Category > InterviewsPreviews
In preparation for their re-release show this Saturday, May 26 at the Highdive (which will include an array of kickass supporting acts: Common Loon, Psychic Twin, Brief Candles, and Fahri), Chris sat down with the guys from Evil Tents to discuss the band, the album, and the story of how both of those things were birthed into this cold, hard, beautiful world of ours. The guys in Evil Tents are a talkative bunch. When I sat down for an interview …
| Bands have their ups and downs. There's no way around that. Some have their moment in the spotlight and have great success, and others fall off the face of the Earth, never to be heard from ever again. We all have heard the stories about musicians falling apart and giving it all up. They exist within the world of touring, constant recording, hardly ever sleeping, and being in a car or van more times than not. It's not always glamorous. …
The Holy Sabbath of independent music is upon us: Record Store Day 2012. The third weekend of April has been that sacred day for the last five years and is only picking up steam since it originated. In C-U we're lucky, because there are a lot of places around that don't really give a damn about music. I like to think we have a pretty great thing to brag about, and what's most important for the people of C-U? There's …
There must be something in the water in Wisconsin. Whatever it is, it makes really good beer (try New Glarus next time you're up north) and it makes for great music. The rise of Wisconsin bands has been chronicled very well thanks to a certain group you might have heard of, Bon Iver. But the Badger State has much more to offer than Justin Vernon's falsetto, in fact, there are a bevy of bands just from Eau Claire putting their …
Withershins will release their second full-length, Silver Cities, this Friday at Mike ‘N Molly’s. I sat down with singer/guitarist Isaac Arms last week over lunch at the Esquire. Smile Politely: Where did you guys record this at? Withershins' Isaac Arms: Earth Analog. Well, when we started it was called Great Western … Matt Talbott's studio out in Tolono, we did everything out there. We did about half of it live to tape, the rest to digital for sort of time-money …
It wasn’t long ago that Hathaways was a quiet little duo featuring just the interplay between siblings Kate and James Hathaway. That band has come a long way and this Saturday the new Hathaways, a five-piece band, will debut their new album at Cowboy Monkey with guests Evil Tents and That’s No Moon. We spoke recently with Kate Hathaway about the band’s transformation, their latest release (their second, following the Hand Me Down EP from 2010), and what the future …
There are plenty of bands around town that are willing to make some noise to try to earn a buck or two. New projects pop up all the time, and some of them aren't really worth talking about, but this situation is a bit different. Sure, Thundertruck is new to us, but this isn't their first rodeo. "Supergroup" isn't something to be tossed around very often, but this might be the local exception. Not to say that the talent between …
Lately the only choruses of Yes Yes Yes to be heard have come from sound systems (or commercials or DVR’ed episodes of television dance competitions). It’s been some time since a crowd has shouted those words in unison with Elsinore, as the group has stayed off the stage for the past few months. During their brief concert hiatus the Elsinore boys have been busy, though. After touring in support of their first full-length, Yes Yes Yes, the band has set …
For this Cursive, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Conduits show, it has been interviews, galore on our end. Matt Maginn had the chance to answer some of our questions regarding their upcoming show at The Highdive, touring with Cymbals Eat Guitars, and their new record I Am Gemini. Smile Politely: So you all have been on tour for a few weeks now with Cymbals Eat Guitars and Conduit. Coming off your new release, can you describe how this tour might be different than …
Cymbals Eat Guitars are opening up for Cursive tonight at The Highdive. There are some similarities between the two: They both: 1. write ALBUMS, 2. trade in bombast and drama, 3. love their guitars, 4. give us dense and heady lyrics wrapped in a gritty sound, and 5. really know how to shake 'em down (do you love me now that I can dance?). For days I wracked my brain trying to figure out what the first track "Rifle Eyesight …
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.
Most Popular Music Articles (60 days)
- 2012 Pygmalion Music Festival initial lineup
- Elsinore, Common Loon impress diverse crowd
- Tonight in Urbana: Ursula K. LeGuin
- Cursive is so cool
- Look closer: Withershins' Silver Cities
- The Overture: April 3–9
- Record Store Day 2012 in review
- BEST Music
- A breath of fresh air
- Hathaways: growth and transformation
Most Recent Comments
Did the Crave Truck get a permit to park in city metered spots and city right of way? Or did they just get a permit? The city clerk’s office seems to be a suspect here, but it’s not clear they did anything wrong. Did the Crave Truck…
High-profile whining. AKA Lobbying.
it’s quite choice. looking forward to seeing how it and its patronage grow and develop over the course of the year. could be a neat little ecosystem.
“It was at this point, before he started his business, that working with city employees should’ve raised red flags…” But they didn’t because: 1) The City Clerk’s office originally mis-interpreted the rules, or are indeed re-interpreting them. 2) Champaign’s brick-n-mortar merchants hadn’t yet started whining about The Crave Truck.
Super cool! Excellent track, Excellent band.
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.
Facebook
Twitter
Full Site
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/