River Cities' Reader - Issue #760 - September 2, 2010

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Business • Politics • Arts • Culture • Now You Know • RiverCitiesReader.comRiver Cities’ Reader • Vol. 17 No. 760 • Septem

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Understanding “Austerity”by Mark. W. Hendrickson

Traditionally, “austerity programs” have been International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailouts of heavily indebted, virtually bankrupt Third World governments. For governments to obtain a loan, the IMF has required them to get their fiscal affairs in order by reducing their budget deficits.

Today, by contrast, we find that some of the wealthiest countries in the world require “austerity programs.” The dangerous indebtedness of the PIIGS (Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece, Spain) is well known. This has deflected our attention from the salient reality that the United States has comparable degrees of debt and deficits to those European countries. We, too, are in danger of either a sovereign-debt or currency crisis.

We should be ashamed and alarmed that we are even talking about “austerity programs” for the United States of America. The very fact that we are doing so means that we have lapsed into a Third-World-style quagmire of fiscal incompetence and over-indebtedness. Like a banana republic, we have allowed a self-serving political class to spend tax dollars and borrowed funds to “buy” popularity and take us to the brink of national bankruptcy.

Uncle Sam has behaved like a guy

A couple of years ago, the terms “too big to fail” and “bailout” were the trendy buzzwords. Currently, the

“in” word seems to be “austerity.” On both sides of the Atlantic, public officials and media pundits are debating the need for “fiscal austerity programs,” i.e., shrinking government deficits by increasing tax revenues and/or reducing expenditures.

The term “austerity” is problematic. It connotes sacrifice and deprivation. While “austerity” programs include cutbacks in some persons’ lifestyles, it seems odd to say that learning to live within one’s means is a sacrifice. What some call “austerity” is simply the recognition of reality: A society cannot chronically consume more than it produces.

Favoring “austerity” are those worried that today’s swollen budget deficits and national debts, if not corrected, will trigger an economic catastrophe through a sovereign-debt crisis (i.e., the inability of governments to find buyers for their bonds). Opposing it are those who profess concern about the economic hardship that would be endured by innocent victims, and/or those who believe that the right economic policy is for governments to increase spending and budget deficits even more than they already have.

NewlyRefurbished!

earning $40,000 per year who – with the help of borrowing – has been spending $60,000 per year. Obviously, that can’t continue indefinitely. In fact, such a person can’t repair his balance sheet even if he reduces his annual consumption to $40,000; he has to consume less than $40,000 to be able to serve his debt obligations. So it is with Uncle Sam.

In recent years, our government has gone on a spending binge. As a result, today’s economy is sluggish and severely hung over. Yet Keynesian economists such as Paul Krugman tell us that we haven’t binged enough. We’ve been belting down doubles, but Krugman says that the cure for our fiscal hangover is to go back to the bar and start chugging triples. No thank you.

Other pundits on the left are calling for tax increases instead of spending cuts. Their primary goal is the redistribution of wealth, and so they object to the alleged unfairness of spending cuts. This raises the issue of whether existing government payments to individuals ever were fair. There isn’t space to debate this now, but the overriding problem is this: If federal spending isn’t cut significantly, we will end up with a financial crisis and economic crack-up that will cause more economic pain for more people,

including those that the redistributionists claim to want to help. What could possibly be fair about that?

It is clear what we must do: slash government spending. Tax rates should not be raised while we are in this weakened economic condition.

What some call “austerity” is simply a return to fiscal sanity and economic reality. We cannot continue to spend more than we produce. The adjustments will be painful, but the longer we wait to bite the bullet, the more painful those necessary adjustments will be.

One more point: The blame for the pain caused by “austerity” belongs not to those who make the politically difficult decisions to cut spending but to those in the past who made politically facile decisions to spend beyond our means. They are the ones who got us into this mess.

Mark W. Hendrickson is an adjunct faculty member, economist, and contributing scholar with The Center for Vision & Values (VisAndVals.org) at Grove City College.

A longer version of this article appeared at AmericanThinker.com/2010/08/understanding_austerity.html.

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Moline Public Library 3210 41st Street Moline, IL 61265 309-524-2440

Ad sponsored by the Friends of the Moline Public Library

The Big Read!

Read the book everyone will be talking about this autumn!

Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451.

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September 15 7:00pm

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(who headed up Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley’s Olympics committee) and Duchossois Industries CEO Craig Duchossois.

None of those $500,000 or so in contributions from a total of six Chicago-area business titans can be accessed on the State Board of Elections’ Web site. The board claims it would’ve had to revamp its entire Web-site code to post the contributions. The not-for-profit designation expires at the end of this year, however, so the disclosure loophole will soon vanish.

So far, Two Party System Inc. has spent about $43,000 on “polling with analysis and

recommendations” for both the House and Senate Republican campaign committees. It has also set up several Republican campaigns with state-of-the-art election software and training and provided high-tech phone-banking services.

All told, it spent or contributed over $300,000 in May and June. Republican

legislative candidates received anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars’ worth of services.

The group isn’t alone. The Realtors PAC of Illinois reported no contributions during the first six months of this year, but the Illinois Association of Realtors’ not-for-profit committee reported raising almost $245,000 and had the same amount available to spend on the fall campaign.

The Illinois Coalition for Jobs, Growth, & Prosperity’s official PAC, which is run by Bill Brady campaign chair Ron Gidwitz and Illinois Manufacturers Association President Greg Baise, spent more than $100,000 during the 2008 fall campaign. The PAC reported raising no money this year, but the group’s not-for-profit arm raised and spent $25,000 during the first six months of the year.

The Southern Central Laborers Political League has no official PAC, but its not-for-profit committee had more than $450,000 in the bank as of June 30. The Conservation Foundation, which is based in Naperville, had more than $160,000 in the bank.

The only way to get at those reports is to request printed copies from the State Board of Elections. That’s just ridiculous. Thankfully, this board-created loophole will be closing soon.

Sunshine isn’t the only political disinfectant, but it’s a good one. The more the better.

Rich Miller also publishes Capitol Fax (a daily political newsletter) and TheCapitolFaxBlog.com.

by Rich Miller

A Virginia-based group that wanted to play in Illinois politics but didn’t want to disclose its donors has lost round

one in what could be an extended court battle.The Center for Individual Freedom (CFIF)

filed a federal lawsuit earlier this summer claiming that the state’s contribution-disclosure laws for not-for-profits and political committees should be tossed out.

The CFIF claimed in its request for an injunction against the state disclosure laws that it wants to “speak about judicial matters, legal reform, and other justice-related public-policy issues in Illinois” before the general election. It’s suspected that the group planned to join the campaign against Illinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas Kilbride, who is up for retention this year. State tort-reform organizations are pushing a so-far underfunded campaign against Kilbride.

State law requires campaign committees that raise more than token amounts to disclose who contributes to them. The CFIF has historically refused to say who funds its operation. The group was identified in the 1990s as working with tobacco companies in legal fights.

But U.S. District Court Judge William T. Hart rejected the group’s motion for an injunction on the Illinois statutes, claiming that the state has a right to require financial disclosure and that state law is not unconstitutionally vague.

Thank goodness for Judge Hart. The last time we had a big Supreme Court race in this state, millions of out-of-state dollars flowed in, and it was tough to track much of it. We have a right to know who’s behind these campaigns.

Meanwhile, a handful of not-for-profit groups are benefitting from a little-known state reporting loophole to fly almost completely under the media’s radar.

State law since 2004 has allowed not-for-profit organizations to file their own special disclosure reports. The Illinois State Board of Elections does not put those disclosure reports online. As a result, seven not-for-profit organizations have over a million dollars available to spend in the coming campaign without anyone knowing much about them.

The newest group to take advantage of the disclosure loophole is Two Party System Inc., which is one of the House and Senate Republicans’ larger campaign contributors. The group is run by the wife of Republican Cook County Board presidential nominee Roger Keats, and is funded by some of the bigger names in Chicago, including Pat Ryan

State’s Disclosure Law Upheld, but a Loophole Remains

Seven not-for-profit organizations have over a million dollars available to spend in the coming

campaign without anyone knowing much

about them.

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candidate Mariannette Miller-Meeks, whom Forbes is endorsing.

Jobless Rate Sees Small Increase

Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) said August 20 that the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.8 percent in July, up slightly from June’s 6.7 percent. The jobless rate was 6.1 percent a year ago.

“In contrast to the U.S. employment situation, Iowa’s private sector hired at a strong enough pace in July to overcome the job losses on the government side,” said IWD Director Elisabeth Buck. “Nonfarm jobs in the state have increased in six of the first seven months of 2010, which has managed to keep the recovery intact.”

About 113,800 Iowa residents were looking for work in July. That’s an increase of 700 from June and 11,600 from July 2009. The total number of working Iowans fell to 1,560,800 in July from 1,567,200 in June. The U.S. unemployment rate remained at 9.5 percent, which was slightly higher than the July 2009 rate of 9.4 percent.

The Iowa Policy Project (IPP) said the state’s job picture was hurt by 1,300 state and federal jobs that were lost in July, in part due to early retirements in state government and the end of temporary federal census jobs.

$�0 Million in State Money Available for Flood Victims

The state of Iowa will provide $20 million in assistance to flood victims with the money coming from the ending balance of Fiscal Year 2010 or from cash reserves. The program will make $7.5 million available for business assistance, $7.5 million for homeowner assistance, and $5 million for unmet-needs assistance.

Governor Chet Culver said the program is essentially the same as the post-2008-

by Lynn Campbell, IowaPolitics.com

Former Republican presidential candidate Steve Forbes says he will not run for president in 2012, saying

he’s now an “agitator” and will “leave the exercising to others.”

Forbes, who ran for president in 1996 and 2000, was the guest speaker August 25 at the Polk County Republicans’ Robb Kelley Club Luncheon at the downtown Des Moines Marriott hotel. He said after the event that he is still examining the entire field of potential Republican candidates in 2012, although he did single out one potential candidate.

“I’m looking over the whole field, trying to learn more about candidates, potential candidates like Mitch Daniels, the governor of Indiana who has had a very good record over two terms,” Forbes said. “So like Iowa, I’m looking to see who’s out there.”

Forbes, the editor-in-chief of business magazine Forbes as well as president and chief executive officer of its publisher, Forbes Inc., also said the Iowa caucuses remain important for Republican presidential hopefuls.

“And if you need a reminder, just wait until after November. You’ll have a whole slew of people coming in, a good version of a stimulus,” he said. “It’s very hard to win the presidency unless you make a show in Iowa. I suppose it can be done, but it’s a very formidable barrier, so I think most of those who want to do it will be here.”

Forbes said the country is in a state of anxiety, with people worried about spending in Washington, D.C., and whether the economy will get back on track. He claimed the free market is not to blame for the world’s financial woes and has been unfairly demonized instead of embraced as part of the solution.

He said free markets always work with the proper oversight. “You do need sensible laws, but it’s sensible laws that provide guide rails, very different from what this government in Washington is doing today,” he said.

Forbes later reiterated that government has an important role to play in making sure laws are updated as innovations come along, but that shouldn’t mean stifling innovation.

“Unfortunately, the advocates of big, suffocating government always portray it as a choice between massive government regulation and anarchy,” Forbes said. “No, it is not about those stark choices.”

Forbes was in Iowa for several days. He signed copies of his new book How Capitalism Will Save Us, attended an event for the Iowa House Majority Fund with state Representative Steve Lukan (R-New Vienna), and spent time with state House candidate Darin Beck (R-Cedar Falls) and state Senate candidate Bill Dix (R-Shell Rock).

Forbes also attended several Iowa Christian Alliance events and met with Republican Second Congressional District

Forbes Plans to be “Agitator,” Not Candidateflood Jumpstart Iowa program, which provided $94 million beyond what FEMA and the Small Business Administration provided, but a new name is being used to avoid confusion. To be eligible, Iowans must have already registered with FEMA.

Culver said the state could make more than $20 million available: “We’ll monitor the need and the demand out there just like we did in 2008, and we were able to help more than 5,000 homeowners and business owners with the Jumpstart program last time, and we’ll try to find additional resources if in fact we need them.”

Homeowners are eligible for up to $25,000 for repairs or down-payment assistance. The loan is forgivable over a five-year period as long as the person remains in the home. Businesses may receive up to $50,000 for working capital to ensure the business’s survival. That loan is also forgivable if the business remains open for at least 12 months after receiving the award. Up to $2,500 is available for unmet needs.

Fifty-seven Iowa counties have received a presidential disaster declaration for public assistance, and 32 counties have received a presidential disaster declaration for individual assistance. Culver said he has asked U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to give a special declaration to 74 counties that have suffered agriculture-related damage.

Meanwhile, a new report by Iowa State University economists Dave Swenson and Liesl Eathington finds that there has been limited economic impact from the state’s 2008 floods and tornadoes.

The economists acknowledge that many Iowans were devastated by those disasters, but their evaluation failed to find conclusive evidence of measurable and lasting reductions in overall industrial production or household consumption. The report also did not detect strong evidence of net population loss in areas most affected by the flooding.

“We were surprised by this, and I said it was like the old Timex ad: We took a licking and kept on ticking,” Swenson said. “Our economy was strong enough in that combined region – for example, the Cedar Rapids, Iowa City economy – and so large and diverse that it took that kind of devastation literally in stride. And while we recognize that there was incredible destruction and heartache in the core of the flood area, that’s different than the aggregate economic impact.”

For an expanded version of this article, visit RiverCitiesReader.com.

This weekly summary comes from IowaPolitics.com, an online government and politics news service. Reporter Andrew Duffelmeyer and other correspondents contributed to this report.

