Starting in 2014 with their debut record “Native Dreamer Kin”, the Oregon trio quickly became favorites of the indie pop scene. All of the sisters, Natalie and twins Meegan and Allison all had musical backgrounds that helped throw them into this career. With a enjoyable sound that earned them an NPR Tiny Desk concert in 2016, they continued on a path leading them to open for bands like The Lumineers and The Shins. A procession of music came from them, dropping five albums in a nine year stretch. The writing seems to flow out of them, always producing new tunes throughout the changes of the band. 

This new record includes a dozen songs written in the past two years. Becca Mancari of Bermuda Triangle joined vocals for “I Believe in Myself” which was released in June of 2025. Mancari has a connection to the band as she was the opener on Joseph’s 2024 “10 Years of Jospeh” tour. Moving past the decade of accomplishment, Allison decided to step back from the band.  This was their first full length record since the departure and adjustments were made to accommodate the new sound. The setlist featured all six new released tunes as well as a few unreleased tracks. The crowd was close to the band as the two sisters and their drummer, April Lee, ripped through their set with a two song encore.  

It was a sweet evening that felt comforting as the sisters sang their deeply personal stories. Warm and inviting, Natalie and Meegan provided a sneak peak to what feels like their most honest album yet. Joseph will continue their extensive “Closer to Happy” tour as it travels through the United States until April supporting the brand new record. You can get updates from Joseph here.  

The post A Night at The Englert with Joseph appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Jack Lion performing. Image via Izzy Dorothy

Jack Lion kicked off the show as the opener with a roar of powering bass, trumpet, drums, and syntenic sound. The band is local to Iowa City, and consists of drummer Justin LeDuc, bassist Drew Morton, and trumpeter Brian Lewis Smith. Their use of techno music with jazz instruments created a new, calmer sound. Their music felt like the oceans with crashing waves and peaceful tides to show the build up and release with the music played by the three musicians.

The entire vibe of the band reminded me a lot of Finding Nemo with the calm blue surroundings but also the intense chaos of the fish that Marlin in the movie meets. Maybe I get that impression from the vivid marine lights covering the performers. Through out their performance each member really stood out with solos of their own. I enjoyed the drummer’s interesting use of a scarf and shirts as mufflers for his drums during the songs. The red scarf really made the performers pop out. Overall they were able to create a spectacular opening to the show and established the electronic jazz vibe to continue through the rest of the night.

Tahjia Dorothy reciting one of her poems. Image via Izzy Dorothy

The next performer of the night was Iowa City poet Tahjia Brantley, a large crowd favorite given from the loud applause and yells she received for crossing the stage. Her performance was a bit different from the night’s other musical numbers. She surely did not disappoint with her series of poems, consisting of topics ranging from womanhood, to sexual identity, and to her relationship with her parents.

Brantley’s words came out calm and collected but had such a powerful and influential meaning behind them. She used such an interesting combination of words that can easily set a descriptive scene for the audience. Brantley is not afraid to show the dark realities she faces. Overall her poetry was an immersive experience that had me searching for what some of her descriptive words meant at the end.

Kassa Overall and crew performing. Image via Izzy Dorothy

Kassa Overall and his amazing band brought in a bang with their performance. Overall’s music is heavily influenced by the percussive instruments in jazz. This created a new, interesting sound for the rap lines over it, occasionally showing a chorus of the performers singing a phrase together. This mixture of sound can range from impressing to solemn, and from relaxing to insanity all within one show.

Three other people performed along side Overall at the concert. Each of his band members were extremely talented with their own instruments. On the keyboard was Ian Finkelstein, and playing the congas was Giulio Xavier Cetto, while Tomoki Sanders played soprano saxophone, bongos, and pretty much any other percussion instrument you can think off. All of them sang back up vocals too. Throughout the show while performing, everyone except Ian had a chance on the drum set in each song. It was incredible to see the talent that each member had, Kassa Overall included, performing a killer two minute long drum solo.

The music is not the only attraction to Kassa Overall and his troupe, but their spectacular stage presence as well. Each song never fell into a dull moment with Overall’s high energy and humor. During his opening number he jumped into the crowd while rapping to plop down right next to one of the audience members. In one of his songs he pretended to be floating mid-air, mentioning how he was imagining the show as a music video. One of my particular favorites of his quips was during a call and response song where he ran around the crowd, getting them to chant the word “HOT”, and pointed the mic right at me to shout it. I was shocked but felt so lucky to have picked that seat.

