Hello and welcome to the show that never stops (but does slow down an immense amount). It seems to be the summer of married-couple folk acts coming through to perform at Aroma Cafe’s Thursday night acoustic music series. Tonight brings Chicago singer/songwriters Steph and Matt Davies, who will perform solo and together. The songs on Steph’s MySpace page, http://www.myspace.com/versionsoftruth, remind me a lot of early, pre-label Tristan Prettyman, and I’m hoping that as a unit the two land somewhere around the sound of KaiserCartel, with solid harmonies and pretty guitar play. The pair will stop at Aroma in the midst of a summer full of dates all around the Midwest and east coast, at one point meeting up in Chicago with CU band Good Night and Good Morning. Stop by Aroma at 8 p.m. to catch the free show, but, as always, toss a couple of bucks in the tip jar if you can to support the touring musicians.
On Friday, while Canopy Club patrons are hoping for more “Hey Man Nice Shot” and less “Take My Picture” from Filter, the Mike ‘n Molly’s beer garden will be running a show guaranteed to make you work up a sweat (well, the humidity will do that anyway, but we’re talking mega-sweat). Brother Embassy will lay down their unique brand of funk-infused rock, with sequined front-man Nate Jones doing his best James Brown impression over beats from rhythm section members Erik Peterson (bass) and Mike Meek (drums). Axe-man John Vasquez is the icing on the funk-cake. The show’s middle slot will be filled by another genre-bending act, the Duke of Uke, also known as Dave King. Whether solo or with his Novelty Orchestra, the Duke sings likable songs over the strum of a ukulele. A crowd favorite is his interpretation of “The Ladybug Picnic.” Opening up the night will be folksy rock band Neoga Blacksmith. The show starts at 9 p.m. and will cost you $5.
The Iron Post in Urbana is still the only local music venue that regularly hosts comedy acts, including stand-up comics and, once a month on Wednesdays, the Zoo Improv Comedy Troupe. If you’re in the mood for something a little different than your standard rock show, drop by at 8 p.m. and enjoy some improvisational comedy. You might even end up as part of the show.
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