Summer Camp and You (A Public Service Announcement [Part 1])

Hey all,

Sorry for the lack of updates recently. Midterms were brutal. Good news is that spring is finally here, which means only one thing: getting ready for summer! One thing that stands out in my mind as I (im)patiently await the summer months is Summer Camp 2010 Music Festival, the tenth-annual music and arts festival held every Memorial Day Weekend at Three Sisters Park in Chillecothe, IL

And now for the first part in a twelve part series on Summer Camp: Summer Camp and You!

If Summer Camp Music Festival isn’t on your list of summer destinations, let me fill you in on what you’re missing. Over 60 bands on 5 stages will perform throughout the weekend, including three shows each from perennial jamband favorites moe. and Umphrey’s McGee. Many artists also on the bill have graced (or will grace) the stage at Canopy Club in the past several months, including: Gov’t Mule, Keller Williams, The Avett Brothers, Yonder Mountain String Band, EOTO, Bassnectar, Cornmeal, Zmick, Strange Arrangement, Chicago Farmer, Family Groove Company, The Bridge, The Station, Kinetix and Brainchild!

Don’t forget that STS9, Victor Wooten, Dumpstafunk, and Slightly Stoopid will also be performing at Summer Camp, and these great artists haven’t performed at Canopy Club in well over a year.

Obviously, those people who made it to Canopy to see all of these various bands over the past year are few and far between. So why not hedge your bets and buy a ticket to the tenth-annual Summer Camp Music Festival? You’ll get to see all the above bands that you wanna groove to, in addition to catching some great music that you won’t hear just sitting at home. Legendary hip-hop group Public Enemy will be making an appearance; String Cheese Incident keyboardist, Kyle Hollingsworth, will bring his side project to Three Sisters Park; and one of the hottest names in live entertainment, Pretty Lights (who has absolutely exploded all over the scene in the past year) will be performing a special late night set in addition to his regular set.

Basically, this festival is gonna be tits. Stay tuned for Part 2 of this twelve part series on getting pumped for Summer Camp, brought to you by the Canopy Blog!

Music Blizzard!

Hey campers,

I hope you’ve been keeping warm. It’s been a busy February for the Canopy Club. Gov’t Mule rocked the house last Thursday night and invited opener Jackie Greene to the stage to jam on the staple “Mule” into a “Jungle Boogie” cover back into “Mule.” This received national attention from the Relix Magazine affiliate website jambands.com. Warren Haynes on lead guitar commanded the attention of the audience as Gov’t Mule touched on elements of southern rock, heavy blues riffs, and the occasional splash of reggae.

The crowd was a nice mix of young and old, but what wasn’t nice was that people were shoved into the venue ankles to assholes. Gov’t Mule and Jackie Greene’s tour convoy rolled into Urbana with two RV’s (one for band, one for crew) and two semi trucks - man, did they have a ton of gear. Canopy’s stage was chock-full of equipment. Their soundboard wouldn’t even fit in the soundboard area - it took up some of the dance floor space behind the first ledge. This just made matters of crowding worse. But those that did find a comfy little nook with a beer and some good friends had a great time at a great concert.

Check out this video, taken from one of those nooks! Warren decides to do his best impression of Johnny Cash using his guitar instead of his voice. But all kidding aside, this is a really cool cover. It just goes to show that you don’t necessarily have to work on the vocal lines to a song if you can pull it off on your instrument. Take a look:

Set 1: Bad Little Doggie, Steppin’ Lightly, Broke Down On The Brazos > Tributary Jam, Rocking Horse > Banks Of The Deep End, Lively Up Yourself, Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody’s Home > Thorazine Shuffle

Set 2: Railroad Boy > When Doves Cry > Beautifully Broken > When Doves Cry > Beautifully Broken > Creep, Effigy > Folsom Prison Blues Jam > Drums > Effigy > Kings Highway > I’m A Ram > Mule > Jungle Boogie Jam > I’ve Been Working > Mule,

Encore: Sugaree *, After Midnight *

Comment: * with Jackie Greene.

Last Saturday, Zmick, who used to hold a residency on Mondays at Canopy Club from ‘07 to ‘09, was back to give a crowd of people a chance to get in out of the snow. They haven’t played many concerts at Canopy Club since, but when they do make the trip to their favorite venue, the four-piece progressive fusion band never disappoints. As of December, all of the members have graduated college, and three of the four are now U of I alums. Last Saturday night, on Bob Marley’s birthday, they made it clear that their maturity level has grown substantially since the addition of a thirty-something keyboardist, Don Rifkin of Northbrook, IL.

