CU Sound Review

Or, the Whale – the San Francisco band in the vein of the Decemberists (nationally) and elsinore (locally) – will make a much-anticipated stop in Champaign this week, though on an odd night. They will take the Cowboy Monkey stage on Monday for an early show (before open mic night begins) with Ryan Groff as an opener. Anyone interested in checking out a fantastic national band on the way up, take a peek at www.myspace.com/orthewhale. “Call and Response” will likely be enough to make you want to fork over the $4 to see the 8 p.m. show.

Stick around after the Or, the Whale show to catch the fourth theme night at Cowboy Monkey’s open mic night. This week’s theme is “new original songs,” where performers can win prizes for debuting a newly written song.

Jumping back to tonight, Jazz Sandwich will perform at the Iron Post at 8 p.m. For only $3. You can catch one of the tastiest groups in town, and see with your own eyes one of the tastiest men in town – Iron Post owner Paul Wirth.

Radmaker’s, the little Tolono club that could (now that it’s under new management) will host the Brat Pack on Friday night. That’s right, you can drive just a few short miles to see all of the antics, sing along with all of the hits and marvel at the ability that absolutely smashed musicians have to keep on playing (I’m looking at you, Guido). 9 p.m., $5.

Angie Heaton, the little rocker girl that could, will be making a rare Campustown appearance on Friday. She’ll hit the airwaves of 107.1 WPGU at 9 p.m. on the Inside the Rocker’s Studio program. Listen (or go down to Green Street and watch through the glass) as Angie plays some acoustic numbers and likely goes on and on about her love of The Bangles.

On Saturday night, Roberta Sparrow and Tummler will play the beer garden at Mike ‘n Molly’s (weather permitting) at 9 p.m., while the Living Blue and the Redwalls team up for another show at Cowboy Monkey at 10 p.m.

Sunday night at the Iron Post you can catch Neal Alger and Tiffany Monique, a jazz duo from Chicago, at 7 p.m. for $3. The IMC in Urbana will host an all-ages show the next night (Monday) featuring Megan Johns, Morgan Orion and the Magic Chords, and Michael Kammin (8 p.m., $5).

Next week: the Pygmalion pre-parties begin and the Urbana Sweetcorn festival will hopefully show up the Taste of CU.

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