SmilePolitely.com / Brian McGovern

The Year in Local Music

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 16:00:00 -0600

For just one, well two towns, Champaign-Urbana sure has a lot of music in and around its borders. Countless shows have been played in clubs, bars, churches and basements these past twelve months from a countable but large amount of artists who call this place home. A lot of it, thankfully, has been outstanding.

Bands like Common Loon and Organic Flow put on some of the best sets around town this past year and Smile Politely is eagerly awaiting their 2009 releases. “Commercial Paper” by Casados and “Landlocked” by Elsinore (both on their respective Myspaces) are also pretty good indications 2009 will be a good year for local music.

But since it’s still 2008, here’s a small sampling of some of the best stuff put out by local artists this past year. Enjoy.

Album Review: I Refute Technology by Jared Bartman

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:00:00 -0600

I Refute Technology, the new EP from Peoria musician Jared Bartman, is an innovative exploration of how far the boundaries of a song can go. It’s important to note that the four track disc, recorded with Mark Rubel at Pogo Studios, isn’t a four song disc. Bartman and his collaborators retell the same song in three drastically different ways. The fourth track combines sounds from the previous songs into a concluding noise collage.

The concept sounds redundant on paper, but the sonic product is anything but. "I Refute Technology (Hypocrite Version)" opens up the EP. Electronic buzzing surrounds a simple beat box rhythm. A distorted bass line enters in a Flaming Lips fashion. The swirling Korg lines and synthesizer purrs also evoke Flaming Lips’ electronic folk sounds. Bartman does this, however, while still sounding original.

The Overture: Dec. 15 – Dec. 21, 2008

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 10:00:00 -0600

With work, family and stocking up on Five Hour Energy Drinks for finals week, who has the time to find out about the best shows happening in Champaign-Urbana? No need to fear, because the editors here at Smile Politely have taken care of it. Here are the must-see shows of the week:

Wednesday December 17: Yossarian, Jared Bartman, Megan Johns — Canopy Club, 8 p.m., $5

A relatively new band to the area, Yossarian, will be making its first headlining appearance at Canopy Club this Wednesday. Also performing is Peoria's Jared Bartman. Bartman's unique songs are filled with rich electronic textures and are melodically comparable to Elliot Smith's most Beatle-esque work. To hear more about Bartman and his debut EP, I Refute Technology, check back later this week for a full review. Local singer/songwriter Megan Johns will also perform.

Morgan Orion at Red Herring Tonight

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 11:00:00 -0600

Last spring, local singer-songwriter Morgan Orion stood in front of a living room filled with friends and supporters while singing his simple but astoundingly honest songs. Since then, he has been frequently playing in various local venues while also touring throughout the United States and, most recently, Europe, with the likes of Ryland Bouchard (The Robot Ate Me) and Viking Moses. At the forefront of his sincere songs is the DIY — "do it yourself" — spirit.

Tonight, he will be playing at the Red Herring along with fellow DIYers Milly Geronimo and Peninsula. The show starts at 8 p.m.

Smile Politely talked to Morgan via the wonders of Facebook about Headlights, anti-folk and peforming in a Bavarian Restaurant. Click the jump to continue reading.

Our Year in Lists

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 09:00:00 -0600

It's that time of year again — the end of it. With only a couple weeks left until 2009 takes over, there's nothing left to do but reflect on the year that was. Oh, and to take whatever happened in the past 11-plus months and compile it all in various numbered lists.

Be it the best dressed or biggest news items of '08, there is a list or Yahoo! News photo slide show available to capture it. The most prevalent, and often most discussed, of these rankings is the "Best Albums" list. Publications' album lists are generally less about what albums were actually the best and more about keeping an image (Rolling Stone: Did we include something somehow connected to Bob Dylan?) or trying to be "with it" (Spin: Did we include overrated and mildly edgy artists such as Deerhunter and Fucked Up in the top ten?). They're all about style over substance.

A whole lot of time and thought goes into the creation of these lists. That said, shouldn't someone reward all that hard work? Shouldn't the best lists out there be noted for their awesome ranking of albums? The answer is yes, and here is the "Best 'Best Albums of 2008' Lists of 2008 List."

Zmick and Underpaid Packy Face Off

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 08:00:00 -0600

The Fall Semester Showdown begins tonight at Canopy. While checking out the first of three nights of local music at Canopy Club would probably be a good idea, seeing Thursday night's show would be more than worthwhile too. Unlike the other two nights, Thursday's showdown isn't crammed with short sets from a number of artists. Co-headlining Thursday night are two great student bands; Zmick and Underpaid Packy.

If you've ever walked by Canopy Club on a Monday night, Zmick needs no introduction. Their long-time Monday night residency at the Urbana venue has been so well received that it has lead to a large campus following and "Zmick Rules!" graffiti appearing in various bathroom stalls in University buildings. Their blending of on an endless amount of styles and genres leads to shows filled with fantastic lead guitar (thanks to Brad Miller) and great improvisational instrumentation that never grows dull.

