Loose Cobra

Loose Cobra Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Loose Cobra, 113 E Main Street, Tolono, IL.

01/17/2025

hey friends. nothing urgent here...just wanted you to know we are opening at 4:00 today instead of the normal 2:00. I'm in the studio with Gamma Goat. Duty calls. Becca will open the bar at 4:00. Catch ya later. Happy weekend! -mt

01/08/2025

Hi friends. Sorry to report that Shiner had to cancel their tour, and thus their upcoming Saturday stop at the Loose Cobra. Was gonna try and piece something together with the rest of the bill but looks like it ain't happening. Hopefully it will all be rescheduled. Shiner and Cicada love the cobra and all of you, so i am sure we will be on the list when they get back out again, and hopefully that will be soon. In the meantime, I'll still be here Saturday night for tom foolery and shenanigans. See ya around, all. Cheers -mt

01/01/2025

hi friends. Just wanted you to know i will open the bar for a bit today. 2:00 - til i've had quite enough. Which won't be late, as i want to spend at least part of my NY Day at home with family. Sooo...i dunno...2:00 - 6:00ish probably. So come on out early if you need some loose cobra in your life. Regardless, wishing all of you a wonderful day and start to your year. Cheers! -mt

12/30/2024

Hi friends. Just a quick scheduling update here. We are normally closed on Tuesdays, and i'm not a big NY Eve kind of guy, but a few folks have been asking and showing interest in being here. So, while we won't make it to midnight, we WILL be open on NY Eve from 2:00 - 8:00ish. The Illinois football bowl game starts at 2:00, and we'll of course have it on here. Join us at 6:00 for an Irish New Year toast. And then we will gently walk you to the curb around 8:00 or so. PLEASE walk or uber or have a DD if you are gonna have some cocktails. Be nice. Big thanks to Jeanie, Brian, and Sarah for taking care of the place on the 31st so i can be elsewhere!

In other news, i'll open up at 2:00 on Wednesday the 1st, and we are open today (monday), briefly, for a little happy hour action from 4:00 - 7:00.

Wishing all of you a safe and wonderful and healthy '25!

-mt

12/14/2024

Hi friends. Just a reminder that we have some official Holiday Cheer at the bar today at 3:00. Stop by for a snack and a cold one if that sounds like your kind of thing. We'll play some scratchy old Christmas vinyl, and, while i am not the official bartender of note until 6:00, i will be around off and on all day if you want me to make you a margarita or one of those fancy Disaronno amaretto sours with the fresh lemon and orange juice that were such a hit the other night. I also have fixins to make you a maple old fashioned, should the need arise. I have some nice scotches in for the winter too. Ask me. Cheers, all. Hope you have a wonderful and safe weekend. Don't forget to yell at your tv (or ours) starting at the 4:30 tip-off. It's a perfectly sane and reasonable behavior. -mt

12/13/2024

Hi friends. If you're looking for some Christmas cheer, please look no further than the Loose Cobra tomorrow (saturday) for a little holiday get-together. We'll have some snacks and good cheer and some Christmas vinyl spinning. Come on by anytime after 3:00. We'll warm your cockles. Illini buckets at 4:30, so if you need a new hobby you can yell at the tv's for 90 minutes. I look forward to it. Anyway, happy Friday night and weekend, everyone. Sending warm wishes. Be safe. -mt

12/07/2024

Hi friends. Music starts at 7:00 tonight! Please bring a $10-spot for the glowing orange bucket...or more if you got tall bills and want to share more with the bands. If you want a delicious cordial to sip on ask me for an amaretto sour. Fresh squeezed lemon and orange juice, Disaronno, and Larceny bourbon. $9. Top shelf and really yummy.

Hoping for a great and safe weekend for all of you. -mt

12/05/2024

hey friends. most of you probably already know this, but the Loose Caboose is hosting day 4 of DeRailedFest this Saturday night. Our edition includes T-Vic, Hot Cops, Canadian Rifle, Belles Lettres, and A Small Meaningless Rebellion, with suggested donation of $10. More details and set times to follow. In the meantime, wear a scarf. It's chilly. Take care. -mt

11/15/2024

Hi friends. Just a reminder that we have a groovy shoegaze show tonight with Sleep Keeper, Necromoon, and Dead Sun. Music starts at 8:00, with shenanigans to precede and follow. Hope to see you there! -mt

11/10/2024

Hi friends. Just wanted to let you know I'll have the cobra open and functioning at a moderately high level today for Bears noon kick-off. I'll be open until about 7:30, at which point i'd like you to go home. But, that gives us 7.5 hours of pure nfl, stereolab, and some kind of jason bourne movie pure bliss. i thought a spicy maple syrup old-fashioned might be nice today, too. I dunno. I'm gonna have one. You can too. Cheers, all. Happy Sunday! -mt

11/08/2024

Hi friends. Just a friendly reminder that we got some cool live music tonight starting at 9:00 with Barreleye, followed by Chicago punk stalwarts Nonagon. I'll be pouring the suds and shaking the margs, so i hope to see you!

