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Out and About
Nightlife
Tuesday January 12, 2010
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 11:16AM CST on January 12, 2010
I'm turning 25 later this month, and I thought it would be many more years before I wrote a "times have changed since I was young" blog. But here goes. I covered the opening of Energy, a club for 14- to 19-year-olds that reopened Saturday night in the former Quad-City Suzuki location. I saw teenagers undulating against each other in ways I didn't witness until I went to college, and many girls were wearing much more makeup and significantly less clothing than I ever would have been allowed to leave the house in. Perhaps the worst moment was when I overheard one teenage guy say to his buddies, "Let's go find some hos." Now there also were plenty of teens having good clean fun in age-appropriate clothing and makeup. And most of the teens seemed to be enjoying themselves, save one group of nice young men who, despite their best efforts and an hour of talking with the ladies, couldn't find anyone to dance with them. I think Energy has the potential to be a very fun and safe nightspot for teens to spend their Saturday nights at, and I wish I would have had a place like it to go to when I was growing up in the Chicago suburbs. In a way, I had it much easier because my television role model was "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," who didn't really have a sex life until the character was in college. Now, some girls are given sultry Bratz dolls as children, and less-than-innocent shows such as "Gossip Girl" are their examples of teenage life. It's no wonder some of the ladies showed up looking more like women than the teenagers they are and that some of the guys clearly lacked respect for them. But I'm going to risk sounding much older than someone who was in high school seven short years ago and say that we, as a society, need to provide better role models for young people so they don't think they have to grow up so fast. Thursday December 17, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 3:36PM CST on December 17, 2009
Show to see - The psychedelic rock band
Ladymoon will take the RIBCO stage at 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19. The
Indianapolis-based group also dabbles in ska and reggae and is
working on its second album.
Cover is $4, and RIBCO is at 1815 2nd Ave., Rock Island. For more information, visit www.myspace.com/ladymoonmusic or www.ribco.com on the Web. For teens - The Anime Club will watch episodes from this month's featured DVD when it gathers next week. Past selections have included "Gunslinger Girl," "Solty Rei" and "Black Cat." The meeting begins at 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 21, in the Junior League Program Room at the Bettendorf Public Library, 2950 Learning Campus Drive. For more information or to suggest future anime to watch, contact John Gillette at (563) 344-4188. For the family - Children and their families can make and play board games from countries around the world at the Family Museum, 2900 Learning Campus Drive, Bettendorf. The program is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, free with museum admission, which is $6 for those 2-59 years old, $4 for senior citizens and free for children younger than 2 as well as members. For more information, call (563) 344-4106 or visit www.familymuseum.org on the Web. He said what? - Blues guitarist Lil' Ed Williams, whose career has spanned more than 20 years, on vinyl versus CD: "I loved the vinyls. I think the covers were great. Everything was huge, you could see the people better. CDs are so small and compact that you can't really get a good action shot going." Wednesday October 28, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 2:29PM CST on October 28, 2009
Tuesday night's Daytrotter Presents show at RIBCO featured the perfect lineup for a Tuesday night. Hallelujah the Hills, The Wooden Birds and The Uglysuit all played sets that were chill enough for a weeknight, with just the right amount of intensity to keep the crowd's focus on the music instead of the burger baskets. Hallelujah the Hills incorporated the trumpet and cello into its set, adding depth to their set up of standard electric instruments. The set ended with a lively rendition of "Fight of the Paper Pilots, " off the band's second album, "Colonial Drones." The highlight of The Wooden Birds performance was the warm, captivating vocal harmonies of singer/songwriter Andrew Kenny and Leslie Sisson, who is joining Kenny for the current tour. Their voices sounded as if they were made to accompany each other, each compl e menting and fitting in perfectly with the other. The Wooden Birds performed a faster, electric version of its debut album, "Magnolia," but the live show still had the mellow feel of the record . The drummer, Sean Haskins, used brushes instead of sticks, allowing the delicate vocals to come through clearly. The Uglysuit , a six-man band, turned the energy up. Originally playing quieter than I expected from such a large ensemble, the band quickly increased the volume with flowing keyboards and beautiful vocals from Israel Hindman. The band is best known for its song, "Chicago," which was featured in the final scenes of the TV series "ER," performed some new material including "1902 Deep Ocean." While I have yet to be disappointed by a show put together by Daytrotter and RIBCO, Tuesday's show was definitely one of the duo's better offerings. Keep the indie rock coming.
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 2:27PM CST on October 28, 2009
"Walking with Angels" is Hendrickson's second full-length solo album. Cover for the album release show is $4. For more information, visit www.ribco.com or www.erniehendrickson.com. For teens - The "Twilight" events have already begun as fans gear up for next month's release of "New Moon," the second movie based on the popular series of vampire romance books. The Moline Public Library, 3210 41st St., will have a showing of "Twilight" at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. The event is free and open to all ages. For more information, visit www.molinelibrary.com. For the family - Families can take advantage of pleasant fall weather and work off the calories from their Halloween candy during a bicycle tour of Arsenal Island at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1. The tour will include the Colonel Davenport Home, the old Moline Lock, Arsenal Quarters One and the Confederate Cemetery. Helmets are mandatory, and adults must accompany children younger than 12 years. Register for the free ride by calling (309) 794-5338. He said what? - Kyle Peters, the owner of the Daiquiri Factory in The District of Rock Island, on Michael Jackson's "Thriller": "I don't think you can have Halloween without 'Thriller.' It's one of those things. I grew up with it. At Halloween, you always heard the 'Thriller' song. You just naturally associated it with Halloween." Thursday October 22, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 10:53AM CST on October 22, 2009
Wednesday October 21, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 3:37PM CST on October 21, 2009
But The Wooden Birds have sent us one pair of tickets to their Daytrotter Presents show at RIBCO, 1815 2nd Ave., Rock Island. The show begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27. The Uglysuit and Hallelujah the Hills are also on the bill. But this is how the ticket giveaway will work. Keep an eye on my Twitter account, @S_DePasquale, on Friday. At some point, I will send out a tweet that reads, "The Wooden Birds." When you see that, reply to me as fast as you can, and the first person to respond will get the free tickets. For those of you who aren't on Twitter, it's a social networking site where you can let people know what you're up to and have conversations with folks - in 140 characters or less at a time. It's free to use and you can sign up for an account at www.twitter.com. Tuesday October 20, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 4:09PM CST on October 20, 2009
While @THE_matticus on Twitter and Aiwass on MySpace expressed their distaste for the horror-core rappers, @am_studios posed this question: "What was the most effective thing they did to break themselves into the industry?" Here's Violent J's answer: "I would have to date it back to the first album, our first Joker's Card. We were basically nothing, nobody, we had no name at all. But we wanted all the record stores in Michigan to carry our album, so what we did was we went and we paid the two biggest stars in Michigan at the time, the two biggest rappers; one was Esham, the other one was Kid Rock. We paid them both to be on our album, to do a song with us. That way our brand-new album, which nobody had ever heard of the group or the album, we could say it features Esham and Kid Rock on it and they were both big sellers. "So that was probably the best move we ever did because that got us in the stores and the record stores agreed to carry the album because it had them on it. That would be my suggestion if you're brand-new and nobody's interested in your album or who you are yet. A quick way around it is to put some stars on your album if you can do it because then people kind of accept you into the club." Violent J went on to say that he still talks with Esham, and while their producer still works with Kid Rock, he doesn't talk to the Kid anymore. "He's too Hollywood now," Violent J said. "He's a big star, huge star." Follow me on Twitter @S_DePasquale to submit questions to the other artists I interview each week. Thursday September 24, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 9:47AM CST on September 24, 2009
The band will take the stage for the free show at 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26. For more information, visit www.myspace.com/supernuatband or www.uptownbargrill.com. For teens - The Davenport Public Library will celebrate Banned Books Week with an open mic night. Teens are invited to recite original poetry, rap, monologue or perform a song. The event is at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, Fairmount Branch Library, 3000 N. Fairmount St., Davenport. For more information, visit www.davenportlibrary.com or call Christie Vogt at (563) 326-7832. For the family - Families can listen to three scary stories on the lawn of the Colonel Davenport House on Arsenal Island and take a tour of the historic building. Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for children or $10 per family. Lawn chairs and blankets are encouraged. The tours begin at 5:45 p.m. with the story time at 7 p.m. For more information, call (309) 786-7336 or visit www.davenporthouse.org. He said what? -Singer/songwriter Gary Jules on how his failures dwarf his successes: "A lot of the songs you write you think, 'Wow, that's the best song I ever wrote.' And it's not all the time that everybody else things that, too. I sort of got used to clipping the wings of my expectations a little bit so as not to set myself up to be disappointed."