Underpaid Packy, another jam-oriented band, draws influence from plenty of artists from Dylan to Sublime to Wilco. Last year the group won "Best Student Band" at the Local Music Awards as a write-in. Their debut album, Tales From a Fifth Street Roof recalls collegiate escapades and good times, and is undeniably poppy. The band is so tight, their songs so well arranged, that their live shows make Canopy Club's Void Room sound system sound amazing.

Be sure to get there before 9 p.m. and take advantage of the early $5 pricing.

The Overture: December 8–14, 2008

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 10:00:00 -0600

With work, family and updating twitters, who has the time to find out about the best shows happening in Champaign-Urbana? No need to fear, because the editors here at Smile Politely have taken care of it. Here are the must-see shows of the week:

Wednesday, Dec. 10 to Friday, Dec. 12: Fall Semester Showdown — Canopy Club, 8 p.m., $5 before 9 p.m. / $7

Wednesday is the last day of classes for all you university students. Sure, there are still finals, but who really takes those anyways? Student or not-student, you should clear your schedule to check out at least one night of the “Fall Semester Showdown.” As the collegiate name implies, the vast majority of bands playing feature university students.

On Wednesday night, the artists all neatly fall somewhere between “folk” and "indie” — whatever those words mean. If you want to see acts like Post Historic, The Hathaways and Jonathon Childers, Wednesday is your night. If improvisation is more your thing, watch Underpaid Packy and Zmick jam each others’ faces off this Thursday. Friday night features the exuberant pop music of Tall Tale and Santa, as well as the expertly executed tunes of Elsinore and New Ruins. Each night is five bucks if you show up before 9 p.m., so get there early.

Album Review: Baptism by So Long Forgotten

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 10:00:00 -0600

In the music community, the label Christian Rock seems to be as disliked of a term as “hipster band.” Just as countless artists stress they are more than just a fad created by Pitchfork (Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, for example), bands that focus on Christian themes and ideas often try to dodge the ironically damning label. Some people, like Sufjan Stevens, try to avoid both.

So Long Forgotten, a rock outfit based in and around Champaign-Urbana, plays music that is first and foremost rock 'n' roll. The lyrics, without seeming preachy or worship-y, tend to center around Christian themes, yet they aren't so dominant as to label the group as a strictly Christian band. Still, by naming their impressive new EP Baptism, So Long Forgotten don’t seem to be hiding their faith, either.

And the Nominees Are...

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 10:00:00 -0600

Winning awards is easy. Name an award. An Oscar for best picture, you say? If you want to be taken seriously, you’ve got to give your movie a one word title. Titanic, Gladiator, Braveheart and Chicago all did it. Nominees like Traffic, Babel and Chocolat all had the right idea. If you want people to see your film as important, get Paul Haggis to write horribly memorable lines like “Girlie, tough ain’t enough” from Million Dollar Baby, or “I’m the fucking district attorney of Los Angeles” from Crash. If that doesn’t work, you can base your film on an already critically acclaimed novel like No Country for Old Men … or Ghost.

You want to win a Grammy? That’s even easier. Become an established musician, do some groundbreaking work, then wait 25-ish years and release a boring, derivative, acoustic guitar-oriented record.

The Brother Whys Play Canopy Club Tonight

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:00:00 -0600

Tonight, local indie pop outfit The Brother Whys is headlining at Canopy Club. Earlier this week, I met with Tom Riordan, lead singer of the quintet, to ask him a few questions shortly after he got off of work at the Illini Union ticket office. After discussing the abysmal ticket sales for Ain’t Misbehavin’ (starring Ruben Studdard), we talked about things more pertinent to the band.

After the jump, Riordan talks about stage diving, their techno remix and competing with the Wu Tang Clan.

The Overture: December 1 – December 7, 2008

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 10:00:00 -0600

With work, the holidays and finals quickly approaching, who has the time to find out about the best shows happening in Champaign-Urbana? No need to fear, because the editors here at Smile Politely have taken care of it. Here are the must-see shows of the week:

Wednesday December 3: The Brother Whys — Canopy Club, 9 p.m., $7

The Brother Whys, a quintet of university students, uses sunny guitar and catchy keys to elicit foot tapping to their brooding, introspective pop songs. Guy and girl vocal harmonies keep the songs light, and at its best the music sounds like a strange hybrid of Death Cab For Cutie, Motion City Soundtrack and even a little Headlights. Lucky Mulholland will also play Wednesday night.

Now That's What I Call a Compilation CD!

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 10:00:00 -0600

What were you doing ten years ago? I was an 11 year old wearing a “repeat three-peat” Chicago Bulls t-shirt while listening to the Godzilla soundtrack on repeat. From Puff Daddy rapping to Zeppelin to The Wallflowers covering David Bowie, the soundtrack of the 1998 monster movie remake was excellent in so many ways. That pop music collection, however, couldn’t compete with another compilation released that year, NOW That’s What I Call Music.

The NOW series debuted in the United States ten years ago and our lives have never been the same since. In celebration of this historic anniversary, the major labels have teamed up to release an album compiling the best that these compilations have to offer, The Best of NOW That's What I Call Music! 10th Anniversary. The 20-track disc contains some of the absolute worst songs of the past decade, but if you’ve ever wanted “I Kissed a Girl” by Katy Perry and “Beautiful Day” by U2 to appear on the same CD, this is the album for you.

