list.in.to.chicago this week: 05.07.2012

Unfortunately, there might be a lot fewer nights taken up watching the NBA playoffs in Chicago, so why not go see some live music?

Pick of the week
If you haven't ever seen George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic (Thursday at Cubby Bear), you should. If you haven't ever seen St. Vincent (Friday at The Vic) and you can find somebody selling tickets, you should. Justin Townes Earle on Thursday at Park West and John Moulder on Friday and Saturday at the Green Mill are other highlights. Oh, and Maps & Atlases on Friday at Metro.

list.in.to.COZ
This Saturday is this month's installment of Diver at Fado, wherein we see just how many songs Mitch has learned on bass.

Recap
So, yeah, probably more drums than women at the U.K. show, but I don't care. The set included a killer trio version of "In The Dead Of Night" and a piano and vocal duet of King Crimson's "Fallen Angel." Eddie Jobson told the crowd that they had only rehearsed together once, which mostly makes me want to quit pretending I'm a serious musician.

Thanks to those of you who made it out to see the Andrew Fraker Emergency Trio on Friday night. Of the other bands on the bill, I think I liked Sean Skylar and the Daydreamers the most, partly because they opened their set with a song about next year while playing in the shadow of Wrigley Field. And full credit to Eric Selner and the Speculation for taking a whack at a Level 42 cover.

5.07   monday
Robbie Fulks & Greg Cahill (Hideout)
So, it may be too late to see this one this week, but it looks like Fulks has Mondays locked down until the end of time. You'll have another chance.

5.08   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
With all the hype around dates like 3/14 (Pi Day) and 4/4 (Foursquare Day), I sort of want to devote this Tuesday to songs that are in 5/8. I'm sure I could come up with a couple.

Hudson Branch with Clip Art, Belfry Hollers (Lincoln Hall)
I don't know much about this band, but I feel like I've seen them open at least a half dozen shows in the last year, so I guess it's nice to see them at the top of the bill. And if the sign on the door is any indication, Clip Art rehearses across the hall from us.

The Sea & Cake with Golden Retriever (Empty Bottle)
Time Out Chicago describes the local band as "subtly adventurous," and that sounds reasonable. It also gives me an out, because I find them maybe a little too subtle.

5.09   wednesday
Sing Along With Coz (The Globe Pub)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
I need to be at Toyota Park for the Fire game this week, so I'm leaving the Open Mic in the capable hands of Mark Jourdan, who has been serenading the front bar every other Sunday for the last few months.

Childish Gambino with Danny Brown (Riviera Theatre)
Also known as Donald Glover from Community on NBC. Cool cool.

Caveat Empire with Quick & Easy Boys, Otter Finn (Martyrs')
Yet another Chicago band where you almost can't tell if they intentionally tweaked a saying or if they misheard it. For reference, see "Air This Side Of Caution."

5.10   thursday
George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic (Cubby Bear)
So, when we played this stage last week, we covered "Champaign, Illinois" from the Old 97s, who were playing the next night. It might have been more fun to hit up some P-Funk to tease this upcoming show. I haven't seen the band in probably fifteen years, so I can't say for sure if they're still an endurance challenge on par with running a marathon. Only funkier.

Justin Townes Earle with Tristen (Park West)
The Bloodshot recording artist and notable offspring of one Steve Earle has a new record that apparently branches out into Memphis soul, complete with horns.

The Grandmothers of Invention (Martyrs')
I've seen most of the Zappa alumni touring under this moniker, but I'm actually intrigued by guitarist Miroslav Tadic, who used to record with a bunch of projects on the CMP label back when that was happening. This is billed as the "Roxy & Elsewhere and more" tour, so expect some vintage early 70s Zappa material.

West Side Winders with Steel Chops, Miss Jackie & the Sass, Northside Ruckus (Double Door)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Looks like a night of rockabilly down in Wicker Park.

Dastardly with Shams Band, Dirty Feathers (Subterranean)
There's something I wanted to remember about this band, but I can't remember exactly what. It might have been a comment from someone I trust about music on Facebook. Yeah, I know, not very helpful.

5.11   friday
St. Vincent with Shearwater (The Vic)   SOLD OUT!
On the one hand, I still think this iteration of the band is a bit heavy on keyboards to cover everything that's not either Annie Clark or drums. On the other hand, if you haven't seen them, it's still very much worth it. Clark builds up this refined, reserved presence on stage that she then rips apart with bursts of ferocity, and it's really something to behold.

Maps & Atlases with So Many Dynamos, Sister Crayon (Metro)
If you can get over the fact that singer/guitarist looks like a hipster Gandalf, this band puts out an engaging indie variant of math rock.

Brighton MA with Champions, Suns, Ballroom Boxer (Beat Kitchen)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
I haven't actually gone to see this band since I came to learn that I had played some shows with one of the band members some ten years ago.

John Moulder (Green Mill)
One of my favorite local jazz guitarists, which is belied by the fact that I haven't seen him live in probably ten years.

VHS or Beta with Sybris, Perfect Kiss (Empty Bottle)
I'm trying to remember when it was that my friend who works at Metro told me in no uncertain terms that I had to check out Sybris. They've been slugging it out for a while now.

5.12   saturday
DIVER (Fado Irish Pub)   SEE COZ LIVE!
No 80s night, no 90s night, no St. Patrick's Day. Just a regular Diver show for a change.

PJ's My Cousin Too with Valius, Yellow Jacket, Lullwater (Elbo Room)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Not sure if my friend Andy is still playing drums with these guys, but PJ's used to come in and play the open mic at The Globe maybe two years ago. And now they're headlining a Saturday at Elbo Room. That could be you if you start showing up on Wednesdays!

Andrew Bird with Mucca Pazza (Auditorium Theatre)
You could probably make the argument that Andrew Bird's chamber pop belongs in a proper theater. Or theatre. Probably theatre, 'cause it's all artistic and shit.

Chickenfoot (Chicago Theatre)
Either enough people come out to see this "supergroup" made up of Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, Chad Smith and Joe Satriani to justify a fair amount of touring, or they have enough money at this point from their "regular" gigs not to care. I honestly have no idea which.

Deal's Gone Bad with Bombone (Cobra Lounge)
They've got to be one of Chicago's longest running ska-punk bands by this point, don't they?

Electric Six with Andy D (Double Door)
For whatever reason, I feel like I've only seen the Detroit glam-garage rock band play at Double Door. Nowhere else. Must be like home for them.

5.13   sunday
A Celebration of Levon Helm with Steve Dawson, Steve Doyle, Nate Herman, Charles Kim, Steve Levitt, and others (Old Town School of Folk Music)
Seeing as how the late Levon Helm played the Old Town School earlier this year, it's not at all surprising that they've put together a tribute upon his passing.