Collaborating with University of Iowa’s Scope Productions, The Englert Theater brought Lip Critic back to Iowa City as a part of their Track Zero series. With the band’s unique and unconventional blend of various music styles and this being their second visit to the world city, it’s no surprise that they’ve quickly gained the cult following of punks, raver’s, alt kids, hip hop heads and music lovers alike all across Iowa. Joined by local powerviolence act Recess and punk rockers Ascended Master, it was bound to be a great show.  

Recess was the first opener and started the night off with some incredible energy. Lead singer Sir Anne Wrappe has dipped their toes in several forms of performance art including drag and burlesque acts which makes them a very unique but exciting hardcore front-man. This juxtaposes perfectly with Powerviolence’s usual style of fast paced, aggressive guitar solos and murky, sludgy bass riffs to make Recess really stand out amongst a sea of copy-cat metal bands. Another highlight of their performances for me was their undeniable chemistry as a group, from the consistent swap of vocalists to the way the drum fills compliment the guitarists, you can tell this is a group of highly skilled and experienced musicians. Excellent set and I can’t wait to see more from Recess, they don’t have any released music so make sure to check out a show from these rising stars in the Iowa City music scene!

Next up was Ascended Master, the “unc band” of the lineup. Due to how strong their performance was, I was surprised to find out that they’ve only been playing shows for the past few months, but it made more sense knowing how stacked the group was with music scene veterans. Namely their lead singer Oliver Weilein of City Council and BOOTCAMP fame. At one point in between songs he went around the crowd asking people what they would want to change about Iowa City and actually listening to their responses. It’s really great to see a local musician who’s so dedicated to uplifting their own community and just goes on to show why Oliver is such a local legend.

Even speaking exclusively about music, the set was such a blast, just punk bangers back to back with such a keen understanding of performance and crowd control. I think my favorite was a cover of Descendents iconic song Hope, with some really fun mic grabs and crowd pile ons throughout the track. Unfortunately they have no social media, so make sure to continue looking out for them popping up on some local flyers!

The simplest and most accurate way to describe Lip Critic’s music is experimental. The eccentric four man multi instrumentalist group combines elements of rock, hip hop, punk, electronic, and industrial music to make these incredibly produced tracks that are equally aggressive as they are danceable. This was reflected perfectly within this show’s moshpit which ebb and flowed between rave style dances and more traditional push pit moshing. 

You can’t help but shake ass to the grooveable rhythms of Toxin Dodger, thrash your head to The Heart and sing your lungs out to the choruses of Milky Max and In The Wawa (Convinced I Am God). And none of this would be possible without the band’s incredible stage presence. Their lead singer Bret Kaser is an absolute maniac who will do anything to bring up the crowd’s energy whether that’s running into the pit, bringing people on stage or screaming random things between sets. With such high energy performers it’s hard to not reciprocate that energy and want to move with them, which I believe everyone in the audience (me included) felt for the whole set. If you want to hear more about specific tracks, check out my review of their latest album Hex Dealer. If you love what you hear, definitely anticipate the group’s upcoming album Theft World, out on April 30th. But for now, thank you Lip Critic, for an amazing performance.

While not available for a full interview after the show, I did get the really great opportunity to have a conversation with the lead singer at the merch booth and here’s some of what he had to say.

Tarik: Hey thanks for a great set, really loved it.

Bret: Thank you man, thanks for the energy.

Tarik: Did you actually meet your wife in Iowa? (Referring to earlier in the show when he shouted between songs that he met his wife at Gabe’s)

Bret: Nah I don’t even have a wife.

Tarik: Wait what, why’d you say that then?

Bret: I don’t know, I just thought it’d make people excited.

Tarik: Do you always make up stuff like that during shows?

Bret: Yeah, just something funny that gets people going.

Tarik: I was gonna say, cause I think last time you were here you said you were going through a divorce.

Bret: Haha yeah, did you come to our show here with White Reaper?

Tarik: Yeah no it was so fun. I didn’t know who y’all were before the concert, and I came and you guys put on such a great show I had to come see you guys again.

Bret: Do a lot of people around here just kinda like coming to shows, even if they don’t know the artists?

Tarik: Yeah, a good amount of people, we got a pretty solid music scene.

Bret: Yeah that’s sick man, we really didn’t know Iowa City was like that before our first show here, but we were really sleeping on it, you guys go crazy.

