Last night I headed out to downtown Champaign, to take in an elsinore show at the High Dive. Ryan Groff and company have become one of my favorite local acts. Watching them transition from their folk-y tunes on their 2006 album “Nothing for Design” to their heavier, guitar solo enriched new material has been a lot of fun the last few times I’ve seen them.

I’m getting familiar with “Landlocked,” which they closed with last night. It’s the first new song I heard them play, and I’ve heard them play it a few times now. The last section of the song is the best part, it is an instrumental build from scratch into chaos and its fun to watch in the live setting. They also played “The General,” “Gasoline” and “Antonymity,” all of which should be on elsinore’s new album, although lead singer Ryan Groff hinted that “Antonymity” may be some sort of bonus track.

The band has been at work on this new album for quite a while (they’ve been playing “Landlocked,” “Gasoline” and “Antonymity” for a while now), and it should be released in the summer. However, Groff gave the crowd a juicy tidbit of information when he said they plan to release a tour EP so fans don’t have to wait until July or August to hear some of the new material. He didn’t give a specific release date for the EP, but keep your ears open because I have a feeling it will come out sooner rather than later.

“The Long Run” was the sole representative from “Nothing for Design” in elsinore’s set last night. I definitely like watching them play the new material, but I have to say I missed “Vampire in My Town” and “Timid Maggie Mae,” which are usually standards in their sets. On the other hand, I wouldn’t want to have to trade the lively cover of Beck’s “Debra” with an appearance from Larry Gates. All in all it was a good way to spend a Saturday night.

The Oscars went on tonight in all the glamorous spectacle the ceremony is known for, thanks to the dissipation of the large storm cloud over Hollywood known as the writers strike. Luckily award season’s biggest night was spared the fate of the Golden Globes, which more or less went the way of Old Yeller.

Tonight all the doubt is behind us and Hollywood is looking back to normal. That’s good news for Joel and Ethan Coen, who took home the award for directing. Their film “No Country for Old Men” earned the top honor, best picture, as well as awards for best adapted screenplay and the no-surprise supporting actor win for Javier Bardem.

Jon Stewart added the humor one would expect from him as host of the show. Stewart joked about the alternate, montage heavy Oscars ceremony that was being planned in case the writers strike was not resolved, introducing montages of binoculars and periscopes and bad dreams in film.

The most heart-warming moments of the night came when the little guys won. Diablo Cody bawled through her acceptance speech for best original screenplay for “Juno.” I was pulling for Ellen Page, who played the title character, to win best actress but the prize went to one of the front-runners, Marion Cotillard (”La Vie en Rose”.)

Another underdog, the song “Falling Slowly” from the film “Once,” the low-low budget film that pretty much spread around by word of mouth, won in the best original song category. Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, the adorable couple from the film, delivered an acceptance speech that captured the idea that a small film, made in a short amount of time with a low budget can make it to Hollywood’s biggest stage.

After Hansard finished speaking Irglova moved up to the microphone but was drowned out by music cueing them offstage, before she even got a word in. Following the commercial break, Irglova was brought back onstage to make her own speech, this time uninterrupted. Even though it pointed out an imperfection in the show, bringing Irglova back onstage and letting her speak earns points for the Academy and the show’s producers in my book.

The other day I popped in my copy of Nirvana’s show in MTV’s Unplugged series. The CD has been around for a while, but the DVD was just released a few months ago and I’ve been looking forward to watching it.

In case you don’t know, the Unplugged series is pretty much what it sounds like; bands perform in an intimate setting without amps or distortion or what have you. Guitarists go acoustic, the drummers take it easy and songs tend to take on a new feeling.

So what made Nirvana’s set so special? Instead of  stacking up their biggest hits for the MTV spotlight, they actually put thought into which of their songs would translate well acoustically. Even if that meant choosing “On a Plain” and “Something in the Way” over “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and “In Bloom.” They took a risk in choosing songs less people would know, hoping that the quality of the show would increase.

Add to that the fact that they covered three songs by a band called Meat Puppets. Two of the members of that band joined Nirvana on the stage for covers of “Oh, Me,” “Plateau,” and “Lake of Fire.” The smart money says less people are familiar with these songs than with Nirvana’s lesser-knowns.

