Outrage! Despair! Heartbreak…

These are some of the feelings that spread around Champaign-Urbana when Cowboy Monkey turned off the music. After reassessing their business model, the Monkey is once again offering nights of sound and fun! Recently local favorites Santa and Ryan Groff have taken the stage on Thursday nights and you can see Curb Service live this week!

As for the Open Mic nights, they are every Tuesday! Bring some friends, play a set, or just listen free of charge.

Photo: David Gottas [Courtesy: Oceans]

Oceans will be playing in the Link Gallery of Krannert Art Museum (the windowed hallway where you go to see your friend in FAA’s art exhibition) tonight at 5:30! The show is part of the an Animation Festival put on by the students in the Fine and Applied Arts program. Come early to see some great art and mingle with the University’s most creative.

Tonight is one of those rare times the Link Gallery will be used as a local music venue. It will be interesting to see an excellent instrumental rock band like Oceans playing alongside some great art. Sorry this is going up so late, but be sure to hurry over if you have time!

[Courtesy: Zmick]

Band Members:
Brad Miller - Guitar, Vocals
Dan Wonsover - Bass, Vocals
Kris Ahrens - Drums, Vocals
Mike Donato - Keys
BIGS - Bringer of Light (This guy did the lights at Ben Folds via Knoxarray Event Production - pretty bad ass)

On this campus, one band is synonymous with Jam: Zmick. They play progressive rock fused with elements of reggae, jazz, and funk with the intent of “bringing people together and giving them an opportunity to dance, sing, laugh and bond with other music lovers.” You can find Zmick playing their Monday Night Rage spot over at the Canopy Club every week (including tonight! go!).

Here is a small dose of the live Zmick experience:

Zmick was kind enough to answer some of my questions for a Local Artist Profile interview:

the217: Summer Camp 2008 is fast approaching! Using the time since your 2007 participation as a benchmark, how has your band changed in the past year?

Zmick: The line-up now only has two of the original six members. The two new members, Mike and Brad, and our lighting designer, BIGS, bring the mother fuckin heat!! As for Summer Camp, it’s an unbelievable festival and nothing can completely prepare you for the unexpected moments that make the experience. This year, we have found an amazing place to practice that has really helped develop our sound and community.

Courtesy: Canopy Club

the217: Monday Night Rage has become a Canopy Club staple. Do you have plans to continue it into the summer and next school year?

Zmick: As of now, we are still working out details for the future. This past year has brought us joy through the expanding community based on music in Champaign/Urbana and our involvement in it. The Canopy Club has been extremely good to us and we hope to continue to have a good relationship.

the217: You list your influences as Jambands, Progressive Rock, Jazz, Reggae, Metal, Funk, Bluegrass, Electronica, Hip-Hop, and Classical. Are there any specific bands that stand out as truly inspiring to you?

Zmick: This has always been a hard question for us to answer. We pride ourselves on the all the different music we listen to. Basically, we think that we can’t be influenced by the people we’ve never heard, and are influenced by the people we have.

Courtesy: Zmick

the217: Four reasons why people should go to a Zmick Show!

Zmick: We have a good crowd of friends and fans that enjoy dancing to different genres of music (something for everyone). Each show has new improvisations, new covers and different setlists to make each show unique. Ultimately we try to have a good time with our audience and interact with them so that they’re contributing to the experience as much as we are.

the217: Any exciting future plans for the band?

Zmick: Outside of Summer Camp, we really look forward to improving and expanding our repertoire over the summer!

More Zmick Video!

Make sure you check out Zmick at their Monday Night Rage shows at Canopy Club! There is NO COVER and super cheap drinks ($1.50 Domestic Drafts, $2.50 Import Drafts), if you need some extra convincing.

Zmick Contact Info:
website: myspace.com/zmickmusic
booking: zmickmusic@gmail.com

Stay tuned for World’s First Flying Machine later this week!

