Champaign Is Also A Band
One songwriter, one song. Podcast about stories & songs of Champaign-Urbana music. In each episode Sven sits down with a person from the C-U music scene to hear the story & the background of a favorite song they’ve written.
Listen on:
Episodes
Friday Nov 22, 2019
Friday Nov 22, 2019
With a bit of satire and whimsy, Sven sits down with Anka Radley of Clockwork Owl to talk about her song "Plato's Cave" recorded in the Blue Box Studio. We talk philosophy, analogies, performing live, and her love of the CU DIY music scene.
SONG: Plato's Cave
ALBUM: Unreleased
FAVORITE Treats: Hot Chocolate & Fresh Fruit
Photo: Ash Stahulak
REFS: Plato's Cave
Hotel California
Elliot Smith
Between the Bars [youtube link]
Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
Hey, Chicago [Spotify Link]
Bob Forrest
Thelonious Monster
The Bicycle Thief (You Come and Go Like a Pop Song)
Jon Fratelli (The Fratellis)
Ocean Glass
Motes
Waluigi's Mansion
Audible Meats [RIP]
Independent Media Center
Rose Bowl Tavern
Mark Lanegan [Screaming Trees]
Snake Migration
Monty Python
The Muppets
Robin Williams
The Onion
Friday Nov 08, 2019
Friday Nov 08, 2019
Sven sits down with Neil Yeager of Sunwise to talk about his song "Sophie" off the EP: "Something Happened Here, Once." We talk about Sophie Scholl and the "White Rose," Midwestern nice, and the ever evolution of the Champaign-Urbana music scene.
SONG: Sophie
ALBUM: Something Happened Here, Once
BANDS: Devildogs, Lil Nathan Jr., jigGsaw, Johnnyork, Withershins, and now Sunwise Favorite Treat: Triptych's Dank Meme with Oreos
Photo By: Troy Stanger Photography
Don't miss the November 15th, 2019 show at the Brass Rail with: Withershins, Take Care, Vaudvileins, and Sisser
REFS:
The Canopy Club
IDF (Illinois Disciples Foundation)
The Iron Post
HighDive (The Accord)
The Brass Rail
Esquire Lounge
Mike 'n Molly's
Illini Union Courtyard Cafe
HUM
Rose Bowl Tavern
Wilco
The Jayhawks
Willie Nelson
Tom Petty
Cowboy Monkey
Soundman Bob
SHINER
The Appleseed Cast
The Life and Times
Velvet Elvis
Matt Talbott (HUM)
Scurvine
sewingneedle
Blackbird
25 O'Clock Brewing Co.
Sipyard
IMC
Motes (Episode 1)
Schlafly Tap Room (November 14th Sisser with Vaudevileins and Withershins Show)
Aquamarine / MT FUJI IN BLUE
Prologue / Aerial
McCallister Audio
Friday Oct 25, 2019
Friday Oct 25, 2019
CW: Reference to Suicide
Part 2 (the excerpt)
Sometimes interviews go in a different direction and don't necessarily fit with a regular episode. This excerpt from my September 29th interview with Karthik needed a space. This part 2 meant a ton to me and reminded me why I keep doing this podcast.
Karthik, thank you for sharing you.
Refs:
Ten Grand (info and music links)
Ten Grand (Band Blog)
Ten Grand (Article)
Friday Oct 18, 2019
Friday Oct 18, 2019
Sven sits down with Karthik to talk about his song "Albedo," what makes up public venue, "infiltrating the scene," and his favorite non-musical thing. Stay tuned to the very end to hear what it will sound like when Karthik's pedals become self-aware...
SONG: Albedo
ALBUM: Unreleased
BANDS: Pizza Party at... Wicker Event, Of Course You Realize... Solar Shadows, Karthik Kakarala, Kakarala Ensemble, Kakarala Quartet, ((siuIU)), Siege Circuit, Birthday Cookie, acidfuneral, Solar Shadows TrioFavorite Thing: Dark and Stormy
REFS:
Ghost Planet
IMC
Loose Cobra - Singer Songwriter Snakepit
Rose Bowl Tavern
Earthlight
Decide Today
THX 1312
Apsal'ara
The Iron Post
Blips and Chitz-Closed. Now The Birdhouse
Dumb Records - The Black Sheep Cafe -Closed
Nightshop
Tranformers
Orson Wells
Leonard Nimoy
Eric Idle
Robert Stack
Vangelis
Albedo (Wikipedia)
Friday Oct 04, 2019
Friday Oct 04, 2019
Sven met up with Activator Magazine's Co-Founders Joseph Copley and Scott Faingold at Dumb Records in Springfield, IL. to talk about Activator Magazine, it's beginnings, growth, surprises, and a little about Springfield's music scene.
REFS:
ACTIVATOR Magazine
Dumb Records
Solution Printing
Looming
Jon Spencer
Flipper
Christine Pallon (Spandrels, La Louve, Carly Beth)
Girls Rock C-U
Kate Laine / (Cover of October 2018 Issue)
The Elf Shelf Books & Music
The Black Sheep Café
Backwards Day
Dexter Anodyne
Black Box
Blushe
Graveswitcher
Moondead
Friday Sep 20, 2019
Friday Sep 20, 2019
Sven chats with Adam Porter of Wingclipper to talk about his song Ghost Dance. Find out what all the bright lights in the sky are, is Godzilla really a bad guy, and what amazing musical things are going on at Parkland College!
