And worth my time it was.  Gabes is the type of venue that makes everything seem a little darker, a little edgier, a little cooler, but neither Diamond Rugs nor the warm up bands needed the help.

The first warm up band was Iowa City’s very own The Sapwoods, who were playing in Mission Creek for the first time.  Self described Indie/Folk/Rock, they set a precedent for the rest of the night.  The band consists of Justin Swafford  on guitar, vocals, and keys, David Suchan on guitar, Nate Subbert on drums, and Brian Speer on bass. Each strum of the guitar was like a taste of energy for the ears. Watch out for The Sapwoods as an up and coming hot commodity in the Iowa City music scene.

Next was New Madrid from Athens, Georgia, who headbanged professionally into my heart. Their vibe was grudge and indie in style and stage presence.  All of the band members had long hair, used tactically to make for more intense headbanging.  At one moment, the lead singer had an Eddie Vedder moment, and hung from the rafters in grudge-rock angst.  The energy was a step up from The Sapwoods which was a fluid crescendo to the main act.  My only complaint was that I couldn’t understand a word of the lyrics.  Although looking back on it, the vocals seemed like they were supposed to be an accompaniment to the sound, rather than the focus of the experience.

The band members of New Madrid were also fun to talk to.  At one point after their show, the drummer came up to my friend and me and attempted to have a casual conversation about “that second warm up band,” pretending he wasn’t part of the band in order to get our honest opinion.  After we told him we liked the band, he looked satisfied with himself.  “I’ll tell you guys a secret,” he said.  “I’m actually in the band.”  He and his band members were light-hearted, likable guys, which makes it that much easier to enjoy their music.

Finally, Diamond Rugs took the stage.  By this time both the crowd and the vivacity had swelled. Diamond Rugs is a “band project” and consists of John McCauley and keyboardist Robbie Crowell of Deer Tick, Ian Saint Pé of The Black Lips, Hardy Morris of Dead Confederate, Steve Berlin of Los Lobos, and Bryan Dufresne of Six Finger Satellite.  There’s age diversity within the group, but they all genuinely looked like they were friends doing what they loved, and having fun.

Emphasis on fun.

“We ain’t tryin to reinvent the wheel,” band member Ian Saint Pé said when talking about Diamond Rugs’ music, “maybe just put a new set of rims on it.”  To me those rims were present in Diamond Rugs’ live performance personality.  They were funny, dynamic, rowdy, engaging, and vulgar.  Boredom isn’t an option (or even remotely possible).

At one point while playing guitar, John McCauley managed to grab his beer from the beer holder on his microphone with his mouth, take a swig, and put it back in the holder, all while never taking his hands off the guitar.  Talk about talent. If there’s one thing I know about Diamond Rugs, it’s that your best experience with Diamond Rugs is going to be a live experience.

Misson Creek has snagged some pretty rocking shows over the years.  Diamond Rugs has got to be one of the most fun I’ve ever attended.

Check out this video of Diamond Rugs performing “Gimme A Beer” for a taste of their infectious energy.

The post Mission Creek: Diamond Rugs @ Gabes 4/4/15 appeared first on KRUI Radio.

On his twitter bio, Radiolab founder and co-host Jad Abumrad’s identifies himself as a ‘story talker.’   The difference between a story teller and a story talker, only came to light for me when Abumrad spoke at The Englert on Saturday night, as a part of Mission Creek Festival.

Intelligent, humorous, and reflective, Abumrad took the audience through his journey as an innovator in sound and thought.  Using a multi-media approach, sharing visual clips, interviews, pictures, music, and sounds of his stomach , to accompany his talk.

In order to explore scientific and philosophical topics, Radiolab finds creative ways to contextualize abstract ideas.  The example Abumrad used was from the segment ‘colors’ in which he tried to translate the different spectrum of colors different organisms see, using a choir.  It was an amazingly creative way to talk about something that is seen, when all the audience is able to do is listen.

Abumrad made it clear that the work he does is never going to be completely easy.  He had the audience visualize this struggle as going into the “Dark Forest.”  It’s difficult, it’s scary, and in Jad Abumrad’s case, it can sometimes give you PTSD, but once you’re out, you know that if you can survive the Dark Forest,  you can survive anything.

