list.in.to.chicago this week: 11.13.2006

I can't even remember the last time I asked you guys to spread the good word about the newsletter. If you enjoy reading this every week, please, feel free to forward it to friends and encourage them to sign up. I have this vague notion of a subscription drive where people on the list get some kind of credit for signing friends up, and if you deliver some number of new readers, I give you some kind of prize, but the details and mechanisms escape me.

Plus there's that not-insignificant issue of finding free time in which to devise such a scheme, and we all know that's not going to happen.

Pick of the week
I'm going with the triumphant return of Frisbie on Friday at Schubas, and then the pair of Rock Star: Supernova alumni shows featuring Matt Hoffer and Lennex on Thursday at Elbo Room, and Patrice Pike on Saturday at Kinetic Playground.

list.in.to.COZ
It still seems like ages since we've had a proper four-piece Diver show, although we broke the summer drought with the Fado show last month. Anyway, it's back to Cullen's this Saturday night for what should be a good time. I know I'm jinxing it, but we actually haven't had anyone trip and fall into the band in quite some time. I'm not quite sure what to make of that.

Recap
The high point of the Robyn Hitchcock and the Venus 3 show on Wednesday wasn't even the music, which pretty much met my whimsical Beatles- and Byrds-influenced pop expectations, but Hitchcock's extended introduction to "(A Man's Gotta Know His Limitations) Briggs," wherein he summarized the entirety of the plot to Magnum Force, the movie that included the line that inspired the song.

In retrospect, maybe Wingman should have opened with "Only Happy When It Rains" from Garbage on Friday night. Thanks to those of you who braved the elements and came out to Mix.

11.13   monday
Talent Magnet Mondays (Stadium West)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
One of these weeks, I'll have to skip Vaughan's and pay a visit to Dana's open mic night over at the northern edge of Logan Square, because staying out late on Monday and Tuesday would just be too much as my advanced age.

11.14   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
It's "all skate" this week. No theme. Although at some point, a theme of songs that were picked for earlier themes might be in order. I may try one song I had half-prepared for last week, now that I've got it stuck in my head a bit better.

Toto (House of Blues)
I actually went to see Toto about 13 years ago, mostly because one of my favorite drummers -- Simon Phillips -- had taken over for the late Jeff Porcaro on drums, and the band has always touted some of the best studio musicans Los Angeles had to offer. Afterwards, I had to wonder if any of them had actually listened to the radio lately, in much the way rock music seems to no longer exist on WLUP after 1987 or so. With another decade of modern influences to ignore, I am a little curious to see what they're up to.

11.15   wednesday
Sia with Greg Laswell (House of Blues)
This is a return trip of sorts for the singer, who recently came through town with the downtempo electronica -- at least I think that's the right subgenre -- group Zero 7. They were enjoyable if somewhat unremarkable when I saw them at Bumbershoot in Seattle, but I know at least one friend who's a big, big Sia fan, so she's got that going for her.

11.16   thursday
Matt Hoffer with Detagoh, Lennex, The Graduate (Elbo Room)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
If you so desire, you can actually catch three contestants from this summer's Rock Star: Supernova reality show, including local "rocker" Matt Hoffer along with Phil Ritchie's Lennex tonight. Patrice Pike is in town on Friday. Further down the line is Toby Rand's band on December 2nd at the Abbey Pub.

Barenaked Ladies with Mike Doughty's Band (Allstate Arena)
I'm not so interested in the Canadian headliners as I am in Doughty, who made my top ten list last year, but I can't imagine his brand of articulate pop will work in the cavernous Rosemont space.

Under The Influence Of Giants (Abbey Pub)
You may have caught this band playing at halftime of this past Sunday's MLS Cup Final in Frisco, Texas, pitting the New England Revolution and the Houston Dynamo. But you probably didn't. Anyway, we're very happy here at l.i.t.c. central that Jay Heaps blew it for New England in the match. The band seemed to be aping OK Go to some extent, for whatever that's worth.

11.17   friday
Frisbie with Andy Pratt (Schubas)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
I bumped into Steve Frisbie about a month and a half ago, and he was really excited about getting the band's new record out and returning to the stage on a more regular basis. I know there's a fair chunk of local music fans who share his enthusiasm.

Primus with Drums and Tuba (Aragon Ballroom)
It's now been at least two or three tours where the "original" Primus lineup has been coasting on anthologies and other repackagings of older material. I want some new music before I shell out for tickets again. I like the band a lot, and I've seen them a bunch of times, but for Pete's sake, write some new tunes already!

Dearborn with Stellar Road (Cubby Bear)
These guys are still up on the list of candidates for my new favorite local band, a void that has been unfilled since both EXO and Ivory Wire called it quits.

The Musical Box (The Vic)
If the announcement that the Phil Collins-fronted lineup of Genesis is reuniting this summer didn't quite do it for you, these guys are likely the next best thing, as they re-create Gabriel-era tours using actual props and costumes from the band. From the display ad, it looks like they'll be leaning heavily on Foxtrot and, I think, Selling England By The Pound this time out.

The Blacks (Hideout)
I never quite got into this band as much as most of the local music press, but then again, the acoustic alt-country vibe isn't really my thing. At least I think that's the quick thumbnail description of their sound. I remember that less than I do the image of Gina Black commanding an upright bass.

11.18   saturday
Diver (Cullen's)   SEE COZ LIVE!
I was going to say that this show more-or-less marks the band's three-year anniversary, but then I went and checked, and it looks like that honor will fall upon our next show in December. However, we just might get that annual rehearsal out of the way this week, which could mean some new tunes for you on Saturday on Southport.

Patrice Pike with Tristen (Kinetic Playground)
The thing that always struck me about Pike during the run of Rock Star: Supernova was that the Austin singer/songwriter had that battle-hardened veneer about her, like she had played thousands of shows in unforgiving environs. It actually reminded me of Ani DiFranco quite a bit, although her sound is a bit more polished and pop than that. I checked her schedule and it looks like she won't be in town early enough to hang with Matt and Phil on Thursday.

Ike Reilly and the Assassination with What Four (Double Door)
I think Reilly may have graduated, or maybe regressed, from "next big thing" to "our little secret." He still plays around enough and seems to be respected locally, but maybe I bought into the hype a bit too much when it looked like his star was rising, because I can't quite dispel the sense that he took his shot and missed. And that's not really fair, given the statistical improbability of anyone ever really making it.

Air This Side Of Caution with Plaid Penmanship (Martyrs')
I haven't gotten back to see these guys since I started ranting about the role of the drummer in a pop band. I probably should, because I do actually like the music they're putting out.

The Musical Box (The Vic)
See Saturday's listing.

11.19   sunday
Nicholas Barron's Hyperactive (Long Room)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
On the strength of their upcoming record, Nicholas and friends have landed an upcoming feature in the New York Times as someone to watch. I've said it before, but the time may be right for Barron to make a splash after the success of John Mayer's live trio record from last year.