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MUSIC

Ghostface Killah: “I’m The Star”

Aside from the occasional listen, I never really got in to the Wu Tang Clan or any of the 324 solo albums that spawned from the group. I always, however, appreciated and respected them in the world of hip hop. I’ve heard some say that Method Man’s show in 2006 was the best hip hop show ever at the Canopy, but the same can definitely not be said for Ghostface Killah’s 2005 show.

MUSIC

Wake Me Up: I Thought She Looked Familiar

There was a day when I avoided big “rawk” shows like the plague. Now I don’t mind them all too much, but big bands like these generally bring big egos which bring lots of headaches to my world on show days. That being said, I’ve learned that I cannot avoid them forever, and I seem to be working them more and more all the time. Over the last few years I’ve promoted some club-level shows with bands that have either …

MUSIC

Looking for Logic in That Last Comment

In the last seven years I’ve promoted four shows for DJ Logic. One with his band Project Logic, another with Dirty Dozen Brass Band, another with Bob Weir & Ratdog and one with the John Popper Project. As a fan, I’ve seen another six of his shows. The best of these was at the Canopy in December of 1999 with Soulive and Project Logic. It was scheduled for Foellinger Auditorium but neither band was really on a national level yet …

MUSIC

Big Brother REO

September 1994 : Sordyl’s House of Music (Springfield, IL) At age 16, I took my first electric bass guitar to Ralph Sordyl’s House of Music in Springfield for an electrical check-up. I explained my issue to the not-so-attentive employee. Despite my best efforts, he was disinterested, to say the least. I heard the jingle of the door chimes and naturally, I turned curiously to see who was coming in behind me. Headed towards the counter and staring right at me …

Most Recent Music Comments

{username}

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/

isaac arms avatar

represent, Matt.

{username}

Yeah, I’d agree that Transporter Room 3 is the worst house venue I’ve ever seen.

{username}

*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,…

isaac arms avatar

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…

isaac arms avatar

What?  Echo! (Echo!) Where’s the dischord and dissent?

{username}

That article almost looks like something out of The Onion

{username}

Thanks! I’m looking forward to writing even more….

Annie Weisner avatar

Yay!  Love this!  Welcome to the family!

isaac arms avatar

that last photo’s a doozie, Chris.  good work.

Most Recent Comments

Eric Bussell avatar

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…

isaac arms avatar

High-profile whining. AKA Lobbying.

isaac arms avatar

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.

{username}

“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.

isaac arms avatar

Super cool! Excellent track, Excellent band.

{username}

Looking forward to trying this place!

Dan Schreiber avatar

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.

{username}

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/

{username}

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…

Eric Bussell avatar

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…

Mike Ingram avatar

Oh nice!  I’d totally vote for Matt Campbell!

Rob McColley avatar

“Smile Politely sports writer announces candidacy for city government.”

{username}

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.

Michael Feltes avatar

The Alan Partridge lookalike on the right in the first small photo has nothing to condescend to anyone about. AH HA!

{username}

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.

isaac arms avatar

represent, Matt.

{username}

Yeah, I’d agree that Transporter Room 3 is the worst house venue I’ve ever seen.

{username}

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…

{username}

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…

Rob McColley avatar

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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