Newly opened “Gabe’s” played host to the Mission Creek pre-festival party last night, and the venue has never sounded better. With new ownership came a new sound system, just in time for Iowa City’s biggest music festival of the season. West Coast groove band Pocahaunted headlined the event, backed by strong opening acts from Rene Hall, Alex Body and Peaking Lights.
Note: Little Village contributor David Morris has written a comprehensive review for those who want to find out a bit more about Monday’s opening performances. Rather than focusing on one particular show, our daily “Mission Creek Experience” updates pull together thoughts, photos and video from each evening’s various venues, allowing you a broader look at Mission Creek 2010.
Pocahaunted (pictured above) set the tone for what’s sure to be an excellent week of live music. The dynamic trio of female vocalists are anything but predictable, and the result is a band that’s just as entertaining to watch as it is to hear.
Preceding Pocahaunted were Peaking Lights (pictured below), a slower-paced Californian mix of synth and reggae. What made this show a pleasure to watch was the remarkable stage chemistry between the group’s two members, Indra Dunis and Aaron Coyes. When another attendee, a Mission Creek veteran visiting from Chicago, mentioned that the two are happily married, I wasn’t at all surprised to hear it. The way this pair play off each other, from their music to the subtlest of body language, adds an element of charm to an already impressive performance.
There are still five more days of shows coming up, so check back in for plenty more video, photo and article updates throughout the week. Or, better yet, get out there and enjoy all of the live music that the Mission Creek Festival has to offer.
