Summer Music Festival Preview: Camp Euforia

The weekend of July 12-13 will mark the 10th anniversary of eastern Iowa's most enduring music festival, Camp Euforia. Camp will once again be in full swing on Jerry Hotz's farm in Lone Tree, bringing with it the diverse culture, the fun, the flippancy, and the music that makes it one of Iowa's premier summer weekend getaways.

Camp Euforia takes place the weekend of July 12
in Lone Tree, Iowa. (Click to enlarge)

This years' lineup will showcase many of the talented acts that call Iowa home, as well as several national acts who will be making their first appearance at the euphoric campground. Of course the party's host band, Euforquestra will play both nights on the main stage, as they have in the past.

"It's hard to believe that we are coming up on our 10 year anniversary as a band, and for our festival, said Mike Tallman, guitarist for Euforquestra during an email exchange. "It's been a crazy ride, full of lots of ups and downs, but it's been a learning experience the whole way and I wouldn't trade it for anything."

Eric Quiner, of Cornfed Productions, organizer of the festival agrees. “Ten years is an incredible milestone. Maintaining great relationships with our community is the key to our success.  The constant collaboration of ideas and input from the community inspired the culture of Camp Euforia’s music and made it into what it is today.”

Eufprquestra at the Aggie Theater in Fort Collins last year
Photo by Tobin Voggesser of NoCoast TV.
(Click to enlarge)

Camp Euforia will offer a little something for everyone from a Saturday morning yoga session to late night campfire singalongs. Tent and RV camping is available. A carnival-like atmosphere will greet music lovers as they enjoy the (hopefully) beautiful Iowa weather and bask in the glow of one of the most diverse festival lineups anywhere. The weekend promises to be a kaleidoscope of Psychedelia, Funk, Bluegrass, Rock, Dub, Jazz, Afrobeat and Reggae.

Mike Tallman adds, "Camp Euforia was born as "Euforquestra's Fan Appreciation Party" but grew in to full-blown music festival before our eyes. Over the years we have built an amazing crew and family that help make it all possible. At this point it's a well-oiled machine and we couldn't pull it off without the help of our director, stage and production crews, volunteer coordinators, volunteers, ticketing agency, vendor coordinators, and of course, Jerry Hotz." 

Bands from Michigan, New York, Minneapolis, Las Vegas, Colorado, New Orleans and Chicago will be featured along with several representations from Iowa's own unique music scene.

Pimps of Joytime

One band that will be featured is The Pimps of Joytime, from Brooklyn. This will be the Pimps second time playing in Iowa as they headlined a show in Iowa City once before. Brian J., the front man of the band says that they are anticipating coming back to Iowa for the good people and the good times that they had enjoyed previously. "You know, there wasn't a lot of people there," he said of the Iowa City gig. "But the people who were there were very enthusiastic, and we were invited to an after-party and it was a fun night all around." 

The Pimps are looking forward to another Iowa party, as their sound is perfect for the Camp Euforia setting. Brian J. describes the band's sound as, "... a combo of Funk, with elements of Soul, there's elements of Pop, there's some Rock and Roll, Blues thrown in, and then this kind of Afro-beat, Latin vibe here and there." 

It should be the perfect soundtrack to a blazing hot summer in the midwest.  

"Camp Euforia gets better every year, and 2013 will be no exception." Tallman explains. "We've put together our best lineup yet and Euforquestra will have lots of great music in store to celebrate our last decade. We can't say "thank you" enough to those that have supported us along the way. We love our family, friends and fans and we can't wait to sweat it out in the Iowa cornfields with you this Summer!"

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Tickets are available at www.midwestix.com. Please visit www.campeuforia.com for more information. For volunteer information, please email campeuforiavolunteer@gmail.com.

You can check out Euforquestra and Camp Euforia on Twitter and Facebook also. See the links below. 

Pertinent Links:

Euforquestra on Facebook

Camp Euforia on Facebook

Pimps of Joytime on Facebook

Euforquestra on Twitter

Camp Euforia on Twitter 

5 Questions With... Cartoonist Tony Carrillo

When Gary Larson's The Far Side was "retired" as a concurrent feature on the comics page in 1995, what remained was a giant sinkhole of cartoon emptiness. The comics page had lost it's general so to say. We still had Charles M. Schulz for another five years and Bill Keane up until 2011, but as far as modernism goes, The Far Side pretty much reigned as the comic supreme.

