U2 and Coldplay Are Sellouts
By Scott Smith in Arts & Entertainment on May 6, 2005 12:25PM
Now that the British consulate has been checked for grenades, the city can be declared safe for our visiting rockers from the British Isles: Coldplay and their older brothers U2.* Since both shows are sold out, you might be looking for some alternatives and Chicagoist is happy to oblige.
We’re not really sure what classic post-punk bands are left to 
reunite at this point. With Gang of Four taking up the cause again and Shellac having put their two cents in, it seems only right that the Effigies would return. It’s been ten years since any incarnation of the band has taken to the stage. With an almost-all-original-members lineup (Robert McNaughton takes the place of Earl Letiecq on guitar) and a bargain price of $10-12 at Abbey Pub tonight, it’s a show worth seeing. Meanwhile, we’ll be patiently awaiting the P.I.L. reunion.
Eric Zorn raised the ire of local rock band The Blissters this week when he dared to ask whether they had (knowingly or otherwise) aped the name of The Blisters, the kid-rock band** whose drummer is Spencer Tweedy, son of Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy. Proving budding rock stars can have egos as big as famous ones, two members of the Blissters fired off some snarky e-mails, one of which wished Zorn “good luck” with his journalism career. Aww, that’s sweet. Maybe they’ll dedicate a song to him when they open for The Cells at Silvie’s Lounge tonight at 9 PM.
As for Saturday, you can hit that World Leader Pretend show we mentioned earlier this week then join all the folks who didn’t get tickets to the sold-out Wilco show as they console themselves at the Old 97s gig at Park West. Or you could see longtime local indie rockers the New Duncan Imperials at the Hideout. Don't know their story? Since it's Free Comic Book Day, you can read all about 'em here.
Image: effigies.com
* Don’t start. England and Ireland are considered the British Isles. We even looked it up.
** Meaning they're kids. Not a Kid Rock tribute band.