Max Johnson, Author at Little Village

Portland’s Ages and Ages play The Mill this Thursday

by Max JohnsonJul 15, 2014Jul 15, 2014

Ages and Ages, one of Portland’s most Portland-y bands (or rather, a “collective of like-minded souls” as they have described themselves) visits The Mill this Thursday at 8 p.m. Iowa City’s very own Dana T will be opening the show.

Arts & Entertainment

Nova Labs puts out 26 releases in first year of operation

by Max JohnsonJul 14, 2014Jul 15, 2014

July marks the first anniversary of Nova Labs, a small, independent record label based out of Ames and founded by Bryon Dudley and Matt Dake. Their first year was a big one—with 26 releases from an all-Iowan artist roster—and the label shows no signs of slowing down. Focusing on avant-garde artists on the fringes of […]

Arts & Entertainment

Prairie Visions and Noise Vibrations: A night of sound and visual art hits PS1 Thursday

by Max JohnsonJul 9, 2014

Public Space One will host a night of “prairie visions and noise vibrations” this Thursday at 8 p.m. The show will feature the works of three musical acts and two…

Arts & Entertainment

Green Bay power-poppers: The Sleepwalkers play the Yacht Club this Thursday

by Max JohnsonJul 9, 2014Jul 9, 2014

Bust out that flannel, folks, and maybe binge watch a few episodes of Daria, then head over to the Yacht Club this Thursday for a night of some of…

Arts & Entertainment

Saturday at PS1: Noise and lasagna, together at last

by Max JohnsonJul 3, 2014Jul 3, 2014

Milwaukee noise-nik Peter Woods and local saxophonist with Curt Oren, will be playing at Public Space One this Saturday at 8 p.m. The show is free, though donations will be accepted. Vegetarian lasagna, prepared by Oren, will be served. What else could you ask for, really?

Arts & Entertainment

Tonight at the Yacht Club: Celebrate Independence Eve with the River Monks

by Max JohnsonJul 3, 2014Jul 3, 2014

The River Monks will be setting off the proverbial fireworks tonight at the Yacht Club with their intricate and polished folk rock, while Brooks Strause and the Gory…

Album Reviews

Album Reviews: The River Monks – Home is the House

by Max JohnsonJun 27, 2014Oct 13, 2014

If Sufjan Stevens ever decided to return to his 50-state project—an attempt at composing album-length tributes for each state—he would be wise to skip Iowa altogether. The River Monks have beat him to the punch with their new album, Home is the House, one of the most essential and distilled “Iowan” records in recent memory, complete with traditional instruments contrasted by progressive song structures. Songs address themes of nature, friends and family and have the kind of studio polish that humbly displays the hard work that the band’s six musicians must have poured into the album.

Arts & Entertainment

Five questions with Tallgrass

by Max JohnsonJun 25, 2014

Describing themselves as a “dirt-stomping soul” band, Tallgrass formed in 2011 and have since released two full-length records, 2012’s God, Sin, Whiskey, and Women and 2014’s Better than Medicine. The trio relocated from Iowa City to Fort Collins a year ago, so Saturday’s show should be an extra-special homecoming show…

Arts & Entertainment

Des Moines’ Holy White Hounds and Chicago’s Mutts are hitting up the Yacht Club

by Max JohnsonJun 24, 2014Jun 24, 2014

Des Moines’ Holy White Hounds are a rock and roll band with capital R’s. Lead by Brenton Dean, the three-piece have been playing since 2013 but have already…

Arts & Entertainment

Portland’s Mean Jeans to rock the Trumpet Blossom Cafe

by Max JohnsonJun 23, 2014Jun 24, 2014

With the recent glut of garage rock bands gaining more and more traction, Mean Jeans have a refreshingly lackadaisical approach. In interviews, they seem proud of the fact that they barely ever practice.

Taking extensive cues from The Ramones (right down to the band members’ themed stage names) the Portland-based trio specialize in two things: slammed-out power chords and snotty lyrics.