The Overture: Mar. 15-21
WHAT: The Felix Culpa, Big Science, Suns
WHEN: Monday, March 15 @ 6 p.m.
WHERE: Canopy Club ($7 cover)
The Felix Culpa kick off a tour covering the eastern half of the country which will see them playing with The Dear Hunter and Caspian. Come see them before they wind up getting too famous.
WHAT: Goran Ivanovic and Andreas Kapsalis Duo
WHEN: Tuesday, March 16 @ 7 p.m.
WHERE: The Iron Post ($7 cover)
Well respected in both jazz and jam circles, Goran Ivanovic brings his latest project to town. Having shredded basically every C-U venue imaginable at least once, you'd do well to catch him at the jazz epicenter of our town.
WHAT: The Tossers, The Night Brigade
WHEN: Tuesday, March 16 @ 8 p.m.
WHERE: The Highdive ($12 advance)
Celebrate St. Patrick's Day a little early with The Tossers and their brand of celtic punk (think Dropkick Murphys). Locals the Night Brigade will start things off at nine. Hey, maybe you'll even witness a pit at the Highdive...
WHAT: The Chemicals, Tractor Kings, Crane and Badger
WHEN: Friday, March 19 @ 10 p.m.
WHERE: Mike 'n Molly's ($5 cover)
An overwhelmingly solid local show, with one newer band (Crane and Badger) and two more established ones (The Chemicals and Tractor Kings) who rarely play out. Who knows, miss this and you might not be able to see Tractor Kings for another six months. Do yourself a favor and pick up their excellent album Homesick while you're there.
NEW THIS WEEK
4/1 - Terminus Victor, Roberta Sparrow, TBA @ The Brass Rail — Holy shit, the Brass Rail is back! Plus, Terminus Victor are a powerhouse live. Must be that strobelight...
4/8 - Turn it UP! Benefit with Leiloni Stars, Vanattica, Tom Miebach, Anna Schweig, Cara Bailey @ IMC — If there ever was a good cause to support, this is it. Proceeds from this benefit will go to building an LGBT community center in Champaign. With five artists performing, you only pay $2 per band (less if you're a student or buy in advance).
4/29 - The Life and Times, Sweet Cobra, TBA @ Cowboy Monkey — Last year at Pygmalion, I heard the Life and Times' beergarden set from inside a bus sitting at Illinois Terminal. Bring your earplugs, and get ready for some of the best space rock you've ever heard.
5/1 - Dubstep Massacre with Positive Vibr8tions, Babylon System, DJ Belly, Zmick @ Highdive — DM graduates to the Highdive, and brings in another major touring act in Babylon Soundsystem. Plus, having seen the frighteningly good live shows Zmick are capable of, including several collaborative sets with other artists, I'm counting on at least one DJ spinning with them.
LOOKING AHEAD (new additions in bold)
3/15/10
Canopy Club - The Felix Culpa, Big Science, Suns (9 p.m., $7)
Highdive - Kilborn Alley (7 p.m., $3)
Iron Post - John and Julie Pennell (7 p.m., $4)
3/16/10
Krannert Center - Danu
The Highdive - The Tossers, The Night Brigade (Doors @ 8 p.m. - show @ 9 p.m., $12 Adv.)
Iron Post - Goran Ivanovic and Andreas Kapsalis (7 p.m., $7)
The Red Herring - Rob Jacobs, Penny Hill, Peninsula (8 p.m., $3)
3/17/10
Iron Post - St. Paddy's Celebration with Nile Hawter (5 p.m., $3)
Iron Post - St. Paddy's Celebration with Big Bluestem (7 p.m., $3)
3/18/10
Canopy Club - Chicago Farmer, My Dear Alan Andrews, Bob & Pricilla (10 p.m., $7 cover)
IMC - The Bitter Tears, Ussop the Liar, Claire Johnson, Ben Leddy (8 p.m., $8)
Iron Post - U of I Jazz Combo (7 p.m. $2)
Mike n' Molly's - For Great Justice, Breathe (10 p.m.)
Krannert Center - San Francisco Symphony
3/19/10
Bentley's - Mike Ingram & Kayla Brown (10 p.m., $3)
Canopy Club - Redneck Remedy, Leproso, Slow Intentional Damage, Scathe (9 p.m., $6)
Cowboy Monkey - The Handcuffs, Great Crusades (10 p.m., $5 cover)
Iron Post - Jeff Helgesen Jazz Quintet (5 p.m., free)
Mike n' Molly's - The Chemicals, Tractor Kings, Crane & Badger (10 p.m.)
