list.in.to.chicago this week: 04.26.2010

In which I realize I have quite a few musician friends.

Pick of the week
If you can scrounge up a ticket for Yeasayer (Thursday at Metro), by all means, go. And I'm really excited about Porcupine Tree (Friday at the Riv), which means I'm totally going to get stuck at LaGuardia. Finally, go see Tony and Avi with Telstar at 1 in the afternoon on Saturday at the Abbey Pub, because then maybe they'll do another one.

list.in.to.COZ
We'd love to see you on Saturday night at Fado for your almost-monthly Diver show. Regular office hours Tuesday (Vaughan's) and Wednesday (Globe) in Open Mic world.

Recap
I've only heard White Rabbits on record, so I wasn't prepared last night for the onslaught of drums that they bring to their live show. It was like a cross between Spoon and Blue Man Group. I also really like the way the two singers' voices blend together. Excellent show. I went back and forth on Here We Go Magic, as they had this neat angular, almost dissonant thing going on, but the lead singer seemed to be forcing his eccentricity. Still, they had one song that wouldn't have sounded out of place on Peter Gabriel's Passion record, which is a good thing. And local openers Pet Lions were good enough to maybe check out on their own, falling somewhere between Death Cab For Cutie and Arctic Monkeys. Lots of clean-ish guitar tones with lots of reverb on the night.

Then there was Friday night. Once they realized they weren't going to do the numbers they thought for the early part of the evening, the Enclave folks decided it was in their best interest to get the rock and roll riff raff out of there post haste, so they could get on with their regular DJ dance party and VIP bottle service crowd. After two songs, they told us the next one would be our last. First time that's ever happened to any of us, I think, so we didn't have the wherewithal to launch into the longest, most atonal jam we could come up with. Maybe next time.

Still, I enjoyed the sets from Jeremiah Higgins, Glittermouse, and a similarly abbreviated set from Helicopters, and would totally see them again.

4.26   monday
Jakob Dylan and Three Legs with Mimicking Birds (Park West)
It would appear that two of the three legs are Kelly Hogan and Neko Case, which makes this quite a bit more interesting than Bob's kid on his own. I've been moderately disappointed with the former (current?) Wallflower since his tepid cover of David Bowie's "Heroes" for the Godzilla soundtrack, way back when.

Amos Lee with Tift Merritt (Lincoln Hall)   SOLD OUT!
I have to say, the rollout of Lincoln Hall has been impressive. They seem to have gotten a good read on which bands will do well in the space, if the number of sold out shows is any indication. And I'm not entirely sure where those bands would have played otherwise, except multiple nights at Schubas. Maybe a less-than-capacity show at Metro or The Vic?

The Powwows with SUDDYN, Julie Meckler, Go Time, Ditchwood Diesel, The Sometimes Family, Frank Tribes (Red Line Tap)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
One of the prevalent themes for the week is friends' bands playing in the International Pop Overthrow Festival, which refers back to the Material Issue album of the same name. First up are Lauretta and Tony with The Powwows, who I hear are also shooting a video.

Booty Movement Coalition (Martyrs')   FRIENDS OF COZ!
There's a slim chance I'll make the long trek around the corner for at least one set of improvised funk, acid jazz, hip-hop, and who knows what else, but I've been burning the candle at both ends since starting the new job, and even finding ends of the candle to burn that were hitherto unknown. You may need a crowbar to separate me from my couch tonight, is what I'm saying.

4.27   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
People singing songs. And drinking. And watching sports. Why not?

Jonsi with Death Vessel (The Vic)
The Sigur Ros frontman is touring on his second solo record, in front of a elaborate set designed by an acclaimed British theatrical firm. The difference between the band and solo output seems to be one of degree, sort of an atmospheric post-rock version of Radiohead versus Thom Yorke, and will serve to remind concert-goers that there are other things out of Iceland than volcanic ash from Eyjafjallajökull, which will likely be mentioned in lots of the previews and reviews. But probably not on Twitter. Can you do umlauts on Twitter?

Chris Greene Quartet (Jazz Showcase)
I've seen local acts play early in the week at the Showcase before, but hadn't seen Greene listed before. Doesn't mean that the local saxophonist, who will be coming off the BMC show at Martyrs' on Monday, hasn't played there, just that I haven't seen it.

4.28   wednesday
Sing Along With Coz (The Globe Pub)   COZ SINGS!
Other, slightly different people singing songs. And drinking. And watching different sports. Again, I ask you, why not?

Jonsi with Death Vessel (The Vic)
See Tuesday's listing and gratuitous use of the word "Eyjafjallajökull."

4.29   thursday
Yeasayer with Sleigh Bells, Chandeliers (Metro)   SOLD OUT!
I tend to get down on indie bands that value texture over songcraft, but I feel like this Brooklyn band gets the balance right. It could be that their textures are heavily influenced by world music, which gives it a more interesting rhythmic underpinning to my ears. To that end, the new record was produced by none other than Peter Gabriel alum Jerry Marotta, who is no slouch in that particular area.