SONG: Ghost Dance
ALBUM: Secrets of the Stars
BANDS: Mutual Concepts, Wingclipper, Faded Black T-Shirt
Favorite Thing: Black Coffee and Berry Pie
Photo by: Andrew Waner
REFS:
Carl Sagan (Cosmos Series)KaijuGodzillaUltramanParkland CollegePerimeter Road Sound Recordings The Inn Keepers (Recording)Leah Jean (Recording)Compilation AlbumPrevalence (recording)Perimeter Road Music FestivalNectarElsinoreThe Data WavesWPCD FM 88.7 (about)WPCD FM 88.7 (Streaming) Mark Rubel (Pogo Studio)The Blackbird AcademyThe Analog Hour (Mondays 9am)
Friday Sep 06, 2019
Friday Sep 06, 2019
Pull up a chair, crack open a Stag, lean back, and open your ear holes. Sven interviews Cole Bridges about his song "Never Been Dirty." Find out if there is a metal detector, why you should go on tour, and learning to not be held back by your past.
SONG: Never Been Dirty
ALBUM: (unreleased)
BANDS: Since moving to Champaign/Urbana: My Brother, Harrison / Elsinore / The Annas / The Fights / Primitive Lights / Cole Bridges & The Overpass
Favorite Thing: Stag Beer
Refs:
Chris Gaines
Ain't Scared - The Fights
Buzz Magazine
The Headlights
The Rose Bowl Tavern
Loose Cobra
The Iron Post
Friday Aug 23, 2019
Friday Aug 23, 2019
Sven chats with Gatson about his song "Draft Day Prelude" and the upcoming album "Draft Day." We talk about giving up, finding our purpose, and how to truly be successful.
Find GATSON on Spotify
Gatson's Draft Day album drops October 4th on all the streaming platforms.
Refs:
Soul Professa (Draft Day Producer)
Johnny 'MME' Barber (Mix and Master - Draft Day)
Blessed to Become a Blessing
A3C Festival
Believers Dynasty
J. Cole (Dollar & a Dream)
Northern Touch Music Festival & Conference
Trouble Chasin'
FlipsideMoton
Russ - "Its All In Your Head"
Believers Dynasty (Clothing)
Believers4Change - Website Coming Soon!
Friday Aug 09, 2019
Friday Aug 09, 2019
Sven sits down to talk to Rex and Richard of The Autocorrect to talk about their song "Singularity" off the album "Come See the Future."
We discuss the pros and cons of dating an artificial intelligence, why Fred is the best cat ever, and the best technique for roasting marshmallows over a cleansing flame....
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SONG: Singularity
ALBUM: Come See the Future
BANDS: Rex: The Autocorrect (2013-present); Electric Bitters - AKA Withnail (2009-2013); Oh, Alchemy (2008); Lookin' to Cheat (2004-2008); solo acoustic guitar open mic stuff (early '90s); Junk (1994); RDI, AKA Random Noize (1986-87); HSR (1985-86) Richard: The Autocorrect (2013-present), From Circumstances (2018-present; solo guitar), UIUC Community Gamelan (2015-18/whenever I can), Pleasure Boat Explosion (2010-12), Boxmaker (1992-94) Misk
FAVORITE THING: Coffee (Rex) Unsweetened Ice Tea (Richard)
REFS:
Bass VI
"Constellation Games" by Leonard Richardson
Mike n Molly's
IMC
Staghorn
yndi halda
Sipyard
The Iron Post
Rose Bowl Tavern
51 Main
Memphis on Main
Exile on Main St
25 o'Clock Brewing Company
The Red Herring
Channing Murray
99% Invisable
Futility Closet
Cat Snap - Champaign Area Trap Spay/Neuter and Adoption Program
Updates to IMC/Urbana Police Dept/City of Urbana Since interview:
The News-Gazette: IMC to Urbana council: New rules causing us to be 'regulated out of existence'
Urbana takes IMC off probation, removes fines, refunds permit fees
Friday Jul 26, 2019
Friday Jul 26, 2019
Sven talks to Angie Heaton about her song: "It's Easier When You're Here" off the album "Let It Ride." We talk about death, crushes, and getting crushed to death.
Photo Credit: Jim Heaton
SONG: It’s Easier When You’re Here
ALBUM: Let It Ride
BANDS: 40 Daze, Elysian Fields, Cat Gut, Some band in a guy’s basement, So few bullets, Corndolly, Liquorette, Tractor Kings, Angie Heaton and the Gentle Tamers
Favorite Thing: Diet Coke
REFS:
Kurt Bielema
The Fiery Furnaces
Love Cup
My Favorite Murder
Gina Villalobos
LP
The Fights
Mabel's
Menthol (Mother)
HUM
Hardvark
Poster Children
Grey Gardens
Marianne Williamson