A SHIT TON OF BANDS - High Dive - Champaign,IL - 1/18/09 -/22/09

It began like any other Sunday. The sun came up, people went to church and George Bush was no longer in office. What a great day. The after-effects of a long night prior to this morning crept up on my body and mind as I became more conscious. My coat hanger had fallen to the floor, as it usually does, and made a mess of my already disgusting room. I had only one sock on and my pants were in the hallway. Reflections of the previous night flashed through my aching skull. Drinks were had; drugs were passed around everything that made up the recipe for a night to remember but would be forgotten. It would be hours before my body would fully recover from the hang-over. But I was prepared to do it all again to cover the first day of the 18th annual C-U Great Cover-Up.

What the hell is the Great Cover-Up anyway? It’s been a long standing tradition that once a year the most notable bands in the Champaign Urbana area convene at a venue and perform, but not their own material. It’s a sonic and visual masquerade for bands and scene-sters to take part of. It’s beyond a tribute show. It has a sense of humor. Serious covers are always welcome, but if I ever had the chance to play the Great Cover-Up I would perform as Tom Jones, or perhaps Neil Diamond. It is an event that allows bands license to indulge their bitter-sweet taste in music and performing as the bands they consider their “guilty pleasures”. This year’s event would take place at the Highdive in downtown Champaign throughout three days.

Sunday evening, the first night of the whole “sonic masquerade” came around and I forgot to attend the show. I was drunk off of a few cans of Steel Reserve and a forty ounce of Colt .45 in a basement near the venue. But from what I was told by friends that did attend the evening bore resemblance to putting a seven-teen year old Champaign-based guitar player’s iTunes playlist on random. I say guitar player because the Mike Ingram Band performed as local band “Temple of Low Men” who had many members that doubled as music instructors within the community. Iain Sheppard was my percussion instructor for many years, and his band-mates also taught friends of mine on bass and guitar.

The first night’s set went as follows:
Sunday, January 18
The Beat Kitchen as Sly and the Family Stone
Mike Ingram Band as Temple of Low Men
Curb service as the Pulp Fiction Soundtrack
Brother Embassy as Limp Bizkit
Kilbourn Alley as Peter Tosh
Popgun 5 as Lynryd Skynryd

The sheer variety of the night was seemingly uncompromised. How could the next group of bands beat this? That question mulled in the minds of the concert goers and performers. The answer would come in a days’ time.

The evening began for your lowly writer early. Three dollar long islands at the canopy club are always a treat. After a few I went back to my house to sit and watch some X-Files video tapes that litter the living-room. My room-mate, who performing at the Cover-Up, asked me if I would dance on stage at the end of his set; I guess I had said ok because by the end of the night I had put on a batman costume and drunkenly danced to the cadence at the end of “Bang the Gong” by T. Rex.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Ten minutes after walking into the Highdive I had already opened a tab and had two double Jim Beam’s on the rocks and because I was considered to be part of one of the acts I was allowed into the back-stage area. Tubs of beer were made available to the bands performing. It was in that area that the true spirit of the Cover-Up was revealed.

“Don’t worry about the lyrics man, this is the cover-up. Nobody gives a fuck. People come here to party and get drunk and watch people fuck up while they GET fucked up.”

This was the preamble of the night, and every night of the cover-up.

This piece of truth rang through my already aching head. It was around nine o’clock when I arrived and it was nine fifteen when the long-islands, the shots of Jim and several beers made the visions blur. The first band/’s (it was an amalgam of two local bands, Post-Historic and Robots Counterfeiting Money) was/were Andrew W.K. and they had the stage show down to a T. The buffoon of a man playing Andrew himself was spot on. Solos were jumbled and the keys player was very intent on playing the part right and sacrificed antics for clarity, but it was a spectacle. The show was similar to Andrew W.K.’s performance (and one of the funniest videos I have ever seen.) on Saturday Night Live. Just YouTube it and be prepared to laugh.

Up next was Dave King the Duke of Uke and His Novelty Orchestra, but that night they were T Rex. The entirety of this portion of the night I spent behind a bass amp. It was part of my free admittance into the show that I hide until the end of the last song and dance around on stage. Within my drunkenness I had thought it a good idea to get a batman costume that was left in my backseat and wear that with silver and black aviator glasses for my performance. It didn’t make sense to me or the audience that watched. But it was okay because the Duke had invited the crowd onstage to dance as well, and they did. After almost falling over the cello player’s cello the song ended and I jumped/fell off the stage.

