With school, work, family and conspiring to manipulate the C-U music scene for your personal gain, 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: Gov’t Mule, Jackie Greene
WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 4 @ 9 p.m.
WHERE: Canopy Club ($25 Adv.)
Another week, and another example of a veteran jam band that doesn’t suck rolls into C-U. Last week it was Keller Williams, and this week Gov’t Mule, who has been at it longer than many of you reading this have been alive. They’ve moved beyond their origins as an Allman Brothers side project, developing their Southern-fried rock sound into something of their own. The price is a little steep for anyone on the fence about stepping out on a sure-to-be-frigid Thursday night, but those who brave the cold will be treated to a good show.
WHAT: The Copyrights, Horrible Things, the Diamond Stretch
WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 4 @ 8 p.m.
WHERE: Red Herring ($5)
It’s a night to celebrate stoopid pop-punk as Carbondale’s The Copyrights roll into town, joined by locals Horrible Things and the Diamond Stretch. Things are bound to get loud at the Red Herring, so bring some earplugs and get ready for a good time.
WHAT: Webb Wilder, Delta Kings
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 5, Doors @ 7 p.m., show @ 7:30
WHERE: Cowboy Monkey ($12 Adv.)
If you’re going to try to make a living as a blues-tinged rock guitarist, it’s not a bad idea to make up a genre of which you are the only member. Webb Wilder has chosed “swampadelic” as his medium of choice, and he combines country, surf guitar, and rock & roll into his proprietary mix. The Mississippi native is now based out of Nashville, and he’s making a stop at Cowboy Monkey as part of The Whip’s concert series, which we heartily endorse.
WHAT: Jet W. Lee CD Release Show, The Safes, JigGsaw (10 p.m., $5, ?)
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 5, 10 p.m.
WHERE: Mike ‘N Molly’s ($5)
The duo is now a trio, and Jet W. Lee will be debuting Who Shall Remain Shameless Friday night with help from Chicago’s The Safes and local favorites JigGsaw.
WHAT: Duke of Uke CD Release Show, The Curses, Claire Cannon
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 6, 10 p.m.
WHERE: Cowboy Monkey ($5)
The genre-bending Duke of Uke and the similarly confounding The Curses are both releasing albums this Saturday on the same bill, which raises the stakes from last Saturday’s twin record release shows. Should save on the driving back and forth across town for you completists. Probably next weekend, there will be a five-band bill from bands who all will be debuting new releases. Make it so, Champaign-Urbana!
WHAT: Headlights
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 6, 8 p.m.
WHERE: Courtyard Cafe ($3 Students/ $5 Public)
You may have heard of these folks. They’re touring with David Bazan this spring, but first they play the Courtyard. Neat!
LOOKING AHEAD…
2/9/10
Krannert Center – The Band of the Irish Guards
2/10/10
Canopy Club – Scratch Clash Vol. 1 w/ 217 Mafia vs. Rave to the Grave (9 p.m., TBA, 18+)
2/11/10
Krannert Center – Frederica Von Stade
Canopy Club – Nomo, Zach May and the Maps (9:30 p.m., $8 Adv. 18+)
2/12/10
Bentley’s – Corn Desert Ramblers (10 p.m., $4)
Canopy Club – Roses and Sake, The Blue Heels, Little Boy Junior (6:30 p.m., $7, 18+)
Cowboy Monkey – Hot Cops, Dr. Manhattan, The Fantasic Plastics, and The Private Thoughts (9 p.m., $5)
Mike ‘N Molly’s – Jason and the Punknecks, The Burninators, Roberta Sparrow (10 p.m., $5, ?)
2/13/10
Bentley’s – Billy Galt and Friends (8:30 p.m., no cover)
Mike ‘N Molly’s – Lookbook, Blah Blah Blah, Santa (10 p.m., $TBA, ?)
2/14/10
Canopy Club – Bela Fleck/The Africa Project (9 p.m., $25 Adv., 18+)
2/17/10
The Highdive – Scott Miller, TBA (Doors @ 7 p.m. – show @ 8 p.m., $10 Adv., 19+)
Canopy Club – Tim Be Told, Dustin Keele, With the Morning (7:30 p.m., TBA, 18+)
2/18/10
Canopy Club – Retribution Gospel Choir, New Ruins (9 p.m., $8 Adv., 18+)
2/19/10
Bentley’s – Everett Thomas and Stacy Ingram (6 p.m., no cover)
Bentley’s – DJ’s Tim Hayden and Melanie Sheckels (10 p.m., $2 cover)
2/20/10
Bentley’s – The Sugar Prophets (9 p.m., $4 cover)
The Highdive – State Radio, TBA (Doors @ 7 p.m. – show @ 7:30 p.m., $15 Adv., 19+)
Canopy Club – RJD2, Kenan Bell, Happy Chichester (7 p.m., $13 Adv., 18+)
Mike ‘N Molly’s – White Mystery, The Fresh Kills (10 p.m., $5, ?)
2/24/10
Canopy Club – Joe Pug, TBA (7 p.m., $10 Adv., 18+)
2/25/10
Krannert Center – Moscow State Radio Symphony Orchestra
2/26/10
Bentley’s – Private Thoughts and Say It With A Smile (10 p.m., $4 Cover)
Springer Cultural Center – Jane Boxall ~ marimba (12 noon, free)
2/27/10
Cowboy Monkey – The Lesser Birds of Paradise, World’s First Flying Machine, Carl Hauck, My Dear Alan Andrews (Doors @ 9 p.m., Show @ 9:30 p.m., $5, 19+)
Bentley’s – The Impalas (9 p.m., $4 Cover)
Canopy Club – Cold Cave, Hair Police (9 p.m., $8 Adv., 18+)
Independent Media Center – Claudia Schmidt (8 p.m., $TBA, All Ages)
3/2/10
Krannert Center – Abraham Inc.
Mike ‘N Molly’s – A Sunny Day in Glasgow, TBA (9 p.m., $7)
3/5/10
Assembly Hall – Martina McBride, Trace Adkins
Mike ‘N Molly’s – The Daredevil Christopher Wright, TBA (10 p.m., $TBA, ?)
3/12/10
The Highdive – Band of Heathens (Doors 7 p.m. – show @ 8 p.m., $12 Adv., 19+)
3/13/10
The Highdive – Feudin’ Hillbillies (Doors 7 p.m. – show @ 8 p.m, $7 Adv., 19+)
Mike ‘N Molly’s – Mittens on Strings, Pet Lions (10 p.m., $5, ?)
3/16/10
Krannert Center – Danu
The Highdive – The Tossers, TBA (Doors @ 8 p.m. – show @ 9 p.m., $12 Adv., 19+)
3/18/10
Krannert Center – San Francisco Symphony
3/30/10
Krannert Center – What it Is! Featuring Mavis Staples, Booker T. JJ Grey
The Highdive – St. Vincent (Doors @ 8 p.m. – show @ 9 p.m., $13 Adv., 19+)
4/5/10
Canopy Club – Bassnectar (9 p.m., $17 Adv. – on sale 1/16, 18+)
4/7/10
The Highdive – Japandroids, Love is All (Doors @ 7 p.m. – show @ 8 p.m., $12 Adv., 19+)
4/10/2010
Krannert Center – Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra
4/15/10
Krannert Center – Joshua Bell
4/24/10
Krannert Center – James Farm
5/5/10
Krannert Center – Ozomatli
7/23/10
Canopy Club – Central Illinois Metalfest 2010
7/24/10
Canopy Club – Central Illinois Metalfest 2010