10 Dec 2013

What's Happenin': Thursday, December 12, through Wednesday, January 8

By Mike Schulz

Matt & BenTheatre

Matt & Ben

Rozz-Tox

Saturday, December 14, 8 p.m., and Sunday, December 15, 3 p.m.

 

If you're in your early 20s or younger, you probably know Matt Damon as the cool, laid-back star of Elysium and the Jason Bourne movies, and probably know Ben Affleck as the cool, laid-back director/star of Argo and The Town. Regardless, and depending on your level of vitriol about Affleck playing Batman, you probably like the guys. But if you can believe it, there actually was a time, not so very long ago, when both celebrities were ... . Gosh, what's the word ... ? Hated. A lot.

26 Nov 2013

What's Happenin': Thursday, November 28, through Wednesday, December 11

By Mike Schulz

 

RittzMusic

The Life & Times Tour

Rock Island Brewing Company

Friday, November 29, 9 p.m.

 

The Rock Island Brewing Company has a very special engagement set for November 29, when the District venue hosts a night with the visiting performers of "The Life & Times Tour." Ah-h-h ... . "The Life & Times Tour." Sounds so nostalgic! So hearth-and-home! And apparently, the tour features two gentlemen from suburban Georgia, and a young woman who based her stage name on Snow White! Let's meet these family-friendly artists, shall we?

12 Nov 2013

What's Happenin': Winter 2013-14

By Mike Schulz and Ashley Allen

Debby BooneMusic

Holiday Pops featuring Debby Boone

i wireless Center

Saturday, November 23, 7:30 p.m.

 

Not that you'd know it from these pages, but when in public, I do try to behave with a fair amount of professional decorum. Yet this past September, when I ran into Steve Jobman - the artistic director for the Quad City Symphony Orchestra's November 23 Holiday Pops concert at the i wireless Center - and he told me they'd secured Grammy winner Debby Boone as this year's featured vocalist, I'll admit it: I squealed like a little girl. Apologies to those nearby who thought I maybe saw a mouse.

29 Oct 2013

What's Happenin': Thursday, October 31, through Wednesday, November 13

By Mike Schulz

International Chamber SoloistsMusic

International Chamber Soloists

Galvin Fine Arts Center

Friday, November 8, 7:30 p.m.

 

A very special guest is set to amaze audiences at St. Ambrose University's Galvin Fine Arts Center, and when I first learned that the Toronto Star called this individual "a superbly equipped player with a rock-steady bow arm and ultra-confident technique," my initial thought was: Awesome! Katniss Everdeen!

And then I remembered that the guest in question was actually Dmitri Berlinsky, the lead violinist and front man for the acclaimed musicians of International Chamber Soloists. And then I remembered that Katniss Everdeen is fictional. Sometimes I'm a bit slow on the uptake.

15 Oct 2013

What's Happenin': Thursday, October 17, through Wednesday, October 30

By Mike Schulz

T. Hardy MorrisMusic

T. Hardy Morris

Rozz-Tox

Thursday, October 24, 9 p.m.

 

Founding Dead Confederate musician T. Hardy Morris performs a special concert at Rock Island's Rozz-Tox on October 24, and in reviewing the singer/songwriter/guitarist's solo debut Audition Tapes this past summer, Paste magazine wrote, "It's like Morris abandoned the 'shrooms in favor of a nice Americana-nodding spliff." The review went on to call the CD's title track "a simple slice of alt-country pie" with "a scoop of emo melting across the molasses-drenched crust," and the album itself "an all-ages potluck" and "worth a toast."

Gosh, that's an awful lot of food references. Are we sure it's not the Paste author who favored that nice Americana-nodding spliff?

01 Oct 2013

What's Happenin': Thursday, October 3, through Wednesday, October 16

By Mike Schulz

Sarah JaroszMusic

Sarah Jarosz

Rozz-Tox

Wednesday, October 16, 8 p.m.

 

Singer/songwriter Sarah Jarosz plays Rock Island's Rozz-Tox on October 16, and in recent years, the bluegrass, country, and folk musician has been the beneficiary of some truly excellent reviews. The Austin Chronicle called her "a songwriter of uncommon wisdom." American Songwriter magazine wrote, "Jarosz invites us along with her into a growing sonic space of collaboration and artistry." Paste magazine praised her gift for "conjuring soundscapes, erotic tableau, and enough tension to hold listeners transfixed."

And my inner frustrated artist is now doing his damnedest to contain his resentment, considering that Jarosz wasn't alive in the freaking 1980s.

17 Sep 2013

What's Happenin': Thursday, September 19, through Wednesday, October 2

By Mike Schulz

Texas Hippie CoalitionMusic

Texas Hippie Coalition

Rock Island Brewing Company

Tuesday, September 24, 8 p.m.

 

The Southern-rock and heavy-metal musicians of Texas Hippie Coalition will play the Rock Island Brewing Company on September 24, and on the band's TheOutlaw.com Web site, frontman Big Dad Ritch described the group's hit song "Damn You to Hell" thusly: "It has such drive and intensity that it's like a mixed-martial-arts event, like UFC pay-per-view, like someone being grounded and pounded on."

As a suggestion of the Texas Hippie Coalition style, that description seems so close to perfect that I'm tempted to just end this piece right there.

03 Sep 2013

What's Happenin': Thursday, September 5, through Wednesday, September 18

By Mike Schulz

Gretchen PetersMusic

Gretchen Peters

The Redstone Room

Friday, September 6, 8 p.m.

 

Singer/songwriter/instrumentalist Gretchen Peters, in describing the origins of her professional success, is quoted as saying, "Until I found the guitar, I was interested in anything expressive. By then words were a friend, but music was a tall dark stranger that I've been in love with, or maybe stalking, ever since."

See? I told my lawyer there was no difference between love and stalking! But did he listen? No-o-o-o ... !

20 Aug 2013

What's Happenin': Fall 2013

By Mike Schulz

Howie DayMusic

Howie Day

The Redstone Room

Thursday, August 29, 7:30 p.m.

 

An award-winning, gold-certified recording artist will perform from his wide repertoire of originals and covers at the Redstone Room on August 29. That's a Thursday, but in honor of our area guest, let's just go ahead and call it Howieday.

06 Aug 2013

What's Happenin': Thursday, August 8, through Wednesday, August 21

By Mike Schulz

Mark Hummel, Music

Golden State - Lone Star Revue

The Muddy Waters

Monday, August 12, 7 p.m.

 

 

Blues sensations Mark Hummel, "Little Charlie" Baty, and Anson Funderburgh will bring their Golden State - Lone Star Revue to Bettendorf's The Muddy Waters on August 12, their touring blues outfit described in press materials as "a cross-country meeting of the minds between California and Texas musicians." And what musical minds!

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