list.in.to.chicago this week: 01.15.2007

Last week's e-mail went out with a typo in the first sentence and with Burn Rome Burn playing the wrong venue. Apparently the l.i.t.c. fact-checkers are still on vacation. Of course, you can always make your own corrections in the comments on the website!

Pick of the week
There's a better than even chance I'll go check out Columbian Monkey Knife Fight on Thursday (Double Door) and maybe NYCO on Saturday (Elbo Room), especially with Jayh Johnson opening the latter show.

list.in.to.COZ
It's the inaugural Diver show of 2007 at Fado this Friday, one of only a handful here in the middle of the winter months. And we're still not sure what that new Illinois law regarding cover bands is all about, but we don't think it affects us. From what I can tell, it's about having the name of an original band when you don't have any original members and passing off your music as original, not that cover bands have to explicitly state they're playing covers. That said, I'm no lawyer, so who knows.

Recap
I saw Nicholas Barron's Hyperactive last night, and I think Steve's maybe getting way too into the season premiere of 24, as he was sporting a beard not unlike Jack Bauer's when he got off the boat from China. The band was great, as usual, and Nicholas has some odd mental block where he thinks my name is Dan, realizes that's not right, and then gets kinda stuck. It's funny.

Friday night was a quick trip to Elbo Room to hear a guy named JC somebody, but the last name totally escapes me. Good tunes, with lyrics that were maybe a little too overtly poetic, but not really bad. And the bassist had on what looked like velour pants, which should count for something. Then it was off to the alleged closing night of Stadium West, with Soma Star, Dana Lawrence and Jayh Johnson all taking the soon-to-be shuttered stage with acoustic sets, only the late word was that the venue isn't quite done yet. So there will apparently be more "last shows" to come.

The more important part of the recap is that I'm actually practicing my drums again. Got a good hour or so of work in twice last week, which I hope to make a regular occurence.

1.15   monday
Pit er Pat with Brokeback, Cairo Gang (Schubas)
The monthlong residence continues. Following up on last week's "how the hell do I know these guys" rumination, I actually searched the LITC archives and found two mentions, but only as opening bands for Mission of Burma way back in 2004 and for Bloc Party in 2005. Of course, Mission of Burma was just here last week, and Bloc Party tickets just went on sale over the weekend, so I can pass this off as meaningful content.

1.16   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
I was still sick on Tuesday, so I wasn't able to plan a theme for this week. I'll actually get the remaining e-mail addresses for the usual suspects and we'll have one for next time, probably "second acts." I may have another good 80s tune to add to the book this week.

Wes John Trio with Tom Wright Group with Jim Gallioretto, Gunnelpumpers (Martyrs')   FRIENDS OF COZ!
The former e-mics leader is playing with Eric Bailey on bass and Clyde Davis on drums, which sounds like a pretty potent combination.

1.17   wednesday
Anne Harris with Helen Money (Schubas)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
I haven't seen her name on any bills in a while, but according to Harris' myspace page, Chris Siebold is still manning the guitar spot with the band, and Bob's been replaced by Rich Stitzel on drums, which is going from strength to strength, pretty much.

1.18   thursday
Columbian Monkey Knife Fight with My Cold Dead Hand, AM/FM, Piel Plastica (Double Door)
The last show and the EP they so nicely gave away have done nothing to dent this band's lead as the frontrunner as my new favorite local band, although they've got competition this week from NYCO.

Ryan Adams with The Redwalls (House of Blues)   SOLD OUT!
I don't know if Adams is intentionally trying to be the most prolific songwriter of the late twentieth and early twenty-first century, but it certainly seems that way. Chicago's Redwalls are supposed to have a new record on the way that's supposed to be indicative of some growth as a band. I remain skeptical.

The Bomb with 4-Star Alarm, Textbook (Empty Bottle)
I don't think this can accurately be called the "new" band from Naked Raygun's Jeff Pezzati anymore. It's just his band at this point.

1.19   friday
Diver (Fado)   SEE COZ LIVE!
I have this vague notion that Diver is going to see some growth this year, and that I'm actually going to fix up the website, take a real band photo and make posters, pimp the mailing list, add some new venues to the circuit and schedule some rehearsals to add tunes. Then I realize what band I'm talking about.

Gomez with O.A.R. (UIC Pavilion)
I can't really recommend O.A.R. in good conscience, so if someone offers you a ticket for free, go check out the opening set from Gomez and then take off.

Tributosaurus Trio (Bill's Blues Bar, Evanston)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Apparently the Tributo-kids are extending the brand a bit with an acoustic engagement that will run the gamut of bands the musical chameleon has covered over time.

Lyle Lovett, John Hiatt, Joe Ely, Guy Clark (Chicago Theatre)
Okay, this is not the worst group of singer/songwriters you could get together on one stage. Not by a wide margin.

1.20   saturday
Frank Orrall and Dag Juhlin (Martyrs', early)
The Poi Dog frontman and the former Slug join forces for this show. I don't know if this is acoustic, electric, or if the graphic the Martyrs' site is using is any indication, includes some sort of martial arts demonstration.

Bumpus with Smooth Move, Spare Parts (Martyrs', late)
I wonder if enough time has passed for this band to be noted for something other than being Rachael Yamagata's former outfit. I heard them covering something interesting at the rehearsal space a month or so ago, but don't quite recall what it was.

NYCO with Sam Saunders, The Attraction, Jayh Johnson (Elbo Room)
So at last count, these guys were in the running to be my new favorite band -- and yes, this is starting to be very similar to Stephen Colbert looking for his "new black friend" -- with their slick, jazzy pop. You can tell how old someone is depending on whether they compare the sound to Ben Folds (young) or Steely Dan (get off my lawn, you damn kids!).

The Assembly with Slings and Arrows, Apteka, Sunday Morning Chameleon (Metro)
I think these guys have seeped in to my consciousness via osmosis and Chicagoist, as they seem to talk them up a bit over there. I don't think I've ever actually seen them, although maybe once at Double Door. MIght be getting them confused with The Reputation.

1.21   sunday
Nicholas Barron's Hyperactive (Long Room)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
I feel obligated to continue making fun of Steve's beard. Seriously, somebody buy him a flannel shirt so he can totally rock this "mountain man" look.