Music
Souls of Mischief
Rock Island Brewing Company
Saturday, June 22, 8:30 p.m.
Do you consider yourself a big fan of the hip-hop ensemble Souls of Mischief? Do you consider yourself such a big fan that you could recite every word in the group's 93 'til Infinity album by memory? Then prove it, smart guy! Prove it!
What I mean is that you can prove it if you attend Souls of Mischief's June 22 concert at the Rock Island Brewing Company, and mouth along while the artists perform 93 'til Infinity in its entirety. Sorry if that "Prove it!" came off a little confrontational. I would've followed it with a wink-y emoticon, but I think that looks kinda stupid in print.
Released, as its title suggests, in 1993, 93 'til Infinity was the CD debut for Souls of Mischief, the Oakland, Califronia-based ensemble composed of members A-Plus, Opio, Phesto D, and Tajai. Musical collaborators since high school, the Souls of Mischief talents hit the ground running with this first release, which eventually rose to number 17 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and number 85 on Billboard's Top 200. Its title track also emerged as a hit single for the artists, landing at number 11 on the U.S. Rap charts.
Since then, Souls of Mischief has gone on to release a quartet of studio albums (1995's No Man's Land, 1999's Focus, 2000's Trilogy: Conflict, Climax, Resolution, and 2009's Montezuma's Revenge), and continues to wow fans, and score new ones, through the its busy touring schedule. But two decades after its debut, 93 'til Infinity remains Souls of Mischief's most recognizable accomplishment, and one that's arguably even more respected now than it was in 1993.
The Philadelphia Weekly, for instance, recently wrote that "the foursome's distinctive lyrical mapping, infectious beats, and subtle melodies on their debut rerouted gun-toting wannabes back to the underground." AllMusic.com, meanwhile, has called 93 'til Infinity "one of hip-hop's great lost masterpieces" and "a seminal early classic of the West Coast underground." So go ahead: Proudly show off your 93 'til Infinity knowledge during Souls of Mischief's RIBCO set. Just don't do it too loudly, or you might just be asked to do it outside. ;-)
Yeah. Like I thought. That emoticon does look stupid in print.
Souls of Mischief's Rock Island concert will be performed with musical guests Maxilla Blue and The Other Elements, and for more information on the night, call (309)793-4060 or visit RIBCO.com.
Music
Ben Kenney
The Redstone Room
Friday, June 14, 9 p.m.
On June 14, Davenport's Redstone Room will host a solo concert with alternative-rock and hip-hop artist Ben Kenney, who also serves as bassist for the Grammy-nominated rock ensemble Incubus. His tight grooves and soulful vocals will surely make it a memorable evening, but as any dyed-in-the-wool Kenney fan will tell you, it was just over five years ago - in May of 2008 - that the musician experienced what could easily be considered the pinnacle of his career to date.
If you're one of those fans, you know that May 2008 wasn't when Kenney joined his first band. The 36-year-old bassist, guitarist, drummer, and singer/songwriter actually entered the world of professional music-making with the New Jersey outfit Racecar in 1994, a stint followed by his 1996 partnership with Chuck Treece in the rock duo Supergrub. And it wasn't when Kenney officially joined Incubus. That happened in 2003, after the group's 2001 smash "Drive" hit number one on Billboard's U.S. Alternative Songs rankings, but before Incubus scored additional chart-toppers with 2004's "Megalomaniac," 2006's "Anna Molly," and 2008's "Love Hurts."
Kenney's admirers know that May of 2008 wasn't the month that the man treated us to his first solo album. That would be December of 2004, when the musician released his CD 26, a debut that preceded Maduro in March 2006, Distance & Comfort in January 2008, and Burn the Tapes in October 2010. And while Kenney is a frequent touring artist who has done studio work for the likes of Justin Timberlake, Faith Evans, Erykah Badu, and producers Timbaland and DJ Jazzy Jeff, May 2008 was not when he also proved that he could be a literal one-man band, as he did in his notable video for the Distance & Comfort song "Eulogy." That took place several months earlier.
No. May of 2008, as you probably don't need to be told, was actually the month that Ben Kenney was featured in his first River Cities' Reader article, in an unmissable interview conducted by our paper's brilliant managing editor, Jeff Ignatius! Check out Kenney's certain career highlight by visiting RCReader.com/y/benkenney!
