WHAT: The Mahones, Los Assparados, Bad Catman
WHERE: The Highdive ($12)
WHEN: Thursday, August 14th at 8:30 p.m.
Irish punk outfit The Mahones are performing with a couple of locals on Thursday night at the Highdive. They’ve been around for quite some time, and with nine albums already on their resume, their tenth, The Black Irish, was voted Best Punk Album at the Independent Music Awards. Their track “Pain The Town Red” was featured at the end of The Fighter. Pretty cool.
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WHAT: Big Art, Onyema Grace, Josi Green, T.R.U.T.H., Randall Mance, Klevah, Ci Ci Lacoule, Saha Cool
WHERE: The Canopy Club ($5)
WHEN: Thursday, August 14th at 9 p.m.
This group of emcees will make up the Lyrically Inclined Showcase at the Highdive on Thursday night at the Canopy Club. Eight acts for $5 is solid, especially with some good local hip-hop in the mix here with T.R.U.T.H. and Klevah.
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WHAT: RAII & Whitney Keaton
WHERE: The Clark Bar ($10)
WHEN: Thursday, August 14th at 10 p.m.
Champaign’s Whitney Keaton and Chicago’s RAII are performing at the Clark Bar, and the duo most recently performed with Alicia Keys for her “Girl on Fire” tour. Not too shabby.
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WHAT: Taste of Champaign-Urbana
WHERE: West Side Park (free)
WHEN: Friday, August 15th at 5 p.m. and Saturday, August 16th at 11 a.m.
The Taste of Champaign is back for another year in West Side Park near Downtown Champaign. Plenty of acts will be performing for free, which you can see the entire schedule over at the Facebook event linked above. Sun Stereo, We The Animals, Beat Kitchen, Dreamfakers, and plenty of others are included.
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WHAT: Friday Night Live
WHERE: Downtown Champaign (free)
WHEN: Friday, August 15th at 6 p.m.
Downtown Champaign music showcase by 40 North continues this week with a variety of artists performing. I’ll update the article whenever we get word on who will be performing on Friday night.
Update: Here’s what they have lined up:
Walnut & Chester:
6 p.m.: Guido Sanchez-Portuguez – classical guitar
7 p.m.: Cliff Stoker w/ Dody & Frazier and Jeff Arrigo – acoustic classics
Neil & Park:
6 p.m.: Champaign School of Music – Pop Star & Rock Band
7 p.m.: Pet Roxx – pop/rock
Neil & Church (One Main Plaza):
6 p.m.: Church Street Ramblers – early jazz
7 p.m.: Desafinado – Brazilian jazz
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WHAT: Terminus Victor, Hype War Machine, The Autocorrect
WHERE: Mike ‘N Molly’s ($7)
WHEN: Friday, August 15th at 8 p.m.
Mainstay local outfit Terminus Victor will be taking the stage on Friday night at Mike ‘N Molly’s. They’re coming off of a great 2013 with the release of Prevention vs. Intervention, which was one of our favorites fro last year.
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WHAT: Airacobra, Uncertainties, Low Twelve, Latem
WHERE: The Canopy Club ($6)
WHEN: Friday, August 15th at 9 p.m.
Metal show happening at the Canopy Club on Friday night this week, headlined by locals Airacobra. They’re joined by three others, including Low Twelve out of Bloomington, who we interviewed late last year when they came through to play.
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WHAT: Resinater, Woodie, Orator, Ode Vinter, Marathon
WHERE: Thee Deathtower ($3)
WHEN: Friday, August 15th at 9 p.m.
Strong bill over at thee Deathtower with a variety of stoner rock, math rock, black metal and more in between on Friday night. Resinater is a fairly new outfit, featuring members of Hank. and some other locals playing stoner rock, as we reviewed their live record in one of our B-Sides columns. Plenty of good stuff here from five locals.
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WHAT: Matter of Days
WHERE: Cowboy Monkey ($5)
WHEN: Friday, August 15th at 10 p.m.
Matter of Days are back and performing at Cowboy Monkey on Friday night. No word on whether or not they’ll be joined by more bands, but for now, this is where we’re at. Stay tuned as Katie speaks with the band later in the week.
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EDITOR’S PICK: WITHERSHINS, NEIV, COMMON LOON
Mike ‘N Molly’s ($7) — Saturday, August 16th at 9 p.m.
Withershins is officially releasing their third record, and a follow up to the terrific 2012 effort Silver Cities, on Saturday night. If you haven’t done so already, do yourself a favor and stream Mt. Fuji In Blue over at Sloucher. This will provide some context to Saturday night’s show, as that record is getting the release treatment it deserves. I have to say, the record definitely bleeds Jesu, which is something they’ve been very up front about. These are good things, no doubt. Italy’s shoegaze outfit Neiv joins, and not only that, Common Loon will open. Awesome.
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WHAT: Caleb Cook Band
WHERE: Rose Bowl Tavern
WHEN: Saturday, August 16th
Country/blues/rock outfit led by Caleb Cook will be taking over the Rose Bowl on Saturday night.
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WHAT: DJ Vic Vapor
WHERE: Cowboy Monkey (free)
WHEN: Saturday, August 16th at 10 p.m.
DJ Vic Vapor recently released a mix in the Martini Lounge Series, which you can check out here prior to him taking the stage at Cowboy Monkey on Saturday night.
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WHAT: The Trews, Good Safari
WHERE: The Canopy Club ($10)
WHEN: Sunday, August 17th at 9 p.m.
Canadian outfit The Trews head through at the Canopy Club this week. They’re on a short stint through the Midwest on this tour that they’re currently on, and they’re joined by Good Safari for this date. Check out WPCD’s ticket giveaway if you’re interested in heading out to this one on Sunday.
