The next couple of weeks offer a diverse lineup of shows. There are remarkable rockers who influenced the sound of groups like Blondie while they were in their prime. There will also be shape-shifting indie rockers who continue to mature and grow as musicians, along with a trio of former rockers who have become one of the country’s major electronic dance music draws.
On The Beat
Posted inArts & Entertainment
On the Beat: Party Time
As the year winds down, December is a time when I generally become pensive. Looking back on the past twelve months, I can safely say that 2012 has been an excellent year musically. There have been solid releases in all genres of music. Artists like Chromatics, Kendrick Lamar, Wild Nothing, Japandroids and Tame Impala have […]
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On the Beat: Reunion Rock
Kelly Pardekooper began his musical career right here in Iowa City. Though currently based in Indianapolis, Pardekooper certainly hasn’t abandoned his Iowa roots. His 2011 album, Yonder, was produced by celebrated Iowa City country legend, Bo Ramsey. The album features plenty of Ramsey’s guitar work and consists of mostly live recordings at Minstrel Studios, […]
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On the Beat: Chill Wave
If one thing becomes clear in November, it is that the winter is not too far away. The trees have lost most (if not all) of their leaves. The days have become shorter while the nights have gotten colder. The natural reflex is to stay at home, watch movies and wear sweatpants. While that is […]
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On the Beat: Iowa City Song Project
I try to collect as much Iowa City music as I possibly can. When I can’t buy a record at a show, I scour Bandcamp pages for the ones I don’t have yet. I spend hours creating and editing mixes of my favorite songs for my friends and family—people who aren’t familiar with the Iowa City […]
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On The Beat: In Defense of Homework
I’ve been sitting on this for awhile, but with some of the people I’ve seen getting deals recently, I think it has to be said. I believe that the internet is killing hip hop. It’s fundamentally changed the game in a way that I’m not sure it can fully recover from. It was the $3 […]
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On The Beat: Buddy System
As summer begins to wind down and the population of Iowa City rises to full student capacity once again, it can feel a little stuffy. This feeling passes though, with the awareness that more bodies also means more demand for entertainment. Each new impressionable mind has the potential to be swayed into a seeing a […]
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On The Beat: September 5-19, 2012
Whenever I travel, I find music ends up being a very large part of my trip because I am frequently thinking about the connection between music and geography. Wherever I am, I am on the lookout for different ways the flow, pulse and vibe of that place comes out in its music. Take Washington, D.C., […]
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On the Beat: Searching for the summer jam
Although it is my least favorite season for any variety of reasons such as boredom, I do look forward to the summer. It’s the traveling season as well as a time to enjoy all the city has to offer. Unfortunately, this summer brought no relaxation at all. Instead, this season has bred a seeming insanity […]
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On the Beat: Summer listening guide
Summer in the Clubs! Live Music Venue GUIDE Iowa City is what is known in the biz as a ‘small market.’ Acts on national tours book shows in Iowa City based on it’s geographical position within a half-day’s drive of Chicago, Minneapolis, St. Louis and Kansas City—it’s a great place to shoehorn a show in […]
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On the Beat: Redemption songs
As I watched Shabazz Palaces repeat “black is you, black is me, black is us, black is free” at their excellent concert at Gabe’s on April 25, I got a nice reminder of something that I have been thinking about for a while: the political power and hope of music. This is something that can […]
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On the Beat: Getting fresh
As far as I can tell, Iowa City has moved on to spring. The markers dot the city. Everyone is cruising around on their bicycles, wind whipping through their hair. Ladies and gentlemen alike are swapping their duck boots and heavy coats for flip flops and shorts. The days are getting noticeably longer while the […]
