With work, family and High School Musical 3, who has the time to find out about the best shows happening in Champaign-Urbana? No need to fear, because the editors here at Smile Politely have taken care of it. Here are the must-see shows of the week:
Tuesday Nov. 4, Election Night Party – Cowboy Monkey, 9 p.m., free
Election night will be, depending on the winner and where your allegiances lie, a night of celebration or of disappointment. Either way, chances are alcohol will be involved. What better way to watch the election than to enjoy a couple cold beers and also be enjoying some local music? Mike Ingram, Ryan Groff and Madison’s Mike Droho are all slotted to play. According to the helpful calendar at Openingbands, Larry Gates, Casados and Cole Rabenort are also expected to perform.
Wednesday Nov. 5, Girl Talk – Canopy Club, 9 p.m., $15
This sold out show is sure to be memorable. Be it stage diving, gradually getting naked or buying his entire audience tacos, Greg Gillis – the man behind the madness – knows how to get a crowd going. If you don’t have tickets, getting in to see Gillis play with a laptop for 90 minutes is going to be pricey. Tickets have been going for over $50 a piece. Some wishful thinkers are even asking for higher . Will it be worth it? Last time I saw Girl Talk, I broke a digital camera, got punched and a guy fell off of a tree onto my head. So yes, yes it is.
Thursday Nov. 6, Tall Tale, Casados – Canopy Club, 9: 30 p.m., $5
Hey, Casados is busy this week. After relaxing on Wednesday the band will take the Cowboy Monkey stage again on Thursday. This time, they’ll be performing with student quintet Tall Tale. The piano pop group never disappoints in the energy department. With their harmony-laden, expertly constructed songs they rarely disappoint in the sound department either.
Saturday Nov. 8, Hathaways CD release show – Iron Post, 8 p.m., $5
Kate Hathaway along with younger brother James are presenting their debut EP, Hand Me Down, at the Iron Post this weekend. With Kate on the charango and James picking the guitar, Hathaways’ instrumentation is rooted in both the American folk tradition and the sounds of South America. The siblings’ harmonies, however, bring the music to a unmistakably modern place. It also helps that it all sounds really pretty.