The tail end of this week offers two free opportunities to check out local talent. Tonight at 8, Paul Kotheimer returns to Aroma for a double set. In his own words “an artist-activist and independent media advocate,” Paul also is bassist for Theory of Everything. Tomorrow at 5:30 p.m., Desafinado perform their monthly happy hour at Cowboy Monkey. Desafinado recently released a self-titled, 13-track album recorded by Mark Rubel at Pogo Studio and mastered by Jon Schoenoff at Krannert Audio.
Saturday, Mike ‘n Molly’s hosts the second benefit for the Shawna Morrison Memorial Fund. Showtime is 9:30 p.m., and cover is $5. A member of the Illinois National Guard, Shawna died in action in Iraq last year. Her friends are building a scholarship fund in her memory; The Situation, The Chemicals, Scurvine and Joanna Michal are on the bill for this benefit. All of the proceeds go to the Shawna Morrison Memorial Fund.
The Beauty Shop have a new drummer, “Creecher,” and new songs to debut at their “Farmhouse” party Sunday. Furthermore, Nathan Gulick will be there to make a music video. “Everyone is invited,” stressed the band; “we want tons of people out.” The Beauty Shop play again July 8 at Cowboy Monkey with elsinore. Show time is 10 p.m., and cover is $4.
Delayed by a flood at Great Western Record Recorders, Terminus Victor finally finished their second album, Under Surveillance, June 11. Matt Talbott (ex-Hum, Centaur) recorded it and assisted with song selection. Under Surveillance should come out some time this year, and the band is at work on album art with Brittany Bindrim of i:scintilla.
Terminus Victor play July 15 at 700 Main in Peoria with Aniara and Charter North. Showtime is 7 p.m., and cover is $3.
The Opportunists announce a farewell show, July 16 at Mike ‘n Molly’s with Triple Whip and Cameo Turret. Showtime is 10 p.m., and cover is $4. The Opportunists cannot continue because Meghan Krausch and Cyrus Pireh are about to move to New York. Arun Bhalla and Miranda O’Dell remain, and Miranda also can be heard on the new Shipwreck album.
The release party for that album, Origin, is still Tuesday at Cowboy Monkey with The Living Blue and American Minor. Showtime is 9:30 p.m., and cover is $5. This is an Urbana Booking Co. presentation, and Shipwreck is the OpeningBands.com Band of the Month for July.
In the absence of a campus record store, Caffe Paradiso is following in the footsteps of C.V. Lloyde Music Center and selling local albums, on a consignment basis. A new Web site shows what is available: TheCaffeParadiso.com. Three brand-new items are Dirty Shoes by Megan Johns, in the spotlight last week, and albums by David King and Pointed. The Duke of Uke is a 21:55 album of original ukelele music by longtime cartoonist and open-mic host David King. Psychiatrist Beaten is the new Pointed album. The correction last week ought to have read: “Pointed was away not in Arizona, but in Washington.”
