list.in.to.chicago this week: 03.17.2008

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I apologize for any mistakes this week, as I've got to get to Nevin's in about forty minutes.

Pick of the week
I'm going to see Mike Doughty on Thursday. Make of that what you will.

list.in.to.COZ
Diver is playing at Vaughan's in just over an hour, then it's nothing but Vaughan's until mid-April

Recap
We had a good go at our Nevin's debut, and the crowd Saturday at Fado was great. We did learn that, if a bar introduces a size of beer that only exists on one of the biggest drinking holidays of the year, they're going to charge an arm and a leg for it.

3.17   monday
Diver (Tommy Nevin's Pub, Evanston)   SEE COZ LIVE!
The weekend whirlwind for St. Patrick's Day concludes with a late afternoon trio set from Tony, Avi and your humble correspondent. Which makes it three gigs in four days with three different bass players.

Lifehouse with Matt Nathanson, honeyhoney (House of Blues)   SOLD OUT!
One thing I've noticed in playing with Diver for these past four years is that every single song -- the "hits" anyway -- from Travis and Lifehouse has a breakdown after the bridge where the drums drop out. It's like clockwork.

Muck Brothers with Tin Lynott (Martyrs')
A Chicago mainstay among Irish rock bands, and at Martyrs', so this one's pretty obvious.

Rock Candy (Cubby Bear Wrigleyville)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
I thoroughly enjoyed these guys (and girl) last time when we opened for them. As far as straight-up cover bands go, they've got it pretty much nailed to the wall. And I will assume they knew we were busy, so they didn't ask us to open for them again. It's the only way to keep me from crying myself to sleep.

3.18   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
We were going to take the week off after the holiday weekend, but as of right now, I think we decided against it.

The Hush Sound with This Is Me Smiling, Debello (Beat Kitchen)
I've liked what I've heard from this band, but I don't remember exactly what it was I liked about them. I think it was indie rock with a fair amount of depth and texture.

The Raveonettes with Black Acid (Double Door)
So far, the reviews of the band's latest album have been pretty positive, but I haven't heard it yet. I'm pretty sure they stopped writing the "rules-based" songs of their debut record, where everything was in C# or some shit like that.

Lifehouse with Matt Nathanson, honeyhoney (House of Blues)   SOLD OUT!
See Monday's listing, take a short break, then apply it to this listing, only a little bit louder.

3.19   wednesday
Bell X1 with David Ford (Schubas)   SOLD OUT!
Judging by the fact that I randomly have a track from this band on my iPod, some music website must have made a strong case for them, and if one of the music websites I read is making a strong case for them, that explains how they can sell out a venue like Schubas. I don't know if I downloaded this one before I started my "listen first" policy on blog-recommended songs.

X with Skybombers (Metro)
Between solo tours from Exene Cervenka and John Doe, and now an appearance by X proper, it almost feels like the band lives here.

3.20   thursday
Mike Doughty's Band with The Panderers (The Vic)
The former Soul Coughing frontman is finally playing a venue large enough that I can get tickets for it. His 2006 release, Haughty Melodic, was excellent, but I haven't heard his newest just yet.

Justice (Riviera Theatre)   SOLD OUT!
The French electronic duo has been making some waves lately, in that I've actually heard of the French electronic duo.

The Spinto Band with Tally Hall, The Moneynotes (Schubas)
I don't know if the bit about The Spinto Band starting off as a dance troupe is legit, but they did come out and bust some moves during Art Brut's set when I saw them before. Not sure if there's enough room for them to do the same at Schubas.

Little Feat with Frank Bang's Secret Stash (House of Blues)
One of those shows where I'm as curious about who's coming out to see them as I am about the band itself. And this brings back some memories of being Stage Manager for shows at the University of Chicago, but not particularly good ones, as the lighting company were complete dicks.

Kick The Cat with Alex Skolnick Trio (Martyrs')   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Got a former metal shredder doing jazz fusion and need an opening act? This isn't one of those shows where I'd expect the members of Kick The Cat to all be there anyway, but it's along that trajectory.

3.21   friday
Avril Lavigne with Boys Like Girls (Allstate Arena)
I consider it a triumph of targeted marketing that I had absolutely no idea Lavigne had a new record and/or a tour.

Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks with John Vanderslice (The Vic)
One of the elder statesmen of alternative rock with his post-Pavement band. Malkmus has flitted around the edge of my music library for a while, but hasn't really broken through.

Say Anything with Manchester Orchestra, Biffy Clyro, Weatherbox (House of Blues)   SOLD OUT!
I feel like these guys are right up there in that suburban pop-punk scene that's just this side of emo, which means that the line snaking around Marina City before they open doors should make for some fun people-watching.

The Starting Line with Bayside, Four Year Strong, Steel Train (Metro)
And I seem to remember Bayside being cut of that same cloth as well. And sucking.

Tally Hall with The Spinto Band (Schubas)
Looks like this is one of those "we'll headline the first night, you headline the second night" tours.

NYCO (Deja Vu)
This one jumped out at me because it's a band that has made a favorable impressions, plus I don't see many shows at Deja Vu.

3.22   saturday
Les Claypool with Tim Fite (The Vic)
The Primus bassist and lead vocalist out on his own. Because, you know, Primus sometimes just isn't weird enough for him.

Louis XIV with What Made Milwaukee Famous, Holiday and the Adventure Pop Collective (Metro)
I don't think I have anything new to say about these guys since that bit last time about doing the theme for the awful new Flash Gordon TV series.

Todd Snider with David Zollo and Kevin Kinney (Old Town School of Folk Music)
The singer/songwriter continues to tour and thrive despite my best attempts to pigeon-hole him as the guy with the funny hidden track about grunge music fifteen years ago.

3.23   sunday
KaiserKeller with Brenden Kolarik, Chris Flood (Elbo Room)
I choose to believe this band name is in reference to American soccer goalkeeper Kasey Keller.