list.in.to.chicago this week: 11.06.2006

My name is Coz and I approve this message.

Pick of the week
Well, I'm going to see Robyn Hitchcock and the Venus 3 (Wednesday, Metro). That should tell you something. And the indie kids were all about The Decemberists (Saturday, Riviera Theatre) the last time they put out a record, and who am I to doubt the indie kids?

list.in.to.COZ
Get your Wingman fix this Friday at Mix! It rhymes, so it has to be good!

Recap
Halloween was interesting enough, with a bunch of people who I think were dressed as a band. Didn't really pull it off, though. Saturday's Diver gig was an adventure, and I can't stress this enough, but if you have no sound coming out of a monitor speaker, turn it down before you start messing with connection. I almost got knocked off of my stool about five songs in, which is way too long without being able to hear anything very well. And I'll admit, it's a bit odd going on after Nice Peter, whose set revolves around a song slamming cover bands. Art versus craft, man, apples and oranges.

Friday night was a last-minute (to me, anyway) double bill of Friends of Coz Soma Star and Dana Lawrence, the latter of whom went heavy into cover songs, which I hadn't really heard her do that often in the past. So that was a nice change of pace. There's more from that night, but you'll have to read to the end for it.

11.06   monday
Ben Lee with Rooney, John Ralston (Park West)
Neither Lee nor Rooney seem to have released anything in a year and half and three years, respectively, so the only compelling reason I can think of for this tour is that maybe the season premiere of The O.C. is upon us.

Paul Stanley with Slunt (House of Blues)
Not every member of KISS can have their own cable reality show. Some of them apparently still tour!

11.07   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
Okay, we're getting all impressionistic and shit with the themes. This week is all about politics, and I mean that as a sort of song-selection Rorschach Test.

Barbra Streisand with Il Divo (United Center)
Babs in concert on Election Day. I wonder what she'll talk about between songs?

English Beat with Skapone (Abbey Pub)
Dave Wakeling has played more than a few shows on his own in Chicago over the years, so I guess it was only a matter of time before he got the band back together.

11.08   wednesday
Alice In Chains with Hurt (Riviera Theatre)   SOLD OUT!
It dawns on me that, with the question theme two weeks ago and the "songs by dead guys" variation on the Halloween theme last week at the Vaughan's Open Jam, I could have played "Would?" for both of them. I'm guessing the new version of the band has legs, and last year's Metro show has become more than a one-off.

Robyn Hitchcock and the Venus 3 with Mark Pickerel (Metro)
The "Venus 3" are apparently Scott McCaughey, Peter Buck and Bill Rieflin, which should make for an interesting evening with the British singer/songwriter.

Suffrajett with Detholz!, Skybox (Schubas)
Yet another of those local bands that I've heard enough about to want to hear, but not quite enough to actually get off my ass and check out.

Kevin Federline (House of Blues)
I'd say it's about even odds that K-Fed's musical career will have ended prior to this show, and refunds offered to the one or two people who actually bought tickets. This, of course, assumes his musical career actually started at some point. I feel bad piling on, but it's just so easy.

11.09   thursday
OK Go with French Kicks, Quit Your Day Job (Logan Square Auditorium)
In typical anti-fashion fashion, I haven't actually watched the treadmills video in its entirety. At this point, I don't even feel like I have to.

John Legend with Robin Thicke (Riviera Theatre)   SOLD OUT!
Everybody's favorite new soul sensation that I've never actually heard.

Barbra Streisand with Il Divo (United Center)
Just imagine the between-song banter if the GOP holds on to both chambers of Congress.

11.10   friday
Wingman (Mix)   SEE COZ LIVE!
It's quickly becoming our home away from home, but in order for it to stay that way, we need you to join us. Watch Coz bite his tongue while playing Bon Fucking Jovi!

Bobby Previte's Coalition of the Willing (Martyrs')
This could be a pretty solid jazz outing, featuring Charlie Hunter, Robert Walters and Skerick, whose name I've seen spelled without the 'c' and first came to my attention playing tenor sax with Mike Manieri and Steps Ahead some 14 years ago.

Robert Randolph and the Family Band with Rocco De Luca (Riviera Theatre)
The infectious happiness of Randolph's ebullient funk can either be a joyous, celebratory thing, or it can be a bit grating, depending on your mood. Sometimes you don't want to listen to happy music. That doesn't make the music any worse.

Robert Pollard with Nassau (Abbey Pub)
The former Guided By Voices frontman is back. I think he has another new record out, too, which would be par for the course for Pollard, who is either very prolific or does very little filtering of what's worthy of recording, depending on who you ask.

John Moulder Quintet (Green Mill)
Haven't seen the local jazz guitarist out and around too much lately, but I haven't really been looking. I can't even remember the last time I went to the Mill.

Helicopters with Leave, Brother Lowdown, Seepeoples (Wise Fools Pub)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
I played a show with these guys at Martyrs' what seems like ages ago, and then became coworkers with the lead singer. Interesting stuff, even if they don't have a live drummer. Yet.

Zakk Wylde's Black Label Society with Black Stone Cherry, Priestess (Congress Theatre)
Not every member of Ozzy's band can have their own cable reality show. Some of them apparently still tour! Holy deja vu, Batman!

OK Go with French Kicks, Quit Your Day Job (Logan Square Auditorium)
See Thursday's listing.

11.11   saturday
The Decemberists with Alasdair Roberts (Riviera Theatre)
Jim DeRogatis called The Crane Wife something along the lines of the best Jethro Tull album in years, and then subjected Colin Meloy to an interview that was almost all about prog rock. That's the thing that can bug me about DeRo. He'll find his angle and then essentially force it upon the artist, like when he practically try to convince The Strokes that they thought The White Stripes were important kindred spirits. That was painful.

Ashoka with Lost Armada, The Sol Rays (Elbo Room)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Avi from Diver plays bass in this hard rock band, who have a new drummer that I'm curious to hear. I haven't checked them out since their debut performance, and I'd like to see how they've grown.

Soul Asylum with On a Sun, Amsterband (Double Door)
Sorry, more college reminiscing, as one of my fondest memories of Hyde Park was pulling an all-nighter to produce an outdoor show with Soul Asylum and Trip Shakespeare. I got there at 3am to meet the guys bulding the stage, and finally went home around 2am the next morning after everything was broken down and loaded up. Good times.

Straylight Run with Matt Pond PA, Kevin Devine, Street To Nowhere (Beat Kitchen)
Again, for all you local musicians out there, name your band after something in a William Gibson novel, and you're almost sure to get a listing.

John Moulder Quintet (Green Mill)
See Friday's listing.

11.12   sunday
Nicholas Barron's Hyperactive (Long Room)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
I ended up jamming with Nicholas and a Canadian singer named Tara Holloway last Friday at Stadium West for a couple of songs. Steve, watch your back!