list.in.to.chicago this week: 08.02.2010

It's that time of year again. After taking a year off, I'll be once again trying to see just how many bands I can squeeze into three days of Lollapalooza. And I've got a new camera with a more zoom, so there will be pictures. I may be missing some street festival stuff here and there again, but I have limited bandwidth (no pun intended, not that you're going to believe me) with which to take on the elephant in the room.

Pick of the week
Yeah, there's this big thing going on over by the lake, there. You may have heard about it. And I'm getting excited about Soundgarden to the point where I'm really worried about getting let down.

list.in.to.COZ
Nothing to report this week, as I'm writing this to you from a hotel in TriBeCa.

Recap
Had a little Wingman reunion at The Globe on Wednesday, which was fun. And Saturday night's Diver show had the mother of all bachelorette parties, just in terms of numbers, and without Anto front and center absorbing (and enjoying) the attention, everyone seemed to think it was a great idea to engage band members in conversation. While we were playing. Brian got it bad on account of having neither a microphone nor a drum kit in front of him. I think enough of them asked for "Brown-Eyed Girl" that they could have easily taken up a collection to reach that price we set a few weeks back.

8.02   monday
Robbie Fulks (Hideout)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
This week's installment is billed as "Mystery Theater," with KC McDonough and Gerald Dowd once again along for the ride.

8.03   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
I'm out of town on business most of this week, so I'll only be there in spirit. It doesn't mean you shouldn't visit, though.

8.04   wednesday
Sing Along With Coz (The Globe Pub)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
As was the case last time I was traveling for work, Andy from The Good Mondays will be filling in for me this week. Make him feel welcome, would you?

Tributosaurus (Martyrs')   FRIENDS OF COZ!
This month, they're Johnny Cash. I always feel a little weird calling them friends, but I define that in the music world as anyone who knows my name without me having to remind them, and they do qualify on that account. Plus, I got to play with them once.

Juliette Lewis with The Last Vegas, Dearly Beloved (Reggie's Rock Club)
Not to be confused with Julianne Moore, currently starring in The Kids Are Alright. I wonder if Lewis had a good enough time playing Lollapalooza a couple of years ago that she booked a show here right around this time so she could go.

Ted Nugent with Val Halla (House of Blues)
I'm a little worried at the proximity of this show to Grizzly Bear playing Lollapalooza, 'cause the Motor City Madman probably travels with his bow and arrow, and at this point, might not realize that it's just the band's name. Good thing Animal Collective isn't on the bill this year.

8.05   thursday
Soundgarden (The Vic)
The deal on this show was that you had to sign up on the band's website and if you get picked, you have the opportunity to buy tickets for the intimate Lollapalooza warmup in Lakeview. Some critics are calling this an unnecessary money-grabbing reunion, but for fuck's sake, it's SOUNDGARDEN. They've got one of the best singers and one of the best drummers in modern rock, which is justification enough in my book, and the other guys are no slouches, either.

Devo with Dirty Projectors (Congress Theater)
Lots and lots of Lolla pre-shows and after-shows, but this one stands out as one of the more interesting ones. And one of the not-sold-out ones, as far as I can tell.

The New Pornographers with The Dodos (Metro)   SOLD OUT!
I really like this indie rock "supergroup," but I feel like I've seen them enough that I can skip them this time around.

The Big Pink with White Car, Night Gallery (Lincoln Hall)
This band had a bit of buzz towards the end of last year, but I'm not sure if seeing them Thursday night gives you any strategic schedule advantages at the festival.

8.06   friday
Lollapalooza (Grant Park)
The bands I have penciled in right now are, in chronological order: Javelin, Wavves, The Walkmen, Raphael Saadiq, The Big Pink, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Devo, Dirty Projectors, Hot Chip and The Strokes. Of those, Devo is probably the one I'd not want to miss. Might go with Mavis Staples instead of Saadiq, but that means a lot more walking.

The Walkmen with Warpaint (Double Door)   SOLD OUT!
After having heard about this Brooklyn indie quartet for years, I think I'll finally get to see them at Lolla. Just not in Bucktown afterwards.

Cut Copy with Dragonette (Metro)   SOLD OUT!
I'm not sure how much of the ticket demand on these aftershows is from people going to the festival versus those not going to the festival. I can see a rationale for both sides.

8.07   saturday
Lollapalooza (Grant Park)
I end up on the north end of the festival pretty much all day, and may have picked my headliner on those grounds. Yeah, Green Day would be cool to see, but I'm a bit curious about Phoenix. Leading up to that on my tentative schedule are Harlem, Stars, The xx, Grizzly Bear, Metric, Spoon and Cut Copy.

Melissa Etheridge (Chicago Theatre)
While there may not be a huge amount of overlap between Etheridge and Lolla, I still think there would be some, so I think someone's agent may get a talking to. Unless she's here to see Soundgarden.

Gogol Bordello with Ryan Olson (Subterranean)   SOLD OUT!
The National with The Antlers (House of Blues)   SOLD OUT!
The Black Keys with The Morning Benders (Metro)   SOLD OUT!
If you're despairing about not seeing any of these bands (and you're not going to Grant Park during the day), I know Metro released some tickets day of show for Arctic Monkeys last year, so get on whatever Twitter feeds are out there for these venues.

8.08   sunday
Lollapalooza (Grant Park)
As much as I'd like to see both Arcade Fire and The National, they both get sacrificed to see Soundgarden. It won't be the first time for The National, who we skipped in order to jockey for position for Interpol a few years ago. Wasn't my idea. Prior to that, it's looking like some combination of The Antlers, Company of Thieves, Blitzen Trapper, Mumford & Sons, Hockey, Yeasayer, Frightened Rabbit, Erykah Badu and Wolfmother. Frightened Rabbit vs. Erykah Badu is probably the toughest call of the weekend, but I may try to catch half of each set if I can haul ass across the park.

Phoenix with Toro Y Moi (House of Blues)   SOLD OUT!
House of Blues is, by far, the most obvious place to have aftershows, but Reggie's isn't that far away, either, so I'm surprised they didn't try to get in on the action.