(That might seem like a bit much, but do you know long I've been angling for a raise?)
Ben Kenney performs locally with an opening set by Almost a Triangle, and tickets and more information are available by calling (563)326-1333 or visiting RiverMusicExperience.org.
Theatre
The Magic Flute
Lincoln Park
Saturday, June 15, through Sunday, June 23
One of the musical highlights in Mozart's beloved operetta The Magic Flute comes in its first scene, when the clownish character of Papageno sings "Der Vogelfänger bin ich ja," a German phrase whose English translation is "The birdcatcher am I." I'm consequently really looking forward to our area's upcoming production of this stage classic, because given Papageno's surroundings when he sings it, a birdcatcher he might very well have to be.
That's right: The outdoor-theatre season is in swing again at Rock Island's Lincoln Park, where Genesius Guild and Opera@Augustana will be co-presenting the Mozart masterpiece The Magic Flute June 15 through June 23. Directed by Augustana College professor John Pfautz, this musical fairytale of sorcery, romance, daring rescues, and jolly folk humor will be given an added measure of the enchanted as the summer evenings in the park fade from sunlight to darkness. It should go without saying that the strains of Mozart's blissful score - and the sterling voices recruited from the Opera@Augustana ensemble - will create a magic all their own.
Does your acquaintance with this timeless work extend beyond the brief snippets of it staged in the Oscar-winning Amadeus? Let's find out! Try your hands at this Magic Flute quiz courtesy of our friends at FunTrivia.com:
1) Mozart wrote The Magic Flute's music, but who wrote its libretto?
A) Lorenzo da Ponte
B) Emanuel Schikaneder
C) Carl Ludwig Gleseke
2) Which opera did Mozart write at the same time he was composing The Magic Flute?
A) Lucia Silla
B) La Clemenza di Tito
C) Idomeneo
3) Which secret society was a direct influence on The Magic Flute's music and libretto?
A) The Freemasons
B) The Utopian Socialists
C) The Knights of Columbus
4) Which famed figure of the period is thought to have composed a tune for The Magic Flute?
A) Felix Mendelsohn
B) Johann Sebastian Bach
C) Martin Luther
5) Why, at the start of The Magic Flute, is the character of Prince Tamino so terrified?
A) A giant serpent is chasing him
B) A hungry lion is chasing him
C) An angry Turk is chasing him
The Magic Flute performances begin at 8 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, admission is free (though donations are encouraged), and more information can be found by visiting Genesius.org.
Answers: 1 - B, 2 - B, 3 - A, 4 - C, 5 - A. That last answer is another reason I'm looking forward to the show. I'm dying to learn the German-to-English translation for "AA-A-A-A-A-A-A-AAAAA!!!!!"
Theatre
Cabaret
Prospect Park Auditorium
Friday, June 14, through Sunday, June 23
One of the most cherished entertainments in musical-theatre history will be staged at Moline's Prospect Park Auditorium June 14 through 23, as Quad City Music Guild opens its summer season with the Tony Award-winning triumph Cabaret. A fascinating, incredibly tuneful tale of unconventional romance, political and personal oppression, and the engagingly lurid nightclub scene of Nazi-era Berlin, the production is being directed by Guild veteran Bob Williams, and boasts a cast that includes such significant area talents as Melissa Anderson-Clark, Bryan Tank, Tristan Tapscott, Nancy Teerlinck, Mark McGinn, Abbey Donohoe, and Joe Maubach.
But why tell you about this Cabaret when I can sing the information to you? So without further ado, I present my tribute to this musical classic, performed to the melody of the show's title number. Ahem ... .
What good is sitting alone in your room?
Come hear the music play!
Quad City Music Guild's new show
Is titled Cabaret!
A stage classic written by Kander & Ebb,
It soared on the Great White Way!
The movie won Oscars for Bob Fosse,
Plus Liza and pal Joel Grey!
The singing girls, the dancing boys -
When Music Guild starts celebrating
All your cares will be abating!
"Wilkommen," "Money," and "What Would You Do?" -
Those songs take your breath away!
Reserve your seats and join the fun!
Don't wait too long or they'll be gone, old chum!
