WHAT: Kevin Elliot, John Coppess
WHERE: The Clark Bar (free)
WHEN: Tuesday, May 22nd at 7 p.m.
The singer/songwriter showcases at The Clark Bar continue with a couple solid dudes. Elliott released an album back in November and Coppess has been on a few of these bills in the past couple of months, so they seem to be chuggin’ right along.
Listen: Kevin Elliott: “The Right Thing To Say”
WHAT: The Bears of Blue River, Grandkids
WHERE: Mike ‘N Molly’s ($5)
WHEN: Thursday, May 24th at 10 p.m.
Chicago’s Bears of Blue River head through C-U once again as they are on a short tour throughout the Midwest. They played a basementstormer last week, which sounds like a way to spice up a basement show, so we’re all for that (gotta spice up being in the state of Iowa somehow). These guys are no stranger to the area and pairing up with solid locals, and this time around it’s Grandkids sharing the bill.
WHAT: House of Wolves, Natureboy 
WHERE: Red Herring ($5)
WHEN: Saturday, May 26th at 8:30 p.m.
A pair of bands off of Bleek Records out of Brooklyn visit Red Herring this week. House of Wolves is the music project singer/songwriter Rey Villalobos, and he’s paired up with Natureboy as they have been on a short tour in Illinois and Missouri, then back to the east coast. They’re making a stop to do a Daytrotter Session, so be on the lookout for that if you can’t make it to this one.
EDITOR’S PICK: EVIL TENTS, PSYCHIC TWIN, COMMON LOON, FAHRI, BRIEF CANDLES
The Highdive ($7) — Saturday, May 26th at 10 p.m.
You’ve had your chance to listen to Night Air on the Midway already at this point. If you haven’t yet for some reason, you have a chance this weekend to get your hands on an actual physical copy of it like everyone else. Evil Tents have put together this wonderful bill in support of the proper release, which has only been available via Bandcamp since it’s release back in October. We’ve made it faily evident that we like the record in a couple forms, but we can only do so much for you. You’ve got to put this to your ears and we can’t make you do it.
This bill is stacked with two local staples in Common Loon and Psychic Twin (who hasn’t played a show in C-U in a while), and are grouped with a pair from Milwaukee swinging through town to join in the festivities. I think we’ve said enough about this record, but you should go and check it out for yourself and pick one up at the show if you’re ever so inclined.
WHAT: Vaudevileins, The Chemicals, The Cheaper Hits
WHERE: Mike ‘N Molly’s ($5)
WHEN: Saturday, May 26th at 10 p.m.
It’s a busy Saturday for shows in C-U, as is expected in the summer months. Not to worry though, because if you’re looking to hang out outside and enjoy some fresh air instead of being couped up indoors, you can head over to the beer garden and enjoy this rock bill slated for that evening. You can check out a sample of a new Vaudevileins track below off of their upcoming SWP EP due out in July.
WHAT: The Captain and the Ripe Shards, The Band Geeks, An Evening With Your Mother
WHERE: Urbana Independent Media Center ($5)
WHEN: Saturday, May 26th at 7 p.m.
Apparently, the funk has risen, and it comes in the form of these three groups. Anytime Jesus is incorporated into a showbill in a way that clearly takes his action out of context it’s a definite plus. Maybe my sense of humor doesn’t match up to everyone elses, but it matches up with this sort of thing. All joking aside, The Captain and the Ripe Shards is a side project of Kirby Jayes, member of the last band on the bill, An Evening With Your Mother, so he’ll be busy playing with both bands on the bill. Listen to their Record Store Day single below.
WHAT: DJ Belly, DJ Delayney, DJ Legtwo 
WHERE: Cowboy Monkey ($2)
WHEN: Sunday, May 27th at 9 p.m.
In what’s being dubbed HIT IT RUN, Cowboy Monkey is hosting a few DJs on Sunday before Memorial Day as they’ve done in the past. DJs will be playing old school hip-hop, funk, soul, and reggae, so if you’re ready to move this is the show to go to.