Low played at the Englert Theater at 11 p.m. on the first night of Witching Hour. I really have to hand it to the curators of this festival; 11 at night is a perfect time to listen to this band.

The band feels like the worn-out metaphor of a blanket: their sound wraps you up and takes you somewhere. Your eyes are closed behind a blindfold and the beautiful vocal harmonies are the only bit of light shining through. But it’s great, because these harmonies, split between guitarist and drummer (married couple Alan and Mimi) are so striking against the instrumentation.

The instrumentation is often described as minimalist, at once because they have only 3 members, but again when the arrangements feel very conscious. Some electronic instruments will occasionally find their way into songs, never really taking the ship by the wheel but always adding more beauty.

I have to say, though, as a denizen of Iowa City, that I’d have liked to see this band at the Yacht Club. Not that the theater wasn’t fitting in its own way, but there is something inherently intimate about their music (like a lover’s whisper in your ear) and something inherently removing about the Englert. That’s also not to say that the Yacht Club is my favorite venue in Iowa City either, I’ve just seen some bands there that have surprised me in that dark, dank setting.

The songs in their set don’t build to a climax like you’d expect. They start with a slow tempo and end with a slow tempo, the volume not changing much either. Where some would see this as a negative, it really helps elucidate the emotion or setting they want to convey. The guitar ends up taking a lot of narrative weight and control in most songs, with the resplendent vocal harmonies being the acutely decorated picture frame it all exists in.

The drum set was slightly irregular: a floor tom, a snare drum, and two ride cymbals. In one hand, she held a brush, the other, what looked like a cymbal mallet. This, too, added to their unique sonic aesthetic. The bass player would switch to piano sometimes, ripping the floor out from beneath some of the songs and instead adding a staircase that complimented the guitar playing.

Low didn’t speak much at all between songs, but it felt natural and a bold part of the set. If there wasn’t music, there was a tense silence. The crowd didn’t yell obnoxious shit like you’d expect them too. There was some sort of somber air, like a funeral, rife with respect and remembrance.

One of the few things they said into the mic between songs was a shout out and dedication to Pussy Riot, showing respect and solidarity towards their activism.

The crowd at the show wasn’t enormous, but the show was so good that they were called back on for an encore. They asked the crowd for a request. I shouted “Sunflower”, along with some people around me, and I swear we weren’t done saying the word before they were playing the song.

This was a really great show, and I’m glad Witching Hour can get a hold of musicians like this to come and perform in our city.

The post Witching Hour: Low @ Englert Theater 11/4/16 appeared first on KRUI Radio.

The first night of Witching Hour held probably the most prominent event, a lively discussion between Jessica Hopper, Pussy Riot member Maria Alyokhina, MediaZona collaborator Sasha Bogino, and Pussy Riot supporter and friend Alexander Cheparukhin.

The discussion started with a small part of a 2 hour documentary about Pussy Riot and how they connect with the long history of protest art. It also shows their ideological drift towards feminism, and how they became a female-only group. The film was called Act & Punishment, and the 13 minute clip was made by the director specifically for this event.

If you can find the film, I recommend watching it. It’s a comprehensive history of Pussy Riot and it displays them in the light they deserve.

The first question, given by “moderator” Jessica Hopper, was directed towards Maria. She asked her about her first introduction to protest art, or how that kind of performance became something she was interested in, to which Maria replied: “I’ve never been a serious person.” Although most of the topics discussed were quite serious, there were many moments of laughter as well–a perfect portrait of the complex political aesthetic of Pussy Riot.

She went on to talk about her time before Pussy Riot, when she engaged in what she called “classical activism.” Maria was working to save a forest in Russia, and spent her time gathering signatures and organizing demonstrations.

Now she is doing a different kind of performance: theater. Maria is now involved in a “very underground” theater group, acting out a play she helped write that depicts her time in prison, the raw harshness of her experience in Russian jail, along with the story of another political prisoner in Russia. This is meant to show that Pussy Riot aren’t the only ones in Russia using art to protest the patriarchy–it is a movement.

The experience of Russian prison was a hot topic during the discussion. “For me, its not finished,” said Maria, indicating that even though she was released, these events are going to stick with her forever.

The first question directed towards Sasha was about the current state of anti-Putinist art in Russia. Although she is more of a journalist than a performance artist, Sasha, who is still quite young to be doing what she is doing, had some wisdom for us: “There are many ways and forms of activism.”

Sasha is a journalist for MediaZona, an independent news outlet in Russia founded by the members of Pussy Riot. The state of the media in Russia right now is not too different form how it has always been: the state media gets all the money from the government and big corporations, while independent outlets are left to fend for themselves, choosing justice and activism over a profit or merger with state media.

Right now, almost all of the articles written by MediaZona are in Russian. They have collaborated with a few English news outlets, like the Guardian, to have some of the especially important articles translated, and are looking to have more translated in the future. The larger the audience, the better.

