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Shadowboxer back at it tonight

The Shadowboxer Collective has another unique show in store this evening at Mike 'n Molly's, as Chicago's Them Damn Kids and Bloomington, Indiana's Sam Lowry join forces with our very own Ryan Groff for a 9 p.m. show amidst the cool breezes of the beer garden. It'll probably be below 90 by the time the show starts, so pony up seven bucks at the door, grab a cold one and settle in for some low-key jams that won't overheat you. Here's some info on the out-of-towners:

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THEM DAMN KIDS

Home base: Chicago, Illinois

"Bad Decisions" by Them Damn Kids

Former seminarians Chris Darby and Rolland Gairroes (not to be confused with the French tennis stadium) have been performing together off and on since 2001, by themselves and as part of larger collections. They have a new album titled Arm Yourself with Perspicacity on Chestnut Tree Records, and are generally well-behaved. This is the second date on an 11-show tour that will take them as far as Brunswick, Maine.

Smile Politely: How would you describe your sound to someone who's never seen you perform before?

Them Damn Kids: We play a mix of folk, roots, and rock, but more on the mellow side — think Cat Stevens meets Tom Waits ... maybe. I always have trouble answering that question.

Smile Politely:  Have you played in C-U before?

Them Damn Kids: We have played Champaign several times in the past, at Aroma Cafe.

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SAM LOWRY

Home base: Bloomington, Indiana

"Manhattan Took Us First" by Sam Lowry

Sam Lowry has been on tour supporting his new, fourth album, With/Without. He's no stranger to the road, playing over 600 shows over the last several years.

Smile Politely: How would you describe your sound to someone who's never seen you perform before?

Sam Lowry: Typically my sound can be summed up as lyric driven Americana with a penchant for darker subject matter. I'll be performing solo [tonight] so it will be a bit more stripped down in nature for this show.

Smile Politely:  Have you played in C-U before?

Sam Lowry: I have had the good fortune of playing the C-U a few times. This year I've been at the Canopy Club twice, first as the opener of the Murder by Death/Fake Problems tour, and then a few months later as the opener on the Asobi Seksu tour. I've also performed there a few years ago as part of Pygmalion Fest, and once several years ago I performed at the Iron Horse as part of a songwriters in the round night with Larry Gates of the band Lorenzo [Goetz].  He still owes me a beer and a shot so hopefully he'll read this and come to the show to repay his gentleman's debt.

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{username}

Thanks for the article, Ben.  I was not familiar with this band until now and even though I won’t be able to attend the show on Friday they are now on my radar.  A *good* jam band is hard to find, and these folks appear to fill…

{username}

Nice article, love the Dead quote in the beginning. If they can get down here to Central FL I’ll definitely be heading out to the show. Some of my friends have finally stopped wincing when I say “jam band.“ I’ve now tried my best at more descriptive…

Ben Valocchi avatar

good call on that Herring recording, Josh. Love that version of Exit Music….here’s a clip of the Cinco de Mayo show (from about six months prior). As I recall, this Shakedown went on for roughly a half hour, while getting into the Trampled Underfoot jam in the…

{username}

sux

{username}

whats a zmick?

{username}

Here is a link to download the aformentioned 2007 show at Red Herring, a true gem from the early Zmick archive, again recorded by Ben Valocchi: http://www.archive.org/details/zmick2007-11-02.logitech

{username}

My biggest concern is that the free Caribou show at the Krannert is now not at the Krannert and no longer free. But then, I guess if that’s my biggest concern, then I’m doing pretty well—at least I still have potable water! Still, I would prefer it…

{username}

Who’s got the crack?

