Things You Didn’t Know About Our Neighborhood Music Venue
You’ve been there. You’ve shoved in the fluorescent orange ear plugs, saddled up to a Long Island iced tea, braved the crowds to catch your favorite band and maybe even seen a comedy show or two. The Canopy Club is Champaign-Urbana’s sole strictly music venue, but how much do you know about its 10-year history and what’s to come?
Believe it or not, it all started at Brother’s — well, sort of. Throughout the ‘90s, Ian Goldberg promoted shows at Brother’s predecessor, Mabel’s. The Canopy at the time was a brew and view called The Thunderbird Theater. The Canopy Club started churning in 1998 and has thrived off its live music ever since.
From bartenders and security to sound and light engineers, the club employs anywhere from 30 to 50 people at any given time. These workers ensure that the day-to-day functions of Canopy run smoothly. Behind the scenes, there are three talent buyers who book all the bands, comedy shows and miscellaneous events. The staff also includes a graphic designer, a marketing staff and a team of interns.
“In all seriousness, there’s things I do everyday that mimic a normal office, like checking e-mail, voicemails, talking with co-workers, but there’s not really a ‘typical’ workday,” explained Mike Armintrout, a talent buyer and the director of marketing for Jay Goldberg Events and Entertainment. “Some days I go to the office and sit at a computer, talking on the phone for eight to 10 hours. Some days I wake up, go to the office for a couple hours, and then get in the car and drive a couple hundred miles for a show I might be promoting in another city. It all just really depends.”
Armintrout explained that sometimes the most outlandish experiences stem from the bands themselves. Artists can be drama queens, and The Canopy has done its fair share of band-sitting.
“The best was probably when Everclear played the club, and I watched singer Art Alexakis literally stomp his feet and flail his arms like a spoiled brat during an argument with club owner Ian Goldberg in front of about 75 fans,” Armintrout said. “That was the best.”
Armintrout said some of his favorite shows have included The Flaming Lips, Talib Kweli, Arlo Guthrie & Friends, Social Distortion and The Avett Brothers. Other noteworthy shows from Canopy past have been Man Man, Atmosphere, VHS or BETA, Okkervil River, of Montreal, British Sea Power and, most recently, Girl Talk.
With our soggy economy and campus-wide resistance to pay a paltry sum to see live music, the future of The Canopy Club will surely have its ups and downs.
“All we can do is continue to be on the forefront of live music industry trends and keep booking acts that push the envelope with their talent, and challenging fans to do the same,” Armintrout explained. “I think this is what a number of people really look for in their entertainment. I know I do.”
5 comments
The soul of the old Thunderbird
Thank you for keeping interesting live music happening in Urbana for the past ten years. The twin cities would be much worse off without the good work everyone over there does over there.
Two suggestions, though I know money doesn’t grow on trees:
1. Please…I implore them to paint the inside of the main stage area. It was bad 10 years ago and it still really is quite the eyesore. I can’t say that I’ve seen an interior that has made less sense and is just that plain ugly. It seems even worse now as they’ve done a great job with the front room if you ask me.
2. It might be time to figure out how to put in some new, additional or just renovated bathrooms in there. I hate to say it, but it seems Kams-like in terms of disgusting for packed shows. No one should have to walk through a thin layer of piss on the floor when enjoying a show. I’m not trying to be gross, I’m serious.
JoeFun
I agree….the bathroom (the mens room anyway) is pretty funky….and not in a RHCP kinda way.
Also, knowing that money doesnt grow on trees, investments in a real PA for the front room and soundguys that can run it would be nice. Ive heard great bands sound get trashed by hissing crackeling and overall bad mixing. Im not the only one whos noticed either….
Also, also, The Buzz quoted “owner” Seth Fein?
rgriscom
come on, everybody knows that seth fein owns, books, and manages the entire world!
Yes yes. It’s all true. It was a massive coup — a bloody battlefield that left many dead and even more wounded. In the end, however, I emerged victorious: owner of THE CANOPY!
But for real, this is simply a mistake that can be attributed to a lack of fact checking at buzz, It’s all good. The writer offered an apology, and oftentimes, that goes a long way.
Cassie
Wow, bad week for Buzz, even for it being Buzz.
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…
What? Echo! (Echo!) Where’s the dischord and dissent?
That article almost looks like something out of The Onion
Thanks! I’m looking forward to writing even more….
Yay! Love this! Welcome to the family!
that last photo’s a doozie, Chris. good work.
that city center house show was one of those life-affirming things.
Most Popular Music Articles (60 days)
- 2012 Pygmalion Music Festival initial lineup
- Elsinore, Common Loon impress diverse crowd
- Tonight in Urbana: Ursula K. LeGuin
- Cursive is so cool
- Look closer: Withershins' Silver Cities
- The Overture: April 3–9
- Record Store Day 2012 in review
- A breath of fresh air
- BEST Music
- Cymbals Eat Guitars: Malfunction-free (so far)
Most Recent Comments
“Smile Politely sports writer announces candidacy for city government.”
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.
represent, Matt.
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…
What? Echo! (Echo!) Where’s the dischord and dissent?
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?
hey, if hair ain’t gon’ be over your head, my jokes may as well be.
Okay, almost 24 hours later and I finally got Issac’s Summer joke. I’m an idiot.
Excellent. I am glad sometimes American dreams are encouraged, rather than stifled.
Swap the dog for a fire pit and it sounds like you’re writing about my back yard. Very nice.
funny, as your summer begins, another Summer ends.
Facebook
Twitter
Full Site
represent, Matt.