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 9:45AM CST on September 24, 2009
Without label backing, getting their songs on the radio is close to impossible, but all have reached widespread audiences through licensing deals on television programs. Gary Jules, who will play at Huckleberry's Pizza Parlor this Sunday, made the Billboard Top 100 chart after his song "Falling Awake" was featured on "Grey's Anatomy." When the folks at Billboard figured out he accomplished the feat without any radio airplay, a label, manager or publicist, Jules said they just started laughing. "Two days later a writer for Billboard called back and did a whole article about it because it was sort of like a new door had opened," Jules said. "The idea that you could have a song on a television show and that people who watched that television show could immediately go and download that song and that song could subsequently end up on a more traditional record-buying list was amazing to them." Five Times August's Brad Skistimas tours colleges almost exclusively, partly because he likes not having to compete with the bar atmosphere for attention, but mostly because he has secured multiple licensing deals with college-friendly shows such as MTV's "Laguna Beach" and "Real World." Skistimas has had so much success with licensing deals, that he became the first unsigned artist to sell his CD at Wal-Mart. "For an artist like me, it's a great way around radio because a lot of artists on my level can't really get on the radio anymore because it's so corrupt and controlled," said Skistimas, who has tried in vain to schmooze his way onto the radio by performing at radio stations and buying the crew lunch. "Getting exposure on TV shows is really a great benefit to how we do things." Pictures of Then also has had success with licensing agreements and just signed a new one to have their songs featured in upcoming shows on MTV. For them, the money that comes in from the agreements helps keep them afloat while on tour. "Any licensing opportunity obviously comes with a payoff, and in terms of the payoff, it affords us the opportunity to put gas in the van or to do some promotion for the shows or for the record," said Tim Greenwood, of Pictures of Then, who added that licensing is also about adaptation. "Music is so accessible nowadays that really regardless of how good the music is, the band is not really ultimately going to make it unless they're capable of kind of adapting to the situation that the Internet revolution has brought about. "So many bands are much more accessible than they ever were and there's so much music going on in the world, that the Internet has really kind of made all the old rules not apply." But for all the good licensing deals have brought unsigned, up-and-coming acts, Jules says the practice really peaked about two years ago when "Falling Awake" boosted him onto the Billboard charts. Jules released his first record on a traditional record label in 1998, and since then has been putting out music on his own by utilizing the Internet. "I think I've got it down in that I've finally figured out that things are constantly changing," Jules said. "In the absence of the traditional music industry, everybody sort of wants to know what's going to take the place of that industry and for a while people thought it was going to be licensing, when the truth is, is that nothing is going to take the place that the old industry left. Licensing is going to be licensing, and it's not going to be the be-all-end-all." Friday September 11, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 11:11AM CST on September 11, 2009
The show begins at 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17. Cover is $10. Quad-City area band Head Held High will open the show. For more information, visit www.redstoneroom.com or www.thelifeandtimes.com. For the family - Families can watch "Hotel for Dogs" outdoors, play in bounce houses, scale a climbing wall, and enjoy face painting and live music at Movie in the Meadow. The event is free and sponsored by North Ridge Community Church in Eldridge, Iowa. Activities begin at 5 p.m., with the movie starting after dusk. For more information, visit www.northridgecc.com or call (563) 285-7819. Check it out - The Cool Beanz Coffee House is new to Rock Island and will host a Fall Ball featuring the music of Double B, The Beat Boxcar Children, Jacob Larson and Smotz. The all-ages show will begin at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12. Cover is $5. Cool Beanz is at 1325 30th St., Rock Island. For more information, visit www.myspace.com/truelovedies. He said what? - Brad Skistimas of Five Times August on his upcoming release, "Life As a Song," which features new recordings of old songs. "I'm a lot more developed as a performer and singer and guitar player, and I wanted to have a chance to sing them (the old songs) with more passion and more thought and play them tighter on the guitar. Just as a whole, it's a lot more polished." Thursday September 3, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 6:00PM CST on September 3, 2009
Your list of must-see shows in the Quad-Cities in September. The Brat Pack There's nothing innovative going on here, but if you'd like to relive the sounds and sights of the '80s, the Brat Pack will deliver in their all-ages outdoor show at RIBCO, 1815 2nd Ave., Rock Island. The show starts at 8 p.m., Friday, Sept. 4. Cover is $6 for 21 years and older, $8 for those underage. Cotton Jones, with Frontier Ruckus The intimate Huckleberry's Pizza Parlor will provide an appropriate space for Cotton Jones, whose melancholy, soulful tunes tend to both calm and sadden. You can check out Daytrotter.com's exclusive recordings of Cotton Jones here. Bluegrass band Frontier Ruckus opens the show with their lyrical, storytelling music. Learn more about them by reading the Quad-City Times Go&Do preview article here. The all-ages show begins at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9. Cover is $5 at Huckleberry's, 223 18th St., Rock Island. Pronto, with Pictures of Then and Jim the Mule Pronto is the side project of WILCO's Mikael Jorgensen. Their album "The Cheetah" is due out Tuesday, Sept. 8, from Contraphonic Records. This is a great chance to see Jorgensen in a 300-seat setting at RIBCO, 1815 2nd Ave., Rock Island. Pictures of Then, which has had tracks from its debut album, "Crushed by Lights," appear on MTV's "The Real World" and "The Hills," will open along with local group Jim the Mule. The show starts at 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18. Cover is $8. Electric Junkyard Gamelan Electric Junkyard Gamelan is returning to the Quad-Cities to promote its newest album, "Life On Marz." Band leader Terry Dame makes the band's instruments from everyday household items, but don't confuse the group with a noise band. Electric Junkyard Gamelan's songs come complete with melodies and harmonies that are loosely based on Indonesian Gamelan music, with elements of funk and pop mixed in. Electric Junkyard Gamelan is sure to be a treat for the eyes and the ears. The show starts at 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, at Mojo's Cafe, 129 N. Main St., Davenport. Admission is free. Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, with The Uniphonics RIBCO finishes a weekend of big names with Karl Denson's Tiny Universe. The band's namesake is the former saxophone player for Lenny Kravitz. For the Tiny Universe, Denson provides vocals, tenor saxophone, alto sax and flute. Iowa City's fast-talking jazz, hip-hop and rap combo, The Uniphonics, will likely set the stage for an exciting evening. The show starts at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19, at RIBCO, 1815 2nd Ave., Rock Island. Cover is on the pricey side at $20 for the all-ages outdoor show. Family Groove Company, with Land of Atlantis The Family Groove Company has performed at the Redstone Room for the past two New Year's Eve celebrations. At those shows, they mostly performed covers or classic songs from throughout the decades for a musical version of "Rock Star Celebrity Death Match." But the death match will be left behind at their September performance and replaced with their originals based in rock 'n' roll while heavily influenced by jazz. Doors open 8 p.m., with the show beginning at 9 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 25, in the Redstone Room, 129 N. Main St., Davenport. Cover is $8 in advance and $10 at the door. Gary Jules with Becca Rice Part of Gary Jules' claim to fame is appearing on two Billboard top-100 charts in January 2007 despite never receiving commercial radio airplay. His chart position stemmed from iTunes downloads after his song "Falling Awake" was featured on the "Grey's Anatomy" TV series. Jules also was featured on the "Donnie Darko" soundtrack and is on tour with Joshua Radin. The Daytrotter Presents all-ages show starts at 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27, at Huckleberry's Pizza Parlor, 223 18th St., Rock Island. Cover is $5. Promise of the Real The Promise of the Real features Lukas Nelson, son of Willie Nelson, on guitar. But the Promise of Real is not Nelson's father's music. The band pulls its influences from the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Neil Young. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. with the show at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, at the Redstone Room, 129 N. Main St., Davenport. Cover is $15 and the Redstone Room encourages the purchase of tickets in advance.
