list.in.to.chicago this week: 04.21.2008

I will be across the pond for a bit starting the end of this week, so the next list.in.to.chicago will either be a special Tuesday edition in two weeks, or three weeks from today on its regularly scheduled Monday.

Rumors that next week will feature a special list.in.to.london are unconfirmed at this time, as I have no idea what the functional equivalents of Double Door and Elbo Room might be. I'm going to try to figure it out, though, because I'd love to hear some local London bands.

Pick of the week
Whichever Joe Jackson show (Wednesday and Thursday at The Vic) isn't sold out, and then Soulfix at Double Door on Saturday top the list this week.

list.in.to.COZ
Just Vaughan's. Diver plays a free show at Cubby Bear on Thursday, May 8th, and we should have free tickets available at Vaughan's for the next couple of weeks, if I manage to get over there to pick them up by tomorrow night.

Recap
Sometimes, less is more. Last night's show from The Mars Volta was clearly not one of those times. You don't see many modern bands play for nearly three hours in the first place, let alone at the frenetic pace of this eight-piece juggernaut. Unfortunately, the room reduced a lot of tunes to guitar solos and high-pitched vocals over a largely indistinct, polyrhythmic rumble, but the energy and the vibe still got through.

4.21   monday
Iron & Wine with Califone (The Vic)
I was going to say that Samuel Beam has the biggest beard in all of indie rock, but then I remembered that My Morning Jacket would crush him, collectively.

Colin Meloy with Laura Gibson (Park West)
The Decemberists' frontman out on his own, no doubt because it's April, and the band isn't called The Aprilists.

4.22   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
Since I'm going on vacation to London, songs about London or from London artists are fair game. "Vacation" by The Go-Gos will be met with swift punishment.

Iron & Wine with Califone (The Vic)
See Monday's listing.

4.23   wednesday
Joe Jackson with Mutlu (The Vic)
I would totally go to this show, but tonight's the night when I go to all the parties down on my street. I wash my hair and I kid myself I look real smooth.

Damien Dempsey with Jess Klein (Schubas)
An Irish singer/songwriter that I think I've heard of who "mixes traditional Irish folk stylism with contemporary lyrics to making social comment on the positive and negative aspects arising from Ireland's Celtic Tiger society."

North Indiana Allstars (Martyrs')
Not sure if it's just a play on the name of the similar band from Mississippi, or if the style is of the same vein as well, but it may be worth noting that at least half of Umphrey's McGee is represented.

4.24   thursday
Joe Jackson with Mutlu (The Vic)
One of these two shows supporting his new record -- featuring the same band that recorded his classic Look Sharp! -- is sold out, but I can't now figure out which one. I think I read about it in the Sunday papers. Okay, I'll stop now.

Frisbie with Enuff Z'Nuff, Eric & The Implants, Nine Fifty, Sundayrunners, The Blissters, Greg Summerlin, Stunkenber (Double Door)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
This one is part of the ongoing International Pop Overthrow festival, and along with Frisbie and occasional Vaughan's guest Eric Howell and his band, features the ubiquitous Enuff Z'Nuff. Seriously, that band is going to outlast us all.

4.25   friday
Off Broadway with Ted Ansani Project, The Cells, The Valley Downs, Last Days Of Pompeii, The Lackloves, The Webstirs, The Bradburys (Abbey Pub)
More IPO madness, with more of the midwest power-pop pantheon. I think Tony has played one Off Broadway tune at Vaughan's, much to the delight of regular Open Jammer Adam Berndes. At least I think that's the band those two geek out on.

Ladies and Gentlemen with The Last Vegas, Black Actress, The Pain Kurst Girls (Double Door)
This one seems like it could be part of IPO -- especially when you consider that drummer Mike Zelenko was actually in the band that recorded the album that gave the festival it's name -- but it isn't.

Toots and the Maytals (Wild Hare)
My favorite -- and, actually, my only -- Toots and the Maytals story was when we had the band booked for a show down at the University of Chicago. It might have been for the big annual spring outdoor show, but I'm not entirely sure. Maybe the one that we had to move indoors. Anyway, we lost Toots. Apparently he decided to go shopping up on Michigan Avenue and didn't tell anyone.

4.26   saturday
Soulfix with Weber Band, Buehrle Band, Boho Paisley (Double Door)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
It's the anniversary of Shoeshine Boy Productions, who is also responsible for the past and future shows from Andrew Fraker & Sons. I don't remember which anniversary this is, but the traditional gift is ROCK! Zing! Somebody stop me! No, really...

Mary J. Blige with Jay-Z (United Center)
Throughout her career, Blige's live show has always been heavily informed by gospel music, particularly the stupendous badass musicians that come out of the gospel scene, so it's no surprise that she's garnered a bit of a reputation for her performances. I think. I might be making that up, but her bands are usually top-notch. In what should come as no surprise to anyone, I have absolutely nothing insightful to say about Jay-Z.

4.27   sunday
Nicholas Barron Quartet (Motel Bar)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
The new Sunday night residency kicked off a week or two ago for Nicholas, Steve, Vijay and Shawn, now down on Chicago Avenue a few blocks east of Halsted. Incidentally, it was Steve who hipped me to the quality of Mary J. Blige's live shows.

Apocalyptica with DJ Ron Platzer (House of Blues)
How many times will you get to see a band billed as a "Finnish heavy metal cellists"? As an added bonus, their current single "I'm Not Jesus" was co-written by one-time-and-possibly-still Neighbor of Coz! and former Filter guitarist (how's that for an introduction?) Geno Lenardo

Mary J. Blige with Jay-Z (United Center)
See Saturday's listing.