Music
Still Standing & Friends Benefit Concert
River Music Experience
Saturday, August 22, 1:30 - 9:15 p.m.
"When we started this band," says Still Standing co-founder/guitarist Justin Young, "we decided that we didn't want to just make music that we love. We also wanted to reach out and make a positive impact on our community." On August 22, Young and his bandmates will be doing just that, and have recruited some friends to help. Actually, many, many, many friends.
The Still Standing & Friends Benefit Concert, taking place at Davenport's River Music Experience, will find its headlining hardcore rockers performing a half-hour set at 7:45 p.m. But beginning at 1:30 p.m., no fewer than 13 additional rock, punk, and metal outfits will join them for the daylong event: Fairhaven, The Easy Mark, Condor & Jaybird, 9th Street Memory, Sleepwell, Calm Is Key, Straight Up, Those Dirty Thieves, Cut the Tongue, BareBones, Peer Pressure, Doppelganger, and Heavyweight.
With tickets $10 at the door, that averages out to attendees paying roughly 71 cents per group ... which is roughly 71 cents more than each group will receive for its participation. "Every one of these bands is donating their time 100 percent and not getting paid for any of it," says Young, the benefit's event planner. "The heavier type of music we play tends to get a negative outlook, but some people really don't realize that a lot of bands like us have a very positive message, and have very bighearted people."
The concert's primary beneficiaries are the family of Jake and Karleigh Moulton, friends of Young whom he calls "great people and even greater parents. This year, their twin girls Harper and Hayden were born, but due to complications with the pregnancy, they were born at only 25 weeks. They weren't sure the girls were going to make it, but they both pulled through."
However, Young adds, "Hayden had heart surgery at only four weeks old, and a few days ago was diagnosed with torticollis, which affects her neck. And the left side of Harper's head is totally flat, so at six months she'll have to be put into a head-shaping helmet. Somewhat recently, the girls were finally allowed to come home from the hospital after months spend in the NICU, but they're both still on oxygen and will have to be monitored for heart and lung issues for at least the first couple years of their lives.
"This family has countless medical bills that they could really use help with, and we're more than happy to reach out and help. Years back, I lost my son Cayden, who was born with trisomy 18. I was only able to spend a few days with him before he passed, so this type of benefits hits home very close to me."
In addition to the Moulton family, a portion of the concert's proceeds will go toward Genesis Medical Center's "Family Connects" program for area newborns, and the benefit will also boast raffles and silent auctions with items donated by West Music Quad Cities, GreenLight Photography, and other local businesses. Plus, of course, all that music.
"I'm hoping this event might get some people excited and invested in the [metal/rock/punk] scene that normally wouldn't check these shows out," says Young. "Some of the best nights of my life were at these shows. Great bands. Great people."
For more information on the Still Standing & Friends Benefit Concert, call (563)326-1333 or visit RiverMusicExperience.org.
Literature
The Crawford County Sketchbook Release Party
Theo's Java Club
Monday, August 24, 6-8 p.m.
Davenport author Tom Janikowski will celebrate the national release of his debut novel The Crawford County Sketchbook with an August 24 party at the Rock Island venue Theo's Java Club. And when I ask Janikowski what he tells people when they want to know what the book is about, he answers, with a laugh, "I tell them it's about 300 pages." So, clearly, he's funny.
Just as clearly, he might have a ways to go in mastering the art of PR. Because when discussing his book's impending publication by Pasadena, California's Red Hen Press, Janikowski says, "I had a few different novels that my agent was shopping around at the same time, and this is kind of like my least favorite of them." He laughs again. "I mean, I was pretty pumped, of course. I was thrilled. But when I found out it was The Crawford County Sketchbook [being published], I couldn't get over it. 'What do they want that one for?'"
The book landing at number-seven on Entertainment Weekly's latest Must List, and its rave from Kirkus Reviews, might give some indication. (It might also make you wonder just how good Janikowski's other novels are if this is the "least" of them.) Describing The Crawford County Sketchbook as "grotesque tales of the struggle between good and evil from a dark corner of the American heartland," Kirkus states that its author "does his best Faulker impression here, using a blend of baroque Southern classicism and redneck patois" to create "a character-rich settlement somewhere in the rural South." The review goes on to say, "The novel's exaggerated portrayals, distorted narrative threads, and flamboyant brand of Southern Gothic will ring the bells of a certain literary-minded audience," and that appears to be exactly the demographic Janikowski was aiming for.