Rose Bowl - GTO & the Glasspaks (9 p.m.)
3/20/10
Canopy Club - AD/HD (AC/DC Tribute), Shovelhead (9 p.m., $TBA)
Cowboy Monkey - Bible Belt Sinners (10 p.m. $5)
Radmakers - Verdict, TBA (8 p.m., $TBA)
Rose Bowl - Chrissy, Doug and Tommy (9 p.m.)
3/22/10
Iron Post - Chip Stephens Trio (7 p.m., $5)
3/24/10
Iron Post - Karim Yengsep (7 p.m., $3)
3/25/10
Canopy Club - Sugar Prophets, Duke of Uke, The Curses (9 p.m., $5)
3/26/10
Bentley's - Sipos and Young (10 p.m., $3)
Canopy Club - Atheory, Solaris, Admiral of Black, Deliver the Fallen, Konspiracy (9 p.m., $5)
Cowboy Monkey - Dubstep Massacre with Miss Haze, STL DUB, Lincoln Jones, DJ Belly (10 p.m., $5)
Iron Post - Boneyard Jazz Quintet (5 p.m., free)
Iron Post - Mhondoro (9 p.m., $5)
3/27/10
Bentley's - Andy Morellion, Ben Wilson (10 p.m., $3)
Iron Post - Ruthless Goats (6 p.m., $3)
Iron Post - Easton Stuard (9:30 p.m., $3)
Radmakers - Jackson Taylor & the Sinners (8 p.m., $TBA)
Rose Bowl - Delta Kings (9 p.m.)
3/28/10
IMC - Bossa Nuevo (6 p.m., $6)
Mike n' Molly's - Kayla Brown, TBA (10 p.m.)
3/29/10
Canopy Club - Diafanes (6:30 p.m., $7)
Iron Post - Chip Stephens Trio (7 p.m., $TBA)
3/30/10
Krannert Center - What it Is! Featuring Mavis Staples, Booker T. JJ Grey
The Highdive - St. Vincent, Elsinore (Doors @ 8 p.m. - show @ 9 p.m., $13 Adv.)
3/31/10
Iron Post - Parkland Jazz Improv Class (5 p.m., $2)
Iron Post - Glen Wilson (7:30 p.m., $6)
4/1/10
The Brass Rail - Terminus Victor, Roberta Sparrow, TBA (8 p.m., $TBA)
Canopy Club - FOOLSTRAVAGANZA! with Good Luck Jane, The 312s, Audiac Arrest, Vivian McConnell, Heyokas, South Jordan, The Skalalitabs, With The Morning, and Seconds to Sundown ($7)
Krannert Center - Say It With a Smile (5 p.m., free)
4/2/10
Bentley's - Caleb Cook and the Glass House Carpenters (9 p.m., $4)
Canopy Club - David Bazan, Headlights ($10 Adv.)
Cowboy Monkey - Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons (10 p.m., $10 advance)
Mike n' Molly's - The Blue Hit, Mean Lids, Hathaways (10 p.m., $5)
4/3/10
Bentley's - Corn Desert Ramblers (9 p.m., $4)
Canopy Club - Zach May and The Maps, TBA (9 p.m., $TBA)
Cowboy Monkey - The Afterdarks, The Krank Daddies, Th'Empires (10 p.m., $5)
Exile on Main St. - Return of the DJ with Spinnerty and Matt Brombaugh (free)
IMC - I-Pan, Rumba No Biso
Mike n' Molly's - Take Care, Community College (10 p.m., $5)
Staerkel Planetarium (Parkland College) - Lynn O'Brien (3 p.m. $3)
4/5/10
Canopy Club - Bassnectar, DJ Vadim, DJ Mertz (9 p.m., $17 Adv.)
4/7/10
The Highdive - Japandroids, Love is All (Doors @ 7 p.m. - show @ 8 p.m., $12 Adv.)
4/8/10
IMC - Turn it UP! Benefit with Leiloni Stars, Vanattica, Tom Miebach, Anna Schweig, Cara Bailey (7 p.m., $5 Adv)
4/9/10
Bentley's - The Sugar Prophets (9 p.m., $4)
Canopy Club - Mike Posner, Good Luck Jane (10 p.m., $20 Adv.)
