list.in.to.chicago this week: 06.27.2005

We're at that part of the year where I feel like I need to explain that I don't typically comment on Summerfest in Milwaukee, unless I can come up with something remarkably witty.

And what are the odds of that happening?

Pick of the week
Heading into the holiday weekend, Rachael Yamagata (Friday at Metro) looks like it should be a good one. In other local band news, how about Giant Step at Schubas the following night? On the national scale, you've got Modest Mouse at the new Charter One Pavilion tomorrow night.

list.in.to.COZ
I think you'll have to settle for Tuesdays at Vaughan's until the middle of July. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Recap
Thursday's Diver/Paramours pairing at Cubby Bear was a good time, as long as you weren't a Pistons fan, I guess. Word on the street was that it sounded good in the house. That can be hard to gauge from up on the stage sometimes.

Speaking of that, it was a little odd scaling up to that big of a stage and that big of a room, then going to back to the more intimate environs of Cullen's on Saturday. Much different vibes, and both have their merits.

6.27   monday
Edwin McCain with Trevor Menear (House of Blues Backporch Stage)
If McCain is the rising star I've heard he is, this seems like a surprisingly good chance to see him in a more intimate setting, if I'm right in assuming the Back Porch Stage is downstairs in the restaurant.

6.28   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
If you came out last week -- and let's be honest, you probably didn't, given the paltry turnout -- you heard me debut the ultra-acoustic version of "The Safety Dance" by Men Without Hats, along with tunes from the likes of Asia and Genesis. This is what you're missing.

Scottinho (Images)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
This is Scott's last gig in Chicago before moving to New York City. Best of luck in the Big Apple, my friend. Images is located at 3908 North Lincoln Avenue.

Modest Mouse with Triumph Of Lethargy (Charter One Pavilion)
I think this show exists purely to give the new lakefront venue a shred of indie -- yes, I know Modest Mouse is now on a major label, that's why it's just a shred -- credibility, as most of the rest of the fare at the former Meigs Field this summer seem to be oldies and nostalgia acts.

Kick The Cat with Renegades (Martyrs')   FRIENDS OF COZ!
It's your sorta monthly-ish installment of local jazz fusion.

6.29   wednesday
Blue Man Group (Briar Street Theater)
Yep, it's come to this. The "in case of emergency, break glass" listing. Which isn't to say you shouldn't go see Blue Man, 'cause you should, it's great. There just isn't much else of note going on that I can find.

6.30   thursday
Gidgets Ga-Ga with Ill Ease, Static Films, Jerel (Abbey Pub)
I just got an electronic press kit from this longtime Chicago band's (new?) management, for inclusion in my podcast. Maybe they know something about my self-publishing plans that I don't, I'm not sure.

Lynyrd Skynyrd with Creedence Clearwater Revisited (Taste of Chicago)
Not that it's ever as funny as the people who insist on yelling it out at every rock show ever, but does yelling "Freebird!" lose some of its effect when the band actually wrote the song? Given the recent heat, I'm a little afraid at the potential for sweaty rednecks southern rock fans with no shirts on at this one.

7.1   friday
Rachael Yamagata with Erin McKeown (Metro)
I would give out a list.in.to.chicago t-shirt, if any such things existed, for the first person who finds me a reference to local product Yamagata as a "chanteuse." Extra credit -- heck, let's make it two non-existant t-shirts -- for the phrase "Chicago chanteuse."

John Fogerty with John Mellencamp (Tweeter Center)
If you're wondering whether or not Fogerty is part of the faux-Creedence bill with Skynyrd at Taste of Chicago, his being on this tour with John Cougar-Boyscoutcamp makes me think "no." Does anyone even remember that it used to just be John Cougar? I'm old.

Susie Gomez and her Multiple Cats (California Clipper)
It's this week's "band name of the week!" Tell her what she's won, Bob!

Larry Schroeder with The Bish, Gayle Ritt, Russell Baylin (Elbo Room)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
This is one of the first bills I've seen Schroeder on since the demise of Regal Standard. He's been doing the solo acoustic thing for a while on Monday nights as part of the Chicago Rock Club proceedings at Elbo Room, but now he's taking it to the weekend.

7.2   saturday
Giant Step with Cisco Pike, 256 (Schubas)
I need to see these guys again so I can expand upon my "they sound sorta like Cheap Trick" thumbnail sketch.

Michelle Shocked (HotHouse)
I remember when we had Shocked on a bill with Poi Dog Pondering and John Wesley Harding at the U of C way back in 1990 or so. It was between sets, and she was waiting to come on stage when the phone off to the right of the stage, which is usually turned off during shows, started ringing. So she answered it. It was kind of funny at the time. I guess you had to be there.

7.3   sunday
Coheed and Cambria (Metro)   SOLD OUT!
That 1,000 people would be hip to this band says more for this odd little neo-retro-prog rock movement than I possibly could. They did get a fair amount of exposure to the right kind of audience opening up for The Mars Volta earlier this year.

Scottish McMillan with Stuart Davis (Schubas)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
I got an e-mail from Scottish this week after he found a previous post of mine about running into him back when I was with the Lindsie band. Google is fun like that.