Album Review: John William Watkins — The Oracle EP
The Oracle by John William Watkins John William Watkins, an Iowa native living in New York City, showcases his songwriting and singing in minimal acoustic arrangements on The Oracle EP, released June...
View ArticleAlbum Review: Dan Padley —‘Perfectly Whelmed’
Perfectly Whelmed by Dan Padley Dan Padley, a graduate of the University of Iowa College of Music, has been a versatile asset to Iowa City’s music scene. From touring with singer/songwriter Elizabeth...
View ArticleAlbum Review: Dan Padley —‘Druthers’ (out Nov. 1)
Druthers by Dan Padley Dan Padley (a member of Laranja and Elizabeth Moen’s band) is releasing a new EP of ambient guitar improvisations Nov. 1 to benefit the Emma Goldman Clinic. Padley is not wedded...
View ArticleVideo premiere: Anthony Worden and the Illiterati, ‘The Slightest Notion’
Anthony Worden and the Illiterati w/ Purple Frank Gabe’s — Dec. 6 at 9:30 p.m., $8 From the opening shot of a vintage Webcor cassette recorder, you know that vintage is the vibe Anthony Worden is...
View ArticleAlbum Review: Douglas Kramer Nye —‘The End is Nye’
THE END IS NYE by Douglas Kramer Nye Doug Nye has been playing shows around Iowa City for almost a decade. A self-taught guitarist, singer and songwriter, he’s always had a resonant, deep baritone...
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Book Review: ‘They Said This Day Would Never Come’ by Chris Liddell-Westefeld
They Said This Day Would Never Come: Chasing the Dream on Obama’s Improbable Campaign By Chris Liddell-Westefeld — PublicAffairs Chris Liddell-Westefeld reading Prairie Lights — Sunday, Jan. 26 at 4...
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Album Review: Tall Doozy —‘Sad Girls With Bible Names’
Tall Doozy is a project from veteran Iowa City hip-hop producer Tyler James, a.k.a. Jim Swim, in collaboration with singer Mary Bozaan. Previous Jim Swim releases explored various flavors of hip hop,...
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Album Review: Paul Cary —‘Raven’
Paul Cary makes raggedy, broken music. His guitar sounds are dirty, distorted and low-fi. Drummer Johnathan Crawford sounds like he’s banging on a briefcase. Cary’s nasal voice puts the mixer in the...
View ArticleAlbum Review: Ben Driscoll —‘Unseen Danger’
UNSEEN DANGER by Ben Driscoll I don’t know if it’s a conscious influence, but the music and moody atmosphere of David Lynch’s Twin Peaks come immediately to mind listening to “Muleville,” the lead-off...
View ArticleAlbum Review: Elizabeth Moen —‘Creature of Habit’ EP
Liz Moen’s origin story, as relayed to me by Luke Tweedy of Flat Black Studios, begins before she recorded a single note. He said she decided to record an album of her own songs, and in short order...
View ArticleAlbum Review: Elizabeth Zimmerman —‘Roots of Rhythm’
Roots of Rhythm by Elizabeth Zimmerman The first song on Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Roots Of Rhythm, “The Journey,” is just her voice and piano. It brings Judee Sill immediately to mind. It combines...
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Track premiere: Anthony Worden and the Illiterati, ‘Sad Stories’
Anthony Worden holds down the homestead. — Jordan Sellergren/Little Village I remember being at a Feed Me Weird Things show in Chris Wiersema’s back yard. Anthony Worden showed up, fashionably late,...
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RIP Norm Macdonald, the man who mugged Iowa Athletics
Norm Macdonald collage — Jordan Sellergren / Little Village Comedian Norm Macdonald passed away Tuesday, Sept. 14, at age 61. If you were born in the last millennium, you know Norm Macdonald. He was on...
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Nashville’s Eve Maret will bring her synthesizer heart to Witching Hour 2021
Eve Maret will be a featured performer at this year’s Witching Hour Festival, an exploration of the creative process and a celebration of new work produced by Little Village and the Englert Theatre....
View ArticleAlbum Review: Anthony Worden & the Illiterati —‘How Could We Lose When We’re...
How Could We Lose When We're So Sincere? by Anthony Worden and the Illiterati In 1968, the Turtles released the album The Turtles Present the Battle Of The Bands, a cartoonish concept album that...
View ArticleAlbum Review: Death Bag —‘Stoopgoblin Suite — Live at Trumpet Blossom Cafe’
Stoopgoblin Suite – Live at Trumpet Blossom Cafe by Death Bag In Death Bag, Chris Wiersema (half of the ambient doom duo Lwa) plays electronics gizmos and Gabi Vanek, a veteran performer in the...
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Album Review: Sinner Frenz —‘Separation from Church and State’
Music has done a number on Luke Tweedy. He was a record store guy with a uniquely acerbic bedside manner. He taught himself electronics and audio engineering and built his recording studio, Flat...
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Letter to the editor: Give Phil Hemingway a chance, Johnson County
City High student Yardley Whaylen talks with ICCSD School Board member Phil Hemingway during the sixth week of the Iowa City Student Climate Strike, Friday, April 26, 2019. — Jason Smith/Little Village...
View ArticleAlbum Review: Jarret Purdy & Dan Padley —‘Ecotones’
Ecotones by Jarrett Purdy & Dan Padley When Dan Padley played at the Iowa City Farmer’s Market a few weeks ago, I was impressed (as always) by the liquid elegance of his playing on the jazz...
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Q&A with musician Delia Beatriz, aka Debit
Debit will perform on Saturday, Sept. 17 at the James Theater. — courtesy of Witching Hour Delia Beatriz (aka Debit) is a musician who crosses borders: She was born in Mexico and grew up in Texas....
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