Don’s impact is paramount. He adds several original compositions, written for his former group, Garbage Mountain, to the Zmick catalogue. One of Rifkin’s songs was played Saturday night. “Turtleneck” fits right in with the Zmick motif - music with catchy vocal lines and extended instrumental jams, spiked with odd time signatures.

Rifkin looked really comfortable with his new bandmates, often standing up behind the keys and rocking back and forth to the heavier riffs, in sync with bassist Dan Wonsover and guitarist Brad Miller. His voice has a nice tone and a keen sense of pitch, which is a welcome addition to the group. While Zmick’s harmonies were occasionally shaky in the past, having a more experienced vocalist on board seems to have given the other members new found confidence in their own vocal lines.

One thing that hasn’t changed about these Illinois jam-rockers is their commitment to deliver fresh setlists each time out. The intro was a brief jam on Metallica’s “Sad But True” that led into drummer Kris Ahrens’ original, “Sexy, Crazy.” The unlikely pairing of metal and soul fed the anticipation of the friendly crowd in the early stages of the show. An extended jam from the song is embedded below:

An instrumental rendition of “Cob” came next, with a slow ebb-and-flow tempo to start. The breakdown of the song is a pure accelerando, which reached breakneck speed. Fingers were flying and the bass drum was thumping during the faster-than-usual run through the second half of the song. It was a different take on a fan favorite, that turned the area in front of the stage into a swarm of bodies.

Though “Cob” is a long composition, the final measures of the outro didn’t signal the end. After a tight segue in and out of the new “Nedwick Pocket,” written by Rifkin, the smooth reggae vibes of Miller’s “Stay” gave the audience a taste of the caribbean. The bridge of this song was executed brilliantly, as moderate-tempo 11/8 measures were handled by the four musicians with precision.

After about 30 minutes of music without a pause, the band took the time to formally introduce Don to the audience. This was followed by The Beatles’ “I Am The Walrus,” sung nicely by Miller. The climax of the song features the often misinterpreted lyric “got one, got one, everybody’s got one” sung by Wonsover as the usually heard “smoke pot, smoke pot, everybody smoke pot.” Let’s just say the audience got a hit - I mean - kick out of that one.

Further musical shenanigans included a small “Bring It Back” sandwich, with headbanger “Options,” a Tupac tease, the heavy wah-wah of “Shakedown Street” and classic Zmick tune “The Interrogation” in the middle. The band left stage to raucous cheering. They would return after a Zmick chant broke out, to finish with “Apartment 54,” a sultry jazz tune in 5/4 time. This special version of the song featured Wonsover singing the original lyrics, which haven’t been sung in over a year, when the song was converted to an instrumental.

Even though it was after 1:30 am, those who stuck around Canopy Club after the show were treated to an impromptu dance party in the beer garden by a friend of the band who brought a boombox to the club. Much like the Pied Piper, the boombox led the small crowd to the after party for even more good times.

Now that the third iteration of Zmick has a couple of performances under their belts, it’s only a matter of time until this band starts to accomplish big things. The new lineup shows amazing potential, which can only add to the momentum that they’ve built up for the last three years here in Urbana.

Set 1: Sad But True@ > Sexy, Crazy, Cob > Nedwick Pocket > Stay, I Am The Walrus#, Turtleneck, Crad Rock > Metal Pocket > Crad Rock, Bring It Back > Options > California Love$ > Options, Shakedown Street%, The Interrogation > Bring It Back > The Interrogation,

Encore: Wookie Put Your Shoes On > Apartment 54

Comment: @Metallica tease #Beatles cover $Tupac tease %Grateful Dead cover

Recap: Strange Arrangement & Keller Williams

What’s up music fans!? I have much to share about the past couple of shows at Canopy Club, as well as some insight into some upcoming shows.

Thursday night saw three bands grace the Canopy’s Void Room stage: The Right Now, Daphne Willis & Co., and Strange Arrangement. I showed up in time for the second act, Daphne Willis & Co. Her soulful backing band started the night off right. The highlight was a cover of Tracy Chapman’s “Gimme One Reason” with Ms. Willis belting it out to perfection.

