WHAT: Kevin Elliott, Margaret O’Brien, Michael Meadows
WHERE: The Clark Bar (free)
WHEN: Tuesday, November 27th at 7 p.m.
Trio of C-U singer/songwriters lined up again this week at The Clark Bar. As always, these shows are free, and this week features Kevin Elliott. You can hear his most recent album, It’s a Circus Here, Dolores, here, plus Margaret O’Brien and Michael Meadows. Check out some of O’Brien’s tunes embedded below.
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WHAT: Sleeping Bag, Electric Bitters
WHERE: Mike ‘N Molly’s ($5)
WHEN: Thursday, November 29th at 9 p.m.
Bloomington, Indiana’s Sleeping Bag and their indie-pop instincts make their way to Mike ‘N Molly’s on Thursday. They’re paired with a band that doesn’t necessarily match up with their sound, but it still a solid pairing, nonetheless. Sleeping Bag is on a pretty awesome label in Joyful Noise Recordings as well. Be sure to check out their whistling new single below, streaming from their Bandcamp. You can even buy it in a minty green wax version if you’re into that, too.
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WHAT: Ryan Groff, Finer Feelings, Midas The Crow, The Mourning After, Dirty Laundry
WHERE: Parkland College Theater ($3 suggested donation)
WHEN: Friday, November 30th at 6 p.m.
Here’s a feel good cause of the week filled with music over at Parkland College. You can donate your money to the Arthritis Foundation while hearing some solid tunes from some of Champaign’s best. Ryan Groff takes time out of his busy recording schedule (as Elsinore is working on finishing up their new record, which I believe is nearing the mixing stages at this point) to headline. A handful of others to round this one out definitely makes it worthwhile.
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WHAT: EOTO, Jansten
WHERE: The Canopy Club ($17 advance/$20 door)
WHEN: Friday, November 30th at 9:30 p.m.
Another Colorado duo invades Canopy Club this week in EOTO after Big Gigantic played this past Sunday. Although they share a state and the same amount of members, their sounds are not exactly similar. EOTO does, in fact, share one member with String Cheese Incident, drummer Jason Hann. All kinds of weird connections, all within the jam band scene, but interesting to say the least. This one will surely be loud and thumping, so prepare for that. Stream some of their songs below.
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WHAT: The Stone Foxes, Coco Butter Kids
WHERE: The Highdive ($10)
WHEN: Friday, November 30th at 7:30 p.m.
San Francisco’s Stone Foxes prepare for the release of their new record, Small Fires, with shows leading up to its release in February. Produced by Doug Boehm (Girls, The Vines, Dr. Dog), if it’s anywhere as upbeat as some of their older tunes (one you might have heard featured in this Jack Daniels commercial), then it should be damn good. They’re giving away one of their new tracks from the upcoming album, which you can sign up and download below. Still another band to be announced to join this bill as well. Locals Coco Butter Kids will open.
WHAT: War Brides, Hank. Single Player, The 92s, I am God
WHERE: Mike ‘N Molly’s ($5)
WHEN: Friday, November 30th at 8 p.m.
U of I’s upcoming free-form, independent, student-run radio station (gah, that is a mouthful) is putting on a show this Friday, which should go to further help them raise money to exist. In addition, their Indigogo campaign was funded last week, so congrats to that. The lineup has changed around a bit, but as of this moment, Chicago’s War Brides are headlining, with some locals mixed in to buff up the bill.
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WHAT: Beat Kitchen
WHERE: Cowboy Monkey ($5)
WHEN: Friday, November 30th at 10 p.m.
Some New Orleans funk to take control of Cowboy Monkey this Friday with Beat Kitchen. Lead by Brandon T. Washington, if you’re a fan of The Roots or Dirty Dozen Brass Band, this is probably your ticket this week. No word on whether or not they’re the only ones on the bill.
“People Say” by Beat Kitchen
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EDITOR’S PICK: GRANDKIDS, COMMON LOON
Mike ‘N Molly’s (free) — Saturday, December 1st at 10:30 p.m.
We’re aging. Who says whether it’s graceful or not, but we’re aging. Some people don’t get too excited for a birthday, but we are most definitely excited to celebrate the occasion this weekend with some pretty damn good bands to join us. Not only that, Stories and Beer will kick things off at 5 p.m., then a party in between, where you can come get some drinks and badger SP editors. Bands will start at 10:30 with Common Loon leading things off and Grandkids closing out the night. Plus, this is a FREE show. Yep, $0.
We’ve also kicked off our Kickstarter campaign to help us fund a redesign for the website in 2013; plus, we’re launching a quarterly print magazine, Bonfire Quarterly. Tons of things happening around Smile Politely camp. We hope you can join us, and maybe even donate a few dollars to our Kickstarter. If not, no sweat, we still hope to see you Saturday.