list.in.to.chicago this week: 01.12.2009

The following takes place between January 12th and January 18th. Events occur in real time.

(Like you're not watching the season premiere of 24.)

Pick of the week
Despite the fact that I don't like them nearly as much as everyone else does, The Hold Steady (Thursday, House of Blues) still put on a good show. And you have many Friends of Coz worth checking out this weekend, notably Soulfix at Subterranean on Friday.

list.in.to.COZ
Just Vaughan's this week. Next Diver show is an acoustic bit on Valentine's Day at Fado, and Fraker & Sons should be back in action the following Friday at Double Door on the 20th.

Recap
I have to say, I was impressed with the turnout on a snowy Wednesday night at Schubas this past week. There was someone named Leslie Hunt allegedly kicking things off, but I honestly have no idea if that actually happened. Beckon Q were quite possibly the nicest bunch of people I've seen play on a stage together in a while, and the music was equally nice -- strummy acoustic with male and female vocals. Al Weber transformed his folky funk, or maybe funky folk, with a kickass horn section. Between a crazy, enthusiastic crowd and the really live sound on stage, I enjoyed our set immensely, even if I wasn't able to bust out the cowbell on one of the tunes. We nominally closed with a cover of "Instant Karma," and the reaction of the audience to that incongruous drum fill was awesome.

1.12   monday
Reel Big Fish with Streetlight Manifesto (House of Blues)
Do ska bands ever actually break up?

1.13   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
Listening to the weather report, I'm suddenly quite jealous of Anto's destination wedding in Florida. Those of you still stuck here shouldn't let a little old blizzard -- which apparently has more to do with the visibility and the wind than snow accumulation -- keep you indoors.

1.14   wednesday
Frank Catalano Septet (Green Mill)
Not much to work with tonight, so we'll go with the longtime Chicago tenor saxophonist.

1.15   thursday
The Hold Steady with Tom Morello (House of Blues)
A lot of people had these guys on their year-end top ten lists. Putting aside the fact that I haven't actually written mine yet, I'm not one of them. They're okay, but strike me as the kind of band that liberal arts majors like because they use a lot of words and come across as "working class" to people who do very little physical labor, and the songs are decent enough that the trappings then get them over the hump. That's my take, anyway.

The Musical Box (The Vic)
Basically, this is the equivalent of Dark Star Orchestra, but for early Genesis, and with all the costumes and props to boot. I know this show is recreating a particular Genesis tour, but while I know it's not The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway, I don't remember which one. I've been listening to the 1970-1975 boxed set from the band (Genesis, not The Musical Box) since Christmas, which might compel me to shell out the surprisingly high ticket price for this one.

Bicycle Tricycle with Kindle, Bill Tucker, North (Bottom Lounge)
Saw these guys once a long, long time ago, when they seemed to be after some sort of Gary Numan/David Bowie new wave vibe. No idea if that's changed.

Viceroy with Water Street, Chopper Chicks (Double Door)
Also saw these guys once an equally long time ago, and they sounded like Thin Lizzy and their drummer had some of the best facial expressions ever. It looked like his eyes were going to pop out of their sockets.

Buddy Guy with Scott Holt (Buddy Guy's Legends)
Week two of the annual residency kicks off with one of those non-sold out shows.

1.16   friday
Soulfix with On We, The Bandages, 6 Letter Word (Subterranean)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Marlon, Mitch and Dario are back in action with their bruising riffage. That's right, the quality of their riffs will actually make you black and blue.

Waco Brothers with Federales, Hurt'n Kind (Martyrs')
I appreciate that these guys are still around, because it's getting to where I see lists of bands playing on Wednesday and Thursday nights and have no earthly idea who any of them are.

Eliane Elias (Morse Theatre)
I own one CD from the Brazilian jazz pianist, and it's pretty good. I think she also turned up on a solo record from Andy Summers at some point.

Cursive with Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson, Colourmusic (Schubas)   SOLD OUT!
I'm pretty sure this is part of the "Tomorrow Never Knows" festival, and was a show I was mildly interested in seeing, based on about half a set at Lollapalooza several years ago, but apparently I wasn't the only one with that idea.

Buddy Guy with Larry McCray (Buddy Guy's Legends)   SOLD OUT!
This would be a good one to go to if you can get tickets, because what I remember of Larry McCray is pretty good. Trust my fifteen-year old musical memories at your own risk, though.

The Musical Box (The Vic)
See Thursday's listing.

1.17   saturday
The Pow Wows with Ripley Caine, Becca Levine, Typsi (Red Line Tap)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Tony from Diver plays guitar in the group, and Steve Gillis produced their record, which may or may not actually be finished. Lauretta's band plays an odd circuit of clubs around the city that I can't quite get myself in sync with, like Red Line Tap and Sylvie's.

Kelly Steward with Real Jane Martin (Uncommon Ground)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Speaking of recordings Tony has played on, he and I both contributed to some songs for Kelly a couple of years ago, but haven't been working with her as much since she moved slightly downstate. She's moving further downstate to the point where she'll be in a different state altogether soon, so you may not have many more chances to see her play locally.

Buddy Guy with Carlos Johnson (Buddy Guy's Legends)   SOLD OUT!
See Friday's listing.

Taylor Hicks (Martyrs')
Yes, that Taylor Hicks.

George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic (Cubby Bear Wrigleyville)
Yes, that George Clinton. Have you noticed that now it's P-Funk proper, and not the P-Funk All-Stars? Did I say that last time?

1.18   sunday
Liquid Soul (Double Door)
Wow, Liquid Soul on a Sunday night at Double Door. That sort of takes me back to the late nineties, when Chicago's acid jazz scene was poised to take over the world.

Buddy Guy with Carl Weathersby (Buddy Guy's Legends)   SOLD OUT!
I'd say that even the Sunday night shows are selling out now, but this may be a special case with the holiday on Monday.