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Black Whales

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Cowboy Monkey »
Address: 6 Taylor St. Champaign, IL 61820
Phone: (217) 356-0006
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Darling Disarm

1. The Way

2. Too Much Trouble

3. Like I Do

4. Mon Meilleur Ami

5. Crazy [Gnarls Barkley]

6. The Wire

7. Home

8. Cowboys

Black Whales

1. Young Blood

2. The Boxer

3. Lately

4. The Diamond Divide

5. Rattle Yer Bones [The Lou Gramm Band]

6. C. Eyes

7. Here It Comes (Again)

8. Origins

9. Books on Tape

Last year, local quartet Darling Disarm broke up without ever releasing a record. Lead singer-guitarist Kayla Brown moved to Nashville, and backup-singer bassist Tyler Bundy took off for Boston. So, it was surreal to see the band back in business on Friday, Oct. 16 at Cowboy Monkey, but surreal in the best sense. Also present was legendary bluesman and Tolono native Keith Harden.

Before the show, Brown announced she has an album on the way (at last), Steady Now, recorded and produced by Harden in Nashville. Darling Disarm drummer James Treichler plays on it, and the band

included five of the songs in their set. “Too Much Trouble” was second, and I hope the album version will wind up where it belongs — at the end of some mushy major motion picture as the credits scroll. “Mon Meilleur Ami,” also on Steady Now, demonstrated Brown’s ability to hold her own on ukelele. Darling Disarm then did right by Gnarls Barkley with a solid cover of “Crazy.”

Prior to the show, I knew nothing about the first band and did not take notes, but was very impressed. A Seattle sextet, Black Whales is on tour in support of an EP, Origins, out last month on Mt. Fuji Records. The sound is indie rock with a spine. “Origins” was a highlight of their set, so after I bought their EP, I was happy to find it there as the title track.

Todd Hunter hosts WEFT Sessions and Champaign Local 901, two hours of local music every Monday at 10 P.M. on WEFT 90.1 FM.