If you’re still with me after all that, you’d probably be interested in what awaits after the jump. Read on as I dive deeper into the infamous history of NOW.

The Overture: November 24 – November 30, 2008

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 08:00:00 -0600

With work, family and shooting turkeys, who has the time to find out about the best shows happening in Champaign-Urbana? No need to fear, because the editors here at Smile Politely have taken care of it. Here are the must-see shows of the week:

Wednesday November 26: VVVVV! — Canopy Club, 9 p.m., cover TBA

With that holiday everyone seems intent on celebrating every year arriving this Thursday, there isn’t an abundance of shows in C-U this week. No worries, the quality of the bands performing hasn’t diminished in the least. There’s a show Wednesday night at the Canopy Club that you shouldn’t miss. VVVVV!, the Champaign band that can only be described by onomatopoeia, draws influences from The Stooges, Talking Heads and even a little Vincent Price. In the meantime, they manage to dip into every genre that ends in “-billy.” See this wildly eclectic band that would only be hindered by words or an unnecessary “the” tagged on the front of their name. Cameo Turret and Golden Quality also perform.

Hathaways Plan to Folk Up Cowboy Monkey Tonight

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:00:00 -0600

Kate and James Hathaway, who together comprise the Hathaways, are like two sides of a coin. It's not that they are complete opposites (this brother and sister duo don’t work off the little bit country, little bit rock n’ roll dichotomy); rather, the two compliment each other so nicely that the product of their collaboration is seamless and unified.

Hear Hathaways, charango and all, tonight at Cowboy Monkey. The group will go on at 9:30 p.m. sharp. They will be followed by two Memphis artists, Grace Askew and Jamie Randolph.

Read what the Hathaways had to say about their latest EP (which can be purchased at Exile on Main Street or iTunes, Amazon, etc.), George Clooney and vomiting into the audiences’ mouths after the jump.

Revolt at the Canopy this Sunday

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:00:00 -0600

Earlier this week, Smile Politely talked to So Long Forgotten. The band has been touring of late but this Sunday night you can see them live at the Canopy Club. Colour Revolt, a guitar-heavy outfit from Oxford, Mississippi, is headlining the same show, which begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance.

Taking their name from that book you had to read in advanced geometry, Edwin Abbot's The Flatland, Colour Revolt has been playing together since high school. After a tour with Brand New in 2006, the band signed to Interscope. It wasn't until the band signed to Fat Possum Records (home of The Black Keys and Andrew Bird) that they released their debut full length, Plunder, Beg and Curse, in April of this year. Their sound is hard to peg; their songs are filled with complex guitar layers and they operate as an incredibly tight unit.

Smile Politely was able to talk to Colour Revolt's lead singer, Jesse Coppenbarger, through the magic of Gmail. See what he had to say after the jump.

Puddle of Mudd vs. Plain White T’s

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:00:00 -0600

How is it that two bands that sound so very different can completely suck in equal amounts? One band is from the shiny happy suburbs of Chicago, the other is from decidedly less shiny Kansas City. One band’s name conjures images of filth while the other’s name makes one think of a Tide commercial. One band uses heavy distortion to make their power-chord driven songs sound interesting, and the other uses heavily auto-tuned vocal harmonies to make their power chord-driven songs sound interesting. Either way, I’m very glad I live nowhere near the Canopy Club the next couple days.

In case you didn’t know, this weekend the venue will be hosting two of the biggest buzzkills to an otherwise spectacular semester of live music in Champaign-Urbana. First, Plain White T’s, famous for their Grammy-nominated stalker ballad “Hey There, Delilah” will be performing tonight. On Saturday, the band so good they needed to spell their name with two backwards D’s, Puddle of Mudd, will do their pop-metal thing on the Canopy stage. Dropkick Murphy’s, playing a sold-out show on Friday, must feel like an expertly prepared steak stuck between two slices of Wonder bread.

Sure they’re both tremendously terrible, but who would win in a fight?

Album Review: Dan Hubbard and the Humadors

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:00:00 -0600

Dan Hubbard and the Humadors’ self-titled debut album just came out last month, and the band now has a whole mess of tour dates to promote the new disc. The Bloomington-Normal-based band’s Myspace page declares that the four-piece sounds like “a can of Red Bull being poured into a glass of vodka.” Though there’s no doubt a drink like that would be consumed at a Humadors concert, their new record actually sounds more like a Miller Chill spilling onto the patio of a sports bar's beer garden.

Hubbard and the Humadors’ influences are apparent on the lengthy, 59-minute album. A little Neil Young, maybe some Gram Parsons and a whole lot of Counting Crows greatly impact the songwriting and the instrumentation. Neil Young’s dynamic vocals and trademark guitar style made his country-oriented albums appealing and rewarding. Gram Parsons’ unique perspective on the archetypal themes of love made his songs compelling and memorable. Counting Crows got by with that dude's crazy hair. Unfortunately, the Humadors lack all of those qualities. Despite some bright points, the record doesn’t really move out of mediocre territory.