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 5:56PM CST on September 3, 2009
Show to see The '80s are back at RIBCO as the Brat Pack takes the outdoor stage on Friday, Sept. 4. The retro glam band will perform the hits of the decade in full costume during an all-ages show. Cover is $6 for adults and $8 for those 20 years and younger. The show begins at 8 p.m. on the plaza, 1815 2nd Ave., Rock Island. In case of inclement weather, the show will be moved indoors for a 21-and-older crowd only with an $8 cover charge. For more information, visit www.thebratpack.com. For teens Teenage rockers FireSale will perform at Mojo's Cafe in the River Music Experience, 129 N. Main St., Davenport. The teens are working on a new album with a reggae sound. The show is free and begins at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4. For more information, visit www.rivermusicexperience.org or www.myspace.com/firesalerocks. For the family The Backwater Gamblers will perform their final water skiing show of the summer at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 7. The award-winning team performs tricks and jumps on the Rock River at 44th Street, Rock Island. Admission to the show is free, but donations are accepted. For more information, visit www.backwatergamblers.com. He said what? Alan Sweet of Mental Notes, on how the band's individual nature helps sharpen the music: "We have a lot of fun just bantering and going back and forth, having a good time, play-fighting just to kind of get that tension of us three known that we're all our own person and we do our own music." For more on Mental Notes, click here. Thursday August 6, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 11:39AM CST on August 6, 2009
Show to see Alternative rock band After the Crash from San Diego will make a stop at RIBCO, 1815 2nd Ave., Rock Island. The show starts at 10 p.m. tonight, Aug. 6. Cover is $4, and it's 50-cent draft night at the venue. For more information, visit www.ribco.com or www.myspace.com/afterthecrash on the Web. For the family The Jackson County Conservation Board will host a Youth Outdoor Skills Day on Saturday, Aug. 8, at the Huntsville (Iowa) Interpretive Center. Children 7 years and older will receive training in firearms safety, BB guns, archery, fishing, orienteering, canoeing and outdoor cooking. Refreshments and equipment will be provided. The program starts at 9 a.m., and the cost is $5 in advance or $7 the day of the event. Call (563) 652-3783 to register. For teens Quad-City teen band FireSale will perform Friday night at Mojo's Cafe in the River Music Experience, 129 N. Main St., Davenport. The teens have written several original songs and are trending toward a reggae sound. The show begins at 7 p.m., and admission is free. For more information, visit www.rivermusicexperience.org, www.myspace.com/firesalerocks or view their Go&Do Live Sessions video at www.qctimes.tv. He said what? Mudvayne has worn costumes, makeup and pulled other antics onstage to spice up its shows. Ryan Martinie, the Peoria, Ill.-based band's bass player, was asked whether they have anything planned for their Friday night show at the i wireless Center: "We've done just about everything. I think we're just about out of ideas. You come to a point where suits and aliens and makeup and mud, well, what haven't we done?" Thursday June 25, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 5:14PM CST on June 25, 2009
Show to see In All Its Glory will perform with Zillion and August Zimbal at the Redstone Room, 129 N. Main St., Davenport on Saturday, June 27. The Quad-City rockers had their debut album produced by Grammy nominee Tom Tatman last summer. Doors open at 8:30 p.m. with the show starting at 9:30 p.m. Cover is $5. For more information, visit www.redstoneroom.com or www.myspace.com/inallitsglorymusic. For the family Young fishermen can participate in an angling contest just for children 12-years-old and younger. The children who catch the heaviest sunfish, bass, bullheads and catfish will receive plaques. All participants will receive door prizes. Registration begins at 9 a.m. at Malone Park, in Clinton County, Iowa, with fishing from 9:30 to 11 a.m.
For teens DYC Youth Explosion will feature performing arts, a talent show, praise dance, choir and other instruments. The event is sponsored by the NAACP Davenport Youth Council #47AA. It will begin at 4 p.m. Saturday, June 27, at Junior Theater, 2816 Eastern Ave., Davenport. Admission is $5. For more information, call (563) 391-6569 or (563) 323-4307. He said what? Puddle of Mudd frontman Wesley Scantlin on illegal downloads: "I think anybody that steals anything is kind of a joke. I don't steal anything from anybody. I've never stolen a record in my life. I guess if people want to be chumps and steal records, go ahead. But if you want to be a real cool person, go out and buy it. Because we spend a lot of time working on it in the studio. The songs just don't arrive from God. Well, they kind of sorta do arrive from God. But anyway, we have to really work and do the work in the studio to make the music happen, and if people dig and they want to listen to it, then they should at least buy it." Thursday June 18, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 2:27PM CST on June 18, 2009
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. Thursday June 4, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 7:48PM CST on June 4, 2009
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/. Thursday May 21, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 1:25PM CST on May 21, 2009
It's Memorial Day weekend and that means The Travoltas will make the trip from Canada to the Quad-Cities to play ‘70s covers at RIBCO, 1815 2nd Ave., Rock Island. Opening for the silver-sequined band are Minus Six on Saturday, May 23, and The Premium Sellouts on Sunday, May 24. Both shows will be held outdoors, weather permitting. Cover is $10, $12 for those younger than 21 years. If the shows have to be held inside, cover will be $15 for those 21 years and older only. In case of rain, the shows will begin at 10 p.m. For the family The Modern Woodmen Bank Quad-Cities Criterium will be held from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, May 25, in The District of Rock Island. The event will feature 500 bicyclists competing in races through the downtown streets. There also will be food and activities for the whole family. Admission to the event is free. For more information, call (309) 788-6323 or visit www.liveri.com on the Web. For teens The final Get Your Game On for the school year will be held Wednesday, May 27, at the Davenport Public Library. The event will be 3-5 p.m. at the Fairmount Street branch, 3000 N. Fairmount, Davenport. Teens can play video games on the Wii and PS2 for free. For more information contact Christie Vogt at either (563) 326-7900 or cvogt@davenportlibrary.com. He said what? Birth Control Records co-creator William Martin on what keeps area musicians playing: "You work all day long, a slave to the grind. You come home, you've got a wife and kids, but maybe once or twice a month you get up on stage and just go crazy. That's the best feeling in the world." Read more about Birth Control Records and Birth Control Productions by clicking here. Wednesday May 20, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 4:13PM CST on May 20, 2009
In a Quad-City Times article published Sunday, Anouar Darif said Davenport makes it easier for food vendors such as himself to do business than in The District of Rock Island. One of the reasons he gave was that the City of Rock Island requires vendors to have their cart cleaned and put away by 2:30 a.m. - 30 minutes before the closing time for District bars - whereas Davenport merely asks that vendors leave their space clean. I did an article during the winter on John Seum, who has been running the Egg Roll Express food stand in The District for more than a decade. He also was not thrilled with the 2:30 a.m. curfew for vendors. He doesn't like it mostly because a good portion of his business comes from patrons arriving in The District after the bars in Davenport close at 2 a.m. In Sunday's article, Zack Wenthe, Rock Island's downtown manager, said the reason for the 2:30 a.m. closing time is safety: The stands need to be loading up as crowds flood out of The District bars. Well, I think I have a solution that would work for vendors while keeping in mind the safety of bar-goers. Why not pass a new city ordinance that requires stands to either be cleared out by 2:30 a.m. or else vendors can't begin loading up their gear until 3:30 a.m.? Surely 30 minutes would be more than enough time to clear the plaza of bar-goers so vendors could safely load their equipment, and there likely would be fewer people in the streets at 3:30 a.m. than at 2:30 a.m., when patrons are still bar-hopping or heading home early to beat the rush of cars at The District's 3 a.m. closing time. Thursday May 14, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 5:38PM CST on May 14, 2009
Country band Boothill Ridge, which features a female lead and specializes in harmonies, will perform at 9:30 p.m. Saturday at RIBCO, 1815 2nd Ave., Rock Island. Boothill Ridge has been together for less than a year but has already released its first album, "5 Miles To Fame." Cover is $4. He said what? Before going to RIBCO for a Daytrotter Presents show, Drakkar Sauna will play at Nelsonville Music Festival, a three-day event that features Willie Nelson. "For a band like us, there's not really any choice. We get wonderful opportunities to do different stuff, but there's almost always on varying scales," said Wallace Cochran of Drakkar Sauna. "That's how it's always been for us, and we've always really liked it." For teens The Davenport Public Library is looking for new members in its Theatre Club. The club nurtures young actors and actresses giving them opportunities to participate in readers' theater and theater games. The club is free and will meet at 4 p.m. today at the Davenport Public Library, 321 Main St., Davenport. For more information, contact Tamra McConoughey at tmcconoughey@davenportlibrary.com or (563) 326-7900. For the family The Quad-Cities Experimental Aircraft Association will host a Young Eagles Rally for children 8 to 17 years old. Children will be able to take a free flight in a personal aircraft. The Young Eagles Rally will be held at Davenport Municipal Airport, 9010 Harrison St., Davenport. For more information, contact Keith Vasey at keith@vaseyaircraft.com or (309) 749-8881. Friday May 8, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 2:16PM CST on May 8, 2009
If you're headed to the Gallery Hop! tonight in The District of Rock Island, make sure you check out our interactive map to plan out your night.