Strange Arrangement then took to the stage. Their high energy set took the show into a different direction, replacing Daphne Willis’ soulful, acoustic set with an in-your-face jam set. Often changing direction with instrumental interludes, the Chicago-based jamband kept the audience on the balls of their feet with tight grooves and group cohesion.

Here’s a taste of some extended instrumental music from Strange Arrangement:

But it wasn’t all about playing outside the box on Thursday night. Those in attendance were treated to an interesting take on MGMT’s hit “Electric Feel.” That’s right: a jamband covering an indie band. Take a look:

Friday night, Canopy Club hosted the venerable Keller Williams. Though he seems like a whirlwind on stage, the show was actually quite subdued last night, compared to his previous visit to Central Illinois’ finest music venue. With a minimalist stage setup, Keller worked his way between his acoustic, a sunburst Fender Jazz, and a vast array of knobs and switches to control his loop machine. The venue was swarming with people old and young to catch the amazing one-man-jamband.

Because of the capacity crowd, I wasn’t able to grab more than one video. Here it is, a nice cover of the Grateful Dead’s “Scarlet Begonias.” Enjoy:

Keller’s second set actually closed with a large medley of Phish’s “Birds of a Feather” into “Begonias” into another Dead tune, “Fire on the Mountain.” Keller’s encore took the audience into a sonic jungle, complete with Williams wailing on a djembe and making noises fit for wildlife into his looping machine. The soundscape reverberating through the great hall fit perfectly with the jungle-themed walls of the Canopy.

If you missed out on all the fun last week, don’t miss out on all the great shows coming the first week of February!

Wednesday night will feature ZOSO: The Ultimate Tribute to Led Zeppelin.

Thursday will feature Gov’t Mule.

Friday will feature Lucky Boys Confusion.

And Saturday will feature my personal favorite ZMICK!! I can’t effin’ wait!

I’ll be jammin’ with ya!

Gearing up for 2010!

Hey Music Fans,

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a great holiday season. Now that 2010 is underway, you must be thinking about seeing some live music or attending the other great events held at the Canopy Club. This post will preview and highlight some of the many events coming up, and there are plenty of them. Let’s hop to it!

I’ll start off with the Canopy’s FREE weekly events, that you won’t want to miss!

Start your week off right with Sunday’s new and improved Pizza, Pitcher & A Movie! New for 2010 is a unique movie theme every week. This is your chance to see a trio of classic movies with no admission charge, paired with the special you already know and love: $10 for a domestic pitcher and a large Manolo’s pizza. Some of the themes planned for 2010 include Kung Fu, Baseball, Brad Pitt Night, Quentin Tarantino Night, Stoner Flicks, 80s Movies, and many, many more. Check the blog each Sunday to see what movies will be playing!

Every Monday, bounce to the rock/reggae stylings of JoBu, playing a free show with the WILD special of $1 domestics and wells. After forming at SIU-Carbondale, this group relocated to Urbana in early 2009 and added former Underpaid Packy keyboardist Kevin McHugh. So make them feel at home! Get rid of your Monday blues with local tunes and cheap brews!

Free events come Two-Fer every Tuesday, with the early event, Trivia Diner, followed by the late event, Piano Man. Real Long Islands are $3 on special for both events, so don’t be afraid of coming early to get your trivia on, and don’t be afraid to stay late and sing one with the Piano Man. Trivia Diner is hosted by local comedy troupe, Fishing With Dynamite. Sign up starts at 6 pm; Trivia starts at 7 pm. Request your favorite hits and get ready to sing along with Piano Man. There’s no song he won’t play! (Don’t quote me on that.)

Last but not least, Wednesday’s free event is a real rager: RAVE TO THE GRAVE. Local DJs will be spinning beats and mashups from 10 til 2am and you’ll have to be there to believe what they come up with next. These DJs are pushing the envelope and redefining what a DJ can be, every single Wednesday. And with $3 Red Bull mixed drinks and bombs, you’ll be dancing as the staff politely asks you to leave the venue at 2 am.

Now, I’ll mention some of the marquee events that you should definitely mark your calendar for.

Friday, January 22nd, 2010: The Gold Motel w/ Empires and Withershins

The Gold Motel should be perfect for those who love indie/power pop with female lead singers. Greta Morgan Salpeter, of the Hush Sound, brings her energetic side project to the Canopy Club. So if you’re bitter about The Hush Sound’s recent hiatus, you’ve got to check out this show, which starts at 6:30 pm and costs $10 in advance.

