Hump Day Concert Forecast

Weather forcasters have it hard. They usually have to conjur some sort of hallucination before they decide what prediction they'll tell, which has an audience of thousands hanging on their every word. Me? I usually only have to hallucinate to extend the enjoyment of whatever music I'm listening to. However, I don't need a crystal ball or a glass pipe to share a concert schedule with you. Here are a few hand-picked gigs for your potential perusal.

REO Speedwagon w/ Head East @ US Cellular Coliseum, Bloomington IL 7pm $30

I could not start off this entry without mentioning the first of a dirth of shows featuring classic CU bands. These two are truly old school; REO has a street named after them in Champaign, for crying out loud! Granted, this show is taking place in Bloomington, but if you're a hardcore fan, the 45 minute drive will not shake your enthusiasm. I imagine you could have seen this show at the Red Lion back in the mid to late 70's. My dad still talks about partying with Head East 30 years later! God bless him.


Head East, circa the late 70's (courtesy wikipedia.com)

Living Blue, Shipwreck @ The Courtyard 9/14 9pm $3

Another great free show for UIUC students, and a hell of a deal for the rest of us at $3, comes this Thursday at the U of I's Courtyard Cafe. The Living Blue, Shipwreck, and Tony Sorrentino are on the bill for the evening, and those crazy links will guide you to their myspacialicous sites.


The Living Blue (courtesy their myspace site)

Vertebrats Reunion Shows @ The Iron Post 9/15 & 9/16 9pm $12

Talk about a treat! CU's own garage-rock heroes, The Vertebrats, will reunite for a two night stand at The Iron Post in Urbana. Townie opens both nights. These are likely to fill up fast, so get your tickets online at this site. Click on the band's name for a great interview with the band, as done by Openingbands.com's own Joe Pence.


The Vertebrats (photo courtesy artofthemix.com)

Buckethead @ The Canopy Club 9/15 9pm $13

It's not everyday that a former lead guitarist of Guns n' Roses comes to town. Buckethead brings his maniacal brand of fretboard finesse to the Canopy on Friday, and it begs the question; does he wear that get up at all times? I mean, do the manager types have to deal with a guy wearing a KFC bucket and a mask? If so, I wanna be a fly on the wall in that office.


Buckethead (photo courtesy wikipedia.com)

WEFT-Fest 2006 @ Mike n' Molly's 9/16 2pm-9:30pm FREE

Come celebrate WEFT's birthday at this annual bash at Mike n' Molly's. Showtimes are as follows: 2pm: Leigh Meador Organ Trio; 3pm: Oberon the Possum King; 4pm: Old Dog New Trick; 5pm: Big Grove Zydeco; 6pm: Delta Kings; 7:15pm: Bird Dogs; 8:45pm: Nadafinga. There's a little something for everyone here, so grab an Old Style and enjoy.

Didjits Reunion Show @ Highdive 9/16 10pm $10

Not to be outdone by the Vertebrats, the Didjits, another CU-based phenom, are having a reunion show at the Highdive on Saturday. Just read this article; you'll know if it's your cup of tea. Even if it's not, you'll get a chuckle. Bloomington-Normal basement-rock heroes, the Resinators, open.


The Didjits (courtesy some very odd website)