WHAT: Kirby Jayes, Justin Tanaka
WHERE: The Clark Bar (free)
WHEN: Tuesday, April 24th at 7 p.m.
This week’s solo sets at The Clark Bar includes An Evening With Your Mother’s guitarist Kriby Jayes and A Cool Hand’s Justin Tanaka. Jayes just played with his band on Record Store Day, so he’s back at it early in the week.
EDITOR’S PICK: EZRA FURMAN AND THE HARPOONS, CHAIMBERLAIN, BEN & WILL
The Highdive ($10) – Tuesday, April 24th at 8:30 p.m.
Ezra Furman and his crew are out on the road in support of their new record, The Year of No Returning. Things are going well for these guys. They just opened up for Margot & The Nuclear So & So’s, they just recorded a Daytrotter Session, and their new album is pretty awesome.
They are making a stop in C-U at The Highdive, a venue in town that keeps pumping out great shows on a consistent basis. Furman has been through the area a few times in the past, but it seems that he’s picking up steam at just the right time.
WHAT: Cameron McGill, The Claudettes, Temple of Low Men
WHERE: Cowboy Monkey ($5)
WHEN: Thursday, April 26th at 9:30 p.m.
Cameron McGill steps away from his backing band for a solo show with The Claudettes and Temple of Low Men. His band has been playing some shows with Margot & The Nuclear So & So’s (yes, these guys, too) and he really wants to open up for The Boss in September. He won’t be playing in front of thousands this week, but its definitely worth checking out if you’re not going to be at Ebertfest.
U-C Hip Hop Congress, The 92s, Elsinore, Santah, Grandkids, Hathaways, Bee Kay, Mike Golden and Friends, DecadentsWHERE: Illini Union
WHEN: Friday, April 27th at 7:00 p.m.
Typically these events at the Illini Union are not promoted very well, so maybe you’re just hearing about this thing (like me). This is a solid lineup of bands to participate in something like this. There are more acts to be added to this bill, so keep your eyes on their Facebook event linked in the title to get up-to-date information regarding this one.
WHAT: Audrey Auld
WHERE: Sandwich Life House (401 N. James Street, Champaign) ($15 presale/$20 door)
WHEN: Friday, April 27th at 7:30 p.m.
This is the first I’ve ever heard of the Sandwich Life House Concerts, and if you’re a fan of Americana this might be your ticket. There’s a potluck at 6:00 with music to follow. They say to bring something to drink, and something else to share if you like.
Listen: Audrey Auld: “Nails”
WHAT: Scurvine, Electric Bitters, Pleasure Boat Explosion
WHERE: Mike ‘N Molly’s ($5)
WHEN: Friday, April 27th at 9 p.m.
Unfortuantely Withershins’ album release show was held indoors this last weekend because of the colder weather, so hopefully that doesn’t happen for this one. Scurvine will close this one out with a bill with plenty of rock to go around.
WHAT: Rooster Noodle Soup, Deathtram, Charles and the Gnarlies
WHERE: Urbana Independent Media Center (free)
WHEN: Saturday, April 28th at 7:30 p.m.
The C-U Collective hosts another bill at the IMC this week. Pretty eclectic bill with hip hop project Rooster Noodle Soup, the rock of Deathtram, and the psych-funk of Charles and the Gnarlies. Pretty cool to see hip hop meshing with some of the shows this group has been putting on recently. Deathtram just released their new self-titled album this past weekend. This one has a good chance to be gnarly.
WHAT: Gabe Liebowitz, Jared Bartman, Stan 
McConnell
WHERE: Indi Go Artist Co-Op ($7 adults/$5 students)
WHEN: Saturday, April 28th at 8 p.m.
A trio of solo sets from acts that are quite familiar to C-U. Liebowitz from Dastardly will bring some of the fiery tunes from their new album we took a look at when it came out in January, and he also does this really awesome Smiths cover of “The Boy With The Thorn In His Side.” McConnell just played Cowboy Monkey last week with the rest of the Santah crew, so I’m sure he will be fresh and ready to go for this one as well. Liebowitz and Bartman are on a midwest tour and are hitting the road for the next few weeks.
WHAT: Lucky Boys Confusion, Marina City, Jynx Never Sticks, The Runaround, Crimson
WHERE: Canopy Club ($10 advance/$13 door)
WHEN: Saturday, April 28th at 9 p.m.
Chicago’s Lucky Boys Confusion make their stop through C-U as usual and have a pretty packed bill to help them fill Canopy Club this weekend. It’s been a few years now since their last album, so maybe they will surprise the audience with some newer tunes.
Listen: Lucky Boys Confusion: “Hey Driver”
WHAT: Kansas Bible Company, Blueprints FAFT, 
Finer Feelings
WHERE: Mike ‘N Molly’s ($5)
WHEN: Saturday, April 28th at 10 p.m.
Nashville’s Kansas Bible Company brings their whole posse to Mike ‘N Molly’s. I’m wondering how many people can actually fit on the stage upstairs if the show is inside. You’ll have to be at the show to figure that out now, won’t you? Blueprints FAFT are apparently playing one of their last shows, and Finer Feelings will open it up.