“Mouths” is a fiction story presented in installments. Look for a new chapter on Mondays throughout the summer. (We’re almost at the end, now — but the fear started creeping in back in June.) Mouths XI: Fighting I have no real animosity toward the woman. Like me, like Sheila, she was pushed into an unimaginably […]
Daniel Boscaljon
Mouths 10: Leaving
“Mouths” is a fiction story presented in installments. Look for a new chapter on Mondays throughout the summer. (Perhaps you would like to start at the beginning?) Mouths X: Leaving The world feels different as I walk up the stairs. My muscles are more obedient to my will, more responsive. It feels, ironically, as if […]
Mouths 9: Accusing
“Mouths” is a fiction story presented in installments. Look for a new chapter on Mondays throughout the summer. (Perhaps you would like to start at the beginning?) Mouths IX: Accusing I am not wearing a shirt, but this is the least of my worries. At least he won’t look at my face. The mouths remain […]
Mouths 8: Explaining
“Mouths” is a fiction story presented in installments. Look for a new chapter on Mondays throughout the summer. (The journey started here.) Mouths VIII: Explaining She passes out three times as I talk. It’s okay. We have time. None of us need to leave anytime soon. My mouths are sated for now. They open and […]
Beach House treats Iowa City concert-goers to a spectacular light show, but fails to fully connect
I enjoy seeing opening acts, especially ones that accompany a band across a tour. Entrance, a solo singer-songwriter, was worth seeing. He seemed steeped in a folk tradition, and most of the melodies felt like memories with words I had not heard. The songs seemed to haunt the edges of what I already knew without […]
Mouths 7: Stalling
“Mouths” is a fiction story presented in installments. Look for a new chapter Monday mornings throughout the summer. “Shut the fuck up, Sheila!” I scream at the door. I realize that I shouldn’t draw attention to myself. I breathe. “I’m sorry.” My voice is softer. “Just give me a second. Everything will make sense soon.” […]
Reflecting on St. Paul and the Broken Bones
I had low expectations for the North Liberty Blues & BBQ festival, which hints at the unmentioned “brews” in the space of the ampersand. In part this is due to my opinion of North Liberty as a cookie cutter town, the perfect setting for Radiohead’s “Fitter, Happier” from OK Computer to serve as a constant […]
Mouths 6: Stilling
“Mouths” is a fiction story presented in installments. Look for a new chapter each Monday morning throughout the summer. Mouths VI: Stilling The alarm clock flashes a steady stream of banal red numbers at me. Something urgent will happen. The air is thick with tension. Sweat. Vodka. Fear. It is oppressive. Almost insufferable. Something stale […]
Mouths 5: Fighting
“Mouths” is a fiction story presented in installments. Look for a new chapter each Monday morning throughout the summer. Mouths V: Fighting I sit on the dirty carpet and examine what the mouths have left of my life. Vodka bottles. Glass shards. Wood splinters. Old woman. Her eyes scream fear. Her mouth remains gagged. I […]
Mouths 4: Returning
“Mouths” is a fiction story presented in installments. Look for a new chapter each Monday morning throughout the summer. Mouths IV: Returning I return to my building, using the carport. It’s rented by 2B, but I don’t care anymore. I don’t want the old woman to roast. It’s close to 4 p.m. now. My mouths […]
Mouths 3: Feeding
“Mouths” is a fiction story presented in installments. Look for a new chapter each Monday morning throughout the summer. Mouths III: Feeding They say that you get used to any noise if you live with it for long enough: jackhammers, sirens, alarms. Clocks ticking. Water dripping. I doubt if I will ever become comfortable with […]
Black Mountain builds an unhurried tension in their June 15 show at The Mill
The opener for the solid summer Wednesday evening crowd at The Mill this week was Majure, who preceded his reputation (signifying mostly a certain laziness on my part, as a Google search took me instantly to his profile). It was my second solo drum show, and while Majure lacked the explosive charisma of Glenn Kotche […]