Tarik: Thanks, y’all should come back.

Bret: Yeah, we definitely will next tour.

Tarik: When’s that gonna be?

Bret: Probably around fall after we release our new album. This was kind of just a mini tour to test out new songs live and create some hype around the album.

Tarik: Well I’ll definitely show up man, see y’all next time.

Bret: Yeah thank you!

And this conversation is where I found my story. I thought back on October 4th my first time seeing Lip Critic, and what I initially thought was gonna be an average night out with some fun music, but what turned into one of my favorite live music experiences and a newfound love for an extremely talented emerging group. All resulting from me just choosing to take a chance on seeing a lineup of bands I knew next to nothing of. Like Bret stated “People here just kind of like coming to shows, even if they don’t know the artists.” Similar to how Lip Critic took a chance on playing in Iowa City for the first time and now it’s becoming a tour staple for them.

I talk to music fans on a daily basis, many of which you would almost never catch at a local show. Usually saying something along the lines of “Well how do I know if I’ll like it if I don’t know the artists?” Well my question is what if you DO love it? It’s a common trend to see online music lovers post performances from their favorite artists at the dawn of their career. Playing to small crowds at local restaurants, venues and basements. A far cry from their later critical acclaim and global success. You’ll see these comments flooded with people talking about how much they wish they could’ve been there to see these amazing acts for cheap in such an intimate environment. Well what’s stopping you from doing that now? Every city is flooded with performances from talented, hungry young artists looking to make something special and one of them might just be a new favorite of yours. I found that with Lip Critic, and you can too.

The post Concert Review: Lip Critic, Ascended Master, Recess, and why you should go to local shows. February 19th at Gabe’s. appeared first on KRUI Radio.

People began staking their places on the Pentacrest lawn two hours before the concert’s set start time. Despite it being the first colder day of autumn, the event drew in hundreds to thousands of people filling in every space of grass, making it perhaps the largest attendance turn out for a SCOPE organized event.  

After a tantalizing DJ set from Ahzia, Swae Lee walked out to a massive uproar from the audience. Throughout his set Lee was feeding off the immense, ecstatic radiation from the expansive crowd. Identifying this from launch, after his first song “No Type” Lee exclaimed how they were all already “off to a crazy start.” Lee proceeded to give a spirited performance with zealous eye-catching stunts, plenty of crowd interaction, and performances of major hits, like his collaboration on the track “Sunflower”. 

KRUI had close-up stage access to the event, where we were able to grab photos of the set. Images are included below. All photo credits go to Alice Eberhart. 

Press the escape key on desktop to exit gallery.

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Grammy nominee Swae Lee, famous for his hits like 2016’s “Black Beatles” which made it to the Billboard Hot 100 for its vital role in the “Mannequin Challenge” trend and the 2014 debut “No Flex Zone”, has been described as “the songbird of our generation” by Kulturehub.com. His 2018 collaboration with Post Malone for the award-winning movie Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse, titled “Sunflower”, has gone seventeen times platinum — the highest rating ever attained by a single. 

Ahzia, a local DJ who’s been making music since 2015, has performed at local venues like Gabe’s, where he starred during 2022’s Mission Creek Festival. The artist’s 2021 album Welcome to Nowhere, which took the state by storm, was described by Dr. Dawson, writing for Little Village Magazine as, “…iconic, idealist and illuminous inspiration.” Most recently, you would have seen him preforming on stage at the Friday Night Concert Series hosted by Iowa City’s Summer of the Arts.

You’d simply be a fool to miss out on seeing such talented artists this Friday, October 6th, at 8PM on the Pentacrest.

The post SCOPE’s Homecoming 2023 Concert Line-Up Announced appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Featuring: Built to Spill / Wye Oak / Jamila Woods (Reading + Performance) / Carrie Brownstein + Roxane Gay + Amber Tamblyn (In Conversation) / Julien Baker / Lidia Yuknavitch / Quinta Brunson and Friends / Margaret Glaspy / Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith / Algiers / Cakes Da Killa / Laurel Halo (Live + DJ Set) / Hanif Willis-Abdurraqib Xylouris White / Deb Olin Unferth / The Weepies/ Horse Lords / S. Carey / ONO / Alex Zhang Hungtai / Horse Feathers / Current Joys / Gordi /Kundiman / Lambda Literary / VIDA

IOWA CITY, IA – We are proud to announce that Mission Creek Festival will return to Iowa City April 3 – 8, 2018 for its 13th year, produced by The Englert Theatre. Join us for a week of performance, literature, and community-minded programming across downtown, stretching south to Big Grove Brewery & Taproom and north to Hancher. Full week passes for all six days of events will be available for $150, and — new this year — festivalgoers can purchase a weekend pass ($75 for access to events Friday through Sunday). Individual tickets to select shows will become available in January 2018. The lineup will be released and passes will go on sale simultaneously this Friday, December 8 at 12:30 p.m. CT.

