list.in.to.chicago this week: 02.25.2013

Since I turn 43 on Friday, I've included exactly 43 bands in the list. Also, since it's my birthday, you should take my word for it and not actually count them.

Pick of the week
Holy crap, Eric Johnson is playing Mayne Stage on Thursday! And there's a surprising amount of good stuff on Sunday, particularl that Minus the Bear show at Metro.

list.in.to.COZ
So, Andrew Fraker & Sons will be at Metro not this Friday, but next Friday. If you buy tickets from metrochicago.com, just enter "SONS" as your promotional code and you'll get almost half off the normal price. Plus, we then get credit, which is kind of important. Or you can buy the tickets in person from anyone in the band. We could really use your support on this one.

Recap
So, Grood keeps living up to being my favorite local band. I think there were a few new songs that were just as odd and engaging as the older material, along with a cover of "Nobody Loves Me and Neither Do I" from Them Crooked Vultures. Didn't stay long for Genome, but there's some part of me that's encouraged that there will almost always be a segment of musicians who find it worthwhile to play jazz/funk fusion, despite all market-based evidence to the contrary.

2.25   monday
Nicholas Tremulis Orchestra with Charlie Sexton (City Winery)
If nothing else, the venerable Chicago artist may have the largest group I've seen on the bill at City Winery.

2.26   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
Is your acoustic guitar gathering dust in the corner of your apartment? Bring it down to Vaughan's and play a few songs! It'll be fun!

Mouse on Mars with Svengalisghost (Mayne Stage)
I want to say this German electronica duo first came to prominence around the same time as Modest Mouse, which was somewhat problematic. Kind of like Deerhoof and Deerhunter.

2.27   wednesday
JC Brooks with Andy Rosenstein, and Ben Taylor (City Winery)
Hot on the heels of the acoustic Company of Thieves show, we've got what looks like another prominent local artist stripping down a bit in the West Town space.

2.28   thursday
Eric Johnson (Mayne Stage)
The "Tone Ranger" is touring in support of his album called Up Close, which came out in...2010? That's either a long tour, or something got in the way of touring immediately after release.

3.01   friday
Gaslight Anthem with Bouncing Souls, Cory Branan (Riviera Theatre)   SOLD OUT!
This New Jersey band tries to bring punk energy to a Springsteen-esque blue collar aesthetic, with mixed results. What they need to bring is more variety in their guitar tones, as they've got three guitarists that all sort of sound the same live. Maybe throw a Les Paul into the mix?

Pet Lions with Minor Characters, Brother George (Lincoln Hall)
Ever since I saw them open for White Rabbits, I've been noticing this band often enough to say they seem to be on the way up. Three years ago, I pegged them somewhere between Death Cab For Cutie and Arctic Monkeys, which ain't bad.

Ra Ra Riot with Pacific Air (Metro)
Not to be confused with Ha Ha Tonka.

3.02   saturday
Sons of the Never Wrong with Gerald Dowd (SPACE, Evanston)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
I knew local drummer Dowd was working on some solo material, but I didn't know to what end. Apparently it's gotten to the point of public exhibition, so good for him.

J Davis Trio, O'My's, Harris & the Mood (Martyrs')
Every once in a while, I feel like acid jazz might be making a comeback. Maybe not with two or three bands holding down weekly residencies, but maybe something more consistent than we've seen in the last couple of years.

Lord Snow with Nerves, Mortality Crisis (The Burlington)
Posting this one because we're less than a month away from the new season of Game of Thrones, which is almost certainly where the headliner gets its name.

3.03   sunday
Ben Harper & Charlie Musselwhite (Riviera Theatre)
After doing a more traditional rock record with the Relentless 7, Ben Harper joins up with the harmonica player who was, according to legend, the inspiration for Elwood Blues. My concern is that this might be a bit too low-key for the Riv, where conversation can easily overwhelm the music as you get farther from the stage.

Minus the Bear with Rah Rah, Eighteen Individual Eyes (Metro)
I really enjoyed this band after finally seeing them this summer at Riot Fest.

Simon Townshend with Steve Frisbie & Liam Davis (Martyrs')   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Pete's brother returns, with the principal singer/songwriters from Frisbie opening.

Ike Reilly Assassination (Schubas)
I think longtime Chicago artist and one-time next big thing Reilly is doing a residency in Schubas in March.