Distant Trains is the solo project of Iowa musician Chuck Hoffman, who plays in Des Moines band Why Make Clocks, among other varied musical projects around the state. Web developer by day, rock and roll animal by night, Chuck is the sort of musician who keeps the Iowa rock scene exciting: he knows everyone, has been in a band with almost everyone, and he’ll be down front at your show grinning and head-nodding, even if he has to work in the morning.
Kent Williams
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Caroline Smith & The Good Night Sleeps Sun. Jan 2 in Fairfield!
Caroline Smith & The Good Night Sleeps opened the Leslie & The Lys show at the Englert during the Mission Creek Festival, and while they were not as outre as Bitch or as goofy as Leslie Hall, they were some quality music. Caroline Smith has an unconventional voice, recalling Billy Holiday’s fragile, intimate delivery, but […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
In Praise Of "A Charlie Brown Christmas"
This post has been making the rounds this week and I had to respond. Not so much because it needs defending, but because I believe this post fundamentally misunderstands Peanuts and A Charlie Brown Christmas. “F*ck You, Charlie Brown.” Poor Charles Schultz would cringe to see that; he was a pretty old fashioned guy for […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Rant: Who Did Iowa Just Elect Governor?
Before Chet “The Big Lug” Culver, there was Tom “I never, ever look as though I’m enjoying myself” Vilsack. And before that, Terry “The Caretaker” Branstad. Before I go on, let me say that I speak only for myself, not Little Village Magazines, it’s overlords, minions, or lackeys. Terry Brandstad was Lieutenant Governor during the […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Kent Williams on Noise Radio KRUI 12-04-2010
I’ve been filling in for Vince Woolums on his long-running Noise Radio show on KRUI this fall — he’s coaching debate at City High and travels mosts weekends. The last few shows I’ve brought in records — you know, the round, usually black things that go round and round — and done my best to […]
Posted inAlbum Reviews
Album Review: Strong Like Bear – Seeking Ghosts EP
It’s easy, if you live in Iowa City, to look upon Ames with pity larded with contempt. You’re conditioned to cringe at yellow and red. You hear “Ames” and immediately think “thick-necked Ag majors.” You don’t much like the men of Iowa State either. Which of course is unfair, and Strong Like Bear’s Seeking Ghosts […]
Posted inAlbum Reviews
Album Review: The Box Flowers – Trophies
Sometimes I can’t make heads or tails of an album, and it’s a good thing. Those can be the albums that stretch your whole idea of what’s aesthetically satisfying about music. Then there’s Trophies by The Box Flower, known to his mom as Daniel Weston Payne. I can tell he’s an artist because the CD […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
The Drummer Takes His Turn: An Interview with S. Carey
S.Carey will be appearing Friday, December 10 at The Mill. Show starts at 9PM S. Carey’s new album All We Grow is not what you’d expect from someone who plays with Bon Iver. If Bon Iver hugs the center line of popular music, S. Carey’s car is parked crooked on the shoulder with its blinkers […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Acting on Activism
The Iowa City area seems to be experiencing a renaissance in the area of live theater. In recent years several new organizations have joined the long-running Riverside Theatre and Iowa City Community Theatre in putting on local shows. Working Group Theatre is one such organization and in the last two years they’ve gained notice for […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Actual, Honest, 100% Whole Wheat Bread
I started with this recipe, but only because I thought it was a recipe for real, live all whole wheat french bread. Nothing wrong with that recipe, but I’m a type II diabetic, and white flour is powdered death for me. Anyhow, you need 3-4 (or 5, I didn’t really measure past a certain point) […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Ballet at the Englert December 3rd-5th
Amongst Iowa Citians, I think I’m pretty close to holding the record for seeing the Nutcracker ballet the most times. My father was the conductor of the Cedar Rapids Symphony, and he conducted the Nutcracker every year once they moved to the Paramount Theatre. I also saw it at Hancher with my kids when they […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Show Preview: Kathryn Musilek @ Blue Moose Tap 11.26.2010!
Formerly of Iowa City, now kicking ass and naming names in NYC, Kathryn Musilek is back to play a show the day after Thanksgiving at the Blue Moose!
