At the bottom of every Weekender column there is a little blurb about submitting events to be covered here. I bring this up because there were more than usual this week (I might get one, maybe two on a good week), and this is awesome! There are always events that slip off my radar, so I want to know what everyone is up to so I can share it with the rest of the Weekender readers. Unless your event is like, “we’re watching the game in Chad’s basement on Friday,” I will more than likely write about it here. As more things start happening with this seasonal rise in the Iowa City population, I thought I’d give this reminder.
As for this week, there’s a whole mess of events to keep busy with. Read on.
THURSDAY
Michael Perry // Prairie Lights // 7:00 PM // FREE
Wisconsinite author Michael Perry will read from his latest novel, Visiting Tom: A Man, a Highway, and the Road to Roughneck Grace. Perry’s work is often humorous and largely centers on his own background in farming and rural Midwestern life. He has written three bestselling memoirs and his work has been published in Esquire, The New York Times Magazine, Backpacker and Outside. The new novel focuses on the life stories of an elderly man who is known around town for his longtime hobby of firing cannons.
Shipbuilding Co. w. Albert’s Ride // Yacht Club // 10:00 PM // $5
Michael Partington is known as one of the chief songwriters for Chicago prog-rock band, Head of Femur. Partington recently abandoned this popular project to devote all of his energy toward his new band, Shipbuilding Co. Along with former Bright Eyes drummer, Matt Focht, Partington put together an ambitious indie group which at times consisted of up to 30 performers. Their first album was largely recorded solo and lo-fi, but their latest, From Mansions to Dry Lake Beds features a much fuller, produced sound. Partington is often appropriately described as a “maximalist” and it shows on the new record with it’s orchestral psych rock bangers. This album hot off the presses; it was released just about a week ago. Here’s footage from their last Iowa City show!
FRIDAY
Ben Cohan & Robert Fifield: Anywhere // Times Club // 8:00 PM // FREE
The Paintings by Illinois artists, Ben Cohan and Robert Fifield have been on exhibition at the Time Club above Prairie Lights for a month now. This event is the closing reception. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet the artists while snacking on food and drinks. More information about the paintings/artists from the Times Club website:
Trees, clouds, and empty roads populate the landscapes of Robert Fifield and Ben Cohan in the exhibition, “Anywhere.” The exhibition tells of a place that is both near and far; a landscape that keeps its distance while remaining close to home. While both bodies of work hold an apparent individuality, both artists are drawing from familiar landscape iconography. Fifield’s work explores the representation of landscape through the reduction and augmentation of cartographic languages. Cohan’s work uses the romantic possibilities of paint to confront places that are often overlooked. At first glance, the sites may be from anywhere, yet they embody a certain peculiarity that leaves one with a satisfying curiosity.
Funkma$ter vs. Rich Rok w. DJ Omatic, Desdamona, MC Longshot // Yacht Club // 10:00 PM // $7
Funkma$ster is a multi-instrumentalist who uses one powerful looping machine to create the sounds of a full band. The Iowa City native is back in from Denver to hit the Yacht Club with his soulful, funky, hip hoppy one-man-band. He has shared the stage with Digital Underground, Blackalicious and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band and used to perform with Euforquestra. Joining him is Iowa City favorite, Rich Rok, who will be spinning all vinyl. Richie’s skills behind the turntables have not gone unnoticed over the past few years. He’s been a staple at Yacht Club’s Tuesday night dance parties and has opened for a laundry list of impressive national acts. I wasn’t planning on naming them all, but I think it’s worth mentioning just a few of the big ones: Nas, Damian Marley, Ghostface Killah, Black Milk, Childish Gambino, Louis Logic, Das Racist, Shabazz Palaces, The Hood Internet, Willy Joy and most recently, Theesatisfaction. Opening up is popular hip hop/spoken word artist, Desdamona. Desdamona was born in Des Moines and currently makes music in Minneapolis. She first got noticed on a Brother Ali track and has been writing, performing and collaborating ever since.
SATURDAY
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Heligoats w. Mirror Coat, The Lion in Rome // Gabe’s // 10:00 PM // $6
Heligoats is, for the most part, solo project of Chris Otepka. The Heligoats moniker has been with the Bellingham-based songwriter/musician for quite a while. Many of his songs gained considerable popularity when he fronted the indie band Troubled Hubble in the early-mid 2000’s. When the band broke up in 2005, Otepka returned to the Heligoats name and continued to release records on his own. His latest, Loose Ends EP dropped last week. Loose Ends is his first release in over two years, and is surely exciting to the cult-like following that seems to have formed around this project. Heligoats have recorded 3 Daytrotter sessions and have a special on NPR. Opening the show is Mirror Coat and The Lion in Rome.
SUNDAY
Lindsey Buckingham // Englert // 8:00 PM // $45-55
Lindsey Buckingham is perhaps best known for his work with Fleetwood Mac. The band earned Buckingham and his band mates a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and numerous awards including a Grammy for 1977’s Rumours. Since 1981 Buckingham has released six studio albums and continues to sell out venues across the country. In that time he has been responsible for numerous radio hits such as “Trouble,” “Go Insane,” and “Holiday Road.” His last album was released last year and at age 62 Buckingham shows little sign of slowing down.
See you next week!
~LV
You want to see your event here? Email dates and details to Weekender@LittleVillageMag.com!
