05 Mar 2013

What's Happenin': Spring 2013

By Mike Schulz

Sara WatkinsMusic

Sara Watkins

The Redstone Room

Friday, March 15, 8:30 p.m.

 

On March 15, the Redstone Room will host an evening with a musician who received a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album, toured with the likes of Lyle Lovett and Dolly Parton, served as guest host for Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion, and has been a nationally renowned vocalist and fiddle player for more than 22 years.

I will attempt not to seethe with resentment at the fact that the musician in question is only 31 years old.

19 Feb 2013

What's Happenin': Thursday, February 21, through Wednesday, March 6

By Mike Schulz

Becca Brazel, Tim Stompanato, and Brooke Schelly in EurydiceTheatre

Eurydice

Galvin Fine Arts Center

Friday, February 22, through Sunday, February 24

 

It's the oldest of stories. Girl loves boy. Girl marries boy. Girl gets a letter from her late father and trips down the stairs and dies and takes an elevator to the underworld and lives in a room fashioned entirely of string and meets a trio of talking stones ... .

No, seriously, it's the oldest of stories. It's just being told in a new and strange and wonderful way.

05 Feb 2013

What's Happenin': Thursday, February 7, through Wednesday, February 20

By Mike Schulz

David BurgessMusic

David Burgess

Redeemer Lutheran Church

Saturday, February 16, 7 p.m.

 

From the New York Times: "Technically in control and interpretively most persuasive."

From the Washington Post: "Impressive technique and a fine sense of style."

From Greenwich Time magazine: "Hauntingly beautiful, tastefully phrased with exquisite nuance, and yet with an aristocratic understatement that held his audience spellbound."

And no, I'm not starting yet another one of these What's Happenin' articles by talking about my own work. But I'm touched by your confusion.

22 Jan 2013

What's Happenin': Thursday, January 24, through Wednesday, February 6

By Mike Schulz

Upright Citizens Brigade Touring CompanyComedy

Upright Citizens Brigade Touring Company

Augustana College

Saturday, January 26, 8 p.m.

 

On January 26, Augustana College's Centennial Hall will host an evening with members of the Upright Citizens Brigade Touring Company, and you can learn a lot about the acclaimed comedy troupe by visiting its Web site at UCBTourCo.com. For instance, you'll learn that, as the ensemble's home page states, "mainstream comedy is for jerks," and that its touring show with Brigade performer Horatio Sanz "will make you wet yourself with laughter," and its Blackout Drunk production boasts a "lack of self-control" and "an appalling lack of shame" ... .

Hey ... wait a minute ... . You don't think that calling themselves "Upright Citizens" is meant jokingly, do you ... ?

08 Jan 2013

What's Happenin': Thursday, January 10, through Wednesday, January 23

By Mike Schulz

Julian LageMusic

An Evening with Julian Lage

The Redstone Room

Wednesday, January 16, 7:30 p.m.

 

Welcome to the Reader's first What's Happenin' section of 2013! We're glad to have you with us, and as a way of starting the new year on the right foot, I've made a resolution: I have decided that, from this day forward, I will no longer seethe with jealousy and resentment every time I write about some visiting artist whose talents and accomplishments dwarf my own.

Having said that, let me tell you about January 16's Redstone Room concert with jazz guitarist Julian Lage, a former child prodigy who began performing in public at age six, became the subject of an Oscar-nominated documentary appropriately titled Jules at Eight, performed at the Grammy Awards at age 13 ... .

Oh, man. This is gonna be rough.

18 Dec 2012

What's Happenin' on New Year's Eve 2012

By Mike Schulz

The Candymakers @ The Redstone Room"Happy Holidays, Jeff!"

"Happy Holidays yourself, Mike. I can only guess that you're here to turn in your annual What's Happenin' on New Year's Eve article."

"I most certainly am, good sir! As usual, we're devoting this issue's What's Happenin' pages to a rundown on all of the area venues - as of press time - that will be hosting musicians, DJ services, or karaoke on Monday, December 31!"

04 Dec 2012

What's Happenin': Thursday, December 6, through Wednesday, January 9

By Mike Schulz

The Harlem GlobetrottersSports

Harlem Globetrotters

i wireless Center

Saturday, January 5, 7 p.m.

 

Welcome to the What's Happenin' edition of "Name That Tune"! For 100 points, what's the title of the famous ditty featuring this unforgettable refrain?

"Wh-wh-wh-wh-wh-wh-wh-wh-wh-whee-e-e-e-wh-wh-whoo-o-o-o!"

Give up? Why it's "Sweet Georgia Brown," of course - the signature song for the Harlem Globetrotters! How embarrassing for you!

20 Nov 2012

What's Happenin': Winter, 2012-13

By Mike Schulz and Ashley Allen

Julianne Moore and Freckleface StrawberryTheatre

Freckleface Strawberry: The Musical

Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse

Friday, November 23, through Saturday, December 29

 

I imagine we all possess some physical feature that we're either embarrassed by or would love to see changed in some way. Personally, I've always been somewhat irritated with my biceps, which are so intimidatingly muscular that it's tough to squeeze my arms through the sleeves of a fitted T. Oh, and my stomach is really flat, which just makes my six-pack abs look all the more ... .

You know I can hear you laughing at me, right?

06 Nov 2012

What's Happenin': Thursday, November 8, through Tuesday, November 20

By Mike Schulz

 

WildlifeMusic

Wildlife

Rozz-Tox

Tuesday, November 13, 8 p.m.

 

It's November, it's chilly, it's time to trade the fall jacket in for the winter coat ... . Who's up for seeing some wildlife? Better yet, who's up for seeing some Wildlife from the comfort of a heated building while sipping a Vietnamese coffee?

23 Oct 2012

What's Happenin': Thursday, October 25, through Wednesday, November 7

By Mike Schulz

Del the Funky HomosapienMusic

Del the Funky Homosapien

Rock Island Brewing Company

Friday, October 26, 9 p.m.

 

Fans of funk, rap, and hip hop aren't going to want to miss the October 26 concert at the Rock Island Brewing Company, considering the venue has booked an evening with the legendary underground artist and hip-hop emcee Del the Funky Homosapien. But there's actually a sect of people who might be even more jazzed by the arrival of this California-based music sensation: video-game fanatics.

Pages

Subscribe & Listen to Reader Podcasts

On Stands Now

 

Tagged Content

Two Ways to Subscribe

1. Subscribe to free weekly e-mail content updates.

You'll get both the current official narrative challenge and What's Happenin' in the Quad Cities.
(Did you know we publish a new Amy Alkon Advice Goddess, Real Astrology, Red Meat cartoon and RCR Crossword every week?) 

* indicates required

View previous campaigns.

2. Get 12 monthly issues mailed first class for $48

Get 12 issues mailed monthly for $48 per year.

Get the printed Reader edition mailed to you (or anyone you want) first-class for 12 months for $48.
$24 goes to postage and handling, $24 goes to keeping the doors open!

Click this link to Subscribe now.

 
 

Lectures Calendar