The Overture: Feb. 1 – 7
With school, work, family and conspiring to manipulate the C-U music scene for your personal gain, 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: Gov't Mule, Jackie Greene
WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 4 @ 9 p.m.
WHERE: Canopy Club ($25 Adv.)
Another week, and another example of a veteran jam band that doesn't suck rolls into C-U. Last week it was Keller Williams, and this week Gov't Mule, who has been at it longer than many of you reading this have been alive. They've moved beyond their origins as an Allman Brothers side project, developing their Southern-fried rock sound into something of their own. The price is a little steep for anyone on the fence about stepping out on a sure-to-be-frigid Thursday night, but those who brave the cold will be treated to a good show.
WHAT: The Copyrights, Horrible Things, the Diamond Stretch
WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 4 @ 8 p.m.
WHERE: Red Herring ($5)
It's a night to celebrate stoopid pop-punk as Carbondale's The Copyrights roll into town, joined by locals Horrible Things and the Diamond Stretch. Things are bound to get loud at the Red Herring, so bring some earplugs and get ready for a good time.
WHAT: Webb Wilder, Delta Kings
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 5, Doors @ 7 p.m., show @ 7:30
WHERE: Cowboy Monkey ($12 Adv.)
If you're going to try to make a living as a blues-tinged rock guitarist, it's not a bad idea to make up a genre of which you are the only member. Webb Wilder has chosed "swampadelic" as his medium of choice, and he combines country, surf guitar, and rock & roll into his proprietary mix. The Mississippi native is now based out of Nashville, and he's making a stop at Cowboy Monkey as part of The Whip's concert series, which we heartily endorse.
WHAT: Jet W. Lee CD Release Show, The Safes, JigGsaw (10 p.m., $5, ?)
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 5, 10 p.m.
WHERE: Mike 'N Molly's ($5)
The duo is now a trio, and Jet W. Lee will be debuting Who Shall Remain Shameless Friday night with help from Chicago's The Safes and local favorites JigGsaw.
WHAT: Duke of Uke CD Release Show, The Curses, Claire Cannon
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 6, 10 p.m.
WHERE: Cowboy Monkey ($5)
The genre-bending Duke of Uke and the similarly confounding The Curses are both releasing albums this Saturday on the same bill, which raises the stakes from last Saturday's twin record release shows. Should save on the driving back and forth across town for you completists. Probably next weekend, there will be a five-band bill from bands who all will be debuting new releases. Make it so, Champaign-Urbana!
WHAT: Headlights
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 6, 8 p.m.
WHERE: Courtyard Cafe ($3 Students/ $5 Public)
You may have heard of these folks. They're touring with David Bazan this spring, but first they play the Courtyard. Neat!
LOOKING AHEAD...
2/9/10
Krannert Center - The Band of the Irish Guards
2/10/10
Canopy Club - Scratch Clash Vol. 1 w/ 217 Mafia vs. Rave to the Grave (9 p.m., TBA, 18+)
2/11/10
Krannert Center - Frederica Von Stade
Canopy Club - Nomo, Zach May and the Maps (9:30 p.m., $8 Adv. 18+)
2/12/10
Bentley's - Corn Desert Ramblers (10 p.m., $4)
Canopy Club - Roses and Sake, The Blue Heels, Little Boy Junior (6:30 p.m., $7, 18+)
Cowboy Monkey - Hot Cops, Dr. Manhattan, The Fantasic Plastics, and The Private Thoughts (9 p.m., $5)
Mike 'N Molly's - Jason and the Punknecks, The Burninators, Roberta Sparrow (10 p.m., $5, ?)
2/13/10
Bentley's - Billy Galt and Friends (8:30 p.m., no cover)
Mike 'N Molly's - Lookbook, Blah Blah Blah, Santa (10 p.m., $TBA, ?)
