list.in.to.chicago this week: 04.06.2015

For the sake of argument, let's just say that list.in.to.chicago observes European bank holidays, and that's why the list is out on a Tuesday this week. Doesn't explain all the other weeks, but whatever.

Also, I would sincerely love to see you at Cubby Bear on Friday. With the closing of the Andrew Fraker & Sons chapter, I'm not sure when I might get to perform original music on stage again.

Pick of the week
As I listen to artists in this week's list that I'm less familar with, I have to say that the Poliça album is really grabbing me, making Wednesday at Lincoln Hall look like a really good choice. On Sunday, you've got two terrific musicians and songwriters in Wes John Cichosz and Chris Siebold and Psycles out at Wire in Berwyn.

list.in.to.COZ
Hopefully you've by now cleared your schedule for the record release party and farewell show from Andrew Fraker & Sons this FRIDAY NIGHT at Cubby Bear. If you skip the Open Jam on Tuesday at Vaughan's and the Diver show on Saturday at Fado in order to make it on Friday, I would totally understand.

Recap
No news to report this week. If you see a show, you're always welcome to send me commentary as a list.in.to.chicago "operative" if you can get it to me by Monday. Okay, Tuesday.

4.07   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
Yeah, yeah, St. Paddy's was on a Tuesday this year, but so is NATIONAL BEER DAY! Come celebrate! Note to self: try to learn "Let's Have Another Beer" from Dum by 9:30pm. Also, something to do now that the Cubs game has been postponed.

Kory Quinn (The Hideout)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
They're calling him a "DIY contemporary hobo intellectual" as he starts his Tuesday night residency before and after some runoff election activities, but I still call him Rory Murtaugh.

Electric Wizard with Satan's Satyrs (Metro)   SOLD OUT!
Not only is this English act exactly the kind of band you would expect from the name--described by Wikipedia as doom metal that "incorporates stoner and sludge traits, with lyrics focusing on the occult, witchcraft, H.P. Lovecraft, horror films and cannabis"--they're also probably the first doom/sludge/stoner metal band I've come across that has a female member.

4.08   wednesday
Poliça with Pony Bwoy (Lincoln Hall)
Generally considered one of the more forward thinking female electro-pop acts, along with the likes of Robyn and Le Roux. There's definitely a lot more depth to the songwriting and the sonic texture than a lot of contemporaries.

Plain White T's (House of Blues)
If only they were playing at Martyrs' or Schubas, it would give me the hook I need to rant about the proper and improper use of apostrophes. The Plain White T's what? Instead I'll just point out that the band is on track to be remembered for one song, and one song alone.

4.09   thursday
Foxygen with Alex Cameron (Metro)
If you see one farewell show this week, I would ask that you skip this one. And honestly, it seems a lot of other people are, too. I honestly thought this California band had enough buzz that their imminent demise would be a bigger deal.

Christian McBride Trio (SPACE, Evanston)
I'll have to get over how I remember when McBride was a new and notable bass player on the jazz scene. Now I'm starting to wonder how many of these high-profile jazz acts are in town to record at Transient Studios. And how many are jumping at the chance to play shorter engagements than the normal five- or six-day stand at the Jazz Showcase.

Tautologic (Jerry's)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
With all the prog rock and fusion leanings of the music program at this Wicker Park sandwich shop, I'm a little surprised Ethan's band hadn't turned up sooner.

4.10   friday
Andrew Fraker & Sons with Fletcher Rockwell, Decadents (Cubby Bear)   SEE COZ LIVE!
This is it. With the release of the new album Forgive (now available on Spotify, iTunes, etc.), the band is planning to retire as a live act. It remains to be seen if we're better at doing that than, say, Trent Reznor was. Seriously, we're really proud of the new record, and would love for you to celebrate its release with us.

Primus (Chicago Theatre)
On the one hand, drummer Tim Alexander is back after his heart attack last year, but on the other, their latest album is either inspired by Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory or is intended to be an alternate soundtrack, and I can't say it really works particularly well as either. Still, not a band I ever would have expected to play on State Street.

Magma (Reggie's Rock Club)
This is old-school Euro prog rock so obscure that it didn't even make it onto the mix tape one of the guitar teachers in the music store I worked/taught at in high school made for me.

Bernard Purdie (Green Mill)
Does anyone actually believe Bernard "Pretty" Purdie when he says he re-recorded all/most/some of Ringo Starr's drum parts on Beatles records? It seems absurd, but then again, Purdie didn't really need that claim to burnish his already sterling credentials as a drummer.

Dr. Dog with mewithoutyou (Thalia Hall)   SOLD OUT!
Twin Shadow with Eric Hassle (Metro)
I'm going to lump these two together as recent bands whose hype I totally don't understand. Both strike me as more style than substance, with Dr. Dog laying the hipster affect on thick, and Twin Shadow adopting a more 80s retro look and feel without really building a good foundation underneath in either case.

4.11   saturday
DIVER (Fado Irish Pub)   SEE COZ LIVE!
This week will see a return of the Andrew/Coz duo, which gives us more freedom and more constraints at the same time in terms of what kinds of songs we can arrange for acoustic guitar and cocktail drum kit.

THEESatisfaction with Sev Seveer (Schubas)
Getting a bit of a Janelle Monae vibe from the Seattle duo, who released a new album in January that generated some critical noise. Maybe a bit more earthy, at least based on some of the lyrical snippets I'm catching. Owing a debt to Lauryn Hill as well, I think.

Bernard Purdie (Green Mill)
See Friday's listing.

4.12   sunday
Wes John Cichosz with Chris Siebold & Psycles (Wire, Berwyn)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Two of my favorite local musicians on stage together at the suburban oasis for quality music. No, not FitzGerald's. The other one.

Steep Canyon Rangers (Old Town School of Folk Music)
I think I said this once before, but I hope the bluegrass group tours with a cardboard cutout of Steve Martin when he's not actually on tour with them.