Steve Forbes


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The Moline Public Library’s Fahrenheit 451 “Big Read” Campaign

Hail and (Not Yet) Farewell: On Ray Bradbury, Near His 90th Birthday

by Jeff [email protected]

“But of course he was going away, there was nothing else to do, the time was up, the clock had run out, and he was going very far away indeed.”

Unless one believes that Mr. Electrico’s command to Ray Bradbury should be taken

literally, the famed author will likely not be on this planet to celebrate his 100th birthday.

For those unfamiliar with the Bradbury mythology, Mr. Electrico was a carnival magician Bradbury saw in 1932, when he was 12. Sam Weller describes the event in his 2005 biography The Bradbury Chronicles: “Mr. Electrico then approached the bespectacled, wide-eyed boy in the front row. Taking the [electrified] sword, he tapped Ray on each shoulder, then on the brow, and finally on the tip of his nose and cried, ‘Live forever!’”

“Why did he say that?” Bradbury said to Weller. “I decided that was the greatest idea I had ever heard. Just weeks after Mr. Electrico said this to me, I started writing every day. I never stopped.”

Immortality, of course, already belongs to Bradbury. His 1953 novel Fahrenheit 451 stands alongside Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World (published in 1932) and George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four (published in 1949) as a mid-20th Century cautionary-tale classic imagining a future full of numbing technology and invasive government. (See the sidebar “Pleasure to Burn: Reading Fahrenheit 451.”)

The book is the subject of the Moline Public Library’s Quad Cities-wide “Big Read” campaign, which begins September 27 with a keynote lecture by Weller and closes on October 31 – Bradbury’s favorite holiday. (For a list of Big Read events, see the sidebar “Fahrenheit 451: Area Book Discussions, Panel Discussions, and Film Screenings” on page 21.) But while Fahrenheit 451 is undoubtedly Bradbury’s lasting long-form work, Weller noted in an interview last week that the book isn’t typical of the author.

“It’s not characteristic,” Weller said. Bradbury wrote short stories with a similar warning tone – most famously “The Veldt,” the chilling tale of an immersive virtual-

reality playroom that’s a bit too authentic – “but I don’t think it’s indicative of the entirety of everything he’s created.” Fahrenheit 451 is

“more singular,” he said. And while Bradbury

is venerated for his use of the fantastic, Weller argues that the author must also be remembered for the works set in his childhood home of Waukegan, Illinois – the Green Town of Dandelion Wine and the dark-carnival novel Something Wicked This Way Comes. “He is intrinsic to the literary fabric of the heartland,” Weller said. “He’s one of our great Midwest writers. He tells a small-town story like almost no

other writer can do.”Bradbury turned 90 on August 22, and

while this might look like a premature obituary, it isn’t intended as one; the nine-decade milestone is a great opportunity to celebrate Bradbury while he can still enjoy it. (As Weller will tell you, Bradbury loves the limelight.) And his legacy is much greater than Fahrenheit 451.

The Illustrated Man“The pictures were moving, each in its turn, each for a brief minute or two. There in the moonlight, with the tiny tinkling thoughts and

the distant sea voices, each little drama was enacted. Whether it took an hour or three hours for the dramas to finish, it would be hard to say. I only know that I lay fascinated and did not move while the stars wheeled in the sky.”

To venerate Ray Bradbury for Fahrenheit 451 is akin to reducing the Grateful Dead’s

Jerry Garcia to his paintings; it gives too much weight to a secondary pursuit and ignores the primary contribution.

Fahrenheit 451 is a novel by a writer whose attention span didn’t allow for many of them. It’s science fiction by a guy who insists (correctly) that his primary genre is fantasy. The serious, dark tone is in opposition to the infectious enthusiasm of much of his work. (“The Veldt,” despite its earnest and genuine technological concerns, operates first as a wicked tale, and one can almost see the smile on its author’s face as the parents are devoured in a manufactured African landscape.)

Furthermore, Bradbury’s extra-print activities help illuminate that his fears about audio-visual entertainment as anesthesia haven’t precluded him from participating in them. Television (writing for Alfred Hitchcock Presents and his own The Ray Bradbury Theater, assisting Rod Serling with his conception of The Twilight Zone), movies (writing the screenplay for John Huston’s adaptation of Moby-Dick), and the stage (his own Pandemonium Theatre Company) represent a significant portion of his output, and he even helped design and write the Spaceship Earth attraction for Walt Disney World’s Epcot.

But the simplest way to discount the importance of Fahrenheit 451 to Bradbury’s oeuvre is to spend some time with his short stories. Most of us were introduced to Bradbury in grade or middle school with “The Veldt” or “All Summer in a Day” (the one about the girl locked in the closet), and from there many of us devoured him. And while some of his books can be read as cohesive wholes – most notably The Martian Chronicles and Dandelion Wine – they are fundamentally story collections.

Weller recommends a handful of Bradbury stories when he speaks at high schools, and while he mixes them up sometimes, he offered five starting points in our interview: “The Veldt,” “All Summer in a Day,” “The Lake,” “The Sound of Summer Running,” and “The Foghorn.” At ListenToTheEchoes.com – the Web site for his new book of Bradbury interviews – Weller is listing his 25 favorite

Continued On Page 20

Photo by Nathan KirkmanSam Weller, Ray Bradbury, and Black Francis in June

Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 is not about book-burning in the literal sense, and its Big Brother-style government mostly exists to

deal with the “queer ones” – the few who insist on thinking or slowing down or tasting the rain.

It’s easy to misremember the book, or to misunderstand it based on its reputation or its dominant imagery. The conflicted protagonist, Guy Montag, is a fireman, a profession that in Bradbury’s future burns books instead of extinguishing fires. “It was a pleasure to burn,” the 1953 novel begins. “It was a special pleasure to see things eaten, to see things blackened and changed.”

Fire is a way of destroying knowledge, ideas, and nonconformity. But the firemen aren’t really necessary. Bradbury explicitly makes them symbolic figures in the culture rather than the embodiment of invasive government; they provide a show. “And so when houses were finally fireproofed completely, all over the world ... there was no longer need of firemen for the old purposes,” says Montag’s captain in one monlogue. “They were given the new job, as custodians of our peace of mind, the focus of our understandable and rightful dread of being inferior; official censors, judges, and executors.”

That speech, by Fahrenheit 451’s deliciously ambiguous (and obviously well-read) antagonist, is key to understanding Bradbury’s fears. The captain, Beatty, outlines how the rise of mass media facilitated the death of analysis, ideas, and even genuine feeling in society: “Speed up the film, Montag, quick. Click, Pic, Look, Eye, Now, Flick, Here, There, Swift, Pace, Up, Down, In, Out, Why, How, Who, What, Where, Eh? Uh! Bang! Smack! Wallop, Big, Bong, Boom! Digest-digests, digest-digest-digests. Politics? One column, two sentences, a headline! Then, in mid-air, all vanishes! Whirl man’s mind around about so fast under the pumping hands of publishers, exploiters, broadcasters that the centrifuge flings off all unnecessary, time-wasting thought!” In other words: Burning books is redundant, because people have willingly submitted to the bombardment of a fast-paced culture of stupidity. As Bradbury wrote in 1979: “There is more than one way to burn a book. And the world is full of people running about with lit matches.”

Books themselves represent the knowledge and awareness that have been lost. As an old man tells Montag: “It’s not books you need, it’s some of the things that once were in books. ... The same infinite detail and awareness could be projected through the radios and televisors, but are not. No, no, it’s not books at all you’re looking for! Take it where you can find it, in old phonograph records, old motion pictures, and in old friends; look for it in nature and look for it in yourself. Books were only one type of receptacle where we stored a lot of things we were afraid we might forget. There is nothing magical in them, at all. The magic is only in what books say, how they stitched the patches of the universe together into one garment for us.”

It’s instructive to look at Fahrenheit 451 in the

Pleasure to Burn: Reading Fahrenheit 451


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“I think Playcrafters has traditionally had the reputation of being a

stodgy old theatre that only does six comedies a year,” says Tom Morrow, a frequent actor and director for Moline’s venerable Barn Theatre. “And admittedly, we do a lot of comedies. But every once in a while, we try to stick our necks out and do something else.”

That they do. In addition to the titles produced in conjunction with Playcrafters’ 2009 “Diversity Initiative” – Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun and August Wilson’s Fences – other recent “something elses” have included 2005’s Altar Call, a debuting, religiously themed drama written by local playwright Melissa McBain, and 2008’s Promises, Promises, one of only a handful of musicals the theatre has produced during its 81-year history.

And on September 10, the Playcrafters Barn Theatre will actually present something of a blend of these latter two works – a debuting, religiously themed musical – when it premieres Hard to Believe, a song-filled re-telling of the Biblical story of Job, directed by Morrow, and written and composed by Tim Stoller and Jonathan Turner. Previously staged, in workshop form, at Rock Island’s defunct Green Room Theatre in 2008 and Davenport’s Zion Lutheran Church in 2009, Turner says that “the whole theme of the show is about the challenges of faith, and maintaining your faith in the face of all this tragedy.”

Hard to Believe is also the first original work by area authors that Playcrafters has produced since Altar Call, and Turner, for one, knows how fortunate he and his collaborator are to find their show on the theatre’s 2010 schedule – especially considering their competition for the slot.

“Weren’t we up against a show by [legendary musical duo] Kander & Ebb?” Turner asks Morrow during a recent interview. “Weren’t they one of the other choices?”

“Yeah, I think so,” says Morrow.Turner laughs. “No pressure there.” The concept for Hard to Believe began

with Stoller, a former associate pastor at Zion Lutheran Church currently pursuing a religious-studies Ph.D. at the University of Iowa. “I had the idea for it way back around ’93 or ’94,” he says. “You know, I

was thinking: The story of Job. The tale of universal suffering. It screams ‘musical.’

“It was the challenge that was appealing,” Stoller adds with a laugh. “Can I think of how to do this? So I just started writing lyrics, and slowly some dialogue.”

Yet even after years of writing, Stoller still needed someone to compose the show’s score, and found an ideal candidate for the job after meeting Turner at Zion in 2000, and discovering that he had credits as a composer.

“I was getting to know Jonathan a little,” says Stoller, “and I asked him one day, ‘Would you ever have an interest in writing music for a musical?’ And he said, ‘Wow, that’s always been kind of a dream of mine. What’d you have in mind?’ ‘Well, I’ve actually got one started already.’”

Turner, an arts and entertainment reporter for the Rock Island Argus/Moline Dispatch and frequent performer at the River Music Experience’s coffeehouse Mojo’s, welcomed the opportunity, and was particularly happy to learn that Stoller had already completed a hefty share of the work. “Tim did most of the lyrics himself,” he says, “and I set them to music. And for me, as a songwriter, that’s a lot easier than coming up with the melody, or coming up with some music, and trying to stick lyrics to that. I get inspired a lot quicker and easier to an existing lyric.”

Stoller, meanwhile, says that much of his inspiration for the themes in Hard to Believe, as the show currently stands, came years after the musical’s inception.

“One of the things that I think really resurrected it for me was 9/11,” he says, “because of some of the, in my opinion, crappy responses to how people were dealing with the experience. You know, people were

trying to find somebody to blame for why it happened, or suggesting that because the United States – in some people’s minds – was going down the toilet, that’s why it happened. And that kind of stuff, I think, is just ridiculous.

“It’s not necessarily because you did something bad that bad things happen,” Stoller continues. “It’s not because you’re proud. What if you just can’t come up with the reason? What if, in the end, you just don’t have one? What are you going to do? And I think what the show says is that you’ve got a choice to make: You can get on with life, or you can sit

around and wait for the answer.”As they both lived in different cities

– and, from 2003 to 2008, took a hiatus after Stoller accepted a position as a pastor in Albia, Iowa – Turner says their work on the musical “wasn’t like the Gershwin brothers sitting right next to each other. Most of the ‘collaboration’ was was kind of on our own. I would play songs over the phone, or send him tapes, as I would finish the songs, and we would just meet every now and then.” Eventually, the duo also secured the talents of arranger Justin Hill, who created the show’s orchestrations. (“I’ve never actually met him in person,” says Turner with a laugh. “Just e-mail correspondence.”)

Finally, a working draft of the piece – originally titled What About Job? – was completed, and performed in a staged reading at the Green Room Theatre in the fall of 2008. Stoller says the response was “quite overwhelmingly good,” although it was clear to both him and Turner that there was room for improvement.

“One of the main things we learned was that it was too long at that point,” Stoller says of the initial, two-and-a-half-hour presentation. “We did some cutting, and when we did the version for Zion [in the spring of 2009], I was thinking, ‘You know, it still feels a little long to me.’”

“A number of the lines were more like mini-speeches,” says Turner of the dialogue, which has been subsequently trimmed. “I don’t know if you’d call them sermonettes, but Tim is obviously used to writing in the pastoral style.”

Yet even before final edits were made and

Leap of FaithPlaycrafters Presents the Biblical Musical Hard to Believe, Opening September 10

Vol. 1�, No. ��0September � - 1�, �010

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by Mike [email protected]


Wendy Czekalski and Paul Workman in Hard to Believe


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men of Battle Company have far more to contend with than their locale; well-armed members of the Taliban – none of whom is ever seen in Restrepo or, with one exception, even seen by the troops – have the company surrounded, and open fire on the soldiers every single day.

