For the first half of Hank III's performance on Wednesday night he was transcendant. He united everyone in the Canopy Club with his brand of outlaw country in an admirable fashion. What he performed was the kind of music that would make most disillusioned music fans, the kind whose mantra is "The only music I hate is country," come around and have a good time.
| “If you can’t cut the mustard, lick the jar.” Above is a quote from the documentary The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia (if you haven’t seen it, you need to — it is great and on Netflix), a movie that features Hank Williams III. The quote isn’t about him — actually, I’ll be damned if I could tell you what the quote even means — but if the jar in question holds moonshine it might be pretty apt. …
We're proud to unveil the initial lineup for the Pygmalion Music Festival 2012, which takes place September 27–29, 2012 all around C-U. There will be more to come, but this is a great way kick things off. Hope you're as excited as we are. Without further adieu... Grizzly Bear :: It was six years ago that Brooklyn-based, psych-folk rockers Grizzly Bear burst on the scene with their sophomore album Yellow House, and it's been nearly three since they followed that up with …
WHAT: Hank 3 WHERE: Canopy Club ($15 advance/$18 door) WHEN: Wednesday, May 9th at 8 p.m. Any act that has something on their website called a "CUSSIN'" message board automatically gets my attention. Whether it's "GeNeRaL CuSSiN" or talking about your tattoos in "HeLLBiLLy iNK," it's probably worth your time to go read some of this stuff. Son of Hank Williams, Jr. (who has has seen better days) and grandson of the great Hank Williams, so this one will probably …
I first encountered DeathTram two years ago at the 2010 Pygmalion Festival. They were opening for Jimmy Gnecco at Indi-go, and of course there was nowhere else in the world I was going to be that night. As I stood upstairs, talking with friends, I kept getting distracted by the great music being performed on the floor below us. Finally, I remarked on the band, saying, “They’re fantastic; who are they? Is that DeathTram?” My friends said they didn't know, …
"Modern opera" is an oxymoron. Google the phrases "contemporary opera" or "modern opera" and you'll strike derision. The most optimistic accounts urge no, really ... try it. Grand costumes and foreign languages perpetuate a perceived grandeur, but at their core, operas are silly. In the same way Vatican II ruined church's aura for a lot of people, hearing a libretto in one's own language dispels the illusion. Operas are trite stories. If modern opera reflected the same depth, relative to …
Coed Pageant, the side project of The Palace Flophouse, is back with another addition to its Season EPs series, Vol. 2: Rumspringa. Just as Vol. 1: Winter Blitz so perfectly captured the gloominess of winter, this new EP does an equally fantastic job of epitomizing springtime and the adventure-hungry, youthful spirit that it brings out in people. But it is not all fun and games. Rumspringa sifts through the emotional shit storm that is growing up. Wanting to get away, …
WHAT: Lionize, Scathe WHERE: The Highdive ($10) WHEN: Tuesday, May 1st at 9:30 p.m. Maryland's Lionize released its new record SUPERCZAR and the VULTURE back in December, so they are taking their reggae-rock out on tour to support it. Check out their website while you're at it, and it might be more interesting to look at if you're on drugs or something. You make the call. Local hard rockers Scathe jump on the bill in support. Listen: Lionize: "Surrender"
Punk isn’t for everyone. I once went to a punk show and lasted about fifteen seconds in the third row, leaving the venue after a rough twenty minutes. So why am I reviewing a punk album when obviously this is not my cup of tea? To put it simply, I heard good things about Horrible Things. In the beginning of April the C-U punks released their latest full-length Dumb Days. Since then, the album's been up on Bandcamp, allowing free …
Tonight at Krannert, the world's most famous feminist science fiction & fantasy auteuse will join Urbana's Stephen Andrew Taylor for the world premier of his space opera fantasy Paradises Lost.
Most Recent Music Comments
represent, Matt.
Yeah, I’d agree that Transporter Room 3 is the worst house venue I’ve ever seen.