One of the main ideas behind this news outlet is exposure. According to Maria, if you have public attention, you are safe–they won’t kill you at least. For Pussy Riot, they became an international sensation right away, and the whole of the world had their eyes on them. This kept them from being tortured or killed by Russian authorities. Unfortunately, there are many political prisoners in Russia, and they’re not all lucky enough to have the kind of attention Pussy Riot did. So, if they can cover these stories on a big outlet, it will hopefully keep them safe.

And so far, it’s been going well. MediaZona has risen to the 7th most popular news source in Russia, which Alexander compared to a “student newspaper in Iowa competing with New York Times.”

Jessica asked Sasha what is was like working as a journalist in Russia, and despite the dangers, she answered with a laugh: “It’s pretty fun.” She has been working for the outlet for about a year, about half as long as its been around.

The next topic was feminism in Russia. Everyone on the panel agreed that Russia was late to feminist ideology, most likely because there were not a lot (if any at all) women politicians for young girls to look up to in Russia. If there were, they weren’t feminists. Maria said this extends from the way Stalin ran the country, halting any and all feminist movements or ideas before they took hold.

Maria explained that she was exposed to feminism while she was 18 and pregnant. The endless barrage of anti-abortion propaganda all over Russia got her thinking about the rights she had and the rights she deserved.

Near the end of the conversation, Jessica asked the panel how they felt about the American election. Everybody laughed.

After the discussion, MediaZona shirts were being sold, with that being one of their only sources of income, because no one in Russia wants to give them money. Iowa City was a good crowd for this; they sold out of shirts.

All the members of the panel were standing around the shirts after the discussion taking pictures, signing autographs, and discussing more ideas. I spoke with Maria for a bit about the future of Pussy Riot, and how they will be seen from the future.

“I’m not thinking about icons right now,” she explained. “Everyone has their own story, everyone is making choices in life…everyone has their story, you just have ‘to do’.”

The girls in Pussy Riot don’t want to be icons. Role models, sure, maybe. But they insisted on the fact that they are just people, doing things that most people could do if they just did it.

I also got to talk to Sasha a little more in-depth about the current state of media in Russia. I told her I was a journalist as well, but our experiences writing were probably vastly different. She reiterated many of the points made in the discussion: state media has the money and the power, and that makes it tough for independent media platforms. “Sometimes, its really scary to work for independent media in Russia,” she concluded. I can only imagine.

Iowa City is very lucky to have an event like Witching Hour to bring in events like this. Not only was Pussy Riot met with support and attention from the audience, but the audience got the chance to learn a lot about new and different perspectives from different places on earth. The whole night was illuminating and very entertaining.

If you want to see what the rest of Pussy Riot is up to these days, check out Nadya’s music videos. She’s continuing in the vein of music, while the others seek more journalistic means of activism.

The post Witching Hour: Pussy Riot @ Englert Theatre 11/4/2016 appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Witching Hour, according to the festival’s website, highlight’s the “unknown, creative process, and new work.” During its second year, Witching Hour features a diverse lineup ranging from multi-media workshops to comedy shows to cinematic adventures. Here are the events KRUI can’t wait to see!

Music 

Psalm One

After opening for Saul Williams at Mission Creek 2016, Psalm One returns to Iowa City to perform some new art! She’ll perform at 10:30 PM at The Mill on November 4.

White Lung

At midnight on Friday night, White Lung will perform tracks from their fourth album at Gabe’s. Hailing from Canada, this punk rock band will impolitely rock Iowa City on November 4th at midnight!

Wu Fei

Combining cultural and musical influences from Beijing and Nashville, Wu Fei will deftly charm audiences with her new and original compositions on the guzheng. See her perform at 9:30 PM at the Englert on Friday, November 4th!

Jlin

Jlin is known for pushing the boundaries of the footwork genre. Her track “Erotic Heat” from the Planet Mu compilation Bangs and Works Vol. 2 announced her presence to the world. Having attracted critical acclaim for her 2015 LP Dark Energy, Jlin brings her production magic to Gabe’s at 11:59 PM November 4th.

 Rhys Chatham

Guitarist, trumpeter, and composer, Rhys Chatham can rightfully be compared with Philip Glass or Steve Reich, though he likes guitars a lot more (he has composed pieces for up to 200 guitars and more). While he has the minimal edge of Glass and Reich, he also occasionally engages in prog and fusion. We’ll be seeing him in a rare solo performance at 10:00 PM at Gabe’s November 4th.

Jack Lion

Jack Lion is an Iowa City band that blends jazz and electronica seamlessly. At times heady, at other times spaced out, but always in the groove, if you haven’t had a chance to see them live yet, you’ve been missing out. They will be playing at 11:00 PM at Gabe’s November 4th.

