For those listening to hip hop 20 years ago, Harry Allen’s name was well known after the release of Public Enemy’s classic “Don’t Believe the Hype,” from It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back. That 1988 album—with its massive freight train of a title, and rocketing aural attack—established the group as agitprop […]
Iowa City Mill
Posted inArts & Entertainment
On the Beat: Showered in Shows
As we all know, thanks to T.S. Eliot, “April is the cruelest month,” but for music lovers in Iowa City, the pain and suffering that April causes may be in the form of cubicle and classroom hangovers, not an actual musical wasteland. In fact, April showers bring May flowers, and when it rains it pours, […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
(C) is for Criminal
Copyright Criminals Directed by Benjamin Franzen Benjamin Franzen and Kembrew McLeod have put together a quite entertaining documentary history of the sampling controversy in hip hop music. In this film, or at least in the rough cut of it, you will hear the following amazing things: Chuck D admits that you can in fact copyright […]
Posted inAlbum Reviews
Kaspar Hauser | The Sons CD Review
Kaspar Hauser The Sons www.kasparhausermusic.net Kaspar Hauser started in Iowa City and then moved to Chicago, but they’re back once or twice a year for shows at the Mill. They play guitar-based pop music, with no grand pretensions or sonic gimmicks. If you see them live, they look like they just finished a shift at […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
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 […]
Posted inCommunity/News
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 […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Iowa City Weekender April 3-7
With Mission Creek coming to a close this weekend you’re probably in one of two mindsets: a) “I’m heading for an intentional music overdose” b) “no more music, I’m getting a headache”. Quick Hits: The Mountain Goats, Copyright Criminals, No Age, The Cool Kids, Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival, Raising Medusa, Augusten Burroughs Friday, April […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Designing Woman
For UI President Sally Mason and others, the outfit may not make the woman, but it matters. Pragmatism may soon skirt the runway as more people struggle with employment and basic needs. But still, fashion parlance ought to remain, albeit for a serious purpose: business. Such is Sally Mason’s wardrobe. Business first, pleasure second. And […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
On the Beat: Spring breakdown
March in the actual world might be known for St. Patrick’s Day or warmer weather (hopefully), or a certain kind of basketball madness, but in the music world, it’s all about one thing: the SXSW music festival and conference in Austin, Texas. Perhaps the biggest and most indulgent exercise in industry self-love ever to be […]
Posted inAlbum Reviews
Album Review: Deer in the Night | Po' Girl
Po’ Girl Deer in the Night www.pogirl.net [audio:http://www.pogirl.net/deer/deer.mp3] Canada is, like, this whole other country. They apparently are secretly responsible for about half of the music we think of as American. Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Leonard Cohen? All Canadian. Comes now Po’Girl–two women, Awna Texeira, and Allison Russell, one Torontonian, one Quebecois–sneaking across at Windsor, […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Iowa City Weekender – March 4-8
Its supposed to be a great weekend to get outside. It’s also a great weekend for some local art happenings. Art and weather collide on Friday, but there’s plenty else going on too, here’s something for every day, now through Sunday. Wednesday, March 4 Po’ Girl | The Mill, IC | 8pm | $10 Our […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Iowa City Weekender – February 27-March 1
February’s almost over, but before it is, celebrate Black History Month and catch some musical battles. Friday, February 27 Summercamp Battle of the Bands | The Yacht Club | 8pm | $5 One of two battles going on this weekend (the other being Saturday’s Dollars for Scholars battle at the IMU). Friday night, Uniphonics, Dead […]
