When the Quad City Symphony Orchestra (QCSO) kicked off its concert season on October 6 at the Adler Theatre, the performance couldn't help but be partly covered in darkness. The shroud of pain and uncertainty and musical weeping of the first half seemed fitting given the tragedies in New York, Washington, D.
As the initial shock over the terrible events of September 11 turns into deep sadness and a profound sense of loss, our sympathy goes to those across the country and around the world who mourn loved ones. With a sense of awe and gratitude, we learn of those who survived, those who committed heroic acts, and those who continue to do so every day as they undertake the incredible task of search and rescue in New York.
In the past two years, the Quad City Symphony (QCSO) under the direction of musical director and conductor Donald Schleicher has demonstrated its ability to program diverse, compelling concerts. Old reliable pieces have been buttressed by less-traditional works, resulting in concerts that are both enjoyable and enlightening.
Walter Trout's voice and guitar playing have a desperation to them, a sense of need that fuels the songs. It's easy to read a bit much into them, perhaps, because while Trout is revered in Europe, he's still searching for his deserved reputation in his native States.
Our enemy now has a name. And it's not Osama bin Laden. Vice President Dick Cheney told the nation Sunday morning, during his appearance on NBC's Meet the Press, that the United States is focused upon the international terrorist organization known as Al-Qaida.
The issue of predatory lending has captured the attention of legislators nationwide. At least 25 states have introduced bills this year to combat abusive lending, and Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller is pledging to do the same in Iowa.
When the Quad City Symphony Orchestra (QCSO) and Donald Schleicher took to the bandshell in LeClaire Park on September 8, ominous rain clouds hovered overhead with the promise of rain. That didn’t keep an estimated crowd of nearly 8,000 from trickling in, spreading their picnic munchies, and readying themselves for a Quad Cities late-summer staple: the annual Riverfront Pops concert.
• My big pick of the week is this Tuesday's release of And The Word Became Flesh, the new album from Public Enemy's architect of sound, Professor Griff. The new Right Stuff Records album, his first in three years, is a fantastic return of the beat believer and system cheater, extending his legacy of ground-shaking boom-bastics into a new territory of smooth R&B and mature, jazz-flavored grooves.
We read with great interest your article on Ballet Quad Cities (See River Cities' Reader, Issue 338, August 29-September 4, 2001). This article along with the June 10, 2001 Quad City Times article on the ballet company has prompted this response in order to clarify some inaccurate historical references.
• This Friday night at midnight the fun folks at The Cartoon Network will broadcast Toonami Midnight Run Special Edition, an hour-long block of all-animated music videos. Hosted by TOM the computer-generated host, the program will feature three cool videos from the Gorillaz and four videos from Daft Punk, including the world premiere of "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger.

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