list.in.to.chicago this week: 01.17.2005

I just want to state for the record that when they were 0-9 to start the season, I still thought this 2005 Bulls team was much better than many, if not all, of the other post-Jordan teams. I think I've got posts on NotAbbott.com to prove it, too.

What can I say, I like being right. Anyway, on to the music.

Pick of the week
I've got to go with the Paul Wertico Trio on Wednesday at Martyrs', and follow that up with The Soundtrack Of Our Lives on Friday at Double Door, with the latter based solely on massive buzz from people whose opinions I respect when their last album came out.

list.in.to.COZ
Diver will be back in action on Sunday at Cullen's, which is always a good time, regardless of whether or not someone trips and falls into the stage in a drunken stupor. And, as always, we'd love to see you at Vaughan's on Tuesday night.

Recap
I dropped in briefly on the Floorbirds at Martyrs' on Saturday night. It might have been that I was exhausted, or a tough mix in the room, or the band maybe trying a little too hard for a sort of round, midrangy retro sound, but I didn't get enough separation from the instruments, particularly between the two guitars or the guitar and the Fender Rhodes, to really get a clear picture of what they were doing. My initial thinking is that they might be able to ride the Redwalls' British Invasion-laced coattails if they play their cards right. Opener Al Weber did some neat stuff with his Loop Station effects pedal, but I thought the band could have used a little more polish.

1.17   monday
Bright Eyes with CocoRosie, Tilly and The Wall (Riviera Theatre)
I remember reading some sarcastic music piece that ripped on Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst along with the main guy in Dashboard Confessional without even naming the bands they were in. Like we were supposed to know that or something. It made me feel more annoyed than unhip or out of the music loop. Anyway, I think Bright Eyes is in that wacky "emo" vein, but I really have no idea what that subgenre really means anymore, if I ever did.

1.18   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
I chickened out on "Don't Eat The Yellow Snow" last week, but if there ever was a week to sing about the frozen tundra and being a hundred degrees below zero, this is it. I also might delve into the heavy metal of my youth. You've been warned.

Sunday Morning Chameleon with Quiver Lip, The Bish (Double Door)
Watching these guys is getting to be like a case study in local music, up to a point. We've seen them in a Friday night opening slot at Elbo Room, followed by a headlining turn, then a couple other gigs here and there, and now they're low man on the totem pole at Double Door. I'm going to guess they'll probably have to put up with at least one more weeknight down in Bucktown before they graduate to weekend status, but they've been drawing pretty darn well, so I may be selling them short.

1.19   wednesday
Paul Wertico Trio (Martyrs')
If you want to see some quality electric jazz on a weeknight, you could do a lot worse than the longtime Pat Metheny Group drummer, here with his trio that usually consists of Wertico, bassist Eric Hochberg and guitarist John Moulder. I don't have their latest recording, but their debut was one of my favorite post-fusion electric jazz records in a long, long time.

Long Count Quartet (Tryst)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
On the other hand, if you want to see quality jazz on Wednesday night without a pesky cover charge, this is the place.

Queensryche (House of Blues)
I feel obligated to inform you that this is the first night of a tour that will feature the neo-psychedelic prog-metal from the late 80s performing their "classic" album -- and I use that term loosely, even though it is the record with their one hit, "Silent Lucidity" -- Operation: Mindcrime in it's entirety, and all three HOB dates later in the month are sold out. Behold, once again, the enduring power of WLUP!

1.20   thursday
Razorlight with The Features (Double Door)
Q101 has gotten massively schizophrenic, and as a result, it can be tricky to handicap shows sponsored by the station. The annual Twisted Christmas event had more in common with the slightly-less-mainstream and much-less-meatheaded programming of their TBA program than of, say, Mancow. TBA is bringing us this British band, and that, combined with some of the choice quotes the band received from the press, makes me think that the Q101 tag is actually a good thing in this case.

Chris Connelly, Marydee Reynolds (Hideout)
I got an e-mail last week from Sound Opinions that teased an upcoming benefit show of some sort that featured Chris Cornell. Seeing as how he was billed under Caviar, I was curious. Turns out it was Chris Connelly. To be fair, Connelly was also in a fairly important band of the early nineties (Ministry), but he actually lives in town and plays here quite a bit, so it's not quite the same.

1.21   friday
The Soundtrack Of Our Lives with Inouk (Double Door)
I knew many, many people who thought these guys put out the best album of 2001 with their Behind The Music, but it's been four years without a release for the Swedish band. Presumably that's due to the jump to a major label, and technically, it looks as if their big-label debut is already out in Europe and will be released stateside soon. As is customary with that kind of layoff, the band is scaling down a bit with a Double Door show, despite their selling out Metro back when the last record was all the rage.

Vinx (HotHouse)
I've liked this guy ever since I saw him open for Sting on the Soul Cages tour, with der Stinger signing him to his then-new Pangea label. Of course, vocals accompanied by just a djembe might not be for everyone, but it's an awfully powerful voice.

1.22   saturday
Marigold Engine with After the Fight, Shooting Blanks, Voice of Addiction, Patrick Thomas (Elbo Room)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
I think this is the band's first show since their drummer came back from his boat gig, which is to say that my tenure as fill-in guy for a drummer who is, ironically, awfully good at playing fill-ins, is over.

1.23   sunday
Diver (Cullen's)   SEE COZ LIVE!
It's the first full-band show of 2005, and do I have to keep reminding you of how hoppin' Cullen's gets on Sunday nights? I didn't think so. We might even have a new song or two for you this time, but please, don't hold me to that.

Liquid Soul (Martyrs')
If anyone has actually been out for Liquid Soul's new Sunday night residency, drop me a line and let me know how it's been going. I have this notion that the Chicago acid jazz movement is generally seen as over, but that's not to say I wouldn't like to see it return, if you can navigate that double negative and catch my meaning.

Zach Brock and the Coffee Achievers (Morseland)
First off, I didn't realize the Rogers Park club -- site of many Oncle Julien exploits, including but not limited to a stunning rendition of "The Spirit of Radio" -- was even open anymore, let alone still booking music. Second, Brock is a local jazz violinist who seems to be doing pretty well around town. I had him maybe confused with another guy who I've seen play with John Moulder, but while I think I got that wrong, this kid seems to be doing pretty well for himself.