list.in.to.chicago this week: 02.20.2006

So my weekend was a little out of character. It involved bowling (I kicked Costello family butt, thankyouverymuch), a nice brunch at a Virgina resort and watching presidential re-enactors field questions from an audience. Oh, and curling. Both the inexplicable Olympic sport and what happens to my spine when I'm confined to an airplane seat for a couple of hours. But I'm back, even if my back isn't quite back, so let's get on with it.

Pick of the week
Weekdays are pretty light, but there's a ton this weekend, including Dana Lawrence (Uncommon Ground) and Sunday Morning Chameleon (Martyrs') on Friday and American Motherload (Double Door) and The Ladies And Gentlemen (Elbo Room) on Saturday.

list.in.to.COZ
Wow. A week off. From everything but Vaughan's, anyway. It won't last long.

Recap
The Soma Star Wise Fools show went well, as far as I could tell and once we finally got to sound check. There's a dryness on that stage that's reminsiscent of Martyrs', and meant it was hard to hear what was going on. Which typically means your humble correspondent played really forcefully and hoped everyone else followed. They did. Can't speak for the ensuing Soulfix set, as I had to get out of there before they hit the stage.

2.21   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
No more anti-love songs. I got it out of my system. I had this vague notion of even more songs I wanted to learn, but going away for the weekend totally backed me up on my DVR'd TV shows, which means that will probably occupy the first part of my evening. So if I get any more chances to kill time on the microphone while Tony changes strings, don't be surprised if I start riffing on stuff that was on The Daily Show last week.

Redneck Manifesto with The Attack Formation, The Pomonas (Empty Bottle)
Got wind of this band -- which I've heard described as an Irish version of Tortoise -- during a fairly exhaustive rundown of all music coming out of the UK last week from someone fresh out of the Supergrass show.

Jefferson Starship and the Jefferson (Airplane) Family Galactic Empire (House of Blues)
I'd like to see them fit that on the marquee sign at Marina City. Also, it seems pretty light on actual members of either the Airplane or the Starship.

2.22   wednesday
Poi Dog Pondering with Alejandro Escovedo, Nicholas Tremulis (Fitzgerald's, Berwyn)
This is another benefit for local soundman Gary Schepers, and the ubiquity of these sorts of shows demonstrates his part in the local scene.

Dolt 45 with Who Will Survive, Phistine Verona, Waxon 7 (Nite Cap)
I think this band features the guy who has been very helpful over at the Guitar Center in Arlington Heights on drums, at a venue way west on Irving Park that seems to be slowly building some steam.

2.23   thursday
Buckwheat Zydeco (House of Blues)
It's interesting to see how certain artists have such strong relationships with individual clubs. I think maybe I've seen Buckwheat Zydeco playing out at Fitzgerald's, but within the city limits, it's always House of Blues.

2.24   friday
Dana Lawrence with Julie Loyd, Brianna Lane, Lindsay Mac (Uncommon Ground)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
As if four women in one night -- admit it, you were thinking it, and when I say "you" I mean "Kevin" -- weren't enough, Lawrence will also be joined by the rest of the ladies from Chainsaw Betty for several tunes. The one I heard reminded me of Cibo Matto, but only because it was women singing about food. It didn't actually sound anything like them.

56 Hope Road with Family Style, Bumpus, John Wasem Band (Double Door)
This is being billed as some sort of Mardi Gras Ball, and I have to say, it looks to be a pretty high-energy, positive night of music.

Cisco Pike with Bicycle Tricycle, Smush, Sfumato (Cubby Bear)
So I did figure out that Scott Lucas from Local H is in Cisco Pike, but that didn't answer the question of how I got on their e-mail list. Cubby Bear continues to flirt with original music, this time with an assist from Q101.

Sunday Morning Chameleon with Zerostars, Anita (Martyrs')
This might be a good opportunity to follow up with the Chameleons, after their new drummer e-mailed me to tell me that they've made some changes. Which I'm assuming to mean more varied tempos -- technically it's "tempi," but that would look weird -- and bridges.

The M's with Archer Prewitt (Empty Bottle)
There was a time where everybody seemed to be talking about these guys, The Ponys and The Changes, but The Ponys seem have been the most active lately. Maybe that's starting to change.

2.25   saturday
American Motherload with Roller, Revery, Scheflo (Double Door)
I realize that I've been writing list.in.to.chicago for nearly four years now, but it still surprises me when I find out people -- particularly outside my core group of friends and subscribers -- actually read the thing. Which is why I'm still amused that my description of American Motherload is quoted on the local hard rock band's website. Would it kill you guys to link back to me here?

The Ladies and Gentlemen with Viceroy, Columbian Monkey Knife Fight, The New Randy's (Elbo Room)
I think I looked these guys up last time and found out they're cut of the same cloth as other new new wave bands like The Killers and The Bravery. That they're playing my "home away from home" might give me a chance to find out for sure.

Anna Fermin's Trigger Gospel with The Katie Todd Band (Fitzgerald's, Berwyn)
I had this notion that Fermin's solo shows of late at Davenport's might inform her band in some way, but seeing as how I didn't catch any of those shows, nor have I actually seen Trigger Gospel in nearly four years, I'm not in a position to say whether or not that's the case. If any of you catch this show and want to report back, please feel free.

2.26   sunday
Kinzie (Phyliss' Musical Inn)
I got nothin' on this band, but if they were to ever play with Dearborn, it would be the greatest potential for would-be attendees getting lost ever. "Yeah, I'm going to see Dearborn and Kinzie over at North and Damen. Huh?"