Overall wasn’t the only member to have great stage presence either, but Tomoki Sanders also did so with his fashionable bright orange wig that he sported with a cartoonish purple hat with a pink flower on top, matched with some killer red sunglasses. Seemingly jumping straight out of a Doctor Suess book, Sanders brought the magical energy to the crowd with his impressive soprano saxophone playing, and intense cowbell love. He ran around the stage and audience while aggressively keeping the beat on the cowbell.

Image via Izzy Dorothy

As the show came to a close Overall gave the statement, “Here’s one more slightly coherent one before we make our way away,” before crashing into the jazz song “The Lava is Calm“. As the smooth instrumentals began to play out, audience members made their way onto the floor for a final dance party before the night was over. We were lucky to snag one more song out of the band with their unique remix of the song “Drop It Like It’s Hot” by Snoop Dogg. Overall, Overall did an spectacular job at entertaining the entire audience that evening and it was very much worth the five hour drive that the band admitted to just to be here on tour.

The post Kassa Overall’s Ode to Percussion for Track Zero appeared first on KRUI Radio.

“I kicked my guitarist out of the band like, two days ago… so f*** it! Let’s do it,” lead vocalist Lindsay Jordan cracked before her set. “And I got a new guitar! All for you guys.” She flashed her Fender with a glossy wood body.

After playing two familiar tracks, “Heatwave” and “Ben Franklin”, she remarked that she “felt like [she] was just in Iowa, [but] it’s been 2.5 years!” After a couple of slight hiccups, the band reached their full stride. Jordan kicked, shimmied, and grooved around the stage, interacting with bandmates, but always making it back to the mic on cue for her next line.

“This one is brand new, you haven’t heard this before,” Jordan quipped before starting the riff to “Thinning”. Her guitar strap snapped during the song. She continued to play the riff with no interruption someone from Englert’s production team swiftly replaced it. The audience cheered at the feat. The guitarist was without her strap for a few seconds, but when something goes wrong at a show, each second matters. Jordan and the stagehand’s combined experience ensured the show went on without interruption.

Banter was common between songs. After “Sailing (Forever)”, an eagle-eyed fan noticed the keyboardist using a banana as a shaker. Jordan squinted at the patron’s phone. “Guy… banana?” She asked. The audience member replied, “Nice banana!” The keyboardist told Jordan that “They’re talking about me.” “Oh,” Jordan replied dryly. “They’re talking about you at my show?” Laughter rippled through the audience. Jordan continued. “[The keyboardist] is my friend now. He didn’t used to be, but this next track is about him.” The song “Full Control” played next.

The keyboardist kept up. After the track, he challenged Jordan. “She can’t do pushups.” Jordan shook her head. “That’s bullshit. You wanna see?” Led by the keyboardist, the crowd counted as Jordan did ten pushups.

After playing “Headlock”, Jordan added a new twist to “Valentine”. Her pedal effect on the guitarist had a slashing sound to it reminiscent of the questioning chorus. Then they left the stage, never to be seen again.

A lone barstool stood on stage when Lindsay Jordan returned for the encore. “This is a song about friendship,” she said. “I rewrote this, like, 40 times so sometimes I don’t remember the right lyrics.” Her solo rendition of “c. et. al.” was a somber reflection embedded in a lively set. After the song, her backing band returned and unleashed a double track of “Dirt” and “Slug”, seamlessly connecting the songs into each other. To end the show, she played the crowd-pleasing “Pristine”. Unlike the lyrics, “It just feels like / The same party every weekend”, Snail Mail mixed up the city’s routine with a late-night concert at the Englert.

The stage is a playground for Lindsay Jordan of Snail Mail. She radiates an infectious bubbly energy that won over the audience during Mission Creek. Problems sprouted during the show, but the group was able to roll through them and connect with the audience. The group ran with the buzz Sudan Archives created for an impressive double feature Friday night.

The post Snail Mail brings guitar straps, friendship, and bananas to Mission Creek 2023 appeared first on KRUI Radio.

His latest album, “This is a Photograph” is, dare I say, a masterpiece. Each of his albums provide a look at rural and middle America in a way that typical “country” music generally avoids. He does not sing about tractors or conventionally attractive white women; he provides depth through themes about life.

Throughout lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, Morby and his wife Katie Crutchfield recorded and streamed music, providing fans before he started touring again. While nothing is confirmed about the Englert performance, I along with other Morby fans hope his wife makes an appearance, as they have a brilliant stage and songwriting chemistry.

