list.in.to.chicago this week: 02.16.2015

Judging by the number of shows Friday and Saturday, someone somewhere thinks the weather is getting more conducive to going out.

Pick of the week
I'm intrigued by Bailiff (Friday at Subterranean). If you could find tickets for Sleater-Kinney (Tuesday at the Riv) or Nels Cline (Saturday at Constellation), you should go, but those are going to be hard to come by.

list.in.to.COZ
Vaughan's on Tuesday, and finally a full Diver show on Saturday at Fado.

Recap
Did anyone happen to go see Kaki King last week? Would love to know how that was. As for me, I sat in at a blues jam at a bar in Tel Aviv.

2.17   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
So, thematic songs for Fat Tuesday would include "Fat-Bottomed Girls," "Big Bottom" and..."The Weight."

Sleater-Kinney with Lizzo (Riviera Theatre)   SOLD OUT!
One of the most anticipated albums and tours of the year, after the band took a six-year hiatus in which Carrie Brownstein became a niche TV star. The new record has a bit of a more pop vibe to it, a least within the context of the rough edges of Sleater-Kinney album.

John Mellencamp with Carlene Carter (Chicago Theatre)
Indiana's favorite musical son has collected an awful lot of hits while staying true to his overall heartland aesthetic. Even if he didn't stay true to his name as such.

2.18   wednesday
Secret Colours with Kinda Good, Queen Buzz, Symposium (Emporium Arcade Bar)
The Chicago psychedelic rock band has been getting good press for a while now. I'm hoping the early good reviews didn't go to their head, because when I saw them a few years ago, they still needed a lot of work.

John Mellencamp with Carlene Carter (Chicago Theatre)
See Tuesday's listing.

2.19   thursday
M13 Ensemble (Jazz Showcase)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
The local progressive big band lost their monthly gig at Quenchers, but they've been playing at Martyrs', and have a show here as part of the Blujazz Festival, whatever that is.

July Talk with Mutts, Traveling Suitcase (Subterranean)
As you probably remember by now, I had a former co-worker tell me about Mutts some four years ago, and while I haven't actually gone to see them in that time, they're still out and about, which counts for something.

2.20   friday
Bailiff with Minor Characters, Go Rounds (Subterranean)
Saw just enough of this local band opening for Split Single a while back that I'd like to hear more. They had really, really good guitar tone, which sounds like a minor thing until you hear guitarists who don't.

Dastardly with Blane Fonda, Dial In, Sure Why Not (Quenchers)
File this under "local bands I've heard of," and I think I may have actually seen (and not particularly cared for) Blane Fonda once.

Genevieve with Brittany Lee Moffit (Schubas)
This headlining set from the Company of Thieves lead singer is part of something called Dunn Dunn Fest. Part of the reason Chicago could never do something like South by Southwest is that we tend to have a gazillion different people trying different festivals instead of actually working together.

Save the Clocktower with Divino Niño, Quin Tsan (Hideout)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
If I start calling their sound "somnabulentronica," do you think it might catch on? Also part of this Dunn Dunn Fest, I think.

Colin Hay (City Winery)
He comes from a land down under, but probably doesn't want to be reminded of that particular song, or the ensuing lawsuit about the flute melody in the beginning.

Cannibal Corpse with Behemoth, Aeon, Tribulation (House of Blues)
The death metal band still boasts two original members.

2.21   saturday
DIVER (Fado Irish Pub)   SEE COZ LIVE!
Finally, seven weeks into a year where we've been nominally playing every Saturday night, all three of us will be in the house.

Nels Cline, Fred Lonberg-Holm, Glenn Kotche, and Mike Reed (Constellation)   SOLD OUT!
A veritable who's who of avant-jazz musicians that also play in Wilco.

Dirty Dozen Brass Band with Swamp Heat, From tha 99 (Bottom Lounge)
Would have maybe been better closer to Fat Tuesday, but whatever. Still going to be a fun show.

Bob Mamet, Larry Gray, and Paul Wertico (Jazz Showcase)
The veteran Chicago rhythm section backs up someone I've never heard of as part of this Blujazz thing.

Swans with Xylouris White (Thalia Hall)
One of those indie bands I see written about often. I'm sure I've listened to an album or two, and I feel like I've liked the band, but I also think I'm confusing them with someone else. Which doesn't help you one bit now, does it?

That 1 Guy with Jaik Willis (Reggie's Rock Club)
If you took the "Drumbone" song and concept from Blue Man Group, and turned it into an entire one-man show, that would be That 1 Guy.

Colin Hay (City Winery)
See Saturday's listing.

2.22   sunday
Robyn Hitchcock with Emma Swift (SPACE, Evanston)
Everyone's favorite crazy British uncle, typically offering up bizarre lyrics and even more bizarre between-song banter.

Colin Hay (City Winery)
See Saturday's listing.