After T. Rex came Madonna incarnated through the two-man band Common Loon. They have been finding rapid success within the C-U music scene following their release earlier this past year. Images, sounds and consciousness began to distort at this point. The Highdive is split into two rooms: the venue section (with the stage and a few seats, and the “chill” section.) I ran into some friends that night and spent time in the half-circle booths along the length of the wall of the “chill” room. My tab was still open and I was taking advantage of my free beer situation in the back-stage area.

I learned names and forgot them just as quick. Faces melted away in my head like snow-flakes over a fire. I was part of the intoxicated crowd for a good portion of the show. The tractor kings performed as Steve Earle, with Elzie Sexton of New Ruins on keyboards. After their set was New Ruins as Guided By Voices. Microphone troubles gave their set a bad start but they recovered and delivered passed expectations. Up next was the hip-hop act Agent Mos and company baring the façade of hip-hop legends A Tribe Called Quest. It wasn’t apparent at first who they were covering because of the obscurity of the songs and everyone’s state of inebriation, but when they yelled “A Tribe Called Quest” clouds parted.

In my sad, drunken and confused state I assumed the show was over when Agent Mos was finished. So with batman costume in hand and my debit card freshly swiped I got in my car and drove home. It was to my surprise the following day that there in fact was another band left to play that night. Santa had preformed as Robert Smith and friends in their band you might have heard of called The Cure. And from what I’ve heard it was quite the set. They had the hair, the make-up and most importantly the sullenness of the Cure.

Tuesday January 20th
Post Historic and Robots counterfeiting Money as Andrew W.K.
Duke of Uke and his Novelty Orchestra as T Rex
Common Loon as Madonna
Tractor Kings as Steve Earle
New Ruins as Guided By Voices
Agent Mos as a tribe Called Quest
Santa as The Cure

Wednesday night consisted of drinking and playing at Radio Maria’s open mic night. The regulars conversed about who had played, what they covered, who was left and what they might cover. Speculations were made they would be uncovered the following and last night of the Cover-up.

Thursday inched by at a pace that seemed to make a slug look like Jackie Robinson. Working sucks, especially in the service industry. I was late to the final night of the cover-up and met up with friends in the middle of the Golden Qualities set as the Scorpions. I was buzzed from the shots of wild turkey we immediately took part of so when they played “Rock You like a Hurricane” I couldn’t help but join in on the chorus. Although they didn’t play “Bitch City” it was undoubtedly the most accurate of the performing bands that I had seen in the whole show.

Scurvine was next as Sound Garden. I wished to hear “Black-hole Sun” but my favorite song of the 90’s was never played, or at least I don’t remember.

More drinks were had.

I can’t for the life of me remember the Chemicals performance. They were the stooges, and they played the hell out of it, but I can’t remember a damn thing. But I do remember the Hot Cops kicking into their first song as Ranier Maria. Well done.

My friends and I were pre-gaming for the next band, our local favorite hard-core band: Roberta Sparrow. They covered Chicago based punk band/Satanists The Alkaline Trio. Imagine that, two bands I really enjoy throwing down the only songs I enjoy in that genre. All I have to say is that Greg is a machine. Imagine thrashing out a punk song and singing it at full capacity the entire time…he must be an alien, or some kind of machine.

Terminus Victor is known for having the most bizarre (at least the most far from their original songs) sets for the cover-up. If I had known that they were covering PJ Harvey I would have not gone to Merry Ann’s diner down the street and eaten a country-fried steak sandwich with fries and some of my friend’s sausage gravy from his Diner Stack.

I guess in all the real point of the cover-up is camaraderie in drunkenness. As the wise man said backstage that second night,

“Nobody gives a fuck. People come here to party and get drunk and watch people fuck up while they GET fucked up.”

