What: Morgan Orion and the Constellations, Some Say Leland, Super Famicom, The Winslows, Withershins
When: Monday, August 10 @ 7 p.m.
Where: Polecat Tabernacle ($3–$5 donation)
Being young and willing, Morgan Orion is likely going to redefine the music scene of Champaign-Urbana within a few years if he keeps it up. Already having booked his own tours in North America and Europe (albeit, spotty ones with holes), establishing a booking collective dedicated to throwing house parties, and released an album plus more, we’re predicting great things from the newest addition to the music scene who seems to “get it.” Morgan’s pulling double duty tonight as he’s on WEFT Sessions at 10 p.m., as well.
PJ Famicom (right) is well-known on the super-DIY scene. He currently lives in Florida, but as recently as a few years ago he was living in a punk house in Decatur.
What: Say it with a Smile, Common Loon, You and Yourn
When: Thursday, August 13 @ 9 p.m.
Where: The Canopy Club ($7)
New bands in town? There are? Yes, friends — there are. Common Loon joins new music scene player, Say it with a Smile, and changed-name players You and Yourn (they were once Casados, remember them?) on stage in the Void Room of The Canopy Club on Thursday night. Say it with a Smile consists of married songwriting couple Jaron and Katherine Kamin, joined by Tim Koons (not making that up), Kyle Buffo (or that), and Max Jacobs (that’s benign, at least). They play a jangling pop music reminiscent of bands like Death Cab for Cutie, The Shins and the like. They have ambitions, as indicated by their myspace page, that shows that they are performing at both Midpoint Music Festival (a great one in Cincinnati taking place every September) and Playback:StL Festival (a terrible one in, yeah, St. Louis, taking place every September, as well).
What: The Number One Sons, Finding Fiction, Cameo Turret
When: Friday, August 14 @ 9 p.m.
Where: Cowboy Monkey ($5)
A couple of locals and one New York City band on this bill. Finding Fiction (guitarist Mario Santana pictured, right) has a pleasant ’90s alt-rock feel reminiscent of Fig Dish and Loud Lucy.
Locals Cameo Turret are prepared for the waves of Breakfast-Club-themed nostalgia with their song “John Hughes.”