This Weekender is brought to you by Cafe Wonderful, and dedicated to Chris Blanchard of Rock Spring Farm.
Warning: This Weekender is not for the faint of weekend. This is for the strong. The strong of weekend.
Why? Because Halloween starts early! No foreplay, straight to the full frontal scariness. Oh, and there’s also more sweet live music to catch this weekend than I can shake a weekender at.
Let’s get to it.
THURSDAY
Double Feature at the Bijou: Alien at 9 pm, Rocky Horror Picture Show at midnight | Bijou Theatre | $5 each
Thanks, Bijou, for showing so many international, independent and art house movies. There’s no one else like you in town. Thanks also for showing classics like Alien and Rocky Horror Picture Show. Considering the beautiful bike path along the river, the more than ample parking right across the street in the ramp, and the $5 admission — The Bijou is definitely the best movie theater in town.
If bike and car access and low admission aren’t enough to lure you away from downtown, check out Nick Africano and Misty Boyce at Public Space ONE, another great show brought to you by PS1 and KRUI.
FRIDAY
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Part 1:
Intermedia Open House | U of I Studio Arts (1375 Hwy 1 West/”Menarts”) | 7-9 pm | FREE
There is nothing quite like the annual Intermedia Open House.
Formerly divided into graduate and undergraduate shows, the School of Art and Art History’s Intermedia department now has enough space to present all the artists at one show.
Certainly worth the trip out to the old Menards — converted last year for use as the U of I Studio Arts building — the Open House will present interactive displays, sound installations, and art that defies categorization. Also, did you know the U of I School of Art and Art History is the true and original home of intermedia, invented in the 60’s by UI Professor Hans Breder?
Part 2: Choose your own adventure…
Hot Buttered Rum | Yacht Club | 9 pm | $12 advance, $15 day-of
Hot Buttered Rum, one of the hardest-working and fastest-rising acts in acoustic rock, began in the San Francisco Bay Area with five uniquely talented singer-songwriter/instrumentalists setting out to create a new Northern California sound. They bring their infectious blend of folk, rock, jazz, and newgrass to the Iowa City Yacht Club this Friday.
Bo Ramsey and the Mystery Lights| The Mill | 8 pm | $12
From The Mill: Born and raised in the blue-collar Mississippi River town of Burlington, Iowa in 1951, Robert Franklin ‘Bo’ Ramsey not only played a vital role in shaping Eastern Iowa’s distinctive blues-rock hybrid, but has continued in his still-vibrant career as a performer, much-in-demand producer, recording session guitarist and “hired gun” in touring bands of high-profile national acts.
Keller Williams | Englert Theatre | 8 pm | $22-25
from www.Englert.org: He’s been called a “one-man band.” A “solo cult-hero.” “Music’s mad-scientist.” All of which are clever labels for what seems to be an essential truth: On stage, Keller Williams works alone. For over 100 shows a year, Williams – by himself – layers sound atop sound until the stage swirls with a full-blown composition.
Big props go to the Englert for an amazing week of music. The Avett Brothers, Lindsay Mac, Robin and Linda Williams and now Keller Williams (no relation)… All in one week?! If you haven’t been to a show at the Englert lately, you are missing out on the best acoustics anywhere… and there’s not a bad seat in the house. Good job, Englert!
Human Aftertaste | The Picador | 9 pm | $6
Now this is truly horrifying. Human Aftertaste! Go see eastern Iowa’s own international erotic carnivorous provocateurs “get it in the can while they eat their own meat” at the Picador. OMG I’m blushing… Check out their YouTube channel for sitcoms and clips of the Human Aftertaste stage show. Again, warning: Not for the faint of… anything. http://www.youtube.com/user/humanaftertaste
SATURDAY
What’s more horrifying than Human Aftertaste? Melting ice caps. So what scarier time is there to be had than participating in Saturday’s International Climate Day of Action?
Eco Iowa City is going to scare the bejezus out of us while we bike, which is much safer (for us and for the ice caps) than scaring us while we drive.
Ghost Bike Ride to Oakland Cemetery | Meet at IC Public Library | 5:45 | FREE
Bike from the library to the “Black Angel” at Oakland Cemetery for ghost stories starting at 6:30. If you never sleep again, don’t blame the Weekender. I will be hiding somewhere far far away.
Tripmaster Monkey with Liberty Leg, Samuel Locke Ward & the Boo Hoos | The Mill | 9 pm | $6
It doesn’t take much to get me to a Liberty Leg show. The local three piece that I describe as a Johnny Cash/Sonic Youth lovechild is, after all, my favorite band in the universe. But this show is especially special-y because 1) I haven’t seen them in months, and 2) they are playing with legendary Quad Cities 90’s band Tripmaster Monkey. You may remember their song “Shutter’s Closed,” it was one of the only tolerable songs on Mtv during my Jesus and Mary Chain obsession, way back when there was music on Mtv. Here’s the video:
Split Lip Rayfield | Yacht Club | 9 pm | $10
In Iowa City, there are plenty of music lovers to go around. Packed house at the Mill? Yes. Packed house at the Yacht Club? Yes. Worth it? … um, if you’re asking, you should probably stay home and save space for someone better looking.
Split Lip Rayfield are described as…
“A band of badasses with the avowed intent of kicking the oldtime sound in the posterior till it shouts out a brand new tune.” -CMJ New Music Report
“The fearsome foursome of Split Lip combines a traditional bluegrass sound with the blazing speed and energy of punk rock, and in the process manages to improve on the formula. Should have Seen it Coming is quite possibly the best recorded document of its myriad skills and charm.” – Tucson Weekly
Thanks Yacht Club, great weekend you’ve got in store for us!
Hope you are sufficiently horrified… Please survive so we can scare the crap out of you again next week!
~ LV
Did we miss your sweet event? Email Weekender suggestions to Matt@LittleVillageMag.com
