Category > Interviews
There was a headline in an old issue of No Depression that read “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way?” (referencing the great Waylon Jennings tune) on a feature about some up-and-coming cowpunk. I was reminded of that line when I interviewed Wayne Hancock for this piece. He exudes confidence and respect for his elders, but his style of honky-tonk diverges a little from the traditional norm. Hancock is no flash in the pan; he’s a well-established touring musician …
For a man who has two to three tons of expectations just in the last two words of his name, Justin Townes Earle bears his burden pretty lightly. Son of country-rock icon Steve Earle, namesake of the late, great singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt, Justin is just trying to make his own way in the world. The old-timey vibe of his latest record, The Good Life is infectious and natural. Earle rolls into town Saturday night for an early show at …
Mason Jennings is what he is, and he seems completely at peace with that. And he should, considering how well being himself has treated him lately. After singing two well-received songs (“The Times They Are A Changin’” and “The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll”) on the soundtrack to last year’s Dylan “biopic” I’m Not There, Jennings has a new, unadorned album, In the Ever, out on his buddy Jack Johnson’s Brushfire label. The new record is relentlessly, effortlessly catchy, often …
Sometimes proper rock leads to improper spelling, according to Dan Hubbard (he of the Humadors noted above). “A couple years ago I was on a drinking bender most of the time with my best friend Dan Hundman,” said Hubbard. “He called us the Humadors cause our last names both started with Hu. I know, pretty lame, we were drunk. I thought it was a made-up word, had never heard of a humidor. Anyway, it looked good next to my name, …
Ever wonder how the touring bands that play shows in Champaign-Urbana wind up here? Well, one of the driving forces in the C-U live music community is Ward Gollings, an independent promoter who books concerts for the Highdive. The Highdive’s big show this week is Thursday, when Robert Pollard’s Boston Spaceships come to town (here’s the preview that ran last Friday), but that’s just the latest in many years’ worth of great live music that he’s helped to bring to …
If you’ve ever watched the first season of “The Wire,” then you’re already familiar with the music of the Blind Boys of Alabama, whether you realize it or not: The Blind Boys’ version of Tom Waits’ “Down in the Hole” was featured as the theme song for the show. Sing with me now: “When you walk in the gaaarden…” Anyway, tonight at the Krannert Center, the Grammy-winning Blind Boys will be performing with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band at 7:30 …
In Catch-22, fighter pilot Yossarian “had decided to live forever or die in the attempt.” For the local band of the same name, the stakes weren’t quite as high on Saturday night as they made their debut performance at Mike ‘N Molly’s, but Yossarian certainly survived, even thrived. They’ll live to fight another day: namely, tonight on WEFT Sessions at 10 p.m. on WEFT-90.1 FM. The quintet, with (alphabetically) Collin A. Bullock on guitar and vocals, Aaron Gates on drums, …
“I’m sort of a perpetual motion machine,” says Robert Pollard, and if such a device can indeed be created, it would probably look a lot like the former Guided By Voices lead singer and guitarist. Pollard detailed his current slate of projects, which include: a book of collages on Fantagraphics a periodical series an upcoming Steven Soderbergh musical two albums with his new band, Boston Spaceships, with Tommy Keene on guitar, including their debut, Brown Submarine, released on Pollard’s label, …
There are bands that take themselves too seriously, and then there is Southern Culture on the Skids. Never described as overwrought, the North Carolina trio has been making a good-timey blend of Dixie genres for more than 20 years now, and they’re coming to town on Saturday to brighten everybody’s day, er, evening. SCOTS will be at the Highdive for a 7:30 show, the Hillbilly Jones opens and tickets are $15, which may include fried chicken. Guitarist/singer Rick Miller (he’s …
Ashley Riley is a young, blonde lady whose instrument of choice is an acoustic guitar, so the comparisons to Jewel are ready-made and lazy, but she doesn’t reject them. Just getting her feet wet in the regional music scene, Riley will be appearing on WEFT Sessions tonight at 10 p.m. on WEFT, 90.1 FM. Her debut CD, Last One Standing, was released last month and is available on her website and on iTunes. Ashley was kind enough to answer some …
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
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.
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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/