Recording these assaults on video, Junger and Hetherington serve as witnesses to the nightmarish unpredictability of Battle Company’s situation, and frequently (and accidentally) capture nightmarish images, such as the miniature plastic skeleton that dangles from a soldier’s Jeep, and eerily sways back and forth following a roadside attack. Yet what reads even stronger than the soldiers’ terror, and even stronger than their unequivocal bravery, is their utter, wholly understandable confusion: Where is this gunfire coming from? With no clear enemy in sight, and bullets coming from all directions, Restrepo offers an unforced metaphor for the futility and madness of the war in Afghanistan; the film isn’t overtly political, but it manages to say more about this particular overseas conflict than any number of rhetorical stump speeches on the subject possibly could.

Restrepo would be supremely noteworthy even if it weren’t a documentary on modern warfare in Afghanistan that somehow found

its way to a Quad Cities cineplex.Directed and produced by reporter Sebastian

Junger and photographer Tim Hetherington, this fascinating, heartbreaking achievement debuted at this year’s Sundance Film Festival (where it won the prestigious Grand Jury Prize) and opened in larger metropolitan areas in late June; the movie eventually made its way to cities that don’t traditionally screen docs of its type, including Clarksville, Tennessee; Columbus, Georgia; and Harker Heights, Texas. On September 3, Restrepo premieres at Rave Motion Pictures Davenport 53, and the film turns out to be much like its stealthy nationwide release strategy; Junger’s and Hetherington’s vital, necessary work boasts a power that sneaks up on you and hits in continually unanticipated ways.

Titled after both a deceased private and a hilltop outpost in Afghanistan’s Korangal Valley, Restrepo follows the American troops of Second Platoon, Battle Company as they serve a 15-month deployment in what is described by the company’s Captain Dan Kearney as “one of the most dangerous postings in the military.” Unbearably hot in the summer and bitterly cold in the winter, with little vegetation found amidst the rocky, vertiginous cliffs, the Korangal Valley would be an inhospitable environment under any circumstances. Yet as we learn in the film’s nerve-racking opening minutes, the

Kings of the HillsRestrepo, Opening Friday, September 3, at Rave Motion Pictures Davenport 53


Although the battle sequences are frightening and effective, they make up only a small portion of the movie’s speedy, 95-minute running length, as the scenes set in Outpost Restrepo – named after 20-year-old medic Private First Class Juan S. Restrepo, who was the first

of the company’s soldiers to be killed – underscore not only the danger of the men’s daily existence, but its unremitting sameness. Long, mostly idle hours pass as the company waits for the next attack, with the tedium occasionally broken by good-natured rough-housing, or random, seemingly meaningless chores, or meetings with local village elders, who listen impassively as Captain Kearney explains how the Americans’ presence will lead to new jobs and a better standard of living for the Afghanis. (Junger and Hetherington, who wisely allow for several laughs in the film, encapsulate the ridiculousness of these summits with one shot of an Afghani elder struggling to figure out a juice box.) You sense that what keeps the soldiers sane amidst the tension and boredom – in addition to their admirable devotion to country – is their inspiring, fiercely moving devotion

to one another. From their affectionate joshing of a teenaged, “cherry” recruit to their spontaneous dance while listening to Samantha Fox’s “Touch Me” to their wrenching misery at the death of a fallen sergeant, the camaraderie among the men of Battle Company is deeply felt all throughout Restrepo.

Still, what might linger in your head and heart even beyond the filmmakers’ extraordinary video footage are the post-tour interviews conducted with the soldiers, snippets from which we’re given every few minutes. In them, the soldiers attempt to describe their experience at Outpost Restrepo and explain exactly what purpose their 15-month stint in Afghanistan served, and we gradually realize that it’s impossible for most of the men to do either; their nervous smiles and haunted, faraway gazes suggest the half-forgotten recollection of a disturbing dream that troubles you for hours after you wake. Yet for the men of Battle Company, of course, memories of their deployment prove to be lasting far longer. One private reveals that he’s taking four different types of sleeping pills to get through the night, and another says that he can’t get an especially horrifying mission called “Rock Avalanche” out of his thoughts, but doesn’t want to, as it reminds him to appreciate all the good things in life. Junger’s and Hetherington’s Restrepo is certainly one of them.

For Restrepo showtimes and tickets, call (563)359-1314. For more information on the film, visit RestrepoTheMovie.com.

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THE LAST EXORCISMFor the majority of its length, The Last

Exorcism is a hell of a good time. I’d love to say that’s because the movie is terrifying, but it isn’t, really; the biggest jolt you’re likely to experience comes in the first 20 minutes, when a teen unexpectedly hits a car’s rear window with a rock. Yet until it goes seriously off the rails in its final third, director Daniel Stamm’s low-tech scare flick is clever and engrossing (without being all that gross), and it boasts a protagonist who’s something unique for his genre: a funny, friendly sort whom you’re still aching to see get what’s coming to him.

The character in question is Southern preacher and family man Cotton Marcus (Patrick Fabian), a self-described entertainer who, through melodramatic sermons and feats of sleight-of-hand, enjoys whipping his parishioners into fits of religious ecstasy. A healthy skeptic, Marcus has no illusions about his calling – “I used to want a TV ministry,” he says, “and now all I want is health insurance” – and reserves his greatest disdain for the practice of exorcism, which he forthrightly calls “a scam.” Designed and shot as a documentary in which Marcus will debunk the theory of demonic possession, The Last Exorcism follows the preacher as he visits the rural-Louisiana farm of Louis Sweetzer (Louis Herthum), whose cattle are being routinely slaughtered, and whose bright-eyed 16-year-old daughter, Nell (Ashley Bell), appears to be the killer; Sweetzer believes she’s possessed, but Marcus knows better. Or does he?

From the outset, it’s pretty clear what Stamm and screenwriters Huck Botko and Andrew Gurland are up to: The disbelieving Marcus will attempt to reveal the girl’s “possession” as a sham, yet to his astonishment, will eventually be confronted with the notion that, yes, a demon has taken residence inside her. That the film’s arc is predictable, though, in no way lessens The Last Exorcism’s initial appeal. Stamm is superb with spooky fringe touches that hint at grander horrors to come – the shot of a door closing on Nell, her lips curling into a suggestive smile, is perfectly timed to give you the heebie-jeebies – and he’s frequently adept at pulling the wool over our eyes; during a preliminary exorcism ritual, an unseen beast roars and water boils when Nell’s feet are momentarily submerged, and you’re not quite sure whether these goings-on are Marcus’ doing or Satan’s. (Nell’s brother, played with spectacular creepiness by Caleb Landry Jones, is nowhere near as conflicted.) For up to an hour, Stamm’s offering is a refreshingly witty – and blessedly CGI-free – fright film, and it leads you to think

it’ll be that rare PG-13-rated genre piece that doesn’t disappoint.

Sadly, it does, as the last half hour trashes the movie’s early goodwill through distractingly labored dialogue, a goofy false ending, and a

seriously goofy real ending; despite its many virtues – and based on the groans heard at the screening I attended – it’s hard to imagine many viewers leaving The Last Exorcism feeling satisfied. (The film doesn’t even fulfill the promise of its setup. Once Marcus gleans that supernatural forces may indeed be at work, we’re denied a

single moment of shock on his part; this man who believes possession to be an utter hoax accepts the truth of it without batting an eyelid.) Yet much of it is satisfying, and nothing so much as the smart, genial performance by Patrick Fabian, who manages to be effortlessly charming and inventive while still creating a figure whose hubris goads you, every once in a while, into rooting for the devil. Fabian is like a Matthew McConaughey that you don’t want to smack, and despite my natural aversion to such things, if he ever winds up paired with Kate Hudson in a dippy romantic comedy, I’ll attend with little complaint.

GET LOWIn the pleasant, touching, yet dramatically

slight Get Low, Robert Duvall plays a 1930s Tennessee hermit who arranges his own funeral (with himself as host), and Sissy Spacek plays his old flame, and while both are typically excellent, part of the ennui you might feel comes from sensing that you’ve watched these actors in these roles too many times already. Duvall, hiding a broken heart, is cantankerous and ornery, and Spacek exudes beatific warmth, and there’s nothing much to do but wait as their delicate reunion is followed by an inevitable fight followed by an inevitable, tearful reconciliation; Get Low touches on themes of oppressive guilt and absolution, yet like Duvall’s and Spacek’s heartfelt work here, little about director Aaron Schneider’s film contains a whiff of surprise. Still, it’s awfully sincere, boasting impressive period details and lovely portrayals by Lucas Black and the great Bill Cobbs, and Bill Murray, as a sardonic funeral director, earns grateful, appropriate laughs for damned near everything he says. Get Low is like numerous movies you’ve seen. Miraculously, the brilliantly deadpan Murray – even after 30-plus years on-screen – is still absolutely unlike anyone else.

For reviews of Takers and other current releases, visit RiverCitiesReader.com.

LISTeN TO MIKe eVeRY FRIDAY AT 9AM ON ROCK 10�-9 FM wITH DAVe & DARReN

Devilish Fun

Movie Reviewsby Mike Schulz • [email protected] Mike Schulz • [email protected]

Movie Reviews

Patrick Fabian and Ashley Bell in The Last Exorcism


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MusicRiverfront PopsLeClaire ParkSaturday, September 11, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, September 11, brings with it the Quad City Symphony Orchestra’s

annual Riverfront Pops concert in Davenport’s LeClaire Park, and will, as ever, close with a stirring orchestral version of “The 1812 Overture” and a glorious fireworks display.

Yet it’s a fair bet that you’ll never have experienced a Riverfront

Pops quite like this one, as 2010’s concert in the park will also showcase the talents of Bravo Broadway!, a trio of Great White Way veterans – Stepanie J. Block, Hugh Panaro, and Lisa Vroman – who will deliver some of musical theatre’s most beloved tunes while backed by

the symphony’s outstanding musicians and led by gifted conductor Mark Russell Smith.

The Quad City Symphony Orchestra will perform no-doubt-rousing highlights from the scores to West Side Story, Candide, Jesus Christ Superstar, and numerous others. But they’ll also accompany Bravo Broadway’s crooners to beloved songs from such smash hits as Candide, Hairspray, and Mamma Mia!, as well as the eight legendary show tunes listed below.

How well do you know the sources of said tunes? Try matching the

Riverfront Pops songs above with the musicals that made them famous.

For tickets to this year’s Riverfront Pops, call the Quad City Symphony Orchestra at (563)322-0931 or visit QCSymphony.com.

MusicAbalone DotsThe Redstone RoomFriday, September 3, 8:30 p.m.

If you composed an alphabetical list of all the music groups that have ever existed, it’s possible that Abalone Dots would

place at the very top. (Unless, that is, the hyphen gives a-ha the advantage.) It’s also possible that if you composed a list of the greatest current folk and bluegrass groups, Abalone Dots would rank way up there.

Consider this, from the AbaloneDots.com Web site: “Abalone Dots fick en fantastisk respons för debutalbumet From a Safe Distance som släpptes 2007. Nu reser de mellan Nashville och Stockholm

för att skriva nya lǻtar och turnerar pǻ bǻda sidorna Atlanten.” *Oh, did I mention that the band is Swedish?Yet if you’re perturbed by the notion of a quartet of female

musicians from Sweden performing distinctively American bluegrass sounds, you’ll likely be won over on September 3, when the Swedish Grammy Award-winning ensemble brings its distinctive harmonies and considerable stage charisma to Davenport’s Redstone Room. Abalone Dots showcases a quartet of young musicians – 22-year-old Rebecka Hjukström, 24-year-olds Elin Mörk and Sophia Hogman, and 25-year-old Louise Holmer – and the women’s impressive vocals and musicianship led Today’s Country magazine to call the group “everything that modern bluegrass is about,” and “one of the best modern bluegrass bands that America hasn’t quite yet embraced as one of their own.”

Want to help reverse that? For information on, and tickets to, Abalone Dots’ Redstone Room concert, call (563)326-1333 or visit RedstoneRoom.com.

* “Abalone Dots had a fantastic response to their debut album From a Safe Distance, which released in 2007. Now they travel between Nashville and Stockholm to write new songs and tour on both sides of the Atlantic.” Thank God for the Google-translation function, huh?

what’s Happenin’EventCraig Karges: Experience the ExtraordinaryCentennial Hall, Augustana CollegeSaturday, September 11, 8 p.m.

The gentleman in the accompanying photo is self-described “extraordinist” Craig Karges.

Based on that picture, you may want to think twice about inviting him to your next dinner party.

Based on his credits and plaudits, though, you may also want to think twice about missing Karges’ one-man show, Experience the Extraordinary, being presented at Augustana College’s Centennial Hall on September 11.

Part psychic, part illusionist, and all entertainer, Karges has made more than 4,000

professional appearances in the course of his career, performing in 17 different countries and all 50 U.S. states. He’s been seen on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Larry King Live, and two of his own hour-long television specials. And his stage shows – in which, as Karges’ press materials state, “tables float, minds are read, metal bends, and your imagination is challenged because you won’t believe your eyes” – have earned him

accolades galore, including a record-setting 18 NACA (National Association for Campus Activities) Campus Entertainment Awards, and a citation as “Mentalist of the Year” from the International Psychic Entertainers Association. (If you’re thinking to yourself, “Seriously?”, know that CraigKarges.com follows that mention with: “Seriously!”)

Karges’ Web-site testimonials are no less impressive. Performance Magazine calls Experience the Extraordinary “one of the top five variety/family shows in North America,” a distinction he shares with the likes of David Copperfield and Disney on Ice. And Washington University staffer Stacy Pearson, after compiling student evaluations of Karges’ show, writes, “Our highest rating is ‘5,’ but you managed to score a ‘6,’ a ‘10,’ and a ‘5 wtf! omg!’”

So if you want to see wtf the excitement is all about, omg, call the Augustana College box office at (309)794-7306.

