list.in.to.chicago this week: 01.14.2013

In which I get annoyed with funk bands for one reason or another.

Pick of the week
Tough choice on Friday between Tributosaurus with a full orchestra (Copernicus Center) and a rare Los Borrachos appearance (Martyrs').

list.in.to.COZ
Again, it'll just be Vaughan's on Tuesdays this month, and most of next month.

Recap
One of the more striking things about Sons of the Silent Age on Friday was how good Chris Connelly was at mimicking David Bowie's voice. There's something about Bowie's articulation that he seemed to internalize to great effect. And speaking of effects, guitarists Steve Gerlach and Robert Byrne had their sounds nailed for the material -- particularly when it came to the Robert Fripp stuff, of which there was quite a bit. But the secret weapon had to be Rich Parenti on vocals, guitar and saxophone, because you don't always realize how much harmony vocal and saxophone are on a lot of those classic Bowie tunes.

Shirley Manson added rockstar appeal and emotional gravity for the night's benficiary, the Pablove Foundation, and hearing her sing "Boys Keep Swinging" was a natural fit given her lyrical bent towards gender roles with Garbage. The Waco Brothers just seemed to be having fun playing T. Rex songs, with Jon Langford playing bongos and exclaiming "maybe this tribute band thing isn't so bad, after all."

1.14   monday
Graham Czach with Peter Manhart, Ryan Powers, Janelle Kroll (Schubas)
So I guess I'm not sure if MER, who is 'curating' these singer/songwriter roundtables, is actually performing. But irrespective of that, he's put together another interesting session. Which is to say, at least two people I've actually heard of, with a long closing set from Czach.

1.15   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
Quit crying. It's not that cold. Plus, there's beer.

Christopher Owens with Melted Toys (Lincoln Hall)
The former member of Girls was apparently featured recently both in the New York Times and on NPR's All Things Considered, but I'm guessing a lot of that is because he grew up in a cult.

Spare Parts with Renegades, McCraven Spero Duo (Martyrs')
I was all ready to say nice things about the long-running jazz-funk band from Chicago, who seem to have been playing at Alive One forever, until their website started blasting music at me right away. Not cool, guys.

1.16   wednesday
Born Ruffians with Night Moves, Future Monarchs (Lincoln Hall)
Part of the newly-expanded Tomorrow Never Knows festival, featuring a band I've been meaning to check out for two or three years now, after my cousin's fiancé told me about them.

The Main Squeeze (Martyrs')
I really, truly hope the Indiana "post-funk" band's January residency is less warmed-over and cliché than their bio, which includes the following chestnut: "Much like each member's varied backgrounds and influences, the album itself contains an eclectic blend of inspiration which seamlessly navigates through funk, rock, electro, and jazz, while still rooting itself in something that's uniquely their own."

1.17   thursday
Wild Belle with High Highs, Black Light Dinner Party, Winston Wolf (Lincoln Hall)
From the looks of it, the Chicago band is more than just a brother-and-sister act when they play live. They also have an album coming out on a major label in March, which seems like an anomaly in this day and age. So more power to them, although I reserve the right to temper my enthusiasm once I've actually had a listen.

Buddy Guy with Corey Dennison (Buddy Guy's Legends)
Only three shows left in the residency that haven't sold out, and this is one of them.

Twin Cats with Booty Movement Coalition (Martyrs')
This looks like the first appearance from BMC since they ended their monthly gig at Martyrs'. Not sure who's still involved or what precipitated the return, but between this and the Liquid Soul reunion on Sunday, I'm tempted to make some grand pronouncement about an acid jazz comeback.

Cloudbirds with Quasar Wut-Wut (The Burlington)
I'm pretty sure I've played on a bill with Quasar Wut-Wut, possibly as far back as with URT. Haven't seen the name in years, so I will assume they broke up to have kids, who are now self-sufficient enough to allow the band to start playing again.

1.18   friday
Los Borrachos with Katie Todd Band, Kong Fuzi, Open to Suggestion (Martyrs')   FRIENDS OF COZ!
This benefit for the Bell School District features longtime l.i.t.c. favorites Los Borrachos in an increasingly rare appearance. Seriously, we need more Borrachos. These new songs aren't going to get salsa-funk-discofied on their own. Could you imagine them taking on Mumford & Sons? Or Adele?

Walkmen with Father John Misty (The Vic)   SOLD OUT!
Probably the highest-profile night of the Tomorrow Never Knows fest, and I've finally figured out that Father John Misty is one of the guys from Fleet Foxes.

Grace Potter & the Nocturnals with Langhorne Slim (Riviera Theatre)   SOLD OUT!
She's got a powerful voice and a ton of blues-rock swagger on stage, but I feel like it doesn't really translate on record, which is disappointing.

Fareeed Haque Organ Trio (Green Mill)
What I like about this is that it's a configuration from the jazz guitarist that I haven't seen before.

Tributosaurus (Copernicus Center)
This installment features Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and Magical Mystery Tour from the Beatles, with a full orchestra.

Candlebox with Lovehammers, Model Stranger (Cubby Bear)
My shock that Candlebox is still around only just barely exceeds my shock that Candlebox was ever here in the first place. This is the hard rock band that showed up at the tail end of the hair metal era and immediately just changed their style from leather pants to flannel without really doing anything else differently.

Buddy Guy with Scott Holt)   SOLD OUT!
See Thursday's listing.

1.19   saturday
Midge Ure with Right The Stars (Mayne Stage)
So, the former Ultravox frontman's real name is James. Or Jim. Which, said backwards, is Midge. He also co-wrote "Do They Know It's Christmas?" and co-organized Live Aid with Bob Geldof, but near as I can tell, wasn't knighted for it.

Grace Potter & the Nocturnals (Park West)
Second, smaller show added after the Riv date sold out. Tickets may still be available.

Buddy Guy with Billy Branch & the Sons of Blues (Buddy Guy's Legends)   SOLD OUT!
See Thursday's listing.

Fareeed Haque Organ Trio (Green Mill)
See Friday's listing.

1.20   sunday
Liquid Soul (Double Door)
Celebrating their 20th anniversary with a reunion featuring original members, but they've evolved and mutated so many times, I'm not entirely sure who the original members were, other than Mars Williams, and maybe Dan Leali on drums.

Buddy Guy with Jimmy Burns (Buddy Guy's Legends)   SOLD OUT!
See Thursday's listing.