Greetings, Weekenders!
So, you’re an average (brilliant) Iowa Citian. What brought you to this fine town? Maybe you were born and raised here, or perhaps you got lost between Denver and Chicago, or your car broke down? Maybe you had too much fun in high school and as a result you couldn’t get into the University of Illinois.
Some of you probably really wanted to go to grad school somewhere quaint, somewhere with tree lined streets that would take your breath away in the fall, haunt you in the winter and bring you back to life in the spring. Many of you probably graduated 20 years ago and simply haven’t managed to leave.
I sort of fall into the last category. I came for school and never left for too long because, well, I can’t think of anywhere I’d rather be. This has been one of those weeks that makes me feel like thanking the Jeebus for guiding me, dropping me, ditching me in Iowa City. Thanks, the Jeebus! I’m in good hands!
THURSDAY
Somasphere w. Solar Perceptions | Gabe’s | 9 p.m. | $5, 21+
Last night I got my face peeled off by Pomegranates, who opened for Colour Revolt, at the Blue Moose. Though they are basically an indie rock band they went into some long bridges of straight up house music–complete with soul vocals!–but with live drums and big guitars. They had me seriously nodding my head and made it really hard to choose between my intellectual hipster (arms-crossed) posture and my psycehedelic hipster (raving mad dancey guy) posture. Nothing like an identity crisis mid-way through a set to let you know you are at a really great show!
But that was last night. TONIGHT! : The Thursday Night Dance Party is alive and well downstairs at Gabe’s, the beer garden is waiting for you and upstairs: Some wicked live electronica. If you haven’t been to a Thursday night dance party in a while, tonight is the night for beats squared, upstairs and down, at 330 E Washington.
Click here to download Somasphere’s 2008 EP More Shapes
Solar Perceptions –> *HooD-TeK* (Des Moines, IA) Glitch-Hop/Dubstep + ACG3 aka The Goat. The Goat is an Iowa City institution, on the techno scene he’s what Tony Soprano would call a “made guy.” Hopefully we’ll get some old heads in there and teach the young heads a thing or two about what’s greater than mash-ups.
FRIDAY
Multimedia event at White Lightning | Um, White Lightning Wherehouse, 700 S. Dubuque St (back door) | 10 p.m. | $5
The White Lightning Wherehouse (sic) is really starting to take shape. Fresh coats of paint on the walls, some old walls are gone, some new walls have been added and the programming is taking off. If you haven’t been down to see what everyone is talking about, there is an event going on this Friday that offers a fair characterization of why you should be excited about the Wherehouse: It’s just a reflection of what people are doing. And people do some rad stuff.
- Phil Ochs (Star City) is into 8 mm film. Did you know that? I didn’t. He’s going to show some at the Wherehouse.
- The Western Front are a great local pop band. I don’t know if they have any new material, but they are very easy to enjoy. They will play and sing for you.
- Joe Ross of the Tanks is one of Iowa City’s best drummers, and he’s a swell dude. Most of his bands are pretty heavy. He plays hard. Pete Balestrieri is a self-taught saxophonist. He can’t tell you what he’s playing, but he can really blow that thing and he can sing. The guy used to be a touring member of Violent Femmes! So, when he plays, you shut the f*ck up. I saw Pete & Joe play together once before and it was beyond description. When I saw them on this bill, that was when I knew where I had to be this Friday.
- Douglas Kramer Nye is an emerging voice on the darker indie folk lineage that goes something like Bo Ramsey–>Will Whitmore–>Brooks Strauss–>perhaps, Douglas Kramer Nye. Find out for yourself!
- From Madison come Icarus Himself, described as an electro-folk-basement-tape trio. Well yes, that sounds interesting. Why not?
SATURDAY
Food in Harmony: A Musical Fundraiser for Local Foods Connection | The Mill | 9 p.m. | Donation
How do we create a better world? Three square meals a day, for everyone. That’s my dream. If everyone was well-fed and we all ate beautiful, real, natural, organic, actual food, we would all be more at peace mentally and more attractive physically. Sounds pretty great huh? Yeah…
Since 1999, Local Foods Connection has had this mission:
Local Foods Connection purchases produce, bread, eggs, meat and other products from local earth-friendly farms and donates these goods to families who cannot afford such nutritious, tasty and fresh food. We provide opportunities for families to visit a farm and to learn healthy cooking methods. With your support, we assist families in need of a helping hand, strengthen our local foods network and empower the farmers who live and work just outside of your neighborhood.
Please support this good work by attending this event on Saturday night. You will be treated to a totally great lineup, and you might even win a door prize! Get the event details here on the Facebook event page.
Have a great weekend everyone. Isn’t it wonderful to live in Iowa City?
~LV
