Charlotte Martin
The Redstone Room
Saturday, November 4, 10 p.m.
In this world gone mad, organic vegans and goth kids should put aside their differences and come together in celebration of the universal language that is "good music." And after the Charlotte Martin concert on Saturday, November 4, both groups might just hold hands and sing "We Are the World." Stunningly beautiful and talented, Charlotte Martin makes me nostalgic for my awkward, formative years - when I once drooled over Jewel, Fiona Apple, and other Lilith Fair-y, alternative, hipster girls on MTV - and her upcoming performance at Davenport's Redstone Room is one that should not be missed. The classically trained singer, songwriter, and pianist - who has performed with Damien Rice, The Cardigans, and Liz Phair - has a sound that can be appreciated by fans of Tori Amos and Bjork, as well as trip-hop groups such as Portishead and Massive Attack. Her latest album, Stromata, finds her exchanging acoustic piano for analog synthesizers, digital percussion, and vocal collages, with a sound that Paper magazine described as "a little bit opera, a little bit goth 'n' roll." The show starts at 10 p.m., tickets are $10, and more information is available at (http://www.redstoneroom.org). - Brad Vidmar
Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
The Adler Theatre
Saturday, November 4, 7:30 p.m.
Andrew Lloyd Webber's and Tim Rice's Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is one of the most goofily enjoyable musicals ever created, as audiences will likely discover when the show's road production resumes the Broadway at the Adler series on November 4. But I'd probably be watching it while stifling back tears. Before joining the Reader full-time, my paychecks came from appearing in the Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse's 2005 production of Joseph ... , and I'll be honest: I'm totally jealous now. I'm trying to imagine a career more enjoyable than hitting the road with Webber's and Rice's very loose Old Testament narrative, which stands as the duo's most musically eclectic, gloriously inconsequential collaboration - its high spirits and freewheeling "let's have a party" atmosphere also make it a perfect choice for the public debut of the newly refurbished Adler Theatre. (Expect to be dazzled by the venue as much as the musical.) So I'm currently experiencing complete envy. But then again, if I were in the show, I wouldn't be able to give this kind of attention to the folks presenting the show. So I guess the job for which I'm getting my current paychecks isn't so bad, either. For tickets, call the Adler box office at (563) 326-1111. - Mike Schulz
Antique Spectacular
Quad City Expo Center
Friday, November 3, through Sunday, November 5
People oftentimes ask how they can get their events considered for calendar-glance coverage in the Reader, and I explain that having plenty of advance notice never hurts - more time for me to come up with good-natured gags. Consider Melting Pot Productions' Antique Spectacular, occurring at the Quad City Expo Center November 3 through 5. I received an e-mail promoting the event on February 13. The e-mail itself is practically an antique, and yet, look - good things do come to those who wait! Presenting the finest in vintage furniture, fixtures, clothing, jewelry, and objets d'art, the Antique Spectacular will showcase treasures from more than 60 vendors from eight Midwestern states, including more than a dozen antique dealers from the Quad Cities. Among the participating exhibitors are Davenport's Vintage Sisters, Rock Island's Dar-Jac Antiques, Bettendorf's A Gently Used Jewelry, and Moline's Mostly Old Stuff, a store that I'm hoping will accept the donation of my calendar-glance jokes. Show hours are Friday from 5 to 9 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission to the event is $6 for the entire weekend, and more information is available at (http://www.antiquespectacular.com). - Mike Schulz
Willie King
Monday, November 6, through Wednesday, November 8
Last summer, in an interview promoting his Mississippi Valley Blues Festival appearance, Willie King stated, "I love working with young people, and they like to be around me for some reason." Considering King's talent, fame, and genuine warmth, that interviewer was one lucky guy. Oh, wait. That was me. Sixteen months later, the Mississippi native is back - and working with young people - as the latest guest with the Mississippi Valley Blues Society's "Blues in the Schools" program. King will teach and play at area schools from November 6 through 10, and public performances are scheduled at Davenport's Boys & Girls Club (4 p.m. November 6), Rock Island's Friendship Manor (6:30 p.m. November 7), and the River Music Experience (7 p.m. November 8). Since last July, King has toured the southern United States, performed in France, been nominated for two 2006 Blues Music Awards, and released a CD - One Love - featuring the traditional favorite "Mama Killed a Chicken." King says people love the song because "it lifts spirits and makes them laugh." The chicken, I'm guessing, would tell a different story. For more information on Blues in the Schools, call (563) 322-5837. - Mike Schulz
Musicians from Marlboro
University of Iowa
Wednesday, November 1, 7:30 p.m.
On November 1, Iowa City's Hancher Auditorium proudly sponsors a performance by the Musicians of Marlboro, and just to be clear: No, Philip Morris is not getting into the concert business. The "Marlboro" of the title refers to Marlboro, Vermont, and the city's Marlboro College, home to the Marlboro Music Festival ... and I'm now suffering from nicotine withdrawal after typing "Marlboro" so many times. Regarded as America's preeminent center for advanced musical studies, Marlboro College has, for 41 seasons, presented exhilarating chamber music by its renowned Musicians of Marlboro ensemble; their concert at the University of Iowa's Clapp Recital Hall features splendid orchestrations for piano, winds, and strings, by such peerless composers as Mozart, Ravel, and Poulenc. And if you think I'm over-selling, know that Time magazine described the group's output as "the most exciting chamber music in the United States," and the Washington Post called Musicians from Marlboro "a virtual guarantee of musical excellence," so I'm not just blowing smoke up your ass. Sorry. I will seriously consider getting the "patch." Tickets are available through the Hancher box office at (319) 335-1158. - Mike Schulz