Cheers,
mt

11/06/2024

Hi friends. Just a reminder we got music from Nonagon (Chicago) Friday night, with local openers Barreleye (Urbana). Barreleye starts things off at 9:00. Please bring an appropriate cash donation for the glowing orange bucket, if you would, please! Thank you so much, and look forward to seeing you friday night!

Cheers,
mt

Hi friends. I was hoping this would be resolved by now...but...someone stole my '88 Dodge Ram D150 truck from the Loose ...
11/04/2024

Hi friends. I was hoping this would be resolved by now...but...someone stole my '88 Dodge Ram D150 truck from the Loose Cobra parking lot this afternoon around 12:30 while i was in my warehouse doing some cleaning. According to what little video footage is avail from area cameras (of which i don't have any), the perp drove east on main then turned left onto Bourne St, heading north, perhaps to Savoy, perhaps to Champaign, perhaps to the Upper Peninsula, or perhaps to his garage 4 blocks away. So, if you see it, please contact your local constable, bergermeister, meisterberger, or, of course, your nearest office of the ombudsman. It's a navy blue full size beast with red interior and a hood that was probably on fire at some time. It's lacking the cool ram hood ornament, which itself was stolen some time ago. Most of the trim has fallen off. There is probably a BOC cd in there somewhere. Cheers, all. -mt

11/03/2024

Hi friends. Just wanted to let you know i'll be open today at noon for football and whatever else you seek. Bears-Cardinals and Packers-Lions later this afternoon, then Stereolab and My Bloody Valentine records. Then you gotta go home. I need a nap. I just cooked up fixin's for fresh strawberry margs, so come order one of those for just $8 bucks. And i made some chili.

In other news, folks have been asking if i have any shows coming up. I do...just haven't had time to talk about them:

Friday, Nov 8: Nonagon, plus guests. Punk rock from Chicago.

Friday, Nov 15: Necromoon, plus guests. Shoe-gaze from Ft. Wayne, Indiana.

Saturday, Dec 7: Derailed Fest, the Loose Cobra edition. T-Vic, plus many more.

Throw those dates on your calendar. I'll remind you a bunch as the dates draw closer. Hope to see you soon! Happy Sunday, everyone. Luv-mt

10/26/2024

Good morning. Briefly...

OktstonerFest FAQ #1: Can i have diarrhea in your unventilated men's room while you make me 6 Vegas Bombs?

A: Nope.

FAQ #2: What kind of treats will you have at the outside bar?

A: I've batched up a big vat of pineapple infused margs. Fresh squeezed lime juice, Espolon blanco, and Cointreau. Top shelf stuff. We'll throw a slice of habanero in there when we shake it up for you, unless you tell us to not. $8. We also will have hot cider spiced with cinnamon stick and jacked up with a shot of bourbon for $7.

FAQ #3: Any NA options? We'll have a few NA beers out there (Guinness, Athletic Upside Dawn), and you can ask for a cup of cider hold the bourbon!

FAQ #4: You said you might have a food option. What did you come up with?

A: I don't have a food truck, but my friends at Traxside are gonna whip up a big mess of pizzas and deliver them to us. I'm scheduling the delivery for around 7:30 (right after Harpe wraps up). So...after Harpe, and before Redleg starts, we'll take a break, eat some pizza, and I'll do the ceremonial lighting of the shopping cart fire. The pizzas cost me $10 each, so please donate a bit of money when you grab a few slices. We'll have a box there and you can throw in whatever cash you like.

FAQ #5: Would it be appropriate for me to give you a $20, grab two pizzas, and then go hide in a corner and eat them?

A: While i appreciate the donation, the answer is "no." That would not be appropriate. There won't be enough food for each of you heathens to devour an entire pizza. Please limit your consumption to an appropriate amount, being thoughtful of others.

FAQ #6: Would it be appropriate for me to hand you a $10, grab a pizza, and step off to the side and share it with 2 or 3 or 4 friends in my posse?

