With school, work, family, and keeping a watchful eye out for bears, who has the time to find out about the best shows happening in Champaign-Urbana? No need to fear, because the editors at Smile Politely have taken care of it.
What: Roberta Sparrow w/ Bent Left and The Have Nots
When: Monday, August 31 @ 10 p.m.
Where: Cowboy Monkey; $5
There couldn’t be a worse room for a show like this one, but hey, you take what you can get in a downtown where the rock venues look like martini bars. Roberta Sparrow invites two of their own to share the stage tonight at Cowboy Monkey for a fit of hardcore badassness. Bent Left is from KCMO while The Have Nots are from Boston.
What: Bryan Scary and The Shredding Tears w/ On Again Off Again
When: Thursday September 3 @ 7:30 p.m
Where: Courtyard Cafe; $5
Courtyard Cafe hosts another indie pop concert this Thursday featuring Bryan Scary and The Shredding Tears, and half local-half Chicago band On Again Off Again. Cover for this show is $5, it’s a early event, and all truth be told, these bands — the both of them — are worth a listen. Click above!
What: Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, New Ruins
When: Friday, September 4 @ 7:30 p.m
Where: Courtyard Cafe; $5
Owen Ashworth of CFTPA is originally from Redwood City, Calif., but now claims Chicago as his home base for purposes of producing lo-fi cheap keyboard sounds paired with plainspoken lyrics.
New Ruins’ full-band assault should get the crowd moving in preparation.
What: Terminus Victor, Tellitron, Withnail, Blake Zweig
When: Saturday, September 5 @ 9 p.m.
Where: Mike ‘n Molly’s; $3
You get two debuts for the price of one on this bill, with Tellitron and Withnail each playing their first show.