Larson's style was uniquely his own when he started out in 1980. The skewed view of the world through his eyes was a hit -largely because it was written from a perspective not yet tapped into in the mainstream comic world - a wonderful mixture of reality's flaws and overlooked absurdities that reminded us that there was plenty out there that we weren't paying attention to. His single panel cartoons exposed society for what it is - a large spinning ball of contradictions and frivolous mayhem in which we often take ourselves far too seriously.

His style opened the door for many contemporaries. Bizarro, drawn by Dan Piraro and Non Sequitur  by Wiley Miller are direct descendants of The Far Side, as is Max Cannon's Red Meat, if only in a minimalistic sense. 

Another comic that is drawn in the same vein is F Minus. Drawn by Tony Carrillo since 2002, it also tackles the inconsistencies and obvious pitfalls of mankind and exposes preposterous realities in a comedic light. In my opinion, F Minus is the closest there is to establishing the kind of humor that we grew accustomed to with the Far Side, and in many cases, it's even more brilliant. Life is funny... But it usually takes a funny person to expose it's humor. We  get that with Tony Carrillo and F Minus.

Tony Carrillo

From the official F Minus website:

In December of 2004, F Minus was named the winner of the 2004MTVu Strips Contest, chosen by judges Scott Adams of Dilbert and David Rees of Get Your War On, as well as more than 200,000 online voters. Creator Tony Carrillo received a development deal with United Feature Syndicate. On April 17th, 2006, F Minus began worldwide syndication, and is currently in over 150 newspapers. In the first year of syndication, F Minus was nominated for a National Cartoonist Society division award: Best Newspaper Panel, and nominated again in 2009. Two F Minus books have been released, the first titled F Minus and the second, F Minus: This Can't Be Legal.

Thanks to Mr. Carrillo for taking the time to answer Five Questions. 

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Click to Enlarge

Your cartoons are very funny... Where do your ideas come from?

Most of the time, the ideas come from filling a sketchbook with nonsense until I come up with something I can use, but some of the comics are loosely based on real life experiences. Everyone I know at some point claims one of my comics is about them, which is never the case. Almost never.

Obviously drawing comics is like any other job whereas it has it's pitfalls. Is the occasional "writer's block" ever an issue, and if so how do you deal with it?

I get writer's block all the time. Getting stuck in a routine is usually the cause. My best method for breaking it is getting out around people. Working from home, it's easy to become a crazy hermit, so I'll go to a coffee shop or mall and get ideas by listening to conversations around me. The general public is pretty nuts.

Click to Enlarge

Is F Minus the only project that you are connected with?

F Minus is my main focus, but I always have other projects I'm working on. I do a lot of writing. For about a year and a half I wrote a monthly humor column for a local publication, which I'm planning on publishing as a collection. I will also occasionally show artwork at locations around town. Unfortunately I am incapable of multitasking, so sitting and thinking about what an elephant might say takes up most of my time.

F Minus's Facebook page seems to be keep pretty busy based from activity from your fans... Do you have any crazy fan stories?

F Minus fans are awesome. I've received really kind letters from people all over the world. It always amazes me that people would take the time to do that. I've heard from soldiers in Iraq, and kids getting in trouble for drawing F Minus comics in class. I rarely get recognized, but one time a guy waved me down at a stop light just to tell me he liked the comic. Bonus: It really impressed my date.

Of your own comics, do you have a personal favorite?

I don't have a personal favorite, but I'm happy whenever a particular element of a comic makes the gag work, whether it be a character's expression or the wording of the dialogue, etc. I think the key to this comic is the look of anger and incredulity on the dog's face.

Click to Enlarge

Bonus Question: What's the last concert you attended?

The last concert I attended was the Stone Temple Pilots.

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Pertinent Links:

F MInus Official (You can view many more of Tony Carrillo's cartoons here)

F Minus on Facebook

F Minus on Twitter

Tony Carrillo on Twitter 

Bryan's List of Musical Happenings 3/18/13

Monday, March 18

Findlay Family Fun Fest at Greenwood 7:00
We Are Voices at Gas Lamp 8:00

Andy Fleming will be playing at El Bait on Tuesday night
and again on Saturday at the Val Air Ballroom

Tuesday, March 19

Ryan Bingham w/ Honey Honey at Wooly's 8:00
Andy Fleming at El Bait 9:00
Acousti-Beast at Greenwood 9:00