1) Cabaret2) Cats3) Chicago4) Funny Girl5) Gypsy6) The Lion King7) Phantom of the Opera8) Wicked

A) “All I Need Is the Girl” B) “All That Jazz” C) “The Circle of Life” D) “Defying Gravity” E) “Don’t Rain on My Parade” F) “Memory” G) “Music of the Night” H) “Wilkommen”

Answers: 1 – H, 2 – F, 3 – B, 4 – E, 5 – A, 6 – C, 7 – G, 8 – D. And if you missed any of those, I’m sorry, but we’re no longer on speaking terms.


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MusicRiverfront PopsLeClaire ParkSaturday, September 11, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, September 11, brings with it the Quad City Symphony Orchestra’s

annual Riverfront Pops concert in Davenport’s LeClaire Park, and will, as ever, close with a stirring orchestral version of “The 1812 Overture” and a glorious fireworks display.

Yet it’s a fair bet that you’ll never have experienced a Riverfront

Pops quite like this one, as 2010’s concert in the park will also showcase the talents of Bravo Broadway!, a trio of Great White Way veterans – Stepanie J. Block, Hugh Panaro, and Lisa Vroman – who will deliver some of musical theatre’s most beloved tunes while backed by

the symphony’s outstanding musicians and led by gifted conductor Mark Russell Smith.

The Quad City Symphony Orchestra will perform no-doubt-rousing highlights from the scores to West Side Story, Candide, Jesus Christ Superstar, and numerous others. But they’ll also accompany Bravo Broadway’s crooners to beloved songs from such smash hits as Candide, Hairspray, and Mamma Mia!, as well as the eight legendary show tunes listed below.

How well do you know the sources of said tunes? Try matching the

Riverfront Pops songs above with the musicals that made them famous.

For tickets to this year’s Riverfront Pops, call the Quad City Symphony Orchestra at (563)322-0931 or visit QCSymphony.com.

what’s Happenin’ by Mike [email protected]


what else Is Happenin’

MUSICFriday, September 3 – Mark Farner.

Concert with the former lead singer and guitarist of Grand Funk Railroad. Quad-Cities Waterfront Convention Center (1777 Isle Parkway, Bettendorf ). 7:30 p.m. $15-30. For tickets and information, call (800)843-4753 or visit Bettendorf.IsleOfCapriCasinos.com.

Sunday, September 5 – Glen Campbell. Grammy Award-winning country and pop musician in concert. Riverside Casino & Golf Resort (3184 Highway 22, Riverside). 4 p.m. $42-52. For tickets and information, call (877)677-3456 or visit RiversideCasinoAndResort.com.

Thursday, September 9 – New Orleans Dance Party with Papa Grows Funk. The New Orleans-based funk band in concert, and a presentation in the Hancher Auditorium Performing Arts Series. Iowa Memorial Union (125 North Madison Street, Iowa City). 10 p.m. For tickets and information, call (319)335-1160 or visit http://www.Hancher.UIowa.edu.

Sunday, September 12 – Justin Roberts & the Not-Ready-for-Naptime Players. Songs and comedy with the popular children’s entertainer. Englert Theatre (221 East Washington Street, Iowa City). 2 p.m. $12. For tickets and information, call (319)688-2653 or visit Englert.org.

ExhibitMercedes Matter: A Retrospective ExhibitionFigge Art MuseumSaturday, September 4, through Sunday, January 2

Mercedes Matter. Yes, Porsches and Lexuses do, too, but we’re talking about art now.

To be specific, we’re talking about one of the most prolific and influential artists of the 20th Century, as Figge Art Museum visitors will discover in the venue’s new exhibit, Mercedes Matter: A Retrospective Exhibition. On display from September 4 through January 2, the Figge’s is the first major museum exhibition devoted solely to the Abstract Expressionist artist who passed away in 2001, and will include samplings of Matter’s paintings through 2000, beginning with her early artistic attempts as a nine-year-old in 1922.

The daughter of modernist painter Arthur Beecher Carles (a student of Henri Matisse), Matter was not only a significant force in art, but in education, having taught at such prestigious institutions as the Philadelphia College of Art and New York

University, and having founded the New York School of Drawing, Painting, & Sculpture in 1964. She and photographer/graphic-designer husband Herbert Matter were also close friends and collaborators with such art-world legends as Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner, and in the 1950s, Mercedes became the

first female artist accepted into the elite New York organization The Artists’ Club, a group of progressive artists, critics, and poets associated with the New York Studio School.

As for Matter’s paintings, they’re described on the Figge’s Web site as “characterized by vigorous angular marks and geometricized rhythms,” and it’s also stated that “many of her pieces represent a unique fusion of advanced gestural abstraction and a sensitive perceptual observation of landscape and still-life motifs.” In order to feel less guilty about squandering my youth, I’m praying that Matter wasn’t thinking about all that as a nine-year-old.

For more information on Mercedes Matter: A Retrospective Exhibition, call (563)326-7804 or visit FiggeArt.org.

EventCraig Karges: Experience the ExtraordinaryCentennial Hall, Augustana CollegeSaturday, September 11, 8 p.m.

The gentleman in the accompanying photo is self-described “extraordinist” Craig Karges.

Based on that picture, you may want to think twice about inviting him to your next dinner party.

Based on his credits and plaudits, though, you may also want to think twice about missing Karges’ one-man show, Experience the Extraordinary, being presented at Augustana College’s Centennial Hall on September 11.

Part psychic, part illusionist, and all entertainer, Karges has made more than 4,000

professional appearances in the course of his career, performing in 17 different countries and all 50 U.S. states. He’s been seen on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Larry King Live, and two of his own hour-long television specials. And his stage shows – in which, as Karges’ press materials state, “tables float, minds are read, metal bends, and your imagination is challenged because you won’t believe your eyes” – have earned him

accolades galore, including a record-setting 18 NACA (National Association for Campus Activities) Campus Entertainment Awards, and a citation as “Mentalist of the Year” from the International Psychic Entertainers Association. (If you’re thinking to yourself, “Seriously?”, know that CraigKarges.com follows that mention with: “Seriously!”)

Karges’ Web-site testimonials are no less impressive. Performance Magazine calls Experience the Extraordinary “one of the top five variety/family shows in North America,” a distinction he shares with the likes of David Copperfield and Disney on Ice. And Washington University staffer Stacy Pearson, after compiling student evaluations of Karges’ show, writes, “Our highest rating is ‘5,’ but you managed to score a ‘6,’ a ‘10,’ and a ‘5 wtf! omg!’”

So if you want to see wtf the excitement is all about, omg, call the Augustana College box office at (309)794-7306.

MusicCowboy MouthRock Island Brewing CompanyFriday, September 10, 9 p.m.

The New Orleans-based rockers of Cowboy Mouth play the Rock Island

Brewing Company on September 10, and I’m not sure which of frontman Fred LeBlanc’s descriptions I like better: (1) “Cowboy Mouth is about pretending that you’re five years old, naked as a jaybird, and about to turn the hose on your parents, and there’s not a damn thing they can do about it,” or (2) “If the Neville Brothers and The Clash had a baby, it would be Cowboy Mouth.” It would also be a freakin’ miracle,

but in the case of both quotes, I think LeBlanc’s point is well-made.

Led by drummer LeBlanc and guitarist John Thomas Griffith, Cowboy Mouth earns immediate cool points for being named after a moderately obscure, seriously nutty Sam Shepard play. The band’s fans, though, know that Cowboy Mouth earns greater points for the high-energy, bayou-flavored rock of such hits as “Jenny Says,” “Love of My Life,” and “Disconnected,” and for the 200-plus

annual tour stops that have found the musicians playing to more than 8 million fans over 20 years.

Cowboy Mouth has also performed on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Late Show with Craig Kilborn, and Live with Regis & Kelly, yet I’m guessing that the band is best enjoyed live, considering that the music periodical Cake wrote, “On a bad night, they’ll tear the roof off the joint, and on a good night, they’ll save your soul.” Let’s hope, for RIBCO’s sake, that Cowboy Mouth has a good night. It’s been raining a lot this summer.

More on the group can be found at CowboyMouth.com, and more on its RIBCO show – where the musicians share the bill with Bakelight Army – is available by calling (309)793-4060 or visiting RIBCO.com.

Mercedes Matter’s Tabletop Still Life

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101 West River Drive Davenport, IA 52801www.rhythmcitycasino.com

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History comes alive with ballad singer Judy Cook!

Songs of Mark Twain’s America1pm, Wednesday, September 8

Tenting Tonight: Songs and Stories of The Civil War6:30pm, Wednesday, September 8

Songs of Abraham Lincoln’s America10:30am, Thursday, September 9

$5. $5. All programs last approximately one hour.Reservations recommended: 324-1933 ext. 242

w w w. p u t n a m . o r g / j u d y c o o k

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Featured Image from the Quad City Photography Club

(Editor’s note: The River Cities’ Reader each month will publish images from the Quad City Photography Club.)

The Quad City Photography Club holds digital and print competitions most months. At its meetings, members discuss the images, help each other to improve, and socialize. The club meets at 7 p.m. the first Thursday

of the month September through June at the Butterworth Center, 1105 Eighth Street in Moline. The club also has special learning workshops and small groups that meet on specific photography topics.

Photographer: Paul Riewerts.Getting the shot: Members of the Quad City Photography Club often travel as a small group to shooting locations. On August 2, several members visited a sunflower field near Fenton, Illinois.Technical data: Nikon D300 with 12-24-millimeter F4G zoom lens; 24-millimeter focal length; f/16; 1/60 second; ISO 200.

For more information on the club, call (563)332-6522 or visit QCPhotoClub.com. To see works by club members, visit QCCC.SmugMug.com.


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Continued From Page 15

what else Is Happenin’Sunday, September 12 – The

Water Coolers. Songs and sketches by Broadway veterans on the hilarious turmoils of office life. Englert Theatre (221 East Washington Street, Iowa City). 7 p.m. $22-27. For tickets and information, call (319)688-2653 or visit Englert.org.

Tuesday, September 14 – The 2010 U.S. Army Soldier Show. Music and patriotism in an annual touring presentation. Adler Theatre (136 East Third Street, Davenport). 7 p.m. Free admission. For information, call (563)326-8500 or visit AdlerTheatre.com.

THEATREWednesday, September 1, through

Saturday, November 6 – A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline. Musical biography of the famed country singer. Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse (1828 Third Avenue, Rock Island). Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and September 2 6 p.m. dinner, 7;45 p.m. show; Sundays 4 p.m. dinner, 5:45 p.m. show; Wednesdays 11:45 a.m. plated lunch, 1:30 p.m. show. $27.11-46.39. For tickets and information, call (309)786-7733 extension 2 or visit Circa21.com.

Friday, September 10, through Sunday, September 19 – Hard to Believe. Musical re-telling of the story of Job, in a debut presentation by area playwrights and composers Jonathan Turner and Tim Stoller. Playcrafters Barn Theatre (4950 38th Avenue, Moline). Fridays and Saturdays 7:30 p.m.; Sundays 3 p.m. $10. For tickets and information, call (309)762-0330 or visit Playcrafters.com.

Friday, September 10, through Sunday, October 3 – [title of show]. Tony Award-nominated meta-musical about two guys writing a musical. Riverside Theatre (213 North Gilbert Street, Iowa City). Thursdays-Saturdays 7:30 p.m.; Sundays 2 p.m. $25-28. For tickets and information, call (319)338-7672.

COMEDYFriday, September 10 – Vicki

Lawrence & Mama: A Two-Woman Show. Emmy and Grammy Award-winning star, and her Carol Burnett Show alter-ego, in concert. Quad-Cities Waterfront Convention Center (1777 Isle Parkway, Bettendorf ). 2 and 7:30 p.m. $32-49. For tickets and information, call (800)843-4753 or visit Bettendorf.IsleOfCapriCasinos.com. For a 2009 interview with Lawrence, visit RCReader.com/y/lawrence.

ARTSaturday, September 4 – Sound &

Vision End-of-Summer Celebration. Featuring art by Tony Cavallo, Rose Noble, Adam Beadel, Jon Burns, Dennis Hockaday, Jamie Warren, and others, and music by Gryphyns, Trashgods, and Id Noir. Sound & Vision Art Gallery (1316 Fourth Avenue, Suite #1, Moline). 6 p.m. Free admission. For information, visit MySpace.com/soundandvisionproductions.

Saturday, September 11, and Sunday, September 12 – Beaux Arts Fair. Bi-annual event featuring works by artisans from seven states, live music, children’s activities, food vendors, and more. Downtown Davenport (on Second Street between Harrison and Main). Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free admission. For information, e-mail [email protected] or visit BeauxArtsFair.com.

EVENTSThursday, September 2 – 2010

Hawkapalooza. Annual kick-off to University of Iowa athletics, featuring a pep rally, coaches and players from Hawkeye teams, and live music by Big Boi and the Super Mash Bros. Hubbard Park (51 North Madison Street, Iowa City). 6 p.m. Free admission. For information, call (319)335-3395, or visit ScopeProductions.org.

Thursday, September 2, through Sunday, September 5 – Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents Zing Zang Zoom. The 139th edition of “The Greatest Show on Earth.” i wireless Center (1201 River Drive, Moline). Thursday, Friday, and Sunday 7 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.; Sunday 1 and 5 p.m. $11-65. For tickets, call (800)745-3000 or visit iwirelessCenter.com.

Saturday, September 4 – Festival of Praise. Annual outdoor event hosted by New Anthem, featuring performances by Christian artists MercyMe and Elysian. LeClaire Park, Davenport. 7 p.m. $15-20 per adult; ages 12 and under free. For tickets and information, call (563)359-7617 or visit QCFestivalOfPraise.com.

