Quadsville

I should preface this blog with the full disclosure that I came of age when boy bands and Britney Spears reigned supreme. And when Britney was still going strong with "Toxic," I was going nuts on makeshift dance floors in the unfinished basements of college rental houses.

But a few years ago, I was introduced to Daytrotter.com, the Web site based in Rock Island that offers free downloads of exclusive sessions with up-and-coming indie artists.

The Web site forever changed my music listening habits. No longer would I be satisfied with just any top-40 hit featuring a decent beat that was played on mainstream radio. I found myself craving indie rock, and the only place I could hear it was on my iPod, where I store all my free downloads from Daytrotter.

That is until I discovered XMU on Sirius Satellite Radio. My fiance has several satellite radio channels as part of his TV package, and as I've been spending more time at his place getting it ready for me to move in after our wedding, I stumbled across XMU.

The channel plays all indie rock all the time without commercials, which is seriously the best aspect of it. Some of my new favorites, The Decemberists, Spoon, Sonic Youth, and Iron and Wine all are played regularly on the station.

Since several of the artists on XMU also have recorded sessions at Daytrotter, there is a good chance the artists you hear on the channel will be in the Quad-Cities for a live show. Tiny Vipers is the latest example of an artist featured on the channel who has played the Quad-Cities - just last month, in fact.

If you have satellite radio, check out XMU. But beware. Once you go indie rock, you never go back ... unless it's to preorder Britney Spears' "Circus," which I totally admit to and have no regrets about.

The management at RIBCO has announced the details of the 30th anniversary celebration for the well-known downtown Rock Island nightspot.

Einstein's Sister, Tripmaster Monkey and Driver of the Year all will reunite to play during the two-night celebration July 31 and Aug. 1.

Driver of the Year's original lineup hasn't played together in three years, but singer and piano player Jason Parris, who also handles booking for the Rock Island Brewing Company, is excited about the getting the band back together for one last show.

"I think it's going to be awesome," said Parris, who toured the country several times with Driver of the Year before the band broke up under good terms so its members could pursue other interests. "RIBCO gave us our start, and really we've been pretty loyal to the club since day one. So we just thought that it'd be a nice recap and maybe a nice ending to Driver of the Year."

Along with a reunion of RIBCO favorites of old, current Quad-City favorites Keep Off the Grass, Bumper Crop and Cheese Pizza all will perform during the two-night event.

Parris is trying as well to add a rockabilly group and a blues combo to the 30th-anniversary lineup.

"I wanted to have the biggest bands that I could get together from the past, the present, and I want to throw in some future bands that I think are going to shake up this area or have the potential to do something a little bit bigger than just a bar band."

A cover charge will be in effect for the 30th anniversary celebration. Each night will be $5, which is a low price for the number of bands booked, especially with Saturday, Aug. 1, scheduled as an all-ages outdoor show.

"I basically want to keep the price down low enough where anyone and everyone paying the cover will have at least one band that they're really into and have some past with," Parris said. "We want to give back to the fans that have supported RIBCO for the past 30 years."

Show to see

Jesy Fortino, who plays her quiet, minor key songs under the name Tiny Vipers, is coming to Rock Island in support of her new album, "Life On Earth," which is due out next month.

The show is at 7 p.m. Friday, June 19. Balmorhea will open the show at Huckleberry's Pizza Parlor, 223 18th St. Cover is $5.

To read the full story on Tiny Vipers, check out the online exclusive here.

He said what?

WWE Superstar Kofi Kingston is 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighs in at 218 pounds. While he's a big guy in the normal world, he is usually the smaller guy in the ring.

"You have guys like The Big Show, who is 500 pounds and about 7 feet tall. Me standing next to him, I look like an ant standing next to an elephant."

For more about Kingston and the WWE Raw event at the i wireless Center, click here.

For teens

The River Music Experience, or RME, is still accepting applications for the third session of Rock Camp USA, which will be held July 20-24 and 27-31.

Rock Camp participants will have two weeks of intensive music training with workshops and jam sessions, culminating with a noon concert at the RME.

