list.in.to.chicago this week: 05.05.2014

You may need hearing protection just to read this week's installment.

Pick of the week
It's a really good week for that border between hard rock and heavy metal, with Queens of the Stone Age (Monday and Friday at the Aragon), Wolfmother (Monday at Metro), Mastodon and Gojira (Thursday at the Riv) and Fu Manchu (Saturday at Subterranean). Slightly less loud but also good will be the Nels Cline Singers (Tuesday at SPACE in Evanston) and The Both (Friday at Metro).

list.in.to.COZ
Regular office hours at Vaughan's this week. Diver will be at Fado again next Saturday.

Recap
Word on the street is that Aretha Franklin had someone schlepping her purse on and off stage for her. So if you were worried she might relinquish her diva crown, you can rest easy.

5.05   monday
Queens of the Stone Age with Chelsea Wolfe (Aragon Ballroom)
After a mostly lukewarn response to their previous record, ...Like Clockwork has gotten pretty solid reviews across the board. I was lucky enough to see them pummel the Metro stage before Lollapalooza last year, so I don't have to brave the challenging acoustics of the Aragon to see them support that record. Former Mars Volta drummer Jon Theodore is a huge addition to the touring band.

Wolfmother with Black Pistol Fire (Metro)
The Australian hard rock throwback band split up and then got back together before I realized they had gone away.

Chromeo with Oliver (Lincoln Hall)
I only saw them via one of the video screens the last time they played Lollapalooza, but the vibe I got was two guys with a laptop, some percussion, and an over-reliance on dance club beats.

5.06   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
Cubs-Sox at Wrigley this week, so I will buy a drink for anyone who takes a crack at "Crosstown Traffic" from Hendrix.

Nels Cline Singers (SPACE, Evanston)
I did not realize that the core Wilco guitarist's band includes Charlie Hunter mainstay Scott Amendola on drums and Tomahawk/Mr. Bungle bassist Trevor Dunn. Just on reputation, that may ground the effort beyond the pure eclecticism I was expecting.

5.07   wednesday
Robben Ford (SPACE, Evanston)
The 62-year old blues and jazz guitarist has played with everyone from Charlie Musselwhite to Miles Davis to Joni Mitchell to KISS. Yes, KISS.

5.08   thursday
Television (Metro)
One of the anchors of the CBGBs scene in New York in the 70s, who I didn't know much about until we had frontman Tom Verlaine as part of a bigger bill at the University of Chicago.

Mastodon with Gojira, Kvelertak (Riviera Theatre)
The progressive metal band from Atlanta has a new record coming out within a month or so. Live, they come back to a sort of loping, 6/8 groove maybe one too many times, but it's still powerful stuff. And Gojira is a French metal band, which you don't see every day.

Tributosaurus (Martyrs')
A rare Thursday/Friday stand from the cover band chameleons, performing as the Grateful Dead

Ham Council, Needles in the Red, Bucks Stops (Wire, Berwyn)
I know this band--aside from having a great name--has some top-notch Chicago musicians in it, so it's not surprising they've found their way out to the new joint in the near western suburbs. It is surprising, however, that they don't have any overlap with Tributosaurus.

5.09   friday
The Both with Nick Diamonds (Metro)
This is a collaboration between Aimee Mann and Ted Leo, and sounds pretty much like what you'd expect from those two. Mann softens up Leo's punkier side, while Leo fuzzes up Mann's mature singer/songwriter vibe. They both seem to be having a good time with it, if Twitter is any indication.

Queens of the Stone Age with Chelsea Wolfe (Aragon Ballroom)
See Monday's listing.

Nickel Creek with Secret Sisters (Riviera Theatre)
Generally regarded as authentic and really good modern bluegrass, but I haven't found that stretch of time where I want to listen to modern bluegrass in order to verify those claims.

Matt Pond PA with the Lighthouse & the Whaler, Emblems (Lincoln Hall)
This indie rock band, which is pretty much Matt Pond and whoever he's got with him, got started around the same time as The Shins and Death Cab For Cutie, so I feel like they were part of that leading edge of the modern indie movement, only without quite the success of those other bands.

Tributosaurus (Martyrs')
See Thursday's listing.

5.10   saturday
Slint (Bottom Lounge)
The old-school alternative band, whose most recognizable member is probably David Pajo after stints with Zwan, Interpol and Yeah Yeah Yeahs, reunited in 2005 after a fifteen year hiatus, and released a remastered version of their second album earlier this year.

Fu Manchu with Electric Citizen, Rollo Tomasi (Subterranean)
One of the originals when it comes to stoner rock. In such a small room, I'm going to go out on a limb and say you should bring earplugs.

Lovehammers with Draft Week, Weight of the World, Simple Simon (House of Blues)
You may not realize this, but after his reality show stint and subsequent tour opening for the band he didn't get to join, Marty Casey was in one of two competing versions of 80s hair metal band LA Guns. Which, let's be honest, was probably a better fit than INXS ever would have been.

5.11   sunday
John Scofield Organic Trio (SPACE, Evanston)
Avishai Cohen Trio (City Winery)
So, Sunday night is jazz night at the city's two more popular intimate venues, with guitarist Scofield and saxophonist Cohen both bringing their reputable talents to the stage.