Just some notes on the Friday and Saturday ChiPO
shows:

Friday, I only had the chance to check out Jonathan
Scott of Doleful Lions at Schuba's.  He was the artist
I had been most looking forward to seeing at the fest,
and he didn't disappoint.  Seated, with only an
acoustic guitar, he managed to pull off songs that, on
record, tend to be filled out with multiple layers of
vocals and elaborate production.  I'm sorry he doesn't
play more often, especially since he apparently lives
in a suburb just 25 miles west of chicago.  His
performance was gorgeous and haunting, the songs, at
times, reminding me of nothing so much as Big Star
'Third.'

Took off from Schuba's to catch the Millions record
release show at Subterranean.  These guys can bring
the Big Rock.  The show was a lot of fun, with a
really nice crowd on hand.  The Millions play hard and
loud, with hooks galore.  Fans of early Cheap Trick or
the Shazam should be sure to check out the Millions
this Tuesday night in their IPO appearance.

Headed over to the Abbey Saturday for Not Lame night. 
I was disappointed to find that I'd missed Joe
Giddings because of a flip-flop in the lineup.  Wasn't
impressed by the Blakes (they made no impression on me
whatsoever), but found Chris Von Sneidern's set
enjoyable as usual -- songs with smart, sometimes
snarky lyrics and a classic-period Squeeze/Marshall
Crenshaw vibe.  King Radio impressed instrumentally
with a string section, xylophone player, and even a 
typewriter on one song, but I wished the lead vocalist
would tone it done a bit -- I'm not sure if it was the
mix, or if his vocals are always so far out front.  I
enjoyed their set far more when the harmony vocals
would come in.  Terry Anderson's set was all hooks and
adrenaline, and couldn't have been more fun.  I'm sure
Bruce Brodeen would agree -- he was nearly as
enjoyable to watch down front as the band, dancing,
gesturing, and air guitaring madly along with every
song.  

Boy, did Shoes slow things down.  The band seemed to
allow themselves to get bogged down by equipment
problems very early on -- and their harmonies?  Ewww. 
Just not there.  I can't say I was disappointed,
exactly, as I knew Shoes were notoriously problematic
live, and with the 2+ year layoff between gigs...
In any case, I'd been hoping I might be pleasantly
surprised, and I was not.  The Shazam closed the
night, and, while they played a powerful set, I think
I had had enough live music by that point in the
evening, and had to slink over to a chair midway
through.  They are playing another show in a couple of
weeks in Chicago, so I will likely go check them out
again, on a night where show fatigue has not set in! 
However, I should also add that I am amongst the
minority of people who prefer their previous record to
the current one.

So there's the report from my side.

--Shawn

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