To find out more, visit www.rivermusicexperience.org, or contact Ellis Kell at (563) 326-1333, Ext. 113, or ekell@rivermusicexperience.org.

For the family

Ride the River is celebrating its 25th year on Sunday.

The event starts at 6 a.m. but registration continues until 12:30 p.m. Adults are $12 in advance or $15 on Sunday. Children 16 years old and younger can participate for free with each paying adult. Registration is at the Freight House, 421 W. River Drive, Davenport.

For more information and to register in advance, go to www.riveraction.org.

I forgot to post this on Tuesday. Here's the account of my flying adventure.

I weighed in at 125 pounds this morning, thanks to a little cheating that involved sweating out the fifth and final pound I had to lose to meet the weight requirement to fly like Peter Pan at Circa ‘21 Dinner Playhouse.

Before letting Quad-City area media representatives and their kids "fly" around stage, we watched a scene from the upcoming musical in which the actors showed us the ropes, quite literally.

I figured if the kids could do it, so could I. So I signed a waiver, strapped on my helmet camera (aka the "Stephanie-cam") and got strapped into the harness.

Stage flying isn't exactly effortless. There were two men backstage operating a pulley system to get me airborne. And I had to keep my shoulders back in order to keep from flopping over like a marionette. The harness, which fits a little bit like a jock strap on the lower body and a back pack on top, doesn't exactly provide a weightless feeling.

It exerted quite a bit of pressure on my rear end as it supported my body weight and made me think, "Oh, Lord, what have I gotten myself into?" when I was turned around so that my compressed rear end was on display for all to see as I swung from one end of the stage to the other.

Landing is also a little difficult since you have to come down on one foot. Otherwise, you feel as if you just might plant your face when you hit the ground with two feet and the harness tips you forward.

Just when I thought the adventure was over, Times Entertainment Editor David Burke, wielding a video camera himself, asked me what I thought. I answered that "flying" wasn't so bad because they didn't take me as high as I thought they might. I should have known not to open my big mouth while still strapped in, though, because my comment was taken as a dare and up I went to the rafters over the Circa ‘21 stage.

Overall, however, "flying" was fun, not too scary and I celebrated with a piece of much-awaited chocolate.

East Moline band Eyes released "Night Eyes," its first album on London-based Seed Records, earlier this month.

Billy Harris, lead singer for the band sat down for this week's podcast to talk about "Night Eyes" and preview the CD release show at Racers Edge in East Moline.

Check out the audio here.

If you go

What: Eyes with Cave, Mondo Drag and DJ Owlbeat

When: 9 p.m. Wednesday, June 10. Doors open at 8 p.m.

Where: Racers Edge, 936 15th Ave., East Moline

How much?: $2

Information: www.myspace.com/racers_edge2007

On the Web: www.myspace.com/iieyes, www.myspace.com/realreelpro, www.myspace.com/holyrocks

Show to see

Pattern is Movement will take a break from their tour with St. Vincent to perform at Huckleberry's Pizza Parlor, 223 18th St., Rock Island.

The duo's latest album, "All Together," has received positive reviews from several music publications including Pitchfork, as well as the New York Times.

Netherfriends will open the show, which begins at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 6. Cover is $4. For more on Pattern is Movement, read the full preview here.

For the family

The Quad-City Botanical Center in Rock Island is offering a Pixie Tea Party at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 6, with garden party dresses, glitter and wings optional.

Pixie-sized sandwiches and cakes will be served along with the making of magical crafts with a pixie wand to take home.

The cost is $10. For more information call (309) 794-0991.

He said what?

East Moline rapper Calliko on why he doesn't rap about guns or violence.

"I don't get down like that. I'm more into music that people can listen to, to get through the day, whether you're getting ready to go out or you're going through something, you had a breakup or you're madly in love with someone."

For more about Calliko check out the preview of Swag Fest here.

For teens

The deadline for entries for the fourth annual Teen Battle of the Bands is Wednesday, June 10.

The top three bands will receive a cash prize and two paid gigs over the summer. The Teen Battle of the Bands is part of the Davenport Public Library's Summer Reading Program.

To sign up, call (563) 326-7893 or visit http://www.davenportlibrary.com/.