July 29, New Ruins made several announcements. The duo has signed with Parasol/Mud Records. The new album The Sound They Make, an initial run of 100 with handmade art, will see re-release locally in September and nationally in January. After a long and wide search, the band will become a quartet, due to debut August 29 at The Canopy Club with The Curtains (ex-Deerhoof), The Beauty Shop and Casados. Show time is 10 p.m., and cover is $7 in advance. In the meantime, New Ruins plays a free show August 12 at Cowboy Monkey with The Confines and The Breaks.
Also last weekend, Triple Whip recorded six songs with Adam Schmitt to go with three other songs recorded March 31 with Mark Rubel. These will comprise the fourth Triple Whip release, Horsepower. Original Triple Whip drummer Brett Sanderson will mix the new songs before his current band Headlights goes on tour August 23-September 23.
August 15 at Cowboy Monkey, Larry Gates will open for John Henry & The Engine and The Foster Walker Complex. In the afterglow of the Red Lion Inn reunion, his all-acoustic set will consist of his favorite songs by other Champaign-Urbana artists. Show time is 10 p.m., and cover is $4.
Sound Ground began at The Paper in June 2003. Creator Holly Rushakoff felt local music coverage was sparse and demonstrated “500 words weekly” was an attainable goal. I took over in January 2004 and wrote 15 installments before The Paper went out of business in April 2004. Scroll ahead to August 2004, when buzz editor Marissa Monson and buzz music editor Elisabeth Lim approached me to revive it. buzz publisher Mary Cory has been there for me ever since, and subsequent buzz music editors Kyle Gorman, Anna Statham and Leah Nelson have been great to get to know and work with; I thank them all.
This is Sound Ground #134 – although Sound Ground #58 never ran – and I think the time is right for transition. Although news will be uneven from week to week, the scene has yet to slow down this summer. Local music receives more recognition than three years ago, and Illini Media Company had a lot to do with that: special thanks to Liz Mozzocco and Michelle Gabris. I shall stick around and continue to cover local music to the best of my ability, but with wider margins. I hope everyone can join me in the audience at a show soon.
Todd J. Hunter hosts WEFT Sessions and Champaign Local 901, two hours of local music every Monday at 10 p.m. on WEFT 90.1 FM. Delete soundground@excite.com from your address book, but keep in touch!
