Possible lunchtime crooners can drop off a CD or tape at the cafe, 801 S Lincoln Ave. in Urbana.

Photo courtesy of David Cubberly.

Then you may have noticed that WPGU, the college-run station broadcasting from Green Street, has been paying more attention to local music lately.

Since the controversial Local Music Awards last month, Operations Manager Jon Hansen has listened to many criticisms and suggestions for the station — and, working against managerial-type, when Hansen listens, he actually listens. In the past month, WPGU has put into play, so to speak, a "band of the week" feature, which includes quirky band profiles read on-air, as well as a featured track played every day at a regular time. In addition, WPGU has amped up its local show coverage, updated its music digital database and added newer songs by current local artists.

How about a show at friendly downtown hub Mike 'N Molly's?

How about local hip-hop hero Krukid (feat. The Sugargliders) headlining, following sets by fellow Broke Rappers Text and Cornbread?

What if we threw in Kristovs Agenda and fantastic electro-pop act Eureka Brown?

That's what is offered to you, folks, and admission's not going to cost you ten dollars. It's not going to cost you five dollars, or even two dollars, or even one single dollar.

All this is available for you tonight absolutely free of charge.

The free show begins tonight at Mike 'N Molly's, 105 N. Market St. in Champaign, at 7 p.m. Click the jump to experience Eureka Brown and add some sunshine to your Friday.

Tonight at 7 p.m., the insanely popular NPR radio show "This American Life" will be broadcasting live from New York via satellite to select movie theatres nationwide — and Savoy 16 is one of those selected. The broadcast, a two-hour event, will preview the second season of the television show, featuring show outtakes, answers to viewer questions and all-new "extraordinary, funny and true stories from everyday life."

Tickets are very limited, so get to the theater (232 W. Burwash Ave., Savoy) early. Visit This American Life for more information.

High Anxiety Music Center — where local bands can rent rehearsal space, local fans can see great all-ages shows (with an old-school house party vibe) and anyone with the proper hankering can receive recording advice, studio time and, perhaps, even a record deal — is closing.

The house, located at 302 S. State St., was put on the market last week due to the landlord's financial troubles and an illness in the family. None of the parties interested in purchasing the house are similarly interested in letting High Anxiety Music remain.

President Ralph Petrella (a Smile Politely contributor) is putting out an open call for volunteers to help move some large items from the house this Sunday, April 27th. In addition, much of the furniture from the house will be for sale, so stop by if you're interested in some pieces with a bit of local history.

High Anxiety is hosting two remaining shows in the space before they have to fully vacate early next month, and the first is tomorrow with High Anxiety favorites Deconstructing Jim and Withershins. Admission to the 9 p.m. show is $5, so pack up your friends, give your money, lend a hand or an ear, and see what you can do to help. Who knows — perhaps the next home of High Anxiety Music is for rent on your street.

Be sure to catch them tonight before it costs you more than one of those creepy new fives to see them.

The Independent Media Center is located at 202 S. Broadway Ave. in Urbana. The show starts at 8 p.m., admission is five dollars, and is all-ages and alcohol-free.

Anti-folk pioneer and cult favorite Kimya Dawson was launched into sudden stardom last year with the release of the Juno soundtrack, on which her music was heavily featured. Dawson, who performed as one-half of The Moldy Peaches until 2004, began a solo career when the band went on hiatus, recording a series of heartfelt lo-fi albums, the latest titled Remember That I Love You – a phrase that could also serve as a mantra for Dawson’s music.

In 2005, John Hoeffleur made the following soon-to-be-understatement: “I must confess I personally have a bad feeling about it.” Hoeffleur, the frontman for local group The Beauty Shop, was speaking (on the local music forum OpeningBands) of the WPGU/buzz Local Music Awards, then in its first year. The Beauty Shop took home the award for “Best Roots/Americana Band” that year, but this year, they have turned down a nomination. “In the past the price of my acquiescence has been a couple free drinks,” says Hoeffleur of his current nomination refusal. “This year, my costs have gone up.”

“I feel that any attention paid toward the local music scene is a good thing,” says Jon Hansen, Operations Manager at WPGU 107.1 FM. The way he sees it, WPGU is doing just that tonight — by presenting the fourth annual Local Music Awards, at which four bands will perform at The Highdive, and locals will be awarded top honors in fourteen categories, such as “Best Rock Artist” and “Best Student Band.” However, the event is not going uncriticized.

