list.in.to.chicago this week: 12.17.2012

I'm pretty sure there won't be a list next week because of the holiday. And if the Mayans are right, it won't really matter.

Pick of the week
Strongly recommend Tortoise on Thursday at Empty Bottle. They're one of those bands that can really impress you the first time you see them. Chris Siebold and Psycles are at Double Door on Wednesday, along with a local prog-heavy bill.

list.in.to.COZ
Just Vaughan's on Tuesday. As soon as the 2013 Diver schedule is confirmed, I'll hopefully get it up on notabbott.com and divertheband.com.

Recap
Aside from some slightly uncomfortable seating, the Mike Doughty show was really good. He had a very easygoing rapport with his audience--I thought it was much more relaxed than the "Question Jar" show at Schubas from a few years back. This is also the first time I've seen him truly solo, so I don't know if playing a bass with a capo has always been part of his repertoire. It worked better than I expected, so apparently chords are overrated.

Wednesday night was The Faint at Metro. Sonically, it reminded me a bit of other post-Nine Inch Nails acts like VAST, with Danse Macabre coming three years after that band's debut, and seven after The Downward Spiral. And the lights were cool, if somewhat seizure-inducing.

12.17   monday
Of Monsters & Men with Elle King (Riviera Theatre)   SOLD OUT!
Every year I buy my siblings music "they didn't know that they wanted." For instance, my brother and sister-in-law really are on the record as liking Mumford & Sons. So this year, they're getting Of Monsters & Men. They also don't get this list, so I think I can get away with saying that out loud. Everyone is a pretty low-volume consumer of music, so I haven't gotten anyone something they already had yet, and I've been doing this for a while.

12.18   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
Threw together a couple of Rush tunes last week after they were voted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and they didn't turn out half-bad. This week will also be the last public performance of "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch" by yours truly.

Ryan Powers & Friends (Double Door)
Since The Changes went into long-term hibernation, I think Ryan Powers is probably the highest-profile Chicago artist who put in time at the Vaughan's Open Jam. This is a holiday show.

12.19   wednesday
District 97 with Treehouse., Psycles (Double Door)
This seems notable, because typically, local fusion and progressive rock tends to live at either Martyrs' or Reggie's, with very few exceptions.

Cameron McGill with Cloudbirds, Stepheneven (Schubas)
Ken Sumka's other favorite local artist has been away for a while since releasing a well-regarded record earlier in the year. Not sure if he was out on tour, or doesn't live here anymore, and he's home for the holidays, or if it's just happenstance.

Glittermouse with In Threes, Vaudevileins, Friends of the Universe (Subterranean)
Good to see these kids are still at it after our ill-fated show at Enclave a few years ago. At least they got to play their whole set that night before the velvet-rope types decided we were harshing their vibe.

Andrew Bird (Fourth Presbyterian Church)   SOLD OUT!
The Chicago songwriter and multi-instrumentalist has been playing intimate solo concerts at the Gold Coast church for what seems like a few years now, and it's become a particularly hot ticket.

12.20   thursday
Tortoise with The Sea and Cake, Man Forever (Empty Bottle)
Part of the celebration for Thrill Jockey Records' 20th anniversary. If they go somewhere to celebrate once the show is over, it would be a post-rock after-party. Or an after-rock post-party.

The Bad Plus (Jazz Showcase)
The piano trio initially made a splash with interesting jazz arrangements of songs like "Smells Like Teen Spirit," but they've clearly outlived the novelty of that formula. I've been negligent in keeping up with them much since then, but I'm bad about keeping up with jazz artists in general.

Panda Riot with Bright White, the Second, Panther Style, Adam Ashbach (Schubas)
I saw a friend whose opinions I trust mention this show on Facebook, so I'll pass along that endorsement. I belive that means this is officially "going viral."

Andrew Bird (Fourth Presbyterian Church)   SOLD OUT!
See Wednesday's listing.

12.21   friday
The Killers with Tegan & Sara (UIC Pavilion)
I think the Las Vegas heartland-rock by way of new wave/glam band's show is sold out. How do I know that? Somebody told me.

Grouplove (Riviera Theatre)
You may recall this band's original data getting scrapped due to illness. This is the rescheduled date.

The Bad Plus (Jazz Showcase)
See Thursday's listing.

Andrew Bird (Fourth Presbyterian Church)   SOLD OUT!
See Wednesday's listing.

12.22   saturday
Kill Hannah with Dot Dot Dot, Action Blast (House of Blues)
I learned from JBTV that the core (classic?) lineup of the local band hasn't played together in about four years. I have since learned that various band members have gone on to play in Filter and to be a part of...the Spider-man musical? I'm really curious to see if their audience has moved on or not.

Deal's Gone Bad with Blind Staggers, Lord Mike's Dirty Calypsonians, Fetch (Double Door)
Nothing says Christmas like some good local ska-punk.

Andrew Bird and Friends (Hideout)
From a capacity standpoint, this might actually be more intimate than the Fourth Presbyterian gigs.

The Bad Plus (Jazz Showcase)
See Thursday's listing.

12.23   sunday
The Bad Plus (Jazz Showcase)
See Thursday's listing.