list.in.to.chicago this week: 10.18.2004

Okay, it's time to see how fast I can type, and how many pre-vacation tasks will crop up in the next forty-five minutes. This week might be light on the descriptions, but I was originally planning to take this week off, so be happy. Also, there were just too many shows this week to ignore.

Pick of the week
I'm really intrigued by The Musical Box and their Genesis tribute, and The Changes on Sunday will be a good one as well.

list.in.to.COZ
I've been burning CDs of new songs for Diver to learn all day, so it's quite possible you'll hear the fruits of those labors on Saturday at Cullen's. It's also quite possible you'll see the remnants of my computer on the sidewalk outside my window, as it crashes and reboots whenever I try to burn the same bunch of songs twice in a row without quitting and restarting the program.

Recap
Okay, back when I was in a band with Jayh Johnson, we'd throw around random quotes and sayings and whatnot from the movie Pootie Tang, which, well, let's just say it's an odd, odd movie. So he's playing Thursday night at Bar Thirteen. Where they don't have cable, so most of the TVs are hooked up to a couple of DVD players. On the screen directly behind Jayh was the aforementioned Pootie Tang and it's climactic fight scene. That was kind of surreal. Tony might be playing Bar Thirteen (1944 West Division) this Thursday, and I'll be there the following, so check it out.

10.18   monday
Chicago Jazz Ensemble (Jazz Showcase)
While I applaud the effort to keep the organization going after William Russo passed away, the ad for the Showcase sorta makes it look like he's returning from the grave to continue leading the big band in some sort of warped Weekend At Bernie's fashion. Upon closer inspection, trumpeter Jon Faddis is taking over the reins.

10.19   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ GOES ON VACATION!
Just 'cause I'm not going to be there doesn't mean you shouldn't be.

Pharoah Sanders Quartet (Jazz Showcase)
The only CD I have with Sanders on it, I think, is Sonny Sharrock's Ask The Ages, but damn, is it a good one. He might actually be on some of the Atlantic Coltrane box, too, but I'm not sure. As usual at the Showcase, the stand will last through Sunday.

10.20   wednesday
Coheed and Cambria with Underoath, 3 (Riviera)
These guys last came to town with Mars Volta, and their sound is also in that post-prog vein, maybe with a little bit of Dashboard Confessional-esque emo vocal on top.

Kick The Cat with Numbers (Martyr's)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
It's Chicago's baddest-assed (okay, maybe that's not a word) fusion band in a return engagement at the North Center spot, so I'm guessing the first show last month went well.

10.21   thursday
Light FM with Woolworthy, The Ladies and Gentlemen, The Melismatics (Subterranean)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
My flight gets in late Thursday afternoon, so it's doubtful that this would be the show that breaks the "I really meant to go see them last time" streak.

Joe Satriani (House of Blues)
First of three nights for Satch, which seems excessive to me, but like Rush fans, I figure there's a constant influx of new Satriani fans as teenagers and twentysomethings learn their guitar licks.

10.22   friday
The Musical Box (The Vic)
I can't say I've ever seen a tribute band that was "officially" sanctioned by the object of their affections, but there you go. These guys will be performing Genesis' The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway in all it's dramatic glory, complete with the actual slideshow the band used back in 1974. Lamb is one of my favorite all-time albums, and quite possibly the greatest concept album ever, so this should be pretty cool.

Twinemen (Martyr's)
The surviving two members of Morphine have been through town quite a bit with this band, but I haven't gotten to check them out yet.

10.23   saturday
Diver (Cullen's)   SEE COZ LIVE!
Come to think of it, I don't think we've had a single full-band rehearsal since we played our first show. Now that's rock and roll.

Mission of Burma with Eleventh Dream Day, Pit Er Pat (Metro)
Went to college in the early nineties but weren't cool enough for indie rock? Now's your chance to reclaim that glory. Seriously, this show seems plucked right out of 1991 or so.

10.24   sunday
The Changes with The Joggers (Schuba's)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
If you missed recent shows from Franz Ferdinand and/or Interpol, these guys are probably the closest we've got to a local equivalent, although that only begins to describe them.