Category > InterviewsPreviews
Local band Vannatica bring a heavy-edge to their power punk tunes. Or maybe they bring a pop-tinge to their metal tunes. Whatever the case, they provide plenty of virtuoso guitar and catchy, but not quite sing-a-long choruses on their new Behind Closed Eyes EP. In advance of Saturday's Cowboy Monkey show, vocalist/guitarist Travis Leonard gave us a few minutes of his time.
| For the next three days, Mike n' Molly's will be hosting Champaign-Urbana's newest music festival—Exit 182. A welcome addition, the fest will feature 12 bands from C-U, Chicago, Memphis, Eau Claire and Peoria. Exit 182 came about when Joe Smyth and Isaac Burgess at Mike n' Molly's realized that several of the bands they had booked for this weekend were on their way down to SXSW. And not only that, but the quality of the other bands booked lent itself …
Next week, over a thousand performers will descend upon Austin, Texas. These musicians, comedians, artists, and filmmakers will be joined by around ten thousand fans for a week of innovation, creativity and really killer music. Meanwhile, I will be here in Urbana, analyzing mouse brains and jonesing for a week away from work spent wrapped up in the best in indie music. While most of us probably can't afford to take a week off work and make it to South …
WHAT: Boneyard Arts Festival WHEN: Thursday, April 15 – Sunday, April 18 WHERE: Various venues around Champaign-Urbana LINEUP: Duke of Uke, Elsinore, Mickey Karbal (more TBA) While the main announcement for Boneyard (which generally includes at least one major show) is nowhere to be found, a few details are trickling in. Elsinore and Duke of Uke will play dueling shows at the Champaign and Urbana libraries, and Chicago-based electro artist (and proud hipster) Mickey Karbal will play an Urban Outfitters …
Over the past three or four years, many bands who owe a big gratitude to a capella music have blown up — Grizzly Bear, Fleet Foxes, Dirty Projectors. Seems like that makes now a good time to re-acquaint yourself with the genre. Lucky for you, we are blessed to have quite a few a capella groups right here in C-U, including Girls Next Door, an all-female ensemble that has been around since 1971. The group is known for their willingness …
I've been told that this Friday, I should stay off the streets. I've been cautioned against wearing green, lest anyone assume I'm wasted while I do my lab work. I've been warned to skip any classes shared with undergrads. And I've been told that under no circumstances, regardless of temptation or curiosity, should I venture anywhere close to Campustown.
With a well-regarded new album (This Way Up) and a rousing live show, The Duke of Uke and His Novelty Orchestra have been getting a lot of positive attention lately in Champaign-Urbana. However, if all you knew about the band was from the recent press they have been gathering, you might mistakenly think they are a new addition to the scene. In truth, they've been around for nearly five years, slowly building their repertoire and their reputation. Frontman Dave King …
Usopp the Liar is just a few months old, but the players should be familiar to anyone who's been paying attention to local music over the last ten years. Guitarist Wilson Hensleigh, bassist John Paul Livergood and drummer Ben Ucherek's previous and current bands include Monster Honkey, Clio, Crane, Badger, Solips, Twenty Feet Over, Beauty Shop and Tractor Kings. With such a divergent background and short incubation period, it's a little premature to make any big pronouncements about this lineup. …
Joe Pug, who performs at the Canopy Club tonight, has one of those bios that music writers dream about. He dropped out of his senior year at the University of North Carolina to follow his muse. After landing in Chicago, he spread his music by sending out a demo CD to anyone who asked. According to his website, he has now sent out over 15,000 CDs to fans around the world. And to top it all off, each demo contains …
When most people think of Champaign-Urbana, Dubstep probably isn't the first thing that pops into their mind (Cornfields, UIUC, and REO Speedwagon seem to be the frontrunners). It probably isn't even the first musical style. However, the local electronic scene will cap off an extraordinary year this Friday at Cowboy Monkey with Dubstep Massacre: The One Year Anniversary.
Most Recent Music Comments
YOU PEOPLE
“Evaporated.“ Never said that but cool…. Yes, I do know. But people have wanted to be Elvis for 60 years. And I think what is hipper these days is the switch around. Ya know, how every one in the band “kind of” plays “everything” and switches around…
i just found this article, and am so happy about it! mark is a wonderful person!!
Cheesy Computers with evaporated Beats and Samples may not be your taste and I can appreciate that…but in some cases they are born out of necessity. Do you know how hard it is to find a drummer these days? Do you know how hard it is to find…
Every band in CU - I realize this is just a cheeky comment, but I wanted to respond anyway. I think this column is more about the scene and the support system than the bands themselves. The last thing I would ever want is for someone to…
Interesting article, John. I second your comments Doug. I’d really like to see the two of you do a Siskel & Ebert-style review of albums. Can SP make this happen? And if Noiseboy could reappear to DJ one day at Mike & Molly’s…
Thank you SP editors for removing a not-so-nice word from Pope’s comment. I was just going to comment on it myself, wondering if we need an article titled “Down with the F-word”. John, very interesting read. Huzzah for well-written local music opinion.