Your experience in the C-U music scene is not complete unless you take in the Great Cover-up. At least once…or twice

Thursday January 22nd
Silver Moon as Fleetwood Mac/Stevie nicks
Golden Quality as the Scorpions
Scurvine as Soundgarden
Hot Cops as Ranier Maria
The Chemicals as the Stooges
Roberta Sparrow as the Alkaline Trio
Terminus Victor as PJ Harvey

Posted by Garrick Nelson edited by Darwin Keup

A SHIT TON OF BANDS - Error House - Champaign,IL - 1/26/09

SEE WHAT YOU MISS WHEN YOU DON'T COME OUT



Photos by Amanda Wallace






I'm the handsome fellow in the hat and glasses










Photos By Pat Bright

Company of Thieves - Illini Union - Champaign,IL - 1/25/09

Company of Thieves - Under the Umbrella.m4a


MySpace

Tonight was the night. The show I have been awaiting for about a month. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin; a new and upcoming band doing a Midwest tour right in my town, and wouldn’t ya know it, I had THEE GREATEST NIGHT EVER!

Chicago bands Unicycle Loves You and Company of Thieves opened for Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin in an extravagant show of atmosphere, vocals and musicianship. All three acts were top notch and are about to be very well known, but one just grabbed my heart and ran with it. Imagine Bjork and Missy Higgins’s voices having a kid together and it turns out to be the best front woman since Janis Joplin. She leads a southern rock band composed of jazz musicians who bring back the lost art of tasteful guitar solos that will have you craving for more(pretty cool huh?). Here you have Chicago’s very own Company of Thieves.

For those who don’t know Champaign, Illinois, there is a great venue inside of the Illini Union and some awesome events that have taken place there ranging from the U.K.’s Fuck Buttons to comedic acts such as Eugene Mirman. There are tables, chairs, Wi-Fi and even a great little coffee bar next to the performance area. Imagine an open mic bar except classier. The stage is even outlined in color-changing neon lights.

The adorable and petite singer, Miss Genevieve Schatz, is able to make you love everything in the room with her presence. But the best part may be when she belts out those full rich songs that make you chant along, such as the end of “Under the Umbrella” and the haunting whisper of the song “Old Letters.” She handles the stage like she is Alanis Morissette and gets everyone singing. If that isn’t enough, every other song includes a guitar solo powerful enough to make “Free Bird” look like a bitch.

Look below and if you see anything within 100 miles you and 8 friends need to take a road trip:
Jan 30 2009 7:00P
Legends (of Notre Dame) Notre Dame, Indiana
Feb 2 2009 6:00P
Backbooth w/ Thriving Ivory Orlando, Florida
Feb 3 2009 7:00P
Common Grounds w/ Thriving Ivory Gainesville, Florida
Feb 5 2009 8:00P
Soul Kitchen w/ Thriving Ivory Mobile, Alabama
Feb 6 2009 8:00P
Jack Rabbits w/ Thriving Ivory Jacksonville, Florida
Feb 7 2009 6:00P
The Dive w/ Thriving Ivory Goose Creek, South Carolina
Feb 9 2009 7:00P
Vinyl w/ Thriving Ivory Atlanta, Georgia
Feb 11 2009 7:00P
Mad Hatter w/ Thriving Ivory Covington, Kentucky
Feb 12 2009 7:00P
CINEMAT Bloomington, Indiana
Feb 13 2009 7:00P
ES Jungle Indianapolis, Indiana
Feb 14 2009 8:00P
The Majestic Theatre w/ Thriving Ivory Madison, Wisconsin
Feb 16 2009 6:00P
Varsity Theatre - Minneapolis w/ Thriving Ivory Minneapolis, Minnesota
Feb 17 2009 8:00P
Revolutions Ballroom w/ Thriving Ivory Neenah, Wisconsin
Feb 18 2009 7:00P
Newport Music Hall w/ Thriving Ivory Columbus, Ohio
Feb 19 2009 8:00P
Double Door w/ Thriving Ivory Chicago, Illinois
Feb 22 2009 7:00P
Paradise Lounge w/ Thriving Ivory Boston, Massachusetts
Feb 23 2009 7:00P
Bowery Ballroom w/ Thriving Ivory New York, New York
Feb 25 2009 6:00P
Tinks w/ Thriving Ivory Scranton, Pennsylvania
Feb 26 2009 7:00P
Theatre of Living Arts w/ Thriving Ivory Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Feb 27 2009 7:00P
Chameleon w/ Thriving Ivory Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Feb 28 2009 8:00P
IOTA Cafe w/ Thriving Ivory Arlington, Virginia
Mar 1 2009 7:00P
Local 506 w/ Thriving Ivory Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Mar 3 2009 7:00P
Neighborhood Theater w/ Thriving Ivory Charlotte, North Carolina
Mar 5 2009 7:00P
Remmingtons Downtown w/ Thriving Ivory Springfield, Missouri
Mar 6 2009 7:00P
Midland Theatre w/ Thriving Ivory Kansas City, Missouri
Mar 7 2009 7:00P
Juanita’s Cantina Ballroom w/ Thriving Ivory Little Rock, Arkansas
Mar 8 2009 7:00P
FIRE w/ Thriving Ivory Jackson, Mississippi
Mar 11 2009 8:00P
Scoutbar w/ Thriving Ivory Houston, Texas
Mar 12 2009 7:00P
The Loft (Dallas) w/ Thriving Ivory Dallas, Texas
Mar 14 2009 7:00P
Take 2 w/ Thriving Ivory El Paso, Texas
Mar 15 2009 7:00P
Launchpad w/ Thriving Ivory Albuquerque, New Mexico
Mar 17 2009 7:00P
Bluebird Theatre w/ Thriving Ivory Denver, Colorado
Mar 18 2009 6:30P
Murray Theater w/ Thriving Ivory Murray, Utah
Mar 20 2009 6:30P
Martini Ranch w/ Thriving Ivory Scottsdale, Arizona