The lineup reflects Mission Creek’s commitment to exploring and showcasing live performance, the literary arts, and radical community happenings.

Headlining this year’s festival are Carrie Brownstein + Roxane Gay + Amber Tamblyn (In Conversation) at The Englert Theatre. All proceeds from ticket sales will benefit Girls Rock! Iowa City, a nonprofit dedicated to fostering creativity and self-esteem in young girls and trans-identified youth through musical instruction and expression. This event is co-presented by local literary speaking agency, The Tuesday Agency.

Mission Creek’s 2018 musical programming boasts a characteristically diverse range of artists and groups, weaving into the week many fast-rising and genre-defining artists across indie rock, singer-songwriters, electronic and experimental music, rap, and spoken word.

A feast for indie rock fans, this year’s music program will include Built to Spill, who have been at the forefront of the genre for more than twenty years; rising singer-songwriter Julien Baker, known for a confessional style landing her on multiple “best album” lists since her surprise debut album in 2015; and returning festival favorite Margaret Glaspy, who performed with Andrew Bird and Bridget Kearney at Mission Creek in 2017. Mission Creek will partner with University of Iowa student group SCOPE Productions to present soul singer-songwriter and poet Jamila Woods (performance and reading) and dream-pop duo Wye Oak.

In 2018, Mission Creek Festival will also feature avant-garde composer and master of the Buchla synthesizer Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, who paints “warm, absorbing and gorgeous” music ( Rolling Stone ); groundbreaking gay rapper Cakes Da Killa ; Atlanta post-punk/gospel/blues outfit Algiers ; World-music party band Xylouris White featuring Cretan lutist Giorgos Xylouris and Australian drummer Jim White (founder of chamber-rock band Dirty Three); and Bon Iver member S. Carey. The lineup will also have deep Iowa representation, including Iowa City-based, nationally-known indie pop outfit The Weepies, performing at Mission Creek for the first time; Extravision (Des Moines), Squirrel Flower (Grinnell), Sister Wife (Rock Island), Paul Cary, Purcha$e, Collidescope, Peanut Ricky & The Fiends, Elizabeth Moen, Jack Lion, Younger, and Hot Tang (all Iowa City). Comedian Quinta Brunson will perform with a roster of comics,comedian/satirist Bassem Youssef, who will perform, and Chef Dave Wieseneck (formerly Motley Cow Café) will return to prepare a special meal on the opening night of the festival (details forthcoming).

This year’s literary programming will be led by best-selling essayist Roxane Gay ( Bad Feminist, Difficult Women, Hunger); Carrie Brownstein, who chronicled her life in riot grrrl band Sleater-Kinney in the memoir Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl ; poet Amber Tamblyn. Friday and Saturday’s literary programming will now reside under Litscape , which includes the Lit Walk (formerly Lit Crawl), a book fair hosting independent writers and presses, ICE CREAM comics and zine fair, and readings and conversations. 2018’s Saturday keynote reading (sponsored by The Iowa Review) will present Lidia Yuknavitch, whose lyric memoir The Chronology of Water gained an online cult following; poet and singer-songwriter Jamila Woods, and poet/essayist/culture critic Hanif Willis-Abdurraqib ( They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us ,The Crown Ain’t Worth Much ). Additional readings from Iowa Nonfiction Writing Program graduates Sarah Viren, Lina Maria Ferreira Cabeza-Venegas, and Sandra Allen; and many more.

On Saturday, April 7, the festival will offer a series of free, daytime community events, including its Art + Life + Tech (ALT) speaker series, a book fair featuring literary magazines and small independent presses, the ICE CREAM comics and zine fair, a free rock show at Big Grove Brewery & Taproom, and other community happenings taking place downtown.

