Wilson Hensleigh, who last August moved to San Marcos, Texas as a guitarist for Solips, has returned and joined The Respondent. “Coming home feels like a warm pudding bath,” writes Hensleigh. Meanwhile, Solips remains in San Marcos. “I think anyone who has ever had the opportunity to enter a creative process with a family member knows it was hard to leave Solips,” admits Hensleigh. Besides Solips, his credits include Monster Honkey and FeED.
Austrian post-rock trio Valina will tour the Midwest this week. Valina commandeered a dance party at Mike ‘n Molly’s last year and will try again tonight at The Courtyard Cafe. Also on the bill are Make Believe, Hello. I’m Victor and A Light Sleeper. Show time is 7:30 p.m., and cover is $5 ($3 with school ID).
Tonight at 8 p.m., Piper’s Hut Concert Series in association with the Society of Celtic Cultures hosts a benefit for the Red Cross. The guest is Brock McGuire Band. Paul Brock and Manus McGuire from County Clare are joined tonight by banjo prodigy Enda Scahill and accompanist Denis Carey. This show is at the University of Illinois Music Department Building Auditorium. Admission is $15 ($10 for seniors and anyone with school ID and free for children). Also at 8 p.m., two-time Kerrville New Folk Contest finalist Dave Potts performs for Acoustic at Arìma. Admission is free.
Saturday at 8 p.m., indie songwriter Paul Kotheimer performs for Corkscrew After Dark at Corkscrew Wine Emporium. Although this is a smoke-free show, Kotheimer won’t detail how “Everybody Smokes in Hell.” Corkscrew Wine Emporium is located at 203 N. Vine St. in Urbana, across from Schnucks, and admission is free.
Sunday at 1 p.m., Tommy G’s Bar and Grill hosts Katrina Blows!, a benefit for the hurricane relief effort. Recently reuinted Third Stone are on the bill, as well as Renegade, Kelly’s Heroes, JAB, As Seen on TV, Albert Flasher, and Autumn Zero. Afterward, in the same vein, Anomic and Below Eden return to Cowboy Monkey. Brother Embassy, also playing, has warned of a “hazardous funk outlook” and issued a “tropical funk watch” for the listening area. Be forewarned. Show time is 10 p.m., and cover is $4.
