Doug McCombs showcasing Brokeback in series of local gigs

Local fixture Douglas McCombs has a busy summer with several prominent Chicago-based musical outlets. He recently performed two sold-out shows at the Hideout as bassist for alternative rockers Eleventh Dream Day on a perfectly-matched bill with The Dream Syndicate. Later this month, he rejoins bandmates in influential Chicago-based post-rock act Tortoise for East Coast dates.

In the meantime, McCombs is continuing with Brokeback, his most personal project. McCombs returned to Brokeback’s solo roots last weekend, performing at Constellation alongside his The Sea and Cake bandmate Sam Prekop and Japanese composer Aki Tsuyuko. Although McCombs modestly describes Brokeback now as a vehicle for improvement as a guitarist, the solo set emphasized love of the less-recognized Fender Bass VI. Many associate the instrument with the sound of Glen Campbell’s “Wichita Lineman.”

“I’ll always love the sound of the Bass VI,” says McCombs. “It’s less versatile than guitar, but it bridges the two worlds I walk as a bassist and guitarist. It has a deep sound that’s still twangy. There’s a lot of Bass VI on Duane Eddy’s ‘Lonely Boy, Lonely Guitar’ album. There’s a lot on Jack Nitszche’s ‘The Lonely Surfer.’ The instrument has a melancholy, lower-register vibe. Robert Smith played it on the early Cure stuff. There’s a lot of loneliness going on with the Bass VI.”

Brokeback’s 2017 album “Illinois River Valley Blues” and expressive instrumental songs like “Cairo Levee” were inspired by formative experiences in downstate Illinois. “It’s about my memories growing up between Peoria and Chicago,” says McCombs. The album’s evocative and patiently unfolding sound conjures images of secluded rural landscapes in the same way that Ennio Morricone’s arid spaghetti western soundtracks spin imaginary desert scenes.

This weekend’s performance at Co-Prosperity Sphere will feature Brokeback’s full lineup, with guitarist Jim Elkington, drummer Areif Sless-Kitain and guest bassist Nick Macri. “I think we’ll play some tunes from [2002’s] ‘Looks at the Bird,’ and the rest will be from ‘River Valley,’” says McCombs, who also promises that the group is developing new music for future release.

McCombs actually built this weekend’s show to feature another band. “I set up the show because a friend of mine from California wondered if I could help him get something together here,” says McCombs, referring to Aaron Olson and his Musical Tracing Ensemble project. “Aaron’s concept is to gather a group from wherever he is. It’ll all be local musicians. He prefers ensemble instruments like winds and strings along with the occasional guitar or whatever. The musicians have no prior knowledge what the music is, and Aaron plays music through headphones. The musicians are supposed to play the music they hear. The results are pretty interesting. It sounds like free jazz that coalesces into a pop song, once the players begin to grasp what they’re doing.”

Axis: Sova and Bitchin Bajas complete the bill. “I wanted to get some good music together that would bring people down to Bridgeport, and I love all those bands,” says McCombs.

* Brokeback, with Musical Tracing Ensemble, Axis: Sova, and Bitchin Bajas, 7:30 p.m. June 14, Co-Prosperity Sphere, 3219-21 S. Morgan, $10 advance, $12 at door (21+over); eventbrite.com.

Jeff Elbel is a local freelance writer.