list.in.to.chicago this week: 10.31.2011

In which I get progressively punchy as this thing goes on.

Pick of the week
You couldn't have more different onstage personas than Le Butcherettes (Subterranean) and Feist (Riviera) on Friday, but both should be good. Thursday's Blitzen Trapper show at Metro might be the dark horse, while Tributosaurus X as Pink Floyd on Wednesday is probably a no-brainer.

list.in.to.COZ
Vaughan's is 50/50 this week, as I'm going to a show at Martyrs' a bit earlier on. But that leaves The Globe open mic on Wednesday, and then The Trollops on Saturday at Celtic Crossings, where I suspect the fireplace will be in full effect.

Recap
The Get Off The Couch gig seemed to be really good, in part because I needed my artistic, creative self to remind my day-job, analytical self that it still had something to say. That something was an odd, sort of twenties-era jazz breakdown in "Sweet Amy," for some reason, but it worked. Of the other performers, I was tuned in a bit to Rebecca Rego on the Facebook recommendations of a friend, and was summarily rewarded.

Then I dropped by the grand opening of Vic's Drum Shop on Saturday and saw brief drumming performances from Chad Wackerman, Gavin Harrison and then Terry Bozzio on what sounded like a four-piece kit (I was standing outside the very packed room). Bozzio on a small kit was really cool, even if the whole endeavor reminded me that I've moved very far away from being a chops guy on drums.

10.31   monday
Widespread Panic (Aragon Ballroom)   SOLD OUT!
Back in more traditional environs for the jam band after two nights at the Chicago Theatre, although one of those ended tragically, as somebody fell from the balcony on Saturday and is in critical condition. This just days after the band's bus driver died of a heart attack while he was driving the bus!

GWAR with Every Time I Die, Ghoul (House of Blues)
Getting legendary alien metal band GWAR in Chicago on Halloween seems like a major coup, kind of like getting Flogging Molly or The Pogues on St. Patrick's Day.

Booty Movement Coalition (Martyrs')   FRIENDS OF COZ!
If knowing that the band doesn't know what they're going to do is scary to you, this show might very well be terrifying. And funky.

11.01   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
I already played all of my scary songs last week ("Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)," "Dead Man Walking," "Werewolves of London," and, well, Smashing Pumpkins), so being All Souls' Day, maybe songs with "soul" in the title? Sting's "Soul Cages" comes to mind.

Eltoro with A Scarecrow's Happiness, The Elements of Style (Martyrs')
A friend of mine knows one of these bands. I don't know which, but I will find out.

11.02   wednesday
Sing Along With Coz (The Globe Pub)   COZ SINGS!
One of these days I'll find the magic formula for getting this thing some momentum, which probably rhymes with "marketing and promotion." Again, if we don't have open mic participants, you get me singing most of the night, which is both a promise and a threat.

Tributosaurus (Martyrs')   FRIENDS OF COZ!
As the ten-year anniversary rolls on, it's two sets as Pink Floyd, which should pretty emphatically not suck at all.

We Were Promised Jetpacks with Royal Bangs, Bear Hands (Metro)
One of those too-clever-by-half indie band names that usually means they're from Sweden. Or Scotland. I remember liking Bear Hands when I saw them a couple of years ago, although that might have been bear claws from Dinkel's Bakery, which is around the corner from my place. Mmmm...donuts.

11.03   thursday
Blitzen Trapper with Dawes, The Belle Brigade (Metro)
This is where neglecting to do a big write-up of Lollapalooza the last couple of years is killing me. I know I saw this band, and I think it was almost a cross of indie rock with an Eagles-esque triple guitar attack that maybe even had some midwestern power pop overtones. I know I've seen a band that sounded like that -- hence the remarkably detailed description -- but I just don't remember if I'm thinking of the right band. Dawes is pretty good, too.

11.04   friday
The Musical Box (The Vic)
Much like the music of Frank Zappa, the only real way to get a classic Genesis fix is to see this tribute band, who went the extra mile to secure some of the props and slides from the classic art-rock band's more theatrical tours of the early seventies. Not sure if they're recreating any tour or album in particular this time around.

Le Butcherettes with Gypsyblood (Subterranean)
The earlier comment about not remembering all the bands I see at Lollapalooza could never apply to this band, with their feral frontwoman and projectile-vomiting drummer playing, if not punk rock, with punk abandon. Which makes it punk rock by definition, no?

Feist with Happiness Project (Riviera Theatre)
I know I've heard her music somewhere, but I just can't remember where. Seriously, if you find a preview of the former Broken Social Scenester that doesn't mention the iPod commercial, I'll buy you one of those Dinkel's Bakery bear claws I mentioned earlier. Kind of surprised this isn't showing as sold out.

Medeski Martin and Wood (Park West)
This makes me wonder if Chris Wood just hung around town since that Wood Brothers show a few weeks ago. I saw them for the first time at Elbo Room, of all places, and it was so crowded we had to leave after a few songs, but not before seeing a local opening act called Cassius Clay.

Electric Six with Kitten, Andy D (Double Door)
This Detroit band was pretty early on the garage rock revival of a couple of years ago, and their longevity might have something to do with the kitchen sink of dance, new wave and metal that they add to that sound.

11.05   saturday
The Trollops (Celtic Crossings)   SEE COZ LIVE!
It's getting to where I can pretty much guarantee that, at some point of the night, Tony or Andrew (probably Andrew) will call out a tune that I've never even heard before. Or, more generally, that we'll play at least one song that at least one of us doesn't know, or know that well. That's why it's fun.

Chickenfoot with Ponderosa (Metro)   SOLD OUT!
The "supergroup" consisting of Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, Joe Satriani and Chad Smith were so excited about their second album that they "skipped the second album" and called it Chickenfoot III. Yeah, I don't get that, either, but enough people do to fill Metro.

Sting (Rosemont Theatre, Rosemont)
On the one hand, I haven't been following Sting too closely since he got rid of the last guy in his backing band that seemed to actually challenge him (drummer Vinnie Colaiuta), but on the other hand, he's been successful enough that he's earned the right to hire bands that just do what he tells them to. This could very well be with a full orchestra, or entirely played on the zither, or some shit like that.

The Wombats with The Postelles, Static Jacks (Subterranean)
A friend of mine who supports Liverpool Football Club is also a big fan of this indie rock band from Liverpool, all of which gives you ample opportunity to say "Liverpudlian," which is really a fun word to say.

The Musical Box (The Vic)
See Friday's listing.

11.06   sunday
Nicholas Barron Quartet (Temple Bar)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Last I saw (which was Nicholas posting to Facebook about last night's show), they've added a saxophone to the trio. Plus, half-price food and drink and all that.