Jad Abumrad’s talk was genuine, inspiring, and smart.  He’s a ‘story talker’ because he telling his audience stories and facts he already knows.  He’s a ‘story talker’ because he explores stories and facts with the audience in a sincere and thoughtful way.

Check out the video below of Jad Abumrad contextualizing the mantis ship color spectrum.

The post Mission Creek: Jad Abumrad @ The Englert 4/4/15 appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Manchester Orchestra managed to do something remarkable with their music.  They offered the same song on two different albums—one in full velocity with loud, energizing instrumentals, and one striped down version handled with delicacy.

Lyrically, the song is about a failing marriage.  However, in each version of the song, the audience experiences a different emotion.

In the Cope version, “Girl Harbor” is sung with an angry and accusing fervor.

In the Hope version, “Girl Harbor” is almost bereaving, the lyrics dealt with more tenderly accompanied with a kind of woe.

Both versions have their merits, even if they produce different effects on their listeners.  Which one do YOU prefer?  Take a look at the two opposing versions below, and keep up with Manchester Orchestra on Facebook here.

http://youtu.be/GIdK6HSQOkM

The post Track of the Week: “Girl Harbor” by Manchester Orchestra appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Musically, all the instruments in the album play as if they represent a state or feeling in their songs. The acoustic is gentle, the strings are sorrowful, and the percussion is angry.  They complement the core of the album, which is undoubtedly the lyrics.

Damien Rice proves his powerful skills as a songwriter through his depiction of the failures of love.  The album seems to be caught in the moment after a lover wakes up from a dream and into a harsher reality while not being sure which one he’d rather be in.

Here are some of my favorite lyrics with their corresponding songs:

From the song, which titles the album, “My Favourite Faded Fantasy.”

“You could be my favourite faded fantasy
I’ve hung my happiness upon what it all could be”

Painful lyrics from the song “Colour Me In.” 

“So I tried to erase it

But the ink bled right through

Almost drove myself crazy

When these words led to you”

From one of my personal favorite songs, “The Box,” presumably about feeling trapped in a situation or relationship and contemplating the consequences of leaving.

“I have tried but I don’t fit

Into this box you call a gift

When I could be wild and free

But god forbid, then you might envy me…”

Lyrics pinpointing the failure of love in the song “Long Long Way.”

“’Cause love is tough

When enough is not enough”

From the song, “The Greatest Bastard,” which explores delusions, dreams, and facing reality.

“Or am I just dreaming once again?

Some dreams are better when they end”

If you want to know more about Damien Rice or follow his music, like him on Facebook or visit his website. Listen to the album in it’s entirety below:

The post Album Review: My Favourite Faded Fantasy by Damien Rice appeared first on KRUI Radio.

The song Svalkar Vinden, roughly translated as “Wind Chills,”  was inspired by the band members living in a faulty house.  “It was the cheapest house we could find and had some faults such as no roof. So you could say that this song came from us being happy that the winter was over and that we had built a new roof.”

You can capture the ascending zeal by the way the song eases into its lively tempo, gaining momentum toward its catchy chorus.

Because there are demands which suggest catering to English-speaking audiences, the band has been told that they should, “stop being so provincial, change their name to ‘the Swedish bear tribe,’ and write their songs in English.”

But ultimately, you don’t need to understand Swedish in order to feel the refreshing, rich energy of Svalkar Vinden.

Find more songs by Den Svenska Bjornstammen here and listen to Svalkar Vinden below:

The post Music Without Borders: Svalkar Vinden appeared first on KRUI Radio.

“Left Hand Free” is coated in an overall bluesy nature that stresses rustic and somewhat tangy vocals. In an interview, the band calls the song “the least Alt-J song ever,” saying it sounds like something “American truckers” might like.  The instrumentals of the song are undeniably a bit predictable, besides the high-noted organ solo toward the middle of the song.

Even though I can think of reasons why I shouldn’t like this song (the lyrics seem disconnected, the instrumental is actually pretty generic) I still find myself waving my arm through the air singing, “Well my left hand’s free.”  And I don’t even own a truck.

