School’s back in session. I know this because of the fact that I have to spend most of my time swerving past students who just step into the street with no recognition of the fact that vehicles are bearing down on them. While it is the law to stop for pedestrians at crosswalks (marked and unmarked), the street becomes the wild west between the intersections. Everyone, please look before walking into the street. I don’t stop on my bike if you are not in the crosswalk. If I hit you, I’m not liable as you were jaywalking. Is getting your ego/leg/arm/body broken worth those extra 15 seconds you save by not crossing at the crosswalk? No. It isn’t. Keep everyone safe and cross at the crosswalks. Safety note aside, this weekend’s going to be bananas, b-a-n-a-n-a-s. Yea, I just did that, and I mean it sincerely. There is a TON of stuff going on. If you’re not having good times and cool vibes this weekend, you really should check your pulse, because you might be dead. So, what makes up this awesome weekend? I’m glad you asked.
THURSDAY
Michelle Lynn // Uptown Bill’s // 6:00 PM // Free, All Ages
Hailing from Decorah, Michelle Lynn found inspiration for her most recent album Sundial Tree in Austin, TX. Taking a sabbatical from the harsh Midwestern winter, Lynn focused her songwriting and develop her record, a concept album that revolves around ideas of numbers and times. The result of these mathematical connections is an album that has soul and creativity. While she calls herself folk-oriented, the music she creates skews more pop. Her voice, for some reason, reminds me a lot of an American Beth Orton. She’s got the same sort of earthiness, while lacking the British diction of Orton. Fans of folk, folk-pop and/or singer-songwriters should have a blast at this show. Her album as well as further information can be found at her website.
Iowa Review Fall Reading // Prairie Lights // 7:00 PM // Free, All Ages
Seeing as the first week of the fall is always something of a sampler for the new students (Taste of Iowa City happened this past Wednesday), both newbies and vets should get a taste of the literature that this town prides itself on. At the local literary institution that is Prairie Lights, The Iowa Review will be reading some material from the new issue as well as hear insight from the editors on how those stories made the cut and how others didn’t. Seeing as this is one of the top literary journals in the country, this reading will bring the creatively written heat.
Lipstick Homicide w/ Muddy Rails, The Olympics and The Blendours // Iowa City Yacht Club // 9:00 PM // $5, 19+
I believe I’m, on some levels, culturally obligated to talk about Lipstick Homicide. They are an excellent punk-pop band that works the rooms around this fair town. I keep them high on my list of strong local bands. Playing with other excellent quality bands in Muddy Rails, The Olympics and the Blendours, this show is a solid bet for the punk/pop kids here in Iowa City. This will be the last time to see Lipstick Homicide in town for a little while as they will be taking their punk fury on the road after this show.
FRIDAY
Roll Out // Coralville Marriott // 7:00 PM // $5 (Free for kids 10 & Under), All Ages
Speaking of rolling out, there is this group of bad-ass women in this town. They skate on quads and annihilate challengers from far and wide. They are called the Old Capitol City Roller Girls. This Friday will be a demonstration of the madness that is roller derby and a debut of the team’s new skaters. The demo will be followed with a performance by the matching, shredding power band that is HOTT.
P-Tek CD Release Party w/ Generic, David The Saint and Rolling Blackout // Blue Moose Tap House // 8:00 PM // Free, 19+
Free and Hip-Hop tend to be two words that go really, really well together. If you need proof, check the Del photos from the Little Village anniversary party. If you want anecdotes, I got those. Either way, kids love good hip-hop, especially when its free. While Del brought the free jams more recently, this weekend welcomes back local product P-Tek. Now based in Austin, TX, P-Tek is working on that Edan-type level with his material. Like Edan, P-Tek does his own production which is based on both old-school boom-bap style rhythms as well as bringing in sounds from genres like new wave and psychedelic rock. Much like his Boston-based contemporary, P-Tek also drops literate, creative rhymes with a super solid, confident flow. He doesn’t sound nervy. He sounds like he deserves–and wants–to be on a mic. Reuniting with Generic, his partner from Middle Class Trash, and getting support from David The Saint and Rolling Blackout, this free show will be another hip-hop burner at the Blue Moose.
SATURDAY
Landlocked Film Festival // Various Locations // All Day // Varies, All Ages
It’s the end of August and that means that the Landlocked Film Festival has set up shop in various rooms around town. Saturday will be the third day of this festival. For the weekend from Thursday to Sunday, films will be displayed at the Englert, hotelVetro, the Iowa City Public Library, and the Bijou in the Iowa Memorial Union. There are going to be documentaries, dramas, comedies, animated films, and international submissions. This is going to be a big festival. Check the film schedule and find out what you’ll be seeing this weekend.
JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound w/ Ben Driscoll & The East Side Motors & The Hexbreakers // Blue Moose Tap House // 8:00 PM // $7, 19+
Hailing from Chicago, JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound bring that old-school soul and funk and mix it with a post-punk mentality. This means that they give the old soul of the 1960s a modern updating, adding some urgency while never losing the groove. If you have doubts in your mind about how that would work, don’t. Just don’t. It works better than you could ever imagine. Added to the quality music, Brooks can sing. He, to paraphrase Rakim, ain’t no joke. Add this to the excellent stage show and musicianship and you’ve got a nonstop soul throwdown. I know this isn’t the first time that they’ve been in Iowa City, but their following keeps growing. If you don’t know about them and like soul, you need to be at this show.
SUNDAY
Danielle Ate The Sandwich // Public Space One // 7:00 PM // $5, All Ages
It’s not regular that I go into a Sunday, but like I said earlier, there’s a lot of stuff going on this weekend. Another entry in the KRUI Low Frequency Series, Danielle Ate The Sandwich is only one person: Danielle Anderson. Her insightful look at the world has gained her a sizable online following with equal support coming from the more traditional press as well. Her music hits various levels of the emotional spectrum. Additionally, she plays both the ukulele and the guitar, which can add a fresh dynamic to a one-woman performance. There is little question that Danielle is on the way up in the music world. See her in the intimate space of Public Space One now before she gets huge.
Blizzard At Sea, Superchief & Unity // Iowa City Yacht Club // 9:00 PM // $5, 19+
This Sunday brings together a triumvirate of pure, unfiltered metal. Hailing from Iowa City, Blizzard At Sea cranks out the dark, metal sounds. Locally revered, they always bring the jams. On this Sunday, they will be playing with Waterloo’s Unity and Des Moines’s Superchief. Everything you need to know about this show can be summarized from the following line from Superchief’s myspace page: “Each time we take the stage amongst our legions of fans, we play to kill.” I can’t say it any better than that.
There’s so much stuff going on this weekend, so I will add only one more event. On Friday, Lawrence-KS-based The Spook Lights will be playing at the Mill (10:00 PM // $6, 21+) with The Boxknifes, another top-notch band working in this town. I also mention this show because I’ve had a Boxknifes song stuck in my head for about three weeks now.
If you are just moving into Iowa City, whether for the first time or the thirtieth time, I say hello and welcome. To everyone, get into the community and have fun this weekend.
~LV
If you would like to see your event here, email Weekender@LittleVillageMag.com with dates and details.