2/14/10
Canopy Club - Bela Fleck/The Africa Project (9 p.m., $25 Adv., 18+)
2/17/10
The Highdive - Scott Miller, TBA (Doors @ 7 p.m. - show @ 8 p.m., $10 Adv., 19+)
Canopy Club - Tim Be Told, Dustin Keele, With the Morning (7:30 p.m., TBA, 18+)
2/18/10
Canopy Club - Retribution Gospel Choir, New Ruins (9 p.m., $8 Adv., 18+)
2/19/10
Bentley's - Everett Thomas and Stacy Ingram (6 p.m., no cover)
Bentley's - DJ's Tim Hayden and Melanie Sheckels (10 p.m., $2 cover)
2/20/10
Bentley's - The Sugar Prophets (9 p.m., $4 cover)
The Highdive - State Radio, TBA (Doors @ 7 p.m. - show @ 7:30 p.m., $15 Adv., 19+)
Canopy Club - RJD2, Kenan Bell, Happy Chichester (7 p.m., $13 Adv., 18+)
Mike 'N Molly's - White Mystery, The Fresh Kills (10 p.m., $5, ?)
2/24/10
Canopy Club - Joe Pug, TBA (7 p.m., $10 Adv., 18+)
2/25/10
Krannert Center - Moscow State Radio Symphony Orchestra
2/26/10
Bentley's - Private Thoughts and Say It With A Smile (10 p.m., $4 Cover)
Springer Cultural Center - Jane Boxall ~ marimba (12 noon, free)
2/27/10
Cowboy Monkey - The Lesser Birds of Paradise, World's First Flying Machine, Carl Hauck, My Dear Alan Andrews (Doors @ 9 p.m., Show @ 9:30 p.m., $5, 19+)
Bentley's - The Impalas (9 p.m., $4 Cover)
Canopy Club - Cold Cave, Hair Police (9 p.m., $8 Adv., 18+)
Independent Media Center - Claudia Schmidt (8 p.m., $TBA, All Ages)
3/2/10
Krannert Center - Abraham Inc.
Mike 'N Molly's - A Sunny Day in Glasgow, TBA (9 p.m., $7)
3/5/10
Assembly Hall - Martina McBride, Trace Adkins
Mike 'N Molly's - The Daredevil Christopher Wright, TBA (10 p.m., $TBA, ?)
3/12/10
The Highdive - Band of Heathens (Doors 7 p.m. - show @ 8 p.m., $12 Adv., 19+)
3/13/10
The Highdive - Feudin' Hillbillies (Doors 7 p.m. - show @ 8 p.m, $7 Adv., 19+)
Mike 'N Molly's - Mittens on Strings, Pet Lions (10 p.m., $5, ?)
3/16/10
Krannert Center - Danu
The Highdive - The Tossers, TBA (Doors @ 8 p.m. - show @ 9 p.m., $12 Adv., 19+)
3/18/10
Krannert Center - San Francisco Symphony
3/30/10
Krannert Center - What it Is! Featuring Mavis Staples, Booker T. JJ Grey
The Highdive - St. Vincent (Doors @ 8 p.m. - show @ 9 p.m., $13 Adv., 19+)
4/5/10
Canopy Club - Bassnectar (9 p.m., $17 Adv. - on sale 1/16, 18+)
4/7/10
The Highdive - Japandroids, Love is All (Doors @ 7 p.m. - show @ 8 p.m., $12 Adv., 19+)
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
7/23/10
Canopy Club - Central Illinois Metalfest 2010
7/24/10
Canopy Club - Central Illinois Metalfest 2010
Most Recent Music Comments
I was all set to pounce on this, but it’s the truth. There used to be bands in town I was afraid of, like I’d have a heart attack during their set. There are still some great bands, but they’re pretty and dainty and low in cholesterol. …
I will be at Danu this evening. And seeing as tomorrow - St. Pat’s - is my birthday, I will be celebrating with tons of green and fun!
Big Blue will actually be on 6-9, despite what is posted elsewhere. Then, hightail it over to Bentley’s!
Ahh - good point - I will plug them in the appropriate sections.
Yeeee! This sounds so fun! Any word on covers for any/all of these? Maybe SP could spring for punch cards and some discounts if we make it to all, eh?