It features all the Hop! venues, lists what artists will be at each location and even has links to the Web sites of the artists on display. View Rock Island Gallery Hop! in a larger map Wednesday May 6, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 12:55PM CST on May 6, 2009
Show to see Detroit rockers The High Strung will perform Friday night at Theo’s Java Club, 213 17th St., Rock Island. The High Strung’s latest album, “Ode to the Inverse of the Dude,” was released last month and examines the inner self. Quad-City area group Chrash and solo project Quiet Bears will open the Daytrotter Presents show, which begins at 7 p.m. May 8. Cover is $5. Tickets to buy Meat Puppets, one of Nirvana’s major influences, will perform in a Daytrotter Presents show at 8 p.m. June 24 at RIBCO. Tickets will be available for $12 beginning Monday, May 11. They will be sold at RIBCO, 1815 2nd Ave., Rock Island, or at Co-Op Records stores around the Quad-Cities. For teens The Davenport Public Library Teen Volunteer Council will hold its last meeting before breaking for the summer. The council helps plan library programming and to select materials for teens. Participants also help with library fundraising. The meeting will be 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 12, at the Fairmount Street branch, 3000 N. Fairmount. For more information, call (563) 326-7900. He said what? The members of Mija joke that noise is one-eighth of the band’s sound. But JT Tapia explained that the band has a pop base with a ‘70s transition. “Its an essential aspect of it because there’s so much mathematics and specific writing that when you add what we call the noise aspect, or the ambiance or whatever, it makes it that much more eclectic. The contrast is so high it becomes essential to the sound as a whole.” To read more about Mija, check out the band's profile in this week's Go&Do. Friday May 1, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 3:04PM CST on May 1, 2009
 Show to see RIBCO plans to host its first outdoor show of the year, if the weather holds as forecast this weekend. The Trippin Billies, a Dave Matthews tribute band, will headline, with Mark Joseph of Down Lo opening on Saturday, May 2. The show will be open to all ages if it is held outside on the plaza, with a $10 cover for 20-year-olds and younger. Those of legal drinking age can get in for $7, or $9 if the show is moved indoors at RIBCO, 1815 2nd Ave., Rock Island. Showtime is 8 p.m. if the night is clear, 10 p.m. in case of rain. For teens Prom-goers can get their picture taken for free and receive two 4-inch-by-6-inch color photos per couple at Genesis Medical Center, 1227 E. Rusholme St., Davenport. Genesis asks teens who participate in the offer to sign a pledge to have an alcohol-free prom. Participants also will be eligible to win a $100 gift certificate. For more information, call (563) 421-9275. For the family Families can listen to a choir of frogs at the Moonlight Frog Chorus Walk at the Wapsi River Environmental Educational Center, 31555 52nd Ave., Dixon, Iowa. The walk begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 2. The event is free, and participants need only bring a flashlight and waterproof footwear. For more information, call (563) 328-3286. He said what? Ninja Gun frontman Johnathan Coody on why he takes a vitamin every day. “For a touring band, it’s definitely a challenge to stay healthy because you’re constantly switching to different temperature zones and the pressure is different. You’re eating at weird times and sleeping sporadically. ... I wouldn’t have it any other way. This is a great lifestyle.” Wednesday April 22, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 12:48PM CST on April 22, 2009
Shelley Short, whose animal-themed album titles have gained momentum, is coming to Rock Island for a Daytrotter Presents show. Short actually likes the rain of the Pacific Northwest, where she attended art school, but now calls Chicago her home. The show begins at 7 p.m. Friday, May 1, at Huckleberry’s Pizza Parlor, 223 18th St., Rock Island. Cover is $5. For adults only The District is hosting a Chicago Cubs-themed pub crawl to celebrate the start of the baseball season. Participants have a chance to win tickets to a Cubs game or team apparel. The Spring Pub Crawl is 7-11 p.m. Friday, April 24, in The District. Participating bars are 2nd Avenue, Arena, Bennigan’s, Daiquiri Factory, Del’s, Icons, Malarkey’s and Steve’s Old Time Tap. For teens (others, too) The Quad-City Youth Symphony Orchestra will end its 51st season with a concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 26, at Augustana College's Centennial Hall, 3703 7th Ave., Rock Island. The youth orchestra is comprised of 80 middle, junior high and high school students. The symphony awards more than $7,000 in scholarships. He said what? Superdrag’s frontman, John Davis, on why the band released “Industry Giants” on its own label, Superdrag Sound Laboratories, because of its previous experience with Elektra Entertainment Group. “There were some hurt feelings and we definitely walked away from there having learned some lessons. Sometimes you learn best from doing things the wrong way.” For more about Superdrag and their upcoming Daytrotter Presents show at RIBCO, click here to read the preview in this week's Go&Do. Saturday April 18, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 11:28PM CST on April 18, 2009
Justin Townes Earle had one heck of a sore throat Saturday night, but while some artists would cancel tours or postpone shows, Earle just slowed down his set and played on.
If it hadn’t been for Earle’s own explanation of the altered set, and his constant sipping from water bottles between songs, the respectable crowd for an early evening show at RIBCO likely wouldn’t have even noticed. Earle’s vocals never faltered and he still managed to perform some of his faster numbers. But the fast talking wasn’t reserved for the songs, Earle was just as entertaining in between numbers, talking about everything from lessons his momma wouldn’t approve of to a girl he met in a methadone clinic at the age of 15. They weren’t your average time-filling conversations, but they were hilarious. Earle’s touring partner, Cory Younts, was also impressive on the banjo and harmonica. While Earle stuck with water, headliner Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit passed around a bottle of Jack Daniels in between songs. Isbell’s accent tells you he’s from the south like Earle, but Isbell’s music is much more rock-inspired than Earle’s which is filled with bright country vowels. But the crowd loved Isbell, often singing along during the musician’s two sets. Earle and Isbell also performed a few songs together because Saturday’s Daytrotter Presents show was the last one on their tour together. The three-part harmony of Earle, Isbell and Younts was one of the best parts of the show. Wednesday April 1, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 3:31PM CST on April 1, 2009
It’s time to start gearing up for the fourth annual Teen Battle of the Bands. The Davenport Public Library will begin accepting applications May 1, giving teens time to get their bands and set lists together before the contest. Show to see The Tallest Man on Earth, a Swedish songwriter whose Dylanesque sounds have captured the attention of Pitchfork, is coming to the Quad-Cities for a Daytrotter Presents show. Kristian Matsson, the lanky fellow behind the name, toured with Bon Iver late last year and will perform at Huckleberry’s Pizza Parlor, 223 18th St., Rock Island, at 7 p.m. Friday, April 3. Cover is $6. She said what? Actress-comedian Aisha Tyler, a former host of “Talk Soup” on the cable channel E!, says fans of that program — where talk-show clips were played for laughs — should be familiar with her style of stand-up comedy. “It’s exactly who I was on ‘Talk Soup.’ We called it stinky-smart. It’s the intellectual joke and the (passing gas) joke all rolled into one.” For more information on Tyler and her upcoming performances at Penguin’s, click here to read the story in this week's Go&Do. For the family The Davenport Public Library will host its weekly Preschool Story Time for children and their caregivers at the Fairmount Street branch. The free event is held at 10 a.m. every Monday. For more information, you can contact Samantha Wikstrom either by calling (563) 326-7900 or through e-mail at swikstrom@davenportlibrary.com. The Fairmount branch is at 300 N. Fairmount St. Thursday March 26, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 11:21PM CST on March 26, 2009
The word "stimulus" has been overused quite a bit recently, but The District has one for anyone that wants to go to Gumbo Ya Ya and Ya Maka My Weekend.
Regular priced tickets are $8 for a one-day pass and $12 for a two-day. But if you buy tickets in March (there are a few days left) they are $5 and $9 respectively. The prices go up to $6 and $10 in April and $7 and $11 in May. The District is also offering a premium package for the first time. A one-day admission package includes two beverage tickets, event T-shirt and Mardi Gras mask for $25 if you pre-order, or $30 at full-price. The two-day admission package includes four beverage coupons, a T-shirt and mask for $35 for a pre-order or $46 at full price. To order tickets call 309-788-6311 or e-mail ridistrict@teamrockisland.com. Wednesday March 18, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 5:55PM CST on March 18, 2009
Cheese Pizza will perform at RIBCO on Saturday, March 21. The retro band, which has a slight obsession with dressing in drag, is on the bill with the AC/DC tribute band High Voltage. The show begins at 10 p.m. and cover is $9. RIBCO is at 1815 2nd Ave., Rock Island. For teens Night Club Now, a traveling party for teens, will hold an event 8-11:30 p.m. Saturday, March 21, at the Davenport RiverCenter, 136 E. 3rd St. The party is open to teens 14 to 19 years old and costs $10 to attend, which includes pizza and favors. Night Club Now also will feature the Midwest Best Dance Crew. For the family Insect Zoo is coming to the Family Museum, 2900 Learning Campus Drive, Bettendorf. The program will give children the chance to learn about, see and even touch bugs. There are two opportunities to participate in the program: 1 p.m. today and at 10 a.m. Friday, March 20. Insect Zoo is free with museum admission. She said what? To say that Mary Ellis is a regular at Dr. Gyros in Rock Island is an understatement. She eats at the restaurant so often that the owners had some advice for her. “I was told I should buy stock in Dr. Gyros. I’ve come as often as five times a week,” she said. To read about Dr. Gyros, this week’s $10 or less feature, click here.
