I’d never been to the venue before. The ceiling had beautiful twinkly lights that cascaded from one side of the room to the other, and the stage was illuminated with the perfect amount of green neon light. There was plenty of open seating since most of the people waiting were standing around the open floor, so I chose a seat secluded enough that I wouldn’t be overwhelmed but close enough to the stage that I could still see what was going on.  The crowd was thin when I arrive a half an hour before Night Stories began. A lot of people are conversing about the bands that they are here to see, most of which respond with White Lung. I run into a few people I know and some people that I don’t, all very nice and wondering why I was the only person there taking notes. The majority of the crowd is, slightly to my surprise, middle-aged, which would only continue to be truer as the night went on.

Night Stories begins their set at ten pm. The duo containing Greg Meister and Phil Young has a unique backstory. The two discovered their love of fear represented in music in a dark basement, and they are known for only laying shows on Friday the 13^th or during the month of October. The two of them pair horror films with their music and create soundtracks to the films that are chilling to the core, creating a multimedia experience at every show they perform. The duo curated their performance on Friday night specifically for Witching Hour.

Even though I knew that people were waiting around for one of the two other bands to play, they were still interested in what Night Stories had to offer. Everyone was watching what Meister and Young were doing because, if the crowd was anything like me, they hadn’t seen anything like it in person before.

I would almost call it more of a performance art piece more than a traditional set for a concert. The music was robotic and rigid while also soothing, which was something I was curious about. It was easy to see where the band members drew connections with the film playing on a screen in the background and the music that they composed as its recreated soundtrack.

As Night Stories’ set ended far too soon (I wanted to see what else they could create), the movie screen was taken down and the next band, NE-HI started doing their sound check.

NE-HI is a group of four guys: Alex Otake, James Weir, Jason Balla and Mikey Wells. It was hard to determine what kind of music they would be playing during their sound check, but it was easy to see that the band members loved what they were doing. Even from afar, I could tell that they were excited to start playing their show. More audience members dressed in their finest rock concert garb entered Gabe’s, and the volume of conversations around me increased as people were becoming more obnoxiously intoxicated.

I assume that more people are coming to see NE-HI perform since they were here for last year’s Mission Creek Music Festival, and people are ready to see more of what they’ve come up with.

Something I found interesting from the beginning is that their first song melded perfectly out of their sound check. The band was aimlessly jamming out until it wasn’t anymore, and I was suddenly enthralled. As much as I really enjoyed Night Stories’ performance, NE-HI’s alt-rock style was something that I would listen to a lot more often, and probably will.

They guitarists moved with so much intention to the music, each of them independent to one another, but very much moving to the same beat. I could definitely tell which guitarist was playing which part even though I was further away from the stage. I think I would’ve appreciated a change of pace somewhere in the middle of the set, but it was still a show I enjoyed being at.

While NE-HI was tearing down, White Lung started to take the stage for their sound check. Throughout the process, the band would break into random song to keep the waiting audience interested and to start getting them ready for the performance. The entire time that they took the stage, the band’s chemistry was eminent. The members of the band were also unfairly attractive and had style I was envious of, but I tried not to let those things influence my view of the performance.

White Lung’s performance was loud and overwhelming and had so many things involved in it. The crowd was so full of energy and people were dancing, becoming more vigorous as the set continued on. The band played a lot of short songs, which was almost refreshing after listening to two bands that played longer tunes.

The metal/rock/indie hybrid songs all packed such a punch that I have no idea how the members of the band weren’t exhausted after every one. Their stage presence and ability to make the crowd feel their energy was the most important and fascinating part of their performance. Even though I probably wouldn’t listen to their music again, it was a great set to witness.

I thought that this set of performances was an interesting group: very different from one another but perfectly juxtaposed together. It gave me a fantastic first look at what Witching Hour is about.

On November 5^th, I will be attending Jen Kirkman’s stand-up comedy show at 9PM at the Englert Theater. Keep an eye out for the article!

Listen to NE-HI here or here and White Lung here or here.

The post Witching Hour: White Lung @ Gabe’s 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.

The Mission Creek concert Wednesday night at Gabe’s was the epitome of punk. Each band played very fast and very loud, and gave the fans the kind of respect that one should expect from punk bands, you know, spitting, cussing, throwing cups, etc.

The opening band was Paducah, formerly known as [gluestick], from Grinnell, Iowa. This batch of young men was everything you’d want in an opening punk band; Their singer’s shouts were basically incomprehensible and their instrumentals were overwhelmed with distortion.

The second band was Iowa City’s own Nerv. I knew I would enjoy this band’s performance before they even started, strictly on the fact that their drummer had a great beard that became long enough to mesh with his raggedy hair. Even though most of their songs seemed to be about 30 seconds, they were very entertaining, aided by their vocalist’s attempts at comedy in between songs. But I guess the crowd wasn’t rowdy enough, so he took the liberty to personally start a violent mosh pit himself.

The pit only got more fierce once the local legend Slut River took the stage. Slut River, by the way, may be one of my favorite band names of all-time. This was the fourth time I’ve seen drummer Joe Ross perform (who also plays in Supersonic Piss, which is another phenomenal band name) and he always impresses me. I was also impressed with how long vocalist Anna McDermott was able to crowd surf while still singing. Despite technical difficulties with their guitar, the band put on a great show.

After three local bands, the final band to play hailed from Canada, of all places. White Lung, from Vancouver, plays a style of punk that is aggressive, yet catchy. Vocalist Mish Way was very animated throughout their performance, but managed to balance a full cup on her head for half a song, granted their songs are about two minutes long. The band pumped out their songs without much pause, and left the stage after their last song without a pause either. I thought that came off surprisingly rude, especially considering they’re Canadian, but that’s punk for ya.

If punk is your thing, this was your concert. The performers were as rambunctious as the crowd, making for a truly entertaining concert.

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