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• Highdive »
  51 Main St. Champaign, IL 61820
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The Great Cover Up »

• Event has already occurred
• Highdive »
  51 Main St. Champaign, IL 61820
  (Show on map)

The Great Cover Up »

• Event has already occurred
• Highdive »
  51 Main St. Champaign, IL 61820
  (Show on map)

You’ve heard people talk about it occasionally over the years: the Great Cover Up. It’s a part of local music history, yet there still seems to be a large chunk of people who aren’t clued into the annual charity event. So, between this column and other parts of this issue, take a little time to familiarize yourself so that you won’t be left wishing you’d known about it in time. One thing that’s great about the Cover Up is that the crowd is always packed with musicians young and old, whether they’re playing that year or not. It has become a sort of familial atmosphere where everyone is waiting to see what other bands have chosen to do that year, (and how much of a departure it is from the band’s own sound). Over the years, the Great Cover Up has become a sort of water cooler event on the local scale. For weeks the tales of costumes and setlists and big surprises will be related to those who tragically missed a night, (or didn’t know about the event at all). Alright, I’m laying it on a bit thick, but it really is one of my favorite times of year, dating back to 2000 when I snuck into the Highdive to see Temple of Low Men perform a set of Peter Gabriel songs. I haven’t missed one since.

Starting with Sunday, January 18’s show, you’ll see some familiar Cover Up faces and some that are new to the stage. The headlining spot will be occupied by Beat Kitchen, whose lead singer Brandon T. Washington was involved in many of my favorite Cover Up moments with Temple Of Low Men, but who have now carved out several phenomenal sets themselves, (Queens Of The Stone Age, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and last year’s outstanding Run-DMC set.) Just ahead of them is the cleverly named Mike Ingram Band. Last year we did Journey, just so I had an excuse to wear sleeveless shirts, (three of ‘em,) and white high-tops, but in years past we went ’90s with Live and Bush. Which decade will we land in this time? Will there be tight, women’s jeans on dudes? You’ll have to come out to see. Ahead of us will be the Larry Gates project Curb Service, appearing for the second time, (the White Stripes last year,) this time with many more band members, but hopefully less guys dressed as ladies. Larry was the Shia LaBeouf of last year’s Cover Up, showing up onstage with Elsinore (as Beck) and during Beat Kitchen’s Run-DMC. Will this year be a repeat? Well, he is getting old, so maybe not. Brother Embassy will return for their second year, (last year’s debut was as White Zombie,) — no word yet on the likelihood of a return for last year’s dancers. The dependable Kilborn Alley Blues Band will come off of two very different years as MC5 and Van Morrison, while the all-new, (er, all-new-old?) Delta Kings will come back after a year off. Popgun5 will open the show in their first Cover Up appearance. Rumors of a Krukid set (following a mega set as Kanye West last year) are, sadly, false. All of this madness starts Sunday at 9 p.m. at the Highdive. Cover for each night is $7, or you can contact info@thehighdive.com to get a three-night pass for $15.

The party continues on Tuesday, January 20 (also at the Highdive at 9 p.m.,) with another extremely varied lineup. Santa will make a big statement, headlining the night in their first year, (following a year in which their sound morphed dramatically into a more streamlined indie rock style). Agent Mos is another newcomer, and one that I’m very excited to see, and New Ruins will follow up last year’s set as Creedence Clearwater Revival. Hopefully this year’s Tractor Kings set will follow in the footsteps of last year’s turn as Uncle Tupelo, which revealed a great dual-lead vocal quality in the band when bass player Aaron McCallister took on half of the vocals. Common Loon, The Duke Of Uke, and RC$/Post Historic will also make their Cover Up debuts to kick off the evening.

The third and final night of the 2009 round of The Great Cover Up is Thursday, January 22, featuring longtime Cover Up staple Terminus Victor, (who made one of last year’s coolest choices by performing as Elliott Smith). Full coverage of that night will be included in next week’s Revue. For now, resign yourself to the fact that you need to stay out late on Sunday, (school folks should have the next day off, anyway) and Tuesday, lest you suffer the ridicule of missing Shipwreck-as-INXS, Elsinore-as-Queen or Orphans (Headlights)-as-Bjork.

Mike Ingram can be reached at forgottenwords@gmail.com.