Cowboy Monkey - Common Loon, Early Day Miners, New Ruins (10 p.m., $5)
Mike 'n Molly's - Ussop the Liar, TBA (9 p.m., $5)
4/10/2010
Bentley's - Shandy Wilsey Band (6 p.m., free)
Bentley's - Missing the Point, The Run Around, TBA (10 p.m., $4)
Courtyard Cafe - Organic Flow, Primeridian (8 p.m., $TBA)
Krannert Center - Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra
IMC - Roy Zimmerman (8 p.m., $15)
Mike 'n Molly's - Very Truly Yours, The Versailles, Withershins (10 p.m., $5)
Mike n' Molly's - Caspian, Arms and Sleepers, The Felix Culpa (10 p.m., $TBA)
4/15/10
Cowboy Monkey - Cameron McGill and What Army (10 p.m., $7)
Krannert Center - Joshua Bell
4/16/10
Bentley's - Dan Hubbard (10 p.m., $3)
Cowboy Monkey - Santah, David Vandervelde, Ghostfinger, Jitney (9:30 p.m., $7)
Mike 'n Molly's - Arkansas Dogjaw, Midmost (10 p.m., $5)
4/17/10
Bentley's - Tiger Bones, Menthols, TBA (10 p.m., $5)
Canopy Club - The Antlers, Phantogram (10 p.m., $12)
Champaign Public Library - Elsinore (4 p.m., free)
Cowboy Monkey - Daijaku, The Madeira, Abstract Artimus (10 p.m., $5)
Exile on Main St. - Record Store Day Show with Elsinore, The Palace Flophouse, TBA (12 p.m., free)
The Highdive - Shannon Curfman (7 p.m., $12 Adv)
Mike 'n Molly's - Heyokas, Grody Hunt, TBA (9 p.m., $5)
Parasol Records - Record Store Day Show with Elsinore, TBA (free)
Urban Outfitters - Boneyard Arts Festival Show with Mickey Karbal (5 p.m., free)
4/18/10
Cowboy Monkey - Robbie Fulks, TBA (8 p.m., $10 Adv)
IMC - Lac La Belle (7 p.m., $TBA)
The Rose Bowl - Bill Kirchen ($TBA)
Urbana Free Library - The Duke of Uke (2 p.m., free)
4/22/10
Aroma Cafe - Ashley Riley (7 p.m., free)
Mike 'n Molly's - Via Audio, TBA (10 p.m., $5)
4/23/10
Bentley's - The Witala Brothers (10 p.m., $3)
Canopy Club - Local H, Kinch (7 p.m. $10)
Canopy Club - Family Groove Company, Kinetix (10 p.m., $7)
Mike n' Molly's - Giant Cloud, My Dear Alan Andrews (10 p.m.)
4/24/10
Bentley's - Mike Ingram and Dawna Nelson (9 p.m., $2)
Canopy Club - The Used, Chiodos, New Medicine (8 p.m. $25 Adv)
Cowboy Monkey - Matt Poss (10 p.m., $5)
Krannert Center - James Farm
Mike n' Molly's - Hot Cops, Native, Derrick Hart, Trip Light Fantastic (10 p.m., $5)
4/25/10
Canopy Club - Lebowski Achievers Festival with Neoga Blacksmith (8 p.m., free)
4/26/10
Canopy Club - Third Eye Blind, The Upwelling (7 p.m. $25 Adv)
4/29/10
Canopy Club - Hairbangers Ball (8 p.m. $5)
Cowboy Monkey - The Life and Times, Sweet Cobra, TBA (10 p.m., $7 Adv)
Highdive - Paul Thorn, Fred Eaglesmith (7 p.m., $18 advance)
Krannert Center - Margot & the Nuclear So and Soís (10 p.m., Free)
4/30/10
Canopy Club - Teach for America Benefit Concert with Jet W. Lee, Fiveohfirst, JigGsaw, and Ben and Zach (6 p.m., $TBA)
Cowboy Monkey - Mhondoro, Rumba Na Biso (10 p.m., $5)
Kalyx Center (Monticello) - Daytrotter Barnstormer Tour with Ra Ra Riot, Delta Spirit, Free Energy, Nathaniel Rateliff, Pearly Gate Music (7 p.m., free)
Mike 'n Molly's - The Canoes, TBA (10 p.m., $5)
5/1/10
Cowboy Monkey - Hot Cops, Molehill, Brighton MA (10 p.m., $5)
The Highdive - Dubstep Massacre with Positive Vibr8tions, Babylon System, DJ Belly, Zmick (9 p.m., $5 Adv)
IMC - Zach May and the Maps, MOON Ensemble
5/3/10
Cowboy Monkey - Roberta Sparrow, TBA (10 p.m., $5)
5/5/10
Krannert Center - Ozomatli
5/8/10
Bentley's - The Impalas (9 p.m., $5)
Canopy Club - Yourself & the Air, Jookabox, New Ruins
5/14/10
Canopy Club - Flosstradamus, Mickey Karbal, CZO, Lucknow, Famicom (10 p.m., $12 Adv)
5/15/10
Bentley's - Billy Galt (8:30 p.m., free)
5/19/10
Canopy Club - Mastodon, Between the Buried and Me, Baroness, Valiant Thorr (6:30 p.m., $23 Adv.)
