list.in.to.chicago this week: 07.08.2013

All the big-name acts coming through this week looks like an abundance of riches for Chicago, but I have to wonder if there are enough entertainment dollars to go around, even with all the additional Taste of Chicago visitors.

Pick of the week
Lots and lots to choose from this week. On Friday alone, you've got your pick between Robert Plant (Taste of Chicago), Bob Dylan (Toyota Park) and Bon Jovi (Soldier Field). That's two music legends. And Bon Jovi.

list.in.to.COZ
Just Vaughan's this week. And if you play bass and are reading this, what are you doing on July 27th?

Recap
In the absence of Monday listings, a Monday recap from Pritzker Pavilion and the free "Downtown Sounds" series. The Reader was going on and on about Cairo Gang, but the best I can say about them is that they had one song that sounded kinda like Guided By Voices. On the other hand, Dawes was excellent, making me kinda wish that what they sound like is what people considered to be proper country music. Which isn't to say they didn't detour into rock effectively, particularly due to a really great lead guitar tone. Also the drummer popped his mouth open whenever he hit a backbeat, which made him look like a fish. Then again, given how much humidity was in the air, being a fish wouldn't have been so bad.

7.09   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
Songs will be sung. Guitars will be strummed. It'll be great.

Justin Bieber (United Center)
Megadeth with Black Label Society, Device, Hellyeah, Newsted, Death Division (Allstate Arena)
Now, seeing as how these are the two main indoor arenas in Chicago, there has to be a chance, albeit very small, that someone will get confused as to which show is at which venue. At least we can hope that's the case.

Barenaked Ladies with Ben Folds Five (FirstMerit Bank Pavilion)
So, I'm guessing either Charter One changed it's name in the last week, or a new bank has acquired the naming rights for the lakefront venue. Pretty sure it was still showing up as Charter One as recently as a week or two ago.

7.10   wednesday
Hey Champ with Gemini Club, Poceans, Greg Corner (Double Door)
This is the grand opening of the new "speakeasy" downstairs at Double Door. The downstairs room has existed in a few different incarnations, sometimes with live music when the main stage was dormant, but I don't know that it's every really caught on. Maybe this version will work. In other news, Hey Champ still exists!

fun. with Delta Spirit (Taste of Chicago, Petrillo Music Shell)
It's the second year of the shorter Taste, and the first (I think) where they're charging money for the "concert seating" at the Petrillo Music Shell. That doesn't seem to have deterred anyone, as all the big shows are "sold out" except for Sunday, including this one from the breakthrough indie party band. If you're going to go, get there early for Delta Spirit, who were pretty amazing in the thick humidity before the massive storms at Lollapalooza last year.

Tributosaurus (Martyrs')
This month, they'll be performing as Tom Petty.

Jonas Brothers (FirstMerit Bank Pavilion)
Wow, Bieber and the Jonas Brothers all in the same week? If only I were a 14-year old girl.

7.11   thursday
Robin Thicke with Estelle (Taste of Chicago, Petrillo Music Shell)
I had not actually heard Robin Thicke until this morning, and apparently it's totally appropriate that whenever I hear the pop singer's name, I think of Canadian actor/comedian Alan Thicke. Who just so happens to be his father. Again, get there in time for the opener, UK soul singer Estelle.

Larry Coryell Trio (Jazz Showcase)
It's the annual, or maybe semi-annual, appearance from the jazz guitarist, with Larry Gray and Paul Wertico rounding out the group as usual.

Kurt Vile and the Violators with Swirlies (Metro)
Generally described as "lo-fi," but that's one of those tricky labels that tends not to scale as artists become both bigger and better at recording in general. It may end up referring more to the intimacy of Vile's material rather than the fidelity.

7.12   friday
Bob Dylan with Wilco, My Morning Jacket, Richard Thompson (Toyota Park, Bridgeview)
Billed as the "Americanarama" tour, this looks like a really good value for the money, given that at least three of the four bands could command a headlining spot at a large-ish venue on their own.

Robert Plant (Taste of Chicago, Petrillo Music Shell)
It's actually billed as "Robert Plant presents the Sensational Space Shifters," but when you fronted Led Zeppelin, you can call it whatever the hell you want.

Bon Jovi (Soldier Field)
Not entirely sure the New Jersey native could fill the spaceship on the lake even on a day when Bob Dylan and Robert Plant weren't playing.

Spiritualized with Guy Blakeslee (Lincoln Hall)
Jason Pierce tries to go big and small at the same time, with a lot of orchestration, but sounding sort of "up close" at the same time. Not sure how that translates live, exactly.

The Grandmothers of Invention (Martyrs')
Don Preston and Napoleon Murphy Brock are the remaining Frank Zappa alumni in the band, currently touring in "support" of Zappa's 1975 One Size Fits All record.

Matt Ulery's Loom (Green Mill)
Probably one of the more highly-regarded local jazz musicians/bandleaders that you haven't heard of. And that I haven't heard, despite having heard really good things about for years now.

Larry Coryell Trio (Jazz Showcase)
See Thursday's listing.

7.13   saturday
Company of Thieves with Canasta, Paper Thick Walls, The Steakhouse Mints, Vintage Blue (Taste of Chicago, Bud Light Stage)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
A ton of good local bands on Saturday's docket for the smaller Taste of Chicago stage.

Tortoise with Javelin, Those Darlins, Heavy Times, Girl Group Chicago, Thin Hymns (West Fest)
This festival is on Chicago between Damen and Wood. As much as I like them, I haven't seen Tortoise in a while, so I'm wondering if they would seem fresh again after a bit of a layoff.

Jill Scott with Maxi Priest (Taste of Chicago, Petrillo Music Shell)
Just because neo-soul isn't a particularly big thing anymore doesn't mean it's not still a thing.

Bruno Mars with Ellie Goulding (United Center)
Whether or not you care for him, Mars' rise has been somewhat meteoric -- pretty sure the pop singer played the Aragon the last time he was in town. I do wonder how many of these shows are underperforming at the box office due to oversupply/crowding.

Matt Ulery's Loom (Green Mill)
See Friday's listing.

Larry Coryell Trio (Jazz Showcase)
See Thursday's listing.

7.14   sunday
Neon Trees with the Mowgli's (Taste of Chicago, Petrillo Music Shell)
The five headlining shows at Taste actually show some decent breadth, with the last one being smaller rock bands on the way up.

Tortoise with Magas (Empty Bottle)
A regular club show to follow up the festival apperance, which is to be expected given that Empty Bottle is the one programming the West Fest lineup.

Larry Coryell Trio (Jazz Showcase)
See Thursday's listing.