet, I'm liking this week's opening acts better than last week's, mostly because they're bands I feel like I actually know something about, including local scene throwbacks and former Phyliss' Musical Inn mainstays The Coctails.

Scarecrow Garden with Dropping Daylight, World Leader Pretend (Schuba's)
If I remember correctly, these guys are really young, from the 'burbs, and wear a heavy Bends-era Radiohead influence on their sleeves. If they start sounding less obviously like that band as they mature, they could be really, really good.

11.17   wednesday
The Pixies with Urge Overkill (Aragon)
Last I heard, the final show of the stand had not sold out, but you've got to figure that some of the people at the first four might like it so much that they'll try to snag tickets for this one as well. So if you're too late and it's already sold out, I tried to warn you. Also, Urge Overkill!

Jimmy Eat World with Razorlight, Gratitude (Riviera)
This makes for a fairly interesting juxtaposition when you consider the show right around the corner. Here's one of the more popular forks off the modern rock road, and yet you have to figure Jimmy Eat World is as far removed from the Pixies' aesthetic -- you know, the one that launched the genre that spawned them -- as one could imagine while still being considered part of the same continuum. It wouldn't be as extreme as, say, Kenny G playing around the corner from John Coltrane or Wayne Shorter, but it's in that general direction.

11.18   thursday
Ted Leo/Pharmacists with The Tossers, The Natural History, A-Set (Metro)
I'm not exactly sure why indie maven Leo has eschewed the more tradition "and the" for a FORWARD slash (sorry, lingering unrelated pet peeve there), but I'm sure it has somehow increased his indie cred.

The Alarm with Kristen Shout and Smoking Kitten (Abbey Pub)
Speaking of band listing semantics, I'm under the impression that Smoking Kitten is Kristen Shout's band, and not a third band on the bill. I could be wrong. Meanwhile, the Alarm's comeback -- which, to be fair, started well before the VH-1 "Bands Reunited" bit -- continues to have legs.

11.19   friday
Ivory Wire with Blackmaker, Onadime, Jayh Johnson (Elbo Room)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
All producing local bands and no live shows make Chuck and Rob dull boys. Good to see them coming up for air. I hear they'll be giving away CDs, presumbably their debut The World Is Flat, but I only paid five bones for it, so I'm not feeling particular bitter about not waiting them out.

Megadeth with Exodus (Riviera Theatre)   SOLD OUT!
I love that Vinnie Colaiuta, my favorite drummer in the universe, is on the new Megadeth record. The only thing cooler than that would be if he were touring with the band as well, but even if he were, it's sold out. I'm not sure if I'm the best judge of how good a metal record is, but The System Is Broken seems pretty solid to me. And Vinnie's a monster on it.

Nicholas Barron's Hyperactive (Horseshoe)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Okay, I suck. I really meant to go see these guys last week. Come on, it's two blocks away from my house! Unfortunately, my couch and what was apparently an exhausting week conspired against me.

11.20   saturday
Coz Sings! with Nitrous Foxide, One-Hit Wonders (Joe's)   SEE COZ LIVE!
It's the sixth annual Scorpio Party, and while I'm not the go-to guy for Foxide anymore, I'll be doing my solo acoustic thing in the front room all night. Because I can go all night. Wait, did I say that out loud? I would be remiss if I didn't remind you that the $25 ticket gets you FOUR HOURS OF OPEN BAR starting at 9pm.

Cheap Trick (House of Blues)
This is a benefit show for Kerry Woods' charity. With all the current Cubs turmoil, I wonder what kind of vibe there will be. Steve Stone and Sammy Sosa should both show up just to confuse people. Plus, Cheap Trick!

North Mississippi All-Stars (House of Blues)
Haven't seen these guys in town in a while. Somewhere, Greg Kot is smiling. Both the early show and the nightcap are worthwhile at the River North spot, site of my now legendary punking of Mancow. Okay, maybe not legendary, but I'm going to be telling that story for a long, long time. And I still need to actually get my foundation room membership on the books.

Bob Mould with NYCSmoke (Double Door)
Part of me wishes Mould's solo shows weren't so typically well-attended, so he'd actually start touring with a band again, but it seems like that's purely wishful thinking. He seems to really like not having to rely on other musicians.

Hoobastank with Three Days Grace, Lettermill (Congress Theatre)
When it comes to the talent to quality-of-band-name ratio, these guys are off the charts. Of course, that wouldn't take much. It's a really, really terrible name.

11.21   sunday
Velvet Revolver (Allstate Arena)
By most accounts, these guys sound almost exactly like you would expect a cross between Guns n' Roses and Stone Temple Pilots to sound like. Which makes me wonder why my friend thought they'd sound more like The Darkness.

Light FM with Victory At Sea (Schuba's)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Apparently, the band has a new drummer. No, I was not asked. Yes, they will continue to be friends of Coz in spite of this. They also have an uncanny knack for getting songs on WB teen dramas, for reasons I don't quite understand.