The Overture: Dec. 14—20
With school, work, family and the fall semester coming to a close, who has the time to find out about the best shows happening in Champaign-Urbana? No need to fear, because the editors at Smile Politely have taken care of it.
What: Bob and Pricilla, Chicago Farmer, You and Yourn, My Dear Alan Andrews
When: Thursday, Dec. 17
Where: Canopy Club, $7
Originally based out of Chicago, Bob Salihar and Pricilla Wallis have been steady on the regional folk and bluegrass scene since 2008, often appearing with additional stringed instrumentation to accompany their already rich, flutey dobro-laden folk sound They quickly made it into to the studio to put together Bob and Pricilla's Folk Revolution, their debut record, which typifies their introspective and personal lyrical flair. But perhaps more than any other local folk act, Bob and Pricilla inject their sound with a particular hippie zest, drawing from influences like the Grateful Dead and Janis Joplin. Chicago Farmer opens after what is sure to be a rousing opening from local folk staples My Dear Alan Andrews and You and Yourn, fresh off their opening slot for Andrew Bird.
What: The Shadowboxer Collective presents the White Elephant Song Exchange with Gentlemen Auction House, Hathaways, You & Yourn, Jet W. Lee, He & Him (Ryan & Cole of Elsinore), Say it With a Smile and Angie Heaton
When: Friday, Dec. 18, 9 p.m.
Where: Mike N Molly's
With successful C-U appearances ranging from the Highdive to the Pygmalion Music Festival, St. Louis' Gentleman Auction House is growing more and more familiar with our community to our own enjoyment. And what better time to host a band whose follow-up to their acclaimed debut full length, Alphabet Graveyard, was a Christmas EP, Christmas in Love? And did we mention that it is the Shadowboxer Collective's White Elephant Song Exchange? Since releasing their debut EP in 2006, the men (and woman) of Gentleman Auction House have had an impressive track record, which included an opening slot for Brooklyn tech-pop duo Matt and Kim, but we love them for their equally adorable indie chamber pop sound. They were busy recording their next full length all summer long, so expect to get some new flair this time around. The bill is rounded out by a plethora of locals, so you're sure to get your fix one way or another. 
What: The Delta Kings
When: Friday, Dec. 18, 9 p.m.
Where: Cowboy Monkey, $5
With the recent addition of former Starcastle guitarist Matt Stewart, the Delta Kings have cemented their legacy in C-U's rock scene as, well, kings. Since 1993, they have survived the onslaught of boy bands, grunge, gansta rap, post-grunge, girl groups, a second wave of boy bands, nu metal, the tween phenomenon, and everything in between, proving once again that straight up rootsy rock and roll has eternal staying power. They've been putting the finishing touches on a new record with Mark Rubel of Pogo Studio, which takes some departures from their previous efforts with some pseudo-psych leads courtesy of Stewart. If you haven't caught the Delta Kings before you probably haven't lived here long, but take our word for it, you will never be disappointed. 
What: Metal Xmas Bash 2009 with Redneck Remedy, Leproso, Malevolent Minds, Ocularis and Gristle, $7
When: Friday, Dec. 18
Where: Canopy Club, $7
We're not sure what the remedy to redneckery is, or if maybe redneckery is the remedy, or how much a metal band from Kankakee knows about deep frying southern metal, or why their bass player Tiny (standing far right) is so in need of a decent horticulturist, but Redneck Remedy sure knows how to slay. To date, they've shared the stage with bands like Clutch and Texas Hippie Coalition, blasting their audience and fan base (dubbed "The Shotgun Crew") with classic metal song titles like "Dead and Still Boozin," "Bleed," and "Dig Me a Hole." If you feel the urge to sing along Friday night, check out the lyrics page of their site, where you can find all the best one-liners to belt out from their self-titled debut, including "My soul is damaged from the pain / I feel so numb / like I've done a mound of cocaine" from "Devil in Disguise." The bill is rounded out by a similarly brutal onslaught of local metal from Leproso (Portuguese for a male leper), Ocularis, Malevolent Minds and Gristle. Get there early and help them put a few more X's in Xmas. 
What: Ugly Sweater Christmas Party with Neoga Blacksmith
When: Saturday, Dec. 19
Where: Mike N Molly's
By now, Neoga Blacksmith is becoming fairly well established as one of C-U's premier beer-drinkin', hell-raisin', hootin', hollerin', rockin', ruckus-raisin' rockabilly bands that makes grandma tap her toes and the youngsters get up and dance. More importantly, they know what being in a band is and should be all about: free beer. The labels alt-country, country-rock, gruntry, or any other amalgamation thereof are a little nebulous, so just don't show up expecting Kenny Chesney or Taylor Swift unless you brought a look-alike and plan on getting them hammered. Having mastered the tacky Christmas get-up a few years ago at the Phoenix, expect them to take it up a notch or eleven Saturday night when ugly Christmas sweaters will be the norm.