Posted by Darwin Keup edited by Leah Tallon

The Reptilian - Error House - Champaign,IL - 1/11/09

The Reptilian - I Cant Drink This Its Warm.mp3


MySpace

Well, I was planning on doing an inaugural review later this week but once a band like this falls into your lap, you don’t really have a choice but to tell everyone about them. Ladies and Gentleman, I give you The Reptilian, a four-piece group from my favorite fake-sounding town, Kalamazoo, Michigan. They’ve created a great mixture of Modest Mouse’s vocal work and Minus the Bear’s instrumentals, and with better dance moves. Go check them out and watch singer/guitarist Jon Sacha’s fancy foot work and you’ll see exactly what I’m talking about.

For those that don’t know there happens to be a little venue that my roommate runs in my basement called Error House where we have local and touring bands come and play. Looking at the booked bands for the night I was expecting a pretty good hardcore show, but when The Reptilian was setting up I noticed an uber twangy Danelectro and more delay pedals than you could shake a stick at. I decided that they were probably a little different than the rest of the bill and boy was I right. They requested that the lights be shut off and that blue and green flood lights be turned on. This is when I noticed their main difference from most bands: While playing they faced each other instead of the crowd. When asked in a short interview why this was done, drummer Dan Riehl said, “It’s just something that we do when we practice so we just play like that at shows.” This may be the reason an easy connection is established between the band and the audience when they play. You get the feeling that they are playing for themselves, no matter how many people are in the room.

On top of that you will also notice that the guitarists rebelled against the section about power chords when they had guitar lessons. being as both of them use a spacey tapping version of playing(as does the bass player from time to time). It gives them a unique sound that is hard to come by. Lastly, their voice work range from gang vocals about tall tales to John Sacha's "really excited to tell you something and getting pissed off that your not listening to him, but in a good way” style of singing about being in a crowd or being face down on the pavement. I would strong recommend standing in the front for this show and not moving.


With songs entitled “I'll Ram My Ovopositor down Your Throat and Lay my Eggs in Your Chest...But I'm Not an Alien” and the gem “I Can't Drink This, it’s Warm!” you can’t really go wrong. They have a tour starting in the later part of February and I highly recommend traveling to the nearest place they are playing…twice.

Posted by Darwin Keup edited by Leah Tallon

You have to start somewhere

Music is the mastering of wave lengths, it becomes an art after science.

Music is more than just sounds put together in a matching rhythm and tone, it's a feeling. The thing about it is that these simple pitches and beats carry an emotion along with them and for the most part, a memory. Music can build you up or destroy you with the right blast, it is the true language of the soul. Something this important can't be contained on a piece of plastic or trapped inside an iPod, the true way to get every essence of music is to go and see it and be there when it's raw, when you and the artist are sharing that single frame in time.

That is the mission of this blog, to get out and let the people know what they are missing. You need to know that there is amazing act that you didn't see so that you won't miss the next chance you have or that maybe you were right and staying home and catching up on Heroes was a better idea. With that said I can only hope that you enjoy what you are about to read and continue to do such. Feel free to contribute and give us a heads up to any shows because if it's worth it we will go to it.

Thank You
The Gonzo Radio Team