Wednesday, March 20

High Roller Express at Hull Ave Tavern 6:00 ($1.00 Beers Too!)
Bob Pace Band at Zimm's 7:00
Jason Walsmith at Raccoon River's Songwriter Night 7:30
Ben Wantland at Greenwood 7:30
No Standard at El Bait 8:00
G. Love and the Special Sauce w/ John Fulbright at Wooly's 8:30
Bob Wayne and the Outlaw Carnies at Gas Lamp 9:00

Thursday, March 21

Rainbow Penley at Coda Lounge, Savery Hotel 6:00
Max Wellman Trio at Gramercy Tap 7:00
Daphne Willis at the Grapevine, Clive 7:00
Tony Bohemcamp at Confluence Brewing Co. 7:30
Open Jam feat. Fat Tuesday and the Greasefire Keys at Gas Lamp 9:00
Soul Searchers at Greenwood 9:00
Soul Asylum w/ Trapper Schoepp and the Shades, Fatal Addiction At Wooly's 9:00
Dirty Bourbon River Show w/ the Spicy Pickles Jazz Band at Vaudeville Mews 9:30

Friday, March 22

Work Release party w/ Bob Pace at Gas Lamp 4:30
Daphne Willis at the Grapevine, Clive 7:00
Women Writers in the Round at Ritual Cafe 7:00
Crowder, Stetson and Cia at Wooly's 7:30
Ruckus at House of Bricks 8:00
Moday Mourners at the Garage, Indianola 8:00
Thankful Dirt at Star Bar 9:00
Harper and the Midwest Kind at Gas Lamp 9:00
ACME Sound Company at Greenwood 9:00
Aries Rising CD Release Party at Underground 9:00
Mike Zito and the Wheel at Gas Lamp 9:00 

Saturday, March 23

Julie Jurgens at Ritual Cafe 5:00
Rubber Boot Bash: Brother Trucker, Matt Woods, SP3 at Val Air 5:00
Wendy Freund at Ritual Cafe 7:00
Steve Parry at The Grapevine, Clive 7:00
Bill Matykowski at Smokey Row Coffeehouse 7:00
Antique Fog Cafe at Vaudeville Mews 8:00
Latin Night at House of Bricks 8:00
Critical Mass: Rage Against the Machine Tribute at Wooly's 8:00
Can o' Worms at Greenwood 9:00
Brian Holtz Band at Star Bar 9:00
Rob Lumbard at 1st Ave. Speakeasy, Newton 9:00
High Roller Express at La Paris cafe 9:00
What Made Milwaukee Famous, Why Make Clocks, H.D. Harmsen at Vaudeville Mews 9:30

Sunday, March 24

Kelly Ritchey at Byron's, Pomeroy 5:00
Chad Elliott at Grapevine, Clive 5:30
Bigfoot Diaries Live Webcast (on this website) feat. Jacob County  7:00 
Claude Butch Morgan at the Grapevine, Clive 7:00
Chad Elliott at El Bait 8:00 
Dharmonic Deluxe: Why Make Clocks, Vaj of Courage, Spacecamp at Gas Lamp 8:00

Lost Interview dept. - Paul Grace Smith of Dumbell

From the forgotten archives comes this interview I did a couple of years ago with Paul Grace Smith of the punk band, Dumbell. For whatever reason, the transcription got filed away, and essentially forgotten about until today when I rediscovered it. 

Dumbell was formed in 1996 by Smith after he departed from Sonny Vincent's Shotgun Rationale where he played with the likes of Cheetah Chrome (The Dead Boys), Greg Norton (Husker Du), Richard Hell (Television), Mo Tucker (Velvet Underground), and Bob Stinson (The Replacements). Dumbell was formed in Cincinnati, Ohio, modeled after The MC5, The Stooges, and the Velvet Underground. 

A constant on the tour circuit, Dumbell has built a huge fanbase in Europe, and is currently on tour in the United States. They end up in Smith's native Ohio on April 16, then it's off to Europe for yet another extended tour.

Dumbell: Coming to D-Town this Friday

The following interview was conducted after Dumbell's tour across Europe during the summer of 2011. Joining Smith on tour was Jamy Holliday on guitar and vox (who remains in Dumbell), Ilias Vassiliadis on drums, Magnus Sellergren (The Plastiques, Svarta Maria, The Norliss Tapes, and Call Me Greenhorn) on bass and vox. 

Tell me about the evolution of the band from the first night on tour to the final show?

It pretty much ripped from day one. The guys really did their homework, and made sure that the stuff was kicking right outta the gate.

Is there one moment that comes to mind that would define this particular tour?