The Overture: November 17 – November 23, 2008

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 13:00:00 -0600

With work, family and the Christmas on Mars video game, who has the time to find out about the best shows happening in Champaign-Urbana? No need to fear, because the editors here at Smile Politely have taken care of it. Here are the must-see shows of the week:

Friday November 21: Hathaways, Jamie Randolph and Grace Askew — Cowboy Monkey, 9:30 p.m., $5

A night of stripped down songs and soulful singers starts off with sibling duo Hathaways at Cowboy Monkey Friday night. Kate and James Hathaway play classically-tinged folk music, and they just released their debut EP earlier in the month. Two singer-songwriters from Memphis, Grace Askew and Jamie Randolph, also perform. 

Experience Fotosputnik This Saturday at the Courtyard Café

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 13:00:00 -0600

Trapped in my own closed-mindedness, I have a narrow view of what space rock is. It has always been early Flaming Lips and bands like Hum singing about Mars or stars or any other easily rhymed celestial objects. Aesthetically there’s droning and reverb and whatnot, but I don’t always associate the term with it’s origin — freaky, space-themed progressive rock from England. For better or worse, the slow-tempo, instrumental psychedelic jams by Pink Floyd rarely make it into my listening schedule.

Fotosputnik, based out of Chicago, thrusts themselves into the aforementioned genre through their name and style. The trio synthesizes the new, grungier side of space rock while maintaining the lunar landscape sounds of the greats that have come before.

It's Time to Pay the Price

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:00:00 -0600

A couple years ago I had the opportunity to see one of my favorite bands, Saturday Looks Good to Me, at the Canopy. Their modern take on 1950s pop served a lot of great purposes as a high schooler and I was really excited to see them as a freshman in college. Unfortunately, their set was disappointing.

The beauty of SLGTM was their boy-girl harmonies, their use of horns and bells, the aesthetic created by drowning all their songs in amazing amounts of reverb. Their live show was five dudes rocking on their respective instruments with the gain turned up. They turned their poppiest tunes into garage rock numbers. It wasn’t bad, but having been an avid fan for such a long time, I felt cheated.

The Overture: November 10 - November 16, 2008

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 13:00:00 -0600

With work, family and cursing the cold weather, who has the time to find out about the best shows happening in Champaign-Urbana? No need to fear, because the editors here at Smile Politely have taken care of it. Here are the must-see shows of the week:

Tuesday Nov 11: Cruxshadows, I:Scintilla – Highdive, 9 p.m., $10

Come see I:Scintilla, formerly of C-U and Green Street Records, as they drop by the Highdive supporting Cruxshadows’ Immortal Tour. Fronted by Brittany Bindrim, this Chicago-based band has earned some serious cred in the world of industrial rock. See the tour that cannot possibly die this Tuesday.

Green Street Records Showcases Jonathon Childers, Jack Pine Savage

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 09:00:00 -0600

This year there was an added incentive to join the Big Ten’s only student-run record label, Green Street Records. The selected student bands not only will receive assistance in promotion and booking, but this year they will be able to record an EP for free at Pogo Studio. Obviously, a lot of student bands applied for this great opportunity. Tough decisions had to be made, but this year’s lineup was announced in late October.

The Brother Whys, Dr. Doctor PhD, FIVEOHfirst, Jack Pine Savage, Mark Donnelly, Jonathon Childers, Jake Cooper and Stephanie Swick were all added to the roster. Two of those acts, Jonathon Childers and Jack Pine Savage, were featured at Mike N’ Molly’s Saturday night in the first of this year’s Green Street showcases.

Childers took to the microphone first. Accompanied by only his guitar and the occasional harmonica, Childers’ distinctly deep voice and blues-oriented guitar work managed to fight through the chattering and growing crowd throughout his 40 minute set. He even got a number of the noisy audience members to bob their heads and acknowledge the talent in front of them.

Try Fishing with Dynamite

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 10:00:00 -0600

If Saturday Night Live has another opening sketch featuring Tina Fey as Sarah Palin it won’t be good for anyone. Just as McCain quickly gave a concession speech, so must SNL concede that they can no longer cling to the only thing that has given them decent ratings in years.

So now that the late night comedy show has once again become completely irrelevant, you must be starving for a new way to see great sketch comedy. Well worry no more, because tonight student owned and operated comedy troupe Fishing with Dynamite is once again taking the Canopy Club stage. For only $5, you can be entertained by everything from dick jokes to insightful, social satire. There’s something for everyone!

Smile Politely got a chance to talk to long time member Jon Hansen. See what he had to say after the jump.

Let's Be Honest

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:00:00 -0600

Will Sheff, songwriter and frontman for Austin’s Okkervil River, can see two sides of the coin. Before he took on Okkervil duties as a full time endeavor, he was also a music critic. Still, he often writes songs from a journalistically objective view and the music is clearly examined and perfected before it's put on a record. But how does that affect his view of his own music? Does that affect the songs he writes? Does he think he tried too hard fitting so many syllables into the group’s most recent album?