This Thursday the Canopy Club is doing something very exciting. They are putting together two genres that do not, at first glance, seem to mesh well. Indie Rock bands Elsinore, Dark Meat, World’s First Flying Machine (band of the week!), and Tall Tale will be playing along side Hip Hop artists Krukid & the Sugargliders, Agent Mos, Curb Service and Yea Big plus Kid Static. Amazing line up!

What? You think throwing these genres together would create a musical cacophony that would destroy the world? That’s just silly. Allow me to allay your fears with a little mash-up magic!

If you haven’t heard of The Hood Internet already, they are a group of DJ’s and audiophiles that fuse Hip Hop with Rock or Indie Rock. Usually this is done by using the acapella and main beat from the Hip Hop track and making it follow the Indie Rock song. My favorite mash-up of all time (besides Girl Talk of course) is a song The Hood Internet did last year.

Imagine Spoon performing with Ghostface Killah, or don’t because it might make your head explode, but seriously that would be awesome. To get an idea of exactly what it would sound like check out the track “The Ghostface Of You Lingers” over at the Hood’s myspace. If you think that is the shit, which you will, download their whole mixtape vol.1 for free at their website!

Now, there are not necessarily going to be any mash-ups going on at the show, but I have heard Elsinore is always ready to throw a little Krukid into their set!

Look for interviews with several of the artists performing in this week’s Buzz and make sure you head over to the Canopy Club Thursday night. It’s gonna get rowdy!

$5 in advance, $7 before 8:00pm and $8 after 8:00pm

Lovers in Arms

This Chitown band describes themselves as “Acoustic, electric, eclectic!” but I’m going to apply my own label of “Jam Flower-Pop” after having seen them live at the Independent Media Center in Urbana last night.

The IMC’s multi-purpose room is usually filled with wayward art projects, frumpy couches, and an improvised stage. Last night Lovers in Arms and some curious friends of the infamous Yoho added themselves to the scenery. Everyone claimed a couch and sat down to enjoy the show.

Reading into the history of Lovers in Arms you will find the inspiration for the band’s name is a romance between the creative talent themselves. Caroline Yohanan and Armando Perez, the couple behind the music, developed a fusion of light, poppy vocals and guitar-driven jams.

Caroline Yohanan

The performance included some impressive instrumental moments, but it was without question stolen by the lovely voice of the beautiful Caroline Yohanan. Her airy tone and merry harmonies evoked Colbie Caillat and sometimes even Leslie Feist. If not for the obvious bond between the two lovers, I would question why she hasn’t decided to try the solo songbird route that has been proven popular by the likes of Feist and Regina Spektor. If you don’t agree then check out this video:

Poorly vandalized LMA Logo

I’ve read just about every complaint people have with Illini Media’s Local Music Awards, and have also seen most of them successfully defended. The majority of beef people have with the process can be summarized at Seth Fein’s Smile Politely blog or by our own Matt Klomparens via All Shook Down. In short, the LMA’s are seen as simply an excuse for IMC to make $$ instead of as a tribute to the hard working bands of the CU scene. I will not lay down my opinion as I am currently a Buzz employee, but both sides make solid arguments. I will, however, point out that there are some great bands conspicuously missing from the nominees and the Awards Show…

Which brings me to the point of this post - whichever side of the fence you stand on, next Thursday may pose a touch choice in shows to attend.

A slew of excellent local artists will be trying to drown out the Highdive at Memphis on Main. Interestingly, proceeds will go to special charities chosen by the bands. A stab at the advertising profit made by IMC perhaps? Nonsense aside, I’m a little upset that I won’t be able to share my time between live coverage of the Awards Show and the Charity Show’s World’s First Flying Machine, Elsinore, The Beauty Shop, Zmick, and Tall Tale. Either way, both events will be fun.

