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Drool Brothers, Ajax Muffler. Barfing Glitter Records Amusing songs, well-executed, freed from commercial compulsion. Good ideas. But the execution may fall flat due to a guitar-and-drum-heavy treatment that emphasizes what is normal about the band over what is interesting, undermining the humor, inventiveness, and variety of songs (which might otherwise sound at times, like Elvis Costello, Frank Zappa, and other unlikely candidates). This band is on the right track, though — a track leading away from garage rock toward their …
| Walking into the upstairs portion of Mike 'N Molly's, the first thing that strikes you is the sheer simplicity of it: four walls, a few stools and one large window looking out onto the brick upper floor of the opposite building. It feels more like a somewhat neglected warehouse than a bar. Without the distractions of neon signs, TVs or even a bar, the crowd was forced to focus on the band and music. Unfortunately the opening band, Acrylics, …
We all have recollections of youth; akin to our parents' memories of watching us grow. Ahh, those first tender years coming to know ourselves, the world around us, and how it responded to our every cry, if for nothing else but to say "I'm here." 217Mafia wanted to watch a scene grow up. What they gave birth to was something that they never expected to last this long or have this much strength behind it. At first, Dubstep Massacre was …
In Nashville, the city I still know best, dozens of musicians are trying to do exactly the same thing Joe Pug is doing. Every night a singer-songwriter with a boyish grin and a gentle drawl can be found playing somewhere to a crowd of maybe ten or twenty respectful listeners, garnering Bob Dylan references and singing about heartache and soul-searching. So how is Joe Pug, with his debut album Messenger barely out of the gate, filling up venues with eager …
After his set last Thursday night, I told Retribution Gospel Choir frontman Alan Sparhawk that my housemates (You and Yourn) had opened for Low (Sparhawk's other band) a couple times last fall. In addition, my neighbors (New Ruins) had just opened the evening for RGC, in the recently revamped Void Room at the Canopy Club. He responded with the assertion that when you have been on the road as long as he has, you end up playing with everyone's band. …
As a relative newcomer to Champaign, the sheer number of people packed into the Highdive last Saturday for Elsinore was thrilling. To have so many come out to a local band's EP release speaks volumes about the community of music lovers in this town and their willingness to support their own. That alone is something both Elsinore and Champaign-Urbana's "stayers" should be proud of. But is that where it ends? Is Elsinore simply the neighborhood band everyone comes to see …
Eels, End Times Wunderkind Mark "E" Edwards has released six albums as Eels. E's often-autobiographical songs are heartbreaking — he lost his father, mother, and sister in a relatively short time span — but he usually adorns them with experimental, beautiful sounds (see 1998's Electro-Shock Blues). End Times is still lovely, but the instrumentation is sparse, which makes the songs even moodier. There are a few uptempo tunes: the funky garage of "Gone Man" and "Unhinged." E's voice has grown …
On Friday, Feb. 5, Jet W. Lee joins the slew of local artists who have had recent album releases with the (second) release party for their debut LP Who Shall Remain Shameless. With the band citing dual "citizenship" between Chicago and Champaign, the Mike ‘n' Molly's celebration will be the official C-U release for the ten-track album. The show starts at 10 p.m., and cover is $5. Joined by Chicago's The Safes and C-U locals JigGsaw, Who Shall Remain Shameless …
This Saturday, Champaign-Urbana's World's First Flying Machine will celebrate the release of their debut album, The House You're Living In, at the Canopy Club. For a mere $5 (or $7 at the door), you can catch Flotation Walls, a self described "angel orgy" from Columbus, Ohio at 10 p.m., followed at 10:40 p.m. by World's First Flying Machine's premiere of their new release. The House You're Living In comes to our ears at the perfect time — blame the side-swiping …
When I first learned that You and Yourn were opening for Andrew Bird via the magic of Facebook, I was actually on my way to a meeting with Nic Dillon. I was so excited to get there to talk to him about it that I ran out of the house without my keys, locking myself out. Dear reader, beware, there is tremendous bias in this article as I consider Nic and Heather to be some of my best friends. Oh …
Most Recent Music Comments
I will be at Danu this evening. And seeing as tomorrow - St. Pat’s - is my birthday, I will be celebrating with tons of green and fun!
Big Blue will actually be on 6-9, despite what is posted elsewhere. Then, hightail it over to Bentley’s!