Part of what makes Morby’s appearance in Iowa so exciting is his stage presence. Although I have not yet seen him perform live, several friends can attest that he puts on a great show. He often expands songs from the studio recordings, making his concerts special. Seeing him in the Englert is something that you don’t want to miss. Although it is not the smallest venue, having such an intimate experience with him will be very exciting.

The post Mission Creek Preview: Kevin Morby appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Hirway and Youngs were quick to show their personalities and steal our hearts. They were funny, charismatic, and overall charming. Youngs even called us their friends. They were excited for their “extensive three day tour of the Midwest.”

The two clearly shared a meaningful bond. Hirway acknowledged Youngs’s exceptional career and Youngs called “Rishi” a “notable podcaster and cool guy.” It was impossible not to smile and laugh with the joyous duo. To start the show off, they detailed lovable stories from how they almost met, how they did meet, Hirway’s marriage, Youngs’ teenage years, and other fun snippets from their careers.

Jenny has just concluded her podcast “Buffering The Vampire Slayer,” and she wrote an original song based on each episode. The singers performed a delightfully chilling song called Hush. Their smooth voices melted together perfectly and I had goosebumps the entire time.  This was the first song they wrote together but definitely not the last.

The artists preceded each song with some background information. The individual pieces meshed together to create a beautiful and calming set. A couple songs including Memory Palace and Between There and Here brought tears to my eyes. Just when I thought they couldn’t top themselves, Youngs performed arguably my favorite song from the show, Next Time Around.

An hour and a half of the friends’ comedic and lovable dynamic was not nearly enough. It was a joyride to be on. Their songs were heart wrenching, and then their whimsical friendship had the whole audience laughing.

The artists shared personal details that furthered our love for them. They covered a range of topics including family, Sandra Day O’Connor, reincarnation, county fairs, and video games. It was a wonderful experience.

The closed the show with their newest song and had the audience sing along to a part of the chorus. It was a charming idea that formed a friendship between everyone in the room. I speak for myself and all of the audience when I say they gained several fans. I even bought their merchandise at the end. Without a doubt go check out Hirway and Youngs’ music and catch them on tour if you can.

The post Witching Hour Review: Hrishikesh Hirway & Jenny Owen Youngs appeared first on KRUI Radio.

“Another Stage of Staging Ourselves” is a dance performance directed by the University of Iowa’s very own Jennifer Kayle – associate professor and co-director of the MFA program. Kayle’s dancing is known for its “muscular presence” (Dance Source Houston) and her past works have been praised for their “distinct…affecting scenes” (Hampshire Gazette, MA). According to her website, Kayle’s works aim to combine “both personal and political lenses to engage choreography as ‘public art.'”

The University of Iowa’s Dance website describes this program as “Three music and dance tragicomedies, a multi-gender-race-age ensemble, some complicated queer relationships, spontaneous dances, sleepless fits, and badass moves.“

The program will feature Brady Van Patten – an undergraduate and current MFA candidate at the University of Iowa. Van Patten has worked with Kayle previously on several projects, including the Harvest Chicago Contemporary Dance Festival, where he performed with Kayle + Company. Since then, Van Patten has moved to Chicago and worked with groups such as 500 Clown and the Neo-Futurists.

“Another Stage of Staging Ourselves” is a part of the Englert’s Witching Hour festival. The program will take place at 7:30 p.m., Oct. 29 at the Englert Theatre. Tickets are available for purchase on the Englert’s website.

The post Witching Hour Preview: Another Stage of Staging Ourselves appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Along with his extensive podcast experience, Hirway is quite the musician himself. He has songs featured on television shows and movies under the label The One AM Radio. The magazine Fast Company named him one of the Most Creative People in Business in the year 2021. Besides making works of art, you can find him giving TED talks and advising the Library of Congress.

Jenny Owen Youngs is an American singer-songwriter and podcaster. She is well known for her albums including Batten The Hatches, Transmitter Failure, and An Unwavering Band of Light, as well as her podcast “Buffering The Vampire Slayer”.

Youngs and Hirway are making their way to Iowa City’s Witching Hour festival. Their performance begins at 7:30 p.m., Oct. 27 at the Englert Theatre.

