list.in.to.chicago this week: 07.07.2008

Last week, I somehow managed to forget that I went to see Coldplay perform for The Today Show while I was in New York. Pictures are on Facebook and will hopefully be up on notabbott.com soon as well.

Pick of the week
Two standouts are the CD release party for Farewell Captain on Friday at Double Door, and then longtime l.i.t.c. favorites Tortoise on Saturday at the Empty Bottle.

list.in.to.COZ
We're getting closer to a proper Diver gig next Wednesday afternoon, but just Vaughan's this week.

Recap
I went to the free XRT show on Friday, and the way they articulated "Independent's Day" made me think the talent selection had to do with bands that weren't on major labels. Alejandro Escovedo rocked pretty hard in support of his latest record, and finally got the crowd into it for his last song, reclaiming "Castanets" from George W. Bush's iPod and dedicating it to the late Joe Strummer. This was the first time I had seen the Old 97s, and they seemed eminently competent, just not with a sound that I'm attuned to. They struck me as maybe an alt-country version of The Smithereens, although a friend protested that this might not be fair to The Smithereens.

Gomez seemed like an odd headliner, seeing as how it was Independence Day and they're British, but apparently they're in town recording their new album. Without an album to support, they seemed to revert a bit more to their more rambunctious early days, going at least as far back as 1999's Liquid Skin for a couple of tunes. The funniest part of the show was watching the woman on the side of the stage translating lyrics into sign language struggling to deal with "Girl-Shaped Love Drug."

7.07   monday
Le Loup (Pritzker Pavilion)
This will be over by the time you read this, but Pitchfork is curating a series of downtown lunchtime shows this summer, so keep an eye out for them. This one is being co-presented by Schubas. And Tortoise plays the first Monday in August, but my ears might need a rest after Lollapalooza.

7.08   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
So, last week we learned that I can't hit the high notes in "Can't Change Me" from Chris Cornell. What won't I be able to sing this week? There's only one way to find out! Well, two, if I write about it again next week, but never mind that.

Wolf Parade with Listening Party (House of Blues)
I'm assuming this is the band -- and current indie darlings -- Wolf Parade playing with a band called Listening Party, and not simply a listening party for Wolf Parade, since I think their album came out about three weeks ago.

Van Morrison (Rosemont Theatre)
I'm not sure why Van the Man is the show that made me realize this, but I'm somewhat surprised that the Rosemont Theatre hasn't taken on a corporate name of some sort. Unless it's now the Rosemount Theatre, sponsored by Rosemount Estates wine, but I figure I would catch that one.

7.09   wednesday
Alkaline Trio with American Steel, The Fashion (House of Blues)   SOLD OUT!
Kind of odd that the local pop-punkers have two shows in town over a week apart. And some of their more recent popularity apparently comes from being featured on "The Hills," which I'm told is a television program on the MTV. I guess it's sort of a Gen Y "Grey's Anatomy" as far as music goes.

Verona Red with Bird Ate My Donut (Bottom Lounge)
I may be totally wrong, but I think one of the guys from Absent Star either was or is in this band, which would make sense, since they're playing in town at the end of the week.

7.10   thursday
Red Red Meat with Jim Becker (Hideout)
The local rock media will be all over this reunion, but count me as one who never got into Red Red Meat in the first place. They definitely seem to be growing out of that Velvet Underground/Sonic Youth branch of musical influences that I've never been terribly fond of, only they decided those two bands actually weren't abrasive enough.

Nicholas Tremulis with Deanna Devore (Hideout)
Given the size of the room, I'm guessing the Chicago mainstay might be playing without his "orchestra," but I may be wrong.

The Artist Formerly Known As Vince with Aaron Lee Tasjan, Elie Maybe (Martyrs')
I've never seen him, but the name stands out, and I have to wonder if there's a point where the audience won't get the reference anymore.

7.11   friday
Farewell Captain with Lacona, Kill Alarm, Santa (Double Door)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
This is the long-awaited CD release from one of the many, many bands of Chris Frantisak. In an e-mail discussion of that particular meme, Chris today commented that "I appreciate a good running gag. Especially when it becomes...self-aware and starts looking for John Connor."

Absentstar with The Young Sea, Empires, Apteka, Kindle (Metro)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
If Noel's Facebook status updates -- or maybe MySpace, I don't remember -- are any indication, the local hard rock quintet has been hitting the road pretty hard over the past year, so it must be nice to stop at home for a change.

The M's (Navy Pier Beer Garden)
Looks like the good folks at Time Out Chicago are getting in on the Navy Pier outdoor action with some original indie rock, maybe injecting some new life into the venue, which is currently suffering from a bit of a lack of support and attention by the city.

Fiction Plane with Just Left (Abbey Pub)
Sting's son's band is in town opening for 311 and Snoop Dogg out in Tinley Park, and have picked up a club show while they're here.

Morris Day and the Time with En Vogue (Civic Opera House)
That's right, Morris Day and the Time. With En Vogue. At an Opera House? Seems like an awful lot of 80s-style R&B for a seated venue, but maybe they're counting on their audience having gotten a good bit older.

Lawrence Hobgood Quintet (Green Mill)
The local jazz pianist has been backing up Kurt Elling for years, but occasionally steps out on his own, this time with the likes of John Moulder on guitar and Eric Montzka on drums.

Dengue Fever with Brilliant Pebbles (Empty Bottle)
There was a ton of post-Vampire Weekend hype about this multi-culti band when they first came through town, but it either didn't stick, or didn't reach beyond those people who sold out that last appearance.

Bound Stems with Netherfriends, Gentleman Auction House (Schubas)
Both major musical trends seem to be supported today, as you've got the ethnic influence covered with Dengue Fever, and the indie pop with male and female vocals covered with Chicago's Bound Stems.

7.12   saturday
Urge Overkill with Suffrajett, Lonesome Cougar (Bottom Lounge)
I've been told there will be no Frantisak on this gig, although he may be in the building. This also might be a good opportunity to check out the new Bottom Lounge.

Tortoise with Tight Phantomz, Disappears (Empty Bottle)
I know they play here a bit, but I don't think I've ever actually seen the post-rock poster boys on a stage as small as Empty Bottle's. I'm not entirely convinced they'll fit, or if their expansively textured instrumental music will suffer from claustrophobia.

Al Green with Dr. John and the Lower 911, Soulive (Charter One Pavilion)
The soul legend is touring in support of a new record co-produced by, I think, Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson of Roots.

Richard Cheese and Lounge Against The Machine with The Gomers (House of Blues)
I get the feeling that lounge versions of all sorts of rock and metal tunes has more longevity as schtick than, say, reggae versions of Led Zeppelin.

7.13   sunday
Mark Knopfler (Chicago Theatre)   SOLD OUT!
I haven't been paying as much attention to Knopfler's post-Dire Straits output, but I feel like it's been fairly well-received. I think one of his solo albums topped an XRT poll a couple of years ago, which may tell you everything you need to know about his sound and who it appeals to.

Gavin Rossdale with Empires (House of Blues)
The former Bush frontman tried to start a new project that didn't have his name attached to it a year or two ago, and nobody noticed it. If this record and tour don't cut it, expect him to bill himself simply as "Gwen Stefani's Husband" for the next one.

Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band (Charter One Pavilion)
The former Beatle has been putting together some good lineups for his annual tours lately, at least within the context of a classic rock revue. This one features Colin Hay, Billy Squier, Hamish Stuart, Edgar Winter and Gary Wright.