The Overture: March 9–15
With work, family, and rewatching the season premiere of Breaking Bad, who has the time to find out about the best shows happening in Champaign-Urbana? No need to fear, because the editors here at Smile Politely have taken care of it. Here are the must-see shows of the week:
When: Thursday, March 12
What: Sunset Stallion, Ohtis, Yossarian, Green Ghost Red Ghost
Where: Canopy Club, 10:30 p.m., $7
[Ed. note: The author of this article plays in Green Ghost Red Ghost]
Local piano-poppers Sunset Stallion bring some kicking guy-girl vocal harmonies and maybe even a Fleetwood Mac cover to the Canopy Club this Thursday. Bloomington-Normal's Ohtis, who have been known to put on a good show, will be making their Canopy debut.
When: Thursday, March 12 SHOW IS CANCELED
What: The Unemployed Architects, Zach May and the Maps, Jonathon Childers
Where: Cowboy Monkey, 9:30 p.m., $5
Another Bloomington-Normal outfit, The Unemployed Architects, comes to C-U. Be sure to see Zach May and the Maps play some great songs to the tune of an unpretentious Beirut, and watch as Jonathon Childers shouts out some raucous folk. SHOW IS CANCELED
When: Friday, March 13
What: Bonnie "Prince" Billy
Where: Independent Media Center, 8 p.m., $15
Will Oldham is the man. This indie folk hero's Friday night concert is a must-see. So is this:
I really hope Oldham wears those shorts on stage.
You can win tickets to Bonnie "Prince" Billy this Friday. Click here to find out how.
When: Sunday, March 15
What: Eureka Brown, Coltrane Motion, Organic Flow
Where: Mike 'N Molly's, 8 p.m., $4
Chicago's Coltrane Motion plays the kind of electro-pop that doesn't sound like electro-pop. Sure there are synths, samples, and drum loops, but their songwriting pulls the duo out of the polished and cold feelings that often accompany computer-generated music. Get there right at 8 p.m. to see Organic Flow put on a fantastic genre-bending hip hop set.
10 comments
I wonder how much Kanye had to do with that video. Do you think Kanye West has any idea, to this day, who Bonnie “Prince” Billy or Zach Galifinakis is? Judging by his lyrics, he lives in a world filled with Mike Myers, Adam Sandler, and Stevie Wonder. Then again, Can also snuck into that mix somehow. Who knows?
Apparently Kanye contacted Galifinakis about it. I remember reading some weird story about Kanye’s personal trainer showing him that video Galifankis did with Fiona Apple.
But yeah, doubt he’s familiar with Oldham’s work…
Jonathon
Hey Brian,
Thanks for getting us on here for the Thursday show, unfortunately it was cancelled/postponed early this week. It will probably be made up in early April.
I strongly suggest everyone catches Sunset Stallion instead.
~Jonathon Childers
Ryan Martin
why would you pay $15 to watch bonnie prince billy when you can see giants/oceans/maserati for free at the union. cmon.
probably because you like bonnie “prince” billy, but i’m just guessing…
Man, the Courtyard Cafe needs to do a way better job of promoting their shows online. I still can’t get any solid information about when the show really starts and what order the bands are playing in.
ryan
oh mike ingram, you and your silly deductions!
david, i agree - the place is a clusterfuck. no one knew giants cancelled until after the soundcheck?
and what a great poster artist they have this semester…..those things look like my 11 year old sister just discovered microsoft paint and the clipboard capabilities on our family’s 5 year old desktop
Crazy, I know.
Ben
Maserati/Oceans was pretty sweet, though. I was really impressed with Oceans.
ryan
thanks ben!
Most Recent Music Comments
represent, Matt.
Yeah, I’d agree that Transporter Room 3 is the worst house venue I’ve ever seen.
*slow. clap.* Still offering no threat of intelligence…. I know I said I thought you should just write this whole column yourself next year, Isaac, but now that you’ve gone and taken a “part deux” run at it, I’d like to modify my request: Best Music 2013,…
Actually, it’s kind of nice, the quiet. John Heoffleur’s engaging commentary/dialogue is sorely missed, however. In lieu of someone intelligent saying something, I’ve compiled a list of Honourable Mentions: BEST ROCK BAND: Take Care ::these gentlemen have four completely different sets at their disposal right now (which…
What? Echo! (Echo!) Where’s the dischord and dissent?
That article almost looks like something out of The Onion
Thanks! I’m looking forward to writing even more….
Yay! Love this! Welcome to the family!
that last photo’s a doozie, Chris. good work.
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Did the Crave Truck get a permit to park in city metered spots and city right of way? Or did they just get a permit? The city clerk’s office seems to be a suspect here, but it’s not clear they did anything wrong. Did the Crave Truck…
High-profile whining. AKA Lobbying.
it’s quite choice. looking forward to seeing how it and its patronage grow and develop over the course of the year. could be a neat little ecosystem.
“It was at this point, before he started his business, that working with city employees should’ve raised red flags…” But they didn’t because: 1) The City Clerk’s office originally mis-interpreted the rules, or are indeed re-interpreting them. 2) Champaign’s brick-n-mortar merchants hadn’t yet started whining about The Crave Truck.
Super cool! Excellent track, Excellent band.
Looking forward to trying this place!
I’m in the middle (or the beginning or end, depending on how you look at it) of re-reading Slaughterhouse Five. What a great companion column.
Get yours early. The Rave’s CD will be available at Exile and at The C-U Flea on Saturday. C-U Flea details here: http://www.smilepolitely.com/news/sp_radio_podcast_c-u_flea_arrives/
I don’t know about Gerard and a random police sargeant. My (mild) outrage is based on this: “...he worked closely with Champaign City Clerk Marilyn Banks to make sure he was licensed properly as a transient food peddler, filling out the necessary paperwork and paying a $225…
Local Yocal pretty much nails it here. I suspect there will be merchants who oppose food trucks because they arguably don’t pay their fair share to locate their trucks in high traffic (high rent) areas. The food trucks take away business from rent payers, park in city…
Oh nice! I’d totally vote for Matt Campbell!
“Smile Politely sports writer announces candidacy for city government.”
I also got to visit Big Grove Tavern during the soft open and definitely enjoyed the pork belly the most of all the dishes I sampled. The cheesy grits and the vinegary pickled vegetables were a perfect compliment to the rich pork belly.
The Alan Partridge lookalike on the right in the first small photo has nothing to condescend to anyone about. AH HA!
Snell and the little Hitlers of the neighborhood association need to chill out. Legitimate businesses should have the freedom to exist without having to endure the slings and arrows of ignorant and misguided opposition.
represent, Matt.
Yeah, I’d agree that Transporter Room 3 is the worst house venue I’ve ever seen.
Food trucks are the start-up, small businesses of the future for those unable to afford real estate. No surprise, that merchants who pay rent, utilities, and maintenance on a property would despise the traveling competition. Or developers who build more empty retail spaces would want to close…
Not so much far-right Tea Party as a balanced, moderate viewpoint between letting businesses succeed and protecting society with reasonable regulations. In spite of what the city reps are saying, the interpretation of policy on this issue certainly has changed. Letting a business start up under one…
I think it’s neat that SP has turned rightward, now espousing a Tea Party-style frustration with government regulations & taxes.
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Get yours early. The Rave’s CD will be available at Exile and at The C-U Flea on Saturday. C-U Flea details here: http://www.smilepolitely.com/news/sp_radio_podcast_c-u_flea_arrives/