JPSherrill avatar

Any band that makes the effort to pay homage to ! = Metallica @ = Beatles # = 2pac $ = Moldy Peaches % = Grateful Dead ^ = Dave Clark 5 All in one show!  (with Herb Alpert interpolations to boot) That’s what tasty jams is all about  

{username}

THE CAKE IS A LIE

Most Recent Comments

{username}

Illinois has simply had no luck at all in these Mizzou games. None. I think maybe we’re do for a couple of bounces to go our way. If we get one or two (or sever or eight) breaks, I think it’s a win. 

Dan Schreiber avatar

Jason, Savoy could easily join the CPL tax district, which is probably closer to most Savoy residents than the Tolono library is.  But my impression is that Savoy residents as a whole don’t want to pay the cost of the CPL (Tolono’s library taxes are cheaper), even…

{username}

Sorry, but I am lagging behind on updates to the map. Also, some construction projects were delayed from their original start date. On a more positive note, I am putting together a map of haunted houses in Central Illinois. I have a few plotted already, and I…

{username}

I’ve never gotten the privilege of all the services CPL cardholders get.  I just want to be able to go out of my way to drive to the CPL to check out books, pay fines, maybe buy some coffee, and enjoy the library.  None of those activities…

{username}

These days, there is more to using a library than checking out books. At one time, paying into the Lincoln Trails system probably would cover the expenses incurred by other libraries in the system. Now, with Internet, videos, coffee shops, wireless Internet hubs, etc., I suspect the…

{username}

(speaking as a Savoy resident)  By paying taxes to support a member of the LTLS, we are paying our “fair share” to use any LTLS library—Tolono, Champaign, Urbana, etc.  This is how library systems work.  The 6% of CPL’s circulation represented by Tolono users is NOT significant…

Rob McColley avatar

I read Timbo’s argument. I think the key word is “speculating.“

{username}

I would be interested to hear more about the “word on the street”—how are individual hauling companies fulfilling their promise to recycle?

{username}

Timbo makes a smart, sound argument. Reread it.

emma reaux avatar

I joined on 09-09-09 after living here over a year, and having to listen to my dad tell me how his best friend is, like, #27 or something crazy like that, and how said friend never lived further than 50 feet from the Illini Inn while going…

Dan Schreiber avatar

And, I might add, no one is being prevented from using the Champaign library. They are just being asked to pay their fair share if they are going to use it as their primary library.

Dan Schreiber avatar

The equation is pretty simple here. If you want social services, then pay the taxes required to run those social services. These things only work if everyone puts in their fair share. As a heavy user of the Champaign Library, I say bravo to this new policy.

Timbo avatar

Curtis Orchard is always good for an hour or three, especially if you have rugrats.

Timbo avatar

What is the increased marginal cost of serving a resident of Savoy or Mahomet? I suspect negligible. What is the increased revenue to be realized by this new policy? I suspect very little. Aside from these financial aspects, what are the most probable results from this new…

{username}

Looks like you are also all members of the killer sideburns club.

{username}

Thanks for the article, Ben.  I was not familiar with this band until now and even though I won’t be able to attend the show on Friday they are now on my radar.  A *good* jam band is hard to find, and these folks appear to fill…

{username}

Nice article, love the Dead quote in the beginning. If they can get down here to Central FL I’ll definitely be heading out to the show. Some of my friends have finally stopped wincing when I say “jam band.“ I’ve now tried my best at more descriptive…

Joel Gillespie avatar

@Annie: Yeah, my bad. That was the best part! Drinking + memory exercises = fun @Rob: According to Ask the English Teacher, “My dictionary says ‘drunk’ is an archaic past tense of ‘drink.‘“ We’re all about the new grammar around here.

Tracy Nectoux avatar

Katie, have the residents of Savoy and Tolono thought about having their taxes raised a little to help their public library expand? That’s a possibility for them. And then everybody wins.

Ben Valocchi avatar

good call on that Herring recording, Josh. Love that version of Exit Music….here’s a clip of the Cinco de Mayo show (from about six months prior). As I recall, this Shakedown went on for roughly a half hour, while getting into the Trampled Underfoot jam in the…

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