Elsinore's two new members Brad Threlkeld and James Treichler are ready to show fans what they can bring to the band, and insist they're not feeling the pressure of playing for the hometown crowd.
Search Smile Politely
New members of Elsinore ready for first hometown shows
“Don’t fear if you hear a foreign sound to your ear”
To prepare for Bob Dylan coming to Champaign we gathered some of the man's best songs, per the opinion of several people active in the C-U music scene, into one collection.
Quit the commute and cut a rug
Krannert's offering commuters a break with a drive time rock and roll concert from JD McPherson.
Treasure this
Timeshare, the debut album from locals Grandkids, is truly a fantastic piece of work. It's so good, Champaign might not be able to claim Grandkids much longer.
Wicked Walls: Like a phoenix rising from the ashes — with more distortion
Wicked Walls makes its debut tonight at Mike 'N Molly's, and J. Caleb Means sits down with Chris to talk about the band after the falling out of New Ruins.
Let it fall into the right place
Chris takes us through the fourth installment of Coed Pageant's seasonal EP series, The Fallout.
The right time to say Goodnight
This former local outfit closes the book on their project Good Night & Good Morning Saturday night, and we sit down to talk to them about their music, playing in C-U, and what the future holds.
Lætitia Sadier: Seeking silence to create noise
Holter’s big year comes to C-U
It's been a very good year for this Los Angeles singer-songwriter. Check out the reasons why before her Pygmalion set Friday night.
Votolato: clear and earnest
Rocky Votolato and CALLmeKAT dazzled on Saturday, and Chris has the recap and photos of show to share in case you missed it.
Rocky Votolato
Rocky Votolato pays a visit to Champaign tomorrow night, and our very own Chris Davies got a chance to pick his brain about a few things.
Lost in a daze: a review of Evil Tents
Chris follows up last week's interview with Evil Tents by reviewing this past Saturday's re-release show at The Highdive.
An oral history of Night Air on the Midway
Chris interviewed Evil Tents about their re-release and upcoming show. What we present here is pure unadulterated Evil Tents, which, according to them, sounds a lot like night driving, pot smoking, water bed fucking music. Fair enough.
C-U fourth in “Best places for new college grads”
Hank III’s outlaw country hits Canopy
Come see Hank III, or don’t, he doesn’t care
Chris is pretty sure that you are the last person Hank III gives a damn about. But if you give a damn about him, he's playing on Wednesday.
It’s the nature of things
The Daredevil Christopher Wright takes the stage tonight with some local chums Common Loon and Santah.
Hathaways: growth and transformation
We got a chance to sit down with Kate Hathaway to talk about Hathways' show tomorrow night and their new release.
Elsinore, Common Loon impress diverse crowd
Krannert Center for the Performing Arts played host to a couple of local staples over the weekend as a part of the Pygmalion Spring Show Series.
Elsinore use down time for collaboration and definition
Chris talks to Ryan Groff about some of the rumblings from Elsinore camp prior to their show on Saturday with Common Loon.
“Cats and Dogs” and crescendos
Regardless of expectation prior to the show, The Head and The Heart brought anything but disappointment.
Count to five: The Head and The Heart
Pygmalion Music Festival's Spring Show Series kicks off tonight with Seattle's folk outfit The Head and The Heart.
Joe Pug: That kind of hometown feeling
Joe Pug returns to the Canopy Club in what is beginning to become a longterm friendship with the C-U music community.
Parasol: A Retrospective
After 20 years, Parasol Records is closing down its storefront and mail order wing, but with the in-house record labels still going strong, the future seems bright.
Album review: Deer Tick, Divine Providence
Seeking Ryan Adams
Chris goes looking for Ryan Adams in the singer/songwriter's new album Ashes & Fire, and discovers the search is the most rewarding part.
Wilco mines past to create a great album
Ivan and Alyosha: Living for something
Chris talks to the harmonizing folk pop band while they clean their studio, fresh off the road from a tour with Brandi Carlisle.
Unknown Mortal Orchestra: Show up on drugs
Unknown Mortal Orchestra could be one of the breakout stories of this year's festival. Chris does his best to keep up.
Jessica Lea Mayfield: Nashville noise via Ohio
Though Mayfield keeps a busy schedule these days, Chris managed to catch up with her through the power of the internet.
Ellnora 2011 — An impressively diverse lineup
We hope local music stores have stocked up on really nice guitar strings. We think somebody's going to need them.
Barnstormer 5 Preview
This Friday, the Daytrotter crew returns to the Kalyx Center with another solid lineup in tow.
Album Review: Washed Out Within & Without
The "echoey wasteland" of sound on this Pygmalion band's first full-length doesn't help Chris overcome his distaste for chillwave.
Album Review: Beyoncé 4
Beyoncé's new album contains nods to '90s artists such as Toni Braxton and Gloria Estefan, and this makes a believer out of Chris.
Cults, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. and the problem with blogs
Chris reviews debut albums from two bands that garnered a lot of internet buzz long before they had thirty minutes worth of music.
Album Review: Dawes Nothing is Wrong
Album Review: The Curses' Old Magazines
The Curses' debut album is nice mix of jazz, blues and swing, but it mostly leaves Chris craving the band's live performance.
My Morning Jacket bring it all back home with Circuital
Everybody's talkin' about the Louisville band's latest release, and with good reason, as they bounce back with a return to their roots.
How Tyler, the Creator is killing rap
In a world where Common is "vile" and "dangerous", Chris wonders if Tyler provides easy kindling to those who claim rap glamorizes violence and misogyny.
Album Review: Maritime Human Hearts
Those looking for a historical retread might be disappointed, but Chris says there's still a lot to like in Davey von Bohlen & Co.'s latest release.
Nothing less than the best at the Kalyx Center
The second local visit of the Daytrotter Barnstormer series made for another very memorable night in Monticello.
Daytrotter ready to take Monticello by storm
Chris talks to Daytrotter founder Sean Moeller about Barnstormer's second trip to the Kaylx Center.
Album Review: Decibully's Decibully
Record Store Day does not disappoint for music fans
New writer Chris D. Davies advocates making Record Store Day a federal holiday after thoroughly enjoying Saturday's events.