Pizza Preview: Pygmalion 2016

As the hippest among you already know, the Pygmalion Festival 2016 is already underway. An entire week of great music and wild hedonistic pleasure has already begun overtaking Champaign-Urbana. Beginning with last Sunday's performances by local favorites brass band Church Booty and juggers (not to be confused with juggalos) Bones Jugs, and continuing with last night's punk rock karaoke at the Accord (they did not allow Blink-182 covers). Already, the festival has had a ton of great performances, as well as speeches by various high-profile and interesting tech leaders and Makers™, if that's your thing. As with previous Pygmalions, this weekend is the main event, and here are three shows from my patent-pending selection process that I think everyone should go see. VINCE STAPLESRemember last year when a lesser-known Odd Future rapper from Long Beach not many people had heard of put out what many considered to be the album of the year? Well, Vince does, because it was him. Since then, Summertime '06 has been bumping in car stereos and at parties worldwide, and for good reason. In-between touring with the Odd Future crew, Kendrick, and Chance, Vince has toyed around with acting, writing, and putting plenty of music on the internet, but no word yet on a second album. The man really resents being put in any box, whether artistically or culturally. He is incredibly smart as well as capable of putting that new flavor in your ear, so I highly recommend checking out some of his interviews prior to this weekend's set, which is sure to be dope. Just like the name of the show that Vince plays A$AP Rocky's goon in. Recommended listening: Norf Norf RUSSIAN CIRCLESNot quite metal, not quite folk, Russian Circles are another genre-defying show that we are all very privileged to hear this weekend. Originally from Chicago, the band considers themselves "sonic explorers" and is hot off their 6th studio album. It's more metallic and orchestral than some of their previous releases, such as my personal favorite, 2011's Empros. Formed in 2004, the band has collaborated with the likes of This Will Destroy You and Emancipator, and this weekend's show should be the perfect after-dinner head banging session. Recommended listening: 309 MILD HIGH CLUBAKA Alexander Brettin, Mild High Club is self-described as A STONE IN THE ZEN GARDEN OF LA SLACK FUNK PSYCHEDELIA (sic). One of Stone's Throw's newest signees and a tourmate and disciple of the washed-out Mac DeMarco beach vibes, Mild High Club is my personal favorite of the many DJs we'll be hearing this weekend. It takes a lot to get this DJ to grin like an idiot and put my hands in the air like I just don't care, but the last time I was lucky enough to see Mild High Club live, I did just that. It was a great time. Recommended listening: Windowpane As always, this is just a taste of this festival's upcoming festivities, and I highly encourage you all to put your lives on hold for a few days attend the weirdest and strangest shows you can. Pygmalion is notable for bringing in lesser-known and local bands to play their hearts out, and some bands that pop out of the woodwork only once a year or less will be in attendance this year. Plus, this year the festival has a Maize food truck (!!!), so you know where I'll be camping out all weekend.