list.in.to.chicago this week: 11.05.2007

I would apologize to anyone who trekked out to Palos Heights on Friday only to find a private party and no Diver, but I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that nobody found themselves in that situation.

Pick of the week
I'll go with the strength of the buzz over personal experience on Battles (Thursday, Metro), and then I'm in for Robert Fripp and the League of Crafty Guitarists (Friday, Park West) and Athlete with The Changes opening (Saturday, Empty Bottle), which stands a decent chance of selling out.

list.in.to.COZ
Nothing this week, but Diver is back in action next Saturday (11/17) at Fado.

Recap
I was this close to going to see either Stars or the California Guitar Trio on Friday once the Diver show got canceled, but I ended up just going out drinking instead. Totally Kevin's fault.

11.05   monday
Frisbie with Fever Marlene, Hey Champ (Schubas)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
After quite the love letter from Jim DeRogatis and the Sun-Times on Friday, the band kicks off this month's Monday night residency. I promised Steve I'd show up for at least one of these, but it's not going to be this week.

Tori Amos with Yoav (Auditorium Theatre)
With her latest album featuring five different "personas," and one of those personas serving as an opening act for the show, it's safe to say Tori is still just as eccentric as when she first came onto the scene, and possibly more so.

11.06   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ TAKES A WEEK OFF!
I've got a Tuesday soccer league starting this week, and Anto is probably out this week as well, so please head down to Sheffield and George to keep Tony company.

Tori Amos with Yoav (The Vic)
If I had to choose between the two nights and two venues, this one looks like it has some potential to be more intimate, and with Tori Amos, it's all about the intimacy.

Annuals with Manchester Orchestra, The Never (Subterranean)
Lots of buzz about this band out of Tennessee, or at least somewhere in the south, maybe Georgia? Anyway, I still give them the benefit of the doubt on a lackluster Bonnaroo set that was plagued by poor sound. Clearly someone is hearing something.

The Waterboys (Park West)
I remember a new single from this band in about 1994 spurring me to buy a full album from the UK stalwarts, which I have proceeded to listen to about once.

J. Davis Trio with Al Weber (Duffy's)
Wait, what? This doesn't seem like the kind of show you'd normally see at Duffy's, well, ever. So Al, if you're still reading every week, feel free to give us the scoop in the comments.

11.07   wednesday
Tributosaurus (Martyrs')   FRIENDS OF COZ!
This month, it's Billy Joel. Not sure if crashing motorcycles is going to be part of the show.

Thursday with Portugal the Man, Circle Takes the Square (Metro)
Do you think the New Jersey "post-hardcore" band at least considered a tour where they only played once a week, so they could avoid "Thursday playing this Wednesday" confusion?

The Wallflowers (Park West)
I think Jakob Dylan sorta lost me with his bland cover of David Bowie's "Heroes" for the Godzilla soundtrack many moons ago.

The Meat Puppets with Ha Ha Tonka, Baloonatic (Double Door)
Last week, it was Mudhoney. This week, the Meat Puppets. Which band that strongly influenced Nirvana will be here next week?

11.08   thursday
Mike Doughty (Schubas)   SOLD OUT!
Still pissed that I didn't see the on sale date for this show, which has some either fan-friendly or gimmicky interactive element, I think, depending on your point of view.

Battles with Caribou, Born Ruffians, White Williams (Metro)
They're actually two separate bands, but "Battles With Caribou" seems like it would make a good band name in its own right. Lots of buzz about Battles, and I think I even have a track on a CMJ compilation, but I haven't gotten on the bandwagon yet.

The 1990s with Headlights, Sleep Out. (Empty Bottle)
I didn't realize until recently that there's a band called The 1990s and a band called The 1900s. I just sort of combined them in my mind when skimming through ads and listings and whatnot.

The Meat Puppets with Ha Ha Tonka (Double Door)
See Wednesday's listing.

11.09   friday
Robert Fripp and the League of Crafty Guitarists (Park West)
On the heels of the California Guitar Trio's appearance last week, legendary King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp brings his latest acolytes to town. The material can be a little stilted and angular if you're not used to what Fripp is about, but it can be pretty engaging as well.

Sirsy with Soma Star, Gunslingers Dream (Wise Fools Pub)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Two shows in a week and a half from Soma Star, you'd think they're, like, done with their EP or something. Headlining the show is one of the bands that probably should have won one of the two Lollapalooza slots in that Last Band Standing contest over the summer, although not at the expense of Helicopters, 'cause Dave knows where I sit all day.

The Section Quartet (Kinetic Playground)
The tag on the Metromix listing says "Performing Radiohead's OK Computer as well as music by Pink Floyd, Jeff Buckley, Led Zeppelin, Queens of the Stone Age and others." So I'm at least curious.

Keb' Mo' (Old Town School of Folk Music)
I have friends who yell at me whenever I don't list a Keb' Mo' show, so here you go, Keb' Mo'.

11.10   saturday
Athlete with The Changes (Empty Bottle)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
An increasingly rare show from local darlings The Changes. I actually ran into Darren the other day crossing the street downtown. And after a couple of listens, I'm digging the new Athlete record.

They Might Be Giants (The Vic)
I guess a week and a half into November isn't all that early for an XRT Holiday Concert for the Kids. As ever, bring a new and unwrapped toy.

Kid Rock with The Twisted Brown Trucker Band (Aragon Ballroom)   SOLD OUT!
I'm naturally a bit cynical and suspicious, so I have to wonder if that recent "Kid Rock gets in a fight at a Waffle House" was some carefully choreographed marketing. The fisticuffs with Tommy Lee, though, I totally believe.

Sammy Hagar and the Wabos with The Other Half, Los Tres Gusanos, Mad Anthony Express (Chicago Theatre)
This doesn't seem like the kind of show you would normally see at the State Street concert hall, mostly because it's not the kind of place where there's a lot of spilled beer on the floor. That's my mental image here.

11.11   sunday
Band of Horses with The Drones, Tyler Ramsey (Metro)
I haven't heard the new record, so I can't say if they still sound too much like My Morning Jacket for my tastes, but a lot of people like the band either despite that or because of it.