Smile Politely

The Overture: December 9-15

WHAT: Miles Nielsen and the Rusted Hearts, A Cool Hand

WHERE: Cowboy Monkey
 
WHEN: Thursday, December 12th at 9 p.m.
 
Rockford’s folk/Americana outfit Miles Nielsen and the Rusted Hearts are on a short tour across the Midwest, and they’re making a stop here in C-U this week. You can check out some of the tour dates here. They’re joined by locals A Cool Hand, who released their brand new full-length album Long Live The Night earlier this year.

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WHAT: Fauve, Church Booty, The Phantom Broadcast

WHERE: Mike ‘N Molly’s ($7)

WHEN: Thursday, December 12th at 9 p.m.

A trio of local bands on the bill on Thursday night at Mike ‘N Molly’s. Headlined by indie rock outfit Fauve, they released a solid EP earlier this year entitled Light, which you can check out here. Be on the lookout for an interview with the band later this week from us. They’re joined by Church Booty and The Phantom Broadcast.
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WHAT: Casey Donahew Band, Joe Stamm, The 26ers

WHERE: The Canopy Club ($15 advance/$17 door)

WHEN: Thursday, December 12th at 8 p.m.

Casey Donahew is a Texas-based musician, and him and his band are heading to Urbana this week. This country artist is on the road in support of his new album, Standoff, and will be joined by Joe Stamm and the 26ers later this week.
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EDITOR’S PICK: HANK., MOTES, CRANK WIZARDS
Mike ‘N Molly’s ($7/$5 with a toy) — Friday, December 13th at 9 p.m.

A great show that has a great caused woven into things takes the Editor’s Pick this week. A Very Merry Hank.mas is happening on Friday night at Mike ‘N Molly’s, and they’re wanting to contribute to the Toys 4 Tots Toy Drive alongside their performance. Anyone who brings a toy gets a couple of bucks off of the price to get in the door, and those toys will be donated to kids in need this Holiday season. Pretty awesome of them to do something like this. They released their terrific new LP Pinched. earlier this year, so check that out prior to Friday. They’re also joined by shoegaze/slowcore outfit Motes, and Crank Wizards. This is a must this week.
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WHAT: Decadents, Ramjeta, Illini Contraband

WHERE: The Canopy Club ($6)

WHEN: Friday, December 13th at 9 p.m.

Local hard rock band Decadents headline this show at the Canopy Club on Friday night. They’re joined by Ramjeta and Illini Contraband. You can check out Decadent’s debut album, which was released last year and engineered by Elsinore’s Ryan Groff, over at their Bandcamp page. Pretty awesome show poster for the show around the holidays, I have to admit.
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WHAT: Øde Vinter, Corcid, A Hill to Die Upon, Unnerve, Sept of Memnon, Animus, Orator, Hermit Hill

WHERE: Error Records ($6)

WHEN: Saturday, December 14th at 4:45 p.m.

Local black metal howlers Øde Vinter are releasing their brand new full-length LP this week. They’re calling it End Ov the Solar Era, and they’re throwing down on Saturday to celebrate. You can check out our interview with the band here. A bunch of bands will join in on a mid-afternoon show over at Error Records.
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WHAT: Matthew Adis, John Menchaca, Brian Galecki, Martin Meyer, Kamila Glowacki, Tim Reynolds

WHERE: indi go Artist Co-op (free)

WHEN: Saturday, December 14th at 6 p.m.

This event is being dubbed Not Just Noise: An Art Show is happening on Saturday at indi go Artist Co-op on Saturday. There will be “an exhibition of artwork from six individuals linked by their passion to visually convey the underground music they love”, per the Facebook event (linked above). There will be food & drinks, and admission is free.
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WHAT: The Bottle Rockets, Otis Gibbs

WHERE: The Highdive ($15 advance/$18 door)

WHEN: Saturday, December 14th at 7 p.m.

Rock outfit the Bottle Rockets are on tour and performing in this show, presented by WWHP on Saturday night. They’ve recently reissued their long out-of-print albums Bottle Rockets and The Brooklyn Side, and have remastered them into some reissued sets with unreleased tracks. Check out all the information over at their website. They’re joined by Otis Gibbs on Saturday night for their stop here at the Highdive.
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WHAT: Bones Jugs ‘N Harmony, Sunshine Daydream

WHERE: Mike ‘N Molly’s ($7)

WHEN: Saturday, December 14th at 9 p.m.

Locals Bones Jugs ‘N Harmony have this show lined up on Saturday night at Mike ‘N Molly’s, and they’re going to be performing tracks by the Grateful Dead. They’re going to be joined by Springfield’s Sunshine Daydream, and if you’re a fan of the Dead, this is the show for you this weekend.
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WHAT: Ethereal Groove Inc., Indigosun, Chachuba

WHERE: The Canopy Club ($7)

WHEN: Saturday, December 14th at 9 p.m.

Chicago four piece Ethereal Groove Inc., aka EGI, makes its way downstate to C-U this week with Indigosun, who released a new track not too long ago. You can check that out over at their Bandcamp page. EGI is a funk infused rock outfit, so if you’re into jam bands or funk rock music, this is your ticket this weekend.

Executive Editor

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