list.in.to.chicago this week: 08.20.2012

I probably came up with another dozen Eef Barzelay jokes after finishing last week's list. He could be the Greg Kihn of his generation. The possibilities are pretty much endless.

Pick of the week
If you haven't seen Yeasayer before, they're defintely worth checking out on Wednesday at The Vic. I'd go if I hadn't seen them three or four times already and if it wasn't at The Vic. Not my favorite venue.

list.in.to.COZ
Regular office hours tonight at Vaughan's, and then Diver is at Fado this Saturday night.

Recap
Still in the lull between Lollapalooza and Riot Fest, so nothing new to report.

8.21   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
Word on the street is that one of our semi-regulars will be making her last appearance as a Chicago resident tonight.

Dead Can Dance (Pritzker Pavilion)
I remember being told that Toward The Within was some kind of landmark record back when it came out, but I never quite heard what made it that special. Interesting? Sure. But maybe I was tapped into enough world music that all the exotic textures just didn't move the needle too much for me.

Hugh Laurie with the Copper Bottom Band (Park West)
It would be awesome if the English actor did a tour where he only played songs with "House" in the title. On the one hand, he's been playing music long enough that it's not necessarily fair to call it a vanity project from an actor. On the other hand, I'm sure the majority of the audience will be there because they know him from TV.

8.22   wednesday
Yeasayer with Daughn Gibson (The Vic)
Most of the reviews of the band's new record, out this week, seem to keep coming back to the idea that it's pretty weird. This is a strong argument in their favor. I think Kot called it "mutant R&B."

My Morning Jacket with Band of Horses (Pritzker Pavilion)
After all the free Monday nights and whatnot, this is apparently the week for ticketed shows in Millennium Park. A few years ago, I would have said these two bands sounded so similar that sharing a bill would be a bad idea, but My Morning Jacket seems to have grown quite a bit since then, turning it a really strong performance last year at Lollapalooza.

8.23   thursday
Cafe Tacuba with Malafacha, Nahuales Underground (Congress Theater)
They're described in the Reader as "arguably Mexico's greatest rock band of all time," but I've resisted the band for years because of the whole lack of a real drummer thing. That barrier apparently has been removed, so maybe now I'll give them a proper listen.

8.24   friday
Gotye with Missy Higgins (Charter One Pavilion)
Miles Raymer describing one of the "Somebody That I Used To Know" singer's other songs as "Oingo Boingo trying to do reggae" is actually kind of appealing.

Archers of Loaf with Metz (Bottom Lounge)
There were a bunch of indie bands right around the turn of the millennium that never quite broke through my musical perimeter, but seemed to have the ear of some credible listeners/fans/critics. Archers of Loaf fall squarely in that category.

Gooey with Gramps the Vamp, Astropop (Subterranean)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
This is a CD release party for the local band with the highest ratio of invitations to attendance that I've got going at the moment. Might be infinity, actually.

Shellac with Scrawl, Dead Rider (Lincoln Hall)
I become convinced more every day that no band ever really breaks up. They just become inactive for a period of time that may or may not outlive their members. Obviously, Steve Albini hasn't gone anywhere, but he stopped playing live for a long stretch that I think ended with the Touch and Go anniversary a few years back.

Meat Loaf (The Venue, Hammond, IN)
It's been a while since my signed 8x10 black and white glossy photo--signed "To Coz, Rock On, Meat Loaf"--was displayed prominently. Or at all, actually. I need to figure out where I put that.

8.25   saturday
DIVER (Fado Irish Pub)   SEE COZ LIVE!
With special guest Andrew Fraker on bass. This should be interesting.

Shellac with Shannon Wright, Pinebender (Lincoln Hall)
See Friday's listing.

8.26   sunday
Evanescence with Chevelle, Halestorm, Cavo, New Medicine (Toyota Park, Bridgeview)
So, yeah, apparently Evanescence is still a thing. I had thought Amy Lee and the rest of the band were at odds, and a quick look at the Wikipedia confirms that yes, the rest of the band all split over the course of four years, and have been replaced with new guys.

Shellac with Nina Nastasia, Tar (Lincoln Hall)
See Friday's listing.