But they’re good songs, and they worked well acoustically. That’s the point. The way music is today wouldn’t lead you to think that a set of small songs and smaller covers would lead to success, but this stands as one of the most acclaimed concerts in rock history. That may also be due to the fact that less than half a year later Kurt Cobain passed away. Nevertheless, I’d urge any Nirvana fans to check this out. They really let the music speak for itself.

If you’ve watched much television in the last year, you’ve probably seen some odd Wendy’s commercials. They feature guys wearing a red wig (like the red pigtails of Wendy herself) who usually preach about fresh burgers, ending with the phrase “That’s right.” According to an Associated Press story, Wendy’s is pulling this ad campaign due to underperforming sales.

Somehow I’m not surprised. Remember the Baconator commercial? Screaming masses run away from a guy in the red wig pointing backward and yelling “BACON!” This is only one of several strange scenarios Wendy’s dreamed up for the now-defunct ad campaign. It’s likely that these commercials left consumers more confused than hungry.

Will the ad campaign replacing it be any better? Let’s hope it will be a little less bizarre. They’re trading in “That’s Right” for “It’s waaaay better than fast food. It’s Wendy’s.” I’m thinking they’ll go for a psychedelic look. Any thoughts?

Get ready for some serious skanking this Saturday as Mustard Plug bust open the Courtyard Cafe with The Drastics and Alleyway Sex. This is sure to be a pretty wild show in a venue as small as the Courtyard Cafe, so put on those skanking shoes and leave your small children at home.

Mustard Plug, from Grand Rapids, Michigan, released their sixth album, “In Black and White,” last year. Lead singer Dave Kirchgessner said parts of the album are more serious and darker than previous efforts.

“I think its partly a reflection of the world around us. A lot of it has to do with growing older – I’m 39 now,”  Kirchgessner said.

Mustard Plug has been around for 16 years, so it’s natural for their sound to go through some changes. He said they like the name of the new album because it shows that the songs are open to interpretation.

“The whole black and white thing we like because its sort of ambiguous,” Kirchgessner said. “It could be a reference to newsprint or to two-tone ska. Whoever buys the album can interpret it however they see it.”

Despite the new album’s darker tone, Kirchgessner said they still have fun playing the party songs.

“Right now, I’d say ‘Hit Me, Hit Me’ and ‘Real Rat Bastard’ are my two favorite ones (to play live,)” he said. “They’re kind of like fun party songs more or less.”

After 16 years and six albums the band has plenty of material to choose from for live shows. Kirchgessner said Mustard Plug’s setlists are a combination of what the band thinks the best songs are and what they think the crowd wants to hear. He does not envy bands that have one huge hit and are subsequently obligated to play it at every show.

“I think we’ve both been cursed and blessed by not having a radio hit, so we don’t have that problem,” he said.

So get ready for a show with plenty of energy, drawing from 16 years of ska.

Mustard Plug plays at the Courtyard Cafe Saturday at 8 p.m. The show costs $5 for University students and $8 for the general public. The Drastics and Alleyway Sex open.

This morning the nominations for Hollywood’s most prestigious awards were announced and there are plenty of snubs, surprises and no brainers to talk about. “There Will Be Blood” and “No Country for Old Men” led the field with eight nominations each. “Atonement” and “Michael Clayton” were close behind with seven a piece. “Ratatouille” picked up five (go ahead, count them) nods while “Juno” and “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” grabbed four each.

Let’s start with the surprises. Again, “Ratatouille” was nominated for FIVE Oscars (best animated feature film, original screenplay, sound editing, sound mixing and original score), behind only four other films this year. This is a huge achievement, especially for an animated film.

We all knew “Juno” had a chance to get in the best picture category and Ellen Page had a chance to grab the best actress nomination for that film. Well, they beat out all the other films and actresses who had a chance to get in those categories and snagged a best director nomination for Jason Reitman on top of that.

As always, there were some big snubs this morning, not the least of which was Keira Knightly for her performance in “Atonement.” That film had three acting nominations at the Golden Globes, only one of which translated into an Oscar nomination.

Tim Burton (”Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” ) and Ridley Scott (”American Gangster” ) were shut out of the directing category. While Burton was a sure thing for the Golden Globes, it’s not a huge surprise to see him left out at the Oscars as his dark style might turn some voters away.

“American Gangster” was also shut out of the best picture category, as was “Into the Wild.” Denzel Washington was snubbed in the acting category for his portrayal of Frank Lucas in “American Gangster.”