Saturday, September 4, and Sunday, September 5 – 2010 Rock Island Grand Prix. 16th-annual independent kart-racing event, with contestants competing for a minimum purse of $25,000. The District of Rock Island. 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Free admission. For information, call (309)788-6311 or visit RIDistrict.com.

Saturday, September 11 – Viva Quad Cities. Annual celebration of Hispanic culture, featuring food booths, arts and crafts, music and dance, and more. Bass Street Landing Plaza, Moline. Noon-11 p.m. $5 per adult; ages 12 and under free. For information, visit VivaQuadCities.com.

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not, this is not mythology. This is the truth. If there are inaccuracies coming into play, it’s just that he remembered it wrong.”

He even thinks that Bradbury did, as he claims, recall details of his birth. “I believe the guy on that one,” Weller said. Like Einstein, he said, Bradbury “uses a fraction more of that brain capacity than most of us do. ... His brain is an encyclopedia.”

Weller now teaches a Bradbury course at Columbia College Chicago, where he’s on the fiction-writing faculty. His book Listen to the Echoes: The Ray Bradbury Interviews was published earlier this year and is a great companion piece to the biography.

And the two men have maintained their friendship. Weller said he visits Bradbury monthly in Los Angeles and talks to him weekly.

I asked Weller whether he’s certain Bradbury will die, given the Mr. Electrico story. “It sounds like a crazy question, and hokey, but it’s not,” he said. “No, I’m not, actually. There’s something so mystical about him.”

But he said that Bradbury is undoubtedly slowing down. He suffered strokes in 1999 and 2000, and one’s health rarely improves when one lives as long as the author has. “I see that as he ages and becomes less healthy, the fire is diminishing just a little bit ... ,” Weller said. “The light isn’t as bright, but the light is still there. ... I do think the guy could really surprise us and stick it out for a lot longer because of this innate, intense will to live.”

Bradbury himself, Weller said, gave hints of acknowledging his mortality at his 90th-birthday celebration in late August: “Someone said over the weekend at his birthday party, ‘Here’s to 10 more great years.’ And he said, ‘We’ll see.’ And the old Ray Bradbury would have said, ‘You’re goddamn right.’”

And the author took Weller aside with an instruction. “I may be getting ready to sell the rights to Martian Chronicles again for a film,” the biographer recalled his subject saying. “That will get me some good money. And I want you to look into my grandparents’ home in Waukegan, Illinois, to see if it’s possible to buy it.”

For Weller, who considers the author a second father after working with him for the past decade, it’s a prospect that clearly fills him with sadness: Ray Bradbury appears to be preparing for his final Green Town homecoming.

Sam Weller will speak at the Moline Public Library’s Big Read kick-off program on Monday, September 27, at 6:30 p.m. For a full list of Big Read events, see the sidebar “Fahrenheit 451: Area Book Discussions, Panel Discussions, and Film Screenings.”

To listen to the River Cities’ Reader’s interview with Sam Weller, visit RCReader.com/y/bradbury.

“What makes Ray Bradbury very singular is that around when he was in his early 20s, he really stopped reading the writing of his peers. He stopped reading pulp fiction and science fiction and fantasy, and he started reading Steinbeck, Eudora Welty, Carson McCullers, heavily immersed himself in Ernest Hemingway, Nathaniel Hawthorne. And he started really studying literary writers. Deeply. But he kept his love of genre. That’s what’s made him such a great writer. No doubt he’s a genre writer, but he brings all the conventions of what he studied in literature over to genre.”

Adult readers, for example, might notice Bradbury’s use of point of view. The Stories of Ray Bradbury begins with “The Night,” an audacious choice because it addresses the reader as “you.” And “There Will Come Soft Rains” is a story whose only character is a house.

“The guy was very experimental and cutting-edge on a literary level,” Weller said. As an adult, “you not only reconnect with your inner child as a reader, but you discover a whole new horizon of literary technique in his work.”

That will, hopefully, be one of the legacies of the Big Read: old fans coming back to discover that Bradbury is more than a writer for kids.

That’s also been the impact of Weller’s biography. He said that many people have come to him and said, “Thank you for making me want to go back and read Ray Bradbury.”

He added: “I feel like I did my job. I’ve made people interested in him again.”

The Leave-Taking“Now, chalk in hand, she stood back from life a silent hour before reaching for the eraser.”

weller’s relationship with Bradbury began in 2000, when he successfully pitched the idea of

a profile to the Chicago Tribune Magazine to mark the author’s 80th birthday. At the end of their initial interview, Bradbury said he wanted to stay in touch. Weller recalled: “‘Come back and visit me soon.’ And he was very insistent upon that.”

So Weller returned two months later, after the article had been published. Bradbury suggested that he write more magazine stories about him. “We sort of struck up this really tender father-son relationship,” Weller said.

And he realized that “there was no reference book of his life,” so he proposed to Bradbury a larger project. The author declined, saying, “I think a biography means your life’s over. It’s the life story. ... I’m 80. ... If you call me in 30 or 35 years, maybe we can get working on this.”

Weller said he wasn’t deterred: “It wasn’t


Bradbury stories, beginning with “The Veldt.”Yet to truly appreciate Bradbury’s breadth

and depth as a writer, you need more immersion, and there are two excellent anthologies: The Stories of Ray Bradbury, originally published in 1980, collects 100 of his best stories, and 2003’s Bradbury Stories adds another hundred – with no duplication.

One can also get a sense of Bradbury’s legacy through his influence. Weller fills The Bradbury Chronicles with epigraphs suggesting that contemporary popular culture would look a lot different without Ray Bradbury – the author’s own butterfly effect (a concept he explored in his 1952 story “A Sound of Thunder”). From Kiss’ Ace Frehley to Apple’s Steve Wozniak to authors Neil Gaiman and Ursula K. Le Guin, Bradbury’s impact has been wide and profound.

Gaiman, in an essay published earlier this year, was particularly eloquent: “I can imagine all sorts of worlds and places, but I cannot imagine one without Ray Bradbury. Not Bradbury the man ... but Bradbury the builder of dreams. The man who took an idea of the American Midwest and made it magical and tangible, who took his own childhood and all the people and things in it and used it to shape the world. The man who gave us a future to fear, one without stories, without books. The man who invented Halloween in its modern incarnation.”

And while Bradbury is still known (to his chagrin) as a science-fiction writer, recognition as a “serious” author has been building over the past decade. He received a Pulitzer Prize special citation (in 2007) “for his distinguished, prolific, and deeply influential career as an unmatched author of science fiction and fantasy,” the National Medal of Arts (in 2004), and the Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters from the National Book Foundation (in 2000).

There’s a good reason that respect has been slow to come. By his own admission, Bradbury is a writer for children. As Weller said, Bradbury – like Edgar Allan Poe – appeals to younger readers because of story conceits that are “fantastic and memorable and mythological.”

Bradbury’s great gift to the world is that he hooks young people with his fantasy, horror, science fiction, and nostalgia, often turning them into readers and thinkers and dreamers. In that way, he might be the best weapon against the world he portrays in Fahrenheit 451.

Weller acknowledged that most people who are Bradbury fans as teens eventually outgrow him. But he said that there is often a second period of revelation. “When you do go back and revisit him as an adult reader, you discover an entire new landscape,” he said. “You discover all those literary things ... that you may not have been aware of when you were 11. ...

an adamant ‘no.’ He was humorous about it. I stayed after him very gently.” Bradbury agreed a few months later.

Much of The Bradbury Chronicles will be familiar because the author so thoroughly mined his life for his fiction, from his childhood in Dandelion Wine to his Huston experience in Green Shadows, White Whale.

“The autobiography is all there,” Weller said, “not only in the various forewords and introductions to his books, but also sewn ... intrinsically into his fiction. ... While he’s a fantasy writer, his life is deeply embedded into his fantastic fiction” – even The Martian Chronicles.

But Weller’s work is still an invaluable complement to Bradbury’s works. Exhaustive yet readable, Weller is especially good at documenting the life reflected in the fiction – such as how an extramarital affair made its way into a story. (While Bradbury was generous with his time and archives, he didn’t exercise any control over the biography.)

And although he doesn’t emphasize them, Weller doesn’t shy away from incidents that deflate the Bradbury persona, including marital difficulties. “As a child who read Ray Bradbury, I wanted to be sensitive to the readers,” Weller said. “I didn’t want to spoil an image they may have had about this almost grandfatherly figure who has led a very, very positive life, and has been an inspiration to so many.” Still, he said, “Ray Bradbury is very human and is as flawed as anybody else.

“But when the book came out, I didn’t alienate his daughters or his grandchildren or even Ray Bradbury for that matter. ... I was able to tell a lot of those stories without hurting anybody.” (Bradbury’s wife, Marguerite, died in November 2003, but Weller and Bradbury discussed his infidelities with her present.)

Weller has also been thorough, not afraid to point out when Bradbury’s incredible recall isn’t quite correct. For example, Bradbury places his uncle’s funeral in the same Labor Day weekend as his meeting with Mr. Electrico – giving the stories a combined resonance, contrasting mortality and immortality. Yet the uncle was murdered in October.

Weller said he often had to grapple with the accuracy of what Bradbury was telling him: “Is the stuff this man is telling me true? Or is the product of a couple things? False memory, which we all have. How on Earth do you remember going to a carnival 75 years ago with complete accuracy? ... Secondly, this is one of the great American imaginations of the 20th Century. When does imagination come into the telling of the tales, and as such, when does it become self-mythology? ...

“After 10 years of deep immersion in this man’s life – constantly visiting him, constantly going through files, constantly trying to verify his stories through other sources – I’ve come to the conclusion that far more often than

Hail and (Not Yet) Farewell: On Ray Bradbury, Near His 90th Birthday


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the show’s title was changed, the musical was accepted as one of the six shows chosen for Playcrafters’ 2010 season, a decision aided by the staged-reading participation of Morrow and Hard to Believe producer Greg Bouljon, both of whom were also members of the theatre’s 2009 play-reading committee.

“Greg brought it to their attention,” Morrow says of the apparently (and surprisingly) simple process of getting Hard to Believe on the schedule. “And Tim and Jonathan submitted it to the board, and the board liked it, and we ended up voting for it. It just got approved.” As for his decision to direct the show, Morrow, with tongue in cheek, says, “I was actually in the very first reading that they had, and I played Satan, and I figured, ‘Well, if I can play Satan and be the bad guy, I can be the director and be the bad guy.’”

Morrow adds, though, that directing a debuting production “is certainly challenging, because you can’t steal [ideas] from previous versions you saw. And knowing the authors are there makes it a little more challenging, because you know they’re going to see it, so you say, ‘Well, I can’t really change anything because I don’t think they’d like that.’ When the author’s somewhere in New York and will never see the show, you know, anything goes.”

Serving as the show’s music director, Turner has been at every rehearsal since late July, and says, “This is really a dream come true for me, and something I really always wanted to do. As a composer, you’re obviously used to singing alone or playing alone, and just to have people there to interpret your songs is a thrill.”

He also believes that Hard to Believe succeeds “as a powerful piece of theatre, and not just a religious story – not geared just for churches or certain denominations. When we did this at Zion, I said a few words at the beginning that with the whole financial crisis, the housing crisis, unemployment, wars, and everything that’s going on, I think people can really identify with this story. You know, you don’t have to have lost your family members or have gone through the scope of tragedy that Job has to wrestle with some of the same issues.”

Stoller concurs. “The Bible isn’t, in many ways, a book of answers so much as one that makes you ask the right questions. And so, with this show, it’s not that I’m saying, ‘Here’s the right answer. Here’s how to look at things. Clergy-approved.’ It’s about, ‘What questions are people going to go home with? What are they going to wrestle with?’ That’s what’s more important.”

Hard to Believe runs at the Playcrafters Barn Theatre September 10 through 19, with performances at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 3 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are $10, and can be reserved by calling (309)762-0330 or visiting Playcrafters.com.


Leap of Faithby Jeff Ignatius

[email protected]

Pleasure to Burn: Reading Fahrenheit 451

Monday, September 27: Fahrenheit 451 Kick-Off and Keynote Program. With Sam Weller, author of The Bradbury Chronicles: The Life of Ray Bradbury. Moline Public Library (3210 41st Street, Moline). 6:30 p.m. For information, call (309)524-2470.

Tuesday, September 28: Ray Bradbury – An American Icon. Documentary screening. Moline Public Library (3210 41st Street, Moline). 7 p.m. For information, call (309)524-2470.

Wednesday, September 29: Fahrenheit 451 – Intellectual Freedom Panel Discussion. Moderated by Western Illinois University’s Everett Hamner. Moline Public Library (3210 41st Street, Moline). 6:30 p.m. For information, call (309)524-2470.

Wednesday, September 29: Fahrenheit 451 Book Discussion. East Moline Public Library (740 16th Avenue, East Moline). 7 p.m. For information, call (309)755-9614.

Wednesday, September 29: Fahrenheit 451 Book Discussion. Davenport Public Library, Eastern Avenue Branch (6000 Eastern Avenue, Davenport). 7 p.m. For information, call (563)888-3371.

Wednesday, September 29: Fahrenheit 451 Book Discussion. With a panel discussion on First Amendment rights. Moline Public Library (3210 41st Street, Moline). 7 p.m. For information, call (309)524-2470.

Wednesday, September 29: Fahrenheit 451 Book Discussion. Black Hawk College – Quad Cities Campus (6600 34th Avenue, Moline). 7 p.m. For information, call (309)796-5147.