I’m not really interested in answering those questions. What I’ve been thinking about is the song off of The Stand Ins (Okkervil’s latest) called “Pop Lie.”

“Pop Lie” is the story of a pop star. He wears “bright green,” and knows exactly what to do to make people sing. Well calculated and specifically made to get people to sing along, the unnamed man succeeded; he kind of sounds like Timbaland or the guy from One Republic. The only problem is that he lied. “He’s the liar that lied in his pop song,” Sheff sings. “And you’re lying when you sing along.”

How to Survive a Girl Talk Show

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:00:00 -0600

Greg Gillis, the man behind the phenomenon that is known as Girl Talk, is either a visionary pop culture collage artist or a glorified wedding DJ with severe ADHD. Flawlessly sewing classic rock, pop, dance, hip hop and indie insert-sub-genre into one amazing whole, Girl Talk’s work is anything but boring and never fails to impress.

Listening to a Girl Talk record is like going to the best concert ever filled with unannounced surprise guests. Think Last Waltz with some serious bass. Rick Springfield and Ying Yang Twins sing in perfect harmony “I wish that I had Jesse’s girl, but I’d rather get some head.” Jay-Z drops an unexpected verse over “Paranoid Android.” The songs are icons of pop music from the past half century all collaborating with the listener in the room. Taking this and placing it in the live setting, say the Canopy Club tonight, things could get out of hand.

Like frogs dying off in the rain forest being an environmental indicator of global warming, Dan Deacon’s stage breaking performance and Hood Internet’s rowdy set at Pygmalion are certainly signs that things will definitely get crazy.

The Overture: November 3 – November 9, 2008

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 11:00:00 -0600

With work, family and High School Musical 3, who has the time to find out about the best shows happening in Champaign-Urbana? No need to fear, because the editors here at Smile Politely have taken care of it. Here are the must-see shows of the week:

Tuesday Nov. 4, Election Night Party – Cowboy Monkey, 9 p.m., free

Election night will be, depending on the winner and where your allegiances lie, a night of celebration or of disappointment. Either way, chances are alcohol will be involved. What better way to watch the election than to enjoy a couple cold beers and also be enjoying some local music? Mike Ingram, Ryan Groff and Madison’s Mike Droho are all slotted to play. According to the helpful calendar at Openingbands, Larry Gates, Casados and Cole Rabenort are also expected to perform.

It's A-Live Music!

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 11:00:00 -0600

Can you believe the spookiest night of the year is here? Halloween is truly a great holiday and when it lands on a Friday night it only gets better. There is some great live music going on in Champaign-Urbana this haunted evening. Smile Politely has put together a little list of some of the shows going on in the area so you can spend less time figuring out what to do and more time working on your Joe the Plumber or Tito the Builder costumes.

The Brothers Whys- Café Paradiso, 8 p.m., Free

The student sextet, The Brothers Whys, is putting on an “unplugged spooky story time” set at the Urbana coffee shop. This would be a good place to hit up before you put on your heavy face makeup for that David Bowie costume to enjoy some hot cider and deliciously poppy tunes complete with boy-girl harmonies. The group will have free copies of their CD, I Wrote This with Our Bare Hands, as well. But please, just take one and leave the rest for other trick or treaters.

Let's Get Seasonal

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 11:00:00 -0600

I was walking back to my apartment after class today and I realized it was suddenly fall. In my mind, that is. It may have been fall for weeks now; I just haven’t really been looking around lately. It struck me when a large acorn-like projectile actually struck me in the head. I instinctively looked up, saw a scurrying squirrel and noticed that the few leaves still hanging above me were bright orange. I then realized I was really cold only wearing a t-shirt and that my neighbors weren’t the weirdos I thought they were for putting out carved pumpkins on their porch.

My favorite part about the changing of the seasons is the iPod song rotation that follows. Today I made my mp3 player seasonally appropriate. I stocked it with songs from Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes, Neil Young and some Being There tracks; nothing too surprising. I’d like to share, though, some of the more questionable, but still fantastic, songs that made it on this year’s fall playlist.

The Overture: Oct. 27 - Nov. 2, 2008

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 11:00:00 -0600

Tuesday October 28: Amy Ray, Highdive, 8 p.m., $15

Amy Ray, one half of the folk duo Indigo Girls, will be performing her solo work at the Highdive. Don't be fooled by the term "solo," her musical musings are nothing like the stripped down, low key music that the word may bring to mind. Where the Indigo Girls were folk and country-oriented, Ray's solo music is rooted in high energy rock and punk music. Accompanied by a full band, Ray lays her polished vocals over some distorted guitar riffs. This Tuesday night performance is a great chance to get a new perspective of an iconic female singer-songwriter.

Album Review: The Price of Air by Charles Lane

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:00:00 -0600

From Joe Six-pack to Joe the Plumber to Joe Rock-oriented-music-enthusiast, when the term “Jazz” is brought up images are conjured of either 15 minute, unintelligible free form jams or of smooth but insufferably boring elevator music.

The everyday man is content to “not get” Jazz or see it as something from another era. I admit, I more often look back than forward when listening to the genre, but that can only be seen as a fault.

