list.in.to.chicago this week: 07.09.2012

Pitchfork, Taste of Chicago and Barry Manilow, all in one week? And Diver? It's like Christmas in July!

Pick of the week
This Eisley show tonight should be really nice, especially in the relatively small space of Schubas after playing a much larger room last time. Tributosaurus as Steely Dan (Thursday at Martyrs', since Wednesday is sold out) looks really good as well.

list.in.to.COZ
All regular office hours may be in effect this week, plus Diver at Fado on Saturday. Book the babysitter now for next Thursday, when Andrew Fraker & Sons visit Double Door.

Recap
A few things about Tenacious D. First, the next time I'm warned about going to the Aragon in July, I should listen. Second, Kyle Gass and Jack Black demonstrate something important about rock music, I think, in that there is no such thing as "over the top." You can aim for something as ridiculous as you want (also see U2), but it can work if you do it (and sell it) well. Third, loved the little quotes of "Panama" and "Hocus Pocus," while the straight-up medley of The Who's "Tommy" was a nice, earnest surprise. And finally, ldrummer Brooks Wackerman -- the third Wackerman I've seen play live -- sets his kit up a lot like I do.

Sunday night was the Wilco show out in Geneva, once we cleared some traffic in, um, Batavia? All I remember is that there were corn fields. Fifth Third Bank Ballpark has better concessions than some soccer stadiums I might name, and a better beer selection than some Chicago bars. Andrew Bird whistled a lot. And there's something really cool about injecting what was nominally an alt-country band with a couple of avantgarde/jazz guys in Nels Cline and Glen Kotche, which gets overstated in songs like "I Am Trying To Break Your Heart," but can usually be more subtle than that.

7.10   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
Come for the All-Star Game, stay for the live music.

Fiona Apple with Blake Mills (Chicago Theatre)   SOLD OUT!
I've seen her described as "America's favorite crazy ex-girlfriend," or something like that. Inherent sexism aside, it's not that far off, as Apple consistently looks just about a hair's breath away from a total breakdown. And that's why we like her.

Eisley with Merriment (Schubas)
The three sisters and their indie-pop band were last here when the Heat eliminated the Bulls from the NBA playoffs last year, which I remember because it was at Bottom Lounge, so my friend and I walked from the United Center to the show to forget about the travails of our local sports team.

7.11   wednesday
Sing Along With Coz (The Globe Pub)   COZ SINGS!
I had some vague notions of things I wanted to try with the loop pedal in the privacy of the back bar on a Wednesday, but I think I've forgotten them already.

Tributosaurus (Martyrs')   FRIENDS OF COZ!   SOLD OUT!
The anniversary rolls on with a reprise of Steely Dan, which I heard was pretty hot the first time around.

Johnny Clegg Band, Adam Fitz (Lincoln Hall)
Eventually, everyone just kills off the "and something" from their band names, and just names it the "band." Originally, it was "Johnny Clegg and Savuka," way back in the eighties when he broke in the U.S. on a wave of post-Graceland interest in South African music.

7.12   thursday
Death Cab For Cutie with Calexico (Grant Park)
Tickets have not been going fast for the new, improved, not-free Taste of Chicago shows, which means if you want to sit in an actual seat near the stage for this one, you can probably walk right up and buy a ticket.

Sublime with Rome, Cypress Hill (Charter One Pavilion)
The good news is that they seem to have made some progress fixing the time machine between the mainland and Northerly Island. The bad news is now it's stuck in the 90s.

Barry Manilow (Chicago Theatre)
He writes the songs that make the whole world sing. And, for a while, the commercial jingles. He's also very self-aware of his place in the musical firmament, and for that I will always give him credit.

Ode with Genome, Kick the Record, Origin of Animal (Double Door)
Rock music with influences from eastern European folk music, at least as of the last time I heard them.

Tributosaurus (Martyrs')   FRIENDS OF COZ!
See Wednesday's listing.

7.13   friday
Pitchfork Music Festival (Union Park)
With Feist and Dirty Projectors topping the lineup on the first night, this is really the only of the three days that interests me at all.

Michael Franti & Spearhead with Fitz & the Tantrums (Grant Park)
More Taste of Chicago music, although one local news organzation calls the opening act "Fritz & the Tantrums" on their website.

Miles Nielsen with Magic Box (FitzGerald's, Berwyn)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Having not seen Steve's new band, I am going to start triangulating my expectations based on venues and other bands on the bill.

Barry Manilow (Chicago Theatre)
See Thursday's listing.

7.14   saturday
DIVER (Fado Irish Pub)
We will be at our favorite River North spot every two weeks from now through the end of August. I think.

J. Davis Trio with Elev8tor, Mojoflo (Double Door)
I really need to keep a running tally of the Chicago bands from ten or fifteen years ago who went away and then came back, presumably once their kids were old enough to need somewhat less supervision. Or after their first marriages blew up.

Pitchfork Music Festival (Union Park)
Highlights of the second day included Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Wild Flag and the wildly overrated Sleigh Bells.

Barry Manilow (Chicago Theatre)   SOLD OUT!
See Thursday's listing.

7.15   sunday
Pitchfork Music Festival (Union Park)
Vampire Weekend closes things out, with Beach House and Thee Oh Sees being the other potential standouts, by which I mean "the other bands I've actually heard of."

Olivia Tremor Control with Daughn Gibson, Whitman (Reggie's Rock Club)
There was some sort of catch-all Elephant 6 show at some point last year, and now it looks like the bands that made that label hot ten or fifteen years ago are out on their own.