Thursday, September 30: Fahrenheit 451 Book Discussion. Rock Island Public Library, Main Branch. (401 19th Street, Rock Island). 5:30 p.m. For information, call (309)732-7323.

Monday, October 4: Fahrenheit 451 Book Discussion. Western Illinois University, Quad Cities Campus (3561 60th Street, Moline). 6 p.m. For information, call (309)762-9481.

Thursday, October 7: Fahrenheit 451 – The Graphic Novel Book Discussion. Moline Public Library (3210 41st Street, Moline). 7 p.m. For information, call (309)524-2470.

Tuesday, October 12: Fahrenheit 451 – Large-Type Book Discussion. Moline Public Library (3210 41st Street, Moline). 2 p.m. For information, call (309)524-2470.

Tuesday, October 12: Fahrenheit 451 Book Discussion. Bettendorf Public Library (2950 Learning Campus Drive, Bettendorf ). 7 p.m. For information, call

(563)344-4179.Thursday,

October 14: Fahrenheit 451 Book Discussion. Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities (1705 Second Avenue, Rock Island). 10 a.m. For information, call (309)793-1300.

Thursday, October 14: Fahrenheit 451 Book Discussion. St. Ambrose University Library (518 West Locust Street, Davenport). 7 p.m. For information, call (563)333-6246.

Friday, October 15: Fahrenheit 451 Brown Bag Lunch Book Discussion. Moline Public Library (3210 41st Street, Moline). Noon. For information, call (309)524-2470.

Monday, October 25: Fahrenheit 451 – Spanish-Language Edition Book Discussion. Moline Public Library (3210 41st Street, Moline). 7 p.m. For information, call (309)524-2470.

Tuesday, October 26: Fahrenheit 451 Book Discussion. Silvis Public Library (105 Eighth Street, Silvis). 7 p.m. For information, call (309)755-3393.

Tuesday, October 26: Fahrenheit 451 Book Discussion. Moline Public Library (3210 41st Street, Moline). 7 p.m. For information, call (309)524-2470.

Wednesday, October 27: Fahrenheit 451 Film Screening. With a discussion by Black Hawk College’s Erskine Carter and Western Illinois University’s Everett Hamner. Moline Public Library (3210 41st Street, Moline). 6:30 p.m. For information, call (309)524-2470.

Fahrenheit 451: Area Book Discussions, Panel Discussions, and Film Screenings

context of two other dystopian works from the middle of the 20th Century: George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four and Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World.

In the foreword to his 1985 book Amusing Ourselves to Death, cultural critic Neil Postman compared Orwell’s and Huxley’s visions: “Orwell warns that we will be overcome by an externally imposed oppression. But in Huxley’s vision, no Big Brother is required to deprive people of their autonomy, maturity, and history. As he saw it, people will come to love their oppression, to adore the technologies that undo their capacities to think. What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one. Orwell feared those who would deprive us of information. Huxley feared those who would give us so much that we would be reduced to passivity and egoism. Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us. Huxley feared the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance.”

Fahrenheit 451 is a hybrid of those two visions, with a greater emphasis on Huxley’s.

But the warning of the book is only as trenchant as its vision is convincing, and Bradbury loads Fahrenheit 451 with prescient detail. Montag’s wife is addicted to the “Seashells, the thimble radios tamped tight” in her ears, as well as the nonsensical family dramas played out on three walls of their parlor. (She lusts after the fourth wall.) Bradbury appears to have foreseen our age of mediated isolation, with our gadgets tiny (iPods and the like) and massive (flat-panel televisions) keeping us, essentially, in a stupor.

Yet for all those chilling insights, Fahrenheit 451 is also absurd, fueled by Bradbury’s typically exuberant prose. When Montag’s wife overdoses on sleeping pills, two technicians casually pump her stomach and replace her blood. (“We get these cases nine or 10 a night. ... You don’t need an M.D., case like this; all you need is two handymen, clean up the problem in half an hour.”) It’s nearly funny.

For that reason, Sam Weller, Bradbury’s biographer, calls it “social satire” as much as science fiction. “More than anything, it’s an examination of contemporary society ... post-World War II America,” he said. “What’s remarkable about it is that ... it’s connected in a very magnificent way to every subsequent generation ... .”

Yet as bleak as it is – with cities obliterated by war in its closing pages – Weller notes that Fahrenheit 451 is finally hopeful, with Montag finding a band of people who have memorized books: “Better to keep it in the old head, where no one can see it or suspect it. We are all bits and pieces of history and literature and international law, Byron, Tom Paine, Machiavelli, or Christ, it’s here.”

“What’s beautiful about Bradbury,” Weller said, “is [that] while he writes some pretty dark tales, there’s always a ... potential for salvation within all of us. There’s a positive quality to Bradbury that’s not just so damned morose.”

– Jeff Ignatius


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888-9-PAY-FINE PayTheFineIowa.gov

NOW’S THE TIME

TO PAY THE FINE.

Program expires November 30, 2010.

More than four years late paying an Iowa fine or court fee? You could pay only half of what you owe.

that require the $30 navigation controller; and down the line there will be single-player games that require a second $50 motion controller.

The costs of both motion-control add-ons, of course, are on top of investments in the gaming systems themselves, which range from $200 to $300. Bundle options new purchasers

are a relative bargain, with the Xbox 360 4GB Kinect bundle priced at $299 and the PlayStation 3 320GB Move bundle priced at $399. New system buyers get a discount, but current owners get screwed. And the Wii is still cheaper at $199 for an entire system.

Beyond money, I’m a little tired of the emphasis on motion controls. Microsoft and Sony are already on firm ground when it comes to high-end graphics, online capability, and the addictive achievement systems. Why blitz loyal players with their versions of Wii, when chances are good that players already bought one? Sony and Microsoft are simply trying to milk Ninendo’s cash cow.

And most importantly, motion controls rarely make games better. I play games to enjoy a good story and to relax after work, but swinging my arms around like a madman doesn’t immerse me in a tale any more than normal, and it sure as hell doesn’t soothe me. Wii games such as Super Mario Galaxy 2 and the No More Heroes series use motion controls minimally but still keep me enthralled. I won’t contest that the experience of some games is enhanced by motion controls, but I don’t want every future game requiring me to dance around my own home. There’s a place for motion control in gaming, but I wish Wii could Move past the novelty and try to Kinect to our games in new ways.

The PlayStation Move motion controller, navigation controller, and 320GB Move Bundle will be available September 17 for $49.99, $29.99, and $399.99, respectively. The PlayStation 3 320GB Move bundle includes a slim 320GB PS3 system, PlayStation Eye, motion controller, and the game Sports Champions.

The Xbox 360 Kinect sensor and Xbox 360 4GB Kinect bundle will be available November 4 for $149.99 and $299.99, respectively. The Xbox 360 4GB Kinect bundle includes a slim 4GB Xbox 360 system, Kinect sensor, and the game Kinect Adventures.

The Nintendo Wii is available for $199.99 and includes the basic motion controller, a Nunchuk controller, a Wii MotionPlus controller adapter, and the games Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort.

Luke Hamilton is a buyer, creative designer, and online coordinator for Video Games Etc.

Appealing to both hardcore gamers (with the franchises they love) and casual gamers (with ease of use), Nintendo’s

Wii has been a powerhouse in the video-game market. This success has led Nintendo’s main competitors, Microsoft with Xbox 360 and Sony with PlayStation 3, to develop their own motion-control schemes − which will be hitting the market in the next few months.

Wii sales have been brisk over the past three years, including a one-month record of 3-million units sold in the United States in December 2009. More than 70-million Wii systems have been purchased worldwide, and every time the system is expected to finally slump, it holds strong. While hardcore gamers generally prefer Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, the casual-gaming market dominates; Wii’s lifetime sales nearly double those of its two primary competitors, even though Xbox 360 was available a year earlier.

Microsoft takes the idea of motion controls further than Nintendo with its Kinect sensor − a camera placed at the base of your TV that can track both your physical motions and vocal inputs without requiring a controller. A motorized pivot on the camera keeps players centered during play, so lunging to avoid something from the game won’t negatively affect play.

Outside of gaming, Kinect can be used with the Xbox 360 interface like something out of Minority Report, with hand motions and voice commands to access menus, conduct video, and voice-chat with contacts on Xbox Live or Windows Live Messenger. Music and video can be controlled the same way. As a $150 add-on, it seems like a large investment, but non-gaming functions and support for multiple players with one Kinect balance the price tag.

Sony’s PlayStation Move consists of a motion controller used in one hand with a navigation controller in the other, along with the previously released PlayStation Eye camera to help determine the player’s position.

I’m almost embarrassed to think about Sony’s motion-control approach. Microsoft has at least made its controls conceptually different and added other uses, while Sony is supplementing its subpar camera with a controller that nearly plagiarizes Wii. I understand the idea of modeling a product on the popular alternative, and I even think it’d be cool to have a game similar to Wii Sports in high definition, but Sony’s effort reminds me too much of something I already spent a ton on: Wii.

There’s also the issue of cost. Sony will sell its motion controller for $50, but here are some fun facts before you Move: The $40 PlayStation Eye camera is required for use; there will be games

wii-treadsby Luke Hamilton

[email protected]

Sony’s and Microsoft’s New Motion Controls Aren’t the Future of Gaming

Sony’s PlayStation Move


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LAST CHANCE

Voting Ends SEPT. 10!

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Edited by Justin Lynn Morris August 19 Answers: Right

ACROSS1. Willing5. Locust bean10. City in Morocco15. Confront19. Abundant20. Port city on Honshu21. Cheer22. Three-banded armadillo23. Of physical structure25. Wisent26. Start for mania27. Woo with song28. Evidence30. Enciphered31. American Beauty32. Start of a quip by anonymous: 4 wds. 35. _ contra37. English poet38. McEwan and McKellen39. Shopworn41. Mass communication42. Core matter44. England’s Bath, e.g.47. Think48. Done to _ _49. Unseen particle51. Cap52. Part 2 of quip: 5 wds.56. Ticket availability: abbr.57. Veto58. Rends59. Hash house60. Medieval instrument63. Recovers65. Let loose67. Savoir- _69. Recipe direction70. _ Lanka71. Remuneration74. Part 3 of quip: 5 wds.81. Kinsman: abbr.82. Television fare83. Holy cow!84. Come to be85. Curve shape86. Units of play, on tennis court87. Patronage88. Of lesser stature

89. Stitched91. _ Centauri92. Abbr. in a gazetteer93. End of the quip: 3 wds.98. Grimalkin101. Ancient place of assembly102. Remove completely103. Upbeat107. Ottava _108. “Taras Bulba” author110. Inexhaustible store112. Regular113. Pointless114. Evergreen genus115. Negative votes116. Transfer117. Celia Cruz’s specialty118. Harden 119. VortexDOWN1. Foie _2. Brief message3. Remotely4. Something that hinders5. Insensible states6. Digression7. Tortoise-hare event8. Russian river9. Like an opera house10. Censure11. Foreign12. Singing voice13. From _ _ Z14. Sawbuck15. Known to many16. Footless creatures17. Maker of rattan chairs18. Grind down24. Yoko _29. Moon goddess30. Opposite of pro32. Alpine yell33. Waggish34. Popular Internet site35. Homework assignment36. Some articles37. Make well, in a way39. Obscures40. Agnus _

41. Legerdemain42. Readies, for short43. Charged particles44. Position45. Prepare a surface46. Part of AFL: abbr.49. Ramone or Collins50. Artist’s subject53. A dir.54. Star Trek’s “_ of Khan”55. Hasten61. Slip up62. Wagers63. Skinner’s merchandise64. Newts65. Takeout fare66. Fit out67. Get along68. Tailless primates69. Huff70. Brownish pigment72. Cause of some fires73. River in Belgium75. “_ _ Have No Bananas”76. Hippodrome77. Oculars78. Darkness79. Showoff80. Old name for sulfur87. Stein fillers89. Necklace90. Baseball stat.91. Flowering shrub93. Schoolyard challenges94. Missile’s nose95. Roman name96. Licit97. Restraints98. _ de Leon99. Everyday100. _ passim103. _ -dieu104. Apple gizmo105. Contended106. Lenient108. Enlistees: abbr.109. Out _ _ limb111. Scrap

September �, �010wHOOP-De-DO!eMPLOYMeNT

Drivers: CDL-A. $�00 and 2000 miles GUARANTEED. Home Every Weekend! Only 5 Openings! Call 800-593-6433. Ask Jamie for Details!

PROTeIN SMOOTHIe MAKeRS Needed. 2 - 4 hours a day. Unlimited income potential. New clubs opening now. Train to be a team leader. Call Paul at 563-579-2202.

APARTMeNTS FOR ReNT$��.00 1 BR VICTORIAN. Village Historic District. Hardwood floors, bay window with river view, large shady yard. HEAT, SEWER, WATER PAID. No pets/no smoking-firm. 563-324-0257.

ROOMMATeS wANTeDGwM looking to share his 3-BR ranch home in the country. Gas & lights, washer & dryer incl. Shared kitchen, dining room & bath. Smokers okay. Must like pets, though no new pets added. $325 month, no deposit. 309-441-6520.

FOR SALeeNTIRe ReSTAURANT eQUIPMeNT AUCTION @ 13609-110th Ave, Davenport on Tuesday, Sept 7th @ 5pm. Auction includes: chargrill, flatgrill, 6 burner stove, ice machine, freezer, refrigerator, pop cooler, iced tea brewer, coffee machine, all smallware and more! visit www.abcauction.co or call 563-529-0257.

Quad Cane for sale. Slightly used. Asking $10.00. Call 309-734-3436.

