list.in.to.chicago this week: 04.20.2009

I never understood the stoner significance of 420, but I do think it's funny that Jewel has a special on brownies today. I'd go so far to say that I find it high-larious!

Ouch. Sorry about that.

Pick of the week
Thursday night looks pretty solid, with Peter Bjorn and John at Metro and OK Go at Double Door. And while I only have one show in the list, the International Pop Overthrow Festival is happening at various clubs this week. Mostly it's bands I've never heard of, but the IPO aesthetic -- the name is taken from a Material Issue album, if that gives you a clue -- is such that it's a pretty good bet.

list.in.to.COZ
Vaughan's is it, as far as showing my (musical) face in public this week. I think the next non-Open Jam gig on the schedule is with Andrew Fraker & Sons on May 8th at Cubby Bear, so pencil that in if you're so inclined.

Recap
I managed to snag one of the last remaining tickets for Adrian Belew last night at the Old Town School of Folk Music, and I'm glad I did. Surrounded by four different pedal boards and backed up by a brother and sister from Philadelphia who bore striking resemblances to Eli from Lie To Me and Cousin Maeby from Arrested Development, they tore through lots of guitar loop-heavy material from Belew's upcoming release E along with a bunch of stuff from Side One, some other material I didn't know, and an encore of "Thela Hun Ginjeet" from King Crimson.

And I got at least two reports back from l.i.t.c. operatives that Jeff Beck was pretty amazing on Thursday and Friday at Park West.

4.20   monday
Alkaline Trio with Saves the Day, Death in the Park (Metro)   SOLD OUT!
Big-time punk-pop, if I'm not mistaken, although I think I've said that I get them confused with the totally different Aluminum Group about ten times by now, which always makes me wonder if I've got that right.

4.21   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
By the time we get rolling, I should have some idea where I'll be living next week, and will have had a second interview under my belt for the job lead I found within about eight hours of getting laid off. So there's potential for me to be in a really good mood. Or not, but I don't think I need your couch. Yet.

Alkaline Trio with Saves the Day, Death in the Park (Metro)   SOLD OUT!
See Monday's listing.

4.22   wednesday
French Kicks with Ultra Sonic Edukators (Schubas)
I think the turnout for this show may be a good indicator of either how hard the recession has hit the hipster community, or how fickle that community is, as these Brooklyn indie rockers were riding a wave of buzz about a year and a half ago.

We The Kings with Forever the Sickest Kids, The Cab, Never Shout Never, Mercy Mercedes (House of Blues)   SOLD OUT!
Since this show starts at 5:30, I'm guessing it falls into the suburban pop/punk/emo category, and that's why I've never heard of them. Sure enough, they've toured with The Academy Is... and Fall Out Boy. And the guitarist's name is Hunter Thomsen, which is a reference I'm guessing none of his twentysomething friends understand.

4.23   thursday
Peter Bjorn and John with Chairlift (Metro)
I've heard that the band's new record is a little heavier than "Young Folks" -- the breakout single from their last album -- would have you believe. I haven't gotten that far down my "new stuff to listen to" list yet, so I can't verify that claim. And this seems to be at least the third time Chairlift has come through town in the last six months or so, but if you're a newer band, the road is pretty much where you need to be.

OK Go with US Royalty (Double Door)
I think The Onion is at least co-promoting this show, and I'm surprised it's not sold out. Maybe we've collectively turned our backs on Damien Kulash now that he's moved to L.A. and started writing op-ed pieces for the New York Times. He left us for both coasts! What's up with that?

Jefferson Starship (SPACE, Evanston)
Paul Kantner, on the other hand, seems to have moved to Chicago from the west coast, seeing as how the band played up in Rogers Park back in October, and now they're up in Evanston. Local singer Cathy Richardson did join the band a while back, so there's also that connection.

4.24   friday
Todd Rundgren and Band with George Hertzel (Park West)   SOLD OUT!
I think he's off of the "On Notice" board, so does that mean that this show is sold out because of the "Colbert Bump"?

The Valley Downs with The Ted Ansani Project, The Webstirs, The Effingways, Swinger, Eric Howell's Greatest Hitch, Phil Angotti (Red Line Tap)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
I always seem to miss Mike G's band when I put this thing together, so I'm glad I managed to catch this listing, which is part of the International Pop Overthrow Festival. Should be enough sweet, sweet power pop to give you cavities. And hey, I know Eric Howell, too!

Neko Case with Crooked Fingers (Chicago Theatre)   SOLD OUT!
Critics have been pretty much falling over themselves again in praising Case's new record, which has had the unintended consequence of making me not want to listen to it. I'm sure it's very nice, but as I said when A.C. Newman was here a few weeks ago, I find solo efforts from members of the New Pornographers to come up short next to that band.

4.25   saturday
New Found Glory with Bayside, Set Your Goals, Shai Halud (House of Blues)   SOLD OUT!
I have to say, it's a good week for the Warped Tour set, with a whole lot of the punk-pop going on. Or a very bad week, if you like all of these punk-pop bands but put off buying tickets, thinking you could get them at the door.

Noah and the Whale with Ferraby Lionheart, Anni Rossi (Empty Bottle)
This is one of those indie bands that seems destined to be included on the soundtrack for an indie movie, if they haven't already. I have one song that seems to have found its way into my MP3 collection somehow, and it's got that kind of sunny lilt to it that would totally work in one of those quirky movies about youth culture, possibly with Zach Braff in it.

Hey Champ with Anti-Crew (Reggie's Rock Club)
So, apparently one of the regulars at Vaughan's on Tuesdays used to manage these guys before they get picked up. They're not bad -- I still think We Are Scientists do the retro thing better -- but I don't think they're destined for the greatness she claims now that they've got a record deal. I put the over/under at 200,000 records, and definitely took the under.

4.26   sunday
M. Ward with The Watson Twins (The Vic)
So if M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel are "She & Him," would that make this tour "She & She & Him"? "Him and Her and Her"?