list.in.to.chicago this week: 04.04.2011

For no real reason except that I'm not feeling particularly motivated (or, perhaps, wordy), I'm going to limit this week's listings to six words each. No more, no less.

Pick of the week
If you're the scalping sort, Cut Copy (Friday at the Riv) and Robert Plant and Band of Joy (Saturday at the Auditorium Theatre) stand out, not necessarily in that order. Otherwise, I'm curious about The Joy Formidable (Tuesday) and The Raveonettes (Wednesday), both at Lincoln Hall, although probably not curious enough to go.

list.in.to.COZ
It's an open mic kind of week, with a strong likelihood I'll be at Vaughan's on Tuesday, and then it's back to The Globe to reclaim the hosting duties after two weeks away.

Recap
I sometimes forget that one of the things I like about Steve Coleman and Five Elements is that while most jazz constructs melodies primarily on top of complex harmonies, Coleman builds off of complex rhythms -- there was some serious odd time going on underneath the handful of compositions presented on Monday night, and it was downright hypnotizing at times.

No full 45-minute tangents from Henry Rollins on Wednesday like the Ozzy Osbourne bit from the first time I saw him, but we got a good blend of stories about Black Flag back in the day, shopping in mass market stores and traveling the world that form the foundation of most of his spoken words tours. And our table couldn't have been more than ten feet away in the very intimate space of SPACE.

And I have to admit that I don't actually have the first Queens of the Stone Age album, but that didn't hinder my enjoyment of the show on Friday night. The difference between the more hypnotic, drawn-out riffs of that earlier material and the more concise songs that came later was immediately apparent when they followed up the complete performance of that first record with "Little Sister." Also, Josh Homme read from an audience member's book, and I once again was a magnet for people with a poor grasp of personal space.

4.04   monday
Glenn Tilbrook (SPACE, Evanston)
Used to be in Squeeze. Cool.

Robbie Fulks with Steve Frisbie (Hideout)
Residence returns with power pop guest.

Trombone Shorty with The Opposition Party, DJRC (Lincoln Hall)   SOLD OUT!
NOLA funk vet despite young age.

Patrick Stump with Rockie Fresh (Schubas)   SOLD OUT!
Other guy from Fall Out Boy.

4.05   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
Adding even more Foo Fighters tunes.

The Joy Formidable with Mona, The Lonely Forest (Lincoln Hall)
Welsh trio said to channel Pumpkins.

Liam Finn with The Luyas (Hideout)
Grew up in a Crowded House.

The Mountain Goats with Megafaun (The Vic)
Verbose indie folk isn't my thing.

Toro y Moi with Adventure, Braids (Empty Bottle)
Two shows from the electropop act.

4.06   wednesday
Sing Along With Coz (The Globe Pub)   COZ SINGS!
Don't make me beg. Bring friends.

The Raveonettes with Tamaryn (Lincoln Hall)
Time Out calls their newest "bubblegoth."

4.07   thursday
Joe Lovano + Us 5 (Jazz Showcase)
Post bop sax with two drummers?

Spare Parts (Alive One)
Funk and rock for jamband fans.

4.08   friday
Cut Copy with Holy Ghost, Kid Color (Riviera Theatre)   SOLD OUT!
Aussie party on the dance floor.

Ode with Lying Delilah (The Ace Bar)
New venue. Maybe Hoghead McDunna's space?

Joe Lovano + Us 5 (Jazz Showcase)
See Thursday's listing, would you please?

4.09   saturday
Robert Plant and the Band of Joy with the North Mississippi All-Stars (Auditorium Theatre)   SOLD OUT!
Rock royalty but no Zep reunion.

Wire with Lasers and Fast and Sh*t (Metro)
Critical darlings of British post punk.

Van Ghost with Emmitt-Nershi Band, Em and Them (Abbey Pub)
Locals featured at recent bluegrass festival.

Joe Lovano + Us 5 (Jazz Showcase)
See Thursday's listing. Then continue reading.

4.10   sunday
Peter Murphy with Livan, The Pirate Twins (Reggie's Rock Club)
Singers from Bauhaus, Squeeze, Zep -- trend?

Joe Lovano + Us 5 (Jazz Showcase)
See Thursday's listing. All done now.