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 11:13AM CST on March 18, 2009
When I had lunch this past weekend with a couple of friends from college (one of whom is a senior this year), they recounted the disturbing events of their previous evening.
They had headed out to The District with a group of girls. While they were seated at the bar in one establishment, a man who walked up next to one of them was wearing a hooded sweatshirt and sunglasses, despite the fact it was well past midnight. The man then proceeded to get closer and closer to my friend until he had somehow weaseled his leg onto her bar stool. She was creeped out and tried to ignore him, which became impossible when he began rubbing her shoulders. Keep in mind that she had never seen this guy before and that they had not exchanged a single word. She sternly told him to take his hands off her, but he kept trying to get closer and closer. The bartender eventually stepped into the situation and the guy left, or so they thought. When they departed — thankfully in a group — he was standing outside. The girls said they’ve been running into these “creepers” at a disturbingly frequent rate lately. Now I know there are plenty of nice guys out there who are much more tactful when it comes to getting chatting up a woman at a bar, but have any of you ladies recently had similar experiences? Are you noticing an increase in the frequency of encounters with these so-called “creepers?” I once interviewed a woman who said she enjoyed going to Uptown Neighborhood Bar and Grill in Bettendorf because she didn’t have to worry about feeling like she was in the middle of a meat market, so maybe there are a variety of factors at work. And how about you guys? Have you ever run into a woman at at bar who was so pushy it made you uncomfortable? Wednesday March 11, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 2:44PM CST on March 11, 2009
Singer/songwriter Howie Day, who left Bangor, Maine, for the coffeehouse scene in Boston, is coming to the Redstone Room, 129 N. Main St., Davenport. Day is planning to release an album later this year to follow up on his 2003 release “Stop All the World Now.” Nick Zuber will open for Day at the show tonight. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., with the show beginning at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $20. For teens Parents can drop their kids off for an all-night skate from 6 p.m. Friday, March 13, to 6 a.m. Saturday, March 14, at Skate City QCA and Laser Tag Alley, 1140 Avenue of the Cities, East Moline. Playing on the theme of Friday the 13th, there will be 13-cent specials at the snack bar. The evening is $31 and includes a free skate rental, two games of laser tag, dinner and breakfast. For more information, call (309) 755-5219. For the family The YMCA is hosting a Swim the Mississippi challenge this year. Participants have the entire year to swim 2,124 laps, or 59 miles. Each lap will count for 40 river miles, and participants can use kickboards and flippers to help meet the challenge. Register for the program at any Scott County YMCA and swim any day or time. The cost to participate is $15 and includes an “I swam the Mississippi” T-shirt. She said what? Wicked Liz and the Bellyswirls kick off the evening round of local bands with a set time of 5:15 p.m. during the St. Patrick’s celebration Saturday, March 14, at Kelly’s Irish Pub in Davenport. Four bands are scheduled after them, but leader singer Liz Treiber is feeling the heat. “Although we may not seem like the headliner, all the people that are going to be there are going to be the least drunk when we play. The pressure is on.” Thursday March 5, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 3:48PM CST on March 5, 2009
The Quad-City Rollers will face off against the Big Mouth Mickies at the Shamrock Shakedown at 6:30 p.m., Friday, March 6. The match will be the first win of the 2009 season for one of the teams. The roller derby bout will have music provided by rockabilly band The Krank Daddies. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. Children 10-years-old and younger are free. The Shamrock Shakedown will be held at the RiverCenter, 136 E. 3rd St., Davenport. Show to see Twin-cities band Roster McCabe will bring its rock reggae sound to RIBCO, 1815 2nd Ave., Rock Island. Roster McCabe has performed throughout at Summerfest, Bella Sol and Harvestfest and is currently working on a new record to follow their 2007 debut “The Rhythm/The Elements.” Roster McCabe will open for Heatbox, an acappella, beat boxing mix, at 10 p.m. today. Cover is $4. For teens The Davenport Library is hosting its monthly meeting of the Teen Volunteer Council. The group gives area teens a chance to make a difference by helping influence programming and materials the library provides for teens. Teens will also help fundraise and network with other young adults. The Teen Volunteer Council will meet at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10 at the Fairmount location, 3000 N. Fairmount St., Davenport. For more information call Christie Vogt at (563) 326-7900. She said what? Liz Treiber, of Wicked Liz & the Bellyswirls, status as the vocalist of a band that has the word “belly” in its name, was all the motivation she needed to lose the baby weight from when she had her daugher two years ago. When Trieber took the stage again, she was a size smaller than before the pregnacy. “I was like, ‘I’ve got to be in front of all these people and they know I had a kid. I’ve got to look good.’ ” To read more about Wicked Liz & the Bellyswirls, click here. Tuesday March 3, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 3:59PM CST on March 3, 2009
The indie rock band Cold War Kids’ second Daytrotter session was released Monday and the Daytrotter team announced today that the blogosphere sensation will perform April 14 at RIBCO, 1815 2nd Ave., Rock Island.
In other music news, Justin Townes Earle will return to the Quad-Cities. The son of Steve Earle played to a sold-out crowd last year at Huckleberry’s Pizza Parlor and will take the stage at RIBCO for an April 18 show. Jason Isbell, formerly of Drive-By Truckers, will perform along with Earle. Both shows will be all-ages and cost $12 each. Tickets to both shows will go on sale at RIBCO on Friday, March 13. Thursday February 12, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 12:53PM CST on February 12, 2009
 Show to see The Little Ones, whose recent stints included a Tuesday night performance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” will make a stop Tuesday, Feb. 17, at the Redstone Room, 129 Main St. The indie pop band that incorporates tambourines and hand claps into its music, released “Morning Tide,” its first full-length album, last year. Doors will open at 7 p.m., with the show at 8. Cover is $7. For teens High school students can see the spring fashions in prom dresses and tuxedos from five area shops at the second Q-C Prom Fashion Expo. The event will be 1-5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15, at Davenport Central High School, 1120 Main St. Admission is $5. For more information, call Merriam Rink at (563) 210-1257. For the family Students in grades 1-6 will construct a building made of blocks, string, rock and aluminum foil at the Block Kids Building Contest. Pre-registration is recommended and can be made by calling (563) 344-4106. The event will be 9-11:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, at the Bettendorf Family Museum, 2900 Learning Campus Drive. He said what? Jeff McGrath, who plays guitar, organ, runs samples and provides the vocals for Thank You, said the band’s only goal is to keep writing more music. “It’s pretty incredible when you think about it. A song doesn’t exist and then a song, with the help of a few people, all of a sudden, does exist.” Click here to read the Quad-City Times story on Thank You. Wednesday February 4, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 2:42PM CST on February 4, 2009
Brooklyn-based KaiserCartel will perform in a Daytrotter Presents show at 5 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 5 at RIBCO, 1815 2nd Ave., Rock Island. The all-ages show also features Omaha, Neb., band Thunder Power. The show begins at 5 p.m. and admission is $5. For those who are 21 years and older with an extra $4 to spend, Peoria, Ill., band Mindset Evolution takes the stage at 10 p.m. tonight. For the family Children in kindergarten through third grade can write and illustrate stories at the Reading Rainbow writing workshop, 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, at the Rock Island Public Library, 401 19th St. The children will learn about the concepts of character, plot, setting and brainstorming. Pre-registration is required and can be made by calling (309) 732-7323. For teens The Davenport Public Library's Teen Volunteer Council gives area teens the opportunity to get involved in their community. The council helps provide programming and materials for teens. The next meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, at the Davenport Public Library-Fairmount Street, 3000 N. Fairmount. The event is free. He said what? Benjamin Taylor, the only son of music megastars James Taylor and Carly Simon, had been billed simply as Ben Taylor for his first four albums, but he went to the long version of his name for the fifth, “The Legend of Kung Folk, Part One (The Killing Bite).” “I feel like I’m growing up quick and I might as well use all the syllables I’ve been given,” Taylor, 32, said. To read a story on Taylor published in the Quad-City Times, click here. Thursday January 29, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 3:08PM CST on January 29, 2009
