list.in.to.chicago this week: 08.25.2008

Welcome to what appears to be issue #299 of this beast. You would think that after nearly six years I'd have more than 75 subscribers, but that would require actual promotion. I'm leaning towards NOT pulling the plug at number 300 next week -- something I mentioned I might do a while back -- mostly because I actually have tickets for a handful of shows this fall (The Fratellis, Paul Weller, Beck, and probably Stereophonics as soon as tomorrow) that I want to talk about. Plus, I probably got more responses to last week's edition than any other, reminding me that yes, I actually do have an audience and am not just writing this for my own amusement.

Pick of the week
I'm morally obligated to recommend old jazz guys whenever they come through town, so Sonny Rollins on Thursday night at the Jazz Festival in Grant Park falls in that category, as does Ornette Coleman on Sunday.

list.in.to.COZ
Just Vaughan's this week, but Diver is back in action next Saturday at Fado.

Recap
I have this habit of trying to learn songs for Vaughan's between about 6pm and 8pm on Tuesday nights, and last week was no exception. The problem this time was that I absolutely couldn't find the right note to start the vocals. You would think that there are only 12 choices, so it couldn't be that tough, but remember, I'm a drummer. "Hands Open" will have to wait for its debut. And if you think I'm going into unusual detail about Vaughan's to obscure the fact that I didn't go see anything else, congratulations!

8.25   monday
Habib Koité & Bamada (Martyrs')
In the entirely likely event that you missed the lunchtime set in Millennium Park -- the last of the summer, I'm afraid -- you've got another chance to see the singer from Mali.

8.26   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
I think the logical thing to do this week would be songs with "blue" in them, followed by "red" songs next week. What, doesn't everyone watch politics as much as I do?

8.27   wednesday
Anthony Calderisi with Lauretta Tagli, The Powwows (Uncommon Ground on Devon)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
It's not every day that I see Tony's name staring at me from the Metromix listings, and certainly not every day he plays his own stuff in a solo setting. I'm not entirely sure how the evening will be divided up between Calderisi, Tagli and the Powwows, seeing as how Tony plays with Lauretta in the Powwows.

Garaj Mahal with The Hue (Martyrs')
The instrumental jam band that I want to like more than I do with yet another Chicago date. It's almost like some of these guys used to live here.

8.28   thursday
Sonny Rollins (Petrillo Music Shell)
One of the last remaining titans of the be-bop era, the tenor saxophonist opens up the 30th Chicago Jazz Festival.

The Allman Brothers Band with Bob Weir and Ratdog (Charter One Pavilion)
If Wikipedia is to be believed, nearly half of the current seven-piece lineup plays drums, which means there's going to be a lot of rhythm for those hippie noodle dancers to completely avoid as they twist around to nothing in particular.

8.29   friday
Greg Osby Five (Green Mill)
If you're looking for some good jazz without trekking down to Grant Park, the New York City-based saxophonist (and M-Base Collective member, I think) is in town for a two-night stand.

Cealed Kasket with Neverland, The Lusties (Reggie's Rock Club)
They draw from seventies metal, but don't see Black Sabbath as an influence. They dress up in costumes, but they aren't glam. And one guy in the band is a bartender at The Globe, which is how I know about them. Hopefully recommending this show gets me some positive Globe bartender karma. And that reference is going to be understood by exactly no one.

8.30   saturday
The Flower Kings with John Wesley (Martyrs')
This is one of those largely underground progressive rock bands that cut their teeth in the late eighties and early nineties, often mentioned in the same breath as Spock's Beard or Porcupine Tree.

Greg Osby Five (Green Mill)
See Friday's listing.

Bash on Wabash (S. Wabash at E. 13th Street)
Mucca Pazza and the Waco Brothers headline one of the last street festivals of the summer.

Don Caballero with Ponytail. Mt. St. Helens (Subterranean)
Maybe the fact that I didn't dig these guys live when I saw them way back when the Fireside Bowl still existed should have clued me in that I wouldn't enjoy Battles at Lollapalooza, as they've always been hit with that dense, math-rock label.

8.31   sunday
Ornette Coleman (Petrillo Band Shell)
Another legendary saxophonist closes out the Jazz Festival. Coleman has been one of those guys that I respect, but have a harder time getting into, as so much of his post-bop work was pretty out there.

Roky Erickson and the Explosives with Tk Webb, The Wisebloods (Double Door)
The founder of the 13th Floor Elevators and one of the pioneers of psychedelic music has been slowly getting his musical legs back under him over the last three or four years, and is currently working with ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons on a new record.

Nas with Talib Kweli (House of Blues)
Proof that performing on The Colbert Report is just one more way to get noticed around here.

Bash on Wabash (S. Wabash at E. 13th Street)
A little less oomph on day two, with Murder By Death and William Elliot Whitmore topping the bill.