"People always ask me what genre it is," he says, "because so many people are reading genre fiction these days. But it's not 'genre.' It's literary fiction. So it kind of deals with life, as literary fiction does, and it's an episodic novel ... . If you're familiar with Sherwood Anderson's Winesburg, Ohio, it's kind of in that style. Which isn't really a popular form of writing these days, but that's how it came together.
"I think that's how it got published," he says of Crawford County. "They thought it was strange enough that people would think it's experimental. But actually the style is about 100 years old."
Give or take a few years, Janikowski's most direct influences are, too. "I love the Lost Generation" he says, referencing favorite authors such as F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway. "Jokingly, I always tell people that I only read dead authors. I don't, but I do seek out the old, I guess. And I think my writing tends to embrace a lot of the same things that a lot of the Lost Generation authors did. Moral philosophy and metaphysics and epistemology ... ." With a laugh, he adds, "I don't know if that's accurate or not, but if I say it enough times ... !"
Crawford County's national release will find Janikowski and his wife Shelly, at the end of the month, traveling to book-signings in Portland, Seattle, Santa Monica, Los Angeles, and New York City. "But the coolest thing," he says, "is that I've been asked to read at the Iowa City Book Fair, which is huge. I'll be one of the featured authors on the third of October, I think, and I'm actually more pumped about that than anything on the West Coast. Iowa City has such a rich literary history - it's the only UNESCO City of Literature in North America - and I'm just absolutely honored to be asked to that."
So Janikowski clearly has reason to celebrate on Theo's on August 24, where he'll be signing copies of his debut publication and perhaps reading excerpts from his work "if someone twists my arm. I actually wasn't going to be doing anything in the Midwest for a while, but I thought, 'Oh, we should just have a little party.' And I know Theo, and he said we could do whatever I wanted to do at his place. And I said, 'Well, as long as I can bring cake ... .'"
Fear not: There will be cake.
More details on the author are available at TomJanikowski.com, and more information on The Crawford County Sketchbook's release party is available by calling Theo's at (309)788-5282.
Music
Codfish Hollow Barnstormer
Codfish Hollow Barn
Thursday, August 27, 7 p.m.
A picture, as we all know, is worth a thousand words. But it's 2015, for Pete's sake: Why have we not yet come up with a pithy motto for how many words a link is worth?
I ask because, on August 27, Maquoketa's Codfish Hollow Barn will be hosting its latest Codfish Hollow Barnstormer, and I'm not certain that pictures - or biographical data, or superlatives - can paint an accurate picture of the supremely gifted independent musicians set to perform.
Included on the lineup is the Cincinnati-based pop artist Jane Decker, who began touring with her band Belle Historie at age 16 and found herself as a contestant on season four of NBC's The Voice. According to UnderTheGun.net, Decker's song stylings "just flutter from her throat into the air like butterflies lifted off of field grass by a gentle breeze."
Joining her in Maquoketa is the Nashville-based singer/songwriter Liza Anne, whose sophomore release - the aptly titled TWO - found its May release greeted with raves. Nylon magazine called it "a stunningly somber album ... turning even the smallest emotion into fleeting song," and Diffuser.fm wrote that the album's roots-Americana sound suggests "brooding so deep it transcends individual grief and taps into ancient strains of sorrow."
Codfish Hollow's third talent is alternative-pop singer/songwriter Josiah (surname Leming), who bears the distinction of being the only American Idol contestant ever to land a major-label record deal without making the show's "Top 24" lineup. Daytrotter's Sean Moeller, writing in Paste magazine, called the season-seven hopeful and former Warner Bros. Records artist "a young man who knows his way around sorrow and joy better than most men three times his age."
And Houston native and Boston College graduate Samuel Proffitt is also on the Barnstormer docket. His delicate blends of piano, synth, and vocals led Noisey.Vice.com to describe his January release Blue Notebook No. 10 as "a beautiful, poised debut collection," and TheMusicNinja.com to write that Proffitt "accurately portrays the smooth and sultry sounds of pain, anguish, love, hope, and heartbreak that all of us so desperately want to connect with."
But beyond joining together on August 27 for what's certain to be an unforgettable night of indie music, what else do these four young artists have in common? Why, that'd be 2015 recording sessions for the Rock Island-based Daytrotter! So I'll leave it up to you to determine how many words links are worth.
