This past month, JigGsaw played two shows at Champaign’s own Mike & Molly’s. Needless to say, they rocked. If you’re going to be around the Champaign-Urbana area on Saturday March 13th, come out to Cowboy Monkey and see JigGsaw for yourself. The show starts at 10pm with a $5 cover and minimum age of 19 for entry. Rounding out the evening’s lineup are The Poets Dance (Rockford, IL) and Vanattica (Champaign, IL).

More photos here on my Flickr page.

JigGsaw played at a house party in Urbana this Saturday. Luckily for me, the house was a stone’s throw from my apartment.

I decided to bring over my fisheye and shoot a roll of film at the party.

Click over to my Flickr page for the full set.

Camera/Film Info:

New photos from JigGsaw’s recent performance at the 5th annual Pygmalion Festival.

Click here for the full set of photos!

Last Saturday, jigGsaw played a short set for WEFT Fest, the annual fundraiser for WEFT 90.1 FM. The event was originally scheduled to take place outside on the Mike and Molly’s patio. However, the rain made that impossible, and they moved the last few bands next door into the WEFT studio. Even though everyone was looking forward to being on the patio, the studio was still a lot of fun. There was some concern as to how loud things were going to get, but that soon passed. The room where they played was lined from floor to ceiling with CDs, which (surprisingly) helped to deaden the sound.

Given all the changes and disorder that went on before the gig, I’m surprised that things went as well as they did. I think everyone had a good time; still I hope that WEFT Fest gets some better weather next time around.

I came across France Gall when I was looking up some old Scopitone videos on YouTube. Gall had quite a long singing career that spanned over thirty years. In 1966, Gall became a controversial public figure when her single “Les Sucettes” (“Lollipops” in English) was released. At the time, she was too young and naïve to understand the double meaning of her lyrics, which were written for her by Serge Gainsboug. Upon realizing the meaning of the lyrics, Gall reportedly was “mortified, hiding herself away for weeks, refusing to face anyone”.

Here are a few of my favorite France Gall videos. You may recognize the song, “Laisse tomber les filles” (“Forget the Girls” in English) since the same music was used by the American group April March in their song “Chick Habit”. Again, Gall’s lyrics were composed by Serge Gainsbourg, as were most of Gall’s early songs. Having her lyrics written by a middle aged man made the message of Gall’s songs far different than those of her fellow teenage pop stars. This is especially true of “Laisse tomber les filles”.

Eddie is about to play a solo acoustic set. It’s pretty nice not having to lug all the gear.

For all those who missed them last month at Cowboy Monkey…

JigGsaw will be performing with many other great artists this weekend as part of the IMC Fest’s musicial line up. The IMC Fest is an annual event that helps benefit the IMC, its associated groups, and WRFU 104.5 (Radio Free Urbana).

Not sure where the IMC is located? Well then take a look at this handy dandy interactive map:

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I wasn’t around for any of this, but I sure wish I had been. It would be awesome to take back some of the soulless campus bars in the name of rock n’ roll. R.I.P. Mable’s and Red Lion Inn for you are now the icons of a pre-Starbucks Green Street myth.

Note: It’s good to see the crappy IHOP is still around, as well as Garcia’s.

This next video features the Vertebrats who are probably one of the first big acts in the Champaign-Urbana rock scene. Why doesn’t WCIA do segments on the local bands anymore? So what if there is no larger “creative movement” taking place. The lulls should be documented, too.

Also, check out the shot of Assembly Hall complete with empty beer bottle. And is it just me or do the pendant lights in Mable’s look like the same ones used over the bar at Cowboy Monkey?

This Tuesday, Cowboy Monkey will feature local face melters/rock awesomeness JigGsaw. (And don’t give me the, “But it’s a weeknight!” excuse.)

Check out JigGsaw on

A video from Saturday’s Backyard Shark practice.