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The Smile Politely Editors are comprised of Chris Maier, Justine Bursoni, Seth Fein, Marissa Monson and Lindsey Markel. They, along with Webmaster Mason Kessinger, are the founders of the magazine. They decide to highlight certain events going on in Champaign-Urbana in a democratic fashion, without bias, in order best to bring to you the finest information on the entertainment around town.
House parties once ruled the CU music scene. On any given weekend in the late 90's, there were at least 2-3 shows happening, usually in Urbana, before WUNA decided that rock music was a bad thing for their neighborhood. We can get into a discussion about WUNA another day, but evidently, this phoenix is ready to once again rise from the ashes.
Despite the pervading internet rumor and press that our music scene is on a downturn, we think it quite the opposite. Crowds are not fizzling (they’re up actually, according to venues and promoters), and there are plenty of outlets to turn to when your band wants to start up a career wrought with difficulty, bad endings to relationships and, ultimately, failure.
One piece of solid empirical evidence to support this claim is the fact that the House Party as Venue has been starting to take shape again, and we couldn’t be more thrilled.
Tonight features a bill packed to the gills with talent, starting with Ryan Martin of Oceans and Hotel Ahead. He’ll lead off before Iowa City band Birth Rites performs, followed by Chicago journeymen Mt. St. Helens (who was performing here back when Eric Herboth was King Shit of Indie Mountain) and Hidden Agenda artist New Ruins.
The show is free, but you may be shamed and humiliated for walking through the gates without chipping in to the cause. Pony up and support the scene.
Par-tay at 700 W. Illinois, Urbana at 7 p.m.. Don’t run if the cops come. Just be polite and ask if they know where nearest crime is being committed.
Comments (6)
Friday, February 15, 2008 2:45 PM
Hahaha, fuck WUNA.
Sunday, February 17, 2008 4:09 AM
Cassie,
The last house show I played in that neighborhood was about 2 blocks from my parents’ house. Afterward, as I was putting my instrument in the truck of my car, some neighbor, about 60 years old, came out of his house to ”complain” – really, he was pretty nice about it. I apologized and tried to sympathize/empathize.
Having grown up in the neighborhood and attended (and played) my fair share of house shows and house parties (back when the dinosaurs ruled the earth), my perspective is perhaps somewhat unique. My parents still live in the neighborhood. The duration of a typical student’s stay in the neighborhood is generally, what? Two years max?
On Friday and Saturday nights, the normally pleasant students regularly turn the “WUNA” neighborhood into a drunken hellhole of blaring car horns and breaking beer bottles. We could analyze the reasons why this neighborhood may become another student ghetto (university expansion, unscrupulous landlords).
Fuck WUNA? Cassie, basically, what you are saying to me is: “Charlie, your parents should go fuck themselves.”
Cassie, I’m sure you still have parents back in good ol’ St. Joe. Could you possibly for one moment imagine the flip side of the coin?
- Charlie Dold
Monday, February 18, 2008 8:12 AM
um , unless your parents live on 2nd and chalmers, i would say that your story is a bit of a stretch.
plus i think
WUNA wouldnt complain about some snobby party blaring Jazz and cars parked all down the street like they would a house show.
maybe not enought ax dolla involved!
08 rise of the house shows,
you have no idea!! hahahahah
im drunk
Monday, February 18, 2008 8:23 AM
oh yea,
fuck WUNA!
Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:40 PM
a late comment to this one, but while eric was awesome, let's not forget that jenny stewart was queen of that mountain, too, y'all.
Thursday, March 20, 2008 4:04 PM
I love Jenny Stewart. And I certainly have nothing but respect the work she did while she was in town here. She put on some great shows.