Champaign–Urbana this week: Mynd Reader and DangerUs at Cowboy Monkey, Fool House at The City Center

A Boulder rock band touring its debut, a Saturday split between Cowboy Monkey and a '90s party at The City Center: Champaign–Urbana's weekend, Nov. 6–7.

Friday night at Cowboy Monkey, Mynd Reader play songs from a debut album that's only been out since January. It's a quiet week in Champaign–Urbana, three shows over two nights, but the Friday pick is a band with some history behind it, and Saturday gives you a choice between a downtown bar and a full-on '90s party.

Mynd Reader came out of Boulder's music scene and released their self-titled debut on Jan. 30 on Merchant Records, with Michael Brauer mixing, per Paste. The band is led by Brian Sachs, who drummed in The Authority, the New York jam band, in the '90s. Live, he's joined by bassist Zach Jackson and keyboardist Chris Spies, according to the band's album announcement. Coverage of the record describes a mix of soulful rock, Americana and classic-rock influences, which is a good fit for a room like Cowboy Monkey.

Here's the weekend:

Fri, Nov. 6 — Mynd Reader, Cowboy Monkey, 8 p.m. Tickets

Sat, Nov. 7 — Fool House (The Ultimate 90's Party), The City Center, 8 p.m. Tickets

Sat, Nov. 7 — DangerUs, Cowboy Monkey, 8 p.m. Tickets

Cowboy Monkey has two of the three shows, and it has been through a few lives as a music room. The bar on Taylor Street, just off Neil downtown, stopped booking bands in 2008 and moved its live shows to its sister bar, the Highdive, as the Daily Illini reported at the time. Live music came back later, and these days the room's calendar carries shows like this weekend's pair. There's a beer garden out back if the room gets warm.

Saturday is a split decision at the same hour. DangerUs play Cowboy Monkey at 8, and at the same time The City Center hosts Fool House, billed as The Ultimate 90's Party, in a room that holds 850. One is a bar show; the other is a costume-optional singalong. Both start at 8, so pick your mood.

Three shows isn't much, but it's enough. Go Friday for the band you haven't heard yet, and let Saturday decide itself.

Sources: MYND READER's Self-Titled Debut Album (Paste) (pastemagazine.com); MYND READER Drops a Debut Loaded with Rock and Roll Soul, Heart and Hooks (press release) (onenewspage.com); Cowboy Monkey welcomes live music (Daily Illini, 2008) (dailyillini.com); Need a change of pace? Try Cowboy Monkey (Daily Illini, 2005) (dailyillini.com)