Everyband in CU - shutup (REMOVED BY SP EDITORS) at least this writer is speaking for himself, at least he has a real opinion you spineless capslock drunk fuck. sorry, anyways… what’s good, what’s bad. what’s rock, what’s indie. what’s real what’s not. In 2010, never has…
WE’RE SORRY JOHN WE’LL TRY HARDER
Most Popular Music Articles (60 days)
- The great history of the Great Cover Up
- Album review: Elsinore's The Chemicals
- Jan. 30: Official C-U Record Release Day
- The Overture, Jan. 18 – 24
- Dubstep Massacre: Evolution of a Scene
- Album review: WFFM's The House You're Living In
- The Overture: Jan. 25 – 31
- Champaign Pop City
- Joe Pug: Apparently not reading enough Steinbeck
- A folk pop antidote to the drunken plague
Most Recent Comments
Good stuff as always! I like the theory Zelina presented…curious to see how it plays out with Sawyer, Jin/Sun, and Kate…
I found that cake thing about a year ago. It’s pretty amazing. Happily, it didn’t stick as a habit ‘cause I *still* made a mess with the flour and cocoa and all that ...
Foreigner had Double Vision, now that’s vision.. It is interesting today how diverse people’s music taste has become. Take 107.1 for instance, depending on what time of you’re listening to it you can hear indie, top 40 alternative, hip hop, and alt country all in the same block of…
In case you think I’m crazy and Obama loves you - http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/03/us-declassifies-part-of-secret-cybersecurity-plan/
YOU PEOPLE
“Evaporated.“ Never said that but cool…. Yes, I do know. But people have wanted to be Elvis for 60 years. And I think what is hipper these days is the switch around. Ya know, how every one in the band “kind of” plays “everything” and switches around…
Make a mental note now - This is for federal control of the internet. It will be phased in. There is a cybersecurity bill in congress right now. just watch…
i just found this article, and am so happy about it! mark is a wonderful person!!
*Shrugs*
Cheesy Computers with evaporated Beats and Samples may not be your taste and I can appreciate that…but in some cases they are born out of necessity. Do you know how hard it is to find a drummer these days? Do you know how hard it is to find…
Sometime between now and their first game in this year’s NIT, the Illini need to practice taking a shot before the game clock expires.
Can we please refrain from ever EVER comparing running a marathon to childbirth? Especially when the comparison is made by someone without a vagina? Kthx.
I think we are in. But being blown out again by OSU might give the selection comittee doubts. I dunno anymore.
Mark: You raise some interesting points. I’m impressed by anyone who runs a marathon, no matter their finishing time. It’s the commitment people show to accomplishing a goal they set for themselves that impresses me most. A sign I saw at the Illinois Marathon last year along…
To get back to the show, if that’s allowed, we saw it last night. I know a lot about the films of the 30s and 40s and appreciated what Durang was trying to do, though some was pretty obvious and the ending was forced. A literal kitchen…
Every band in CU - I realize this is just a cheeky comment, but I wanted to respond anyway. I think this column is more about the scene and the support system than the bands themselves. The last thing I would ever want is for someone to…
Interesting article, John. I second your comments Doug. I’d really like to see the two of you do a Siskel & Ebert-style review of albums. Can SP make this happen? And if Noiseboy could reappear to DJ one day at Mike & Molly’s…
@Ty I think this article from last year is what you’re looking for: http://www.smilepolitely.com/food/talking_breakfast_at_the_market/ Enjoy!
Thank you SP editors for removing a not-so-nice word from Pope’s comment. I was just going to comment on it myself, wondering if we need an article titled “Down with the F-word”. John, very interesting read. Huzzah for well-written local music opinion.
Ok folks, now that its obvious the wonder bread, gas station eggs, and pasteurized processed cheese food can be marked up sufficiently enough to open two restaurants during a recession and in the same five year span, ya think we can be a little demanding? I’m all…
Most Popular Articles (14 days)
- All’s well, no worries, next year will be great!
- Looking down the barrel of the NIT
- Forget it, Jake. It’s Champaign-Urbana
- If You’re Bored, Then You’re Boring
- Saigon to Bangkok in… Savoy
- Champaign Pop City
- A road in search of a reason
- A folk pop antidote to the drunken plague
- Die another day
- The Plastic Generation
Recent Searches
- Brian Sauder (1 Results)
- seth fein (64 Results)
- 1365 (2 Results)
- 1901 (1 Results)
- amy lingafelter (2 Results)
- olympia (20 Results)
- 1162 (6 Results)
- ugg spammer (2 Results)
- 1184 (2 Results)
- 1768 (1 Results)
- champaign police (105 Results)
- 1840 (1 Results)
- stephanie rank (2 Results)
- neoga blacksmith (25 Results)
- stories beer (35 Results)
- 1901 (1 Results)
- Beer stories (35 Results)
- 1840 (1 Results)
- 1889 (1 Results)
- 1889 (1 Results)
Facebook
Twitter
Full Site
Foreigner had Double Vision, now that’s vision.. It is interesting today how diverse people’s music taste has become. Take 107.1 for instance, depending on what time of you’re listening to it you can hear indie, top 40 alternative, hip hop, and alt country all in the same block of…