Savvy with Automata, Magicks, Jenny Gillespie (Bottom Lounge)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
This band is mostly the same as the Talking Heads tribute This Must Be The Band, only they're playing original music.

Missile with Andy Stone, Eric Howell's Greatest Hitch, Kaiserkeller, Greg Pope & the Popmonsters, Certain Stars, Injured Parties (Red Line Tap)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Another friend's band, another International Pop Overthrow show. Eric Howell is the Friend of Coz in question, but I'm also intrigued to see Missile on the bill, as I was pretty sure that band had ceased to exist.

4.30   friday
Porcupine Tree with Bigelf (Riviera Theatre)
I've been meaning to see this band for years now, and barring a delay on my flight back from New York, I finally will. Steven Wilson has managed to find a way to be a progressive rock band in this century without sounding retro. Okay, so there's an occasional Mellotron, but still, the music doesn't sound dated. Unless that date is 7/8. Zing!

Webstirs, Valley Downs, Tim Casey & the Martyrs, the Help Desk, Elements of Style, Effingways, Blair Packham (Bird's Nest)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Another International Pop Overthrow festival show, and the friends in question this time are the Valley Downs, who I've inexplicably never heard despite having known them since before Diver came to be. Sadly, it ain't gonna happen this time, neither.

Apples In Stereo with Generationals, Laminated Cat (Lincoln Hall)
I feel like the former flagship band of the ork-pop heavy Elephant 6 collective hasn't been around lately, but they had an album out in 2007 prior to their latest dropping last week. Both were released on Elijah Wood's Simian label. There was a five-year gap before that, though.

The Nightwatchman with Rust Belt Ramblers, Bucky Halker (Bottom Lounge)
In case you've forgotten, this is the rabble-rousing folky side project from Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine and Audioslave. Although I don't know that he's got a "main" project anymore that this would be on the side of. I think both of those bands are dead, and I'm not sure if Street Sweeper Social Club is an ongoing concern.

Los Campesinos! with Cymbals Eat Guitars (Metro)
Normally it's enough to point out that this seven-piece collective is from Wales, despite their Spanish name, except that it turns out that, despite meeting in Cardiff, none of the band members are even Welsh. So says Wikipedia, anyway. I pretty much just assume that given the hipster credentials and the size of the band that they're bubbly, energetic, slightly weird indie rock along the lines of Arcade Fire or Broken Social Scene, but I may be completely wrong.

Owl City with Lights, Paper Route (Aragon Ballroom)   SOLD OUT!
There's got to be some pop culture wind beneath this band's sails, because I checked them out when I first saw what looked like a massive buzz about them, and found the newest record damn near unlistenable.

Tone Loc with Coolio (Enclave)
I suspect that they'll let these guys play more than three songs. I just can't figure out why we weren't a good fit at this venue, can you?

5.01   saturday
DIVER (Fado Irish Pub)   SEE COZ LIVE!
I think we actually may have a new-ish song or two for you. In case it makes the difference between you showing up and staying home, those songs are "Use Somebody" from Kings of Leon (with approximate arrangement) and "Hallelujiah" from Leonard Cohen.

Telstar with Empire Garrison, Changing Modes, Blackout Dates, The Webelos, The Spindles (Abbey Pub)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Before Diver and Andrew Fraker & Sons, Tony fronted a power pop trio of his own, and they're reuniting for an afternoon all ages show as part of the International Pop Overthrow festival. It's a 1pm start, so plan your day accordingly. I shudder to think what time they have to sound check.

Madina Lake with Classic Crime, Ivoryline, Lifeline (Bottom Lounge)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Like Thursday night's Savvy show, I actually have some friends playing this week that are not part of IPO. In this case, it's the Leone twins and their active rock/emo-ish outfit that, last I checked, had more hair colors than band members. I kid, I kid.

Public Image Ltd (House of Blues)
The Sex Pistols have been cashing in on their legacy since the aptly named "Filthy Lucre" tour back in 1996, so it only fits that it's eventually followed by a reformation of the band that followed the Pistols' initial breakup. You may not realize this, but both jazz legend Tony Williams and guitar virtuoso Steve Vai recorded with PIL.

5.02   sunday
Eleventh Dream Day with The Eternals (Hideout)
It's probably been a while since I brought up the Eleventh Dream Day show put on by the Beat Club at the University of Chicago way back in 1989 or so. Beat Club was the outlet for more local and underground music, so they probably got more of the nascent bands on the scene than we did with the Major Activities Board. Anyway, I used to have a Beat Club t-shirt that the band had all signed. Naturally, the drummer signed the armpit. We're funny like that.

Christian Larsen with Gypsy Revival, Vance Stephens (Elbo Room)
Not quite a Friend of Coz, but he knows Andrew and Brian from the Fraker band, and we're connected on Facebook. So, technically, a Friend of Coz, but I don't know that I've ever actually met the guy. Or heard his music.

Public Image Ltd (House of Blues)
See Saturday's listing.