'Cause we all love that Ca-ba-re-e-e-e-et!
Okay, so I maybe could've done a better job of including more specific info in my ditty. But you try making "Prospect Park Auditorium" and "Melissa Anderson-Clark" scan into that rhythm.
Cabaret performances run Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., and tickets and more information are available by calling (309)762-6610 or visiting QCMusicGuild.com.
What Else Is Happenin'... ?
MUSIC
Saturday, June 15 - Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Concert featuring dirty rags, mournful blues, and laid-back swing, in a Hancher Auditorium presentation. Iowa City's University of Iowa Pentacrest. 4 p.m. Free admission. For information, call (319)335-1160 or visit http://www.Hancher.UIowa.edu.
Monday, June 17 - Chicago. The chart-topping pop musicians in concert. i wireless Center (1201 River Drive, Moline). 8 p.m. $35-65. For tickets, call (800)745-3000 or visit iwirelessCenter.com.
Tuesday, June 18 - Aaron Carter. Pop and hip-hop concert with the 25-year-old singer/songwriter, featuring opening sets by Vince Tomas and Angela Meyer. The Redstone Room (129 Main Street, Davenport). 7:30 p.m. $15. For tickets and information, call (563)326-1333 or visit RiverMusicExperience.org.
Tuesday, June 18 - Kelly Hogan. Concert with the Georgia-based singer/songwriter, with an opening set by Milk & Egg. Englert Theatre (221 East Washington Street, Iowa City). 8 p.m. $18-22. For tickets and information, call (319)688-2653 or visit Englert.org.
Thursday, June 20 - The Goddamn Gallows. Punk-bluegrass musicians perform with guest Lou Shields, followed by a set with the Gypsy Lumberkings. Rock Island Brewing Company (1815 Second Avenue, Rock Island). 8 p.m. $20. For tickets and information, call (309)793-4060 or visit RIBCO.com.
Friday, June 21 - Terri Clark. Canadian country musician in concert. Quad-Cities Waterfront Convention Center (1777 Isle Parkway, Bettendorf). 7:30 p.m. $25-35. For information, call (800)724-5825 or visit Bettendorf.IsleOfCapriCasinos.com.
Saturday, June 22 - Sonny & the Sunsets. Pop, old-time country, and folk with Sonny Smith and his ensemble, in an Intimate at the Englert concert event. Englert Theatre (221 East Washington Street, Iowa City). 8 p.m. $15. For tickets and information, call (319)688-2653 or visit Englert.org.
Saturday, June 22 - Midsummer Night's Dream Music Festival. Camping and multi-genre music event featuring numerous Quad Cities bands performing over a 14-hour period. Hillcrest Event Center (16260 East 350th Street, Orion). 11 a.m. start; 11 a.m. camping check-out on June 23. $10-12. For information, call (309)755-6550 or visit MidsummerMusic.EventBrite.com.
THEATRE
Friday, June 14, through Saturday, June 22 - Bear Girl. The Prenzie Players' debuting Native American drama, written by J.C. Luxton and directed by Cait Bodenbender. QC Theatre Workshop (1730 Wilkes Avenue, Davenport). Thursday-Saturday 8 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m. $10. For tickets and information, call (309)278-8426 or visit PrenziePlayers.com. For an interview with Luxton and Bodenbender, visit RCReader.com/y/beargirl.
Friday, June 14, through Saturday, July 6 - Hamlet. Outdoor production of Shakespeare's classic tragedy, directed by Kristin Horton. Riverside Theatre Festival Stage (Lower City Park, Iowa City). Scheduled performances Tuesdays-Sundays. $18-40. For tickets and information, call (319)338-7672 or visit RiversideTheatre.org.
Saturday, June 15, through Saturday, June 29 - Diary of a Worm, a Spider, & a Fly. Family musical comedy based on the children's-book series. Old Creamery Theatre (39 38th Avenue, Iowa City). Saturday 1 p.m., June 18, 20, 26, and 27 at 10 a.m. $8.50. For tickets and information, call (319)622-6194 or visit OldCreamery.com.