Ahh - good point - I will plug them in the appropriate sections.
Yeeee! This sounds so fun! Any word on covers for any/all of these? Maybe SP could spring for punch cards and some discounts if we make it to all, eh?
...and given the lack of smiley emoticons i chose to employ, that reads far more sarcastically than i ever intended (my apologies). i actually find this to be a great article and an interesting discussion, seriously : )
Once it leaves the basement, it is then called what? hmmm…....could it be mainstream? accessible? appealing on a mass-level? POP??? Quickly it will become a fad, over-saturate the media, and piss people off. Then everyone can write articles based on how that shit sucks, too. chickens are…
In general, I think music is much more interesting now than in 1995. I definitely am very glad contemporary music has expanded beyond the four-piece rock lineup that dominated much of the 90’s. The point of the above isn’t so much about a sound or an instrument…
2010 is not 1995. I’m not sure why anyone would expect a music scene to remain stationary as the world of popular music moves around it. Also, today, making popular music with mainstream appeal and being innovative and cutting-edge are usually exact opposites.
bhrama- thanks for the promo. it is true, crane and badger will be playing on friday at mike and mollys w/ the chemicals and tractor kings. we will be playing first. show starts at 10pm. come on out. rock will be had.
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Um. Yeah — check out that “General Disclaimer” at the bottom of the article, folks.
As an adoptee, I can empathize—although I’m not an international adoptee, and I apologize if I’m assuming too much on the nature of your adoption. You can feel what you feel, but don’t be too hard on yourself. When I started a search for my birth family,…
I highly doubt a single dish is vegan at Bombay. Most Indian dishes use Ghee(essentially clarrified butter) as the base fat. While I guess they could make some dishes with canola oil, I would for sure ask the exact ingredients before I consumed if you are following a vegan diet.
You’re right! Every runner, in my opinion, is a real runner.
Congratulations on the AG place! In all of your accomplishments, don’t forget what it was like to think a mile was an impossible distance. Getting to the six-mile point takes a lot of training and preparation to acclimate the mind and musculature to so much pounding. Your…
Sounds like it!
I heading out on my 9 miler before my 10 hour work day right now. Do I have what it takes?
Nice, killer work pretty man…the channeled, one sided collaborated rhyming poem. An oft forgot genre. The ruckus was felt even here in my living room, which is normally a safe haven from ruckus.
wait, I was commenting on the wrong thing - sorry - he’s actually a gigantic sellout but who really knows what all this is about.
If the democrats didn’t have Kucinich, and the republicans didn’t have Ron Paul, where would both these parties really stand? These men actually mean what they say.
Joel, thank you for the opportunity to answer these questions and have them posted here. I really appreciate it! Yes, I was thrilled to see that Rep. Kucinich flipped today, so he will has committed to voting yes for health reform. I appreciated his comments which seem…
It appears to me that your reviewer did all that could be expected: she paid her money, saw the play and conveyed her impressions. The review (on the whole, laudatory) may have been rushed, in a generous attempt to publicize the production while it was still available…
Dan Schreiber’s chocolate is simply the best I’ve ever had. It’s a whole different ball-game; closer to very high-end wine than anything out of Hershey PA.
That settles it… Im going.
Vosges is pretty decent chocolate, but you should definitely try the locally-produced chocolate from Dan Schreiber, available (regularly?) at Amara, Caffe Paradiso, and Common Ground. I believe it is or will be at other places soon.
I read Kucinich flipped today. He must have read this and been convinced.
Bread Company can do some fantastic vegan dinner dishes! Several of their pastas are vegan or could be made vegan and their pizzas can be ordered (and taste great) without the cheese. I also recommend their roasted potatoes and their roasted garlic head appetizer.
General Admission? Are we supposed to camp out the night before the game to get decent seats?
I wonder with Griffey if he’s not in game shape enough to play a significant number of minutes. If you look at his minutes played this year, he’s never played a starters minutes.
I really appreciated Ms. Lennhoff’s candid answers to the questions. I learned a lot about health care reform from this experience. Thanks CCHCC!
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I was all set to pounce on this, but it’s the truth. There used to be bands in town I was afraid of, like I’d have a heart attack during their set. There are still some great bands, but they’re pretty and dainty and low in cholesterol. …