Festival Dates:
April 3 – 8, 2018

Pass & Ticket Information: 

Festival passes will be available for purchase beginning Friday, December 8 at 12:30 p.m. CST, online at missioncreekfestival.com or at the Englert Theatre Box Office. Individual tickets to select events will go on sale in January 2018.

Full Week Pass – $150
Our usual full week pass, granting access to all Mission Creek Festival ticketed performances (music, comedy). Entrance to ticketed events at The Englert Theatre and Hancher is guaranteed at all times. Entrance to other venues is subject to capacity. Special programs like culinary events are not included in the festival pass and require the purchase of additional tickets.

Weekend Pass – $75 (NEW THIS YEAR)
Introducing the weekend pass, friendly to folks with busy schedules or those traveling from afar. The weekend pass grants access to Mission Creek Festival ticketed performances (music, comedy) Friday through Sunday, subject to capacity at all venues. Special programs like culinary events are not included in either festival pass and require the purchase of additional tickets.

Confirmed Lineup Includes:
Performance – Music
Built to Spill
Wye Oak
Jamila Woods (Reading + Performance)
Julien Baker
Margaret Glaspy
Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith
Algiers
Cakes Da Killa
Laurel Halo (Live + DJ Set)
Xylouris White
The Weepies
Horse Lords
S. Carey
ONO
Alex Zhang Hungtai
Horse Feathers
Current Joys
Gordi
Paul Cary
Squirrel Flower
Younger
Peanut Ricky & The Fiends
Hot Tang

Collidescope
Extravision
Jack Lion
Mission: Beat
Sister Wife
Purcha$e
Dana T
Bstar
Elizabeth Moen

Performance – Comedy
Quinta Brunson and Friend

Bassem Youssef

Literature
Roxane Gay + Carrie Brownstein + Amber Tamblyn (In Conversation)
Lidia Yuknavitch
Jamila Woods
Hanif Willis-Abdurraqib
Deb Olin Unferth
Sarah Viren
Lina Maria Ferreira Cabeza-Venegas
Sandra Allen
Jesus Carrasco
Lyz Lenz
Brandon Taylor
Stephen Ira
Hafizah Geter
William Johnson
Cathy Linh Che
Helene Achanzar
Melody Gee
Kundiman
Lambda Literary
VIDA
The Believer
The Rumpus
Dorothy, a publishing project
Forklift, Ohio: A Journal of Poetry, Cooking, & Light Industrial Safety
The Iowa ReviewTwo Dollar Radio

Iowa Youth Writing Project

Rescue Press

Title Sponsor:
University of Iowa Community Credit Union

Little Village

General Festival Sponsors:
City of Iowa City
SCOPE Productions
Iowa City Downtown District
The Tuesday Agency
Iowa House Hotel
Big Grove Brewery
Iowa Public Radio

Event-Specific Sponsors:

The Tuesday Agency (Carrie Brownstein + Roxane Gay + Amber Tamblyn [In Conversation])
SCOPE Productions (Jamila Woods, Wye Oak)
The Iowa Review (keynote reading with Lidia Yuknavitch, Jamila Woods, and Hanif
Willis-Abdurraqib)

Grant Support:
Iowa City/Coralville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

About Mission Creek Festival:

Mission Creek is dedicated to delivering a riveting 6-day artistic experience for our community that builds on the cultural geography and capital of downtown Iowa City. Programming focuses on music performances, literary readings, film screenings, public lectures, local food culture, and educational outreach. Nestled in the heart of downtown Iowa City, with most venues within a five minute walk of each other, Mission Creek thrives on intimacy and cross-medium experiences, turning music lovers on to new literature, writers on to new music, and expanding
appreciation of arts, community, and culture. Our focus is on quality, independent-minded sounds, words, and events. We are keen on emerging artists and embrace renegade spirits who have been around for years. Intimacy is integral to the Mission Creek experience: Our smallest festival venue fits 30 people and our largest holds 1800; but most rooms are in the 200-300 capacity range, allowing for visceral connections between artists and audience. The festival is presented and produced by The Englert Theatre, Iowa City’s 105-year-old historic
performing arts space.

Website: http://missioncreekfestival.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/missioncreekfestival
Twitter: http://twitter.com/missioncreekic
Instagram: http://instagram.com/missioncreek

The post PRESS RELEASE: Mission Creek Festival announces 2018 lineup appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Preceding the show, however, was also handful of student talent, brought to the stage by UI’s Black Student Association and SCOPE. Starting with Dallas Clark’s “Someone Like You” cover, followed by a set from DJ Mariah Dawson and violin-vocals by Mickayla and Antonio, UI students warmly embraced their culture and diversity surrounding their individual roots.

