The Englert Theatre’s newest music festival, Iowa City Songwriters Festival, took place Thursday through Saturday early in September. My attendance on Saturday was limited to The James Theater, where Ken Pomeroy and Loudon Wainwright III performed. I wanted to start this article with a personal thank you to the James staff. Thank you for accommodating press passes during fully sold-out shows, and for making sure people were informed about other ICSF events.
Ken Pomeroy
The first of the sold-out shows was a performance by Ken Pomeroy (no, not the basketball player). Pomeroy is a folk artist, who takes inspiration from famous musician John Denver. Pomeroy would explain what would inspire her to create her music. John Denver aside, Pomeroy calls upon her upbringing as a Cherokee living along the American Bible Belt. This drove her to write more American folk/gothic style music. Many people have heard of Pomeory thorugh her featured songs, “Wall of Death” from the movie Twisters, and “Cicadas” featured on the show Reservation Dogs.
Pomeroy opened her set with a song from her album Cruel Joke. Wrango is written about her “fat adopted dog” who is, in more appropriate terms, a jerk and a biter. I felt pretty seen as someone who also has a fat dog who kind of sucks. Her lyrics alone are enough to make you misty, pair that with her skill on her guitar and it’s truthfully breathtaking.
In addition to her deeply sentiemental lyrics, Pomeory writes from her own personal life exepreinces. A very good example of this is her song Cicadas. Cicadas touches on the very real experience of just not being in the mood to talk;
“I met someone I didn’t want to talk to
She said my Saturn was on fire
What a liar ”
Pomeory went on to explain that it was based off a personal experience with not wanting to talk to someone new. Moments like this connected her audience during the show, showing a very transparent and human side to her art. Pomeroy’s set is one that I will never forget, and I hope to see her if she ever tours again.
Stream Curel Joke, you will not regret it.
Loudon Wainwright III
“79?! Thats not that old!”
My first impression of Loudon and his music was Motel Blues from Album 2 from 1972. My first experience with his music sober. That being said, I was surprised by the borderline stand-up comedy approach that he took.
Almost every song in the first half of his set was about being old, or, for a change, GETTING old. He had mentioned that his 79th birthday had been within the past few days. This was followed by the delcariation of, “Thats when life REALLY begins.”
Along with that, Loudon’s set was full of surprises. one second, you’re looking down to write down what he said, the next he’s taking out an iPad. iPad itself took a little time, on account of him forgetting his password. He quickly recovered with a written, DETAILED list of what he wanted his memorial to be like. Loudon had it mapped down to how his former flings would interact. Even including his personal guidelines that they had to meet.
After every sentence the audience was in an uproar of laughter. Loudon stood out against many other acts of the evening due to his use of comedy during his set. Even when discussing hard topics, such as family hardship and political tensions, he did it through the lens of comedy. When it came down to it, everyone was incredibly entertained.
Overall
Iowa City Songwriters Festival did the wonderful task of humanizing artists, and their processes to the public. Seeing songwriters encouraging people to start and showing them how to begin is what makes art happen. I can’t wait to see what The Englert Theatre has to offer again for the festival next year!