list.in.to.chicago this week: 10.09.2006

If you act fast, I have a line on an extra ticket for tonight's Secret Machines show. Don't worry, I'm recording Heroes and Studio 60, and Prison Break is on hiatus until baseball is done.

Pick of the week
Well, if it's any indication, I'm actually going to Secret Machines (Monday, Park West), Art Brut (Thursday, Metro) and Beck (Saturday, UIC Pavilion).

list.in.to.COZ
And don't forget, you've got Diver on Friday at Fado and, as always, the Open Jam at Vaughan's on Tuesday. So that's five of seven nights accounted for. Could this be the week I finally decide I'm too old for this shit?

Recap
Woodstock night at Vaughan's was pretty fun. And big thanks to those of you who came out to Wingman at Mix on Friday. I also dropped in on Professor Fraker -- who brought a keyboard to Vaughan's, not a "keyword," and wow, am I working too hard or what? -- again at Messner's on Thursday and didn't realize those guys hadn't heard me do my dorky white guy rendition of "Hey Ya!"

10.09   monday
Secret Machines (Park West)
One of the striking things about this trio is how their songs become so gargantuan when they play live. A lot of this seems to be the combination of ascending chord structures and increasing dynamics, and the massive buildup actually reminds me of Me'Shell Ndegeocello in some respects.

TV On The Radio with Grizzly Bear (Metro)   SOLD OUT!
Apparently indie buzz can outstrip a successful Lollapalooza slot, as the current darlings of the Pitchfork set sold this show out long ago, while Secret Machines tickets appear to still be available.

10.10   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
I'm not sure if it rises to an official "theme," but I know there's going to be an effort to play Beatles tunes this week as we get a visit from the mother of one of the open jam regulars.

Martin Zellar with Dick Prall (Schubas)
The former Gear Daddy is making a solo appearance, and from what I understand, it's a true solo show, as in him and an acoustic guitar.

Tim Ries and the Rolling Stones Project (Martyrs')
Once again, the Stones' sidemen strike out on their own in order to stretch a bit outside of what I'm assuming is a pretty strictly choreographed tour.

10.11   wednesday
Mojave 3 with Tim O'Reagan (Park West)
I've been seeing this name crop up a lot lately, but I still haven't gotten past confusing them with Jurassic 5.

The Rolling Stones with Elvis Costello and the Imposters (Soldier Field)
By now you've heard that the weather is going to get cold quick right about this time of the week. At least opener Mr. McManus will be more appropriately dressed than for his Taste of Chicago gig a few years back, when he was wearing a wool jacket in 90-plus degree heat.

10.12   thursday
Art Brut with We Are Scientists, The Spinto Band (Metro)
They're not the most proficient band on the planet, but Art Brut's set at Pitchfork was a whole lot of fun. And hopefully the stairs to the stage at Metro will be easier to navigate for Brooklyn's We Are Scientists, who were reported to have some problems with the spiral staircase at Subterranean last time out.

Stanton Moore Trio (Elbo Room)
The Galactic drummer brings his spin on traditional New Orleans jazz, funk and rock to North Lincoln Avenue, which is notable in so much as Elbo Room doesn't do a heck of a lot of national acts. At least not ones I've heard of.

Air This Side Of Caution with Matthew Santos, Side Project on the Main Stage, Bended and Folded (Abbey Pub)
I haven't seen these guys since I started expressing my concern over the role of the drums in the band, so I'd be curious to see if anything has changed. If I recall the argument correctly, I liked the songs, but thought the drum parts could stand to be toned down. Then again, I've been playing lots of Oasis and Radiohead tunes for a couple of years now, so I've sorta "gotten religion" about playing simply.

The Stills with Land of Talk (Logan Square Auditorium)
This show seems to have been moved from Metro on Wednesday. The band is from Montreal, but I don't remember if they were considered part of that "Canadian invasion" -- say that out loud to appreciate what a curious phrase that really is -- from a few year back along with The Arcade Fire. It seems they tend rather to get lumped in with Interpol and the other Joy Division-influenced bands of that ilk.

10.13   friday
Diver (Fado)   SEE COZ LIVE!
As of this writing, the band is planning to have our "annual rehearsal" this week, which could mean new songs! Plus, it's got to be our first full four-piece show since, I don't know, Rock Around The Block?

Branford Marsalis Quartet (Symphony Center)
I haven't been keeping track with the "first family of American jazz" lately, which is too bad, as I consider Marsalis to be one of the tenor sax giants of his generation, to the point where he's ruined saxophonists playing in rock bands for me after his tenure with Sting set the bar really, really high.

Acumen Nation with Marazen, Left Setter, The Doomsday Social (Double Door)
While I'm not as in touch with the industrial scene as some, I haven't seen these guys' name out there in a while, so we can add that to the ever-growing list of bands who have been around more than ten years making some sort of comeback. Although their Wikipedia entry's discography makes it look like they never actually left.

Ani DiFranco with Jesse Harris (Chicago Theatre)
Her songwriting has always been solid, but one of the things that impressed me most about DiFranco the one time I saw her was her stage banter. I know that seems like an odd impression to come away with, but she just had this total ease about her that can only come from playing what I would imagine are well over a thousand shows in her career, maybe two.

Chin Up Chin Up with Make Believe, Oxford Collapse, Illusionist Ryan Williams (Empty Bottle)
I think this is the first show I've seen locally since the band played at Pitchfork. I have to say, I wasn't really that into them, but it was early in the day and it was hot. And I really hope that Ryan Williams is an actual illusionist, and that's not some kind of ironic band name.

Ian Anderson (Park West)
The Jethro Tull singer has been doing his fair share of solo tours in the last several years, and I have to say, I'm somewhat afraid of the crowd he might draw. Mostly because I think they would comprise primarily of Druids and could cast spells on me for making fun of them.

Michael Ian Black with Michael Showalter (Metro)
I never watched The State on MTV way back when, so for me, Michael Ian Black is just one of those talking heads who shows up on nearly every VH-1 special. I've been told he's funnier than that.

Liquid Soul with Treologic, J. Davis Trio (Cubby Bear)
I keep trying to balance this appreciation of the longevity of some Chicago bands with the notion that it's actually 1998 and I haven't noticed.

10.14   saturday
Beck with Spankrock (UIC Pavilion)
I saw an interesting review of Beck's latest record that pointed out that his more introspective works tend to coincide with midterm elections, and his melancholy is somehow a reflection of the current state of politics, but I think that might be a bit of a reach. This is also a roundabout way of saying I haven't listened to the record yet.

Absent Star with Escape From Earth, The Year After, The Takedown (Beat Kitchen)
I'm still trying to figure out the pattern of appearances for these guys since they were signed to RCA. It doesn't seem to jive with being on a major label, but then again, they weren't exactly a household name when that happened, so somebody somewhere might want them to get some more seasoning, and if the audience isn't there yet, headlining Double Door or Metro might not be a viable option. Of course, I may be completely wrong. I'm just saying it's a little curious.

Don Caballero with Call Me Lightning, Reds and Blue (Empty Bottle)
This was the only band I ever saw at the Fireside Bowl, at which time I learned it's really hard to find a cab way the hell west on Fullerton, even more so when there's some two feet of snow.

Madeleine Peyroux with Jonah Smith (The Vic)
Peyroux will forever be, to me, the singer that got called a "chartreuse" instead of a "chanteuse" on the MSN music blog that I think doesn't actually exist anymore.

10.15   sunday
Nicholas Barron's Hyperactive (Long Room)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
It's Sunday. It's funky and soulful. You know the rest by now.