Anthony Perla’s showed off speed painting to J. Cole’s “Dreams“; CDC’s dance group threw it back to Jason Derulo. Poet Marquise Jackson boasted his literary talent with poetry on the hood mentality. ‘Vegas’ rapped amid a dramatic entrance of strobe-lit darkness and intense, heavy bass: “Don’t nobody got me like I got me“. Hopping off the stage, Vegas dropped the mic.

To end the show, Simone Banks—last year’s BSU talent winner—reappeared with poetry that was emotional and lonely as it was calm and spiritual. She smiled as she spoke, showing thoughtfulness and wisdom towards her journey of maturity, growing up, and self-acceptance. It was all about spreading love, and spreading love did it encourage.

No time was wasted in jumping into the night’s musical acts. Having never been personally exposed to “soul-hop” that wasn’t Corinne Bailey Rae, Ravyn Lenae was a breath of fresh air. Sporting dangly, cross earrings and block heels, Lenae bounded to and fro on the stage. She seemed particularly interested in her presence and her audience’ interpretation, saying in between a set: “I don’t just like to sing about nothing.”

Making her mark in Chicago since 2015, 18-year-old Lenae still made for a Willow Smith-SZA-blend of soul and funk, with delicate, easing vocals straight out the original Snow White. Standing starkly against the groove of bass thumps, her delivery was strong and dynamic throughout a dizzying “Venezuela Trains” and shimmery “Blossom Dearie.” Not one of her tracks sounded too similar. Lenae’s clean and ambient nature was catchy, good-natured, and ultimately captivating.

So when Noname’s acapella-driven backup introduced her set, the crowd took on a boundless energy. Noname’s forte wasn’t only in her stage power, but her reserved use of it. Her 90’s style was peaceful, and matter-of-fact in paving themes of themes of adulthood, relationships, and a marginalized society: “The last time Ali marched Chicago / Twenty four and a late mojo teaching me how to drive / Whole world inside my rear view / This feel in me so alive”, she says in “Reality Check“. Optimistic but honest, and her performance followed suit.

“Casket Pretty”, a two-minute beat addressing violence and tragedies in the heart of Chicago, felt liberating and conversational as any exchange. Noname retained her boisterous nature, once singing into the ears of the ever-stoic stage security staff. Her hand gestures, steady stance, and matter-of-fact plaid maxi dress grounded her with her audience. As if the city life was there with her, Noname’s societal awareness was inspiring. Through all her comfortable empowerment, she still stressed the little things: the everyday freedom of simply reflecting on herself and her place in society.

Interludes of “we good” and weaving background vocals even made for a spunky, balanced play that was so in-the-moment it was impossible not to move with it—Especially throughout “Freedom (Interlude)” and “Diddy Bop“.

“Yesterday” was a sentimental track, melodic with keyboards and cheeky with a feeling that everything is going to be okay. The chorus echoed throughout the crowd during the last bits of the set: “When the sun is going down / When the dark is out to stay / I picture your smile / like it was yesterday.” Poignant and warm, with high and pretty vocals, Noname’s performance was charming and artistic as her loyal audience.

The post Noname @ IMU Ballroom, 2/24/17 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.

While a church may not be the first place one would expect to see a concert, it worked well.  John stood beneath the large stained glass window which reflected the spotlights and lit up the stage.

The Lonelyhearts, a duo from Colorado and Iowa opened for the Mountain Goats.  The set was fairly mellow and eased itself into the night.  The duo features John Lindenbaum on the guitar and Andre Perry on the keyboard, while both contributing the the vocals.  The duo’s harmonies swirled throughout the sanctuary, adding to the peaceful atmosphere.  The Lonelyhearts performed for about a half hour before handing over the stage to the main act.

“Welcome back home to Iowa, John” an audience member shouted out while John began tuning his acoustic guitar.  John had lived in Iowa for several years of his life, including Ames and Colo, which he briefly discussed throughout the night.  One of the best parts of a Mountain Goats show is the way John connects with the audience.  John paused in between songs to tell stories about inspirations for songs, recording an album in a shed in rural Iowa, and really anything that came into his mind.

