As I was finding the actual dates that I needed for this weekender, I found out that this weekend is the one where we all lose an hour. Everyone remember to roll your clocks forward one hour before you go to bed on Saturday night. Otherwise, you’ll be late for your brunch dates on Sunday and your friends will not wait for you; they will destroy some pancakes while you’re sleeping.
You’ll noticed that the dates on this week’s weekender are slightly different from usual. I made an executive decision to skip Thursday and go straight to Friday. This could be considered starting on the actual weekend, but that’s a semantics game. If this makes you uncomfortable, don’t worry; Thursday will be back next week…the next week at absolute latest. Let’s get into the groove then.
FRIDAY
Miracles of God w/ datagun, Ed Gray & Wolf Wars // Blue Moose Tap House // 8:00 PM // $6, 19+
Keeping it as grimy as ever, Sam Locke-Ward, Jason Hennesy, Brian Boelman & Alex Body make up Miracles of God. Playing pretty pop songs that are covered in layers of lo-fi psychedelica, the band has been a local fixture of the better part of this millennium, entertaining and delighting crowds. Are they up to something new? Maybe, but it doesn’t matter. All I know is that they are headlining a local showcase at the Blue Moose with datagun, Ed Gray, and Wolf Wars in support. If you haven’t been to a local show recently, you should go. The music scene has a lot of really interesting things going on right now (Hott, Solid Attitude, Liberty Leg immediately come to mind), so always get into it whenever the moment arises.
Trevor Hall w/ Matthew Santos // The Mill // 9:00 PM // $10 Adv, $12 Day of Show; 19+
If you are feeling hazy but maybe not in a psychedelic way, head over to The Mill to see Trevor Hall. Mixing reggae, roots rock, and folk, Trevor Hall’s got a very smooth sound. His sound will be a quick reminder of the move towards summer, reminding listeners of the smooth sound of John Mayer, Jack Johnson and the other dreamy singer-songwriters playing right now. This show will be a nice change from the rather dreary weather that we’ve been having this week.
SATURDAY
Old Capitol City Roller Girls vs. Quad City Rollers: BACK IN BLACK // Coralville Marriott // 7:00 PM //$10 Adv, $13 Door; All Ages
This weekend signals the return of Iowa City’s all female, all badass roller derby team. Following a 9-2 season, The Roller Girls are lean, mean, and making steps towards earning the national flat-track derby title. Go support them against their bitter rivals, the Quad City Rollers. If this is your first or a hundred and first, there is one thing that never changes: roller derby is always super entertaining and is a fun time for everyone, especially on a Saturday night. 10 Dollar tickets are available at New Pioneer in IC and Coralville as well as Uniquely Ink in Sycamore Mall. Tickets will be available at the door, but don’t be late! These ladies are very, very brutal and popular. This past week, Little Village contributor Yale Cohn had the ladies on his PATV show to preview the season. Check it out:
OLD THRASHERS IV // The Mill // 9:00 PM // $6, 21+
Saturday is all about the punishment. Once you finish watch the ladies drop the hammer on those lame Quad City Rollers, come down to the Mill, get a beer and watch punks rock. Old Thrashers is a tribute to this city’s longstanding support for punk rock. Featuring Hott, Acoustic Guillotine, Chance In Hell, Illinois John Fever & Wax Cannon, this promises to be super fun and super fast. The proceeds for this show go to United Action for Youth, a youth center that helped foster the first generation of punks as well as future writers and musicians in this town. You can feel good and rock out. What is not to love? I got this awesome video from HOTT for this event. I feel obliged to post it for the fact that it’s totally bitchin’.
SUNDAY
Dan Bern w/ Samuel Prophet Knutson // The Mill // 8:00 PM // $15 Adv, $17 Day of Show; 19+
An immensely talented singer-songwriter, Dan Bern has a career that has spanned two decades and has produced a wealth of studio and live albums as well as writing credits in many movies including Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. To The Mill regulars, Dan Bern is a well-known name. Even to the folks of Iowa City, he is well known as he has played at Old Brick in 2008 following the floods. With Sam Knutson of Shame Train in support, this promises to be a mellow, beautiful night of songs over at The Mill from someone who is well-known and loved by music fans around this town.
Drainolith, Alex Body, Outer Space, Moth Cock, Lwa & Rob Jacobs // White Lightning Warehouse // 9:00 PM // $5, All Ages
Sunday offers you sonic choices for your bliss. You can either zone out to the sounds of Dan Bern and his guitar or you can surf the drone down at White Lightning. The primary celebration at this show goes for local drone merchants Lwa who are releasing a new tape/record. Coming from the post-apocalyptic wasteland that is Ohio, Outer Space and Moth Cock are bringing the Tangerine Dream style drones while IL-based Rob Jacobs will bring a more tropical vibe. The show is rounded out by local loop wizard Alex Body and Drainolith, a side project of AIDS Wolf member Moskos.
The university is on break, but this town doesn’t sleep. It waits. You don’t need to wait though, so get in this weekend madness.
–LV
Do you want to see your event here? Send an email to weekender@littlevillagemag.com with details!