No Budget TV will host a screening of “Episode Seven” on Saturday, Jan. 31, at Racers Edge, 936 15th Ave., East Moline. The screening also will feature performances by Reelfoot Rift, D’z Nutz, Speedfinger and The Pimps. The No Budget TV boys also will be doing filming for their season finale during the same event. Doors open at 7 p.m. and cover is $5 before 8 p.m., $7 thereafter. The episode screening is at midnight. Free event The Bier Stube will host a Winterfest celebration Saturday, Jan. 31, at its Moline location, 417 15th St. Winterfest will feature a Snow Queen contest, the Chili Challenge, 6-foot penguins, a Fish Toss, beer tasting, a human dog sled, the Polar Plunge and a vodka slide. Winterfest will be 3-9 p.m. and admission is free. He said what? Dierks Bentley is about to put out his fifth studio album and has recorded 10 singles that have reached the top spot on the country music charts. But despite his success, he has only one television in his house because he thinks too much TV is bad for you. “On a tour bus, there are like 10 TVs; everyone has one on their bunk. It’s all news that, God, you walk off there and you’re so depressed.” To read the Quad-City Times story on Bentley, click here. For the familyMike Granger, the Wapsi River Center naturalist, will lead a snowshoe walk at 10 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 31. Participants will start at the Wapsi River Environmental Education Center, 3155 52nd Ave., Dixon, Iowa, and walk through the Wapsi woods on snowshoes, looking for animal tracks. Pre-registration is required and can be made by calling (563) 328-3286. Wednesday January 28, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 10:25AM CST on January 28, 2009
I realized this as I watched the Chicago rap group Animate Objects perform Friday night at RIBCO. The group featured two emcees, a DJ, a keyboard player, a drummer, and a guitar and bass player. The result was a sophisticated rap that was much more impressive sonically and visually than a guy bouncing around on stage with a microphone as a pre-recorded beat streams across the PA system. Animate Objects still rapped about ridin’ and rising above your troubles, and gave shout-outs to members of the band the in the stereotypical way that any rap group would. But the presence of backing talent seems to be what made the difference between getting booked at RIBCO and getting booked at the Chorus Line. Tuesday January 27, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 3:11PM CST on January 27, 2009
The event also featured a photo contest for high school students. Here are the winners: First place — Maura Warner; Davenport Central High School, for “Reflection” Second place — Jaclyn Rahn; James B. Conant High School, Roselle, Ill., for “The Field” Third place — Erin White; Kimberly Center East High School, for “Crossing Over” Other students whose works are included in the display include: Ashley Vegter, Brandon Addison, Marissa Gooden and Desiree Skelley, all of Kimberly Center East High School. If you go What: When: 6-9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30 Where: Bucktown Center for the Arts, 225 E. 2nd St., Davenport How much: Free Friday January 23, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 11:20PM CST on January 23, 2009
Rodriguez released “Cold Fact,” a psychedelic album with Dylan-like lyrics, in 1970. But it flopped and Rodriguez faded away with his career. Unknown to the singer, “Cold Fact” became a cult classic in Australia and South Africa, selling more than 100,000 copies and was rereleased last year in the United States. But at Huckleberry’s, the man who is a legend in the southern hemisphere, thanked the standing room only crowd for coming out to see him even though it was so cold outside. And before introducing his song “Sugar Man” which is about “jumpers, coke and sweet mary jane,” Rodriguez made the disclaimer, “Get your hugs, stay off drugs.” Rodriguez proved why he has sold out 5,000 capacity venues on the other side of the world, performing songs off of the album of his youth that are about lost love and the ills of society, filled with lyrics and insight well beyond the typical 20-something’s understanding of the ways of the world. The only sour point of the performance was the out of tune piano at Huckleberry’s. But after the performance which gained Rodriguez a standing ovation, he humbly said it was the band that made him look good. Stephanie De Pasquale can be contacted at (563) 333-2639. Wednesday January 21, 2009
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 3:48PM CST on January 21, 2009
Each week I write up four briefs to highlight entertainment events that we didn't have space to write full stories on in Go&Do. We affectionately refer to the briefs as "Quads" and they never quite make it online, so I figured my blog would be a good place to publish them at. So here are your Quads for the week. Show to seeChicago hip hop and funk band Animate Objects released its EP “Dubs, Grunts and Things” earlier this month as a free download. The move to give their music away for free was so that Animate Object fans could spend the money on seeing the band live, instead of on their latest record. In addition to giving their music away for free, RIBCO is also offering anyone who knows this week’s password $1 off cover, bring the price to $4. To get the weekly passwords, sign up for RIBCO’s e-mail list at ribco.com or add them as a friend at myspace.com/ribcomusic. Iowa City band The Uniphonics will open for Animate Objects. Doors open at 9 p.m. with music starting at 10 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 23. RIBCO is located at 1815 2nd Ave., Rock Island. He said what? Andy Lank, manager of Carriage Haus and Kilkenny’s in downtown Davenport on the new shuttle bus for college students the two bars are running along with Mac’s Tavern and Shenanigan’s. “It’s one of those things where I think it will take two weeks to build and then it’ll be big.” The bus transported more than 200 students to and from the bars during it’s first weekend in business. For more on the shuttle, click here. For the family The Quad-City Rollers will start off its first full season of competition with Red, White and Bruises at Beyond the Baseline, 1540 W. 12th St., Davenport. The women of the Quad-City Rollers will compete in a roller derby bout against another team from the region. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door, with a portion of the proceeds going to charity. Children 12 years old and younger are free. The bout begins at 6:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 23. For teens The first meeting of the Young Writer’s Guild of the Quad-Cities will be at 3 p.m., Jan. 24. At the first meeting, the group plans to set a schedule of meetings which should include two Saturdays and one weeknight a month at the Midwest Writing Center, 225 E. 2nd St., Suite 303, Davenport. Saturday’s meeting will also feature an introduction goals and methods of writing with writing exercises. The meeting is free. For more information call (563) 324-1410 or visit midwestwritingcenter.org. Tuesday December 23, 2008
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 11:02PM CST on December 23, 2008
I was very thankful that I ran out of time to peruse thrift stores this weekend for a hideous ugly sweater because nobody wore one to the A Very Sexy X-Mas party featuring and Ugly Sweater Party at Nan’s Piano Bar on Tuesday night.
There was one couple wearing holiday sweaters, but the sweaters were nowhere near gaudy enough to fit the theme. I opted not to risk possibly offending the couple and just assumed their wardrobe choice was a coincidence rather than an attempt at an ugly sweater. However my disappointment at the chance to relive my college days at a theme party quickly faded when Tim Stopulos picked up his guitar. The Bettendorf native turned Chicago musician filled the piano bar with his warm voice, impressive range and dynamic guitar and piano styling. Stopulos played mostly covers, but his acoustic renditions of John Mayer’s “Why Georgia,” Justin Timberlake’s “Until the End of Time,” and The Killer’s “Mr. Brightside” were far more organic and enjoyable than the originals. Just as impressive as Stopulos’ performance was the standing room only crowd that filled the piano bar on a cold weeknight with snow in the forecast. These days I hear more managers and owners complaining about the weather and economy keeping customers out of their establishments, but Nan’s clearly isn’t having any problems bringing in a crowd. To keep their patrons rolling in Nan’s will start offering dueling pianos every Friday and Saturday nights starting Friday, Jan. 2. Nan’s will also institute a ladies night on Thursdays starting Jan. 8 and Jesse Anderson, general manager of the Freight House, said it’s not just going to be drink specials that the ladies can win, but the piano bar will give away a Coach purse every week. And in an issue close to my heart, Nan’s is also going to host more theme nights in the future, which means it’s time to dig out the bin in my basement filled with all the costumes I amassed during my days at Augustana. Stephanie De Pasquale can be contacted at (563) 333-2639 or sdepasquale@qctimes.com.
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 7:07PM CST on December 23, 2008
The show, which runs until 10 p.m. tonight (Tuesday), features 18 bands and serves as a hunger drive benefitting the Christ United Methodist Church food pantry in East Moline. Sixteen-year-old Alex Hughes of Moline brought several canned goods along with boxes of macaroni and cheese to the show, one of the first he’s attended at Mixtapes. “It’s a good idea because a lot of people go to shows for good entertainment, and then benefitting people is also good,” he said. JT Tapia of Mixtapes said he was proud of the amount of food the teens brought in and expected more donations to come in after adult music fans got off work and headed to the show. XMess Fest was so named because it features a lineup of mostly experimental music. For instance, A.R.U., which is comprised of Randy Carter of Dubuque, Iowa, his samplers, drum machine and computer, performed rhythmic noise. Carter mixes break beats with world drumming to create samples and then layers other noise to create a sound that alternates between something that seems like it belongs in a club and, well, noise. Still up tonight are Owlbeat, We Are, Sinjo Thraw Mash, X+X, IdPyramid and Eyes. IF YOU GO What: XMess Fest When: Tuesday, Dec. 23 7-7:30 p.m. - Owlbeat 7:30-8 p.m. - We Are 8-8:30 p.m. - Sinjo Thraw Mash 8:30-9 p.m. - X+X 9-9:30 p.m. - IdPyramid 9:30-10 p.m. - Eyes Where: Mixtapes, 830 15th Ave., East Moline How much: $10, or $5 with a donation of canned goods Stephanie De Pasquale can be contacted at (563) 333-2639 or sdepasquale@qctimes.com. Thursday December 18, 2008
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 5:03PM CST on December 18, 2008
Oh, the Ugly Sweater Christmas Party. It’s that time of year when you bring out the sweater your grandmother got you but you never wore because it has a three-dimensional reindeer on the front or is so busy it makes your eyes want to scream.
