list.in.to.chicago this week: 10.10.2005

If Columbus discovered America, and America invented rock and roll -- okay, I'll admit those are both slightly dubious "ifs" there -- then did Columbus discover rock and roll?

Also, if anybody's got an extra for the New Pornographers show later this month at Metro they're willing to unload, give me a shout.

Pick of the week
Bunches of good shows this week, including two tonight, so I'm trying hard to get this finished in time. Anytime Tortoise plays, it's a good thing, but backing up Daniel Lanois should be cool (Monday, Park West). Then there's the Rock N' Rebuild benefit, with a whole bunch of quality local talent (Monday, Metro).

Balancing out the week, Porcupine Tree (Tuesday and Wednesday, Park West), Chevelle (Friday, Riviera) and Mike Doughty (Saturday, Park West) make up some of the cream of this week's crop.

list.in.to.COZ
Just Vaughan's this week. Thanks to those of you who made it to the SomaStar show on Saturday, although I think that consists mostly of people who are actually in the band on this list.

Recap
Said SomaStar show went really well. La Tee Da and Bicycle Tricycle, also on the bill, seemed heavily influenced by The Arcade Fire and either Supertramp, Meatloaf or both, respectively. And as far as which of those is a compliment and which isn't, well you might be surprised.

And maybe I was too tired by then, or maybe it's because they opened the first set I caught with a song that I play in Diver, but I wasn't really digging All Mods Conned on Friday at the Globe. We're kind of a different flavor of British pop, though, so it's probably an apples and oranges kind of thing.

10.10   monday
Daniel Lanois with Tortoise (Park West)
The biggest claims to fame for Lanois are definitely his production efforts, having recorded landmark albums from the likes of Peter Gabriel and U2. Here he's making his own music, backed up by Chicago's own Tortoise, who will open the show.

Rock N' Rebuild (Metro)
This is a benefit for hurricane victims that features a pretty good representation of hot local bands, with The Redwalls, (Friends of Coz) The Changes, The M's, Bumpus and Abstract Giants scheduled to perform.

10.11   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
Took a crack at the new Mike Doughty tune last week, but poor lighting makes it hard to read lyrics, so it was a wee bit rough around the edges.

Porcupine Tree with Robert Fripp (Park West)
This band has a bit more heft than most "new" progressive rock bands, but not in the way that, say, Tool is both hefty and proggy. They rock more than Spock's Beard, though. Noted grumpy old man Robert Fripp will be opening the show with his Soundscapes.

McCoy Tyner Trio (Jazz Showcase)
The pianist is usually good for a trip or two through Chicago every year. He'll be joined by bassist Charnett Moffet and drummer Eric Gravatt. As always at the Showcase, the stand runs through Sunday.

10.12   wednesday
Death Cab For Cutie with Youth Group (Riviera Theatre)   SOLD OUT!
There's been much wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth over this band signing to a major label, but apparently there's also been much buying of tickets. The new stuff seems a little more introspective on the surface, at least as a straight up comparison to the last record.

David Gray with Jolie Holland (Chicago Theatre)
I'm still not sure I've even heard anything from Gray other than "Babylon." Maybe one other song, tops. I know people respond pretty strongly to that one when we play it in Diver.

Dead Can Dance (Auditorium Theatre)
This show is being touted as the band's first, and only, show in the midwest in about a decade. It's a very peculiar, somewhat unique blend of textures upon textures that seems to instill a fair amount of passion in their fans. I don't know if I've known anyone who just kind of likes this band.

Porcupine Tree with Robert Fripp (Park West)
Second of two nights. Which means you might be able to find Fripp in a bookstore and have him shun you.

10.13   thursday
Paper Airplane Pilots with Great Lakes Myth Society, The People (Martyrs')
These guys get the "it's not you, it's me" speech this time around, where I say that I'd like to catch these guys again to see how they've developed lately, but I haven't gotten around to it yet.

Bruce Springsteen (United Center)
As a native of New Jersey, it is my sworn duty to report to you that The Boss is in town. Also, you should watch the Sopranos. I ain't touchin' Bon Jovi, though.

Scottish McMillan with Chicago Guitar Circle, Wandering Endorphin, Homeland Security Orchestra (Elbo Room)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
There was some talk of putting together a new band with McMillan, who plays guitar and percussion, sometimes more or less at the same time, but I haven't heard anything. The bill sounds intriguing, if only for the granduer of tacking things liek "guitar circle" and "orchestra" to your band name.

10.14   friday
Chevelle with Taproot, The Black Maria (Riviera Theatre)
Former Filter guitarist Geno Lenardo had been handling bass duties for the local trio after the departure of Joe Loeffler, which I mention only because I have since stolen Geno's hairstyle. Sorry about that, it just sorta happened. Now that role -- the bass player, not the haircut -- is apparently being filled by Liftpoint's Dean Bernadini.

Nada Surf with Say Hi To Your Mom (Metro)
Buoyant, jangly pop with a hint of power is the quick thumbnail of this band's new record, The Weight Is A Gift. It gets a little thin at times, but is generally inoffensive.

Joan Baez (The Vic)
The sixty-something singer from the sixty-somethings has been dropping in on anti-war protests, but I don't recall if this whole tour is about that message. I may be confusing it with the thing Jane Fonda was going to do in the bio-diesel bus.

Larry McCray (Kingston Mines)
For someone who has lived in Chicago for seventeen years, I don't actually go to see much blues. McCray played on campus when I was back in school, and I've since had him pegged as someone I would see again. So this whole "I really should go see this act again" mantra can last longer than a decade, apparently.

Rebecca Wickens with Patrick Thomas Theory, Karma Tease, Dave Sills, Eddie Prez (Cubby Bear)
I need to show some love to Ms. Wickens after misrepresenting some things the last time I saw her. There isn't a Rebecca Wickens Band -- that billing was an error by the Double Door people. And she doesn't even like the Indigo Girls, so they're not the obvious influence I had initially suspected.

10.15   saturday
Son Volt with Fruit Bats (The Vic)
This sounds like a food order from a weird sci-fi movie. Yes, I'd like an order of Son Volt with a side order of Fruit Bats, please. And a glass of Wilco.

Mike Doughty's Band with Orenda Fink, New Buffalo (Park West)
The former Soul Coughing singer is back with a pretty solid new record. The quirkiness tends to live more in the songs themselves than the arrangements, whereas his former band blended the two.

Larry McCray (Kingston Mines)
Second of two nights. No idea if McCray would shun you in a bookstore, though.

Ike Reilly Assassination with The Reputation, Corsaire (Double Door)
What the heck happened to Ike Reilly? I guess maybe I was buying too much into the hype of local cheerleaders who had him pegged as some kind of Midwestern version of Beck, but the worldwide acclaim just never materialized. Or it came and went without me noticing, which is entirely possible, but not likely.

Gonzalo Rubalcaba and the New Cuban Quartet with The Chuchito Valdes Afro-Cuban Orchestra (Auditorium Theatre)
I saw this piano player do a solo gig at the Jazz Festival many, many years ago, and he was probably the most percussive pianist I'd ever heard. I'd be curious how that would then fit into a full band concept, although I suspect it'll work quite well.

10.16   sunday
Beenie Man (Joe's)
In case you're easily confused like me, Beenie Man was not the one who sang "Because I Got High," the song at the end of Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. That was Afroman. Beenie Man is the Jamaican DJ who came under the fire of gay and lesbian groups for his lyrics in the last year or two.