IMC - Red Molly (7:30 p.m., $TBA)
5/21/10
Bentley's - Rocket Science (9 p.m., $2)
Canopy Club - Blessed With Pain, Seven Year Existence, Buried in Black, C.P.X. (9 p.m., $5)
5/22/10
Cowboy Monkey - The Hillbilly Jones (10 p.m., $5)
Mike n' Molly's - Common Loon, TBA (10 p.m., $5)
5/27/10
Mike n' Molly's - Gospel Gossip, Red Pens (10 p.m.)
6/5/10
IMC - Kyle Bruckman & Rich O'Donnell (8 p.m., $TBA)
6/12/10
Mike 'n Molly's - Poison Control Center, TBA (10 p.m., $5)
7/23/10
Canopy Club - Central Illinois Metalfest 2010
7/24/10
Canopy Club - Central Illinois Metalfest 2010
Additions, comments, questions - email us: musicATsmilepolitely.com
Most Recent Music Comments
Yeah, I’d agree that Transporter Room 3 is the worst house venue I’ve ever seen.
*slow. clap.* Still offering no threat of intelligence…. I know I said I thought you should just write this whole column yourself next year, Isaac, but now that you’ve gone and taken a “part deux” run at it, I’d like to modify my request: Best Music 2013,…
Actually, it’s kind of nice, the quiet. John Heoffleur’s engaging commentary/dialogue is sorely missed, however. In lieu of someone intelligent saying something, I’ve compiled a list of Honourable Mentions: BEST ROCK BAND: Take Care ::these gentlemen have four completely different sets at their disposal right now (which…
That article almost looks like something out of The Onion
Thanks! I’m looking forward to writing even more….
that city center house show was one of those life-affirming things.
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Most Recent Comments
I also got to visit Big Grove Tavern during the soft open and definitely enjoyed the pork belly the most of all the dishes I sampled. The cheesy grits and the vinegary pickled vegetables were a perfect compliment to the rich pork belly.
The Alan Partridge lookalike on the right in the first small photo has nothing to condescend to anyone about. AH HA!
Snell and the little Hitlers of the neighborhood association need to chill out. Legitimate businesses should have the freedom to exist without having to endure the slings and arrows of ignorant and misguided opposition.
Yeah, I’d agree that Transporter Room 3 is the worst house venue I’ve ever seen.
Food trucks are the start-up, small businesses of the future for those unable to afford real estate. No surprise, that merchants who pay rent, utilities, and maintenance on a property would despise the traveling competition. Or developers who build more empty retail spaces would want to close…
Not so much far-right Tea Party as a balanced, moderate viewpoint between letting businesses succeed and protecting society with reasonable regulations. In spite of what the city reps are saying, the interpretation of policy on this issue certainly has changed. Letting a business start up under one…
I think it’s neat that SP has turned rightward, now espousing a Tea Party-style frustration with government regulations & taxes.
This makes me so sad. (Happy to live in Urbana, though!) Crave Truck has been a GREAT addition to the food choices in C-U, and it’d be a travesty to chase them away. This town should be supporting small businesses. I’m glad to hear that they’ll still…
*slow. clap.* Still offering no threat of intelligence…. I know I said I thought you should just write this whole column yourself next year, Isaac, but now that you’ve gone and taken a “part deux” run at it, I’d like to modify my request: Best Music 2013,…
Actually, it’s kind of nice, the quiet. John Heoffleur’s engaging commentary/dialogue is sorely missed, however. In lieu of someone intelligent saying something, I’ve compiled a list of Honourable Mentions: BEST ROCK BAND: Take Care ::these gentlemen have four completely different sets at their disposal right now (which…
This weekend will mark the first appearance of Kayla Brown’s Fire Doll Candle booth at the Market. Check it: http://www.facebook.com/firedollcandles
And without bloodshed. Sounds like the Savoy trustees aren’t as narrow-minded as some of their whiny pants constituents. Do you think quack Snell is already planning an asinine counterattack or is he still laying low after those “threats” against his person?
Okay, almost 24 hours later and I finally got Issac’s Summer joke. I’m an idiot.
Swap the dog for a fire pit and it sounds like you’re writing about my back yard. Very nice.

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represent, Matt.