Monday, June 17 - Circa '21 Open House. Annual event featuring the announcement of the theatre's next season, hors d'oeuvres, backstage tours, raffles, prizes, entertainment with Bootleggers Brad Hauskins and Sunshine Ramsey, and more. Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse (1828 Third Avenue, Rock Island). 9 a.m. Free admission; season tickets available for purchase. For information, call (309)786-7733 extension 2 or visit Circa21.com.
Thursday, June 20, through Saturday, June 29 - Godspell. Inspirational musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. Clinton Area Showboat Theatre (311 Riverview Drive, Clinton). Thursday-Saturday 7:30 p.m., Sunday and Wednesday. 3 p.m. For tickets and information, call (563)242-6760 or visit ClintonShowboat.org.
Thursday, June 20, through Saturday, June 29 - Tuesdays with Morrie. Drama based on Mitch Albom's autobiographical bestseller. Timber Lake Playhouse (8215 Black Oak Road, Mt. Carroll). Tuesday-Saturday 7:30 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m. $15-23. For tickets and information, call (815)244-2035 or visit TimberLakePlayhouse.org.
Friday, June 21, through Sunday, July 7 - The School for Scandal. Richard Brinsley Sheridan's 18th Century satire, directed by Theodore Swetz. Riverside Theatre Festival Stage (Lower City Park, Iowa City). Scheduled performances Tuesdays-Sundays. $18-40. For tickets and information, call (319)338-7672 or visit RiversideTheatre.org.
EVENTS
Thursday, June 13 - An Evening with Shawn Johnson. The Women's Connection hosts the Olympic gold medalist and winner of the 2009 season of Dancing with the Stars, speaking on the topic "Believe in Your Dreams." Davenport RiverCenter (136 East Third Street, Davenport). 6 p.m. $25. For tickets and information, call (309)631-0167 or visit Womens-Connection.org.
Friday, June 14, and Saturday, June 15 - Juneteenth Festival. Annual event held in conjunction with the anniversary of slavery's abolition, featuring live music with headliners 10 of Soul and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, historical presentations, children's activities, and more. LeClaire Park (River Drive and Ripley Street, Davenport). Friday 6:30-9 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.Free admission. For information, call (563)322-7363 or visit QCJuneteenth.com.
Saturday, June 15 - Dodgeball Showdown. Ninth-annual competition and outdoor party, with live music by Trash Martini, vendors, and more. Daiquiri Factory (1809 Second Avenue, Rock Island). 11 a.m. gates, noon competition. For information, call (309)786-1016 or visit DaiquiriFactory.com.
Sunday, June 16 - Ride the River. Annual Father's Day event hosted by River Action, featuring a bi-state tour of the Quad Cities along riverfront bike trails. Race begins at the Freight House (421 West River Drive, Davenport). 7 a.m. $5-15 registration. For information and to register, call (563)322-7433 or visit RiverAction.org.
Saturday, June 22, and Sunday, June 23 - Quad City Air Show. Annual aerial celebration featuring daily air shows, demonstrations, information booths, vendors, and more. Davenport Municipal Airport (9010 North Harrison Street, Davenport). 8 a.m.-5 p.m. $20-25 weekend pass. For tickets and information, call (563)322-7469 or visit QuadCityAirShow.com.
Sunday, June 23 - Blossoms at Butterworth. Annual outdoor celebration featuring an antique-car display, a historic Lionel train exhibit, live music, children's activities, guided tours of the area, and more. Butterworth Center and Deere-Wiman House (1105 Eighth Street, Moline). Noon-5 p.m. Free admission. For information, call (309)743-2701 or visit ButterworthCenter.com.
Sunday, June 23 - The Great Race. Area stop for the antique, vintage, and collector-car road rally on public highways from St. Paul, Minnesota, to Mobile, Alabama. LeClaire Park (River Drive and Ripley Street, Davenport). 5 p.m. arrival. For information, call (800)989-7223 or visit GreatRace.com.
Tuesday, June 25, through Saturday, June 29 - Rock Island County Fair. Annual outdoor event featuring carnival rides, games, vendors, live music, 4-H activities, and more. Rock Island County Fairgrounds (Archer Drives and Avenue of the Cities, East Moline). Free admission before 8:30 p.m., $5 admission after 8:30 p.m., $5-10 grandstand-event admission. For information, call (309)796-1620 or visit RockIslandFair.org.
