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
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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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…