Not that anybody in these parts needs to be reminded that the last couple of months have seen too many early exits, but the news that Mark Linkous committed suicide this past weekend adds a sad new chapter. If you have not already, please take some time to check out some of Linkous’s work as Sparklehorse.
WHAT: Chip Stephens Trio
WHEN: Monday, March 8 @ 7 p.m.
WHERE: Iron Post
Piano playing U of I faculty member Chip Stephens is a veteran of the Glenn Miller, Woody Herman, and Maynard Ferguson bands and has several well-regarded albums to his name.
WHAT: Exit 182 Festival featuring The Young Republic, Heyokas, Kilroy, et al., Roses and Sake, Tina Sparkle, Laarks, Mayhew the Traitor, Jared Grabb, Pet Lions, Mittens on Strings, Jet W. Lee and Fantastic Plastics
WHEN: Thursday, Friday and Saturday – March 11,12 and 13 @ 10 p.m.
WHERE: Mike ‘n Molly’s
Mike n’ Molly’s is presenting their first Exit 182 Festival as a way to spotlight bands on their way to Austin for SXSW (and others as well). We’ll have a more in-depth preview later this week.
WHAT: Band of Heathens, The Sugar Prophets
WHEN: Friday, March 12 @ 7 p.m.
WHERE: The Highdive ($12 advance)
The Austin-themed week continues as this Americana bands returns to town. In case you missed it, we had an extensive interview back in November. Local roots rockers The Sugar Prophets kickstart the night.
WHAT: Bill Staines
WHEN: Saturday, March 13 @ 8 p.m.
WHERE: IMC ($10 in advance, $15 door)
Known for his unique picking style, Bill Staines has a rich history as a songwriter and performer. You don’t stick around for forty years in folk music without developing an engaging live presence. Also, he won the National Yodeling Contest in 1975, so that’s pretty awesome.
WHAT: Vanattica, JigGsaw, The Poets Dance
WHEN: Saturday, March 13 @ 9 p.m.
WHERE: Cowboy Monkey ($5)
And as the perfect capper, come out to see local rockers Vanattica before they head down to Austin for the festival. It’s also guitarist Drake Gravely’s last show with the band, so there’s even more incentive. Locals JigGsaw and Rockford’s The Poets Dance will also rock your ears off.
NEW THIS WEEK
4/3 – Lynn O’Brien @ William M. Staerkel Planetarium – Semi-local singer/songwriter Lynn O’Brien will be supporting her new album YES! and playing live under the fake —but neato— planetarium stars. A good chance to enjoy music at the Parkland planetarium without the aid of Pink Floyd.
4/23 – The Used @ Canopy Club – The post-hardcore veterans from Utah should be bringing an energetic pop punk set. You can call them screamo if you want. Actually, it would probably be better for everyone if you didn’t.
4/26 – Third Eye Blind @ Canopy Club – As a wee lad attending university here in the late 90s, I remember Third Eye Blind as the only band that could compete with 311 as the official soundtrack to shirtless frontyard football toss. Expect many ex-Greeks to descend upon C-U for this one. (Bring Your Own Red Dog)
5/27 – Gospel Gossip @ Mike n’ Molly’s – In another Shadowboxer Collective booking, the Minnesota shoegaze/dance band comes to town.
LOOKING AHEAD (new additions in bold)
3/8/10
Iron Post – Chip Stephens Trio (7 p.m.)
3/9/10
Iron Post – Joan Hickey Combo (7 p.m.)
3/10/10
Iron Post – Woody Woodward’s Piano Trio (5 p.m.)
Iron Post – Tromberi (7:30 p.m.)
3/11/10
Canopy Club – Barefoot Truth, Jaik Willis, TBA (9 p.m., $7 cover)
Iron Post – U of I 3 Big Band (7 p.m.)
Mike ‘n Molly’s – The Young Republic, Heyokas (10 p.m., $TBA)
3/12/10
Cowboy Monkey – Justin Martin, J-Phlip, Mertz (10 p.m., $5 cover)
The Highdive – Band of Heathens, The Sugar Prophets (Doors 7 p.m. – show @ 8 p.m., $12 Adv.)
Iron Post – Darden Purcell (5 p.m.)
Iron Post – Augustine Theory (9 p.m.)