On the other hand, plenty of nominations were announced just as they should have been. “Atonement’s” nominations for best picture, cinematography and original score were no brainers. The film may not win best picture but it should pick up the latter two. “No Country for Old Men’s” best picture and director (Ethan and Joel Coen) nominations couldn’t have surprised anyone. Likewise for “There Will Be Blood’s” best picture and actor (Daniel Day-Lewis) nods.

It was no shocker to see “Juno” and “Lars and the Real Girl” in the best original screenplay category, just as “Atonement” was no surprise for best adapted screenplay. The musical “Once” picked up a well-deserved nod for best original song for “Falling Slowly.”

Here is a rundown of the big categories, for a full list of nominations head to the Oscar’s official Web site.

Best Picture

“Atonement,” “Michael Clayton,” “No Country for Old Men,” “There Will Be Blood” and “Juno.”

Best Actor (lead)

Daniel Day-Lewis (”There Will Be Blood), George Clooney (”Michael Clayton”), Viggo Mortensen (”Eastern Promises”), Johnny Depp (”Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” ) and Tommy Lee Jones (”In the Valley of Elah”).

Best Actress (lead)

Julie Christie (”Away From Her”), Cate Blanchett (”Elizabeth: The Golden Age”), Laura Linney (”The Savages”), Ellen Page (”Juno” ) and Marion Cotillard (”La Vie En Rose”).

Best Director

Julian Schnabel (”The Diving Bell and the Butterfly”), Ethan and Joel Coen (”No Country for Old Men”), Jason Reitman (”Juno”), Tony Gilroy (”Michael Clayton” ) and Paul Thomas Anderson (”There Will Be Blood”).

Best Supporting Actor

Javier Bardem (”No Country for Old Men”), Casey Affleck (”The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford”), Philip Seymour Hoffman (”Charlie Wilson’s War”), Tom Wilkinson (”Michael Clayton” ) and Hal Holbrook (”Into the Wild”).

Best Supporting Actress

Cate Blanchett (”I’m Not There”), Saoirse Ronan (”Atonement”), Amy Ryan (”Gone Baby Gone”), Tilda Swinton (”Michael Clayton” ) and Ruby Dee (”American Gangster”).

There are a couple female vocalists I’ve been aware of for the last six months or so that until recently seemed to be on the fringes of their respective scenes. Now they are appearing in more and more places, which isn’t terribly surprising but I have to say I didn’t expect this upsurgence so soon. I’m talking about Sara Bareilles and Kate Nash.

Nash joins the Brit-pop crowd with her first album “Made of Bricks,” which was released last August in the U.K. but just two weeks ago here in the states. She received an endorsement from fellow British singer Lily Allen on her MySpace page, but is only just starting to get a glimpse of the popularity Allen and Amy Winehouse have seen here. Watch for Nash to fill the gap while Allen and Winehouse are between albums.

I was first introduced to Sara Bareilles by some Disney-loving friends who couldn’t stop listening to her “Fairytale.” The song is enchanting in its own right between her solid vocal performance and the affable piano. Since then her single “Love Song” has become nearly ubiquitous. I was surprised to hear it in Legend’s a few months ago, but it seems they like to play it there (or someone likes to request it on the jukebox anyway.) The song has also been featured in a commercial for a music player, although I can’t remember the specific brand. Bareilles is sure to continue her trajectory upward as more people become aware of her.

The TBS original series “10 Items or Less” begins its second season tomorrow night. TBS is still delving into original programming and has been hit or miss thus far. The network may eventually be able to grind into a niche the way FX has been able to, but for now its niche is still centered on syndication.

However, “10 Items or Less” is one of the better offerings TBS has put forward in the last couple years. The show is set in the struggling homespun groccery store Greens & Grains. The store’s optimistic manager rivals SuperValueMart, a Wal-Mart-esque uber-corporation that operates across the street.

In the first episode of the new season Leslie, the manager, finds $5,000 in silver dollars and attempts to use it as a promotion by putting five thousand dollar bills into a money machine where the dollars will float around and a customer can grab as much as possible in a minute. The promotion ends up attracting two robbers that hold the employees hostage while Leslie tries to avoid giving up any cash or getting shot in any way he can.

