list.in.to.chicago this week: 09.28.2009

On the one hand, I totally should have scalped tickets for Porcupine Tree last week. On the other hand, I sometimes have to face up to the fact that I currently lack full-time employment, although it's looking more and more like I can make a reasonable claim to being "self-employed."

Now, while you read this, I have to go write a research proposal to help support that claim.

Pick of the week
Well, I'm going to see Booty Movement Coaltion tonight at Martyrs' and Living Colour on Sunday at Double Door for sure. I know that Manic Street Preachers (Thursday, Metro) are kind of a big deal among a certain audience, but if you're in that crowd, you probably don't need me to tell you about it.

list.in.to.COZ
I got a bailout shot last week for a private party that allowed me to extend my streak of paying music gigs to 11 weeks, but it looks like that's the end of that streak, unless Anto doesn't make it to Vaughan's on Tuesday. The next full band/drumkit shows are Andrew Fraker & Sons at Martyrs' on 10/21 and Diver at Fado on 10/31, for those of you that like to plan in advance.

Recap
Time Out Chicago called Friday's ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead show part of the "Sorry for Those Last Couple of Albums" tour, and I have no idea if that's snark from TOC or self-effacement from the band. Probably the former. They do have lots of pictures, which means I know exactly who their photographer was.

It was my first time seeing them, and they certainly delivered the material from their last record in an intense, dense wall of sound. I think it speaks well of the band that I normally don't like dramatic mid-song tempo shifts, but thought they pulled them off well. It helps that the drummer was really, really good. Towards the end they got a bit noisier, punkier, and less interesting to me, but overall, good show. And I have to reconcile that The Secret Machines are never quite going to hit me the way they did the first time I saw them. Still, it was a powerful set, and the first time I've seen them where Brandon Curtis just played bass and no keyboards.

The venue, it should be noted, reminded me a lot of the Major Activities Board shows we used to do at Ida Noyes Hall at the University of Chicago. Big, rectangular hall with a stage, lights and a P.A. sort of airdropped in.

9.28   monday
Booty Movement Coalition (Martyrs')   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Last month was only the second time in five tries that I've seen the improvised funk band with their regular drummer, but he's apparently really, really busy. I think someone told me that he plays for Beyonce.

Jay Reatard with NoBunny, Hunx and His Punx, Box Elders, Useless Eaters (Empty Bottle)
Everything I've read about this guy seems to convey that he's a really good indie-rock songwriter and artist, but I still can't get past his name being almost "retard." It distracts me just enough to not try any harder to learn about him. I will get over this eventually.

Grizzly Bear with Bearch House (Metro)
A second, non-sold out show from the indie darlings.

9.29   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
The turnout has been up-and-down lately on Tuesday nights, but if it's strictly alternating, we should have a good crowd this week. If you show up, even more so. And we've had some new people show up to play in the last couple of weeks that are definitely worth coming to see, even just for a handful of songs.

Van Morrison (Chicago Theatre)
Just on principle, I want a certain slide-tackling friend of mine to go to this show and request "Into The Mystic" loudly between every song. Especially after he's already played it.

White Lies with Old Fake (Metro)
Could have sworn I had heard of these guys as one of those ubiquitous up-and-coming UK bands, but I can't seem to find any actual evidence that they've been on my radar. Which means they're not on my ever-growing "Mixer" playlist on Rhapsody. I think I'm conflating White Rabbits and Other Lives. They are, however, on the soundtrack of Jennifer's Body, which is a movie that is being heavily marketed to me if the sheer number of commercials I've seen for it is any indication.

9.30   wednesday
Moby with Kelli Scar (The Vic)   SOLD OUT!
I wasn't really able to stay interested in the electronica star after his breakthrough album Play, but he's got a new record out that I think is supposed to be sorta retro. For an electronica album, anyway.

The Killer with Born From Pain, Forfeit, Hate (Beat Kitchen)
This one is notable because I have an "Upcoming Concerts" app on my Palm Pre from the folks at iLike, and it thinks this is Brandon Flowers' band.

Passion Pit (Logan Square Auditorium)   SOLD OUT!
That same Palm Pre app is where this show is described as being sold out, but it's a free XRT show where you have to request tickets, so "sold out" could mean a lot of things. Based on the Wikipedia description, they appear to be yet another MacBook-rock band.

10.01   thursday
Manic Street Preachers with Bear Hands (Metro)
Chicago's own Steve Albini recorded the latest album from this storied Welsh band, which apparently features lyrics left behind by original band member Richey Edwards before he disappeared in 1995, later presumed dead. I got a hint of a thumbs up over Facebook from someone who saw them earlier on this tour.

10.02   friday
Juliette Lewis with The Ettes, American Bang (Bottom Lounge)
I'm still torn on whether or not Lewis is just feeling the music at a primal level when she performs, or if she's just acting like she thinks a rock star is supposed to act. I suppose this is a bit of an existential problem about musicians in general, but it's more obvious when they're somewhat known for acting. Still, she puts on a very energetic, punk-influenced show, with Iggy Pop probably being the most obvious nod.

Tonic (Cubby Bear Wrigleyville)
As near as I can tell, it looks like at least lead singer Emerson Hart may live here in Chicago now, given how often I see his name at places like Duffy's on a weeknight. The official line is that the band is back, and releasing a new record some time this year, but it's going to be an uphill climb to transcend being a one-hit wonder of the adult alternative genre.

10.03   saturday
Brand New with Manchester Orchestra (Aragon Ballroom)
This is one of those pop-punk bands that just gets lumped into a really big "Warped Tour" category that I don't pay any attention to, so I can't really tell any of them apart. And I keep getting Manchester Orchestra confused with the completely different Cinematic Orchestra, who are British, but apparently not from Manchester.

10.04   sunday
Living Colour with Sekond Skyn (Double Door)
I saw them at Metro the last time they returned to semi-active duty and released an album that nobody really noticed, and while it's not ideal for them, it'll be cool to see them doing the same in an even smaller venue.

The Bravery with Living Things, The Dustys (The Vic)
If they're not at that point already, I suspect the large majority of the band's audience is just going to be waiting for "An Honest Mistake," which is a fairly lonely good song in the band's catalog. To my ears, anyway.

Maserati with Mono, Helen Money (Bottom Lounge)
I haven't really explored this band past the one record I have, but I like the post-rock soundscapes of that one record quite a bit. Recommended if you like Explosions In The Sky.

Stryper with Flight Patterns, Manic Drive (House of Blues)
On the one hand, it's easy to dismiss bands that seem way, way past their expiration date, but on the other hand, if playing music is what you do, I can really begrudge anyone the desire to keep doing it.