Check out part one and part two of the recently released music videos below:

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 The Kooks are back and they sound like a modern day Beatles with an Arctic Monkeys twist.  The September release of their new album Listen marked a significant change for the musicians, let’s call it the rebirth of rhythms.

More than a guitar band album, Listen is a work of art, experimenting with the swing and beat of sound. Officially identifying as Indie-Pop, the album features more rock and soul influences than in previous releases. The music is spirited with a choir, clapping, sick drum beats, and funky background instrumentals.

The top ‘must listens’ on the album are “Bad Habit”, “We Are Electric”, “Around Town”, and “Down”.

“Bad Habit” starts out with a pulse of chorus, drums, and lively vocals.  It’s hard not to love the pure energy dripping from this song’s sound waves.

“We Are Electric” is simply a feel-good song.  It’s catchy, it’s fun, it’s an anthem of good times.

“Around Town” was the first single of the album.  The choir plays a major role, giving the song a soulful interior.

“Down” is funky and fresh.  The quirky, upbeat percussion and vocals makes it difficult to stay still while listening to it.

Given that this is the best album I’ve heard all year, I would 100% recommend Listen.  Not only do I love to see musicians having fun with their sound, but the album is vivacious and blissful.  Like medicine for the soul.

Like The Kooks on facebook here

And check out the full album here: (You won’t regret it)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQvKgCSCDFE&feature=youtu.be

The post Album Review: Listen by The Kooks appeared first on KRUI Radio.

All seating for this event was on stage, which created an intimate and personal atmosphere for both the audience and the artists.

The warm up act was singer and cellist Ben Sollee.  He had a rich and rustic voice that wove itself to the cello in a fantastic way–his voice and cello enhanced each other in both volume and intensity.  Sollee is definitely worth checking out.

William Fitzsimmons and his scraggly beard took the stage next.  He began strumming and singing right away and it became apparent that despite his scruffy appearance he has a fluidly peaceful voice.
Fitzsimmons played two slow, lullaby-like songs before he addressed the crowd.  “It’s going to kind of be a party night if you can’t already tell,” he said sarcastically.  “So don’t be afraid to get up and dance.”

He continued to play the same sort of sounding music.  It was all hardcore folk, which is to say, good lyrics and smooth melodies.  Each song was as soothing as a warm cup of tea.  But the best part of the show, by far, was Fitzsimmon’s hilarious commentary.

“That song was about boners,” he announced about a song about his depression (which seemed to be what every song is about), then bashfully looked at his feet and said, “Wait, I have a confession…that song wasn’t really about boners.”

Two things made this concert that significantly better.

One, the on stage seating made it a “living-room show of sorts” as Fitzsimmons pointed out, and I think this is the environment in which he flourishes.  He connected with the audience well, and his connection to the audience reinforced his comfort and confidence on stage.

Two, I firmly believe I would not have enjoyed the concert if he had not talked.  His music was good, but it doesn’t seem to be meant for the stage–it seems for suitable for the background music of a movie or tv show (two of Fitzsimmons songs have actually been played in Grey’s Anatomy)  or otherwise playing when you’re moody and it’s raining.  His personality was sparkling and humor comparable to a stand-up comedian.

Fitzsimmons played his first ever encore at the conclusion of the show.  It lasted 40 minutes making the concert overall a little over 3 hours. He claimed the show’s painfulness was somewhere between a beloved family pet’s death and world annihilation.

However I liked the show, just in a different sort of way.  Fitzsimmons is a  talented musician and perhaps an even more talented comic.  I wouldn’t mind seeing him in stand-up.

Here’s one of his songs for a rainy day.

The post Show Review: William Fitzsimmons @ The Englert 5/7/14 appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Typically five or more authors read poems or a snipit from their books or, in some cases, even blog posts.  I broke down the  three separate places I went to listen to the readings in highlights.

                                                               NoDo

The first place I went to was NoDo, a small but cozy restaurant on S Dubuque Street.  The two publishers were Hubart  and A Strange Object.