In other words, it’s the one occasion when you can wear all the ridiculous holiday sweaters you normally wouldn’t be caught dead in. The Bier Stube, 415 15th St., Moline, is hosting a Tacky Holiday Sweater and ‘80s Dance Party from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20. And truly ugly sweaters and ‘80s dance music are a good fit because each really only needs to make an appearance once a year. Nan’s Piano Bar, 421 W. River Drive, Davenport is hosting an Ugly Sweater Party as part of its A Very Sexy X-Mas party from 8 p.m. to midnight Tuesday, Dec. 23. I’m not quite sure how sexy and ugly sweaters go together, but I’ll be going there to find out. I do have one problem. My grandmother has good taste, so I don’t have an ugly sweater. But I’m sure I can find one at a thrift store. Are any of you going to ugly sweater parties this holiday season and what do your sweaters look like? You can e-mail me pictures of your masterpieces at sdepasquale@qctimes.com and I’ll post them on this blog. If you go What: Tacky Holiday Sweater and ‘80s Dance Party When: 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 20 Where: Bier Stube, 415 15th St., Moline How much: Free Information: bier-stube.com If you go What: A Very Sexy X-Mas, featuring an Ugly Sweater Party When: 5 p.m. to midnight Tuesday, Dec. 23, with the Ugly Sweater Party beginning at 8 p.m. Where: Nan’s Piano Bar, 421 W. River Drive, Davenport How much: $5 Information: qcfreighthouse.com Stephanie De Pasquale can be contacted at (563) 333-2639 or sdepasquale@qctimes.com.
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 10:27AM CST on December 18, 2008
The District was dead in the early evening hours of Saturday except for RIBCO, which welcomed a healthy crowd to the Love Is All and Crystal Stilts performances.
Love Is All, which recently received glowing reviews from Spin and Blender magazines for its release “A Hundred Things Keep Me Up at Night,” did not disappoint. Josephine Olausson, on vocals and keyboard for the Swedish band, kept the crowd engaged throughout the 45-minute set and proved to be just as much fun live as she sounds like on the CD. I love her voice, which is very soft when she speaks but turns into an updated version of ‘80s pop, marked by staccato words and phrases in different pitches, when singing. The crowd surrounded the stage and was clearly having a good time, which is always easier to do when you can tell the band members are enjoying themselves, too, as Love Is All was Saturday. And while most Daytrotter shows have an intimate feel to them because they are held nearby at Huckleberry’s Pizza Parlor, the concert atmosphere that RIBCO provided only helped to enhance the show. I wasn’t as impressed with the Crystal Stilts. I enjoyed their music, but couldn’t understand a word singer Brad Hargett said. I just have a hard time connecting with a band when I can’t make out what it is they’re singing about. I’m sure my preferences regarding diction come from the vocal exercises my college choir director made us practice over and over again so that all our consonants and vowels wouldn’t get lost. Stephanie De Pasquale can be contacted at (563) 333-2639 or sdepasquale@qctimes.com. Tuesday December 16, 2008
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 9:10AM CST on December 16, 2008
I’ve been to the casinos twice in the three years since I turned 21: once on my 21st birthday, when I won $5 and called it a night, and a second time this past weekend when I fared a little better.
As you can tell, I’m not much of a gambler, but I found myself at the Isle in Bettendorf for a special occasion Friday night. I don’t intend to make a habit of going because I tend to get more nervousness than pleasure from playing the slot machines, especially when it only takes a few minutes to blow through $20. But I can say that if I ever find myself at a casino for a special occasion again, I’m going to insist that the party goes to one in Illinois because I didn’t realize until Friday how much I enjoy coming home without smelling like cigarette smoke. I did see more University of Illinois sweatshirts in the hour I was at the Isle than I have in the past 10 months since I moved to the Iowa side of the Mississippi River. So, assuming they’re all from the Illinois half of the Quad-Cities, I’d say Illinois smokers are loving the casino exemption in the Iowa smoking ban. Are there any Illinois smokers out there who can attest to this? And how about any other people who are glad they don’t have to deodorize their coats after every night out during the wintertime? Stephanie De Pasquale can be contacted at (563) 333-2639 or sdepasquale@qctimes.com. Monday December 15, 2008
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 10:14AM CST on December 15, 2008
Hey all. Things got a little crazy around here on Friday and this didn't get posted so some of the info is dated, but RIBCO still offers a password each week to get a discount on shows so I figured it was still worthwhile to post.
Want to go see live music tonight but can’t afford the cover? RIBCO has a solution that means more green for the environment — and your wallet. RIBCO has begun offering a pass phrase each week that is revealed through MySpace bulletins and to members of the downtown Rock Island bar’s e-mail list. The special phrase, which changes weekly, gets those in the know a discount off the cover charge. The bar used to print coupons, but now it’s just using the phrase in order to be more environmentally friendly. Those who repeat this week’s phrase to the doorman will get $2 off the $6 cover for Minus Six, with Mer at 10 p.m. tonight or for Saturday’s Spiritual Rex, with Bumper Crop show, also beginning at 10 p.m. The pass phrase is not good for Love is All, with the Crystal Stilts since that show is taking place in conjunction with Daytrotter.com. The cover for Love Is All is $5, and the show begins at 5 p.m. This week’s pass phrase is “Bonsai.” But in order to get the phrase after this week, you’ll have to become a RIBCO friend at myspace.com/ribcomusic or sign up for RIBCO’s e-mail list at ribco.com. Stephanie De Pasquale can be contacted at (563) 333-2639 or sdepasquale@qctimes.com. Comment on this column at qctimes.com. Wednesday December 10, 2008
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 4:15PM CST on December 10, 2008
The only time Thorn took a break was to step aside while one of the other members showed off their jazz chops on the drums, bass, guitar or tenor saxophone. Thorn’s rap and hip hop laid over the rest of the band’s jazz and funk sounds, while not a typical musical combination, works for The Uniphonics. The catchy riffs and lyrics that always circle back to some mention of Iowa City, or IC, have a way of supporting each other. One particularly entertaining song was “Iowa City,” in which Thorn lists off a plethora of night spots the band has played at and I somehow have managed to visit in the two trips I’ve made to the college town. He then makes the case that Iowa City is the place to be, not Chicago, Madison, Wis., St. Paul, Minn., or any other major Midwest city. In an interview to preview the show, The Uniphonics referred to “Iowa City” as the anthem the city needed. The Uniphonics will be back at RIBCO on January 23, with Animate Objects. Stephanie De Pasquale can be contacted at (563) 333-2639 or sdepasquale@qctimes.com. Saturday December 6, 2008
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 10:07AM CST on December 6, 2008
Friday December 5, 2008
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 3:20PM CST on December 5, 2008
Diesel, a nightclub for teens is opening tonight in Davenport. The alcohol-free club is open to teens ages 13 to 18 and parents can check it out tonight and tomorrow from 5 to 7 p.m. during a parents open house.
If you go What: Diesel grand opening
When: 5 to 7 p.m. parents open house, 7 to 11:30 p.m. open to teens on Friday, Dec. 5, and Saturday, Dec. 6. Regular hours are 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday Where: 4320 Brady St., Davenport How much: $10 for teens, parents open house freeInformation: myspace.com/dieselteennightclub You can check out the whole story here. Stephanie De Pasquale can be contacted at (563) 333-2639 or sdepasquale@qctimes.com. Thursday December 4, 2008
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 10:06AM CST on December 4, 2008
More often than not, I come across bands that are either good live or good in the studio. My favorite country group, the Drew Davis Band, falls into this category. They put on an amazing live show, but they have trouble capturing the same intensity in the studio.