Case in point: local musician and University of Illinois student, Charles Lane’s new album The Price of Air. Released October 9 at Zorba’s on Green Street, Lane’s 50 minute disc retells some tales, featuring three covers, but catches the listener’s attention with his original compositions. Though the seven-track album is a tad longer than the 30-40 minute pop/rock record, it doesn’t suffer by its length and allows for some rewarding moments to burst out of the mix.

Once Again, Steve Burns is not Dead

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 11:00:00 -0600

Blue’s Clues was one of those children’s shows that was watched by a lot of people who did not fit into its targeted demographic. Though specifically designed around child development research to be the ideal television show for preschoolers, Blue’s Clues reached other, older audiences too.

Having a younger sister who fit perfectly in the intended age group, I used her as an excuse to watch the brightly colored, pseudo-animated daytime program. I didn't realize that a lot of teenagers without preschool aged siblings, and even a lot of adults too, also watched the show until much later. Maybe it was ridiculously catchy theme song or the hilarious French-accented salt shaker – whatever it was, that show was tremendously successful for young and old.

Joan Rivers Loves GWAR

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 11:00:00 -0600

Before GWAR was one of the most outrageous metal bands known to Mankind, there was nothing. The supreme being of the universe was bored and therefore created the members of GWAR to wreck havoc on the universe. The five godlike warriors went planet to planet destroying all they could, until they even tried to destroy their creator and in effect the entire universe.

After failing, they were banished to "worst planet in the universe," Earth, where they proceeded to impregnate the native animals, thus creating humans. Yes, the historical outline of the cult-metal band outlined on their website is the most absurd and amazing band bio ever written, and comes second only to Scientology's core beliefs as the most outrageous thing I've ever read.

The Overture: October 20 - October 26, 2008

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 10:00:00 -0600

With work, family and judging your neighbors based on yard sign political endorsements, who has the time to find out about the best shows happening in Champaign-Urbana? No need to fear, because the editors here at Smile Politely have taken care of it. Here are the must-see shows of the week:

Wednesday October 22: GWAR – Canopy Club, 8 p.m., $18

GWAR, as founding member Dave Brockie (also known as Oderus Urungus), doesn’t stand for “Great White Aryan Race” or “God What an Awful Racket,” it simply means GWAR, which stands for an absolutely unforgettable concert. In full costume, GWAR takes the stage as demonic warriors bent on melting your face with some good, old fashioned thrash metal. Oh, and after they melt your face, they’ll probably spray it if with large amounts of fake blood and semen. Check out this legendary band on Wednesday and be sure to bring a poncho.

Music of the Future!

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 11:00:00 -0600

It’s not a controversial statement to say that the end of the CD is near. It may be only a couple years until they completely disappear – one could even argue it's already happening. Our lives are run on hard drives and music is heard blasting out of white ear buds connected to cellular phones; with everything becoming purely digital there seems to be no real reason to have CDs anymore.

The prospect, however, of not having an easily produced and transported hard copy version of music is frightening. Sure Ipods are great but mix CDs are better. Rhapsody is convenient but it can’t compare to the feeling of ripping off the shrink wrap of a new CD and blasting it out of your car stereo. Music cannot exist purely in the metaphysical plane of cyberspace. There has to be something to come along, other than vinyl, to represent the hard-copy aspect of music. CDs create a sense of ownership, of loyalty and of respect. As a culture that loves music, we can’t lose that. How then, will the industry find a way to continue to get us to go to stores instead of our computers to purchase music? Cassette tapes killed the eight-track and CD’s killed the cassette. What will, when the time comes, replace the CD?

The Overture: October 13 – 19, 2008

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:00:00 -0600

With work, family and encore presentations of Planet Earth, who has the time to find out about the best shows happening in Champaign-Urbana? No need to fear, because the editors here at Smile Politely have taken care of it. Here are the must-see shows of the week:

Wednesday October 15: Mason Jennings – Canopy Club, 9 p.m., $15

Singer/Songwriter Mason Jennings doesn’t even need to try. He can strum two chords while talking about his day and it would be a compelling song. With a distinctive and captivating voice, he needs little else to accompany him. It does help that he happens to write simple but great songs. Regardless of your musical leanings, Jennings is instantly accessible and enjoyable. He’s Jack Johnson if Johnson was thought-provoking, interested in pushing boundaries and not boring.

Throw Me The David Dondero

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:00:00 -0600

This fall semester, the Red Herring Vegetarian Restaurant has kept its doors open later on the weekend and started hosting live music once again. Yes, one the sun goes down and the moon is on the rise, the Red Herring Vegetarian Restaurant turns into the Red Herring Coffee House. With shows running every weekend, including some Pygmalion related events, the intimate basement establishment has proven to be a great place to see a wide range of acts. Dr. Manhattan brought power pop, Treologic hip hop and now Throw Me The Statue and David Dondero will be representing the best of indie songwriting.

Miley Cyrus' Awesome Half-Brother

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 11:00:00 -0600

Top five concerts (in no particular order):

Modest Mouse w/ The Walkmen at The Rave in Milwaukee during summer 2004: I was burned multiple times by cigarettes and did not notice.