HOMe SeRVICeSHandy Man Services Call Paul Weathers 563-570-5888 Roofing, Drywall, Construction & More!

HeALTH SeRVICeS FRee weLLNeSS PROFILeS and Body Analysis. Protein smoothies for health & wellness. Call 563-355-6713.

weIGHT LOSS CHALLeNGe starting Sept 8th. Cash pool fund. Nutritional training, free Wellness Profile w/personal coach. QC Fusion 563-579-2202.

MUSICIANS & PeRFORMeRSDrummer available for local projects. Prefer rock or country. 20 years experience. Call (563) 323-3048.

OPPORTUNITIeSHave Fun! Make $$! Start AVON

No expensive kits to buy!No quotas!

Only $10 to start OR 2 for price of 1! FREE full-size product at sign-up!

Call Kara at 563-940-9141 or Lori at 563-441-9397 xt2

COMMUNITY eVeNTSTrinity episcopal Cathedral welcomes The Center for Living Arts, as they present “Godspell” on Sunday, September 19 at 2 p.m. The public is invited to attend. A freewill offering will benefit the Churches United and their feeding ministries in the Quad Cities.

CALL TO PLACE YOUR AD TODAY!(��) ��-00�9 or visit

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August 19 Crossword Answers


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Abalone Dots - Jordan Danielsen -The Red-stone Room, 129 Main St Davenport, IA

ABC Karaoke -Circle Tap, 1345 Locust St. Davenport, IA

Bee All U Can Bee Karaoke & DJ -Commo-dore Tap, 2202 W. 3rd St. Davenport, IA

Buddy Olson -Ducky’s Lagoon, 13515 78th Ave Andalusia, IL

Crossroads -Purgatory’s Pub, 2104 State St Bettendorf, IA

Dead Larry - Useful Jenkins -Iowa City Yacht Club, 13 S Linn St Iowa City, IA

DJ Night -Uncle Harley’s Bar & Grill, 202 W. Mayne St. Blue Grass, IA

DJ Scott Keller & Karaoke (weather per-mitting) -Greenbriar Restaurant and Lounge, 4506 27th St Moline, IL

Fat Dawgs Productions Karaoke & DJ Service -Shannon’s Bar and Grill, 252 S State Ave Hampton, IL

First Friday Coffeehouse: Angi & Friends (5pm) -Beadology Iowa, 220 E Washing-ton St Iowa City, IA

Joe and Vicki Price -The Muddy Waters, 1708 State St. Bettendorf, IA

Justin Morrissey & Friends -11th Street Precinct, 2108 E 11th St Davenport, IA

Karaoke Night -Sneaky Pete’s, 207 Cody Rd. N. LeClaire, IA

Karaoke Night -The Dam View Inn, 410 2nd St Davenport, IA

Keep Off The Grass -Phil & Larry’s, 4811 N. Brady St. Davenport, IA

Lee Blackmon (6pm) -Cool Beanz Coffee-house, 1325 30th St. Rock Island, IL

Live Lunch w/ Ren Estrand (noon) -Mojo’s (River Music Experience), 130 W 2nd St Davenport, IA

Mark Farner -Quad-Cities Waterfront Con-vention Center, 1777 Isle Parkway Bet-tendorf, IA

Pappa-Razzi -Edje Nightclub at Jumer’s Casino and Hotel, I-280 & Hwy 92 Rock Island, IL

Poisoned -Uptown Neighborhood Bar and Grill, 2340 Spruce Hills Dr. Bet-tendorf, IA

Rotate the DJ w/ Chronik Solutionz -M.D. Green’s, 1808 2nd Ave. Rock Island, IL

Russ Reyman Trio (5pm) -The Rusty Nail, 2606 W Locust Davenport, IA

Section 7 (6pm) -Toucan’s Cantina / Skinny Legs BBQ, 2020 1st Street Milan, IL

Smooth Groove -Martini’s on the Rock, 4619 34th St Rock Island, IL

The Beaker Brothers -The Mill, 120 E Burlington Iowa City, IA

The Lovedogs -Sportsman Park, Dona-hue, IA

The Old 57’s -Bier Stube Moline, 417 15th St Moline, IL

The Spengler Group -Rhythm City Casino, 101 W. River Dr. Davenport, IA

Three Years Hollow - Eleven Fifty Two - Tear Down the Tower -Gabe’s, 330 E. Washington St. Iowa City, IA

2010/09/04 (Sat)

38th Annual Barnes Family Bluegrass Festival: Art Stevenson & Highwater (noon & 7pm) - Redwine (12:45 & 7:45pm) - Jerry Butler & the Blu-J’s (1:30 & 8:30pm) - Rarely Herd (2:15 & 9:15pm) - Blue Moon Rising (3 & 9pm) - Daily & Vincent (4pm) -Mercer County Fairgrounds, Aledo, IL

BackTrack with Hollywood Horns -The Muddy Waters, 1708 State St. Bet-tendorf, IA

Bee All U Can Bee Karaoke & DJ -Crabby’s, 826 W. 1st Ave. Coal Valley, IL

Dennis McMurrin & the Demolition Band -Iowa City Yacht Club, 13 S Linn St Iowa City, IA


Festival of Praise: MercyMe - Elysian -LeClaire Park, River Dr & Ripley St Davenport, IA

Fifth of Country -The Rusty Nail, 2606 W Locust Davenport, IA

Funktastic Five -Martini’s on the Rock, 4619 34th St Rock Island, IL

Gray Wolf Band - Milan Indian Summer Fest, Downtown Milan, IL

Gryphyns - Trash Gods - Id Noir -Sound and Vision Art Gallery, 1316 4th Ave Suite #1 Moline, IL

Karaoke Night -Moe’s Pizza, 1312 Caman-che Ave Clinton, IA

Meet the Press -Poopy’s Pub & Grub, 1030 Viaduct Rd Savanna, IL

Open Mic Night -Coffee Dive, 226 W. 3rd St. Davenport, IA

Open Mic Night -One Library, 230 W. 3rd Street Davenport, IA

Pappa-Razzi -Edje Nightclub at Jumer’s Casino and Hotel, I-280 & Hwy 92 Rock Island, IL

River Prairie Minstrels (6pm) -Mojo’s (River Music Experience), 130 W 2nd St Davenport, IA

Rude Punch - Vibenhai -Mound Street Land-ing, 1029 Mound St., Davenport, IA

Salsa and Cumbia DJ Night -La Primavera, 601 15th St. Moline, IL

Salsa Dancing -Club Boulevard, 1801 10th St. Moline, IL

Salsa Vibe -Gabe’s, 330 E. Washington St. Iowa City, IA

Section 7 (6pm) -Toucan’s Cantina / Skinny Legs BBQ, 2020 1st Street Milan, IL

Smooth Groove -Racer’s Edge, 936 15th Ave East Moline, IL

The Old 57’s -Route 61 Bar & Grill, 4320 N. Brady St. Davenport, IA

The Spengler Group -Rhythm City Casino, 101 W. River Dr. Davenport, IA

The Travoltas -RIBCO, 1815 2nd Ave. Rock Island, IL

Third Rail -Purgatory’s Pub, 2104 State St Bettendorf, IA

TPX: Tri-Polar XXXpress -Uptown Neigh-borhood Bar and Grill, 2340 Spruce Hills Dr. Bettendorf, IA

Tronicity -Go Fish Marina and Bar, 411 River Dr. Princeton, IA

2010/09/05 (Sun)

38th Annual Barnes Family Bluegrass Festival: Bankester Family (11am) - Blue Moon Rising (11:45am) - Art Stevenson & Highwater(12:30pm) - Bluegrass Redheads (1:15pm) -Mercer County Fairgrounds, Aledo, IL

Battle of the Praise Bands for Hunger Relief (2pm) -New Hope Presbyterian Church, 4209 W Locust St Davenport, IA

Blu Stu (6pm) - Jefferson County Green Band (8pm) -Central Park - Fairfield, IA

Breille -The Hat Eatery & Pub, 1618 W. Locust St. Davenport, IA

Buddy Olson (3pm) -Ducky’s Lagoon, 13515 78th Ave Andalusia, IL

Caught in the Act -The Captain’s Table, 4801 River Dr. Moline, IL

Karaoke Night -The Muddy Waters, 1708 State St. Bettendorf, IA

Pappa-Razzi (6pm) -Downtown Roch-ester, IA

RiverCity 6 (2pm) -Riverside Casino and Golf Resort, 3184 Highway 22 Riverside, IA

Rude Punch - Vibenhai - Firesale -Uptown Neighborhood Bar and Gri l l , 2340 Spruce Hills Dr. Bettendorf, IA

Russ Reyman, Pianist (10am-2pm brunch performance) -The Lodge Hotel, Spruce Hills & Utica Ridge Bettendorf, IA

The Avey Brothers -Rascals Rock Memora-bilia Bar, 1414 15th St. Moline, IL

The Creepin’ Charlies (10am) -Brady Street Chop House, Radisson QC Plaza Hotel Davenport, IA

The Knockoffs -Central Park - Fairfield, Fairfield, IA

2010/09/02 (Thu)

Big Boi - Super Smash Brothers (6pm) -Hubbard Park, 51 N Madison St Iowa City, IA

Black Thursday -Iowa City Yacht Club, 13 S Linn St Iowa City, IA

Buddy Olson (5:30pm) -Figge Art Museum, 225 W 2nd St Davenport, IA

“Candy” Jam Session w/ Alan Sweet -The Muddy Waters, 1708 State St. Bettendorf, IA

Ed Gray - Ember Schrag - Ron Wax -The Mill, 120 E Burlington Iowa City, IA

Hart to Hart DJ Service / Music Trivia Night -Beer Belly’s, 1704 2nd Ave. Rock Island, IL

Irie Soundsystem w/ DJ THC -QC Zone, 1516 5th Ave Moline, IL

Jason Carl -Creekside Bar and Grill, 3303 Brady St. Davenport, IA

Jordan Danielsen (6pm) -Rhythm City Ca-sino, 101 W. River Dr. Davenport, IA

Live Lunch w/ Rose ‘n’ Thorns (noon) -Mojo’s (River Music Experience), 130 W 2nd St Davenport, IA

Open Mic Night -The Dam View Inn, 410 2nd St Davenport, IA

The Steady Rollin’ Blues Band featuring Jimmie Lee Adams -Rascals Rock Mem-orabilia Bar, 1414 15th St. Moline, IL

Troy Harris, Pianist (6pm) -Red Crow Grille, 2504 53rd St. Bettendorf, IA

2010/09/03 (Fri)

38th Annual Barnes Family Bluegrass Festival: Bankester Family (7pm) - Art Stevenson & Highwater (7:45pm) - Redwine (8:30pm) - Rarely Herd (9:30pm) - Jerry Butler & the Blu-J’s (10pm) -Mercer County Fairgrounds, Aledo, IL

A.J. Haut -Bier Stube Moline, 417 15th St Moline, IL


3FRIday

4Saturday

2Thursday

Live Music Live Music Live Email all listings to [email protected] • Deadline 5 p.m. Thursday before publication

Damon Dotson @ The Mill – September 11

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Jam Session -Iowa City Yacht Club, 13 S Linn St Iowa City, IA

Nas and Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley -Iowa Memorial Union Main Lounge, Univer-sity of Iowa Iowa City, IA

Open Mic Night -The Old Stardust Sports Bar, 1191 19th Street Moline, IL

Social Dancing, Listening & Fellowship (1pm) -CASI (Center for Active Seniors), 1035 W. Kimberly Road Davenport, IA

“Tennessee,” That Nashville Cat (noon) - Open Mic Night (7pm) -Mojo’s (River Music Experience), 130 W 2nd St Davenport, IA

The Burlington Street Bluegrass Band -The Mill, 120 E Burlington Iowa City, IA

The Craig Bentley Trio -Rascals Rock Mem-orabilia Bar, 1414 15th St. Moline, IL

2010/09/09 (Thu)


“Candy” Jam Session w/ Alan Sweet -The Muddy Waters, 1708 State St. Betten-dorf, IA

Dick Prall - Alan Sweet -The Redstone Room, 129 Main St Davenport, IA

DJ Johnny O -Greenbriar Restaurant and Lounge, 4506 27th St Moline, IL

Flat Black Studios’ New Belgium Battle III -Iowa City Yacht Club, 13 S Linn St Iowa City, IA




Live Lunch w/ Stephen Cee (noon) -Mojo’s (River Music Experience), 130 W 2nd St Davenport, IA

New Orleans Dance Party with Papa Grows Funk -Iowa Memorial Union, 125 N. Madison St. Iowa City, IA

Gray Wolf Band -River House, 1510 River Dr. Moline, IL

Hardball -Greenbriar Restaurant and Lounge, 4506 27th St Moline, IL


Kent Burnside and New Generation -The Muddy Waters, 1708 State St. Bettendorf, IA

Lynn Allen -Route 61 Bar & Grill, 4320 N. Brady St. Davenport, IA

NINE-1-1 -City Limits Pay Station, 1303 10th Ave. Viola, IL



Rock the Boot - FNR: Fine New Rebellion -Uptown Neighborhood Bar and Grill, 2340 Spruce Hills Dr. Bettendorf, IA

Salsa and Cumbia DJ Night -La Primav-era, 601 15th St. Moline, IL

Salsa Dancing -Club Boulevard, 1801 10th St. Moline, IL

Schnitengigles -Purgatory’s Pub, 2104 State St Bettendorf, IA

Smooth Groove -Jumer’s Casino & Ho-tel, 777 Jumer Dr. Rock Island, IL

Songwriters in the Round (3pm) -River Music Experience, 129 Main St Davenport, IA

