Mission Creek Festival: Strangers of Necessity/Anthony Worden/Armand Hammer, Gabe’s, Iowa City, Friday, April 5 at 7:30 p.m., $65-215 Vibe Theory by Strangers Of Necessity I miss ’90s hip hop. A […]
Album Reviews
Album Review: Mr. Softheart — ‘Magdalene in Crisis’
Magdalene In Crisis by Mr. Softheart Somewhere in the search engine results for “magnolia,” there is one of many paintings titled exactly that. It’s just a JPG of the original […]
Album Review: diistancing — ‘this love ain’t a film’
this love ain't a film by diistancing For the last couple of years, Iowa City’s James Hirsch has been releasing music under the name diistancing. His latest, releasing on good […]
Album Review: GOLDBLUMS — ‘Bless Me for the Get Better’
Bless Me for the Get Better by GOLDBLUMS Over the last few years, the Des Moines-based group GOLDBLUMS have recorded with a wide sonic palette, including elements of garage punk, […]
Book Review: ‘For a Second, In the Dark’ by Alec Hershman
For a Second, In the Dark is a distinct collection of poems in which Alec Hershman takes us on a daunting yet humorous journey through reality. Released in October 2023 […]
Album Review: William Elliott Whitmore — ‘Silently, The Mind Breaks’
If you’ll permit a strained simile, Will Whitmore is like Iowa’s basketball phenom Caitlin Clark. He’s never been anything short of ridiculously excellent, and he makes it look — or […]
Album Review: Dandelion Stompers — ‘Whirlwind Sessions Vol. 1’
Whirlwind Sessions Vol. 1 by Dandelion Stompers Recently, John Kenyon — executive director of the Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature organization and one of our area’s most insightful arts […]
Album Review: Sirens and Prophets — ‘Delineations’
Delineations by Sirens and Prophets In the opening minutes of Delineations’ forlorn guitar chords, punctuated by steady drums, lead listeners in a gradual crescendo accompanied by boiling cymbals. By the […]
Album Review: Wave Cage — ‘Even You Can See in the Dark’
Even You Can See in the Dark by Wave Cage “Here we orbit each other with creative collaboration,” says poet Caleb “The Negro Artist” Rainey on the opening and title […]
Album Review: Sean Tyler — ‘NOR THERE’
NOR THERE by Sean Tyler I first found out about Sean Tyler from one of the great No Touching Sessions filmed at Gabe’s way back in 2020. Tyler’s been performing […]
Album Review: Lou Sherry — ‘More Now Than Then’
Lou Sherry — More Now Than Then by Lou Sherry Sometimes in life, anticipation can veer towards obsession. It was after the first time Lou Sherry played Gabe’s that I […]
Album Review: Dave Helmer — ‘Such a Clown’
Such a Clown by Dave Helmer Looking at the cover art for Dave Helmer’s Such a Clown, I’ll be honest — I was expecting some trite country rock at best […]