*slow. clap.* Still offering no threat of intelligence…. I know I said I thought you should just write this whole column yourself next year, Isaac, but now that you’ve gone and taken a “part deux” run at it, I’d like to modify my request: Best Music 2013,…
Actually, it’s kind of nice, the quiet. John Heoffleur’s engaging commentary/dialogue is sorely missed, however. In lieu of someone intelligent saying something, I’ve compiled a list of Honourable Mentions: BEST ROCK BAND: Take Care ::these gentlemen have four completely different sets at their disposal right now (which…
What? Echo! (Echo!) Where’s the dischord and dissent?
That article almost looks like something out of The Onion
Thanks! I’m looking forward to writing even more….
Yay! Love this! Welcome to the family!
that last photo’s a doozie, Chris. good work.
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Most Recent Comments
Looking forward to trying this place!
I’m in the middle (or the beginning or end, depending on how you look at it) of re-reading Slaughterhouse Five. What a great companion column.
Get yours early. The Rave’s CD will be available at Exile and at The C-U Flea on Saturday. C-U Flea details here: http://www.smilepolitely.com/news/sp_radio_podcast_c-u_flea_arrives/
I don’t know about Gerard and a random police sargeant. My (mild) outrage is based on this: “...he worked closely with Champaign City Clerk Marilyn Banks to make sure he was licensed properly as a transient food peddler, filling out the necessary paperwork and paying a $225…
Local Yocal pretty much nails it here. I suspect there will be merchants who oppose food trucks because they arguably don’t pay their fair share to locate their trucks in high traffic (high rent) areas. The food trucks take away business from rent payers, park in city…
Oh nice! I’d totally vote for Matt Campbell!
“Smile Politely sports writer announces candidacy for city government.”
I also got to visit Big Grove Tavern during the soft open and definitely enjoyed the pork belly the most of all the dishes I sampled. The cheesy grits and the vinegary pickled vegetables were a perfect compliment to the rich pork belly.
The Alan Partridge lookalike on the right in the first small photo has nothing to condescend to anyone about. AH HA!
Snell and the little Hitlers of the neighborhood association need to chill out. Legitimate businesses should have the freedom to exist without having to endure the slings and arrows of ignorant and misguided opposition.
represent, Matt.
Yeah, I’d agree that Transporter Room 3 is the worst house venue I’ve ever seen.
Food trucks are the start-up, small businesses of the future for those unable to afford real estate. No surprise, that merchants who pay rent, utilities, and maintenance on a property would despise the traveling competition. Or developers who build more empty retail spaces would want to close…
Not so much far-right Tea Party as a balanced, moderate viewpoint between letting businesses succeed and protecting society with reasonable regulations. In spite of what the city reps are saying, the interpretation of policy on this issue certainly has changed. Letting a business start up under one…
I think it’s neat that SP has turned rightward, now espousing a Tea Party-style frustration with government regulations & taxes.
This makes me so sad. (Happy to live in Urbana, though!) Crave Truck has been a GREAT addition to the food choices in C-U, and it’d be a travesty to chase them away. This town should be supporting small businesses. I’m glad to hear that they’ll still…
*slow. clap.* Still offering no threat of intelligence…. I know I said I thought you should just write this whole column yourself next year, Isaac, but now that you’ve gone and taken a “part deux” run at it, I’d like to modify my request: Best Music 2013,…
Actually, it’s kind of nice, the quiet. John Heoffleur’s engaging commentary/dialogue is sorely missed, however. In lieu of someone intelligent saying something, I’ve compiled a list of Honourable Mentions: BEST ROCK BAND: Take Care ::these gentlemen have four completely different sets at their disposal right now (which…
What? Echo! (Echo!) Where’s the dischord and dissent?
This weekend will mark the first appearance of Kayla Brown’s Fire Doll Candle booth at the Market. Check it: http://www.facebook.com/firedollcandles
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Get yours early. The Rave’s CD will be available at Exile and at The C-U Flea on Saturday. C-U Flea details here: http://www.smilepolitely.com/news/sp_radio_podcast_c-u_flea_arrives/