The Pimps - Tear Down the Tower - 11:52 -Racer’s Edge, 936 15th Ave East Moline, IL

uneXpected -Crabby’s, 826 W. 1st Ave. Coal Valley, IL

2010/09/12 (Sun)

A.J. Haut -Racer’s Edge, 936 15th Ave East Moline, IL

Breille -The Hat Eatery & Pub, 1618 W. Locust St. Davenport, IA

Justin Roberts & The Not Ready For Nap-time Players (2pm) -Englert Theatre, 221 East Washington St. Iowa City, IA

Smooth Groove -Jumer’s Casino & Ho-tel, 777 Jumer Dr. Rock Island, IL

Sugar Nipples -Uptown Neighborhood Bar and Grill, 2340 Spruce Hills Dr. Bettendorf, IA

Sweet Country (6pm) -Toucan’s Cantina / Skinny Legs BBQ, 2020 1st Street Milan, IL

The Four Freshmen -U.S. Cellular Center, 370 1st Ave NE Cedar Rapids, IA

Tony Hoeppner (noon) -Mojo’s (River Music Experience), 130 W 2nd St Davenport, IA

Uniphonics - Minus Six (6:30pm) -Pe-destrian Plaza, Downtown Iowa City Iowa City, IA

Vicki Lawrence & Mama: A Two-Wom-an Show (2 & 7:30pm) -Quad-Cities Waterfront Convention Center, 1777 Isle Parkway Bettendorf, IA

Wild Oatz -Purgatory’s Pub, 2104 State St Bettendorf, IA

You, Me, & Everyone We Know -Gabe’s, 330 E. Washington St. Iowa City, IA

2010/09/11 (Sat)

Backwater Bayou Band (6pm) -Toucan’s Cantina / Skinny Legs BBQ, 2020 1st Street Milan, IL

Bee All U Can Bee Karaoke & DJ -Crab-by’s, 826 W. 1st Ave. Coal Valley, IL

Damon Dotson -The Mill, 120 E Burlington Iowa City, IA

Deadroots (6pm) -Rhythm City Casino, 101 W. River Dr. Davenport, IA

Decoy & Judgement Day -Gabe’s, 330 E. Washington St. Iowa City, IA


Even Steven -Martini’s on the Rock, 4619 34th St Rock Island, IL

Gglitch - Dr. Z’s Experiment -Iowa City Yacht Club, 13 S Linn St Iowa City, IA


The Steady Rollin’ Blues Band featur-ing Jimmie Lee Adams -Rascals Rock Memorabilia Bar, 1414 15th St. Moline, IL


2010/09/10 (Fri)


Avey Brothers Band -The Muddy Waters, 1708 State St. Bettendorf, IA

Bee All U Can Bee Karaoke & DJ -Commodore Tap, 2202 W. 3rd St. Davenport, IA

BMR4 - Root Cellar-The Redstone Room, 129 Main St Davenport, IA

Cowboy Mouth - Bakelight Army -RIBCO, 1815 2nd Ave. Rock Island, IL


Emily Jawoisz (6pm) -The ARTery, 1629 2nd Ave in the District Rock Island, IL


Friday Live @ 5: The Warmth (5pm) -RME (River Music Experience) Courtyard, Davenport, IA

Gray Wolf Band -Martini’s on the Rock, 4619 34th St Rock Island, IL

Heatbox - Uniphonics CD Release - The Workshy -Iowa City Yacht Club, 13 S Linn St Iowa City, IA

Jazz After Five (5pm) -The Mill, 120 E Burlington Iowa City, IA



Keep Off The Grass -11th Street Precinct, 2108 E 11th St Davenport, IA

Mike Mineo - Adam Weinstein -The Mill, 120 E Burlington Iowa City, IA



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11Saturday

The Lovedogs -Heineejo’s, 340 Mill St Toronto, IA

The Tailfins (4pm) -Blueport Junction, 6605 W River Dr Davenport, IA

The Travoltas -RIBCO, 1815 2nd Ave. Rock Island, IL

Troy Harris, Pianist (11:30am) -Bass Street Chop House, 1601 River Dr Moline, IL

2010/09/06 (Mon)

Karaoke Night -The Old Stardust Sports Bar, 1191 19th Street Moline, IL

Open Mic w/ J. Knight -The Mill, 120 E Burlington Iowa City, IA

2010/09/07 (Tue)

Buddy Olson (6pm) -Figge Art Museum, 225 W 2nd St Davenport, IA

Dance Party USA -Iowa City Yacht Club, 13 S Linn St Iowa City, IA

Glenn Hickson (5:30pm) -O’Melia’s Sup-per Club, 2900 Blackhawk Rd. Rock Island, IL

Live Lunch w/ Steve Couch (noon) -Mojo’s (River Music Experience), 130 W 2nd St Davenport, IA

Open Mic Night w/ Steve McFate (6:30pm) -Cool Beanz Coffeehouse, 1325 30th St. Rock Island, IL

Open Mic w/ Jordan Danielsen -Bier Stube Davenport, 2228 E 11th St Davenport, IA

Open Mic w/ the Pena Brothers -Racer’s Edge, 936 15th Ave East Moline, IL

The Chris & Wes Show -Rascals Rock Mem-orabilia Bar, 1414 15th St. Moline, IL

2010/09/08 (Wed)

Dave Ellis -Circle Tap, 1345 Locust St. Davenport, IA

Email all listings to [email protected] • Deadline 5 p.m. Thursday before publicationLive Music Live Music Live Music Live Music

The Tailfins @ Blueport Junction – September 5


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Iowa Women’s Music Festival: The Refu-gees - The Chris Pureka Band - Ruth King - Desdamona with Carnage - Mary McAdams - Rae, Emily Louise, & Jenny Kohls (noon) -Upper City Park, Dubuque Rd & Park St Iowa City, IA


Keep Off The Grass -River House, 1510 River Dr. Moline, IL

Mr. Whoopie -Martini’s on the Rock, 4619 34th St Rock Island, IL



Pulse-Ox (6pm) -Starlite Ballroom, Missis-sippi Valley Fairgrounds, 2815 W. Locust St. Davenport, IA

RiverCity 6 -Downtown Macomb, ILRootless Experience -The Muddy Waters,

1708 State St. Bettendorf, IASalsa and Cumbia DJ Night -La Primavera,

601 15th St. Moline, ILSalsa Dancing -Club Boulevard, 1801 10th

St. Moline, ILSammy Kershaw -Quad-Cities Waterfront

Convention Center, 1777 Isle Parkway Bettendorf, IA

South of Southern Breeze -Englert The-atre, 221 East Washington St. Iowa City, IA

Spatterdash -Route 61 Bar & Grill, 4320 N. Brady St. Davenport, IA

The State Of - SONiA & Disappear Fear - Congress of Starlings -The Mill, 120 E Burlington Iowa City, IA

Tronicity -11th Street Precinct, 2108 E 11th St Davenport, IA

Wylde Nept -Iowa City Yacht Club, 13 S Linn St Iowa City, IA

Jazz After Five (5pm) -The Mill, 120 E Burlington Iowa City, IA



Lee Blackmon & The Gamblers (6:30pm) -Mojo’s (River Music Experience), 130 W 2nd St Davenport, IA

Live Lunch w/ Ren Estrand (noon) -Mojo’s (River Music Experience), 130 W 2nd St Davenport, IA

Lojo Russo - The Vagabonds - Sarah Cram and the Derelicts - Natalie Brown - Kelly Carrell -The Blue Moose Tap, 211 Iowa Ave. Iowa City, IA

Nappy Roots - Mac Lethal - DJ Carlo Rossi -RIBCO, 1815 2nd Ave. Rock Island, IL

Phyllis & the Sharks -Martini’s on the Rock, 4619 34th St Rock Island, IL

River City 6 -Rhythm City Casino, 101 W. River Dr. Davenport, IA



The Fry Daddies (6pm) -Toucan’s Can-tina / Skinny Legs BBQ, 2020 1st Street Milan, IL

The Lovedogs -The Dew Drop Inn, 602 5th St Durant, IA

The Nadas - The Coal Men -The Redstone Room, 129 Main St Davenport, IA

2010/09/18 (Sat)

1st Impression -Purgatory’s Pub, 2104 State St Bettendorf, IA

Bee All U Can Bee Karaoke & DJ -Crabby’s, 826 W. 1st Ave. Coal Valley, IL

Cheese Pizza -Uptown Neighborhood Bar and Grill, 2340 Spruce Hills Dr. Bet-tendorf, IA

Open Mic w/ the Pena Brothers -Racer’s Edge, 936 15th Ave East Moline, IL

The 2010 U.S. Army Soldier Show -Adler Theatre, 136 E. 3rd St. Davenport, IA

The Chris & Wes Show -Rascals Rock Mem-orabilia Bar, 1414 15th St. Moline, IL

The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band -The Mill, 120 E Burlington Iowa City, IA

Twosdays Jam with Lojo Russo -Mojo’s (River Music Experience), 130 W 2nd St Davenport, IA

2010/09/15 (Wed)

Dave Ellis -Circle Tap, 1345 Locust St. Davenport, IA

Jam Session -Iowa City Yacht Club, 13 S Linn St Iowa City, IA

Open Mic Night -The Old Stardust Sports Bar, 1191 19th Street Moline, IL

Social Dancing, Listening & Fellowship (1pm) -CASI (Center for Active Seniors), 1035 W. Kimberly Road Davenport, IA

“Tennessee,” That Nashville Cat (noon) - Open Mic Night (7pm) -Mojo’s (River Music Experience), 130 W 2nd St Dav-enport, IA

The Craig Bentley Trio -Rascals Rock Mem-orabilia Bar, 1414 15th St. Moline, IL

2010/09/16 (Thu)


“Candy” Jam Session w/ Alan Sweet -The Muddy Waters, 1708 State St. Bettendorf, IA

Euforquestra - Ragaman -The Redstone Room, 129 Main St Davenport, IA

Flat Black Studios’ New Belgium Battle III -Iowa City Yacht Club, 13 S Linn St Iowa City, IA


Karaoke Night -The Muddy Waters, 1708 State St. Bettendorf, IA

R u s s R ey m a n , Pi a n i s t ( 1 0 a m - 2 p m brunch performance) -The Lodge Hotel, Spruce Hills & Utica Ridge Bet-tendorf, IA

Smooth Groove (5pm) -Hereford Park, 13th St & 5th Ave East Moline, IL

Spike (4pm) -Blueport Junction, 6605 W River Dr Davenport, IA

The Avey Brothers -Rascals Rock Memora-bilia Bar, 1414 15th St. Moline, IL

The Manny Lopez Trio (10am) -Brady Street Chop House, Radisson QC Plaza Hotel Davenport, IA

The Water Coolers -Englert Theatre, 221 East Washington St. Iowa City, IA

Troy Harris, Pianist (11:30am) -Bass Street Chop House, 1601 River Dr Moline, IL

2010/09/13 (Mon)

Karaoke Night -The Old Stardust Sports Bar, 1191 19th Street Moline, IL

Open Mic w/ J. Knight -The Mill, 120 E Burlington Iowa City, IA

2010/09/14 (Tue)

Buddy Olson (6pm) -Figge Art Museum, 225 W 2nd St Davenport, IA

Corey Smith -Gabe’s, 330 E. Washington St. Iowa City, IA

Dance Party USA -Iowa City Yacht Club, 13 S Linn St Iowa City, IA

Glenn Hickson (5:30pm) -O’Melia’s Sup-per Club, 2900 Blackhawk Rd. Rock Island, IL

Live Lunch w/ Lars Rehnberg (noon) -Mojo’s (River Music Experience), 130 W 2nd St Davenport, IA

Open Mic w/ Jordan Danielsen -Bier Stube Davenport, 2228 E 11th St Davenport, IA

Iowa Women’s Music Festival Kick-Off Concert -Englert Theatre, 221 East Washington St. Iowa City, IA



Leslie & the LY’s - Bitch - Caroline Smith & the Goodnight Sleeps -Englert Theatre, 221 East Washington St. Iowa City, IA

Live Lunch w/ Rose ‘n’ Thorns (noon) -Mojo’s (River Music Experience), 130 W 2nd St Davenport, IA


Rock Art w/ The Dads -The Mill, 120 E Burlington Iowa City, IA

The Steady Rollin’ Blues Band featuring Jimmie Lee Adams -Rascals Rock Mem-orabilia Bar, 1414 15th St. Moline, IL


2010/09/17 (Fri)


Bee All U Can Bee Karaoke & DJ -Commo-dore Tap, 2202 W. 3rd St. Davenport, IA

Big Funk Guarantee (6:30pm) -Pedestrian Plaza, Downtown Iowa City Iowa City, IA

Brown Bag Lunch at Noon: Redeemed Voices Gospel Choir -Bettendorf Public Library, 2950 Learning Campus Bet-tendorf, IA

Cosmic -11th Street Precinct, 2108 E 11th St Davenport, IA


DJ Scott Keller & Karaoke (weather per-mitting) -Greenbriar Restaurant and Lounge, 4506 27th St Moline, IL

Euforquestra - Roster McCabe -Iowa City Yacht Club, 13 S Linn St Iowa City, IA


Funktastic Five -Uptown Neighborhood Bar and Grill, 2340 Spruce Hills Dr. Bet-tendorf, IA

Ha Ha Tonka - Death Ships -The Mill, 120 E Burlington Iowa City, IA

HotChaCha - The Sound of Thoughts -Gabe’s, 330 E. Washington St. Iowa City, IA

BMR4 @ The Redstone Room – September 10

15wednesday

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Documents

River Cities' Reader - Issue #760 - September 2, 2010