Cara Maurizi is playing the first show listed this Thursday — a free show at the Embassy Tavern in downtown Urbana at 5:30 p.m. — and hopefully you’re reading this before the show is already over. Cara is a bit of a newbie in terms of playing shows out in CU compared to some of the seasoned vets playing the same shows (and backing her on occasion). Her face might be familiar to fans of the Zoo Improv Comedy Troupe, of which she is a member. Her newly minted MySpace page lists influences in Depeche Mode and Interpol, but the songs on the page skew jazz standard. I have a feeling she has a few tricks up her sleeve for this evening’s show. And please, hit up myspace.com/caramaurizi and add to her fifteen friends (at press time).
If you’re reading this a bit later, know that you can catch one of the area’s premiere jazz (though no genre really holds them) acts at Zorba’s tonight. Jazz Sandwich will kick off at the usual 9:30 p.m. with a $3 cover. It’s hard to classify a band that slips from Miles Davis to “The Price Is Right” theme to Jimi Hendrix and then an original composition, except to say that they are pleasingly eclectic. They are also frustrating to watch because it looks like it comes so easily to them. But hey, can’t blame them for that.
Live Karaoke Band will open the stage to a new group of lead singers at the Highdive tonight, where they have transplanted to in the wake of Cowboy Monkey’s hiatus. The band’s song list has grown to an epic scale, with new songs being added weekly, so give it a scan and find a new song to belt out. And don’t forget to get your beads from Guido. 10 p.m., $5.
Sangamon, the rapidly rising campus favorite (thanks in part to lead singer Shay’s stint as the Piano Man on Tuesdays at the Canopy Club, and in part to writing infectious pop songs in the vein of Keane and Coldplay) will play at the Canopy this Friday night with openers the Easy Marks and Zupan (nee the Lawnmower Rifles). Cover is $5 and the show starts at 9 p.m., and you can eat your weight in Manolo’s empanadas without having to leave the club.
Against that show, the Iron Post is offering an evening with Underpaid Packy (9 p.m., $5). The Iron Post doesn’t have empanadas, but it does have some pretty great french fries. And it might soon get a makeover in the sound department, as a benefit is being planned by local musicians to raise money for some new gear and repairs to the ailing system currently in place. More info to come on that.
Continuing the coverage of house parties that have become more frequent this winter: Broadway House (504 S. Broadway Ave. in Urbana) is hosting a show this Saturday that will function as the release party for CU artist Cornbread (who has too many current aliases to list). The house band for the show (and for the house in general) will be The Sugar Gliders — the extremely tight live band recently seen backing Krukid. Mohrer Les (from Monumental Minds) will also perform at the show which has a 7 p.m. start time listed, and a TBA cover (hope for free).
This week’s peek back into the vault of great CU music focuses on Colonel Rhodes. The band (which had a good run from 2003-2005 before splitting into Watery Domestic and Common Loon) only had one release, the EP This Is Public. Its five songs are all solid, but the best is placed in the center position. “In the Movies” is layered with guitars and sleigh bells and is a perfect example of male/female vocal interaction. The song has long remained in my iTunes Top 25, and has been featured on nearly every mix disc I can remember making for friends. You can likely find yourself a copy of the EP at local outlets like Exile On Main St., or by relentlessly pestering one of the former band members. To hear (and download) the song for free, head to myspace.com/colonelrhodes.
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