list.in.to.chicago this week: 07.06.2009

Is it any wonder I've got too much time on my hands?

Speaking of time -- and I'll be speaking of the band who wrote that line later -- is anyone else going to stay up late Tuesday night/Wednesday morning to watch the clock hit 04:05:06 on 07/08/09? I guess you could observe it in the afternoon, too, if you wanted.

Pick of the week
If you like power pop, even an acoustic set from Fountains of Wayne (Friday at Park West) should satisfy that sweet tooth.

list.in.to.COZ
Just Vaughan's this week, but Vaughan's is lots and lots of fun. Really.

Recap
After I called them out on is last month, Booty Movement Coalition did better with their improvised funk endings on Monday, and there was one jam that Scott Tallarida started on guitar that was particularly fun. The also band had their fourth drummer in four months, which makes me wonder where they might find a consistent guy who has time on his hands to fill that spot. Heck, I think I could walk to the gig with my whole drumkit in tow.

While we're still in Chicago acid jazz mode, Liquid Soul put on a good show on Friday night. I was set to dislike this incarnation, mostly on the strength of the drummer not being Dan Leali, but Jon Marks was impressive enough that I may have to revise my opinion of his other band, Hey Champ. Openers NYCO had some good songs, but they would be better if they added some high harmony vocals.

7.06   monday
Bill Frisell Quartet (SPACE, Evanston)
Frisell is one of those highly-regarded jazz guitarists that I never seem to get a chance to properly "discover." What I've heard, I've liked, but I still haven't really dug into his catalog as much as I would like to.

7.07   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
So, I'm on a bit of a dropped D kick, after Professor Fraker pointed out that "Keep The Car Running" from Arcade Fire, which I debuted last week, works better that way. Also working up some more eighties goodness.

Sunset Rubdown with Witchies, Elfin Saddle (Logan Square Auditorium)
This band is scribbled on a sheet of paper for me to check out after my indie rock expert friend on Facebook commented on them, but I still get them confused with Silversun Pickups for no reason other than the shapes of the letters in both names.

7.08   wednesday
Loudon Wainwright III with Sons of the Never Wrong (SPACE, Evanston)
A bit of a busy week for the new-ish venue just north of the city, with an appearance by the father of Rufus and Martha. I still haven't been up there to check out the room, and will call it a new room at least until that happens.

7.09   thursday
This Must Be The Band with Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights (SPACE, Evanston)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
I'm pretty sure the irrepressible Jim DiNou plays keyboards for this Talking Heads tribute band, also at the aforementioned busy new venue in Evanston.

Rachel Yamagata with Bumpus (Logan Square Auditorium)
I think I read that this is a benefit of some sort, and the big draw is speculation that Yamagata will join her old band on stage at some point.

The PowWows (Uncommon Ground on Devon)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
If Tony gets his way, this band might edge up the leaderboard on "Friends of Coz" as a percentage of total band members.

Mest with Room One Eleven, Nightcap (Subterranean)
I've been watching the local scene for a long, long time, and the degree to which bands have gone away for five or six years and now have come back seems unprecedented to me.

7.10   friday
Fountains of Wayne with Jon Auer (Park West)
This is an acoustic set, I think. I've been listening to the New Jersey band's breakthrough album, Welcome Interstate Managers, quite a bit lately. Maybe I'm homesick, as we had to drive past the actual fountain store in Wayne, NJ that gave the band it's name when my family visited my uncle.

Styx with REO Speedwagon, .38 Special (Charter One Pavilion)
Okay, this might make it worth it just to camp out over by the museum campus and watch people as they head over the show. And I'm seriously bummed out that we get this show, but not the Yes/Asia double-bill, also known as the "how long can Steve Howe stay on his feet" tour.

Peven Everett and Seance Divine with Billie Jewel (Double Door)
I've been wanting to see what Everett's been up to ever since he parted ways with Swimmer some ten years ago. I've read some good things, but haven't actually heard any music.

Mannequin Men with Thomas Function, Davila 666, Stranger Waves (Metro)
All I've been able to glean from the Internets is that this band has recorded on local Flameshovel Records, and that this is a CD release party. And Metro is giving away tickets on their Twitter feed, but it might be too late for that by the time you read this.

The Features with AutoVaughn, Unique Chique (Schubas)
It's really hard to keep all of these definite article bands straight, so I honestly have no idea if I've even heard or heard of this Nashville four-piece, but they've cite Talking Heads, The Kinks and Elvis Costello as influences, and a quick listen on MySpace makes it sound like they can back that up.

Jonas Brothers with Jordin Sparks, Honor Society (Allstate Arena)
There are simply too many jokes I could make on this one. I'm paralyzed. Or still in shock from my first exposure to the teen-idol band, butchering "Superstition" with Stevie Wonder on the Grammys six months ago.

7.11   saturday
Jon Langford with Paul Burch (SPACE, Evanston)
The former Mekon and current Waco Brother gets in on all this Evanston action. I'm actually really happy there's a viable music venue up there, having lived through that failed attempt from Chris Schuba to open a theater some fifteen years ago.

Jonas Brothers with Jordin Sparks, Honor Society (Allstate Arena)
See Friday's listing. And feel free to offer up your own pithy comments in the web version of the newsletter.

7.12   sunday
Dennis DeYoung (Pritzker Pavilion)
I wonder if there are Dennis DeYoung loyalist who will explicitly pick this show over the Styx show earlier in the week, or if Styx fans will by and large just go to both. This one has the advantage of probably being free.