The post Witching Hour Preview: Hrishikesh Hirway & Jenny Owen Youngs appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Chromic Duo is made up of Asian-American composers Dorothy Chan and Lucy Yao. The two artists are third-culture-kids and create sounds that describe the road to self-discovery. In their bio, the phrase “inspired by the small wonders of the everyday” encapsulates their inspiration for the music-making process.

In an interview with Little Village Magazine, Yao stated “A toy piano… might be something that you think is just for a kid to learn. But then when you start to look a little bit deeper, you notice that the toy piano actually has this beautiful character and all these different toy pianos are characters in themselves.” A sense of playfulness is at the heart of Chromic Duo’s pursuit to connect with those trying to find a sense of belonging.

Chromic Duo is no stranger to new modes of storytelling and delightfully integrate sound and visuals in their 2020 YouTube video entitled “Chromic Nightbloom.” The piece demonstrates multidimensional art and music production. Live generated visuals of pastel skies move cautiously along with the melancholic plucking of piano strings. Then, the mood changes to a more lighthearted composition and transports you to a tranquil dimension. Chromic Duo’s ability to reimagine everyday musical instruments will have you smiling and reminiscing on childhood curiosity and creativity.

The musical duo will bring their soundscapes to the Englert Theatre’s annual Witching Hour festival. Chromic Duo performs at the James Theater in Iowa City on October 21st at 7:30 P.M.

The post Witching Hour preview: Chromic Duo’s playful soundscapes appeared first on KRUI Radio.

For the first forty minutes, Tatsuya Nakatani kept the audience engaged in a solo show. Nakatani brought a plethora of sounds out of a gong, ranging from a gentle hum that reminded me of a violin, to a brassy tune that sounded like a trumpet, to a rattle that seemed like a snake calling out a warning.

The vast range created by Nakatani’s hands forced me to feel a wide range of emotions throughout the show. At times, the music was eerie and foreboding; at others, it was sad and reminiscing. It only took the change in a bow stroke or a mallet strike to alter the mood.

It wasn’t just the sound that drew the audience in, it was the way Nakatani played the instruments. He wasn’t just some person sawing away at the gong in hopes that it sounded okay. Using such precision and grace, it appeared as though Nakatani was dancing with the instruments. He played as if he felt every vibration in his soul, and he let that vibration carry him. The emotion that he gave off as he tended to the gong was a beautiful thing to watch.

Following a fifteen-minute intermission, the show returned, this time adding a touch of home. Nakatani was joined on stage by fourteen members of the Iowa City community who had been under his instruction in preparation for the show. During this part of the show, Nakatani took on more of a director role, guiding his students through the music.

From what I could see, none of the fourteen performers had sheet music in front of them. Their eyes stayed on their instructor, only straying to focus on the bow’s movement. The group worked in unison, and while they didn’t have nearly the experience Nakatani has, the performers still created a sound worthy of the master himself.

“Good” is not a word I can use to describe such a show – it simply doesn’t cover it. “Mesmerizing,” “otherworldly,” “haunting,” or “beautiful” might work, but even then, words don’t do it justice. There’s something about the way that Nakatani plays that sticks in the back of your mind.

It’s a feeling that you can’t quite put into words.

The post Witching Hour: Nakatani Gong Orchestra is mesmerizing in sound and performance appeared first on KRUI Radio.

The contemporary scene is flooded with familiar instruments like the piano and the guitar, so a gong – yes, the big, metal, cymbal-looking thing – seems out of place in that part of the music world. However, that doesn’t mean you should skip the performance. The Nakatani Gong Orchestra will indulge your ears with metallic sound waves.

The multiple gongs under the expert leadership of the percussionist and composer Tatsuya Nakatani creates a unique, eerie and ethereal feel. Nakatani is so dedicated to his craft, he spent ten years rehearsing with the group before their first performance in 2011. While Nakatani includes elements of traditional Japanese music, such as dramatic pacing and space, he also strives to create a more contemporary sound that leaves the listener with something that is from both the past and the present.

Not everyone wants to spend their evening listening to gong music (even though it sounds pretty cool). If the music alone doesn’t intrigue you, the performance itself should. The second installment of this year’s Witching Hour festival, the Nakatani Gong Orchestra is something you don’t want to miss. After ten years of preparation, the masterful Nakatani and his skilled musicians are ready to deliver.

The Nakatani Gong Orchestra is something out of this world. You can listen to the group on Spotify, or join them live at the Englert Theatre at 7:30 p.m., Oct. 2.

The post Witching Hour Preview: the otherworldly Nakatani Gong Orchestra appeared first on KRUI Radio.