list.in.to.chicago this week: 07.26.2010

Traveling on business next week, so I may have time to write a newsletter next week. In which case, just go to Lollapalooza and call it a day. Or three.

Pick of the week
Both shows tonight -- Booty Movement Coalition at Martyrs' and Robbie Fulks playing Alex Chilton songs at Hideout -- sound pretty promising, as does Thursday's free show at Pritzker Pavilion from Tortoise. Also, Fran Healy of Travis is opening the Keane show on Wednesday at the Chicago Theatre.

list.in.to.COZ
Lots going on this week, with both a Diver lunchtime show and the Globe open mic on Wednesday, plus a proper Diver show on Saturday at Fado. A proper Diver trio show, anyway, as Anto waits to make his family a quartet.

Recap
I found myself at The Globe on Friday night while Sticky Fingers was playing, and they made a better impression on me than the first time I saw them. There are still bits I'd do differently, but they came reasonably close to the Rolling Stones vibe on a bunch of the songs.

Saturday's Diver duo show was marked by this one larger, older gentleman who felt totally compelled to get down with his bad self when we played "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" from The Police, despite the absolutely lack of anyone else dancing. I really, truly enjoy those moments as a musician when you're so clearly affecting someone. Maybe I just appreciate the instant feedback that we're doing something right.

In other rock show news from last week, I can't help thinking about that scene from High Anxiety when I hear about Kings Of Leon having to stop their show in St. Louis last week because they were, um, "attacked" by pigeons. Somebody needs to mash up that Mel Brooks footage with a Kings of Leon song, and fast.

7.26   monday
Booty Movement Coalition with WATIV (Martyrs')   FRIENDS OF COZ!
It's the last Monday of the month already? Not sure what the deal is with the opener, but that means I'm less likely to make it, since I'm getting to where I'm only good for the early set anyway.

Robbie Fulks (Hideout)
This week's edition features the music of Alex Chilton, with Liam Davis, KC McDonough and Gerald Down in tow. Fulks sure does seem to be making the most of this gig with some of his weekly themes and musical choices.

7.27   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
I might take this week off, but don't let that stop you from stopping in and saying hi to Tony.

Smashing Pumpkins with Kill Hannah (Metro)   SOLD OUT!
Longtime readers know that I've been known to poke fun at the twins from Madina Lake from time to time, but they're good guys. By now you may have heard about bassist Matthew Leone trying to break up a domestic disturbance and getting his head bashed in. Billy Corgan, among others, has stepped up to help with his medical bills, as tickets for this benefit show were available via auction only. There are other ways you can help out if you're so inclined.

Gaslight Anthem with Chamberlain, Tim Barry (House of Blues)
This would be the New Jersey band playing this week that I would be more likely to see, not even for their association with Jersey's favorite son Bruce Springsteen, but just because the likelihood of going to see that other guy is nil, and I'm just talking on relative terms.

7.28   wednesday
Sing Along With Coz (The Globe Pub)   COZ SINGS!
No one showed up last week. Not to play, not to listen. Nothing. And since we're in the back room, I didn't even have the regular bar crowd as a casual audience. Brutal. So if even one person shows up, it will be infinitely better this time around, because 1 divided by 0 is infinity, or something like that.

DIVER (220 West Washington)   SEE COZ LIVE!
Tony and I will be joined by "bassist emeritus" Avi Kopernik for a lunchtime acoustic set downtown. I think we start at 11 or 11:30am or so.

Keane with Ingrid Michaelson, Fran Healy (Chicago Theatre)
I didn't have the same kind of violent, negative reaction to their latest record as I did for their last one, but it's still a bit odd-sounding. Mostly because, after one or two proper-sounding -- in my opinion, obviously -- Keane songs, they start to bring in a bunch of guest vocalists. And rappers. Which isn't a indictment of rap or anything, it's just incongruous. Okay, actually, it's at the Chicago Theatre, not the Congress. You're welcome.

7.29   thursday
Tortoise 2.0 (Pritzker Pavilion)
What makes it 2.0? According to the Metromix listing, "listen to new sounds from local post-rock pioneers Tortoise with jazz composer Ed Wilkerson, among others." Not entirely sure that clarifies anything.

The Clipse with Twista (The Shrine)
As far as mid-level rap/hip-hop bills go, this one stands out, mostly because I've heard of both artists, including local rapper Twista.

7.30   friday
Bon Fucking Jovi with Kid Rock, 7th Heaven (Soldier Field)
As a native of New Jersey, I am obligated by law to mention this one. If you go, just don't tell me about it, so that I won't think less of you.

Wilco with Yo La Tengo (Covaleski Ballpark, South Bend, IN)
And while I'm usually not one to list shows outside the city limits, if it's a credible alternative to the aforementioned Bon Fucking Jovi, I'll make an exception. This is a killer bill for aging indie rock folks.

The Dead Weather with Harlem (Congress Theater)
I'm not swayed by the idea of Jack White playing drums, and while I've seen The Kills twice, I'm not as smitten with Alison Mosshart as everyone else is, either. Still, what little I've heard of this band isn't bad, just not as interesting as White's other main projects.

This Must Be The Band with Athens (Abbey Pub)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
After playing what seemed like every weekend, the Talking Heads tribute band -- with Jim DiNou on keywords -- has slowed down a bit, at least as far as I can tell.

Mission of Burma with D. Rider, The Poison Arrows (Subterranean)
I know the Boston-based post-punk band was riding a bit of a resurgence lately, but if they're playing Subterranean, most of that reunion bounce may be gone. And I seem to get them confused with Pere Ubu, which I'm sure fans of either band find absolutely horrifying.

7.31   saturday
DIVER (Fado Irish Pub)   SEE COZ LIVE!
Last time we had a bachelorette crashing into the drums, and Benjamin Franklin himself making a couple of requests. This week, all we know is that we'll have Brian back on bass fresh off the bar exam. I think.

The Right Now with JT and The Clouds, Dan Dyer, DJRC (Lincoln Hall)
I'm still impressed that the locally-produced R&B album got a shoutout in the USA Today a few weeks back. That's a great feather in the cap for the band and for Steve and Vijay, who were the local producers.

Bon Fucking Jovi with Kid Rock, 7th Heaven (Soldier Field)
See Friday's expletive-laden entry, if this got past your e-mail filters.

8.01   sunday
Hey Champ with Hot Pink Delorean, Punk Fresh (Double Door)
Hot Pink Delorean is the nominal headliner here, but I'm curious to see if Hey Champ still pulls in the crowds they were getting back when everyone was talking about them as the next big thing out of Chicago, or if they're still the next big thing out of Chicago.