list.in.to.chicago this week: 01.03.2005

I would resolve to stop making bad jokes and/or puns in the opening bit of the newsletter every week, but what fun would that be?

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Pick of the week
Thursday is looking good, with both Soulfix and Sunday Morning Chameleon in the first night of the first round of the Emergenza Festival at The Note, or Kimo Williams and Kimotion at Joe's.

list.in.to.COZ
Just Vaughan's this week, which is good for those of you who resolved to get out more in 2005, and bad for those of you who resolved to not go out so much on school nights.

Recap
Tried to go see The Redwalls on Wednesday, but I wasn't thinking. All the buzz, plus the intimacy of Schuba's means if you don't get your tickets in advance, you're going to get a 21 and over wristband for nothing. Sold out. So we went to see Long Count instead, with Frank Russell guesting on bass. I'll leave it to Kev, who said "I wouldn't want to have to take a solo after THAT guy!"

1.03   monday
Avant-Garde Jazz Jam Session (Hotti Biscotti)
I've said it before, and it bears repeating -- mostly because I can't find any other shows tonight, but never mind that -- I'm still curious how avant-garde jazz works in a jam session context. Because sometimes there's no chemistry in a jam, and it doesn't quite work, but that could then make it more avant-garde, in that you're trying to coax music out of disparate elements that don't get along. Far out, dude.

1.04   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
Despite some grumbling after a broken guitar string forced us to call the night a little early last week, I'm pretty sure we're still on for at least the near future. Maybe they forgot we were on double secret probation. Anyway, I might get a little ambitious with some more new (for me) tunes, we'll see.

Was (Not Was) with Twinemen (House of Blues)
Of all the rock/pop songs out there involving dinosaurs, Was (Not Was) is one of two that I actually can remember right now. T. Rex doesn't count because that was the name of the band, and The Who's "You Better You Bet" doesn't count because it's talking about the band and not the dinosaur. And Twinemen is the surviving members of Morphine. I forget who it was who wanted me to remind them of that.

1.05   wednesday
Elvis 70th Birthday Spectacular (House of Blues)
With Mark Hussman, Elevation, Exspense Account Orchestra, Amy "Cher" Hohimer, Buzz Killman, Barefoot Hawaiians, Patty Elvis. Yes, that's a U2 tribute band in there. I guess if Bono seems obsessed with Presley, it stands to reason that if you're pretending to be Bono, you will be, too.

Long Count Quartet (Tryst)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
I'm still a little confused by this tendency for new Wrigleyville bars to go swank, but I guess it's a nice counterpoint to all the sports bars. Even if it feels a little out of place. Anyway, I'm still keeping my original impression of this band fitting in this room really well after a second visit.

1.06   thursday
Emergenza Band Festival (The Note)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
I thought I was going to get myself in hot water with this one, as we've got longtime Friends of Coz (can I call them FOCkers without getting sued by Ben Stiller?) Soulfix along with new l.i.t.c. favorites Sunday Morning Chameleon both in the first round of this battle-of-the-bands style competition. Fortunately, the top four of the eight bands on the bill advance, so I can encourage splitting the vote without worrying about repercussions.

Kimo Williams and Kimotion (Joe's)
It looks like being a part of Gary Sinise's band a couple of months ago has opened some doors for Williams, as he takes his Hendrix-meets-Zappa symphonic big band to Weed Street for the first time. Williams, a Vietnam vet, is presenting a piece called "Reflections From A War" and proceeds are going towards the U.S. Vietnam Arts Program.

1.07   friday
The Floorbirds with Street Van, Welcome to Ashley, Gayle Ritt (Double Door)
Judging by the tickets posted in the kitchen last week, somebody from my office is in The Floorbirds, but I don't know who. That they've managed to land a headlining slot on a Friday at Double Door without me knowing about them either from the local scene or from the office concerns me a little. I'm losing my touch.

1.08   saturday
Rock Star Club with The Artist Formerly Known As Vince, Huge Pontoons, Operation: Rock (Double Door)
Unless they've mellowed with age, which I sorta doubt, RSC don't take no shit from nobody, or have done a hell of a job tricking us into thinking that. Their drummer is also a big Zappa fan, which always scores points in my book. If I had a book, that is. I mean, I have books, obviously, but I don't actually have a book where I keep track of people's "points" as such. I guess I should have mentioned that before Christmas.

Vulgar Boatmen with Buddy Nuisance, Stylus (Schuba's)
Of course, Rock Star Club are young bucks on the scene compared to Vulgar Boatmen, who I remember from way back when. Of course, I don't remember what they sound like, but longevity is as good a reason as any to go see local music. They must be doing something right.

1.09   sunday
Liquid Soul (Martyr's)
Apparently, they'll be here every Sunday in January. A recurring engagement up on Lincoln, isn't that how the whole acid jazz thing got started in the first place?