list.in.to.chicago this week: 06.25.2012

Another late edition, but let's face it, you wouldn't have gotten this in time to make it up to Highland Park yesterday anyway.

Pick of the week
I'd probably go with Pelican at Lincoln Hall on Friday and then The Hives at The Vic on Saturday, assuming they've cleaned up whatever bodily fluids might have spilled over two nights of Ministry shows.

list.in.to.COZ
Just regular office hours this week. Diver is in a stretch where we're at Fado every other Saturday, and mark your calendars for Thursday, July 19th for the next Andrew Fraker & Sons extravaganza, this time at Double Door.

Recap
If you've ever seen me perform, you know that I think I'm pretty witty with my between-song banter. Well, suffice it to say that I have been humbled in this regard after seeing Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers at Ravinia on Sunday night. It was some most excellent banter, and some nice bluegrass as well. Being my first Ravinia experience, I do still get a sense that the music is secondary to the picnicking for a good many audience members, which I think is why I've resisted it for so long.

6.25   monday
Esperanza Spalding's Radio Music Society (Ravinia Festival, Highland Park)
The jazz bassist burst onto the scene by beating Justin Bieber for Best New Artist at the Grammys two years ago, and has since been seen performing at the Oscars and releasing a new record that's very nice but not particlarly engaging, which pretty much makes it perfect for Ravinia.

6.26   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
In which songs will be played on acoustic instruments by professional, semi-professional and amateur musicians. Drinks will also be available for purchase.

Glen Hansard with Lisa Hannigan (The Vic)   SOLD OUT!
I'm pretty sure the only award Hansard hasn't won for Once is the Nobel Peace Prize, but that can't be too far off at this point. Most recently, the Broadway musical adaptation of the movie about what was a side project from his usual gig in the Frames cleaned up at the Tony Awards.

Explosions in the Sky, Zammuto (Chicago Theatre)
If you like Pelican (appearing later this week), you'll probably like this band. Fuzzed-out atmospheric instrumentals in a somewhat surprising choice of venue, as I'm not used to seeing non-mainstream bands playing on State Street north of, say, Reggie's.

6.27   wednesday
Sing Along With Coz (The Globe Pub)   COZ SINGS!
Does anybody want to host an open mic on Wednesdays? I think it's getting to the point where I finally have to thrown in the towel. I started doing this when I was between jobs and had copious amounts of free time. It's gotten harder now that over 40 waking hours of my week are spoken for.

6.28   thursday
Brendan Benson with Young Hines, Howling Brothers (Lincoln Hall)
Completely by coincidence, I was listening to the first Raconteurs album yesterday. I recall going back and forth on whether or not I cared for Benson's previous solo record, and haven't listened to the current one at all.

Cameron McGill with Rachele Eve, Calumet Reel (Hideout)
Things seem to have been a bit quieter for McGill after a flurry of activity surrounding the release of his last record, but maybe that's about to change.

Ministry with Blackburner (The Vic)
Old-school industrial music at its historical epicenter in Lakeview. Hopefully everyone will gather before and after the show in black leather and fishnets in the parking lot of Punkin' Donuts at Clark and Belmont like the old days.

Three 6 Mafia with YP, GLC, Mikey Rocks (Metro)
Two best original song Oscar winners in one week? And one artist who performed at least year's ceremony? That's an odd little coincidence.

6.29   friday
Pelican with Anatomy of Habit, Redgrave (Lincoln Hall)
If you like Explosions in the Sky (appearing earlier this week), you'll probably like this band. Fuzzed-out atmospheric instrumentals from the former Chicagoans.

Ben Folds Five with Joe Pug, Out for Hours, Number Nine, Spazmatics (Old St. Pat's Church)
Kinda bummed that the "World's Largest Block Party" is where Ben Folds chose to bring his reunited trio, because I can only imagine what kind of shit show this festival has become in light of the runaway popularity of pretty much every outdoor street festival in the city.

Matt Ulery (Green Mill)
The Reader preview on this one describes the local jazz bassist -- who I know mostly by reputation and recommendation of some musician friends -- as almost abandoning traditional jazz for what sounds like a more cinematic, composed approach. This being the Green Mill, though, I suspect he'll need to be at least somewhat beholden to tradition.

Ozomatli with Nortec Collective, Making Movies (Congress Theater)
The first time I saw this band, I think my thumbnail description was Los Lobos with punk and hip-hop influences. Maybe even hints of ska, but that's because they had an obnoxious trombone player the last time I saw them at The Abbey.

The Scorpions with Tesla (Charter One Pavilion)
After Styx and REO Speedwagon last week, I have to assume that the only way to reach the lakefront venue is with a time machine.

Ministry with Blackburner (The Vic)
See Thursday's listing.

6.30   saturday
The Hives with Fidlar, Flesh Lights (The Vic)
I have been told on numerous occasions by The Hives that they are my favorite band in the world. The preening arrogance is schtick, of course, but for whatever reason, it works. Doesn't hurt that they deliver catchy, energetic post-punk tunes.

Brave Combo with JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound, Ike Reilly, Kenny Neal, Jon Dee Graham & the Fighting Cocks, and others (FitzGerald's, Berwyn)
It's the annual American Music Festival out in the near-west suburbs. One of these days I'm going to have to make it out there.

Sybris with Bull in the Hallway, Bananakin (Burlington)
I have some theories as to why Sybris never quite broke through to the next level, but that's based mostly on the one time I actually saw the band, and it wouldn't be entirely fair to extrapolate several years later.

David Gray with Yuna (House of Blues)
The British singer/songwriter may be a bit out of his element on the west side of State Street, since so much of his work is middle of the road. I will totally buy you a drink if you can identify where I stole that joke from.

Lifehouse with Brett Dennen, Vintage Blue, No Love for Linus, Mike & Joe (Old St. Pat's Church)
Second night of what's frequently billed as "Chicago's biggest meat market."

7.01   sunday
Codeine with Brokeback (Lincoln Hall)
The former Sub Pop band missed XRT's 90s weekend by just one week. I only vaguely recall the 90s, so I don't remember if they ever toured with Morphine, which would have been excellent.

Honey Island Swamp Band with CJ Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band, Marcia Ball, Paul Thorn Band, Otis Taylor, and others (FitzGerald's, Berwyn)
The American Music Festival draws to a close.