Terry Ashkinos was one of the authors reading.  He is the lead singer of Fake Your Own Death and writes a lot about music.  “Rock and roll was the only thing that didn’t ignore you,” Ashkinos read.  He read from his book Headphones, which included a story about how he ended up in a DUI class.

Other interesting happenings consisted of a story about a physic toaster in Japan, an author who announced he was drunk before he read, and a character who fought Vladimir Putin in judo.

White Rabbit 

The reading at White Rabbit clothing store was an exceptionally cool happening put on by Rag’s Revue and HTMLGIANT.  They were online magazine publishers and very animated about how “internet is the future!”  There was a sign that said “suck it, print” attached to the microphone stand.

Eric Sundermann read from his phone a post called “I Went To a Drake Concert By Myself in New Jersey” and it was a hilarious account of going to a Drake concert alone.  He contemplated how Drake gets away with being Drake and why people like relatable artists like Drake and Taylor Swift. Sundermann went to the University of Iowa as an undergrad.

Another interesting writer was Russell Jaffe, who read an amazingly intelligent and funny satire.  At one point he sang his satire on America in the tune of America the Beautiful and it was beyond witty.

In addition, Josh Wheeler read from a story about embarrassingly looking for sex pills and trying to perfect sexy stubble.

The Foxhead

At one of the oldest bars in Iowa City, Curbside Splendor and Artifice books represented another slew of writers.  It was dimly lit and a bit hard to see the speakers, but there were at least one spectacular reading.

Russ Woods read a collection of poems from his book Wolf Doctors.  They were delightfully quirky, some laugh out loud funny and others layered with heavy emotions.

Other readings included a story about a phony blues musician and a collection of poems about a woman terrorist in a neo-Soviet Russia.

One thing that was very apparent from this Mission Creek event was performances aren’t just in music and theater.  How people read their writing made a huge difference in whether or not their stories or poems were brought to life in the listeners’ ears.  This years Lit Crawl proved once again Iowa City’s love for literature is alive and well in the writers who come here and the people who appreciate their words.

The post Mission Creek: Lit Crawl, 4/4/14 appeared first on KRUI Radio.

S. Carey played a phenomenal show at The Mill Thursday night.   But first, Jack Lion, a band based out of Iowa City, warmed up the stage.  The band consisted of three guys, mainly playing drums,  bass, and trumpet.  The focus was instrumental rather than vocal, and impressively donned a complex rhythmic structure and experimental electronic sounds.

A member of Golden Birds played next.  Kicking it with just a rented acoustic guitar, the Golden Birds memeber sang a number of relaxed vocals.  The first couple songs were edged with nervousness, but eventually he got into the flow.

At last, S. Carey captured the stage, and it was a performance to remember.  Eloquent and aesthetically pleasing, the band played from their new album, Range of Light. Sean Carey played the piano, percussion, and sang the entire show.  His piano playing was captivating, to say the least. Even in the bar scene of The Mill, there was a respectful ease as people swayed to the mellow strums and beats.

The idea to record his own music struck Carey while on tour playing drums as a member of Bon Iver.

When I asked him how he differentiates himself from Bon Iver in S. Carey, Carey replied, “Our sonic landscape is the same, but we approach songwriting differently. I’m new to songwriting.”

Nevertheless, the lyrics in the songs played from Range Of Light were well crafted and poetic–a perfect match for Carey’s delightfully smooth voice.

The instrumental ability of all members of the band were sincerely profound.  As one of the bass players, Jeremy Boettcher, put it, “We are all working our own thing to make one cloud of music together.”

According to Seas Carey, this is the band’s fourth time coming to Iowa City.  He said it’s just on the way to everything.  “Plus we do well here.  I think it reminds me of my hometown.”

The band used Mission Creek festival as the birth place to an exciting tour that will take them to the west coast and all over Europe.  Like them on

Facebook and listen to their music on soundcloud here.

If you like S. Carey, be sure to check out Caroline Smith, with whom Jeremy Boettcher of S. Carey has played with.  Caroline Smith performs as an opening act for !!! at Gabe’s Friday the 5th.

The post Mission Creek: S. Carey @ The Mill, 4/3/14 appeared first on KRUI Radio.