Smile Politely

The Overture: December 11-30

WHAT: The Chickadee Sermon

WHERE: The Clark Bar (free)

WHEN: Thursday, December 14th at 6:30 p.m.

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WHAT: Kayla Brown

WHERE: Blind Pig on Walnut (free)

WHEN: Thursday, December 14th at 7 p.m.

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WHAT: Reginald Chapman’s Pressure Fit

WHERE: The Iron Post ($5)

WHEN: Thursday, December 14th at 7 p.m.

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WHAT: Grainger Smith

WHERE: City Center ($20)

WHEN: Thursday, December 14th at 8 p.m.

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WHAT: F*ck Finals 2.0

WHERE: The Canopy Club ($7)

WHEN: Thursday, December 14th at 8 p.m.

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WHAT: Tab Benoit, Eric Johanson

WHERE: The Castle Theatre in Bloomington ($22 advance/$25 door)

WHEN: Thursday, December 14th at 8 p.m.

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WHAT: Martina McBride

WHERE: The Virginia Theatre ($49-125)

WHEN: Thursday, December 14th at 8 p.m.

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WHAT: Fiona Kimble, Rebecca Rego & The Trainmen, Tigerbeat

WHERE: Cowboy Monkey ($7)

WHEN: Thursday, December 14th at 9 p.m.

Fiona Kimble is releasing her new record, Your Playground, on Thursday night at Cowboy Monkey. The singer-songwriter is joined by some familiar faces, namely former local Rebecca Rego and the Trainmen, as well as Tigerbeat, who put out a new record themselves earlier this year.

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WHAT: Henhouse Prowlers, Kickin’ and Pickin’

WHERE: The Castle Theatre in Bloomington ($10)

WHEN: Friday, December 15th at 8 p.m.

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WHAT: Joe Hertler and the Rainbow Seekers, The North 41, Audiodacity

WHERE: The Canopy Club ($10 advance/$12 door)

WHEN: Friday, December 15th at 9 p.m.

Michigan’s Joe Hurtler and the Rainbow Seekers head back through Champaign-Urbana for this show at the Red Room at Canopy Club on Friday night. They’re some funk, some rock, some folk, all mixed up into one.

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WHAT: Our Landmark, We the Animals, Extremities

WHERE: Cowboy Monkey ($7)

WHEN: Friday, December 15th at 9:30 p.m.

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WHAT: DJ Tim Williams

WHERE: Memphis on Main 

WHEN: Friday, December 15th at 10 p.m.

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WHAT: Bottom Bracket, Earthholder, Native Tongue, Together in Dust

WHERE: Blips & Chitz ($5-7)

WHEN: Saturday, December 16th at 7 p.m.

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WHAT: The Bashful Youngens

WHERE: The Iron Post ($5)

WHEN: Saturday, December 16th at 9 p.m.

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WHAT: Tractor Kings, The Dry Look

WHERE: The Brass Rail ($5)

WHEN: Saturday, December 16th at 11 p.m.

A good ole fashioned Brass Rail show for you this weekend — alt-country staple Tractor Kings are joined by punk crew The Dry Look. This is a lovely combo.

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WHAT: JaM

WHERE: The Iron Post (cover)

WHEN: Sunday, December 17th at 7 p.m.

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WHAT: Taxi Boys

WHERE: Sandwich Life House (donation for band)

WHEN: Thursday, December 21st at 6 p.m.

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WHAT: The Church Street Ramblers

WHERE: The Iron Post ($3)

WHEN: Tuesday, December 19th at 7 p.m.

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WHAT: George Faber All Stars

WHERE: Cowboy Monkey ($7)

WHEN: Thursday, December 21st at 8 p.m.

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WHAT: Superior State

WHERE: The Iron Post 

WHEN: Thursday, December 21st at 7 p.m.

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WHAT: Morgan Orion and the Afterburners

WHERE: The Iron Post ($7)

WHEN: Thursday, December 21st at 10 p.m.

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WHAT: The War on Drugs, Lo Moon

WHERE: The Castle Theatre in Bloomington (sold out)

WHEN: Friday, December 22nd at 8 p.m.

Yes, this show takes place in Bloomington, you might notice a few others throughout this column that mention The Castle Theatre — a venue really doin’ the work just 45 minutes away in B-N. The War on Drugs are one of the best bands on the planet at the moment — hot on the release of their excellent A Deeper Understanding, which is actually up for a Grammy this year. This show is sold out, but if you can get your hands on a ticket for this show, you better get your ass there. War on Drugs won’t be playing venues this small around here probably ever again. 

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WHAT: ZXO (DJ set)

WHERE: Bentley’s Pub (free)

WHEN: Friday, December 22nd at 8 p.m.

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WHAT: Cornstalkers Cajun Band

WHERE: The Iron Post (cover)

WHEN: Friday, December 22nd at 9 p.m.

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WHAT: The NATU Band

WHERE: Memphis on Main

WHEN: Friday, December 23nd at 9 p.m.

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WHAT: Dewclaw

WHERE: The Iron Post (cover)

WHEN: Saturday, December 23rd at 6 p.m.

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WHAT: DJ Belly & Friends

WHERE: Cowboy Monkey (donations)

WHEN: Saturday, December 23rd at 8 p.m.

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WHAT: Temple of Low Men, Larry Gates, Mike + Joe

WHERE: Blackbird ($5)

WHEN: Saturday, December 23rd at 8 p.m.

Temple of Low Men are treating this show at Blackbird as a reunion of sorts — they haven’t performed in quite some time — and it’ll be an acoustic reunion. They’re joined by some friends, Curb Services’ Larry Gates, and Mike Ingram and Joe Funderburk performing together as well.

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WHAT: Whiskey Shadows

WHERE: Memphis on Main

WHEN: Friday, December 23rd at 9 p.m.

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WHAT: Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Matt Woods

WHERE: The Castle Theatre in Bloomington ($15 advance/$18 door)

WHEN: Friday, December 29th at 8 p.m.

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WHAT: Kilborn Alley Blues Band

WHERE: The Iron Post (cover)

WHEN: Friday, December 29th at 9 p.m.

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WHAT: El Guapo

WHERE: Memphis on Main (cover)

WHEN: Saturday, December 30th at 9 p.m.

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WHAT: Charlie & the Impossible Wilds

WHERE: The Iron Post (cover)

WHEN: Saturday, December 30th at 9:30 p.m.

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Editor’s Note: It is likely that there are some things left out of the column by accident — we’ll be updating the article if there are more shows that are announced, or come to our attention. If we missed something, email us at [email protected].

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