mission freak!

Ah, Independence Day weekend…a celebration of our nation’s coming of age. When I was younger this meant trips to our beach house, spending time with family, fireworks, and the like. As I’ve aged, it’s come to mean something more like drinking heavily with friends. The spirit hasn’t really changed. Something vaguely patriotic about overcoming tyranny, or something…anyway, this year is a special cause for celebration as we’ll be headed west to enjoy ourselves at the inaugural 80/35 Festival in Des Moines. We understand that not all of our readers can make it to Des Moines for a weekend of music that features the Roots and the Flaming Lips, so I’ll take a quick minute as I’m getting ready to skip town to provide you with the info on what you should get up to, even if we won’t feel sorry for missing it.

Thursday
Datagun, Sewn Leather, Joey Casio, T’Bone / The Gloryhole / 9pm / Pass the hat
If you were there on Tuesday, then you know the Gloryhole. That’s all I’m sayin’.

Friday
Medeski, Martin, & Wood w. United Jazz Ensemble, Sam Salamone Trio / Jazzfest Downtown / 4pm / FREE
You can celebrate the 232nd anniversary of our country’s liberty at the first night of Iowa City’s Jazz Festival as Medeski, Martin, and Wood bring a not-so-jazz brand of jam music to our own downtown. Music begins around 4 with United Jazz Ensemble, but should you choose to just take in the headliner, MMW are slated to play from 8-9:30. Stick around after for Iowa City’s fireworks display, which you can take in from the pentacrest.

Saturday
The Roots w. Black Francis, Jakob Dylan, etc. / 80-35 Festival in Des Moines / All Day / $30
Really? This festival is going on in Des Moines and you aren’t even going to show up for a day? That’s so foolish. If you missed the Flaming Lips on Friday night, you can still pay $30 for the Roots and get some killer bands along with it in the Envy Corps, the Poison Control Center, Black Francis (that’s the lead singer of the Pixies, dork), Neva Dinova, and others. Just go, okay?