Whew, don’t you just feel relieved? We now have our two presumptive nominees from the two major parties, and we can really get into the muck-racking and mud-slinging. But first, how about everyone takes a long deep breath this weekend. Get out and get some fresh air, get some culture. Thankfully, Iowa City is flush with that this weekend.
Thursday
Matthew Grimm & the Red Smear w/ Porch Builder, Old Panther, and Elsinore / The Picador / 9pm / $5
Tonight Matthew Grimm and his Red Smears take the Picador by storm to shake up your newfound political comfort, and probably yell at you a bit. Get angry. Get really angry.
Smearspac: here
Porch Builder’s myspace (check out the band’s vids) here
Dubuque’s Old Panther’s myspace: here
Friday
Iowa Arts Festival / Downtown Iowa City / Friday, Saturday, and Sunday / FREE
Technically the whole shindig starts off with a Baby Boomers-themed event on Thursday night over by the Senior Center, but no one’s really getting into the swing of things till Friday when (as previously reported) the husband and wife quartet (two sets) The Finders and Youngberg take the stage at 6pm. For the full itinerary check out the schedule here, or just wander around down town till you find someone official looking. Lots of art, food, and music, let’s just hope those predictions of thunderstorms and rain don’t come to fruition. (Edit: it appears that the many sayings about Iowa weather are true, and the once ominous predictions for almost constant rain and awfulness have been lifted)
Saturday
The Pines w/ Seth Wenger, Dustin Bush, and Constie Brown / The Mill / 9pm / $8
The prodigal son returns with friends in tow. Benson Ramsey, son of Iowa City stalwart Bo, returns to the Mill with his bandmate David Huckfelt, they’ve dubbed themselves The Pines. When the Mill played host to the duo’s CD release party (the duo’s debut The Sparrow in the Bell) last year, the two Iowa boys were joined by numerous guests of numerous stripes, so keep your eyes open. Heck, maybe Pa Ramsey will show his face and his axe to lend his son a hand.
Check out the Pines’ myspace here.
iowa city is happenin right now!
you know anything about these guys? saw them in philly last night, drunker than hell, but very cool - apparently theyre creating a bit of a buzz :
www.myspace.com/thehumblefishermen