Writing/Spoken Word

Pussy Riot in conversation with Jessica Hopper

Radical Russian punk band member Maria Alekhina will join Jessica Hopper at the Englert at 7:00 PM on Friday to discuss music and activism!

Jason Sole: From Prison to PhD: A Journey of Pain, Promise, and Protest

Jason Sole will captivate audiences as he details his life journey from a three-time convicted felon to his personal redemption as a mentor, consultant, and assistant professor of Public Safety and Criminal Justice at Metropolitan State University. This event takes place at 5:00 PM at the Iowa City Public Library.

Jason England: National Anthem: The Sociopathic Nature of Racial Discourse in American Sports

Jason England, graduate of the Iowa Writer’s Workshop and full-time faculty member of the University of Iowa Rhetoric Department, will delve into the intersection of racial politics and sports in the United States with his presentation at 7:00 PM at the Englert Theater November 5th.

Writers of Color

Following last year’s highly successful event, visiting writer Rachel McKibbens joins undergraduate and graduate writers of color for a reading of new work at 4:00 PM at The Mill November 5th.

Comedy

Supertalent Show and Friends

Those familiar with Iowa City’s comedy scene will remember many of these faces. Iowa City’s own Arish Singh, now based in Chicago, is a major reason the Iowa City comedy scene is what it is today. A stand-up comedian (in every sense of the word “stand-up”), Singh has been putting together wonderful, politically aware comedy shows for Iowa City and Chicago for the last couple of years. He brings a group of hilarious improv actors and comedians to the Mill November 4th at 9:00 PM. (All images courtesy of WitchingHourFestival.com)

Jen Kirkman

Best-selling author and stand-up comedian Jen Kirkman, whose 2015 Netflix comedy special I’m Gonna Die Alone (And I Feel Fine) earned high praise from The Atlantic, New York Magazine, and The Atlantic, shares her wit and insights with Iowa City at the Englert Theater November 5th at 9:00pm. She will also appear In Conversation at the Mill November 5th at 10:30 PM.

Film

Romeo Is Bleeding

Set in Richmond, CA, Romeo Is Bleeding follows Donté, who, rather than get swept up in a violent turf war between rival neighborhoods, attempts to open up a dialogue about violence in the city by putting together a modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet. Will he succeed? Find out at FilmScene November 5th at 1:00 PM.

Tony Conrad: Completely in the Present

A film about, of, for, and by artists, Completely in the Present follows the legendary career of Tony Conrad. Conrad’s cross-disciplinary work has heavily influenced modern independent music, public access television, visual art, and film. Using intimate footage of Tony and collaborators over the last twenty-two years, Completely in the Present gives us access to one of the strangest artistic minds of our time. You can catch it at FilmScene November 5th at 3:00 PM.

Mixed Media, Workshops, and Panels

Hip-Hop Kitchen

Get into a discussion and performance on hip-hop history, cooking, and the art of freestyling. Featuring Sepehr Sadrzadeh, the Chef of Pullman Diner; The Cubist, legendary producer who has worked with Kendrick Lamar; Icon Amerie, rapper and hip-hop culture historian; moderated by André Wright, producer, artist, designer. This discussion and performance will take place at The Mill November 5th at 12:00 PM. (All images courtesy of WitchingHourFestival.com)

Broad Perspectives

This will be a panel discussion and workshop featuring Katie Roche, Rachel McKibbens, alea adigweme, and Teresa Magnum. The discussion will be about creating and maintaining female-only spaces, why it is necessary and important, and how they operate differently than other creative spaces. This panel and workshop will take place at Prairie Lights Bookstore on November 5th at 6:00 PM.

Beforeplay: An Exploration of the Art of Playtesting

Game developers of board and video games to make money come together in a panel discussing playtesting the relationship of dialogue it creates between gamer and make-maker. This event takes place at 2:00 PM at The Mill November 5th. (All images courtesy of WitchingHourFestival.com)

Will Duncan: The Art of Doing Nothing: A Deep Exploration of What Meditation Is and What It Is Not

Will Duncan will be easing us into a deep understanding of the relevance, usefulness, and spiritual potential of the ancient practice of meditation. Duncan completed a Three-Year Silent Meditation Retreat in 2014, and has returned to the world to share his insights with us. The Art of Doing Nothing will occur at the Englert November 5th at 11:00 AM, and he will be giving a lecture about his silent meditation retreat experience at the Iowa City Public Library November 5th at 3:00 PM.

Conclusion

Well, there you have it, folks. KRUI’s Guide to Witching Hour would like to remind you of a couple of things, however: (1) More than half of the acts are free, so if you’re not sure you can afford to go, think again, dear friend. (2) We have only provided highlights. Please see the festival website for the full line-up. (3) The festival spirit is one of exploration and coming out of our comfort zones, so be sure to explore, keep an open mind, and maybe go to something you normally wouldn’t go to!

The post KRUI’s Witching Hour Guide appeared first on KRUI Radio.