Wilco w/ Deer Hoof at the Chicago Auditorium Theatre in October 2004: Tickets were free and they played for 90 straight hours.

Broken Social Scene somewhere in London, England in May 2008: I hadn't slept in 40 hours and I cried/ almost passed out during the encore.

Akron/Family at The Canopy Club sometime during the 2005-2006 school year: I went by myself and they blew my mind.

Kelly Clarkson at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheater in the summer of 2006: PERFECT.

The Overture: Oct. 06 - Oct. 12, 2008

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:00:00 -0600

With work, family and pretending to watch Cubs playoff games, who has the time to find out about the best shows happening in Champaign-Urbana? No need to fear, because the editors here at Smile Politely have taken care of it. Here are the must-see shows of the week:

Wednesday October 8: Open Mic at Radio Maria – Radio Maria, 10 p.m., free

If you like acoustic guitar as well as fried plantains, you should come to downtown Champaign and check out Radio Maria’s new Wednesday night open mic. This relatively new development is great not only because it means there is an open mic that isn’t on Tuesday around here, but also because Jake Fleischli of The Tractor Kings is taking hosting duties. Check out some laid back tunes and maybe enjoy some delicious tapas while doing it.

Music Makes the Man

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 11:00:00 -0600

How excited are you all for tonight’s debate? So much will be discussed and I, for one, am sitting on the edge of my seat. Debates are excellent because they allow us to see the candidates and hear what they are told by advisors they believe in so that we can decide on our own who we personally believe is best fitted to lead us. Personally though, I prefer someone else to tell me who to vote for. Political figures and newspaper editorial boards are alright sources for finding out who to vote for, but I prefer to be persuaded by people that have no true knowledge or expertise in the political arena – rock stars!

This year, there seems to be one clear presidential candidate choice if you’re into popular music. Barack Obama has support from every genre and every direction on the musical spectrum. Jay-Z is playing a couple shows in support of the Illinois Senator. Bruce Springsteen is doing the same. The Decemberists got tied up in Right-Wing punditry because of their support and this guy’s (pointing at self while typing) favorite New York band, The National, designed a t-shirt for the candidate of “change.” Don’t get the wrong idea, I’m not saying that Obama has it in the bag. I’m not saying that at all.

Album Review: Post Historic- Memory Banks of Blue

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 17:00:00 -0600

With the possibility that someone who believes dinosaurs and people lived together on Pangaea could vice-lead our nation as well as the questionable use of time travel on the new season of "Heroes," the perception and manipulation of time has become an important issue in our society. Where we currently stand is another interesting one. In one sense, we are on the brink of the next step; be it economic disaster or ruthless robot dictatorship, it seems something is on the way.

But on the other hand, it’s as if we are living in a place where everything has already been done. Our post-modern world merely references or repeats the past. We’ve long moved past supposed apocalyptic dates and the prophesied Ape Rebellion of 1991. So where do we go from here? You can categorize humanity into two major eras – history and prehistory. What will lead to the next inevitability?

The Overture: Sept. 28 - Oct. 05, 2008

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:00:00 -0600

With work, family and "Rock Band 2", who has the time to find out about the best shows happening in Champaign-Urbana? No need to fear, because the editors here at Smile Politely have taken care of it. Here are the must-see shows of the week:

Monday Sept. 29: The Pink Spiders – Independent Media Center, 6 p.m., $10

Music doesn’t have to be serious to be taken seriously and the Nashville group, The Pink Spiders may be proof of that. Having garnered quite a bit of acclaim from every publication from Rolling Stone to Teen People, the band’s clean cut, power-pop style has been validated. Their song constructions scream Weezer their Moog lines suggest a more contained Motion City Soundtrack. The most accurate mainstream comparison could be Hot Hot Heat without being annoying. If you want to sing-a-long to songs you’ve never heard before, check out The Pink Spiders. JigGsaw, The Signal and Trash City Rockers are also playing.

I'm Lovin' It

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 13:00:00 -0600

Adbusters, a cultural watchdog magazine, has described hipsters as being the " dead end of Western Civilization. " Hipsters describe themselves as "everyone exactly like me, excluding me." Basically, this self-loathing group is not new to serious social criticism.

But I find that the newest criticism is coming from an unusual place; McDonald's. Yes, McDonald's has taken on the hipster-menace by airing some recent advertisements promoting their new gourmet coffee brand, Mc Cafe. A radio ad entitled "Confessions of an Ex-Hipster" is narrated by a man who admitted that he once wore "black turtlenecks," didn't shower, liked "French films" and listened to "indie-rock," but because of McDonald's Mc Cafe he no longer has to sulk in a dark, independently-owned coffee house and keep up with his sham of an identity . Now, as he tells the radio audience, he can watch football, high five and conform to society's view of the 18-34 year old male. Hurray for corporate America!