But the Quad-City band Chrash Flood proved Saturday night that it can deliver on both fronts. Chrash Flood just released its third album, “The Name They Change,” with Future Appletree Studio 1. Chris Bernat, the lead singer, credits Pat Stolley for the record’s sound, and Stolley was on hand at RIBCO to run sound for the band’s CD release show. The instruments and vocals were at just the right level so each part was clearly audible, with no one member trying to show off. This was most evident in Paul Blomquist’s performance on drums, which was crisp without being overpowering. Bernat also demonstrated enunciation skills I’ve only heard previously in classically trained vocalists. No matter the volume or intensity of his voice, I could understand every word and hear every consonant. Add to that his ability to steadily stay on pitch during elongated vowels and emotion-filled expressions and you have one quality performer. At the CD release party, Chrash Flood performed “The Wish Song,” “Aging Aircraft” “American Spirit,” “Raised by Gays,” “The Excess Parade” and “Clap Jordan,” all off “The Name They Change.” The band also performed “Spin Cycle Brainwash,” one of four new songs it has written since recording “The Name They Change” last year. Since adding Eric Stone on keyboard and guitar over the summer, Chrash Flood has put more space into its songs. The effect was positive, giving the tunes room to breathe, and the songs are still true interpretations of the album. For more information about Chrash Flood, check out previous stories published by the Quad-City Times on the band. Chrash releases optimist rock record, finds new sound - Published Nov. 24, 2008 Chrash Flood's entry on the Quad-City Times band database Stephanie De Pasquale can be contacted at (563) 333-2639 or sdepasquale@qctimes.com.Wednesday November 26, 2008
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 10:30AM CST on November 26, 2008
By Stephanie De Pasquale Icons, a new martini bar, opened in place of Copia this past Thursday, and one of the first orders of business for co-owners Phil Woodward and Dave Phillips was to lower prices. Martinis have been reduced 50 cents to $7.50 and $9. Beer is also down 50 cents to $3 for domestics, $3.50 for imports and $4 for aluminum bottles. Mixed drinks and shots have been lowered by $2 to $5, depending on the drink. While $9 can easily be perceived as pricey for one drink, Woodward is quick to point out that the $9 martinis are made with 7 1/2 ounces of pure alcohol, whereas a Captain and Coke only contains one ounce of alcohol. When you do the math, it would take more than seven mixed drinks to match the alcohol content, and that price would be easily more than $9, Woodward said. The specialty $7.50 martinis contain just a bit more than 5 1/2 ounces of alcohol, by the way. Icons also will offer selected martinis for $5 Tuesday through Thursday. Check out the whole story about Icon’s opening here. If you go What: Icons When: 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, 4 p.m. to 3 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays Where: Copia, 124 18th St., Rock Island Stephanie De Pasquale can be contacted at (563) 333-2639 or sdepasquale@qctimes.com. Tuesday November 25, 2008
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 9:06AM CST on November 25, 2008
The Quad-City Times will host another Go&Do Live Sessions at Mojo’s Cafe 5-8:20 p.m. both Monday, Dec. 8, and Tuesday, Dec. 9.
The December lineup again features a diverse group of performers from many musical genres, including hip-hop, rock, alternative, metal and progressive. The show is free and open to the public. To have your band’s performance filmed and edited into a music video at a future Go&Do Live Sessions, contact me at (563) 333-2639 or sdepasquale@qctimes.com. If you go What: Go&Do Live Sessions When: Monday, Dec. 8 5-5:40 p.m. — The Kaps 5:40-6:20 p.m. — Keep Off the Grass 6:20-7 p.m. — Huge Hefner 7-7:40 p.m. — Cosmic 7:40 to 8:20 p.m. — Head Held High Tuesday, Dec. 9 5-5:40 p.m. — Rusted Hook 5:40-6:20 p.m. — Six to the Chest 6:20-7 p.m. — Uh Huh 7-7:40 p.m. — Moral Belief 7:40-8:20 p.m. — Rule No. 1 Where: Mojo’s Cafe, 129 N. Main St., Davenport How much: Free Stephanie De Pasquale can be contacted at (563) 333-2639 or sdepasquale@qctimes.com. Monday November 24, 2008
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 4:29PM CST on November 24, 2008
UPDATE: The story on Chrash Flood's CD release party at RIBCO and two songs off the band's new album "The Name They Change" are online now. You can check them out here.
The front cover features a drawing by Johnnie Cluney, a local musician and illustrator for Daytrotter.com, a Web site run in Rock Island that records up and coming bands and offers free downloads of the recording sessions. The Web site has been featured in Rolling Stone and Wired magazines. Cluney’s cartoonish style that is prominent on the pages of Daytrotter, carried over to Chrash’s cover art and looks like it belongs on the Web site. Bernant said the look works to their every advantage. “I love the colors. I love that we look like cartoon characters,” said Bernant. “I think that having this in the package and on this cool CD, it actually sounds better. Whether it sounds any different than the CD copy I have from the masters, I doubt it. But to me it does sound better when you have this. “You’re more likely to keep this in your collection and listen to it because you have this piece.” For more on Chrash and the CD release show at RIBCO, visit qctimes.com/goando on Thursday or pick up a copy of the same day’s Quad-City Times. If you go What: Chrash CD release party with guests Meth and Goats, Idpyramid and Centaur Noir. When: 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29 Where: RIBCO, 1815 2nd Ave., Rock Island How much: $5 Information: ribco.com On the Web: myspace.com/chrashmusic Stephanie De Pasquale can be contacted at (563) 333-2639 or sdepasquale@qctimes.com.
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 3:49PM CST on November 24, 2008
Thanksgiving is a day for families, but the day after seems to be a time for catching up with old friends who have come back into town.
I know I’ve already talked about getting together with a friend who moved away a little more than a year ago and is coming back to the Quad-Cities to visit family. We haven’t talked about the details yet, but we went to the Carriage Haus and Kilkeny’s when he was back in town last year. Who are you all getting together with? And are you going to your old hangouts or trying a new place? Stephanie De Pasquale can be contacted at (563) 333-2639 or sdepasquale@qctimes.com. Thursday November 20, 2008
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 6:20PM CST on November 20, 2008
The Post Mortems and The Hue both are “missing” something. The Post Mortems perform without a guitar player and The Hue doesn’t have a vocalist.
No, the bands scheduled to perform Friday at RIBCO didn’t each have a member quit just before this weekend’s show. Neither band has ever filled, or wanted to fill, the “missing” position. Rather, each has discovered ways to fill the void of the normally essential positions by creatively implementing the instruments they do have. For the Post Mortems, a Quad-City band, bassist Devin Alexander has foregone the traditional cabinet-and-amplifier setup and instead employs multiple pedals and splits the signal, creating two distinct sounds from one instrument. “I had sort of a collection of effects pedals and things like that, and I’ve always been really interested in ways of amplifying an instrument,” he said. “It got to the point where my bass rig was so complex that it was more than one instrument by itself.” As for The Hue, the self-professed “music school nerds” challenged themselves by writing highly technical songs that replace the vocal melody with instrumentation. “We’ve never really had the notion that a band has to have a singer,” said Jared Rabin, guitar player for The Hue. “We’ve had to stretch our creativity in terms of compositions to write stuff that isn’t just jam, jam, jam, but to actually write stuff that is thoughtful melodies that you might hear a singer filling that role usually.” The Post Mortems and The Hue will perform at RIBCO, 1815 2nd Ave., Rock Island, at 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21. Cover is $5. For more information, visit The Post Mortems or The Hue. If you go What: The Hue, with The Post Mortems When: 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21 Where: RIBCO, 1815 2nd Ave., Rock Island How much: $5 Information: ribco.com On the Web: myspace.com/huemusic, myspace.com/thepostmortems Stephanie De Pasquale can be contacted at (563) 333-2639 or sdepasquale@qctimes.com. Wednesday November 19, 2008
Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale at 2:12PM CST on November 19, 2008
The dance club Dolce is gone and the piano bar, jazz feel of Below Brady is back.
Below Brady co-founder Matt Somers said a new group of partners repurchased the bar and Starting Line it was originally sold 14 months ago. The new ownership team has already changed management, employees and the menu at Starting Line, but reopening Below Brady was their first priority. The new owners brought back the cool blue lighting and replaced the DJ with live music that will always have a jazz feel. Somers said Below Brady will also have all new martini recipes that will be blended with each order. “We’re doing everything different than Dolce,” Somers said. “It’s not going to be that thump, thump, thump. It’s going to be the Rat Pack.” The Craig Bentley Trio performed on Friday at Below Brady for an event to celebrate the reopening. Their smooth jazz that you could still have a conversation over was a far cry from the booming loud disc jockey at Dolce, but it fit much better with the martini bar concept. It definitely would be a good place for those who still want to go out, but have outgrown the clubs. Below Brady is modeled after Chicago martini and piano bars, and while there are plans to buy a baby piano, Somers said Below Brady doesn’t plan to compete with Nan’s Piano Bar and will stick to local talent. “It’s a great place to bring a client, spouse or a significant other if you really want to impress somebody,” Somers said. “I always like to say it’s a little bit of Chicago. ... It’s not your grandfather’s speakeasy, but it has the feeling of a speakeasy bar.” Below Brady will have its grand reopening on Wednesday, Nov. 26. If you go What: Below Brady grand reopening When: 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. with live music at 8 p.m. Regular hours will be 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday, with happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m. Where: 217 Brady St., Davenport How much: Free Information: (563) 323-5455 Stephanie De Pasquale can be contacted at (563) 333-2639 or sdepasquale@qctimes.com. |
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