Mike ‘n Molly’s – Tina Sparkle, Laarks, Mayhew the Traitor, Jared Grabb (10 p.m., $TBA)
3/13/10
Bentley’s – Kilborn Alley Blues Band (9 p.m., $5 cover)
Cowboy Monkey – Vanattica (10 p.m., $5 cover)
The Highdive – Feudiní Hillbillies (Doors 7 p.m. – show @ 8 p.m, $7 Adv.)
IMC – Bill Staines (7:30 p.m., $TBA)
Iron Post – Painkillers (6 p.m.)
Mike ‘n Molly’s – Mittens on Strings, Pet Lions (10 p.m., $5)
Parkland College – Tigercity, Wave Machines ($TBA)
Rose Bowl – Big Grove Zydeco (9 p.m.)
3/14/2010
Iron Post – Chip Stephens with Donnie Heitler (7 p.m.)
3/15/10
Canopy Club – The Felix Culpa, Big Science, Suns (9 p.m., $7)
Highdive – Kilborn Alley, TBA (7 p.m., $3)
Iron Post – John and Julie Pennell (7 p.m.)
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 and Andreas (7 p.m.)
3/17/10
Iron Post – St. Paddy’s Celebration with Nile Hawter (5 p.m.)
Iron Post – St. Paddy’s Celebration with Big Bluestem (7 p.m.)
3/18/10
Canopy Club – Chicago Farmer, My Dear Alan Andrews, Bob & Pricilla (10 p.m., $7 cover)
Iron Post – U of I Jazz Combo (7 p.m.)
Mike n’ Molly’s – For Great Justice, Breathe (10 p.m.)
Krannert Center – San Francisco Symphony
3/19/10
Bentley’s – Sipos and Young (10 p.m., $3 cover)
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.)
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.)
3/24/10
Iron Post – Karim Yengsep (7 p.m.)
3/25/10
Canopy Club – Sugar Prophets, TBA
3/26/10
Canopy Club – Atheory, Solaris, Deliver The Fallen, TBA
Cowboy Monkey – Dubstep Massacre (10 p.m. $5)
Iron Post – Boneyard Jazz Quintet (5 p.m.)
Iron Post – Mhondoro (9 p.m.)
3/27/10
Bentley’s – Jason Morellion (10 p.m., $3 cover)
Iron Post – Easton Stuard (9:30 p.m.)
Radmakers – Jackson Taylor & the Sinners (8 p.m., $TBA)
Rose Bowl – Delta Kings (9 p.m.)
3/28/10
Mike n’ Molly’s – Kayla Brown (10 p.m.)
3/29/10
Canopy Club – Diafanes (6:30 p.m., $7)
Iron Post – Chip Stephens Trio (7 p.m.)
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 – Glen Wilson (7:30 p.m.)
4/1/10
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)
4/2/10
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
Canopy Club – Zach May and The Maps
Mike n’ Molly’s – Take Care (Record Release Show), Community College (10 p.m.)
Parkland William M. Staerkel Planetarium – 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.)
4/9/10
Canopy Club – Mike Posner, Good Luck Jane (10 p.m., $20 Adv.)
4/10/2010
Mike n’ Molly’s – Caspian, Arms and Sleepers, The Felix Culpa @ Mike ‘N Molly’s (10 p.m., $TBA)
Krannert Center – Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra
IMC – Roy Zimmerman (8 p.m., $15)
4/15/10
Krannert Center – Joshua Bell
4/17/10
Canopy Club – The Antlers, Phantogram (10 p.m., $12)
Champaign Public Library – Elsinore (4 p.m., free)
4/18/10
The Rose Bowl – Bill Kirchen ($TBA)
Urbana Free Library – The Duke of Uke (2 p.m., free)
4/23/10
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
Canopy Club – The Used (8 p.m. $25)
Krannert Center – James Farm
Mike n’ Molly’s – Hot Cops, Native, Derrick Hart, Trip Light Fantastic (10 p.m.)
4/26/10
Canopy Club – Third Eye Blind (7 p.m. $25)
4/29/10
Canopy Club – Hairbangers Ball (8 p.m. $5)
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
5/5/10
Krannert Center – Ozomatli
5/14/10
Canopy Club – Flosstradamus
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
Canopy Club – Blessed With Pain, Seven Year Existence, Buried in Black, and C.P.X. ($5)
5/22/10
Mike n’ Molly’s – Common Loon (10 p.m.)
5/27/10
Mike n’ Molly’s – Gospel Gossip (10 p.m.)
6/5/10
IMC – Kyle Bruckman & Rich O’Donnell (8 p.m., $TBA)
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