Category > The Overture
WHAT: Pamela Machala, Emily Otnes WHERE: The Clark Bar (free) WHEN: Tuesday, March 13th at 7 p.m. Another installment of the Champaign-Urbana Singer-Songwriter Collective shows following the performance by Ryan Groff and Justin Kessel a few weeks ago. Urbana's Pamela Machala has been posting some photos from her time at Pogo Studio, so I could image we should be on the lookout for something from her in the near future.The Clark Bar will continue to put these events on every …
WHAT: Reverend Horton Heat, Larry and His Flask, Goddamn Gallows WHERE: The Highdive ($20 advance/$22 door) WHEN: Wednesday, March 7th at 8 pm. Psychobilly and rockabilly fanatics rejoice: the Reverend is in town this week. RHH & co. invade C-U and aren't taking any prisoners. If you're looking for a show that might leave you with a melted face, this is the one. Listen: Reverend Horton Heat: "Psychobilly Freakout"
WHAT: Ryan Groff, Justin Kessel WHERE: The Clark Bar (free) WHEN: Tuesday, February 28th at 7 p.m. Ryan Groff steps away from Elsinore for a bit to play a solo set with singer-songwriter Justin Kessel this week. Groff hasn't released anything as a solo artist for some time now, so it will be interesting to see if he has any shiny new tracks to play for his audience. New and old tracks are great, but seeing him bust out a cover …
WHAT: Evil Tents, Take Care, BlueprintsFFT, Kirkwood West, Cal Emmerich WHERE: Mike 'N Molly's ($5) WHEN: Thursday, February 23rd at 10 p.m. This bill is pretty great by itself — add a special visual effects presentation and you have yourself a most excellent bill. Matt Harsh, or HarshPro, will be delivering live visuals throughout the night for these groups, and I can't think of many things better than a night of Evil Tents' skying acoustics and Take Care's booming post-rockness accompanied by …
WHAT: Stephen Kellogg and The Sixers, Chris Koza, Katrina WHERE: The Highdive ($15) WHEN: Tuesday, February 14th at 7:30 p.m. Stephen Kellogg and his "Sk6ers" crew want to spend Valentine's Day 2012 with you. With a cast of other folk-Americana openers, whether or not you have a date this year on February 14th, this show could make you feel some warmth with some acoustic guitars. Listen: Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers: "Gravity"
WHAT: The Low Anthem, Aron Stromberg WHERE: Canopy Club ($10 advance/$12 door) WHEN: Tuesday, February 7th at 7 p.m. These Rhode Island-ers make their way through Champaign before they venture into Canada, a place where it might be a little more wintery than it is in C-U. They are currently supporting their newest record Smart Flesh (recorded in an abandoned pasta sauce factory in their home state, mind you) released just about this time last year. Supporting is Aron Stromberg, whom you …
WHAT: Carrie Rodriguez, Kelly Joe Phelps, Pieta Brown WHERE: The Highdive ($15) WHEN: Wednesday, February 1st at 7 p.m. This year’s version of the An Acoustic Café Evening Tour features these three singer-songwriters. Each evening of the tour is hosted by Carrie Rodriguez who explains the evening and how it will flow. In what is certain to have a variety of collaborations on stage thorughout the event, multi-instrumentalist Rodriguez and the rest of the talent on this bill is enough to …
WHAT: The Palace Flophouse, Comfort Food, Cheyenne Social Club WHERE: The Brass Rail ($5) WHEN: Thursday, January 26th at 9 p.m. In the second round of shows to benefit the CU Collective, they take their efforts to the cozy Brass Rail Thursday night. Cheyenne Social Club will be playing as a full band with Greg Jaeger of local punk vets Roberta Sparrow (this will probably be his last show in Champaign for some time, as he's all set to move …
WHAT: The Great Cover Up WHERE: The Highdive ($7) WHEN: Tuesday, January 17th at 9:00 p.m. and Thursday, January 19th at 9:00 p.m. Parts three and four to the 21st Great Cover Up go down this week after a weekend of performances, including covers ranging from Salt-n-Pepa to Tool to Lady GaGa to Bruce Springsteen. Don't expect the fun to stop there. Tuesday's bill includes Roberta Sparrow, Midstress/CU Collective, Scurvine, Jet W. Lee, Evil Tents, Electronic Bitters and Tommy G. …
WHAT: Psychic Twin, Common Loon, Pat Hull WHERE: Mike 'N Mollys ($5) WHEN: Friday, January 13th at 10:00 p.m. Psychic Twin's blissful pop-synths will make an appearance on Friday the 13th with CU vets Common Loon. We're hoping that Common Loon gives us a taste of new material they have been working on for their follow up to The Long Dream of Birds from a few years back (wow, it's 2012 already). In addition, Pat Hull joins the bill all the way from …
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/