Stinky sneakers? NO! It was defined for me by the fact that a bunch of guys that never met each other, and who were so fundamentally different could pull themselves together and get along.

How was the fan reception at your shows? Were there any awkward moments on stage or at venues where things got a little "weird"?

The reception was really great! We only had a few strange moments, for example the last show in Aachen Germany, there was no stage, and it definitely wasn't the kind of place where slam dancing would work. some kid knocked over a PA stack and it smashed my guitar. A nice side note is that he kid sent me 40 bucks a month to pay the repair! Sweet guy!

Paul Smith

What was the biggest moment of surprise while on this tour?

The great reception in some towns that were elusive to us over the years. Bochum, Germany, we haven't played there in a decade, and the show was a smash!

Fans can get a little crazy at times... Was there one or more fans that stick out as more memorable who attended your shows? Did you have fans following you on the entire tour or at certain legs of it?

Crazy fans, the above mentioned POGO kid, who I would say is now my pal. And we had some of my friends showing up at random shows like Bochum, Aachen, Koln, and Paris of all places. My sister and her best friend Rene joined us for a few days in France as well, and that was a real hoot!

How would you describe the typical European fan?

Just like the typical punk fan anywhere. Enthusiastic and informed about music and the history of punk.

Tell me about the other bands you played with on this tour...

The homebreakers from Italy were pretty swell, and furious people in Spain (We will do a split with them in the future.)

How would you describe most of the venues that you played in?

They ran the gamut, from squat house to upscale venue. We make it work no matter where we are!

Paul Smith and Magnus Sellergren in Orihuela, Spain in 2011

How did the set list differ from show to show... Or did it stay pretty much the same?

It stayed pretty much the same, I would omit a song here or there if i was feeling like a whimp.

What's next for Dumbell?

New album, new tours in Europe and the USA and South America!

What is the future of Dumbell and this particular line-up?...

This is sadly the only run for this lineup. Jamy stays on board, but Ilias has work related issues that limit his ability to tour. Magnus has his other projects to tend to.

Any plans for a tour in the United States?

At the time of this writing, we did a short stint in the USA, more on that later!

My apologies to Paul for holding on to this interview for so long. Maybe he will allow for a newer updated version after Europe 2013. Currently the band is Smith, Holliday, Craig Nichols, and Derek Gullet. 

Current Tour dates 2013:

• 03.17.2013: USA-San Antonio,Texas, Nightrocker
• 03.22.2013: USA-Detroit, Michigan, Corktown Tavern
• 03.23.2013: USA-Lima,Ohio, Avalon Bar
• 04.16.2013: USA-Cincinnati,Ohio, Motr Pub
• 04.18.2013: D-Düsseldorf, The Tube
• 04.19.2013: B-Gerouville, The Paradise
• 04.20.2013: D-Freiburg, Rängtengteng
• 04.21.2013: CH-Solothurn, Kofmehl
• 04.22.2013: F-St.Etienne, T-Bird Lounge
• 04.23..2013: F-Lyon, Trokson
• 04.24.2013: F-Bordeaux, Saint Ex
• 04.26.2013: F-Montpellier, Le Mojomatic
• 04.28.2013: I-Tortona, KM0
• 04.29.2013: I-Bucine (Arezzo), Specter Club
• 04.30.2013: I-Florence, Tender Club
• 05.01.2013: I-Loreto (AN), My May Festival
• 05.02.2013: I-Marina di Montemarciano, Chalet Beach
• 05.03.2013: SI-Ilirska Bistrica, MKNZ
• 05.04.2013: SI-Maribor, MC Pekarna
• 05.05.2013: HU-Székesfehérvár, Pucok Undergr. Club
• 05.06.2013: A-Vienna, Arenabeisl
• 05.08.2013: D-Töging, Silo 1
• 05.09.2013: D-Tübingen, Epplehaus
• 05.10.2013: D-Kassel

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Pertinent Links:

Dumbell Official

Dumbell on Facebook

Dumbell on Twitter

Item 9 and the Mad Hatters: The Chronic Illness

The Chronic Illness: Freshly Baked (Earthtones Studios) 

Not since Blood Sugar Sex Magic have I heard a funk album with this much attitude.

Item 9 and the Mad Hatter's latest CD, The Chronic Illness: Freshly Baked is a heavy exhalation compared to their previous release, Old Style. In the time in between the two recordings, the band had obviously spent more time playing together because with this latest release they are much tighter musically, a bit more daring vocally, and overall a helluva lot more funky.

