list.in.to.chicago this week: 03.03.2014

Seeing live music on an almost weekly basis again, so this weather had better realize that means it's spring already.

Pick of the week
If you've never seen them live, Flogging Molly (Saturday at the Aragon) is always a ton of fun live. I'm down for Cibo Matto on Thursday night at Lincoln Hall as well.

list.in.to.COZ
We're getting our Mardi Gras on tonight at Vaughan's, and we're just a few weeks away from Andrew Fraker & Sons at Metro on March 22nd. You can buy tickets on the Metro site, but be sure to enter "SONS" as the promo code so we get credit for bringing people.

Recap
I like that Bob Mould's idea of a stripped-down City Winery show is to play everything pretty much exactly as he would with a full band, just with no drummer. At some point he just decided not to play acoustic guitar anymore. The Workbook material was pretty interesting in context, as you could clearly hear the strains of Hüsker Dü right alongside the more power-pop sounds that mark Mould's later work. And I loved that Alison Chesley held down the lead line in "Hoover Dam" at the end of the main set.

3.04   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
Tony says this is the 17th Annual Mardi Gras Open Jam, which sounds about right, since Tuesday nights at Vaughan's pre-dated both of us.

3.05   wednesday
The Sword with Big Business, O'Brother (Double Door)
No new album recently from the Austin metal band, which makes me think one must be dropping pretty soon.

Tributosaurus (Martyrs')
Befitting that Irish holiday in a couple of weeks, this month they'll be Van Morrison.

3.06   thursday
Cibo Matto with Buffalo Daughter (Lincoln Hall)
The Japanese-by-way-of-NYC duo is back after a long break with an album that I like so far. Indie electronica before that was a thing, really. When I saw them at Metro way back in 1999 after Stereo Type A, I was really impressed with their vocal harmonies.

White Denim with Districts (Metro)
I heard this band on XRT a few weeks ago very briefly, but a longer listen to their most recent record makes me think the jam-band and blues-rock types are going to love them. Maybe a somewhat less blatantly virtuostic Umphrey's McGee.

3.07   friday
Miley Cyrus with Icona Pop, Sky Ferreira (Allstate Arena, Rosemont)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
So, it came to my attention a while back that Miley's music director is none other than Stacy Jones, who you may recall from Letters to Cleo, Veruca Salt and American Hi-Fi, and who I met at Berklee College of Music back in 1989. Time Out Chicago has also pointed out that the opening acts might be worth checking out on their own.

Big Head Todd & the Monsters with Hazel Miller, Ronnie Baker Brooks (House of Blues)
It took a while, but I no longer get Big Head Todd confused with Toad The Wet Sprocket. One or two good, middle of the road late-90s rock songs, but that's about it for me.

Bob Weir & Ratdog (Chicago Theatre)
If only the Miley show was at the United Center, Deadhead parents of pop-loving tweens could go see this one after dropping their kids off down the street.

The Drovers (Abbey Pub)
The venerable Chicago Irish band comes out of hibernation for the St. Paddy's season.

3.08   saturday
Flogging Molly with Drowing Men (Aragon Ballroom)
It would make me happy if one of these Irish rock/punk bands actually celebrated St. Patrick's Day in Chicago, but we always end up getting them a week or two before. Still, these guys are one of my favorites, although they make me tired just listening to their breakneck pace.

Kings of Leon with Gary Clark, Jr. (United Center)
Sometimes it seems like someone is trying to will "Supersoaker" into a hit, and it's just not working. Hard to believe that the band's breakthrough, Aha Shake Heartbreak, is ten years old this year.

3.09   sunday
That 1 Guy (Beat Kitchen)
So, if you've seen Blue Man Group, this is essentially one guy doing their "Drumbone" bit, but with a more intricate rig. Interesting as a novelty, but I'm not sure I'd go see him on purpose more than once or twice.