list.in.to.chicago this week: 04.02.2007

Man, you guys were chatty last week. I should mention Keb' Mo' mo' often. Just a reminder, though, that you can also interact via the comments on the web version of the newsletter, which you can see at http://www.notabbott.com/litc.

Oh, and I contributed a very much in-character selection to mixtape-of-the-week website OutOf5 (www.outof5.com) this week. Don't tell Bobby.

Pick of the week
Nothing really jumping out this week, so I may or may not think that May Or May Not is most worth your time (Thursday, Schubas), and if there are tickets left for Jeff Tweedy (Friday, The Vic), that's sort of a no-brainer in this town.

list.in.to.COZ
Just Vaughan's this week. Next Diver gig is April 27th at Blue Bayou.

Recap
I guess if there was an overarching theme to the final Wingman show (with the until-just-recently lineup), it may have been that you can never play a chorus too many times. Or that Kevin can do a shot while playing guitar, but that's not news if you've been coming to Vaughan's lately. And I totally punked out on going to that Mew show, but it was close to selling out when I called on the ride home. Had I remembered to pick up a ticket when I was at Bound Stems, it would have gone down differently.

4.02   monday
Snow Patrol with OK Go, Silversun Pickups (Aragon Ballroom)   SOLD OUT!
I still think it would be funnier if this show was the same night as Grey's Anatomy, the TV show that, for better or worse, accounts for a lot (but not all) of the Scottish quintet's popularity. Or, it would be funny if that happened and Tivo didn't exist, anyway.

Office with Team Rockit (Kinetic Playground)
While it's a clever ploy to try turning exiting Snow Patrol fans on to this local buzz band by staging a show across the street, I don't know if it will work as well on a Monday night as it would, well, absolutely any other night of the week.

4.03   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
We're sticking with the "90s band" theme, and the quotes are important. I may just actually practice the songs I tried last week.

The Academy Is... with Treaty of Paris, Dorm Life, The Obstacles (Metro)   SOLD OUT!
Hoffman Estates' finest, apparently, who seem to get mentioned in the same sentence as Fall Out Boy quite a bit, and have an album dropping this week.

4.04   wednesday
Tributosaurus (Martyrs')   FRIENDS OF COZ!
This month they're Cat Stevens, and I need to remember to check the website at the end of the week to see who they are next week and whether or not I want to get in on the action.

Deerhunter with Nudge (Empty Bottle)
It seems this Atlanta band made quite a splash at South By Southwest a few weeks ago. Looks like they'll be touring out west with The Ponys in the weeks to come, so I guess they're in town to pick them up in the van.

4.05   thursday
May Or May Not with The Lovely Sparrows, Swimmers (Schubas)
Yes, I've said it a million times already. This band rehearses down the hall from me, and if I remember the room correctly, they sound pretty good and I'd like to actually see them rather than hear them seeping through the walls.

Cute Is What We Aim For with Circa Survive, As Tall as Lions, Envy on the Coast (Metro)
If I said this band name seemed to be trying too hard, would it be the same as saying it's "too cute by half"? If I were to guess the genre, I'd say emo, and apparently I'd be right.

Neil Diamond Phillips with Houses in Motion, The Karlz (Elbo Room)
Now this band name, I like. No good reason, really, but if you know me, you know that I like puns and wordplay, so it shouldn't be surprising.

B.B. King with Kyle Riabko (House of Blues)
The blues legend will be back this summer as part of that massive Eric Clapton gig at the Fire's stadium in Bridgeview, but if you want to get close to B.B. and Lucille, this may be a better bet, and I'm not just saying that because I'm annoyed they didn't give Fire season ticket holders any sort of presale for the summer date. Okay, maybe a little.

4.06   friday
Jeff Tweedy (Vic Theatre)
This solo appearance for the Wilco frontman is some sort of benefit for "youth scholarships" according to wilcoweb.net, while the band has a new record that's already leaking onto the Internet.

dada with Jonathan Cour, Big 10-4 (Park West)
If there's one thing I can't stand -- and let's be honest, there's more than one thing -- it's overly sycophantic biographies on allmusic.com, and the one for dada proclaims them "The Police of the 90s," a claim I once also saw ascribed to the equally undeserving and unfortunately named Geggy Tah. All of which provides grist for Tuesday's Open Jam mill.

LaSalle with Millions, Tuxedo, Aziola Cry (The Note)
Okay, I need to declare a moratorium on naming bands after Chicago streets. Or put them all on one bill together.

The Assembly with Black Fur, Revolver Modele (Elbo Room)
Another one of those local bands I've been meaning to check out.

B.B. King with Kyle Riabko (House of Blues)
See Thursday's listing.

4.07   saturday
New England Revolution at Chicago Fire (Toyota Park, Bridgeview)
Yes, it's that time of year again. With any luck, I'll finagle some Diver gigs in some configuration either before or after some games.

Wes John Trio with Gorge, Cavern (Silvie's Lounge)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Looks like Wes does his solo gigs with his last name, but his trio gigs are easier to pronounce.

Escape From Earth with Greenwheel, The Year After, White Tie Affair (Beat Kitchen)
Given how often these guys seem to grab opening slots at Metro, playing the much more intimate Beat Kitchen seems like a bit of a surprise.

Exene Cervenka and the Original Sinners with Knuckel Drager (Hideout)
Speaking of big acts in intimate spaces, the singer from X is hitting the indie/alt-country hangout of choice.

4.08   sunday
Nicholas Barron's Hyperactive (Long Room)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Not sure if the band will be working on Easter Sunday, so check your local listings.