Category > The C-U Sizzler!
This week, Rev. Jesse Jackson spoke to reporters off-camera about local indie pop band, Headlights and their impact on music culture. Rev. Jackson made most mention about the video for their newest single “Cherry Tulips.” The new black and white, vintage-style video features local radio DJ Todd Hunter and local musician Mike Ingram dressing in “blackface” style make-up as they dance with the band performing behind them. “This is truly something excellent,” Rev. Jackson said, “I think their music speaks …
When I was a kid, I loved Star Wars. I had pretty much every collectible known to man. I had the movies, the soundtracks on vinyl, the action figures, bed sheets, curtains, talking Ewoks…all of it. My first word as a baby was “Yoda.” I had a severe mental complex that had me thinking that I was actually Luke Skywalker bulls-eying womp rats on Tatooine for much of my childhood. I lived and breathed Star Wars. I eventually grew out …
It was previously reported that the likeness of Ryan Groff, frontman for local band Elsinore, had appeared in an elderly woman’s morning breakfast. Now, another story regarding Groff has surfaced. Last week, our C-U Siz reporters have retrieved this video of Groff apparently writing new solo material while communicating with geese at a local park. He appears in the video to be taking inspiration from the friendly fellows: Story is developing.
Since 2005, WPGU and Buzz have presented the Champaign-Urbana Local Music Awards, a festivity to celebrate excellence in the music scene. Nominees are selected and then voted on by the public in categories such as ‘Best Rock’, ‘Best Hip-Hop’ and ‘Best Singer/Songwriter’. Each year, the nominees have become increasingly aggressive in their promotion tactics and going as far as printing so-called ‘attack ads’ on their competition to sway the vote to their advantage. Our Sizzler! reporters have uncovered a few …
Alright folks! Now’s your chance to do some sizzling of your own! Check out the picture below and comment on it. If your caption beats mine, I’ll let you have an autographed copy of the highly-acclaimed Hedlites album, Sum Racing, Sum Stopping.
A local all-girl a capella group is under investigation by authorities today as a video has been leaked to the media containing horrific scenes of abuse and violence. The group known as The Girls Next Door has been put on indefinite suspension for the video until further notice. The 36-year-old group has a reputation for being positive role models for today’s youth and has donated millions of dollars to countless charities and organizations. The singing troupe is popular and well-known …
After a long year of what seemed to be uninspired performances, poor album sales and a very public rocky romance, Mike Ingram and his band proved to be victorious at Sunday night’s Great Cover-Up performance at The Highdive. It had been well known that Mike Ingram did not fare well when it came to playing other people’s music, as proven by previous Cover-Up performances: he instigated a riot which resulted in the deaths of 15 people, including a 96-year-old woman, …
New Year’s Eve proved to be a little harsh on local MC/rapper Edwin “Krukid” Ruyonga, who indisputably won the title of “Most Inebriated.” Our sources say that good ol’ Eddie, much like his “Barcrawl Anthem,” had only one purpose that night — to get “f*cked up.”
In an event similar to what happened to Milli Vanilli in 1989, local funk and soul group Beat Kitchen received a stunning backlash from fans at their concert earlier this month after an apparent “audio error.” Seconds into their song “People Say,” lead singer Brandon T. Washington made a motion to someone off stage that he was having some type of difficulty. Moments later, there was a noticeable skip in audio while Brandon and his rhythm section continued to play, …
Champaign, IL – The subject of international offshore outsourcing has been widely debated by marketing experts. The idea of sending local work to cheap labor in developing countries such as Mexico, India and Malaysia is being argued as a fast way to save time, money and resources to further advance corporate companies. A new idea that has taken popularity is importing local music from these developing countries. Popular local bands such as elsinore, Shipwreck and Darling Disarm have admitted to …
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/