list.in.to.chicago this week: 08.04.2008

I can barely think about new shows to see after this weekend, but there are some good ones that need to get called out. I'll try to keep it short.

Pick of the week
All three of the King Crimson shows (Wednesday through Friday, Park West) are sold out, but high on the list are We Are Scientists on Friday at the Abbey Pub and EXO at Schubas on Sunday. Plus, a Los Borrachos sighting!

list.in.to.COZ
Unless you're in one of two weddings this weekend that I'm playing with Tony, all you've got is Vaughan's.

Recap
The tale of the tape on Lollapalooza was that I saw 27 different acts over three days. Three of those only just barely count, though. The absolute highlight was Nine Inch Nails, but high marks also go to The Gutter Twins, Radiohead and Newton Faulkner. A full accounting and pictures should be up on notabbott.com by this time next week.

8.04   monday
Tortoise (Pritzker Pavilion)
Maybe a little post-rock will alleviate any post-partum depression at the prospect of not being able to see bands outside for a fourth day straight. The weather might make this free lunchtime show somewhat problematic, though.

8.05   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
We'll see if enough people are recovered from Lolla to come out and drink on a Tuesday. Your humble correspondent included, although I'll likely make at least a cameo.

She and Him with Becky Starke (Park West)
This is the collaboration between Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward that you may or may not have been hearing about. The record was a little lightweight for my tastes, but my tastes tend to be a bit heavy anyway.

Tributosaurus (Martyrs')   FRIENDS OF COZ!
So it looks like they're blowing it out to two consecutive nights this month. I don't know if that's the new deal going forward, or if this is just the treatment afforded to the King. That being Elvis, of course.

8.06   wednesday
King Crimson (Park West)   SOLD OUT!
It's been just about forty years since the legendary prog rock band first emerged, but Robert Fripp is never one to look backwards. They're not going to play "21st Century Schizoid Man" no matter how many times you yell it out. This iteration of the band is basically the 80s lineup (Fripp, Adrian Belew, Tony Levin) with two drummers (Mastelotto and Porcupine Tree's Gavin Harrison) replacing Bill Bruford. And no photography, otherwise Fripp will get mad and end the show. They may even make you turn your cellphone fully off before you come in to the venue.

Tributosaurus (Martyrs')   FRIENDS OF COZ!
See Tuesday's listing.

8.07   thursday
Melissa Etheridge (Chicago Theatre)
For better or for worse, Etheridge is probably the closest thing to a female version of Bruce Springsteen out there. I'll let you guess which Vaughan's Open Jam regular and huge Springsteen fan holds the "for worse" opinion.

King Crimson (Park West)   SOLD OUT!
See Wednesday's listing.

8.08   friday
We Are Scientists with Oxford Collapse (Abbey Pub)
The new record from the Brooklyn band seems a little more consistent than their debut, and they put on a solid live show when I saw them with Art Brut about a year and a half ago.

Los Borrachos with Green Sugar, My My My (Martyrs')   FRIENDS OF COZ?
Could it possibly be? Are the Borrachos back? I almost certainly won't be able to make this one, so I hope it's the beginning of a new era in Borrachos shows. And by "new era," I don't actually expect them to learn any ridiculous Spanish versions of "new songs." That would be crazy talk.

Farewell Captain with The Ladies and Gentlemen, The Safes (Hideout)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Pretty solid lineup down at the Hideout, but with Chris Frantisak and Farewell Captain following up their CD release show from a few weeks back, you can be certain that I won't be able to make it.

King Crimson (Park West)   SOLD OUT!
See Wednesday's listing.

8.09   saturday
Smashing Pumpkins (The Venue, Hammond, IN)   SOLD OUT!
I strenuously object to this new concert, um, venue attached to the Horseshoe Casino considering itself part of the Chicago music landscape. And I'm still shocked that it's as close as Billy Corgan has made it to Chicago since Zeitgeist came out, although I think there are some proper Chicago shows coming in the fall.

Dave Matthews Band with the Black Crowes (Alpine Vally, Troy, WI)
Hey, if I'm going to mention a show in Indiana, it's only fair that I mention one in Wisconsin.

8.10   sunday
EXO with Absentstar (Schubas)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
It looks like this may become an annual acoustic show from the remaining members of EXO, with proceeds going to a charity in the name of late drummer Doug Meis, making it worthwhile on many different levels.