Don't get me wrong, Old Style was a good record. But The Chronic Illness: Freshly Baked is Old Style and  say... three or four shots of purple Mad Dog. Plus about two rips from the Graffix.

Press photo from their website
(Click to enlarge.)

Iowa City has a rich tradition of producing prominent funk bands, from Funk Farm and Captain Barney from the '80s, to Dagobah in the '90s to modern bands like Zeta June and Dead Larry. Item 9 falls right in place with these guys, and have become a prominent part of the funk evolution that has occurred in eastern Iowa.

The album starts off with "The Queens," a rapid fire mental intrusion that seems to fire a warning shot that this indeed is a step above Old Style. Adam Maxwell's vocals almost take you by surprise with his Danny Joe Brown-esque throatal assault. The guitars are solid, the drums are better than average, and the bass is ridiculous. The foundation to any good funk album is a ridiculous bass player, and these cats have that with Amo Montgomery. I am always amazed at the fluency at which the great bass players play their instruments, and Montgomery meets that protocol. He's all over the place, in a way that is expected within the funk genre. Along with Rob Abrams' precise drum playing, Montgomery delivers a snappy backbone to the band's attitude-driven sound.

The attitude is evident in the music, but mostly in Maxwell's vocal delivery. The lyrics are delivered with an intensity that causes the listener to take a break from breathing, as if  he or she is waiting for a chance to exhale. His rapid fire delivery is impressive enough, the fact that he lays down the rhymes without stumbling  is mind bending.

The guitar work on the album is sharp and clean, dirty and mean. Pete Lower and Matt Bryks trade barbs back and forth, reading off of each other like a crispy audio reflection. Funk is especially good when it's greasy AND sticky, a combination that seemingly contradicts itself, but is somehow pulled off by these two young axe slingers.

Item 9 and the Mad Hatters live recently at the Hull Avenue Tap
(Photo by Bigfoot Diaries, click to enlarge.) 

The entire album works this way, from the opening track to the final one, all of which make a freewheeling statement about the band's passive attitude when it comes to social interaction, enjoying fine drink, and passing the glow stick. The Chronic Illness: Freshly Baked is about good times and enjoying life only as one can while they are still young enough to do so, before all the heavy shit comes down later in life. 

As a man who is already old enough to be dealing with the heavy shit, I can certainly get behind that. 

I caught these guys live at the Hull Avenue Tavern in Des Moines about a  month ago. Simply put, these guys are a must see live band if they come to your area. I'm not going to say that they are one of those bands that one must see live to appreciate, because the Chronic Illness: Freshly Baked clearly stands on it's own. But  I will say that when they do play live the energy that they create is fantastic, and much like their record, their stage performance is all about the party. I've rarely seen an audience having so much fun at a gig.

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Pertinent Links:

Item 9 and the Mad Hatters Official

Item 9 and the Mad Hatters Facebook

Surf Zombies: Lust For Rust (Deep Eddy Records)

When you listen to "Third Stone From The Sun" you can hear Jimi Hendrix say "You'll never hear surf music again". And even though Jimi wasn't slamming on surf music (Hendrix said that he was paying tribute to Dick Dale who he had mistakenly heard had died) the fact is that Jimi is as dead as a doorknob and surf music is still around. So much so that even the state of Iowa, where the surfing is a little sparse, has their very own surf band.

I have to admit that when I first heard these guys I didn't care for 'em. For some reason there are a few records out there that when I first hear them I can barely scrape up a feeling of indifference and I'll write the thing off as a turd; and then I'll come back to the record play it a couple of more times and then realize that I like the thing and all he things I thought about it before are completely wrong. I've had this happen with stuff by the Nomads, the Modern Lovers, and even the Velvet Underground. I think Lester Bangs said he hated the Stooges Fun House when he first heard it and then went on to champion the record,  so what the heck.

Anyway the same thing happened here with this record. I didn't like it and had written it off as trite, substandard, blah blah blah. I listened to it a second time and really wasn't moved much. I decided to listen to it a third time before writing this review and BAM! I got it. This is good stuff. I really dig it. The Surf Zombies conjure up the spirit of the open road, surf, cool tiki, hot rod kulture, b-monster movies, and ice cold beer. Ive read some reviews that drop the obvious comparisons to the Ventures. To me these guys remind me somewhat of the Shadows; and if you wanna be nitpicky about it the Shadows ain't necessarily a surf band per say, but they do tread the same kind of ground. There's even bits and pieces of spaghetti western here.