Some of the moments in the standoff are the funniest in the episode. However, the show tends to take an already ridiculous situation over the top to the point that it gets too goofy. While this is part of the show’s sense of humor, I feel that if “10 Items” can get rid of the over the top moments and focus on the straighter gags it will be a funny show. The situations and characters are ridiculous enough that the show is a lot funnier without that extra step into mayhem.

Regardless, the show is worth watching even with a few problems, because you will get some laughs out of it. Keep your expectations in check and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.

Season two of “10 Items or Less” premieres tomorrow at 10 p.m. on TBS.

If you haven’t been bombarded with year-end lists yet, here’s a look back at the best albums of the last 12 months. Actually, I’d rather call it my favorite albums of 2007. There are plenty of albums that came out this year that I haven’t heard; some that I expect a lot from and others that I’ve fought off with a festive 39-and-a-half-foot pole. On the other hand, I have a feeling you’ll find a couple albums you haven’t heard on this list.

1. Radiohead - “In Rainbows”: The music industry is in a period of transition and this album indicates that the artists are going to be ready to make changes before the labels. Few bands are in the position to pull off a pay-what-you-want self-release, but even the smallest of groups are already using MySpace in a similar way. Oh, and there’s something to be said for the music too. Thom Yorke is as mysterious and intriguing as usual with his wavy voice and penchant for madness. Key tracks: “15 Step,” “Body Snatchers,” “Faust Arp”

2. The White Stripes - “Icky Thump”: You know an album is good when there are a handful of tracks that could easily be the next single. “Icky Thump” is filled with pounding jams fueled by Jack White and his electric guitar. While it seems odd to hear brass and bagpipes on tracks from a band that was once so adamantly minimalist, the extra instruments don’t sound out of place. Long live Jack and Meg White. Key tracks: “Icky Thump,” “Conquest,” “Little Cream Soda”

3. Against Me! - “New Wave”: Although this is their fourth album, it’s their first on a major label and has garnered them more attention than their previous three. For better or worse it’s catchier and broader in style than their previous efforts, which is fairly risky for a punk band. Tom Gabel shouts his points across as effectively as always; this is a band that always has something to say and Gabel could become the loudest voice in punk. Key tracks: “Thrash Unreal,” “Stop!,” “Americans Abroad”

4. Lily Allen - “Alright, Still”: She may not have to fight as much paparazzi as the other British female vocalist in the spotlight, but her music is just as compelling. Her sound has a pop base with hip-hop leanings; she’s as witty with her insults as most of the rappers out there. What really makes her stand out is her voice. I don’t know if it’s just the accent, but the way she delivers her lines is simply unique. Key tracks: “Smile,” “LDN,” “Alfie”

5. I:Scintilla - “Optics”: The only local entry on this list (well, now they’re a Chicago band but they were still based in Champaign when this album came out in May) is one that I listen to just as frequently as the albums above. “Optics” is the band’s first full-length release on Belgian record label Alfa Matrix. It combines new songs with some re-recorded old favorites. The band has a knack for blending heavy guitar with driving electronic beats. Look for I:Scintilla to make some big noise in the future. Key tracks: “Toy Soldier,” “Havestar,” “Salt of Stones”

Attention all local music aficionados! The much missed local group Lorenzo Goetz will play two reunion shows next week at Cowboy Monkey. Friday December 28 they will be joined by Temple of Low Men and elsinore. The following night they will play again with Temple of Low Men and Darling Disarm. Both shows start at 10 p.m.

If you find yourself in the CU, get yourself to one of these shows. You probably remember Lorenzo Goetz’s “Jesus Elephant” if nothing else. These will be their first shows together since their last show as a band last New Year’s Eve. The band announced their breakup last October.

Those of you who have been to Lorenzo Goetz shows surely remember perennial dance numbers such as “Alright,” “Let It Out” and “Wake Up.”  “The Heavy EP” was the band’s last official release and is home to some of their best songs.

Since the split, band members have stayed active in music. Bassist Eric Fisher joined local band The Beauty Shop. Drummer Jesse Greenlee headed east to play with Americana group American Minor. Lead singer Larry Gates and guitarist Josh Miethe continued to work together on a songwriting and production project called The Jezebelly. Gates recently released his first solo album “Little Red Recovery Room” under the moniker Curb Service.

All that said, who knows when the next time you’ll have a chance to see them all on stage together again will be.