Soil Compilation

News
Opinion: The University of Iowa must do more to protect its marching band and performers

When a student dies under the university’s watch, it should become the concern of the entire student body. That is why, despite not being a member of the Hawkeye Marching Band or a student-athlete, I write today to call for more robust protocols and protections in the future to safeguard the health of some of the most dedicated and hardworking student-athletes on campus: the Hawkeye Marching Band.  It’s worth comparing what happened on September 5th to a similar tragedy that happened recently at Arizona State. This involved a draft pick, Matthew Mayich, who collapsed from heat exhaustion during an intense … Continued

Online Content
September 14, No New Jail Show

As far back as my first punk show as an Iowa City resident, I would continue to hear calls to action to vote against a bill being proposed to spend $125 million on building a new jail within Johnson County. It seemed like a persistent issue with little in the way of progress, as those with any power to stop it were refusing to listen to the pleas of concerned citizens. So when I saw the announcement of a show to protest this very bill, I knew it was something I couldn’t miss out on.  In collaboration with Johnson County … Continued

Music
Riot Fest Gallery

Riot Fest just wrapped a successful, yet muddy weekend in Chicago. From September 18-20, over a hundred thousand people graced the grounds, later mud pit, of Douglass Park. Here are some of my favorite selects from the weekend.

As the crowd warmed up for Detective April 4 at the Mill, there was a definite atmosphere that could only be created by a gathering such as Mission Creek. People spilled into the Yacht Club — bands and concert goers alike. Everyone there had wandered in at some point or other, following the scent of their favorite band or maybe just on a whim to have a peep at some appealing noise they heard from outside the club. With a lineup of Mirror Coat, Gloom Balloon, The Multiple Cat, and the band that everyone seemed to be eagerly awaiting, Detective, … Continued

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I Hear IC is an hour long extravaganza of people making art and music of all types, welcoming both students and residents of Iowa City to perform their finished or unfinished projects. In the past they have welcomed choirs, plays, bands, alternative singer/songwriters, poetry — if it’s art, you can perform it at I Hear IC. Wednesday, March 13 was a hodgepodge of music and poetry, ranging from opener Gabi Vanek playing adapted guitar music on her bassoon to regular Jessica King reciting poetry of heartbreak and fairy tales to Combined Efforts Men’s Chorus (directed by Michael Pelnik and organized … Continued

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On Wednesday, March 13 at 8 PM, a handful of Iowa City residents entered The Englert Theatre. Instead of filing into the usual theatre seats, listeners were invited on stage. A group of approximately fifty chairs was nestled around a piano, a music stand, and a Mac computer. The stage was otherwise rather bare and decorated sparsely: bricks, pipes, blue lights, and dulled yellow lights created a calm, relaxed environment. Everyone comfortably chatted, visited the bar, and eagerly awaited the start of the concert. Eventually, Valgeir Sigurdsson himself came out on stage followed by Nadia Sirota, a violist with whom he … Continued

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Tens of children between the ages of six and eight trekked into The Englert Theatre at 10 AM on Wednesday, February 27. The snow did nothing to stop these children from making it to the Englert on time. This field trip was an exciting and educational experience for the kids. Not only did they enjoy a morning away from the classroom, they learned about how to keep their bodies healthy and happy. Amid the chatter of the children, a voice rang out: “Slim Goodbody’s program will begin in two minutes!” The voices of the kids immediately replied: “What? No!” They … Continued

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The Englert Theatre was packed last Monday night, February 25 at 7 PM. The crowd, filled with students and Iowa City citizens, was there to see one incredible woman: Ayana Mathis. Mathis, a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, came back to Iowa City to read from her debut novel, The Twelve Tribes of Hattie. The novel’s recent acclaim is partially due to its acceptance in to Oprah’s book club. Following a wild applause, Ayana Mathis took the stage and read a short poem by Gwendolyn Brooks entitled “Kitchenette Building.” She then commented on the poem, noting that it questions whether … Continued

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