list.in.to.chicago this week: 02.26.2007

Hey, uh, how's it going?

Pick of the week
I'm going to go with Pete Yorn at the Riv on Saturday, if I had to pick just one. Second would probably be the Jazz Showcase Benefit on Thursday in Millenium Park, just on principle. It feels weird not having the Jazz Showcase.

list.in.to.COZ
Okay, I've been hyping Diver on Friday at Blue Bayou as the birthday show. Not unlike New Year's Eve, I like gigs on or around my birthday, because it takes the uncertainty out of it.

Recap
Didn't do much other than Vaughan's on Tuesday. I did see Senegalese pop star Youssou N'Dour in the new movie Amazing Grace, and then saw a nattily-dressed duo over at Cullen's that I think would sound better with a drummer. And a bass player. This Friday at Blue Bayou, even...

2.26   monday
Judy Roberts and Petra Van Nuis (Katerina's)
I remember seeing Roberts at the Jazz Festival some ten years ago and figuring she might be in a position to make a name for herself beyond the city limits, but either I was overstating her case, or she's happy with what she's got locally.

2.27   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
Scratch Van Halen from the ongoing "2007 reunion bands" theme, but this week I'm also allowing songs from my repertoire. Yes, I'm going to milk this birthday thing as long as I can. Speaking of, happy birthday, Dad!

Red Hot Chili Peppers with Gnarls Barkley (Allstate Arena)
It's not that I dislike the Peppers as much as I'm confounded by how successful they are when all they seem to do is release the exact same record over and over again.

Anne Harris (Martyrs')   FRIENDS OF COZ!
I'm continually impressed how Harris' music can be uplifting without being cloying, but I don't know that I've ever seen her when I'm in a bad mood to begin with. Even then, I can take solace in the musicianship of her band. Everybody wins.

2.28   wednesday
The Thermals with The Big Sleep, Tight Phantomz (Subterranean)
Didn't I just say I was getting The Eternals confused with these guys? I know they were trying to make some sort of political statement with their critically acclaimed 2006 release, but I couldn't get past the aesthetics of the music to really care.

3.01   thursday
Jazz Showcase Relocation Benefit Concert (Harris Theater, Millenium Park)
I don't know much about what's going on with the Showcase, but with this show coming up, I'm guessing we'll see some press on it during the week. With Jon Faddis with the Chicago Jazz Ensemble, Benny Green, Donald Harrison, Eric Alexander, Jack DeJohnette, Willie Pickens Trio, Two for Brazil, Bobby Lewis with Eric Schneider and Andy Brown, Henry Johnson, Harry Allen, Freddie Cole and others.

Gomez with Ben Kweller (The Vic)
The UK band didn't make my top ten list for last year, but that doesn't mean How We Operate was in any way a bad record. A bit of a quiet record, perhaps, but not bad at all.

Your Little Ponies with Veia Cray, Division and Honore, Stereo Deluxe (Elbo Room)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Granted, I don't see a whole lot of musical comedy acts, but these guys are still one of the best I've seen in the city. I am the nunchuk master!

May or May Not with Dialogue, Sleep Out, Rollo Tomasi (Metro)
Occasionally, I like to give random shout-outs to rehearsal space neighbors, even if I can't quite place which bands are emanating from which doors as I go to practice my drums.

My Chemical Romance (Allstate Arena)
I don't know if DeRogatis has a soft spot for these guys because they're from northern New Jersey, or what, but that Sun-Times piece yesterday surprised me. Then again, I categorically don't get this band. If there's one thing emo doesn't need, it's even more bombast.

3.02   friday
Diver (Blue Bayou)   SEE COZ LIVE!
In the words of the peasant King Arthur comes across at the outset of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, "I'm not old, I'm 37!" Come help me celebrate the day after my birthday, answering such burning questions as "how many shots before Coz falls off of his drum stool?"

Anberlin with Bayside, Meg and Dia, Jonezetta (Metro, early show)   SOLD OUT!
I don't see a single thing in the descriptions of these bands that explain why it would sell out, but it's also not listed at all in Metro's Reader ad. So something is fishy here.

Clipse with Low B (Metro)
The Virginian rappers and Neptunes producees made quite a splash in 2006, topping more than a few mainstream top ten lists with their unapologetically tough brand of hip-hop. Which is going to make for an interesting culture clash with the well-scrubbed bands on the early bill.

Nickelback with Three Days Grace (Allstate Arena)
I don't have the link handy, but there's a website that plays one Nickelback song in the left channel, and one in the right, and they're exactly the same. It would be hysterical if they didn't sell so many records.

Rusted Root with Trevor Hall (House of Blues)
I had a good first impression of this jam band, then proceeded to never listen to them again in order not to tarnish it, because I have a long history of not liking jam bands.

Gomez with Ben Kweller (The Vic)   SOLD OUT!
See Thursday's listing, but not Friday's show, unless you've already got tickets.

3.03   saturday
Pete Yorn with Aqualung, Minibar (Riviera Theatre)
This is a strong bill for songwriters, as Yorn is one of those guys who has managed to establish that he's got the goods without getting oversold or featured on Grey's Anatomy. And despite the distraction of a Jethro Tull song title for a name, Aqualung's one single has stuck with me for a couple of years now.

Razorlight with Mohair (Martyrs')   SOLD OUT!
I was getting these guys confused with some emo band, but if the "similar artists" on allmusic.com are to be believed, they have much in common with some of the better bands to come out of the UK lately.

Deal's Gone Bad with Green Room Rockers, Coalition of the Thrilling (Beat Kitchen)
Metromix had this listed as Deal's Gone Bad and Green Gone Bad, which would be a pretty great St. Patrick's Day show if it were two weeks later.

Muchacha with Dorian Taj, Mega Super Ultra (Quenchers)
This is probably the highest profile band I've seen playing at the Western Ave. venue, but the band had been pretty quiet for a couple of years while guys were busy with other projects, so maybe not.

Rusted Root with Trevor Hall (House of Blues)
See Friday's listing.

3.04   sunday
Pelican with Sweet Cobra, Minsk (Subterranean)
I still haven't heard this local instrumental metal band, who, on paper, seem to have a bit in common with Isis.