WHAT: The Hood Internet
WHERE: The Canopy Club (free)
WHEN: Wednesday, September 8 at 9 p.m.
Last week Ben talked about certain bands that seem to come to town every six months — the Hood Internet is certainly one of them. But with a hot mash-up remix thing blowing up on the web pretty much every week, I’m guessing just about every one of their shows is a unique and fun experience. Sometimes I skip shows like this, because you know they’re for the kids, but not this week.
WHAT: Honest Engines (Levels), Megan Johns
WHERE: Mike ‘n Molly’s
WHEN: Thursday, September 9
Chicago’s Honest Engines are apparently now called Levels. This change is so new that Mike ‘n Molly’s hasn’t even updated their website. Whatever the case, fans of easy-going pop rock with flourishes of experimentation (or Death Cab for Cutie) should go check this band out. Actually, this weekend M ‘n M’s is sort of like a Chicago venue with all the headliners coming from Daleytown — The Bears of Blue River and Hemmingbirds on Friday while Verona Red plays on Saturday. This seems like an opportune time to get to know some up and coming Chi-town bands.
WHAT: Tiempo Libre, Los Guapos, DJ Joe Grohens
WHERE: Krannert Center ($5)
WHEN: Friday, September 10 at 7 p.m.
Krannert officially opens its 2010-11 season with this show featuring Tiempo Libre’s Cuban grooves by way of Miami. TL fuse traditional Cuban sounds with modern influence and classical influence — their last album is called Bach in Havana. This is the kind of quality act that Krannert casually brings through town so often that people like me tend to take it for granted. Well it’s a new “year”, so I’m getting off my duff.
WHAT: Local Band Hootenanny with Dirty Feathers, Roberta Sparrow, Vanattica, Tractor Kings, Withershins, Jobu, The Sugar Prophets
WHERE: Cowboy Monkey (free)
WHEN: Saturday, September 11 at 5 p.m.
This is quite a diverse and impressive local lineup of bands featuring traditional blues, dirty deconstructed blues, shoegaze alt/country, reggae pop and all kinds of rock ‘n roll extravagance. You’ll probably get whiplash from all the styles and genres represented. It’s free and family friendly? I’ve got a family!
WHAT: Murder By Death, Samantha Crain, Ninja Gun
WHERE: The Canopy Club ($12)
WHEN: Saturday, September 11 Friday, September 10 at 10 p.m.
Bloomington, IN’s Murder By Death has been at this game quite a while, continuing to hone its impressive live set over the past ten+ years. Though no strangers to Champaign, I believe this is the band’s first stop in town to support their new album Good Morning, Magpie. Samantha Crain is a mellow version of the dirty rock theme, while Ninja Gun plays countrified power pop. This one seems well-suited for the late twenties, early thirties crowd. Hey that’s me.
WHAT: Hot Club of Detroit
WHERE: Iron Post
WHEN: Sunday, September 12 at 7 p.m.
Hot Club of Detroit take Django Reinhardt as a jumping off point for their drumless guitar sound, but they evolve beyond his sound with innovative fretwork. This is one of the shows the Iron Post is using to celebrate their 10th Anniversary this month. Hey, we should all support this place more. Who’s with me on Sunday night?
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