John played plenty of fan favorites, such as “Color in Your Cheeks” and “Dance Music”.  But he also played some more obscure songs as well, including “Song for Black Sabbath’s Second North American Tour”, an unreleased song that highlights John’s love for all things metal.  “I’m not feeling traditional” John said as he began his encore, which pretty much seemed to embody the theme of the night.

About halfway through the performance, John played a few songs on the piano.  One of which, “Thank You Mario but Our Princess is in Another Castle” was certainly a crowd pleaser.  The song tells a romanticized version of the popular video game series, Mario.  The song was equally funny and heartbreaking, a strange mix of emotions that became quite familiar by the end of the night.

If the atmosphere wasn’t already personal enough, John asked everyone to finally stand up and for the house lights to be raised so that he could see everyone’s face.  He then unplugged his guitar and walked out into the audience performing “No Children”.  John weaved in and out of the crowd, standing on pews and shouting the lyrics that echoed throughout the sanctuary along with rest of the audience.  “I hope you die.  I hope we both die” we all sang together.

John returned to the stage for his encore where he performed three more songs.  He ended the night with “Shadow Song”, a track that appeared on his 2000 album, The Coroner’s Gambit.  The album was recorded in Colo, Iowa, only about 100 miles from where we were standing.  “This is a song for you, in case I never make it to where you are”, John sang as the audience swayed back and forth.  It was a solemn ending to a night filled with the emotion that John’s music conveys so well.

The Mountain Goats will continue to tour as a duo, check out tour dates on their website.

For more information about Scope Productions and future concerts, visit their website.

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IOWA CITY—SCOPE Productions and The 10,000 Hours Show are proud to announce that Sky Ferreira will be performing in the IMU Ballroom on Sunday, April 13, 2014. Iowa’s electronic-pop duo Trouble Lights will open. The show begins at 8pm, with doors opening at 7pm.

Sky Ferreira experienced stardom at a very young age. Her music talent became apparent early on, and before turning fifteen, she had already worked with Britney Spears’ producers and met Michael Jackson. In the past few years, Ferreira has toured with Vampire Weekend and is currently on tour. 

The much-loved synth pop artist embraces dark lyrical themes all while embodying a courageous and spirited personality on stage and off. Fans across the nation love her for her excitable sound and energetic performances; Iowa City does not want to miss the chance to see her.

Student priced tickets are only $20 and can be purchased at The Hub in the IMU or via Ticketmaster outlets. Persons with disabilities are encouraged to call 319-335-3041 for special seating accommodations.

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Fortunately, the intimacy of the venue worked really well for Best Coast’s style. Before the band took the stage, Bobb Bruno himself helped set up the equipment. In the couple minutes before the concert began, the audience got out of their seats and started crowding the stage. By the time Best Coast swaggered their way on, fans were standing just a few feet in front of the band. After finishing their first song, Bethany Cosentino joked that, “You guys are so close. It’s weird having all these eyes on me.” Their laid-back attitude continued through the whole show, whether Cosentino was asking who was having a kegger that night or complaining about her bangs. It felt less like a concert and more like hanging out with friends, listening to an old classmate from high school play.

Best Coast might’ve acted like they were nothing special, but their performance said otherwise. They sounded just as full and energized as they do on their records, if not more so. Cosentino was in full-form. Every note she sang was right on, bright, clear, and full of inflections you can’t find in their recordings. The chorus of “Why I Cry” was positively explosive, as she wailed on “Do you know why I cry?” They played a good balance of songs from both Crazy For You and The Only Place and show-cased their new single, “Fear of My Identity” (which is available on eBay, but don’t buy it because apparently it’s super expensive). Highlights from the show included: “Crazy For You”, because they sang about weed in a church; “The Only Place”, which immediately got the audience grooving and moving; “Boyfriend”, the perfect, crowd favorite closer; and “How They Want Me To Be”, probably the most emotional performance of the night. Cosentino brought a raw yearning to her voice, and the audience couldn’t help but see it, hear it, and feel it. The lyrics came alive, and for a moment, the whole room was lost in the song.

It’s always refreshing to see a band perform that isn’t too rehearsed or are such veterans that the novelty of touring has worn off. Best Coast was just that, which made it all the more disappointing when they didn’t come back for an encore. But hey, no hard feelings. They might’ve had to run to catch the kegger.

The post Show Review: Best Coast @ First United Methodist Church — 4/27/13 appeared first on KRUI Radio.