The Brother Whys will be preceded tonight by special guest Lucky Mulholland, who will be coming out of winter hibernation to show off their power-pop sensibilities, and by Beat Kitchen vocalist, local legend (and chili chef) Brandon T. Washington.

The Iron Post is located at 120 S. Race St. in Urbana. The fun starts at 9 p.m. tonight, and cover is $5.

Hot Cops, the current project of former GLG bassist/vocalist Mike Daab, debuts tonight as a special guest with Hathaways and Snowsera (pictured). If you don't go to check out the ambient rock of Snowsera, or the talent of one Kate Hathaway and her not-even-barely-legal brother, go for the new music — who can say no to a hot cop?

Let the rumors rest (for now) — this Saturday, Cowboy Monkey opens its doors to local music once again, hosting Ryan Groff, Casados, and Washington, D.C. act Vandaveer.

Ward Gollings, longtime talent buyer at the Monkey, is not surprised by the show, and blames local bloggers and forum-frequenters for fueling rumors: "(The show this weekend) does indeed indicate that there will be 'one-off' events and periodic shows. My two cents? Stop hating. And when you see or hear of a good band at Monkey, and you have the time, go see it. Same goes for every other venue in town."

Perhaps if enough people come out to show their support for this decision, a few hearts might grow three times bigger, and perhaps local music at the Monkey won't be such a rare occurrence.

The show starts at 9:00 p.m. and is mercifully located at 6 E. Taylor St., Champaign. Cover is $5.

I wanted to review Jane Boxall. I really did.

I trudged to Aroma Café last week with all the best intentions: I would write up the show with Lynn O’Brien that she was playing at the café that night. However, as soon as Boxall took her place behind her instrument of choice — the marimba — and picked up her mallets, I found myself quite unable to describe exactly what was happening. My stilted review (“The noises Jane makes on the big marimba are very nice") would not have done her justice.

Boxall is a diminutive performer who harnesses the sound of the 500-pound marimba like a lion tamer, and in her spare time, she drums for — of all local groups — aggro-metal band Tritone. (She’s also the former drummer for prog rock ex-outfit Triple Whip.) At Aroma, the longer I watched her intriguing performance, the more I gave up on finding my own words, and the more I wondered what led her to choose the marimba, choose a metal band, choose central Illinois as the stage for her career.

The Canopy Club is located at 708 S. Goodwin Ave. in Urbana and is an 18+ venue. Tickets are $10 at the gate and doors open at 8 p.m. for the show at 9:30 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Justine Bursoni.

• Driver Has No Cash
• Corndolly
• The Moon Seven Times
• Menthol
• Honcho Overload

Order new copies of your old scratched-up albums, make your holiday plans now — and youngins, prepare to take some notes.

[Ed. Note: It was formerly posted that Poster Children were also playing this show, but they have not yet formally confirmed the date. Apologies!]

As if that isn't charming enough, the group also posted a promo spot for the upcoming album, shot during their recent music video shoot — I've never wanted to thank anyone for flipping me the bird before now.

*My favorite Fein.

Less than three years ago, I didn't think much of Champaign-Urbana--that is, I didn't think about it much at all. I'd grown up about an hour south of the cities, on my parents' farm, mostly lying in the grass with a book, or piecing art together in my upstairs bedroom--your average environment in which a touchy-feely liberal artsy girl would flourish. Flourish I did, Punky Brewster wardrobe, Tori Amos mix tapes and all, and in the summer of 2005, I was just piecing together my summer plans when I was asked by a family friend to house-sit his 1950s place at the border of Hessel Park. I moved into the house in early June with a pink thrift-store suitcase full of dresses, expecting a lazy summer of tennis at the park and ice cream from Jarling's across the street. Champaign-Urbana was just another stop on my great journey of finding Where I Want To Be and What Will Make Me Happy, this surely beautiful place where everyone knows your name and has something to share.

Local rockers Shipwreck continue their pillaging of the West Coast, shilling their new album, Rabbit in the Kitchen with a New Dress On.

Healthy Times Fun Club – Seattle, WA
10/31/2007

Jake and Rebecca have the coolest quasi-legal club around. It’s so cool that they don’t even advertise their address. You have to have an internal hipness radar to find the place. It’s fun standing outside their unmarked door watching hipsters use their hipness echo location. Some hipsters, like some bats, aren’t as good at it, and end up running into walls looking for the entrance.