Category > Reviews
There are plenty of ways to approach a subject, and always comparing and contrasting things to one another can get tricky at times. Pointing out the positives and negatives can get you into a bind and isn't always helpful either. More often than not, there is no textbook way to approach a subject you’re passionate about or have some type of opinion on. Most of the time it just ends up being a response that creates conversation in which people …
| In a show that ranks among the top five performances I've ever seen at Canopy Club, David Mayfield and the three band mates that make up the rest of his Parade dazzled and amazed in a performance Saturday evening that was equal parts sweet country love and total buffoonery. There was drama, comedy, a dance-off, and yes indeed, by the end of the night there was waist-up Mayfield nudity. This was my third DMP outing. I first saw him play …
The premiere installment of our Smile Politely Show Series kicked off this past weekend without a hitch. The bands did their part and we did ours, but we're not going to take much credit for people showing up to Mike 'N Molly's on Saturday. We're much further down the list, probably after this song, great weather (or cooperating weather for that matter), Mike 'N Molly's beer garden, and booze (especially booze). Not to mention this snapshot — it was getting out of …
For the first half of Hank III's performance on Wednesday night he was transcendant. He united everyone in the Canopy Club with his brand of outlaw country in an admirable fashion. What he performed was the kind of music that would make most disillusioned music fans, the kind whose mantra is "The only music I hate is country," come around and have a good time.
I first encountered DeathTram two years ago at the 2010 Pygmalion Festival. They were opening for Jimmy Gnecco at Indi-go, and of course there was nowhere else in the world I was going to be that night. As I stood upstairs, talking with friends, I kept getting distracted by the great music being performed on the floor below us. Finally, I remarked on the band, saying, “They’re fantastic; who are they? Is that DeathTram?” My friends said they didn't know, …
"Modern opera" is an oxymoron. Google the phrases "contemporary opera" or "modern opera" and you'll strike derision. The most optimistic accounts urge no, really ... try it. Grand costumes and foreign languages perpetuate a perceived grandeur, but at their core, operas are silly. In the same way Vatican II ruined church's aura for a lot of people, hearing a libretto in one's own language dispels the illusion. Operas are trite stories. If modern opera reflected the same depth, relative to …
Coed Pageant, the side project of The Palace Flophouse, is back with another addition to its Season EPs series, Vol. 2: Rumspringa. Just as Vol. 1: Winter Blitz so perfectly captured the gloominess of winter, this new EP does an equally fantastic job of epitomizing springtime and the adventure-hungry, youthful spirit that it brings out in people. But it is not all fun and games. Rumspringa sifts through the emotional shit storm that is growing up. Wanting to get away, …
Punk isn’t for everyone. I once went to a punk show and lasted about fifteen seconds in the third row, leaving the venue after a rough twenty minutes. So why am I reviewing a punk album when obviously this is not my cup of tea? To put it simply, I heard good things about Horrible Things. In the beginning of April the C-U punks released their latest full-length Dumb Days. Since then, the album's been up on Bandcamp, allowing free …
Saturday marked the 5th annual celebration of an event that I hope stays around for a long time. Record Store Day came and went, and during the time I got to spend at Exile on Main Street throughout the day, the place was buzzing. I assumed I would be trying to file in between people to get around the store, and that is exactly what I got. Even if you only got to see a few acts, or you were …
Last night Cowboy Monkey played host to the tripped-out folk tunes of The Daredevil Christopher Wright as well as the familiar sounds of local favorites Santah and Common Loon. This show kicked off a three-stop tour with each band playing host for one show along the way. I’d say Common Loon, with a little help from homegrown Santah, did their part to start this tour off on the right foot. There was a great draw and a very positive vibe at the venue last …
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/