Thursday, January 28th, 2010: Strange Arrangement w/ Daphne Willis and the Right Now

Strange Arrangement follows in the footsteps of pioneering jambands like Phish, playing music that focus more on instrumental flourishes than commanding vocal performances. Strange Arrangement is a group of proficient musicians, who let their instruments do the talking. If you caught their last Canopy Club appearance, when they opened up for Umphrey’s McGee, you know what I’m talking about. If not, check this out:

This show starts at 10 pm and has a $5 cover.

Friday, January 29th, 2010: Keller Williams

One-man jamband, Keller Williams is a powerhouse on the live music circuit. He is a master of many instruments including guitar, bass, piano, theremin and, of course, his own mouth. In addition to singing his original music, he can accompany himself with throat trumpet and beat boxing. This whirlwind of musical talent is tied together all with a looping station. The layers of music swirl throughout the venue, bringing an uncontrollable urge to dance to the entire audience. Here’s a taste of his last trip to Canopy Club:

This show starts at 9 pm and costs $20 in advance.

Sunday, January 31st, 2010: The Prairie Ensemble

This one is for the classically oriented. Local musicians come together under director Kevin Kelly to form Champaign’s own orchestra, The Prairie Ensemble. This show starts at 7 pm and costs $18 in advance.

Thursday, February 4th, 2010: Gov’t Mule w/ Jackie Greene

This Southern-rock powerhouse comes to the Midwest for a night to remember with Jackie Greene. Gov’t Mule lead singer/guitarist has recently performed with The Dead in the summer of ‘09, and Jackie Greene is known for playing in Phil Lesh and Friends. Tie that with the heavy Allman Brothers influence, and the jam element will be sure to in full effect. Check it:

Friday, February 5th, 2010: Lucky Boys Confusion

Straight outta Dupage County, Lucky Boys Confusion mixes pop, punk and hip-hop to great success, having been together since the late ’90s. If you’re a Chicagoan who loves uptempo, indie style tunes, or you just can’t get enough of LBC, check out this show.

Saturday, February 6th, 2010: Zmick w/ Mathien

Urbana’s own breed of jamband returns with a brand new keyboard player for the brand new year. The new lineup looks to continue their legacy of Midwestern jam influenced progressive rock. If you haven’t seen Zmick, but have heard of them through word of mouth, it’s time to catch this local product before they hit it big on the national scene. Opening act Mathien combines a vintage soul sound with a modern edge for a result that never sounds passé. Here is a video of Zmick to wet your whistle:

The show starts at 10 pm and has a $5 cover.

Sunday, February 14th, 2010: Bela Fleck & The Africa Project

Legendary banjo player, Bela Fleck brings world-class musicians from various regions of Africa to the Midwest, with the Africa Project. Bela Fleck decided to give these musicians a chance to shine in America after traveling to their countries and listening to them play their native instruments.

Says Fleck, “This stuff needed to be heard! More of these great artists from the African continent will be brought into the light.”

The show starts at 9 pm and is $25 in advance.

Saturday, February 20th, 2010: RJD2 w/ Kenan Bell and Happy Chichester

“RJD2’s music is a collage of cut-and-paste hip-hop that combines disparate elements to make for soulful, moody portraits of the world.”

The show starts at 7 pm and costs $13 in advance.

That’s it for now. Thanks for staying tuned to all things Canopy Club, here, at the Canopy Club blog. I’m Josh and I’ll be jammin’ with ya. Peace!

Monday, April 5th, 2010: Bassnectar

Ok, so I know this one is a ways away, but bear with me - this show is kind of a big deal. Maybe you caught one of his two shows at Summer Camp Music Festival last year (I was at the Sunday late-night performance), but chances are you could have missed it. If you like deafening sub-woofers and heavy, electronic music Bassnectar (Lorin Ashton) will be right up your alley. His stage setup includes about a dozen 20-inch plus woofers, and he likes to warm them up by playing a recording demonstrating all of the (integer) frequencies starting at 2 Hz and going up.

Bassnectar lives to make the audience uncomfortable - from his extreme decibel level, to his extreme visualizer. It was apparent from the show I saw that Bassnectar is influenced by Maynard James Keenan of Tool, who gets off on the same weird shit. When I saw both Tool and Bassnectar, the visualizers were filled with shock value and cacophony. It just matches their motif and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Check out this official music video for “Bomb the Blocks.”