list.in.to.chicago this week: 01.05.2015

So, we've got a band called General Zod playing on Wednesday, and then the actor who played General Zod on Friday.

Pick of the week
If you haven't seen them before, Sons of the Silent Age (Friday at Metro) are definitely worth checking out, given the very small likelihood that David Bowie ever tours again. And you know I'm a big fan of Grood (Tuesday at Martyrs').

list.in.to.COZ
I don't say this often, but we could really use a friendly audience this Saturday at Fado for a totally new version of Diver that we're putting into the 2015 rotation. And then regular office hours at Vaughan's on Tuesday night.

Recap
No music last week, but I did see Neil Gaiman read a short story about David Bowie. That was pretty darn cool.

1.06   tuesday
Open Jam (Vaughan's)   COZ SINGS!
If it gets too cold, we can light a guitar or two on fire!

Miss Remember with Grood, James Mano & the B.O.T’s (Martyrs')
As we head into a new year, "strangefunk" band Grood is still at the top of my favorite local band list. Will anyone dethrone them this year? Will I go see enough local music for anyone to even have a chance?

Psychedelic Furs (City Winery)   SOLD OUT!
Continuing the multi-night stand that began last week.

1.07   wednesday
General Zod with The Renegades (Martyrs')
With Tributosaurus having done a very special Bowie episode over the weekend, that frees up the first Wednesday of the month for local jazz fusion.

1.08   thursday
Marshall Crenshaw with Bottle Rockets (City Winery)   SOLD OUT!
Some day, some way, maybe you got tickets in advance for this one. Should be some solid alt-country from back before that was even a thing.

Buddy Guy with Luke Pyel (Buddy Guy's Legends)
This week may test the tradition where the blues legend takes his guitar and strolls along the sidewalk outside the club during an extended solo.

1.09   friday
Sons of the Silent Age with Michael Shannon, Heaven Malone (Metro)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Celebrate David Bowie's birthday (and the close of the David Bowie Is exhibit, sort of) with Chris Connelly's heavyweight tribute band, and also actor Michael Shannon covering Lou Reed along with Robbie Fulks and Jason Narducy.

Ode with Pet Peeve, Fall Classic (Cubby Bear)
My first exposure to this band was at Hideout about four years ago, and I think my immediate response was that they were folk-rock, only more Eastern European than American folk music.

Misfits with Private Instigators (City Winery)
I'm not entirely clear on who is in this band at this point, or why they're playing this particular venue. What would be awesome would be if anyone currently in the band sits in with Howie Day earlier in the evening.

Terrible Spaceship with J-Livi & the Party (Emporium Arcade Bar)
On the heels of that New Year's Eve show, it looks like Emporium Arcade Bar is trying to be a legit music venue, at least on the weekends. And I'm guessing they don't have the proper license to charge a cover.

Buddy Guy with Carlos Johnson (Buddy Guy's Legends)
See Thursday's listing.

1.10   saturday
DIVER (Fado Irish Pub)   SEE COZ LIVE!
Week 2 of the Year of Diver is going to be the debut of a new configuration where Andrew sings and plays acoustic guitar, and I use the cocktail kit. Don't know what a cocktail kit is? Then you should come out. Don't know if this setup will pack the punch of a full band? Me neither, but a bunch of friends hooting and hollering would help. Seriously. You should come to this one.

Bloodshot Records 20th Anniversary Blowout (Metro)
Ben Kweller, Lydia Loveless, Rhett Miller, Bobby Bare Jr., and Banditos. For some reason, Jon Langford dropped off the bill, which seems odd given his close association with the label.

Vulgar Boatmen with Mysteries of Life (Schubas)
Seeing Vulgar Boatmen at Schubas always reminds me of the time they were playing the venue the day after the clocks changed, but were coming from the part of Indiana that didn't change, so they were an hour late. This was back in the early or mid 90s.

Buddy Guy with Big James (Buddy Guy's Legends)
See Thursday's listing.

1.11   sunday
Buddy Guy with Ivy Ford (Buddy Guy's Legends)
See Thursday's listing.