Smile Politely

The Overture: February 14 – 20

WHAT: Stephen Kellogg and The Sixers, Chris Koza, Katrina

WHERE: The Highdive ($15)

WHEN: Tuesday, February 14th at 7:30 p.m.

Stephen Kellogg and his “Sk6ers” crew want to spend Valentine’s Day 2012 with you. With a cast of other folk-Americana openers, whether or not you have a date this year on February 14th, this show could make you feel some warmth with some acoustic guitars.

Listen: Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers: “Gravity”

WHAT: Robust + Old Irving, Jay Moses, Dave Coresh, Chance the Rapper, eGo, SCP, Floor Lovers Illinois, Wesjile, Epilep[c]

WHERE: Cowboy Monkey ($5)

WHEN: Thursday, February 16th at 10 p.m.

Hip hop shows downtown are sometimes few and far between, so this might be one to experiment with if you’re on the edge about the genre. Robust + Old Irving and some of the others on the bill hail from from Chicago, while local Jay Moses joins as well after dropping his newest mixtape Hot Water For Tea just a few weeks back. Whether or not hip hop is your cup of tea, $5 is a pretty solid deal.

Listen: Robust: “Soloist”

 

WHAT:  Morgan Orion, The Palace Flophouse, Hank, Kowabunga! Kid, I Am God

WHERE: Mike ‘N Molly’s ($5)

WHEN: Friday, February 17th at 9 p.m.

Pizza.fm is a recently established free format online radio station that is still in its infant stages, but is looking to make some noise in C-U. A variety of acts featured on this bill should draw an interesting crowd, but “antifolk” Morgan Orion bookended by the  spastic sounds of I Am God should make for an interesting time.

 

WHAT: Megan Johns, Hathaways, Common Loon 

WHERE: Cowboy Monkey ($5)

WHEN: Friday, February 17th at 10 p.m.

Singer-songwriter Megan Johns is celebrating the release of her new LP Hey, Lonely and bosltered it with a very appealing bill in sharing the stage with Common Loon and Hathaways. You can buy your copy for only $5, so get over there and support your local artist and her supporting cast.

Listen: Megan Johns Band: “Mon Amour” (live)


 


WHAT:
Grandkids, In Tall Buildings, Slothpop, Union Tree Review, Cains & Abels

WHERE: Mike ‘N Molly’s ($5)

WHEN: Saturday, February 18th at 9 p.m.

Grandkids have been hard at work on their debut full-length to follow up their two delightful EPs and settle in at MnM’s with these group of bands from surrounding cities. The mini-tour covers a few states around here and C-U is the third stop. Be on the lookout for some more news about their upcoming album from us before too long.


 

WHAT: We Must Dismantle All This!, Boreas, Laughboy

WHERE: Urbana Independent Media Center ($5)

WHEN: Sunday, February 19th at 7 p.m.

The C-U Collective presents this bill filled with plenty of thrash hardcore to enter your ears. We Must Dismantle All This! is joined by black metal crew Boreas from Kansas City and a debut live show from punk outfit Laughboy. 


 

WHAT: Umphrey’s McGee

WHERE: Canopy Club ($25 advance/$30 door)

WHEN: Sunday, February 19th at 9 p.m.

An Evening with Umphrey’s McGee is back at Canopy Club for another go-round following the release of their newest album Death By Stereo late last year. These guys have built quite the jam-band norm of a cult following over the span of their existence. Don’t expect there to be a shortage of mind melting jams at this one.

Listen: Umphrey’s McGee: “In The Kitchen”

Executive Editor

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