Heck man, if these guys had a fan club I'd probably join it. Put this on the playlist at your next backyard BBQ. It goes good with frosty brew, rum and fruit juice, and roasted pig. And do I really have to tell ya to PLAY IT LOUD.

Bryan's List of Musical Happenings 3/11/13

Monday, March 11

Findlay Family Fun Fest at Greenwood 7:00
Rickett Pass w/ The High Crest at Gas Lamp 8:00

Tuesday, March 12

Rob Lumbard at El Bait 9:00
Stevan Robinson at Greenwood 8:00
The Aggrolites (Feat. Angers Powers), EGO, and Come Unity at Gas Lamp 8:00
Sara Routh at Star Bar 9:00

Stevan Robinson will play Greenwood on Tuesday night.
(Click to enlarge. Photo by Bigfoot Diaries)

Wednesday March 13

Reeferseed Express at Hull Avenue Tavern 6:00 ($1.00 beers too!)
Jade and Company at Fire Creek, WDM 6:30
Sean Forbes at Vaudeville Mews 6:30
Bob Pace Band at Zimm's 7:00
Ty Wistrand at Raccoon River's Songwriter Night 7:30
The Expendables, Pacific Dub, and Come Unity at Wooly's 8:00
Infuzion at El Bait 8:00

Thursday March 14

Tim Stop at Coda Lounge, Savery Hotel 6:00
Luke Fox at Confluence Brewing Co. 7:30
Open Jam featuring Fat Tuesday and the Greasefire Keys at Gas Lamp 9:00
Soul Searchers at Greenwood 9:00

Friday, March 15

Work Release Party w/ Bob Pace Band at Gas Lamp 4:30
Rich of Des Moines' Multi-Project Show with Them, Mood Beside, Izzy Starchild and the Psychedelic Rose, Freelance Jam (Richard Way, Jacob Berhow, Rich Cantrell, Jay Corigliano), and Descent of Man. House of Bricks 5:00
Randy Burke at The Grapevine, Clive 7:00
Ron Burchett at Fire Creek, WDM 7:00
Thankful Dirt at Greenwood 9:00
Dustin Louis Blank at the Underground 9:00

Saturday, March 16

Kelly's Clan at Marriott Downtown 1:00
2nd Annual St. Pabst Day Outdoor Street Party at Gas Lamp 3:00
St. Patricks Day Jam: Mooseknuckle, Steve Pellow Trio, Mighty Shady, Colt Walkers at Wooly's 4:00
Paul Michell at Ritual Cafe 7:00
Bill Matykowski at Smokey Row Coffeehouse 7:00
Matt Woods at the Longest Yard, WDM 9:00 CANCELLED
Heath Alan Band at Greenwood 9:00
Josh Davis at Raccoon River Brewery 9:00
James Biehn at Star Bar 9:00
Ed East and Salsa Vibe at Vaudeville Mews 9:00
Fancy Pants at the Underground 9:00
Issac James with Illegal Smile at House of Bricks 9:30
Poncho, Stuttrin' Jimmy and Chad Boyles at Hull Avenue Tavern 9:00

Sunday, March 17

Kelly's Clan at Dublin Bay, Ames 1:00
2nd Annual St. Pabst Day Outdoor Street Party Day 2 at Gas Lamp 4:00
10 Speed Wipeout at El Bait 8:00

DM Franklin Library to Offer Music History Series

For those of us who are music junkies, the Franklin Library in Des Moines is offering a free six week series called "America's Music: A Film History of Our Popular Music from Blues to Bluegrass to Broadway."

With a focus on uniquely American musical traditions, the six-week program will feature documentary film screenings and discussions of twentieth-century American popular music, led by Drake University Musicology Professor Dr. Eric Saylor. Each of the six sessions highlights a uniquely American musical genre: blues and gospel, Broadway, jazz, bluegrass and country, rock ’n’ roll, and mambo and hip hop. The series is open to all members of the community, but preregistration is required.

The series is open to all members of the community, but preregistration is required. Programs will be held on Tuesdays at 6:00 PM, beginning March 12. Sign up online or stop by the Franklin Avenue Library for full details. – www.dmpl.org

This is a unique opportunity to learn more about the music that helped to shape this country. 

