Music

Kurt Vile & the Violators

Codfish Hollow Barn

Sunday, August 21, 7 p.m.

 

Just like superheroes, professional musicians have their own origin stories. And given the strength of his reviews, and the powerful appreciation he engenders in fans, it makes perfect sense that indie-rock and -folk singer/songwriter Kurt Vile’s own musical origin story would start with Superman.

Theatre

The Fantasticks

Richmond Hill Barn Theatre

Thursday, August 11, through Sunday, August 21

 

On August 11, Geneseo’s Richmond Hill Barn Theatre opens its new production of The Fantasticks, the first musical produced at the venue since 2011. It’s scheduled for eight performances through August 21. But if ticket sales prove especially excellent, maybe the show will run for an additional 17,154, thereby tying the world record for “longest-running musical” currently held by ... The Fantasticks.

Music

Cory Branan

Daytrotter

Tuesday, August 2, 7:30 p.m.

 

On August 2, Daytrotter hosts a night with alternative-country singer/songwriter Cory Branan, and writing on PopMatters.com, Scott Recker stated, “Like all good country music, Cory Branan is hard, if not impossible, to define.” Perhaps Mr. Recker hasn’t read many of the artist’s reviews, because it seems that, over the years, Branan’s signature talents have been defined awfully nicely.

Music

John Paul White

Daytrotter

Wednesday, July 13, 8 p.m.

On July 13, independent singer/songwriter and four-time Grammy Award winner John Paul White performs a special concert at Davenport’s Daytrotter venue. Later this summer, on August 19, White will release his second solo album, Beulah, which features songs including “Make You Cry,” “I’ll Get Even,” and “Hate the Way You Love Me.” Just throwing those provocative-sounding titles out there in case you were somehow confusing John Paul with Pope John Paul.

Music

Anthony D’Amato

Redstone Room

Thursday, June 30, 7:30 p.m.

In singer/songwriter Anthony D’Amato’s Web-site biography, we learn that when the Americana musician was on his way to an introductory meeting with famed record producer Mike Mogis, he accidentally overturned and totaled his rental car. Near the end of his tour for 2014’s Mogis-produced album The Shipwreck from the Shore, D’Amato broke his finger, and played the final two shows hopped up on Advil. In the video for “Golden Gloves” from his June 17 release Cold Snap, we find D’Amato getting repeatedly punched in the face by passers-by wearing boxing gloves.

I’m not suggesting that Anthony D’Amato is accident- or fistfight-prone. But when you see the acclaimed artist’s June 30 concert at Davenport’s Redstone Room, you may want to think about sitting in the back. You know, just in case.

Events

Adler Theatre and iWireless Center

June through August

 

Like many of you, when we’re suffering the ravages of a Quad Cities winter, I can’t imagine what price I’d pay just for five seconds of summer. Moline’s iWireless center, however, actually has put a price tag on what five seconds of summer is worth: $29.95. Or up to $79.95 if you want to really feel the heat.

MUSIC

Thursday, June 9 – Curtis Salgado. Award-winning vocalist/songwriter and harmonica icon performs in a concert in the Blues & Roots Series, preceded by a 4 p.m. blues workshop and an opening set with Craig Erickson. The Redstone Room (129 Main Street, Davenport). 7:30 p.m. $11.50-50. For tickets and information, call (563)326-1333 or visit RiverMusicExperience.org.

Friday, June 10, and Saturday, June 11 – Gumbo Ya Ya. Annual Mardi Gras celebration with Cajun, zydeco, and jazz bands on two stages, food and craft vendors, thousands of beads, and more. District of Rock Island. Friday 5 p.m. gates, Saturday 4 p.m. gates. $9 one-day pass, $14 two-day pass. For information, call (309)788-6311 or visit GumboYaYaFestival.com.

Friday, June 10 – Lil Wayne. Concert with the Grammy-winning hip-hop artist, with an opening set by O.T. Genesis. iWireless Center (1201 River Drive, Moline). 8 p.m. $48.50-68.50. For tickets, call (800)745-3000 or visit iWirelessCenter.com.

Friday, June 10 – River Music Experience 12th-Anniversary Show. Venue celebration with performances by The Giving Tree Band and Juliana & A Soul Purpose. RME Courtyard (131 West Second Street, Davenport). 4 p.m. $10-12, ages 12 and under free. For tickets and information, call (563)326-1333 or visit RiverMusicExperience.org.

Friday, June 10 – Chris Cain Band. Concert with the blues and jazz guitarist and his ensemble. Cabana’s Bar & Grille (2120 Fourth Avenue, Rock Island). 7 p.m. $10 at the door. For information, call (309)283-7564.

Friday, June 10, and Saturday, June 11 – Quad Cities Junetopia. Event to benefit Humility of Mary Inc. and Kings Harvest Ministries, with performances by more than two dozen indie-music acts and screenings by Motive Direct Pictures. Rozz-Tox (2108 Third Avenue, Rock Island). Friday 6 p.m., Saturday noon. $5-25. For information, call (309)200-0978 or visit RozzTox.com.

Music

Scott H. Biram / Rock Island Brewing Company / Tuesday, June 7, 8 p.m.

Blues, roots, punk, country, and heavy-metal musician Scott H. Biram – a.k.a. The Dirty Old One Man Band – performs at the Rock Island Brewing Company on June 7. NoDepression.com writes that Biram’s discography “is loaded with the kind of wild-eyed blues explosions that spark 4 a.m. stabbings at bathtub-gin joins.” AmericanSongwriter.com states, “Scott Biram has enough of the devil in him to sound like a full group playing in Hell.” Exclaim.ca calls the artist’s latest album Nothin’ but Blood “religious music for people who are too drunk and high to give a damn what God may think.”

Jordan McGinnis, Liv Lyman, and Brant Peitersen in A Behanding in SpokaneTheatre

A Behanding in Spokane

District Theatre

Friday, May 13, through Saturday, May 21

 

Rock Island’s District Theatre opens its creepy-funny new production, appropriately enough, on Friday the 13th, and the show’s star is Brant Peitersen, who has been an incredibly active stage performer over the past few years. For the District, he appeared in High Fidelity, Big Rock Candy Christmas, and as Ebeneezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol. For Countryside Community Theatre, he was seen in Shrek: The Musical, Big Fish, and Jesus Christ Superstar. For the Playcrafters Barn Theatre, he was featured in last fall’s Harvey. I even acted with him myself in the QC Theatre Workshop’s 2014 Bat Boy: The Musical. So let’s give Brant Peitersen a hand!

No, seriously. He really, really needs a hand. Preferably a leftie.

Miles NielsenMusic

Miles Nielsen & the Rusted Hearts

Codfish Hollow Barn

Saturday, May 7, 7 p.m.

 

Growing up in Rockford, Illinois, Miles Nielsen played guitar and wrote songs from a very young age. His father was a frequently touring rock star. Guests at family dinners included Steven Tyler, Todd Rundgren, and the members of Guns N’ Roses. Given all that, it should be no surprise to learn that Miles Nielsen would grow up to be ... a pharmacist.

Just kidding. He’s a musician, too. That was just a cheap trick.

And speaking of Cheap Trick ... !

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