list.in.to.chicago this week: 04.27.2015

Let's talk about some live music, shall we?

Pick of the week
You'll find me at Thalia Hall on Monday night for ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead. I'm actually surprised that Speedy Ortiz (Thursday, Empty Bottle) isn't sold out. Of the other non-sold out shows, you've got Split Single on Friday at Schubas and Alejandro Escovedo on Sunday at FitzGerald's. And if it's not a mirage, Yasiin Bey at Metro on Friday is almost a no-brainer.

list.in.to.COZ
Vaughan's on Tuesday. Diver at Fado on Saturday. You know this by now, but I'm going to keep saying it.

Recap
No shows last week, but I did end up going to C2E2 on Sunday, and Jason Momoa (Khal Drogo on Game of Thrones) was hilarious.

4.27   monday
...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead with Your Favorite Enemies, Boyfrndz (Thalia Hall)
The bane of the guy in charge of putting band names up on the marquee, the Austin band released a solid effort last year that didn't evolve their post-emo sprawl very much, but didn't really need to.

Lord Huron with Leon Bridges (The Vic)   SOLD OUT!
It's a nice mix of modern alt-counntry and indie rock, and reminds me a bit of Fleet Foxes with a bit more oomph and a bit more twang.

Tuck & Patti (The Promontory)
Madeline Peyroux with Pete Molinari (City Winery)   SOLD OUT!
See last week's list for the skinny on these two.

4.28   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
So I was right about last week's Blackhawks game going long. No local teams in the playoffs this week, so we'll have a proper Open Jam.

Kory Quinn with The Hoyle Brothers (Hideout)
The artist formerly known as Rory Murtaugh wraps up his month-long residency with a full band performance.

Europe with Black Star Riders (House of Blues)
I'm not totally sure how usage fees work for sports arenas and whatnot, but you have to imagine that if these guys hold all the publishing rights, they're not going to really be that broken up that they're not selling out arenas anymore.

4.29   wednesday
The Replacements with Smoking Popes (Riviera Theatre)   SOLD OUT!
The well-received reunion from two summers ago have kicked the famously sloppy midwestern rock band back into active duty, bolstered by everyman drummer Josh Freese.

Manic Street Preachers with The Kickback (Metro)
This is one of those bands that separates actual Britpop fans from the folks who just know a handful of Oasis and Stone Roses songs.

4.30   thursday
Speedy Ortiz with Krill, Two Inch Astronaut, Nnamdi Ogbonnaya (Empty Bottle)
This is a band that was either on a lot of folks' radar a year or two ago, or maybe just on the radar of someone I trust. The sound makes me think of what Liz Phair would have sounded like had she not gone pop. Similar plaintive singing, but with more modern indie sounds around it.

Death Cab For Cutie with The Antlers (Chicago Theatre)   SOLD OUT!
One or two listens to the band's new record have me convinced that recently departed bassist Chris Walla was absolutely essential to the band's sound. His absence deprives the new songs of any forward momentum.

Miles of Empty with Rocket Surgery, Hurtin Kind (Wire, Berwyn)
I know I've played shows with these guys before many years ago, but I can't remember if it was with URT or with Lindsie Reitz.

Nicholas Payton Trio (Jazz Showcase)
This is my standard comment about lots of jazz, but this New Orleans trumpet player was one of the "young lions" of the jazz scene back when I was just getting out of college, and now seems to be in the middle phase of a pretty solid career.

The Replacements with Smoking Popes (Riviera Theatre)   SOLD OUT!
See Wednesday's listing.

5.01   friday
Split Single with Fury Things (Schubas)
The debut record is a bit dense, and the first live show I saw from them was a bit ragged, but I've been listening to Jason Narducy long enough to know that the core of this material is solid, tuneful stuff. So it's only a matter of time before the project hits its stride, and it may have already.

Yasiin Bey with Malik Yusuf (Metro)
I will only believe that the artist formerly known as Mos Def is actually playing when my friend who works at Metro posts a picture to Facebook. As much as I love a lot of his records, he's cancelled too many times for me to get excited enough about seeing him live to buy tickets that may just get refunded anyway.

Death Cab For Cutie with The Antlers (Chicago Theatre)   SOLD OUT!
See Thursday's listing.

Nicholas Payton Trio (Jazz Showcase)
See Thursday's listing.

5.02   saturday
DIVER (Fado Irish Pub)   SEE COZ LIVE!
There will be three guys on stage playing the rock and roll, but what happens past that is anybody's guess.

The Kooks with Joywave, Young Rising Sons (The Vic)   SOLD OUT!
I like British brattiness of The Kooks well enough, but I have a hunch it's the trendy and somewhat undifferentiated synthrock of Joywave that's driving the sellout on this one.

Graham Czach with Cellrs, Backyard Cohort, Todd Kessler (Double Door)
I had been getting either emails or Facebook updates from Czach for a while, and his connections within the local scene confer some measure of quality on his work, at least as a player. Not sure how that translates into songwriting, so if you find yourself at this one, don't hesitate to report back to l.i.t.c. headquarters.

Nicholas Payton Trio (Jazz Showcase)
See Thursday's listing.

5.03   sunday
Alejandro Escovedo & the Sensitive Boys with Nicholas Tremulis Orchestra (FitzGerald's, Berwyn)
The Texas singer/songwriter has been around the block a few times, straddling that surprising border between punk and country. He's one of those veteran, authentic artists that deserves all the respect he gets.

Paramore with Copeland (Rosemont Theater)
There was always a hint of theatricality to this female-fronted modern rock band, so I'm wondering if the choice of venue means they're pushing that vibe.

Nicholas Payton Trio (Jazz Showcase)
See Thursday's listing.