Brendan Spengler hangs his head and sighs: “If I don’t put a strict deadline on myself, I’ll work on something forever, and never call it finished.” It’s a near-universal…
Iowa City live music
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Seattle-based country singer Dylan Jakobsen to play the Blue Moose Tap House
Dylan Jakobsen, an up-and-coming Seattle-based country singer, will be playing a solo acoustic show this Thursday at the Blue Moose. Eastern Iowa’s TJ Wilt and…
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Alt-country’s favorite son: Richard Buckner plays The Mill
Artful, inspired lyrics have set Richard Buckner apart as a singer-songwriter going as far back as his first self-produced collection in the mid-1990’s, Bloomed, an album which remains in release to this day. Buckner’s heartfelt lyrics lend his songs the emotional complexity of a well-made short story or lyric poem. Consider this 2008 solo electric performance of “Blue and Wonder” from Bloomed and how it’s able to convey the unflinching intimacy and heartbreak of love with the simple but raw lines like “What’s that word I forget sometimes?” and “There’s things even drunks like us will never forget.”
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Going away party: Nine acts to play PS1 this Saturday
We’re approaching the end of July, so, of course, Iowa City is gearing up to bid farewell to some of it’s most beloved residents. One such Iowa Citian, Jason Salek, will be leaving for Omaha this August. Before his departure, however, there is going to be one hell of a show at Public Space One on Saturday, July 19 to celebrate his contributions to the city’s music…
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Folk-pop powerhouse: Wild Child to play Sunday at Gabe’s
Austin, Texas’s Wild Child are playing an all ages show at Gabe’s this Sunday at 7 p.m. They’ll be joined by Walker Lukens and The Side Arms, also from Austin, and Iowa City’s Teen Daad. Wild Child was formed during a tour with the Danish band The Migrant, when two members of the touring band, Kelsey Wilson and Alex Beggins, began writing songs in the van while driving from show to show. Their songwriting chemistry was palpable, and almost exactly a year later, the group finished their first record, Pillow Talk.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Portland’s Ages and Ages play The Mill this Thursday
Ages and Ages, one of Portland’s most Portland-y bands (or rather, a “collective of like-minded souls” as they have described themselves) visits The Mill this Thursday at 8 p.m. Iowa City’s very own Dana T will be opening the show.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Seun Kuti interview: The new sound of Afrobeat
In March of this year Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 released A Long Way to the Beginning, hailed as their most politically driven album to date. The cover displays a red fist in the shape of Africa, and the back has a picture of Seun with the tattooed words, “Fela Lives,” across his back.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Prairie Visions and Noise Vibrations: A night of sound and visual art hits PS1 Thursday
Public Space One will host a night of “prairie visions and noise vibrations” this Thursday at 8 p.m. The show will feature the works of three musical acts and two…
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Green Bay power-poppers: The Sleepwalkers play the Yacht Club this Thursday
Bust out that flannel, folks, and maybe binge watch a few episodes of Daria, then head over to the Yacht Club this Thursday for a night of some of…
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Saturday at PS1: Noise and lasagna, together at last
Milwaukee noise-nik Peter Woods and local saxophonist with Curt Oren, will be playing at Public Space One this Saturday at 8 p.m. The show is free, though donations will be accepted. Vegetarian lasagna, prepared by Oren, will be served. What else could you ask for, really?
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Tonight at the Yacht Club: Celebrate Independence Eve with the River Monks
The River Monks will be setting off the proverbial fireworks tonight at the Yacht Club with their intricate and polished folk rock, while Brooks Strause and the Gory…
Posted inCommunity/News
UR Here: Community and all that Jazz
Recently, I wrote about how organizing and attending our local festivals builds social capital. But another dimension of community is the personal bond we form with our place. The stronger our emotional connections, the more we live well in a place. Deep community is affective as much as it’s social, a relationship on par with […]
