list.in.to.chicago this week: 06.01.2009

This edition brought to you, apparently, by soccer references and West African pop music.

Pick of the week
Biggest bang for your buck seems to be the inaugural Metronome Celebration festival in Bucktown this weekend, with the likes of John Vanderslice and Apostle of Hustle on Saturday, and Justin Townes Earle on Sunday. As you might have guessed, Empty Bottle is handling a lot of the booking for this one, hence no cover bands. If you want something a bit different, Amadou and Mariam (Tuesday at Park West) or Vieux Farka Toure (Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday at Hideout) both seem like excellent world music choices.

list.in.to.COZ
I've got one more gig subbing with Sugar Beat at Fado on Saturday, and then Diver starts getting back in the River North pub starting next Saturday. And, of course, Vaughan's.

Recap
Did the Booty Movement Coalition thing on Monday, and really dug the dueling tabla/beatbox bit that was reminiscent of that live John McLaughlin Trio record from back in 1989 or so. Having seen the band three times now, I'd like to see someone take charge to end some of the songs more coherently. They have a tendency to just sort of taper off, but obviously, that's tricky in an improvised set.

6.01   monday
Nicholas Barron (Underground Wonder Bar)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
I don't think I've seen Nicholas listed here before, or anywhere for a while, for that matter, but this place is big on regular residencies, so maybe this is his new thing. I'm guessing solo, but wouldn't necessarily put money on that.

Menomena with Pomegranates (Empty Bottle)
I don't know much about this band, but if you forgot they were playing the Do Division festival over the weekend, you've got another chance to see them. Wikipedia cites both indie rock and experimental/post-rock. Plus, now you're got that song from the Muppet Show stuck in your head.

6.02   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
Well, it will be a while before we have to wait for a Cleveland Cavaliers game to end before we start playing, I'll say that much. Too bad, as I was looking forward to Lebron vs. Kobe as much as the next guy, although I would have taken Lebron vs. Carmelo, too.

Amadou and Mariam with Occidental Brothers International Dance Band (Park West)
The African duo and their band were one of the highlights of last year's Lollapalooza for me, but I tend to be a sucker for African pop music sometimes. It's just so relentlessly happy, without being saccharine the way American feel-good pop does.

Butterfly Assassins with Loyal Divide, Venna (Schubas)
I'm sort of clinging to this band as someone new-ish that sounded interesting, so I'll tell you once again that they reminded me of some odd cross of Muse and The Decemberists.

Joey DeFrancesco Trio with Coleen McNabb (Jazz Showcase)
One of the bigger names in modern jazz organ who is one of a couple of jazz artists who still managed to find a way to play Chicago while the Showcase was homeless, playing a whole weekend at Andy's a while ago, if I remember correctly.

6.03   wednesday
Vieux Farka Toure (Hideout)
Seems like it's a really good week for Afropop in Chicago, as the son of Ali Farka Toure brings his mashup of traditional West African music with other forms will be playing three nights at the intimate club over on Wabansia. Too bad Bakary Soumare of the Chicago Fire, who is also from Mali, will be out of the country, otherwise you figure he'd be at one of the shows.

A Camp with Gentlemen Reg (Double Door)
If you had a crush on Nina Persson but couldn't stand her other band, The Cardigans, then this is your big chance to, I don't know, ogle without earplugs?

Tributosaurus (Martyrs')   FRIENDS OF COZ!
It's two sets again, and it's Jethro Tull this time around. Don't know who they've lined up to play the flute.

Joey DeFrancesco Trio with Coleen McNabb (Jazz Showcase)
See Tuesday's listing.

6.04   thursday
Kelly Steward (Uncommon Ground Devon)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Looks like airfares from Rockford must have come down, as we get another visit from the former Vaughan's regular and downstate songstress.

Hey Champ with Kid Static, Lovers in Arms, Romi Lovel (Double Door)
On the one hand, the Chicago retro-glam band got signed. On the other hand, I'm not entirely sure that's the path to success it once was, if it ever actually was. Still, I'm guessing a good crowd and some opportunities to learn about other bands on the undercard.

Vieux Farka Toure (Hideout)
See Wednesday's listing.

Joey DeFrancesco Trio with Coleen McNabb (Jazz Showcase)
See Tuesday's listing.

6.05   friday
Smoking Popes with Scotland Yard Gospel Choir (Double Door)
I think the band has been back at it long enough that I can't keep using Josh Caterer's hiatus from music and then his brief dalliance with Duvall as the main reference point, as that period is becoming a smaller and smaller percentage of the story.

Jenny Lewis with Sadies (Park West)
The Rilo Kiley frontwoman is back out on her own again, and I don't know if The Sadies are opening on their own, or if they're backing up Lewis like they sometimes do Neko Case.

Snuckafoo with Blah Blah Blah, My My My (Martyrs')
I've got absolutely nothing on this one, except that you should read it out loud.

Joey DeFrancesco Trio with Coleen McNabb (Jazz Showcase)
See Tuesday's listing.

6.06   saturday
Sugar Beat (Fado)   SEE COZ LIVE!
If you're down at the USA-Honduras soccer match at Soldier Field, stop on by Fado afterwards for my last substitute appearance with Gareth and the band. For now, anyway.

Vieux Farka Toure with Grouper, Zelianople (Hideout)
See Wednesday's listing, but with opening bands. The other two are earlier shows, and Friday Toure is part of an interview program.

Dot Dot Dot with The Insecurities, Bang Camaro, Seth Bradley (House of Blues)
I don't know if they play covers at some gigs, and originals at others, as this looks like it would be more conducive to original music. And I see these guys at Fire games every once in a while.

John Vanderslice with The World's Tallest Man (Empty Bottle)
One of the progenitors of the modern indie rock movement, I think, from back when no one know who Death Cab For Cutie was. Also playing earlier at the Metronome Festival. Plus, the opening act is going to have a bone to pick with a band playing at Elbo Room tomorrow night. Read on for details.

Joey DeFrancesco Trio with Coleen McNabb (Jazz Showcase)
See Tuesday's listing.

6.07   sunday
Justin Townes Earle (Metronome Festival North Stage)
I've been hearing a whole heck of a lot of rumbling about the new album from Steve Earle's son, which makes this headlining set a good chance to see what all the fuss is about. The festival is at Milwaukee, Armitage and Western.

World's Tallest People with Player Kommander, Raspy and the Tiger, Eleisha Eagle (Elbo Room)
I'd say that I would want to see World's Tallest People fight it out with The World's Tallest Man from Saturday's Empty Bottle show, except I would imagine it would be hard finding a room with high enough ceilings to hold the battle.

Portugal. The Man with Apostle of Hustle (Empty Bottle)
It's the opening act -- part of the Broken Social Scene collective -- that caught my attention, but I figure that Portugal. The Man may be the second biggest thing out of Wasilla, Alaska after a certain governor that you may or may not have heard of, you betcha. Apostle of Hustle is also playing Saturday at the Metronome Festival in Bucktown.

Joey DeFrancesco Trio with Coleen McNabb (Jazz Showcase)
See Tuesday's listing.