This Machine Lemming Nation You have to admire Marv Hain, for being true to his ideals, and his devotion to a musical form that’s been moribund for nearly 50 years, folk protest songs. His stage name “This Machine” is, I assume, an homage to Woody Guthrie, who wrote “This Machine Kills Fascists” on his guitar. […]
Laura Gibson | Beasts of Seasons CD Review
Laura Gibson Beasts of Seasons Hush Records www.myspace.com/lauragibson Midwesterners need few words to describe the seasonal bitterness laid upon them this time of year. Luckily, locals have a Garden of Eden from which to hand-pick shows this April, making the last blasts of winter somewhat bearable. Disheartened Iowans hopefully anticipating a lamb this spring may […]
N.A.S.A., "Spirit of Apollo"
N.A.S.A. Spirit of Apollo ANTI- www.myspace.com/nasa In the late 1990s, a new phenomena proliferated through commercial hip hop. Deejays began releasing albums overloaded with guest vocals and uninspired tunes. If you were a fan of rap music it was hard to escape this constant barrage of “exclusive” albums. Most were 15 tracks too long and […]
Porno Galactica, "MixTape Vol. 1"
Porno Galactica MixTape Vol. 1 Mission Freak Before Metallica and Napster ever butted heads, people used to venture out and by their music on something called compact discs. Then, came the era of the download. Now, artists like Porno Galactica can spread their music without having to busk out on the pavement. Porno Galactica, consists […]
Reviewing Medusa
“Raising teens is more tricks than treats,” the Greek chorus chants in the new Riverside Theatre production “Raising Medusa,” written by local poet and playwright Barbara Lau of Mt. Vernon. The production features a stellar cast with palpable chemistry. Stage and screen actress Nancy Youngblut plays the mother in the play, exasperated with her 13-year-old […]
I Pledge Allegiance to the HIP HOP
Even if the Wu-Tang Clan is a peripheral blip on your music radar, you probably at least have a vague notion that they’re nothing to fuck with, especially if you’ve seen more than a couple episodes of Chappelle’s Show. Their 1993 debut, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), became the prototype for over a decade of […]
Homegrown Beats
Searching for homegrown hip hop in Iowa City anymore is like combing the desert for the Yeti. Now, granted, this is coming from a white girl who doesn’t go out much anymore, but Iowa City has seen surges of hip hop elements in these past 20 years that beg us to ask—the month GZA/The Genius […]
Man with a Plan
Here’s what promoter Tanki Nyane wants out of IC: Local hip hop pinned down, weathered posters of emcees competing with indie rockers, people strolling down Clinton Street on their iPods listening to Animosity and his future brethren. Nyane wants to clog the Iowa rhyme drain, build a scene worth cultivating, drop “Iowa” and “hip hop” […]
Doc Tales
The Iowa City Documentary Film Festival brings nonfiction gems out of the shadows. Wake up. Make coffee. Out the door by 7:45. Work. Eat lunch. Chat with a co-worker. More work. Traffic. Home. Pet the dog. Dinner. Bed. Reset. So often, one day is like the rest. We often forget to open our eyes to […]
Life After Gang Lu
Miya Rodolfo-Sioson was given a second chance at life. She was chosen for a purpose. Miya was the lucky one. The odds had turned against her in an instant but reversed course just as quickly again. Your faith tells you which of the above statements you believe, but the facts tell you this: Miya Rodolfo-Sioson […]
Austintatious
South by Southwest (SXSW) is the daddy of all music festivals, four days of musical immersion held each March in Austin, Texas. This year, two Iowa City acts returned for their second dip: The Diplomats of Solid Sound and Caleb Engstrom. With over 1,400 acts packed into 80 venues (including a church and an old […]
Health: On the Run
I have lived in Iowa City for three years now. Each end of April brings the River Run 5K. This is the third year that I have sworn that I would do it. But unlike those other two years, this year I’m actually doing it. I have goals, a plan, and this is the year […]