The Overture: Sept. 22 - Sept. 28, 2008

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 11:00:00 -0600

With work, family and On-Demand television, who has the time to find out about the best shows happening in Champaign-Urbana? No need to fear, because the editors here at Smile Politely have taken care of it. Here are the must see shows of the week:

Tuesday Sept. 23: Cameron McGill – Mike 'n' Molly's, 9:00pm, $3

Cameron McGill, a former Champaign-Urbana local who made his way to Chicago, will make his way to Mike N’ Molly’s this Tuesday. McGill’s style can be summarized by what is written on his acoustic guitar: “This Machine Kills Hipsters.” Not only does it give a solid indication of his influences, but it also tells what he is not influenced by; the trends and fads that dominate contemporary culture. McGill plays honest folk and country-inspired rock songs with sincerity and talent. His backing band, What Army, follows suit and puts natural but gripping arrangements around McGill’s songs. Come to Mike N’ Molly’s to see a great show free of any drum machines or ironic facial hair.

Get Rowdy with Oxford Collapse

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 11:00:00 -0600

The Brooklyn trio, Oxford Collapse, has made their way to Champaign-Urbana in conjunction with the Pygmalion Music Festival. Playing a free show tonight at the Krannert Art Museum, the group will be joined by Catfish Haven, Evangelicals, Murder by Death and our very own Oceans – a lineup that’s sure to knock over one or two priceless paintings.

Oxford Collapse plays a style of music that could be called “mature punk.” Now the term is relative, mind you; there’s youthful energy and exuberance bleeding through all of their material. They write and play the type of music that makes the listener not only want to party with the band, but maybe also herd some sheep. Their fourth studio album, Bits, was just released this past August by “indie” super label, Sup Pop.

Smile Politely was able to talk to Michael Pace, guitarist and vocalist, from Oxford Collapse by the powers of the internet. See what he has to say about Billy Joel, the Midwest and more after the jump.

Terrence Howard is a Ridiculous Person

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 10:00:00 -0600

I would like to first admit that I didn’t hate the tracks I heard from Scarlett Johansson’s all-Tom Waits cover album, Anywhere I Lay My Head. Maybe it was the pure novelty of it, or maybe the pretty decent arrangements done by TV on the Radio’s David Andrew Sitek or maybe even the fact that Scarlett doesn’t have very good of a voice. Whatever it was, I found it pretty enjoyable.

That being said, I have an interest in movie stars wanting to totally embarrass themselves by attempting to be serious musicians. From the classic "Extravaganza" by Jamie Foxx (jump to 0: 52 to hear one of the best choruses ever penned) to the even more classic "Weight of a Man" by Russell Crowe to the quintessentially classic "Party All the Time"by Eddie Murphy, I love them all.

The Overture: Sept. 15 — Sept. 21, 2008

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 11:00:00 -0600

With work, family and Google image searches, who has the time to find out about the best shows happening in Champaign-Urbana? No need to fear, because the editors here at Smile Politely have taken care of it. Here are the must see shows of the week:

Wednesday Sept. 17: Margot and the Nuclear So & So’s – The Canopy, 6 p.m., $17

Mere hours before the start of The Pygmalion Music Festival, you can catch one of the best eight-member bands out of Indiana (there are a lot, for the record), Margot and the Nuclear So & So’s. Their explosive and epic “folk” songs are powered by two percussionists, strings, lap steel, piano and anything else they can get their hands on. Margot puts on such an amazing live performance that it’s worth the embarrassment of going to a show that has Motion City Soundtrack headlining. It’ll also be a good chance to hear new material from Animal and Not Animal; Margot’s newest albums simultaneously dropping on October 7. (Ed. note: Margot and the Nuclear So & So's have canceled their performance this Wednesday)

Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 09:00:00 -0600

This past Sunday I went to see The Avett Brothers perform at the Canopy Club. Walking up to the stage I felt a little out of my element. I had heard a smattering of songs by the group here and there; on car trips, during parties and in trebly tidbits bleeding out of my girlfriend’s head phones — but by no means was a diehard fan. I was more of an outside observer. I had heard of their amazing live show and figured I’d check them out.

As the crowd grew bigger, I could feel the anticipation in the air. The three sweaty and intoxicated guys next to me were beyond excited. I knew because they told me about eight times.

Punch Brothers Come to Canopy (Are Not Actually Related)

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 11:00:00 -0600

Punch, brothers! Punch with care!
Punch in the presence of the passenjare!

These words comprise the chorus of a song noted in the opening lines of Mark Twain’s short story “Punch Brothers, Punch.” Twain, within the story, recalls a time when he read the mentioned song in the columns of a newspaper. The rhythm of the words captivates Twain, and he is paralyzed by the catchy verses for days. He then passes the song to a friend and so on and so on. Oh, the pain of having a tune stuck in your head is certainly a familiar one.

Chris Thile, former vocalist and mandolin player for Nickel Creek, has certainly been guilty of placing infectious melodies in people’s minds. Nickel Creek’s beautiful and catchy bluegrass numbers were loved by anyone with a halfway decent taste in Americana music. It’s no surprise, then, that he’d have an affinity for this particular story about the power of music. Thile’s new group, The Punch Brothers, took their name from Twain’s tale, and they will be appearing tonight at The Canopy Club.