An oft-quoted rule-of-thumb for writers is “write what you know.” Great written works are usually imbued with a strong sense of place derived from the writer’s ability to pull that little bit of themselves in–people, places, conversations, situations. Kelly Pardekooper lived in Iowa most of his life and recorded five albums of Grade-A Iowa Americana. […]
Michael Roeder
Michael Roeder is a self-proclaimed “music savant.” When he’s not writing for Little Village he blogs at playbsides.com.
Posted inAlbum Reviews
Album Review: The Pines – Dark So Gold
I’ve been a dedicated follower of former-Iowa City band The Pines since their first album came out on Dave Zollo’s late record label, Trailer Records, in 2004. Benson Ramsey and David Huckfelt have since recorded three albums for Red House Records—a label with a famous affinity for the Iowa City folk and blues scene. Each […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Mike Doughty of Soul Coughing to perform at Mission Creek 2012
Mike Doughty is a resurrection man. From 1992 to 2000 he fronted the MTV 120 Minutes-darlings band Soul Coughing. After kicking a heroin habit he took his intersection of folky beat-poetry alliteration and skat singing to a solo career with support from Dave Matthews and his label ATO. Since then he has released four formal […]
Posted inAlbum Reviews
Album Review – The Wheelers: Bubix
The Wheelers are a pan-Iowan band with members scattered between Iowa City and Ames. Other joint efforts between these two cities often result in heavy drinking, name calling and injuries and, while I can’t confirm that The Wheelers encounter a similar fate when they get together, the teetering energy here is very much the same.
Posted inAlbum Reviews
Album Review – Pieta Brown: Mercury
The monochrome photo of Pieta Brown on the cover of her album Mercury (out Sept. 27 on Red House Records) carries a certain “Mona Lisa” inscrutability. The unusual lighting from beneath nearly washes out her face drawing you almost self-consciously to her gaze. While I usually don’t expect her album covers to directly represent the […]
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Album Review – Finnders and Youngberg: FY5
It’s tempting to classify Finnders and Youngberg as a bluegrass band based on the mastery of the fiddle, banjo and mandolin on display in FY5. But those aren’t the only ingredients in this recipe. “It’s definitely more of a country outfit than what Amy and I were doing… but probably where I was heading all […]
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Upcoming Shows: The Pines Return to Iowa for May Shows
The Pines just wrapped up an April East Coast tour run in support of Jeffery Foucault and are coming back to Iowa for a run of shows in May as well as a radio appearance on Little Village Live on KRUI.
The KRUI appearance will be Wednesday, May 4th broadcasting from Public Space One. Come out to the studio to see the show live from 5-6 PM and there will be snacks provided by New Pioneer Co-op!
The Pines will be gracing the stage at the Mill Restaurant in Iowa City on Friday night as well. Seth Winger is opening and tickets are $10. Doors are at 8PM.
Posted inAlbum Reviews
Album Review – Kerosene Circuit: EP
Kerosene Circuit EP The romance of the long-haul trucker is born in the dust and roar of the engine and the kerosene smell of diesel fuel. The bleary hypnosis from the engine’s roaring roadsong, the buzzy florescent refuge of the 24-hour truckstop, faded coffee rings on the driver’s daily log books, permanent grease lodged in […]
Posted inAlbum Reviews
Album Review – Greg Brown: Freak Flag
Greg Brown Freak Flag My first time in a bar, underage, was for a Bo Ramsey and the Sliders show at Potter’s Mill in Bellevue, IA. From then on, I caught as many shows as I could until I moved to Minnesota for work. When I later moved back to Iowa, one reason I was […]
Posted inAlbum Reviews
Album Review – The Mountain Goats : All Eternals Deck
“Let the truth spring free Like a jack-in-the-box Like a hundred thousand cuckoo clocks From the Oregon corners to the Iowa corn To the rooms with heat lamps Where the snakes get born” – “Birth of Serpents” My first exposure to paranoia came as a child. I only saw my uncle at birthday parties and […]
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Show Preview: Pieta Brown at The Mill with The Vagabonds, 4/9/11
Pieta is back home this weekend with a show at the Mill on Saturday night. At her side will be her constant companion Bo Ramsey who will be surrounding her homespun variety of folk, blues, rock and country with his harmony vocals and guitar atmospherics. Opening for Pieta will be local folky songbirds The Vagabonds.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Show Preview: The Dead's Kreutzmann Brings Cajun Jams With 7 Walkers at Englert on 3/24
In November, 2010 Grateful Dead drummer and founding member Bill Kreutzmann- who reportedly never missed any of those over-2300 shows- released the debut album for his latest project 7 Walkers which will be performing in Iowa City at The Englert on Thursday.
7 Walkers will be performing at The Englert Theatre in Iowa City at 8PM on Thursday night. It is General Admission. Tickets are $25 and $20 for students.
