list.in.to.chicago this week: 07.21.2008

Just got back from Albuquerque, where I'm happy to say no wrong turns were made. If you don't get that reference, I can't help you.

Pick of the week
I'd go with Helmet at Double Door on Thursday, and if you don't want to commit your whole Sunday to the Wicker Park Festival, then Isis and Dub Trio might be a good one at Subterranean on Saturday night. Although I'll probably be over at Elbo Room for Soma Star.

list.in.to.COZ
Nothing this week. Next Diver gig is August 13th for another lunchtime set, and the next Fraker & Sons gig is currently under discussion.

Recap
I didn't get to see any music last week, so I'll take this opportunity to apologize for referring to Pitchfork act Jarvis Cocker as being formerly of Blur. I got two letters and the country of origin right, but he actually fronted Pulp.

The Wednesday afternoon Diver gig went well enough. We were in the shade and there was a breeze, but I still ended up pretty drenched in sweat more from the setting up and tearing down than the playing. The crowd -- and, let's face it, the band -- was quite a bit more sober than we're used to.

7.21   monday
Nicholas Tremulis Orchestra with Jon Langford and Skull Orchards (Schubas)
The "Practice Space" residency continues, and I think culminates next week with a full rendering of Tremulis' new record, but don't quote me on that.

7.22   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Having just gotten home from one trip, I've got a quick business trip that will make me miss this week's proceedings. I would appreciate it if someone would play "Man In A Suitcase" for me in my absence.

John Mellencamp with Lucinda Williams (Charter One Pavilion)
If you didn't get up at 6am to see him in Daley Plaza on Monday for a morning news show -- and who does that sort of thing, anyway? -- you can see Mellencamp in a proper concert setting on the lakefront.

Coldplay (United Center)
I could post that link to the pictures of Coldplay from Rockefeller Plaza again, but you get the point. Anyway, the one-and-a-half listens I've given to Viva la Vida have given me a good impression.

7.23   wednesday
Thunderwing with Vamplifier (Bottom Lounge)
The extra capacity of shows for local bands now that this venue is open has been noticeable. I hadn't seen these hard rockers listed on a bill in quite some time.

Willie Pickens Trio (Jazz Showcase)
And, with the return of the Showcase, comes the return of Willie Pickens shows to fill out the week when Joe Segal can't get an act to start their stint when he wants them to.

Le Concorde with Scale Model, Tiny Speakers, Coltrane Motion (Double Door)
I think maybe these guys share my rehearsal building, or maybe I've seen good things written about them online, or maybe both.

Coldplay (United Center)
See Tuesday's listing.

7.24   thursday
Holding Mercury with The Heaven Seventies, White Hot Knife, Welcome to Cambridge (Bottom Lounge)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
I should hold some sort of contest where readers pick the date that I'll finally get to the new Bottom Lounge. Maybe I'll design a t-shirt on CafePress or something and buy one for the winner. Anyway, Hoffer's band would be a good bet if it weren't for all the travel this week and a soccer game earlier in the evening.

Helmet with Egostatic, Quatre Tete, With a Gun (Double Door)
Page Hamilton is still at it with his unrelenting guitar crunch. If he's got a new record out, I haven't heard it.

O.A.R. with The Beautiful Girls (Charter One Pavilion)
Jimmy Buffet and the Coral Reefer Band (Toyota Park)
If it weren't for those first two listings, Thursday would be a strong contender for the worst night of the year for the Chicago music scene on the basis of these two shows.

7.25   friday
Blind Melon with Fastball (Lincoln Park Zoo)
The "Jammin' At The Zoo" series continues with some big acts from the nineties.

Cypress Hill with Gina Rene, Verbal Kent (House of Blues)
Apparently Friday is all about acts from the nineties.

7.26   saturday
Soma Star with The Debut, The Joans, The Emerald Lizards, JC Jordan and the Way, Marizen (Elbo Room)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
I think this is the first Soma Star show I'll be able to get to in quite some time. Whether or not I make it is another matter altogether.

Wicker Park Festival (North & Damen Avenues)
What's weird about this one is how many of the bands are also playing venues in the city over the weekend. I think Saturday's headliner is Polvo, a band I know nothing about, but has posted a sold out show on, I think, Friday at Subterranean, who is sponsoring one of the stages. Other acts on Saturday include Prefuse 73, the 1900s and Joan of Arc.

Isis with Dub Trio (Subterranean)
They're not quite instrumental metal, but their vocals don't really seem to use words. And both bands are also playing the Wicker Park Festival on Sunday.

Lucky Boys Confusion with The Frantic, Flowers for Dorian, The Sky Rockits (House of Blues)
Not that I'm hanging my hat on who RedEye says is a hot, new band, but they profiled The Frantic last week. As a bunch of teen from the 'burbs, I guess it's only fitting that they're playing with Lucky Boys Confusion, as a sort of passing of the torch as long as you conveniently forget Fall Out Boy.

Fareed Haque's Flat Planet Band (Green Mill)
No idea who Fareed has with him in this particular outfit, but he's usually doing something interesting.

George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic (Cubby Bear Wrigleyville)
I thought maybe they billed it wrong and it should be the P-Funk All-Stars, but the Time Out blurb mentioned some new blood in the band, so apparently it's back to just being P-Funk.

Jimmy Buffet and the Coral Reefer Band (Toyota Park)
See Thursday's diss.

7.27   sunday
Wicker Park Festival (North & Damen Avenues)
The lineup for the second day includes, as I mentioned before, Isis and Dub Trio, along with the Charlie Hunter Trio, Aleks and the Drummer, Film School and Bob Schneider.

Secret Chiefs 3 with Brilliant Pebbles, The Scarring Party (Double Door)
I'm still a little afraid of this band. I love Trey Spruance with Mr. Bungle and his one Faith No More album, but the one album I have from this particular project is tough to listen to, and the new album they're supporting is apparently all John Zorn material. So it's worthwhile in theory, but I don't know if I can totally get behind it.

Matmos with Leprechaun Catering (Lakeshore Theater)
One of those indie bands I see mentioned a lot, but don't actually know much about.