...and given the lack of smiley emoticons i chose to employ, that reads far more sarcastically than i ever intended (my apologies). i actually find this to be a great article and an interesting discussion, seriously : )
Once it leaves the basement, it is then called what? hmmm…....could it be mainstream? accessible? appealing on a mass-level? POP??? Quickly it will become a fad, over-saturate the media, and piss people off. Then everyone can write articles based on how that shit sucks, too. chickens are…
In general, I think music is much more interesting now than in 1995. I definitely am very glad contemporary music has expanded beyond the four-piece rock lineup that dominated much of the 90’s. The point of the above isn’t so much about a sound or an instrument…
2010 is not 1995. I’m not sure why anyone would expect a music scene to remain stationary as the world of popular music moves around it. Also, today, making popular music with mainstream appeal and being innovative and cutting-edge are usually exact opposites.
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Most Recent Comments
Awesome looking lineup… I’m excited. Another vote towards the Smoking Popes rocking out at the first Laughing Prairie Dog festival… it was a pretty good energy, and plenty of groups considering the cheap ticket. The rest all look pretty good for the ticket price as well. …
(Not to talk too much, but I would delight in being proven wrong. I hope that there are many vegan dishes, and next time I am there, I will ask the owner for dishes that are vegan that are offered and post them as a comment here,…
I understand the disclaimer, and I appreciate it, but given the title of the article, it would be nice to have more of a talk with the owner and less of a “to the best of my knowledge” thrown in the article as an aside, when vegan…
Nate, No offers to crash but I was wondering if you’d ever considered publishing the plans to your trailer. You might make a dollar or two especially after you go solar! Let me know if you do it. Sincerely, Don
Not sure if it’s been mentioned here, but they’ll also be playing the Old Rock House in St. Louis on May 22
Interesting about who owns land in the path of the Olympian Drive extension. My comment was in response to ‘Tony C’s remarks about the I-74 expansion. Just who owns land in the 150 [BloomingtonRd]-I-74 corridor?? Because the corridor is zoned for future use as Commercial/Industrial, I am…
(happy face)
Wow, great article. I wish you the best in your endeavors and hope you have a nice trip.
Um. Yeah — check out that “General Disclaimer” at the bottom of the article, folks.
As an adoptee, I can empathize—although I’m not an international adoptee, and I apologize if I’m assuming too much on the nature of your adoption. You can feel what you feel, but don’t be too hard on yourself. When I started a search for my birth family,…
I highly doubt a single dish is vegan at Bombay. Most Indian dishes use Ghee(essentially clarrified butter) as the base fat. While I guess they could make some dishes with canola oil, I would for sure ask the exact ingredients before I consumed if you are following a vegan diet.
You’re right! Every runner, in my opinion, is a real runner.
Congratulations on the AG place! In all of your accomplishments, don’t forget what it was like to think a mile was an impossible distance. Getting to the six-mile point takes a lot of training and preparation to acclimate the mind and musculature to so much pounding. Your…
Sounds like it!
I heading out on my 9 miler before my 10 hour work day right now. Do I have what it takes?
Nice, killer work pretty man…the channeled, one sided collaborated rhyming poem. An oft forgot genre. The ruckus was felt even here in my living room, which is normally a safe haven from ruckus.
wait, I was commenting on the wrong thing - sorry - he’s actually a gigantic sellout but who really knows what all this is about.
If the democrats didn’t have Kucinich, and the republicans didn’t have Ron Paul, where would both these parties really stand? These men actually mean what they say.
Joel, thank you for the opportunity to answer these questions and have them posted here. I really appreciate it! Yes, I was thrilled to see that Rep. Kucinich flipped today, so he will has committed to voting yes for health reform. I appreciated his comments which seem…
It appears to me that your reviewer did all that could be expected: she paid her money, saw the play and conveyed her impressions. The review (on the whole, laudatory) may have been rushed, in a generous attempt to publicize the production while it was still available…
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Awesome looking lineup… I’m excited. Another vote towards the Smoking Popes rocking out at the first Laughing Prairie Dog festival… it was a pretty good energy, and plenty of groups considering the cheap ticket. The rest all look pretty good for the ticket price as well. …