The winter’s in full effect now, in case you weren’t aware of that. Hopefully, this column can offer you some alternatives other than sitting in your house, thinking about your life and how to better integrate the Ron Swanson Pyramid of Greatness into it. In also offering changes, I’m going to try writing this in a different way, taking a cue from the former writer Matt Steele (I, A.C. Hawley, write this column every week, not a robot like the beginning of this sentence may suggest) and his columns. Referencing the past might spruce up the column for the drab winter months. It’ll be like reading this in a wood-paneled basement. Why there? Why not there is the better question.
THURSDAY
Richard Rezac | 101 Biology Building East, UI Campus | 7:00 PM | Free, All Ages
An easy way to begin a Thursday evening. Richard Rezac is an accomplished sculptor, having presented work in exhibitions all across this country as well as having work in prestigious American contemporary art museum collections. In conjunction with a solo exhibition in the Times Club at Prairie Lights (which will run until the end of February), Rezac will be giving a talk on his current work and projects. His work from the past 26 years can be seen at his website.
But if you don’t want to go to a lecture and maybe want to jam a little bit more, you should go to Groove Theory.
Groove Theory w/ Koplant No | Gabe’s | 6:30 PM | $5, All Ages
Two jazzy, jammy groups play an all ages show over at Gabe’s on Thursday. If you are into the sound of Medeski, Martin & Wood or the other more jazz-inclined jam bands, this show should suit you well as both bands search in this territory. Groove Theory stays more on the jazzy end of the sound while Koplant No follows the electronic circuits in that direction.
If you can’t make 6:30 (work, afternoon nap, class, etc.), you have another option on this night in a very similar vein.
Dirk Quinn Band w/ Clean Living | The Mill | 9:00 PM | $7, 21+
With a slightly more mature jazz-based sound, Philly based Dirk Quinn comes through town with his band. With Soulive in the regular references for his music, Quinn’s sound is mellow and intriguing, well suited to the dark corners of the Mill and should provide a gentle massage into the actual weekend from the faux weekend night that is Thursday.
FRIDAY
Art Auction | Public Space One | 6:00 PM | Free (Unless You Buy Art), All Ages
This Friday signals the end to the week-long Art Auction for Public Space One. If you are not familiar, there was an event there earlier this week, sponsored by the very institution for which I write. If you couldn’t figure it out from the last sentence, PS1 is a cool thing for this city to have, so if you can you should support it. If buying art isn’t your game, are words?
Anthology | Iowa City Public Library Meeting Room A | 7:00 PM | Free, All Ages
First for this year, the Anthology Reading Series begins again. Featuring works from graduate students in the various creative writing genres offered at UI, it is a condensed format reading with multiple readers going for only five minutes at a time. This one has a name that is far too long and awkward for me to attempt to type or say. You should go if you want to hear them attempt to say it.
Alright, that’s a few more of you. But, there are still more of you that probably don’t like either of those things. I’ve got two music options that should get everyone left uncovered. The first one is bluegrass, the second is punk. Let’s start in order.
Henhouse Prowlers w/ Smokin’ Joe Scarpellino & Friends | Iowa City Yacht Club | 9:00 PM | $7, 19+
I go on the word of Yale Cohn that Henhouse Prowlers are the real deal. Even though his dispatch was a little janky, I’ll take Mr. Cohn on his word. You should, too. He’s usually right about these types of things. While I’m sure that they are a good bluegrass band (actually, no doubt in my mind that they are), that’s probably not how everyone likes to get down either. I have y’all in mind with the second show.
Tyvek w/ Slut River, Solid Attitude & Non Prayer | White Lightning Wherehouse | 9:00 PM | $7, All Ages
Tyvek has been through Iowa City a number of times. As they’ve come back time and time again, they’ve sounded like they’d been practicing at home, which was a really good thing. They play straight-ahead punk rock music. They are super sharp now and worth seeing if you like the punk/garage sound. The local bands will also bring the fury and may even get uncomfortably close to you. Don’t worry about that those. They don’t harm…for the most part.
SATURDAY
La Traviata | Englert Theatre | 8:00 PM | $5-20, All Ages
I’m not going to sit here and start pontificating about La Traviata. What you’re reading at Wikipedia about it is as much as I know, too. Why recommend it? That’s actually really easy. If you like singing and spectacles, the opera offers both in spates. Going to a theater to see an opera is actually a rather wonderful experience. The music is more impactful. The sets are visually striking. If this weren’t all enough, have you seen your regular life superscripted? Probably not. All of the songs are translated and run at the top of the stage. For all intents and purposes, you have your regular life subtitled. That’s a really cool feeling to have.
If that didn’t get you, I have one more thing left to suggest for Saturday and this Weekender issue.
Rushmore | Bijou Theater | 11:00 PM | Free (to UI Students, $5 Everyone Else), 18+
I have a feeling Max Fischer would probably be at La Traviata if he were not a movie character in a Wes Anderson movie. While it is arguable what Anderson’s best movie is, most people will bring up Rushmore in that conversation. If you’re reading this column, I’d put a decent bet on you, reader, having seen it before. If you have, go see it again. If you haven’t, go see it for the first time. If you’re a UI student, it’s free, so there’s, literally, nothing to lose.
Another weekend has ended. I think it will have been a fun one when we look back at it. Don’t you? Until next week, peace out.*
~LV
*60 Minutes told me that peace out was slang for goodbye a couple of weeks ago. Most useful piece of information I’ve gotten in years.
If you would like to submit an event, drop me a line at Weekender@LittleVillageMag.com.
Um, Solid Attitude…
Ah, I see what you're referring to. Woops! I haven't had a chance to read through the weekender yet and thought you were pointing out another band, hah.