WHAT: Kickapooligans
WHERE: The Clark Bar (free)
WHEN: Tuesday, May 28th at 7 p.m.
John McMahon, Margaret O’Brien, Jeff Arrigo, and John Coppess team up this week to form their singer-songwriter group Kickapooligans for Champaign-Urbana Singer Songwriter Collective series at the Clark Bar. They all frequent the series, but this time you can see them perform all as one group this week.
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WHAT: Sprouting Violets, Derive, Sleepy Dante, Acker, Gonzo Diablo
WHERE: Error Records ($5 recommended donation)
WHEN: Wednesday, May 29th at 7:30 p.m.
A packed bill is set for Wednesday at Error Records with Charleston’s Spouting Violets’ shoegaze taking on the headlining spot alongside Massachusetts’ Derive. This is a free show, but its recommended you chip in $5 to help out the bands for those musician needs and such. Acker is a post-rock side project of Shy Guy Says, alongside Shelbyville’s Sleepy Dante and math rock outfit Gonzo Diablo.
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WHAT: elizaBeth Simpson Band, Nature vs. No One
WHERE: The Iron Post (free)
WHEN: Wednesday, May 29th at 8 p.m.
Another free show happening at the Iron Post mid-week this week. elizaBeth Simpson Band has some soulful indie rock up their sleeves and are joined by locals Nature vs. No One.
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EDITOR’S PICK: NIGHT BEDS, JENNY O., FINER FEELINGS
Mike ‘N Molly’s ($8) — Wednesday, May 29th at 10 p.m.
As Night Beds performed at Pygmalion last year, we knew a decent amount about their sound and such. We knew it was a indie rock project headed up by Winston Yellen and a bunch of touring members to fill in the gaps in the live performance. Other than that, we had an EP and some songs to look at for the sound Night Beds was going for. But now we have a much better idea of what we’re in for with the release of Yellen’s first full-length record, Country Sleep, earlier this year. If you haven’t listened to this one yet, get your hands on it fast and prepare for this terrific bill at Mike ‘N Molly’s Wednesday night. We’ll take a closer look at this show tomorrow as Jon had a chance to sit down with Yellen before the show.
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WHAT: Cody & The Gateway Drugs
WHERE: Indi-Go Artist Co-op
WHEN: Thursday, May 30th at 7:30 p.m.
Here’s an evening of music going down at Indi Go Artist Co-Op this Thursday night. Cody Sokolski will play a solo set, followed by a set with Cody and The Gateway Drugs. No word on whether or not there is a fee at the door, but if you’re a fan of the band, you can get a double dosage of them (sort of) this week.
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WHAT: Elsinore, Santah, Grandkids
WHERE: The Velvet Elvis ($7 advance)
WHEN: Thursday, May 30th at 8 p.m.
Urbana Basement is looking to raise some money to help fund their video project, because you know, its expensive to do. I did an interview with Jake Metz and Jack Maples, the guys running the project, last August. They also put together an awesome video of Grandkids’ Vivian McConnell prior to Pygmalion last year, which was a real treat. Top notch stuff. They’ve enlisted an A list of bands to help them raise the funds in Elsinore, Santah and Grandkids this Thursday night. You can grab advance tickets (as there is capacity at the venue) here.
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WHAT:
WHERE: Error Records ($5)
WHEN: Thursday, May 30th at 8 p.m.
Synth crew Fielded out of LA/Nashville headlines this Thursday night show at Error Records this week. They’re joined by local outfit Secular Edict, Normal’s Hastas and Slow Chapel, a side project of Jordan Trammell of locals Deathtram. A pretty interesting mix of bands set to take the stage at Error Thursday night.
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WHAT: Mandolin Orange, The Divide, Cole Rabenort
WHERE: Cowboy Monkey ($5)
WHEN: Thursday, May 30th at 9:30 p.m.
Mandolin Orange stop through C-U this week. Members Andrew Marlin & Emily Frantz bring their alt-country/folk tunes to the area in preperation for the release of their new record set to be released this upcoming August entitled This Side of Jordan. Joining the duo are locals the Divide and Cole Rabenort, who you might know from Anna Karina/Anna Karenina and the Fights.
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WHAT:
WHERE: The Velvet Elvis ($5)
WHEN: Friday, May 31st at 8 p.m.
Another raucous bill lined up at the Velvet Elvis to round out the week this week. They’ve got local skuzz rock/punk outfit Dino Bravo (who just put out a new EP not too long ago, Planet Madness) heading things up, accompanied by locals Doomsayer, Carbondale’s High Horse and Dan Sentighty. Should be a good (and loud) time.
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WHAT:
WHERE: Mike ‘N Molly’s ($7)
WHEN: Saturday, June 1st at 9 p.m.
Indie rock/slowcore/shoegaze local band Motes is running things on Saturday night at Mike ‘N Molly’s this week in the beergarden. They’re joined by Chicago’s Aboveandbelow and Urbana’s Cheef. Not a lot coming out of Motes’ camp lately, but I’m hoping we get a full-length record soon. Their last EP is excellent, if you haven’t checked it out before.
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WHAT:
WHERE: The Canopy Club ($5)
WHEN: Satuday, June 1st at 9 p.m.
The First of Tha Month series at the Canopy Club features some of the best emcees and performers in our cities this week. Headlined by Chase and featuring a bunch of hip-hop artists from the area, this one should be entertaining.
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WHAT:
WHERE: Error Records ($3)
WHEN: Sunday, June 2nd at 7:30 p.m.
Thrash metal outfit We Must Dismantle All This! headlines this Sunday show at Error Records to round out the weekend. They’re joined by a handful of other black metal/thrash bands in Non-Servam, Unnerve and Eminent Slaughter. Pretty nuts to think of all this packed into Error this week, but they’re doing it.