For Jane Decker's August Daytrotter session, visit RCReader.com/y/decker.
For Liza Anne's May Daytrotter session, visit RCReader.com/y/lizaanne.
For Josiah's March Daytrotter session, visit RCReader.com/y/josiah.
For Samuel Proffit's April Daytrotter session, visit RCReader.com/y/proffitt.
And for more on August 27's entire Codfish Hollow kit and kaboodle, visit CodfishHollowBarnstormers.com.
What Else Is Happenin' ...?
MUSIC
Thursday, August 20 - Bobby Long. British folk-rock singer/songwriter in concert. Rozz-Tox (2108 Third Avenue, Rock Island). 8 p.m. $8-12. For information, call (309)200-0978 or visit RozzTox.com.
Friday, August 21, through Sunday, August 23 - Polyrhythms Jazz & Heritage Festival. Community celebration featuring the Jesse White Tumblers, food vendors, arts and crafts, information booths, and concerts with Nnenna Freelon, Billy Branch & the Sons of Blues, and Soul Storm. Friday and Saturday: Martin Luther King Park (601 Ninth Street, Rock Island). Sunday: River Music Experience (129 Main Street, Davenport). Free. For information, visit Polyrhythms.ning.com. For a 2015 interview with Nnenna Freelon, visit RCReader.com/y/freelon.
Friday, August 21 - Rude Punch CD Release Show. Reggae and rock musicians in concert, with an opening set by Fairhaven. The Redstone Room (129 Main Street, Davenport). 8 p.m. $7. For tickets and information, call (563)326-1333 or visit RiverMusicExperience.com.
Friday, August 21, and Saturday, August 22 - Rock the River Reunion. Outdoor festival with concert sets by Who Cares and Electric Shock on Friday, and Stone Tattoo and Threshold on Saturday. Cleveland Park (207 Washington Street, Cleveland, Illinois). Friday 5:30 p.m., Saturday 6:30 p.m. For information, visit AllEvents.in.
Saturday, August 22 - Future Bass Fest. Third-annual concert event with three stages of bass music, featuring sets by Porn & Chicken, Zebo, DVNK Sinatrv, Sullivan King, Al NeOn, and others. Rock Island Brewing Company (1815 Second Avenue, Rock Island). 6 p.m. $15-20. For information, call (309)793-1999 or visit RIBCO.com.
Saturday, August 22 - Night Ranger. Concert with the '80s rockers. Quad-Cities Waterfront Convention Center (2021 State Street, Bettendorf). 7:30 p.m. $40. For information, call (800)843-4573 or visit QCWCC.com.
Friday, August 28, and Saturday, August 29 - River Roots Live. Eleventh-annual weekend celebration of roots music featuring workshops, children's activities, the annual Ribfest, and concert sets by Mavis Staples, Kacey Musgraves, Hellogoodbye, the Yonder Mountain Spring Band, and others. LeClaire Park (400 Beiderbecke Drive, Davenport). 11 a.m. gates. Free before 3 p.m. Afterward, $10-15 per day, $15-20 for the weekend. For information, visit RiverRootsLive.com.
Friday, August 28 - James Leg. Rock musician in concert, with opening sets by Killshakes and Runaway Dorothy. Rock Island Brewing Company (1815 Second Avenue, Rock Island). 9 p.m. $8. For information, call (309)793-1999 or visit RIBCO.com.
Friday, August 28, and Saturday, August 29 - Iowa Soul Festival. Annual weekend celebration of African and African-American dance, music, food, and culture, with a Friday set by concert headliners Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings. Downtown Iowa City. Friday 5 p.m. gates, Saturday 11 a.m. gates. For information, visit SummerOfTheArts.com.
Friday, August 28 - The Tallest Man on Earth. Concert with the alternative folk rocker, with an opening set by Lady Lamb. Englert Theatre (221 East Washington Street, Iowa City). 8 p.m. $30. For tickets and information, call (319)688-2653 or visit Englert.org.
Saturday, August 29 - The Happy Together Tour. Concert event with The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie, The Association, Paul Revere & the Raiders lead singer Mark Lindsay, The Grass Roots, The Buckinghams, and The Cowsills. Riverside Casino & Event Center (3184 Highway 22, Riverside). 7:30 p.m. $30-60. For tickets and information, call (877)677-3456 or visit RiversideCasinoAndResort.com.