Bryan's List of Musical Happenings 3/4/13

Monday March 4

Findlay Family Fun Fest at Greenwood 7:00

The Dirty Heads, Tiny Toy Guns, Midi Matilda at Wooly's 7:00

Patrick Krief (of The Dears) w/ The Color Pharmacy at Gas Lamp 8:00

Patrick Krief  (of the Dears) plays at
Gas Lamp on Monday. 

Tuesday March 5

Keith Harkin at Vaudeville Mews 7:00

The Highroller Express at Greenwood 8:00

Matt Logan at El Bait 9:00

Wednesday March 6

Reeferseed Express at Hull Avenue Tap 6:00

Heath Alan Acoustic at Fire Creek, WDM 6:30

Bob Pace Band at Zimm's 7:00

Thankful Dirt at Raccoon River's Songwriter Night 7:30

Brother Trucker at El Bait 8:00

InFuzion at Greenwood 9:00

The Snacks at the Underground 9:00

Thursday March 7

Rainbow Penley at Coda Lounge, Savery Hotel 6:00

Lovely Bad Things, Dhobi Fats, Brenton Dean at Vaudeville Mews 6:30 

Jason Walsmith at Confluence Brewing Co. 7:00

Final Mix featuring Del "Saxman" Jones at Sazz, Clive 9:00

Open Jam featuring Scott Long at Gas Lamp 9:00

Soul Searchers at Greenwood 9:00

Friday March 8

Work Release Party w/ Bob Pace Band at Gas Lamp 4:30

Danielle French at Ritual Cafe 7:00
Chad Elliott CD Release Party at the Grapevine, Clive 7:00

Matt Logan at Fire Creek, WDM 7:00

Dan Tedesco w/ Savannah Smith at Gas Lamp 9:00

Final Mix featuring Del "Saxman" Jones at Strykers Lounge 9:00

Lesson 7, MIke Borgia, He(C.U.)LL, Angry Chair at Wooly's 9:00

Rainbow Penley and Sara Routh at Underground 9:00

Rick Burke at Greenwood 9:00

John Primer at Maintenance Shop, Ames 9:00

Randy Burke and the Prisoners, Dead Leaves at House of Bricks 9:30

Local folk rockers The High Crest will plat at El Bait on Sunday night.
(Photo by Roger Feldhans) 

Saturday March 9

Matt Woods at Franklin Library 3:00

Bill Matykowski at Smokey Row Coffeehouse 7:00

Almost Legal Nightlife Series featuring Joe and Vicki Price at 1st Ave. Speakeasy, Newton 8:00

Junk Poet, Pain Face, Index case at Wooly's 8:00

Rock Island Rollers at Star Bar 9:00

The River Monks at Raccoon River Brewery 9:00

Final Mix featuring Del "Saxman" Jones at Strykers Lounge 9:00

Jacob County and the Damaged Goods at Greenwood 9:00

Davina and the Vagabonds at Gas Lamp 9:00

Jon Wayne and the Pain, Mighty Shady at Vaudeville Mews 9:00
Dead Horse Trauma, I Cry Wolf, and the Boomstick Revival at Tornado's Grub and Pub, Cedar Rapids 9:00

Luke Fox and Saint Anywhere at Gramercy Tap 9:30

Sunday March 10

Saint Anyway at Byron's, Pomeroy 5:00

The High Crest at El Bait 8:00

Ed Fallon To Raise Awareness for Climate Action

Last week over a sloppy round of winter disc golf, Ed Fallon disclosed an idea to me. He wanted to spearhead a campaign to raise awareness for climate change. His plan, he told me, is to organize a thousand person march across the nation, from California to Washington DC. 

It's a huge endeavor.

"Two weeks ago this notion didn't even exist," Ed told me. "I've felt this burning for a long time, like I have to do something. Now that the wheels are in motion, it seems like the perfect plan."

Ed enjoying a peaceful moment at his home last week.
(Photo by Bigfoot Diaries)

It will take place on March 1st, 2014. The date of March 1st is Ed's birthday, but it also signifies something much larger than that. In 2014 it will mark the 28th anniversary of the Great Peace March for Nuclear Disarmament. 

That March departed from Los Angeles on March 1, 1986 with only 1200 people on board and about a third of the necessary money for the March to have been a success. The March lasted just a couple of weeks under it's original guise, and on March 14th in Barstow, California, chief organizer David Mixner announced that the Pro-Peace (People Reaching Out for Peace) initiative no longer existed. Many people dropped out of the March, but a small fraction of the group worked to restructure the movement and it carried on. Through grass-roots organization it continued, and reached Washington DC on November 15, 1986.