The LMA Show is April 3 at The Highdive - doors 8 pm, show 9 pm (free admission)

The Charity Show is also April 3 at Memphis on Main - doors 8 pm (donations to charity accepted)

Champaign-Urbana boasts one of the best local music scenes in the country and this weekend is a perfect example why. I’m starting to freak out trying to plan how I’m going to see Headlights, go to work, and get my english paper done for tomorrow - Not to mention seeing Santa, Catfish Haven, and go to a friend’s birthday party on Friday. Good thing I have a large supply of coffee and the ability to teleport across campus…

Image via Polyvinyl

Tonight I will definitely be showing up at the Canopy Club around 9:30 (work till 9 eek!) to catch Headlights putting on their CD Release show ($8). I’ve had a listen and have put the “I Dig It” stamp on their new album Some Racing, Some Stopping via Polyvinyl. Not that I read P4K reviews… but has anyone seen the crap they posted this morning? I really need to break that habit.

Nice Shadowy Band Photo Dudes

Tomorrow will feature the life and death decision of Santa vs Catfish Haven (Mike n’ Molly’s @ 10pm), which I have just made this very moment. I will be seeing Santa release their My Bones EP at the Canopy Club at 10 pm ($7). These guys really know how to put on a great show and I fully expect Canopy to be rockin! Butterfly Assassins and The Rikters will also be there.

Nice Shadowy Band Photo Dudes

Last year it seemed that every time there was nothing to do on campus someone would say, “Santa show tonight!” But these shows weren’t just agenda fillers, they were the kind of shows that really made your night. Good music, good people, and the occasional beer chug were almost guaranteed, if not staples.

The only band unanimously voted onto the Green Street Records compilation last year, Santa have shown their ability to attract every crowd - the bar rock bros, the capricious show-goers, and even a few haughty hipsters (coincidentally the same demographics that made up GSR).

Now before all of you “we were there when this started” folks get up in arms, when I say better than ever I do not mean that Santa was not good before, it’s just that the additions of Steve Plock on drums and Tommy Trafton on keys can only be an improvement.

Listen to the new tracks on their Myspace. I dig “Bottles and Bracelets”. Badass guys.

Here is an announcement from the Band:

We have exciting new music that you should really check out. It’s from our newly minted and printed EP, entitled My Bones, which will be available for purchase March 7, 2008. Spread the good word around, and let us know.

My Bones EP out March 7

We’ll be celebrating the release with a lovely concert the night of March 7 at The Canopy Club in Urbana, IL. We’ll be sharing the stage with our friends The Rikters and The Butterfly Assassins.

You guys could use some World’s First Flying Machine on that bill…

Santa is now your March 7 Agenda filler. I’m sure they will be your night maker too.

Pitchfork is streaming one of the newest songs from Headlights‘ soon-to-be-released album Some Racing, Some Stopping. It’s called “Cherry Tulips”, fittingly named when you hear Erin Fein’s sugary vocals.

If you don’t want to sign up for an imeem account listen here.

For those of you that missed my blog (probably only my mom and the one guy that reads the217 who isn’t on Illini Media payroll), I apologize for the 20 day hiatus. I blame a surprisingly busy few weeks back and a strong dose of my own laziness.

World’s First Flying Machine’s Ben Campbell

Honestly though, the beginning of each new year is always a slow time for music. Nobody wants to release albums that are forgotten by the time the award shows come around, not to mention snippy critical end of the year lists (ahem not mine of course). In addition some bands are still recovering from the hangovers they received on New Year’s Eve, or if you saw The Hold Steady you are still recovering from the hangover induced by the alcohol content of Craig Finn’s saliva. Whatever the reason, January is a slow month for musical excitement.

Until this Thursday at the Canopy club.

Dodging the dreary Sunday Night quagmire most promoters make newcomers face, World’s First Flying Machine will be headlining an excellent way to spend your Thirsty Thursday. I’ve made it clear I’m a fan of this class act, and if you want to be cool, you will too. Tickets only $5 chumps. Check it out.

If you still want more music news here is a bunch of useless things to know about the new year so far:

- Chan Marshall now has a mole.

- Girl Talk has a new album coming out. Pee your pants.

- Elvis is dead. So is Heath Ledger. (RIP Heath - I made this pic for you)

I kind of Love Batman

- Ellen Page and Michael Cera are way cooler than The Moldy Peaches.

- M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel have an LP coming out. Hot.

- Star Course has a new show lined up for April. Hint: Rockin’ the middle of nowhere?

Expect more on all of that soon!