Know about something we don't? Want to promote your own gig? Peep the comment section below.
Looking ahead...
12/17/09
Canopy Club - Bob Priscilla and Friends, Chicago Farmer, You and Yourn, My Dear Alan Andrews
12/18/09
Mike N Molly's - White Elephant song exchange
Cowboy Monkey - The Delta Kings
Canopy Club - Metal Xmas Bash 2009 with Redneck Remedy, Leproso, Malevolent Minds, Occularis and Gristle, $7
12/19/09
Mike N Molly's - Neoga Blacksmith
Canopy Club - Atheory, Emberic, Deliver the Fallen, Leproso, Scathe, Solaris
12/22/09
Assembly Hall - The Oak Ridge Boys
12/26/09
Canopy Club - Pamela Machala, Liesel Booth, Megan Johns and Tristan Cogswell (early show)
Canopy Club - Victory Over Tyranny, Konspiracy, Icon 4 Hire, Less Than and Salinate
Canopy Club - Greenwood, Dari, Bisbee
12/31/09
Mike N Molly's - New Years Eve with New Ruins
Cowboy Monkey - New Years Eve Dubstep Massacre
1/7/10
The Highdive - Alma Afrobeat Ensemble
1/16/10
Mike N Molly's - The Satin Peaches, On Again Off Again, TBA
Canopy Club - Verdict, Vanattica, Overcome, Trash City Rockers
1/17/10
The Highdive - Great Cover Up, acts TBA
1/19/10
The Highdive - Great Cover Up, acts TBA
1/21/10
The Highdive - Great Cover Up, acts TBA
1/22/10
Canopy Club - The Gold Motel, TBA
1/23/10
Mike N Molly's - Jared Bartman, Good Night and Good Morning, TBA
1/24/10
Krannert Center - Maxwell Street Klezmer Band
Krannert Center - Kronos Quartet, Wu Man
1/29/10
Canopy Club - Keller Williams
1/31/10
Canopy Club - The Prairie Ensemble: The Soldier's Tale
2/5/10
The Highdive - Webb Wilder, Delta Kings
2/6/10
Mike N Molly's - White Mystery, Stranger Waves, TBA
2/9/10
Krannert Center - The Band of the Irish Guards
2/11/10
Krannert Center - Frederica Von Stade
2/20/10
The Highdive - State Radio
2/25/10
Krannert Center - Moscow State Radio Symphony Orchestra
2/27/10
Cowboy Monkey - The Lesser Birds of Paradise, World's First Flying Machine, Carl Hauck, My Dear Alan Andrews
3/2/10
Krannert Center - Abraham Inc.
3/5/10
Assembly Hall - Martina McBride, Trace Adkins
3/16/10
Krannert Center - Danu
3/18/10
Krannert Center - San Francisco Symphony
3/30/10
Krannert Center - What it Is! Featuring Mavis Staples, Booker T. JJ Grey
4/10/2010
Krannert Center - Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra
4/15/10
Krannert Center - Joshua Bell
4/24/10
Krannert Center - James Farm
5/5/10
Krannert Center - Ozomatli
1 comments
Bentley's Pub
Keith Harden is playing at Bentley’s Pub 419 N Neil Friday Dec 18 at 8pm No Cover. Great local act comming in from Nashville.
www.keithharden.com
Kayla Brown, Angie Heaton, Stacy Ingram, and Cara Maurizi are playing at Bentley’s Pub 419 N Neil Saturday Dec 19. A portion of the $5 cover will go to A Womans Place. Show starts at 9pm w/ Angie followed by Cara, then Stacy and closing out the night will be Kayla. Four great ladies all in one night for a great cause.
www.kaylabrownmusic.com
www.angieheaton.com
www.caramaurizi.com
www.myspace.com/stacyingram
Thanks and we hope to see you this weekend
Most Recent Music Comments
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…
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…
sux
whats a zmick?
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
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…
Who’s got the crack?
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
THE CAKE IS A LIE
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Most Recent Comments
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.
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…
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…
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…
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(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…
I read Timbo’s argument. I think the key word is “speculating.“
I would be interested to hear more about the “word on the street”—how are individual hauling companies fulfilling their promise to recycle?
Timbo makes a smart, sound argument. Reread it.
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…
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.
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.
Curtis Orchard is always good for an hour or three, especially if you have rugrats.
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…
Looks like you are also all members of the killer sideburns club.
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…
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…
@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.
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.
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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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…