list.in.to.chicago this week: 10.01.2012

When in doubt, see Tuesday's listing.

Pick of the week
Might be worth checking out Dispatch on Tuesday or Wednesday at the Riv, and then Joss Stone on Sunday at the Vic should be really good.

list.in.to.COZ
We've got the second half of back-to-back Saturdays for Diver at Fado this week.

Recap
By now you may have heard about how Monday night's Prince show was a bit of a mess, and that Tuesday and Wednesday were much, much better. So, basically, I paid good money for a dress rehearsal of sorts, but it was still Prince, and still had some very Prince moments. Every show I go to can't be great, I guess. I just want to know who thought putting the horn section thirty yards from the main stage was a good idea.

One way to look at the Blondie set from Wednesday night is that it was a hell of an effort from a 67-year old Debbie Harry -- "Rapture," in particular -- and drummer Clem Burke was solid as a rock. On the other hand, sneering punk attitude is a bit tough at that age, and overall, the performance came across almost purely as nostalgia. Which isn't necessarily bad, but it stood in stark contrast to DEVO, who played with a lot more vitality and a lot more relevance. Their subversiveness takes on a whole new dimension when delivered by a band mostly past middle age.

Thursday was Peter Gabriel, and I was struck by how reminiscent the performance was of the original So tour, in terms of both the lighting and the song selection. "No Self Control," accompanied by the War of the Worlds-esque lighting booms, was just as creepy as I remembered it from 25 years ago. Overall, I thought that creepy stuff worked particularly well, and while there were a few arrangements that didn't quite work, it was still a great show on balance. Gabriel's voice is not far from what it was, and where he took things down, it was only to give the vocals more impact later when he reached for the higher notes.

10.02   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Once again, I'm out of town, but go visit Tony and whoever is filling in for Monica behind the bar while she's on vacation.

Dispatch with Good Old War (Riviera Theatre)
The ferocity with which this band points to their independent credentials and their level of success always makes me wonder if they just had someone outside the major label system bankrolling them the same way a record company would. All that said, I do still really enjoy their breakthrough album, but I haven't listened much past that.

Jens Lekman with Taken by Trees, Big Search (Lincoln Hall)   SOLD OUT!
You would think that I might have seen the Swedish singer/songwriter play by now, given how often he comes through town, and how many times I list him because his name kind of sticks out. You would think wrong.

ZZ Top (Chicago Theatre)
So apparently that time warp out at Northerly Island has moved further inland as the weather has gotten colder.

Esperanza Spalding and Radio Music Society (City Winery)
The new venue has been getting savaged by local reviews, but in principle, Spalding's brand of largely inoffensive jazz seems like a good fit.

10.03   wednesday
Gossip with Magic Mouth, Bonnie Montgomery (Bottom Lounge)
Singer Beth Ditto and company released their fifth album back in May. I've heard one or two singles along the way that were engaging rock/pop, but haven't really dug into the catalog. Still, one of very few Wednesday shows that you can't also see on Tuesday, which must count for something.

Dispatch with Good Old War (Riviera Theatre)
See Tuesday's listing.

Jens Lekman with Taken by Trees, Big Search (Lincoln Hall)
See Tuesday's listing.

Esperanza Spalding and Radio Music Society (City Winery)
See Tuesday's listing.

10.04   thursday
Delta Rae (Bottom Lounge)
This is an XRT budget show from a band that's akin to a lot of current folk-pop, but sounds like they delve into old southern field music as their source material.

New World Ancients with Savvy, Black Bear Combo (The Burlington)
I've mostly only seen Savvy listed at either Martyrs' or Subterranean, so I guess it's good that they're playing more places than that. Still probably my favorite local band at the moment.

Bell X1 with Duke Special (Schubas)
The Irish rock band is going acoustic with this appearance.

10.05   friday
Firewater with Deal's Gone Bad, Fetch (Lincoln Hall)
This band is described as a sort of precursor to the current wave of Balkan-influenced bands like Gogol Bordello and DeVotchka. I actually have one of their earlier albums from before they moved to Bloodshot Records, which I bought due to the involvement of Soul Coughing drummer Yuvul Gabay.

North Mississippi Allstars with Missing Cats (The Vic)
There was a point where this southern blues act almost took over the world. Or perhaps should have, if you were reading local critic Greg Kot at the time, as he was (and presumbaly still is) a really big fan.

10.06   saturday
DIVER (Fado Irish Pub)   SEE COZ LIVE!
We had so much fun playing Fado last week, we decided to do it again right away. Alternately, we had both shows booked months ago.

Dolly Varden with Nora O'Connor (SPACE, Evanston)
The venerable Chicago band played right after us at that street festival a few weeks ago, but I wasn't able to stick around for them.

10.07   sunday
Joss Stone with Vintage Trouble (The Vic)
There is actually a history of young, English, female singers belting out the blues that pre-dates Adele. Joss Stone was probably the most well-known and most recent of those.