THEATRE
Thursday, August 20, through Sunday, September 6 - Waiting for the Parade. John Murrell's drama about the lives of five women during World War II. Old Creamery Studio Theatre (3023 220th Trail, Amana). Thursday and Sunday 2 p.m., Friday and Saturday 7:30 p.m. $18.50-28. For tickets and information, call (319)622-6262 or visit OldCreamery.com.
COMEDY
Friday, August 21 - Angel Salazar. An evening of stand-up with the comedian and Scarface actor. Col Ballroom (1012 West Fourth Street, Davenport). 8 p.m. For information, call (563)322-4431 or visit QC Nightlife Entertainment's Facebook page.
Saturday, August 22 - Mike Super: Magic & Illusion. Feats of prestidigitation and comedy with the touring entertainer. Orpheum Theatre (57 South Kellogg Street, Galesburg). 7:30 p.m. $18-30. For tickets and information, call (309)342-2299 or visit TheOrpheum.org.
Thursday, August 27, through Sunday, August 30 - Red Skelton: The Legend Continues. Tom Mullica performs a tribute to the legendary comic. Old Creamery Theatre (39 38th Avenue, Amana). Thursday through Sunday 2 p.m., additional show Saturday 7:30 p.m. $18.50-28.50. For tickets and information, call (319)622-6262 or visit OldCreamery.com.
EXHIBIT
Wednesday, August 26, through Friday, October 30 - What a Relief! Variations on Printmaking. Exhibit showcasing relief-printmaking practices from different perspectives, periods, and processes, featuring works by Janet Taylor and Joseph Lappie alongside Ukiyo-e prints from the museum's collection. Augustana Teaching Museum of Art (3703 Seventh Avenue, Rock Island). Noon-4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Free. For information, call (309)793-7323 or visit Augustana.edu/artmuseum.
MOVIES
Thursday, August 20 - Urban Exposure Summer Film Program Premiere Night. Young filmmakers from the Quad Cities area screen their locally produced works in an event featuring a post-film Q&A with the youths and independent filmmakers Jonathan Burnett and Jeremy Wernli. Figge Art Museum's John Deere Auditorium (225 West Second Street, Davenport). 5 p.m. Free. For information, call (563)326-7804 or visit FiggeArtMuseum.org.
EVENTS
Friday, August 21 - United Neighbors Inc. Fundraising Gala. Annual event featuring St. Ambrose University President Sister Joan Lescinski as guest speaker, Davenport Mayor Bill Gluba as a special honoree, music by Smooth Groove and DJ Doc Anderson, live and silent auctions, and more. Davenport RiverCenter (136 East Third Street, Davenport). 5 p.m. doors and hors d'oeuvres, 7 p.m. gala. $40. For tickets and information, call (563)322-7363 or visit UnitedNeighbors.com.
Inaugural activity for City Square featuring vendors, live music, arts and crafts, and more. City Square (State Street in Bettendorf across from the Quad-Cities Waterfront Convention Center). 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. For information, e-mail richpokora@yahoo.com.
Sunday, August 30 - QC Ride for the Cure. Eighth-annual motorcycle/auto fun ride benefiting Gilda's Club of the Quad Cities, with stops at numerous Quad Cities venues and an evening party at Jumer's Casino & Hotel that includes a silent auction, 50/50 drawing, and other raffles. Jumer's Casino & Hotel (777 Jumer Drive, Rock Island). 9 a.m. $20-25 rider registration, $5-10 passenger registration. For information, call (563)326-7504 or visit QCRideForTheCure.org.
Sunday, August 30 - Farm Days in the Village. Family event featuring a petting zoo, rope making, a Gator Raffle, pedal tractors, a tractor ride-around, wagon rides, live entertainment, and more. Village of East Davenport. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. For information, visit VillageOfEastDavenport.com.
Sunday, August 30 - Going to the River to Pray: The Quad Cities Standing United Against Hate. An outdoor celebration of unity and prayer designed to fight racism, gang violence, homophobia, anti-Semitism, and religious intolerance, held simultaneously at Davenport's LeClaire Park, Bettendorf's Leach Park, Moline's Butterworth Park, and Rock Island's Sunset Marina Park. 5-9 p.m. For information, call (563)324-8281 or visit MCCQC.org.
