Smile Politely

The Overture: July 7-13

WHAT: Thundertruck, Vaudvileins

WHERE: Mike ‘N Molly’s ($5)

WHEN: Thursday, July 10th at 8 p.m.

Straight up rock ‘n roll show happening at Mike ‘N Molly’s on Thursday evening. Some crunchy stoner rock from Thundertruck, who have been working on material for a short while now, and Vaudvileins will join them. Solid two band bill here.
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WHAT: New Age Nomenclature, Copecetic, Animal Honestly

WHERE: The Canopy Club ($5)

WHEN: Thursday, July 10th at 9:30 p.m.

New Age Nomenclature will be releasing their new record at the Canopy Club on Thursday night, and they’re joined by Copecetic and Animal Honestly. They’ll be giving away an autographed guitar in the process that was used while NAN was recording the record, so that’s another aspect of this show that will happen at the end of the night.
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WHAT: Resinater, GRYSCL, Our Lady, Wounded Knee

WHERE: Hunk. Haus ($5 donation)

WHEN: Friday, July 11th at 4 p.m.

You probably weren’t aware of this fact — but the City of Champaign actually made July 11th “Punk Rock BBQ Day”. Yep, that’s a real thing. To celebrate, these four bands will be performing, and good bands at that. Resinater is the stoner rock outfit that recently released some live material that we took a look at in June’s B-Sides column. GRYSCL and Our Lady both played this year’s Skeletal Lightning Fest as well, so you can catch them if you missed them in April.
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WHAT: Sara Sasaki & Friends

WHERE: The Iron Post

WHEN: Friday, July 11th at 5 p.m.

Local violinist Sara Sasaki will be taking the stage at the Iron Post early evening on Friday. She’ll be joined by “Friends”, which most likely includes other musicians of this nature to accompany her during the show. We’ll take a closer look at Sasaki later in the week before this show. UPDATE: The other musicians performing are listed at the Facebook event linked above. 

 

 

 

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WHAT: Friday Night Live

WHERE: Downtown Champaign (free)

WHEN: Friday, July 11th at 6 p.m.

Here is the information for Friday’s installment of Friday Night Live by 40 North:

Walnut & Chester
6 p.m. — Donna Herula, blues slide guitar
7 p.m. — Amira Davis, African vocals & percussion

Neil & Park
6 p.m. — Gypsy Hips, belly dancing troupe
7 p.m. — Wildwood, bluegrass

Neil & Church (One Main Plaza)
6 p.m. — Emily Otnes & the Weekdays, jazz/pop/rock/country
7 p.m. — Cody & the Gateway Drugs, rock
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WHAT: The Chemicals, Ghost Wolves, Me Jane, The 92s

WHERE: Mike ‘N Molly’s ($7)

WHEN: Friday, July 11th at 8 p.m.

Local rock outfit The Chemicals have been around for quite some time now, and they recently announced their plans to release Mono, their new record. They’re doing that on Friday night at Mike ‘N Molly’s with a proper release show. They have some good company with Austin’s The Ghost Wolves, Chicago’s Me Jane (post-punk indie rock band from heading out on tour in support of their debut album ISON), and local-ish crew The 92s.
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WHAT: Alex & The X O’s, Finer Feelings, PM Buys

WHERE: The Canopy Club ($7)

WHEN: Friday, July 11th at 8 p.m.

Bloomington’s Alex & The X O’s take on the Canopy Club on Friday night, joined by locals Finer Feelings and Chicago’s PM Buys. Finer Feelings recently released their full-length debut, Gemütlichkeit, so check that out as well.
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WHAT: Duke of Uke and His Novelty Orchestra, Pageant, Johnathan Timm

WHERE: Pizza M ($7)

WHEN: Friday, July 11th at 9 p.m.

The Duke of Uke and His Novelty Orchestra are back at it, this time in Downtown Urbana at Pizza M. Their last record was quite good, so take a listen to that if you’re unfamiliar with this crew. They’ll be joined by Pageant and Johnathan Timm. Not sure if this will be happening in the front room or the back at Cafeteria & Company, but you’ll stumble upon it if you’re wanting to go to this one.

 

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EDITOR’S PICK: MARIPOSA MUSIC FESTIVAL
Downtown Champaign (free) — Saturday, July 12th at 6 p.m.

What used to be called Champaign Music Festival is now Mariposa Music Festival, and underwent a pretty significant facelift in 2014 with a new look and different types of acts. They’ve done well, recruiting a bunch of solid acts to perform in Downtown Champaign this Saturday. Headlined by our very own Braid, who is releasing No Coast this week, their first record in 16 years (awesome), along with PHOX, Cornmeal, Common Loon, Moonrise Nation, The Curses and Paul Cebar’s Tomorrow Sound. Solid top to bottom. One stage will be at Main and Neil Street, and the other at Walnut & Chester. Did I mention it was free? Yeah, it’s free.
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WHAT: Trails and Ways, We the Animals, DJ Mertz

WHERE: Cowboy Monkey (free)

WHEN: Saturday, July 12th at 10 p.m.

A Mariposa Music Festival aftershow is happening at Cowboy Monkey featuring Trails and Ways out of Oakland, California. Unsure if there will be other bands to join, but this is a good start. We the Animals and DJ Mertz will join in for this show.

Executive Editor

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