Fallon made his formal announcement this past Friday at a gathering of about 65 people at the Raccoon River Brewing Company in downtown Des Moines. He calls his campaign The Great March for Climate Action. He appeared nervous as he spoke, a trait I've never witnessed in Ed Fallon. It could be that this endeavor is bigger than than any task he's taken on before, including any office he has run for. The aesthetics behind this initiative are staggering. 

The following is a transcript of Ed's remarks from Friday night:

I’ve been involved with a lot of campaigns over the years. It’s time for another. This campaign will be the most difficult. It will be the most expensive. And it will be one of the two longest campaigns I’ve ever run.

But it will not be a campaign for public office.

This is a campaign to mobilize 1000 people to march coast-to-coast, demanding action on climate change – action from both the American people and from our public officials. The Great March for Climate Action will set-out from the west coast one year from today and arrive in Washington, DC the weekend before the mid-term election. It will be the largest coast-to-coast march in our nation’s history.

For a long time, I’ve recognized that climate change is not simply an issue. Climate change is a crisis, possibly the deadliest crisis humanity has ever faced. And it’s not a crisis that might happen somewhere in the future. It is a crisis that is happening now!

For the past six years, I’ve asked myself what I should do? What’s my duty, my responsibility in this crisis? What do I have to offer that can help avert the calamity barreling our way like a coal-fired freight train?

I discuss climate change on my talk show regularly, and I continue to live more and more sustainably in my personal life. But honestly, I don’t feel I’ve come close to doing enough, to doing my part. There are certainly people and organizations who have, like Bill McKibben, James Hansen, the Sierra Club, Physicians for Social Responsibility, and Iowa’s own State Senator Rob Hogg.

But it is past time for me to step up to the plate in a focused and significant way. Again, this is a CRISIS!

Two weeks ago, the idea of this March came to me, and as I thought about it and talked about it with a few close friends, I realized it was the campaign I needed to commit myself to.

Why a March? Throughout history, marches have been powerful tools to mobilize people – physically, spiritually, and politically. In 1930, Mahatma Gandhi led the 240-mile Salt March to defy Britain’s imperial power. In 1965, Martin Luther King, Jr led the five-day march for voting rights from Selma to Montgomery. And in 1986, the Great Peace March for Global Nuclear Disarmament left Los Angeles on March 1st, traveling 3700 miles to finish in Washington, DC on November 15th.

Ed speaks to the crowd at the Raccoon River Brewery
Friday night announcing his latest campaign
(Photo by Bigfoot Diaries)

I was very involved in the Great Peace March, coordinating logistics for the Iowa segment. It was an incredible experience, changing the hearts and lives of those of us who participated. It also influenced tens of thousands of people who interacted with marchers throughout the nine-month journey. One cannot, of course, say that the Great Peace March single-handedly achieved nuclear disarmament. But it was one campaign in a much bigger campaign involving thousands of committed activists who accomplished so much, including a ban on nuclear testing. The bottom line is, the Great Peace March absolutely helped make our world a safer place.

Building on my experience with that, learning from all the other campaigns I’ve run, mobilizing the connections and relationships I’ve developed and nurtured over the years, this Great March for Climate Action is how I can do my part in the collective effort to avert the worst consequences of climate change.

I’m serious when I say this is the most difficult campaign I’ve ever launched. I also believe it is the most important. And I know there is no way I can pull this off on my own. I will need your support, your encouragement, your contacts and connections from across the country. This is a national campaign, appealing to an international audience, addressing a global crisis. It’s an undertaking of massive proportions.

I realize what I am asking 1000 people to do is pretty unreasonable. Put your lives on hold for nine months, maybe even quit your job or drop out of school. March over 3,000 miles across America. Suffer blisters, sore muscles, aching knees. Get drenched by cold spring rains. Feel the sweat stinging your eyes as 95° summer  heat bakes the pavement under your feet. Sleep in a tent on the hard ground, with only a thin layer of plastic between you and the howling elements.

You know, that sounds like a hard sell. But I’m willing to march, and, I believe there are 1000 more who are willing to go the extra mile, so to speak, to avert the worst outcomes of climate change for ourselves, for the rest of the world, for future generations, and for our planet.

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Obviously the Bigfoot Diaries wishes the best for Ed on this endeavor. If you have an interest in being a part of this movement, contact Ed at fallonforum@gmail.com. More details to come as they happen. 

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Pertinent Links:

Ed Fallon's Official Website

Great March for Climate Awareness Facebook Page