list.in.to.chicago this week: 05.30.2005

Happy Memorial Day! The weather gods are mocking me for not getting the work I needed to get done this weekend yesterday, when it was cloudy and threatening rain. I think they're in collusion with the parking gods, who have their way with me quite often.

Pick of the week
Friday on the grounds of the New City YMCA is the first night of the Q101 Block Party, with Queens of the Stone Age and Interpol on the mainstage and Assassins on the second stage, and looks like a heck of a value for the fifteen bucks they're charging. And Me'Shell Ndegeocello on Sunday night at Park West looks awfully good as well.

And I'm sad to report that the Allan Holdsworth Trio show that was briefly on the Martyrs' calendar for this weekend was cancelled. That would have been quality.

list.in.to.COZ
This week marks the debut of Lisa Zarov and Small Creatures on Tuesday night at Martyrs'. If I had to point to one artist as a reference point, I get a distinct PJ Harvey vibe, even if the sound seems to have arrived there via a different path. 9pm start and a single set, so it's not too rough for a school night.

Recap
We had some thoroughly entertaining drunks at Cullen's on Saturday night, including one guy who asked nearly every woman in the bar to dance during the first set, and another guy who was "air singing" along with us in the third.

5.30   monday
Yakuza with YOB with Indian, Weedeater, Trifog (The Note)
Ever since learning the new sound guy at Elbo Room is in this band, I've been meaning to check them out. Prior to that, I just knew them as the guys that played on bills with Busker Soundcheck a lot, which wasn't a bad thing, either.

5.31   tuesday
Lisa Zarov and Small Creatures with Biirdie, Helicopters (Martyrs')   SEE COZ LIVE!
In the monthlong run-up to this show, I've been reminded of how much fun coming up with drum parts from scratch can be. Playing in cover bands as much as I have lately -- where it's more about the fun of playing than that of creating -- I've missed that. Anyway, if last night's rehearsal is any indication, it should be a good one.

Open Jam (Vaughan's)
After Martyrs', feel free to pay Tony a visit as he holds down the fort on his own this week.

Kaiser Chiefs with OK Go, Caviar, Amusement Park On Fire (Park West)
On the one hand, oh boy, another new UK act. Do you think all these tours have something to do with the weak dollar? On the other, you've got OK Go and Caviar on the bill as well, who would probably be worth seeing without one of the minor players in the current Brit invasion.

6.01   wednesday
Common (House of Blues)
I don't think it's too much to say that Common is probably the biggest rap star to come out of Chicago, and to his credit, he's done it without conforming to tired rap stereotypes or conventions. The early, all-ages show is sold out, but they've added a second, late show.

Linus with Marizen, Theresa Andersson, Russell from Easy Tiger (Double Door)
I still can't see this band playing and not think it's my old URT bandmate Derek's old band. And I'm pretty sure we played a show with Marizen back when I was in Lindsie's band. Now if I could just work Oncle Julien and Step Zero in, I can have the total former band nostalgia post.

6.02   thursday
Dave Matthews Band with Jurassic 5 (Tweeter Center)
Yep, the shed season is upon us. Also, if you're taking any boat tours on the Chicago River this week, bring an umbrella.

Gidgets Ga-Ga with The Danger, Carbon Four (Abbey Pub)
I think this is an EP release for Gidgets, who have been around for a long, long time now.

Scotland Yard Gospel Choir with Palaxy Tracks, Dogme 95 (Schubas)
I've never seen this band and I have no idea what they're about, but I have to say, they have a great band name. It just sounds like there's something intruiging about them. On the other hand, it hasn't motivated me to go see them, but considering how long it will take me to see some bands where I actually know band members, that's not surprising.

Common (House of Blues)
Limited tickets remain for what's now the third of three shows.

6.03   friday
Queens of the Stone Age with Interpol, Hot Hot Heat (New City YMCA)
The first night of Q101's Block Party is the better show by a wide margin. So much so that I have to wonder if it will be prohibitively crowded, which is the concert-going equivalent of the classic price-sensitivity market research tradeoff. Yes, I'm a geek. This isn't new news. Also, Chicago's own Assassins are on the second stage.

The Ditty Bops with Duenow (Martyrs')
Another band, along with Low Millions and Blue Merle, who have been getting a good bit of WXRT airplay. And I'm trying to remember why Duenow is familiar, but I'm not coming up with anything. Maybe I just saw a flyer at Elbo Room or one of those random pictures in the Reader.

Fishbone with Slightly Stoopid, The Beautiful Girls (House of Blues)
As far as I can figure, bassist Norwood Fisher and singer Angelo Moore are the only remaining members that I've even heard of, which is too bad, considering how great this band was in the early nineties. Now they're stuck opening for Warped Tour acts.

Judas Priest with Queensryche (Tweeter Center)
There's maybe a broader socio-political story when you consider Rob Halford's ouster and return to the eighties metal heavyweights, one that might do more for reducing red-state homophobia than any political debate, but this isn't the time or place for it.

6.04   saturday
American Hi-Fi with Majesty, Honestly (Bottom Lounge)
It dawns on me that I've got a scanner, and pictures of American Hi-Fi frontman Stacy Jones from, ouch, sixteen years ago when we were both in Berklee College of Music's summer program, but anyone who visits NotAbbott.com regularly knows how derelict the photos pages are.

Architecture In Helsinki with Catfish Haven, Zelienople (Schubas)
Okay, these guys have to play a show with Rockets Over Sweden, don't they?

6.05   sunday
Me'Shell NdegeOcello (Park West)
Because Me'Shell is listed only as playing bass on this, I'm thinking it's in support of the instrumental jazz/funk record I had heard about a while ago. I just can't find much in the way to corroborate that. If I'm right, it should be fantastic, because she's a gifted musician. Most of her solo shows focus on her as singer/songwriter, though, and she only straps on the bass a couple of times. When she does, the music elevates noticeably, so it will be worth it to see her playing the whole time.