list.in.to.chicago this week: 08.15.2011

And, we're back. And, we still haven't written the Lollapalooza review.

Pick of the week
I shouldn't really be plugging the competition on Saturday, but both The Wanton Looks at Empty Bottle and Return to Forever IV with Zappa Plays Zappa down at The Venue would be solid choices for entirely different reasons.

list.in.to.COZ
Come see Diver at Fado on Saturday night and you might be rewarded with some three-part harmony, if I can remember my note. Open mic at The Globe for sure on Wednesday, although Vaughan's on Tuesday will likely be a game-time decision.

Recap
Saturday's Diver show first got knocked down to an hour and then eliminated completely, which freed me up to go see Los Borrachos at Lincoln Hall. What was especially great about it was being around three or four people who had never seen them before and were practically in hysterics. What was even better was Cisco Borracho dropping the melody of "I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)" from Genesis into one of his guitar solos.

And I swear, I'll have a full Lollapalooza review up on notabbott.com by this time next week. Or die trying. Lots of good stuff, including the epic, rain-soaked Foo Fighters set.

8.15   monday
Phish (UIC Pavilion)   SOLD OUT!
Wait, didn't they break up? Or was that just a hiatus? And what's the plural of hiatus? I ask because I was going to wonder how many of them end up in the band just sorta shuffling off into the sunset.

LeAnn Rimes with Crystal Bowersox (Joe's)
Seems like an odd venue for the country star, both in size and vibe, which means there might be more to it than I could glean from a Metromix listing.

8.16   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
My inconsistent attendance isn't a reflection on Vaughan's. It's just that I can do one thing after work on a good night, and this would be three things after a fitness class and a rehearsal. What I'm saying is, I'm old, and would like you to get off my lawn.

Larry Gray Quartet (Jazz Showcase)
We usually see bassist Gray at this venue backing up Larry Coryell when he comes through town, but here he gets a night as a leader.

Phish (UIC Pavilion)   SOLD OUT!
See Monday's listing.

8.17   wednesday
Sing Along With Coz (The Globe Pub)   COZ SINGS!
So, if nobody shows up to participate in the open mic, you get about two solid hours of me singing. Which may either be a reason to stop by, or to encourage musicians to show up.

Stiff Little Fingers with Flatfoot 56, Rambos (Double Door)
The punk rockers from Northern Ireland started out as a new wave cover band until they saw The Clash some 25 years ago, or so the story goes.

Phish (UIC Pavilion)   SOLD OUT!
See Monday's listing.

8.18   thursday
Bush with Chevelle (Congress Theater)
I can't help but notice that Gavin Rossdale showed up as a character on Burn Notice right about the time of this tour. I also noticed that he still can't act.

8.19   friday
Mucca Pazza with Daniel Knox (Lincoln Hall)
Good to see local bands -- in this case, Chicago's own hipster marching band -- on stage amongst all the buzz bin indie stuff.

Nick Miller and the Neighbors with Revision Text, Ian Olvera and the Sleepwalkers, Property of Saints (Cafeteria y Restaurante de Pancho)
So, I incorrectly called this my friend's brother's band a while back, when it's actually her cousin's band. And they were on a bill for one of the Lollapalooa pre-shows a few weeks back, which doesn't suck at all.

8.20   saturday
DIVER (Fado Irish Pub)   SEE COZ LIVE!
It's me, Tony and Sue as the electric trio once again, and we've come to the conclusion that this is really the core lineup for the foreseeable future.

Return to Forever IV with Zappa Plays Zappa (The Venue, Hammond, IN)
This very well could have been my first show at the Horseshoe Casino if I didn't have a gig. Keyboardist Chick Corea borrows from his later Elektric Band for the one hole in the classic lineup, with Frank Gambale instead of Al Di Meola. Stylistically, that's probably as close a fit as you're going to get for a replacement.

The Wanton Looks with Cathy Santories, Hollows, DJ Reaganomix (Empty Bottle)
Big writeup of the local band in the Tribune this past week, promoting this Ladyfest Midwest gig.

Train with Gavin DeGraw (Charter One Pavilion)
So, apparently Gavin DeGraw was beaten up in New York last week. It didn't sound terribly serious, but I haven't heard if it took him off the road for a bit.

8.21   sunday
Nikka Costa with Dance Floor Plans, DJRC (Lincoln Hall)
The pint-sized singer with the huge pipes has been largely off the radar since she parted ways with her label. Off my radar, anyway.

Incubus with The Nightwatchman (Charter One Pavilion)
For me, the band has been on a bit of a downward slide since the brilliant A Crow Left Of The Murder, and based on one listen, the new record unfortunately continues that trajectory. They do love playing this venue, though.

Katy Perry with Natalia Kills (Allstate Arena)
I'm assuming this is the rescheduled date for the big showdown with Britney that never happened a while back.