list.in.to.chicago this week: 09.26.2011

So, Metromix is particularly bad with opening acts this week. Also, I seem to be quite fond of the word "subgenre" this time around. I may have even hyphenated it once.

Pick of the week
Thursday night's classic albums night at Reggie's (My Aim Is True, The Yes Album, Machine Head) is a total no-brainer. After that, I really like The Wood Brothers (Saturday at SPACE in Evanston) and the Scott Henderson, Jeff Berlin and Mike Clark show on Sunday night at Martyrs'.

list.in.to.COZ
Saturday night is the return of The Trollops at Celtic Crossings, and then you've got your regular office hours.

Recap
It wasn't music, but I went to see comedian John Oliver on Friday night down at The Venue. It's more auditorium than theater, and I'm guessing it's on the performer to lend it character. One of the best lines of the night was music-related, though: "Democracy is kind of like a tambourine. You can't trust just anybody with it."

9.26   monday
Booty Movement Coalition (Martyrs')   FRIENDS OF COZ!
It's like the last Monday night of the month rolls around on an almost monthly basis. Or something. Improvised acid jazz and related genres from a who's who of local players.

Beirut with Laetitia Sadier (Congress Theater)
I stayed for about ten minutes of their Lollapalooza set and came to the conclusion that I have enough space in my head to care about only one sorta European gypsy-folk band, and I heard Devotchka first.

Ha Ha Tonka (Cubby Bear Wrigleyville)
American indie-folk, on the other hand, has a somewhat greater capacity, mostly because you've got curators like Bloodshot Records who do a really good job of finding the best of it. This is a free XRT show.

The Low Anthem with Sleepy Sun (Empty Bottle)
And, apparently, you can't spit without hitting an indie-folk show tonight. So I guess it depends on whether you like yours from Rhode Island or, in the case of the aforementioned Ha Ha Tonka, Chicago by way of Missouri.

9.27   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
I'm on permanent "maybe" status with Vaughan's right now, because sometimes I like to still be able to stay awake past 10pm on Thursday, which is a tough proposition if I'm out Tuesday and Wednesday. I'm old.

9.28   wednesday
Sing Along With Coz (The Globe Pub)   COZ SINGS!
So last week I made it through about half of the new songs I noodled on the previous week. Some of them need a bit more work, and I chickened out on all the words to "Fluorescent Adolescent" from Arctic Monkeys. Maybe this week, although maybe not until after the Fire match finishes up.

Atari Teenage Riot with Otto Von Schirach, The Gothsicles, DJ Scary Lady Sarah (Reggie's Rock Club)
The "German digital hardcore" group reformed in 2010 after a ten-year hiatus. I knew that decade was missing something, but I couldn't put my finger on it until just now.

The English Beat (SPACE, Evanston)
I have this vision of Dave Wakeling touring as himself or as General Public, reaching one of the coasts, turning around, and just doing it again, only this time as The English Beat. The guy doesn't seem to slow down at all, unless he just jets into Chicago for one-off dates because we like him a lot.

The Rapture (Metro)
One of the earlier indie-dance bands, so if you want someone to blame...

9.29   thursday
My Aim Is True, The Yes Album, Machine Head (Reggie's Music Joint)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
The last Thursday of the month means classic albums played in their entirety, and I'm really looking forward to hearing Steve Frisbie, Chris Siebold and others tackle The Yes Album. Of course, the last time I was excited about one of these shows was the day I discovered my car had been stolen.

The Dio Band and Ripper Owens (House of Blues)
I will go out on a limb here and guess that temporary Rob Halford replacement Ripper Owens is touring with the band that the late Ronnie James Dio left behind. Unclear whether they're doing all Dio material, some Dio material, or what.

Girls with Nobunny, Papa (Lincoln Hall)
James Blake with Chairlift (Metro)
Fucked up with Wavves (Logan Square Auditorium)
Panda Bear (The Vic)
You've got representation from pretty much all subgenres of indie rock in one night here, including a side project of Animal Collective (Panda Bear), a Mercury Prize nominee (Blake) and an underground favorite (Fucked Up).

9.30   friday
Fleet Foxes with The Walkmen (Chicago Theatre)   SOLD OUT!
The Avett Brothers with Truth and Salvage Co. (Aragon Ballroom)
It's a good night for pastoral folk rock with strong vocal harmonies, unless you wanted to get Fleet Foxes tickets and waited too long. Even then, you could head to Uptown and get your fix.

Pat Metheny (Old Town School of Folk Music)   SOLD OUT!
The legendary jazz guitarist is playing a pair of shows with bassist Larry Grenadier. Apparently there wasn't enough room in the intimate Lincoln Square venue for both a drummer and Metheny's hair.

George Clinton with Cameo (The Venue, Hammond, IN)
Given how well I did at the tables after seeing John Oliver this past week, shows down at the Horseshoe Casino suddenly have a greater appeal. Plus, the godfather of funk!

This Must Be The Band (The Vic)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
The Talking Heads tribute band will be once again doing Stop Making Sense in its entirety.

The Samples with Taggart Transcontinental (Lincoln Hall)
With R.E.M. breaking up last week, I tried to think if there were any bands we had play at the University of Chicago while I was there (R.E.M. famously played about four or five years before I matriculated) who went on to particularly big things, and I think The Samples is the best I can do. Most of the other big names were already big by then.

Mates of State with Suckers, Yawn (Metro)
Chromeo with Mayer Hawthorne and the County, Sammy Bananas (House of Blues)
A pair of bands that not only failed to impress me at Lollapaloozas past, but that I actually dislike as a result of those performances.

10.01   saturday
The Trollops (Celtic Crossings)   SEE COZ LIVE!
Once again, it's half of Diver and three-quarters of Andrew Fraker and Sons, and yet it's only a trio.

The Wood Brothers (SPACE, Evanston)
I loved the debut record from these guys -- one of whom is the "Wood" in "Medeski Martin and Wood" -- but have never had the chance to see them live. It's great, understated acoustic music, mostly on acoustic guitar and acoustic bass, at least the last time I checked in.

Soulive with Lettuce (The Vic)
Garage a Trois with Spare Parts (Martyrs')
Apparently I'm all about grouped listings this week, but this seems like some pretty stiff competition for the jam band audience.

Fleet Foxes with The Walkmen (Chicago Theatre)   SOLD OUT!
See Friday's listing.

Chromeo with Mayer Hawthorne and the County, Sammy Bananas (House of Blues)
See Friday's listing.

10.02   sunday
Scott Henderson, Jeff Berlin and Mike Clark with Marbin (Martyrs')
This kicks off a stretch of fantastic fusion shows at Martyrs', mostly on Sunday nights. The Tribal Tech guitarist and former Bruford bassist have played before on a hard-to-find record called The Players that I have on vinyl, and here they're paired with the former drummer for Herbie Hancock's Headhunters.

Pelican with Dawn Golden and Rosy Cross, Ducktails, Nicholas Szczepanik (Empty Bottle)
The former Chicagoans do instrumental metal as well as anyone else. Which is to say, Isis. It's a pretty underpopulated subgenre.

Twin Shadow with Diamond Rings (Lincoln Hall)
These guys take their 80s new wave influences very seriously, to the point where the lead singer plays a Jackson guitar with a shit-ton of chorus and reverb. Last seen at Pitchfork, and before that, opening up for The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart on this very stage.