A: Now you're getting it, champ! That sounds just right!

FAQ #7: Will there be Cobra merch for sale?

A: Yes! Shirts in pretty much all sizes for $20, Loose Cobra signature hot sauce for $15, and leftover Jay Ryan hand-screened posters from our 2022 lineup for $20. We'll accept cash or you can Venmo -cobra

FAQ #8: Speaking of Venmo, i live out of town and can't make it today. I would like to make a donation to the event to help you pay the bands. Can i send you $20 bucks or whatever to that -cobra venmo addy?

A: Oh gosh. That's beyond kind, but, yes, i won't say "no." In fact, i just received a donation of that sort this morning from a super kind couple who love our events and can't make this one. (Thank you!) If you are so moved, i'll note that it's for this event and i will include it in my final accounting when we pay our artists. Thank you so so much!

FAQ #9: Will you raffle off a can of beans and an Espolon wrist band?

A: Yes!

FAQ #10: Anything i can do to help?

A: If you are drinking, please have a plan. Leave your car overnight (never a problem, whether on the street or in the big lot east of my warehouse.) Use uber. Have a DD. I might have a few drinks tonight before it's over and i have my DD all lined up. Please do the same.

Beyond than that, there are a few random things that come to mind...when you dispose of an aluminum can pleeeeease emtpy the contents COMPLETELY (either in your gullet, or on the ground away from foot traffic) and put it in an appropriately labeled receptacle. All of our trash receptacles will be clearly labeled as "ALUMINUM CANS ONLY" or "TRASH ONLY." A little mindfulness on this really helps my cleanup the next day and is so appreciated. And if you have a drink in one of our fancy bio-plastic loose cobra cups, please feel free to return your finished drink to either bar. We will wash and sanitize them and re-use them! Any opportunity to cut down on landfill is embraced. Thanks!

The only other thing that comes to mind is please support all of the artists, to the degree your ears can take it! I love all of these bands and these people. Hoping to have a full room for each artist, and then we can enjoy the evening air and shopping cart fire between artists. And maybe bring a little extra cash to buy a record or t-shirt from one or two of your faves!

Other than that, please just show up, have a great time, be safe and kind and generous to the artists. (We'll have donation buckets at the stage in the usual spot, and i'll put one outside near our bar and cobra merch area...and take an "I GAVE" sticker after you donate!) I'm off to go do stuff. Have a great day and we'll see you later this afternoon. Margs start flowing at 4:30! Thanks. Love to all. -mt

10/25/2024

Hi friends. I apologize for not being more present here for you re: OktstonerFest these past few weeks. I had thought i would be able to organize it and blather about it while on tour, and that turned out to mos def not be the case. And my re-entry into civilian life and adult responsibilities has been hit and miss. Anyway...OKTSTONERFEST IS UPON US! I'm super happy and thankful that my buds in the Tractor Kings were able to jump on last second. We'll play first, starting at 5:00. The schedule is super chill with a band every hour, roughly, on the hour, roughly. Something like this, roughly:

5:00 Tractor Kings
6:00 Gonzo Diablo
7:00 Harpe
8:00 RedLeg
9:00 Edna
10:00 Electric Hawk

I will have some kind of food solution for you. Still in flux as to what that actually will be. All the music is indoors but we'll be fenced off for spicy parking lot margs and shopping cart fires. So you can get your face melted with the heavy stuff inside then join me outside between bands for a cold beer or marg. Lather, rinse, repeat.

I'll share more info as it becomes available. For now, if you are coming, or going, pleeeease access the event page and click "going"! And tell a friend. Spread the good news: OktstonerFest is upon us! -mt

PS: Please remember we are cash only, and i need you to bring a $20 bones for the bucket. That's how we pay bob and the bands. I need you for this. Thank you!

10/18/2024

OktstonerFest is upon us. Saturday, October 26. -mt

a (very) few people were asking about my tour schedule. here ya go. thank you!
09/15/2024

a (very) few people were asking about my tour schedule. here ya go. thank you!

Undertow Shows: Indie rock musicians playing intimate concerts hosted by their fans

Address

113 E Main Street
Tolono, IL
61880

Opening Hours

Monday 2pm - 9pm
Tuesday 2pm - 9pm
Wednesday 2pm - 10pm
Thursday 2pm - 11pm
Friday 2pm - 11pm
Saturday 2pm - 11pm
Sunday 2pm - 8pm

Telephone

+12174851092

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