list.in.to.chicago this week: 02.13.2012

I can't remember if this is a Valentine's Day backlash year, or a backlash to the Valentine's Day backlash year. It's hard to keep track. If Tuesday's slate of shows is any indication, it's the former.

Pick of the week
Hearing good things about Sharon Van Etten (Thursday and Friday at Lincoln Hall) and Charles Bradley (Saturday at Metro) this week, but if you want a recommendation with firsthand knowledge, that's gotta go to Flogging Molly on Saturday at the Aragon.

list.in.to.COZ
Just the regular office hours this week. I think I'm off of actual drum kit duty until St. Patrick's Day.

Recap
At some point on Saturday night, I made a remark about our song selections being stuck somewhere around 1982, at which point Tony started strumming the chords to "Down Under." Sue and I totally called his bluff. It was one of those reminders of why I like this band, along with a no-rehearsal version of "Love Stinks" for the Valentine's Day party.

2.13   monday
Unicycle Loves You with Lightfoils, The Grooks (Empty Bottle)
I feel like I've seen a lot of people talking about the local band lately, which might be buzz or good marketing as they release a new record. Or both. One advocate is fellow Chicago band The 1900s, who have hinted they might be on hand for the festivities.

2.14   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
Most of the anti-love songs in my songbook are there mostly by coincidence, but there are a couple that I'll trot out this time of year even when Valentine's Day doesn't fall on a Tuesday.

Heartless Bastards with Hacienda, Precious Blood (Lincoln Hall)
Gotta wonder if they booked this one based on availability, and only then noticed that they had Heartless Bastards on Valentine's Day. If it was on purpose, I heartily (heartlessly?) approve.

The Black Belles (Logan Square Auditorium)
There's something about The Jack White-produced (and Stephen Colbert-approved) girl group from Nashville playing an anti-Valentine's Day party in hipsterrific Logan Square that makes me want to be pro-Valentine's Day all of a sudden.

Siderunners with Wanton Looks, Handcuffs, Sonnets, Demerits (Double Door)
I know the Wanton Looks have headlined weekends locally, so I figured something was up. Turns out this is a "Valentine's Day Punk Rock Dance." Do with that as you will.

2.15   wednesday
Sing Along With Coz (The Globe Pub)   COZ SINGS!
So, apparently the guy who was totally trashed, had no idea how to tune his guitar, and had one harmonica in a key totally unrelated to his songs had a great time and will be coming back. This may require hazard pay.

Bleached with The Black Belles, Hollows (Empty Bottle)
Most of the press I've seen for this show has mostly ignored headliners Bleached, presumably because they don't dress up in costumes and know Jack White.

2.16   thursday
Sharon Van Etten with Shearwater (Lincoln Hall)
The line on Van Etten is that The National seems to have an artistic crush on her -- they performed one of her songs live and then Aaron Dessner went on to produce (and play on) Van Etten's new record.

Veronica Falls with Brilliant Colors, The Halamays (Empty Bottle)
I think it's Brent DiCrescenzo from Time Out Chicago who has been raving about this UK band, described alternately as lo-fi and sweet pop.

Ode with Kellen & Me, Jennifer Hall (Abbey Pub)
This was the Eastern European-influenced local folk-rock band that I saw about a year ago and kinda dug.

2.17   friday
The Jayhawks with Kaiser Cartel (The Vic)
One of those alt-country bands that hits the XRT-fueled sweet spot here in Chicago, the band reformed it's "classic" lineup and released a new record last year.

Drivin' & Cryin' with Miles Nielsen (Schubas)
The venerable Atlanta band is joined by the suddenly ubiquitous Miles Nielsen. I'm starting to wonder if he's up and moved here from Rockford.

Mutemath with Canon Blue (House of Blues)
I've been meaning to look into these guys ever since we got up too late to see them at Bonnaroo some five years ago, but haven't managed to follow through on it.

Sharon Van Etten (Lincoln Hall)
See Thursday's listing.

2.18   saturday
Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires with Little Barrie (Metro)
I've heard good things about the "Screaming Eagle of Soul," who just released his first full-length album last year on Daptone, where he is labelmates with Sharon Jones.

Flogging Molly with Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears, The Devil Makes Three (Aragon Ballroom)
Usually we get these guys closer to St. Patrick's Day, but this year's month-long"Green 17" tour starts in the midwest, with the first show on Friday night in Detroit.

Leni Stern & The Masters of African Percussions (Old Town School of Folk Music)
This sounds like the kind of combination the concert hall at the Old Town School was made for.

Dr. Dog with Purling Hiss (The Vic)
So the Time Out Chicago preview mentioned a new "ace" drummer, which could bode well, since I really didn't care for the guy they had in tow at Lollapalooza. I hope the Pennsylvianian indie band has gotten better at dialing in their tones since then as well.

2.19   sunday
Asobi Seksu with Sybris, Fox the Cat (Reggie's Music Joint)
I want to say this seems like an odd pairing, but while I know the name very well, I have no real sense of what Asobi Seksu sounds like, while I haven't heard Sybris in years. So maybe the former rocks harder than I think or the latter is tacking towards dream pop.

Guns N' Roses (House of Blues)   SOLD OUT!
Opinions vary on whether this is a chance to see Axl in an intimate room, or a hedge in case GNR can't actually command ticket sales for larger venues anymore.

Wolfgang Jay with Night Moves, Save the Clocktower, Color Card (Beat Kitchen)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Pretty sure I saw Wolfgang Jay once -- either with Savvy at Beat Kitchen last year or at Reggie's with Helicopters a longer while ago. And I remember them as being electronic-based, so they should fit well with "Friends of Coz" Save the Clocktower.