list.in.to.chicago this week: 03.10.2014

This week marks the anniversary of some drunk guy at Fado ambling into the stage area in the middle of a Van Morrison song to request...Van Morrison.

Pick of the week
Kinda liking what I'm hearing from the Augustines (Saturday at Lincoln Hall), and there are still tickets for the first of the two Mike Doughty shows at City Winery (Tuesday & Wednesday).

list.in.to.COZ
It's the annual Diver St. Patrick's Day weekend show at Fado on Saturday night. Plus regular Vaughan's office hours on Tuesday, and then the big Andrew Fraker & Sons show is on deck next week for you long-range planners.

Recap
Definitely a good night for Japanophiles on Thursday night at Lincoln Hall, as evidenced by the full room for art-rock openers Buffalo Daughter, who were at one point accompanied by a video of Domo played off of an iPhone. Cibo Matto started off with just the main duo, which wasn't quite as strong as when the rest of the band joined them on stage about three or four songs in. At times, they got a bit more trip-hoppy than I remember, and even sounded a bit like Laika on their newer material. I liked some of the arrangements of the Stereo Type A songs, and the drummer was absolutely killing it.

3.10   monday
Ice Balloons with Kyp Malone, Coins (Empty Bottle)
Free show featuring an experimental side project from Kyp Malone of TV on the Radio, who also contributes a solo set.

Sleepy Sun with Supercell Mothership (Schubas)
Proof that Twitter is a viable form of promotion, as I listened to the new record from this band after Schubas tweeted about this show a few weeks ago. Pretty solid modern psychedelic rock.

3.11   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
It's less than a week until St. Paddy's, so I'm guessing there will be some sort of Guinness promotion. Failing that, there will at least be Guinness. And live music. And if you don't like that, you can go to Kirkwood.

Mike Doughty (City Winery)
After revisiting his Soul Coughing songs on his last tour, Doughty is going back to his "question jar" format, which is a broader concept than just taking requests, if I remember correctly.

Pat Metheny Unity Group (Symphony Center)
While the jazz-fusion guitarist has evolved and refined his sound over the years, the same cannot be said of his hair.

3.12   wednesday
Him with Anathema (House of Blues)
I think this Finnish rock band is sorta goth-industrial, based entirely on the type of person I've encountered sporting t-shirts, hoodies and tattoos. It's a stronger and more passionate fan base than any other Finnish band I can think of.

Jennifer Nettles with Brandy Clark (Chicago Theatre)
One half of Sugarland touring solo, if you're into that sort of thing.

Mike Doughty (City Winery)   SOLD OUT!
See Tuesday's listing.

3.13   thursday
Imagine Dragons with Naked & Famous, Nico Vega (Allstate Arena, Rosemont)
Two points make a line, and between Imagine Dragons and The Killers, I feel like Las Vegas is developing at least a hint of a defined sound. I would describe it as broadly anthemic and calculated to appear more edgy than it really is by relying heavily on high levels of over-emotive intensity.

Gaelic Storm with We Banjo 3 (House of Blues)
The onslaught of seasonal Irish music continues.

3.14   friday
Experience Hendrix (Chicago Theatre)   SOLD OUT!
A who's who of bad-ass guitarists celebrating one of the best that ever was, including Billy Cox, Buddy Guy, Zakk Wylde, Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and others.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. with Chad Valley (Metro)
I feel like these guys are darlings of the Pitchfork crowd, but their lo-fi electro-rock just comes across a bit too slight for me.

Slightly Stoopid with Mariachi el Bronx, Grouch & Eligh (Aragon Ballroom)
First, Slightly Stoopid is still a thing? Second, were they ever even big enough to play the Aragon the first time around?

Gaelic Storm with We Banjo 3 (House of Blues)
See Thursday's listing.

3.15   saturday
DIVER (Fado Irish Pub)   SEE COZ LIVE!
If the river has been dyed green, that means we're playing Fado. This one starts at 8pm instead of 10pm, and goes to midnight unless they bribe us to play longer.

Augustines with My Goodness (Lincoln Hall)
More texture than I would expect from a band nominally described as indie-folk, which starts putting them closer to orchestral pop and bands like Elbow, I think. Maybe a bit of Keane in there, too.

Tossers with Kevin Flynn & the Avondale Ramblers, Continental, Brick Top Blaggers (Metro)
Metro gets in on the St. Paddy's fun with local Celtic punks The Tossers, among others.

Tin Lynott with Spraoi (Martyrs')
Oddly enough, I don't think this is the only Thin Lizzy tribute band in Chicago. Definitely plays in the city the most often, though.

Ike Reilly Assassination with Tribe (Double Door)
Guys like Ike Reilly and Scott Lucas seem to be settling in as permanent fixtures on the local scene. Reilly was poised to be Chicago's answer to Beck at one point, but never quite broke through.

3.16   sunday
Deal's Gone Bad (Cobra Lounge)
While most of the guys I used to know in this band have moved on to The Crombies, the local ska-punk band keeps on keeping on.