list.in.to.chicago this week: 11.19.2012

INXS have confirmed that the band has, in fact, broken up. Raise your hand if you didn't realize they were still together.

Pick of the week
Tonight's Delta Spirit show should be a good one, despite being at House of Blues, and the day before Thanksgiving is always a great night for music in Chicago. This year continues the tradition with ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead at Bottom Lounge and JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound at Metro.

list.in.to.COZ
Tuesday nights at Vaughan's may be my only live venue through the end of the year. Try to contain your sadness.

Recap
Had to travel for business last week, so no shows.

11.19   monday
Delta Spirit with Jeff the Brotherhood, FIDLAR (House of Blues)
Despite some apparently banal lyrics, this California band put out one of my favorite records of the year and were downright inspiring at Lollapalooza in the face of withering heat before the skies opened up on Saturday.

11.20   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
If I read her Facebook comments right, Monica is going to make me wait until next week to start playing "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch." Seems fair.

James Iha with Scott Lucas & the Married Men (Schubas)
I know there is a new record from the former guitarist for Smashing Pumpkins, A Perfect Circle and, let us not forget, that "supergroup" he was in with one of the brothers from Hanson. I just haven't checked it out yet.

11.21   wednesday
...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead with Coathangers, Czar (Bottom Lounge)
The new record from the Austin rock band has most of the same hallmarks I've liked on their last couple of outings, but I haven't given it quite the attention that it deserves just yet. Last time I saw them at Logan Square Auditorium, and thought they put on a good show in spite of the lousy space, so in a proper music room, I'd expect them to blow it out.

JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound with Archie Powell & the Exports, I Kong Kult (Metro)
The latest in a long line of popular Chicago bands somewhere along the funk-soul continuum, capping off a really solid year that included an afternoon slot at Lollapalooza.

Mr. Blotto with Chicago Zappa Collective (Reggie's Rock Club)
Not sure how they ended up on a bill with Mr. Blotto, but I think the Zappa portion of the program is a complete performance of Joe's Garage. Which means that if I were to go, I would spend the entire show grumbling about how I would be better as the Central Scrutinizer.

Rezillos with Tutu & the Pirates, Regal Standard (Mayne Stage)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
I'm guessing Larry from Regal Standard is back in town for Thanksgiving, since I believe he lives in L.A. now. And it's funny, because I'm pretty sure I saw him and another friend out and about on Saturday, before I even got the Facebook invite for the show.

11.22   thursday
Happy Thanksgiving (from list.in.to.chicago)
Usually I'll go with whoever is at the Jazz Showcase, which could give a damn about your holidays, but it's nobody I've even remotely heard of this year.

11.23   friday
Me'shell Ndegeocello with Jeff Parker (Old Town School of Folk Music)
The jazz side of the songwriter and bass player's multi-faceted musical persona seems to have grown more prominent with recent records, and now she's out in support of an album of Nina Simone songs.

Mavis Staples with Kelly Hogan (City Winery)
This could be fun, as these two singers seem to be like-minded individuals, and have traveled in some of the same circles for the last four or five years. I want to say Staples played the Hideout or the Hideout Block Party somewhat recently, and that Hogan's recent album drew upon some old-school R&B folks that Staples has worked with.

Mark Eitzel with Gaberdine, Tim Larson (Beat Kitchen)
Seems like Eitzel has been out on his own long enough that referring to him as the former frontman for American Music Club doesn't really help as a descriptor, right?

11.24   saturday
Nicholas Barron (SPACE, Evanston)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
This is a solo acoustic show from longtime Chicago musician Barron, which will also be recorded and distributed as a CD to the audience. Elsewhere, Nicholas hinted at maybe trying to put some version of Swimmer back together at some unspecified point in the future. Based on availability.

Chris Isaak (Chicago Theatre)
Just think, children who were conceived when "Wicked Game" came out (and, let's be honest, may have been conceived with that song as a soundtrack) not only are old enough to drink, but are old enough to be done with college.

Mavis Staples with Kelly Hogan (City Winery)
See Friday's listing.

11.25   sunday
Titus Andronicus with Ceremony, Coffin Pricks (Metro)
The New Jersey indie band just released a followup to their album about the Civil War marine battle between the Merrimac and the Monitor. Reviews do not mention any historical subtexts, but the Reader's preview cites primiary songwriter Patrick Stickles' "apparently earnest belief in the Springsteenian ideal of transcendence and spiritual communion through the proper application of amplified guitar." So there's that.

Tuck & Patti (SPACE, Evanston)
Did you know that Annie Clark, aka St. Vincent, is the niece of Tuck Andress? Now you do.