River Cities' Reader - Issue 811 - August - 16 - 29

7/31/2019 River Cities' Reader - Issue 811 - August - 16 - 29

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River Cities Reader Vol. 19 No. 811 August 16 - 29, 20122 Business Politics Arts Culture Now You Know RiverCitiesReader.com

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River Cities Reader Vol. 19 No. 811 August 16 - 29, 2012 3Business Politics Arts Culture Now You Know RiverCitiesReader.com

by Kathleen McCarthy

[email protected] FROM THE EDITOR

Decades of indoctrination havecaused most Americans to believethe federal government is the boss

of them. In March 2011, the co-founderof the Southern Poverty Law Center, Mor-ris Dees, told students at a conference atAugustana College that people who dontbelieve the United States government hasany control over their lives are domesticterrorists (RCReader.com/y/dees at the38-minute, 50-second point). Rather thansuch extremist, wrong-headed rhetoric,Dees should explain to students that wethe people are the bosses of not only thefederal government, but of state, county,and city governments, as well. This isAmerican Civics 101.

However, because we have socompletely failed in our individualresponsibilities as civic bosses, the federalgovernment is indeed methodically takingcontrol of every aspect of our lives f rom

the kinds of light bulbs we are permittedto use in our homes to spying on us withunseen drones to violating our personsat every airport checkpoint to grantingthe executive branch the unlawful abilityto arbitrarily deny us due process viathe recently enacted National DefenseAuthorization Act.

Frederick Douglass, an Americanorator, writer, and statesman who escapedfrom slavery in the mid-1800s to become

a leader in the abolitionist movement,wrote: Find out just what any people willquietly submit to, and you have the exactmeasure of the injustice and wrong thatwill be imposed upon them.

Despite what Dees would have young,impressionable students believe, thegovernment does not give us our rights.Our rights exist whether there is agovernment or not. The ConstitutionsBill of Rights mandates that the federal

governments primary directive is toprotectall our individual rights. It doesthis through the Constitutions limitingprinciples, declaring throughout thatgovernment shall not ... .

So what do Americans do when thenational government exceeds its authorityand violates our rights? Thomas Jeffersonwrote: A nullification is the rightfulremedy whenever the governmentviolates the Constitution. Nullification isthe ability of the people within the variousstates to reject federal laws and mandatesthat violate the U.S. Constitution. Infact, states are duty-bound to resist suchoverreach and to disallow any unlawfulenactments.

The Foundation for a Free Society(F4FS.org) and the Tenth AmendmentCenter (TenthAmendmentCenter.com) have co-produced an illuminatingdocumentary by filmmaker JasonRink called Nullification: The RightfulRemedy(NullificationMovie.com).This film clarifies the pecking order ofgoverning authority that was establishedwith Americas founding documents

and represents the basis for Americasrepublic under the rule of law: bottom-up governance, beginning with eachindividual as the principal arbiter, andflowing up to local, state, and federalagencies.

The most rudimentary wisdom tellsus that the federal government is notgoing to limit itself; therefore, the role forholding it to its lawful purpose belongsto its boss the American people, whosesovereign status is ours from birth as

distinct and free human beings. Eachof us resides in one of 50 states, whoseelected and appointed representatives areequally responsible for the protection ofour individual rights, as spelled out inevery state constitution.

At the time of our founding, the statesagreed to apportion certain redundantchores to the federal government forexpediency. The federal government isnothing more than an agency for the

states and, by design, for the peoplewho reside in those 50 states. But likeany organization, labor (the federalgovernment) cannot respect absenteemanagement (the American people)and will devise means to replace it. Thisappropriately describes conditions inAmerica today.

Nullification: The Rightful Remedyisan amalgamation of various speakerson the subject of nullification, including

its origins, justification, and viability asa peaceful and enforceable solution toregain the peoples control of a federalgovernment run amok. The film correctlyasserts that its completely unrealistic toexpect that politicians currently in officewill ever give up power, nor should weexpect that any new politicians we electto replace them will give such power backonce its handed to them. This explainsin large part why it doesnt matter whichparty controls the federal government.All political roads lead to the same end growing the federal government toincrease its authority over Americans.

This documentary does not go intowhy politicians, in cahoots with elite

global cartels, want to control theuniverse, including its populations andresources; it assumes viewers acceptthis agenda as real, bipartisan, andadvancing at an alarming rate. Instead,the film proposes a serious path torestoring governance back to the statesin large measure, and holding the federalgovernment to the limits specificallyexpressed in the founding documents

that provide the basis for the law of ourland.The Articles, Bill of Rights, and

Declaration of Independence are notcomplex, yet they have been summarilyperverted over time, thanks to the federalbranches of government that refuse tostay within the limits of their respectiveauthorities. And thanks to their bosses the American people, who refuse to dotheir job of holding them to it.

Below is a recap ofNullification: TheRightful Remedy. As such, it is also abrief reminder of American Civicssprinkled with some history importantinformation that is sadly missing frommodern curricula, whether in K-12,college, or even many law schools, whereconstitutional law is only an elective.

1) Government does not grant us ourrights; we have them naturally, endowedby our creator.

2) We the people of the several states

created the federal government, not theother way around.

3) We created government to protectour rights, using limiting principlesexpressly delegated in Americasfounding documents, including theDeclaration of Independence, theBill of Rights, and the United StatesConstitution, which includes the Articlesof Confederation.

4) The U.S. Constitution specifically

lists what the federal government can andcannot do, referred to as enumeratedpowers in Article 1, Section 8.

5) The federal governments authorityis granted solely by our consent.Moreover, the federal government isforbidden to delegate any authority toitself without our consent. No legislation,executive order, or U.S. Supreme Courtruling can delegate additional authorityto the federal government. Only aconstitutional amendment can add orsubtract to the delegated powers of thefederal government.

6) If the federal government violatesthe Constitution with unlawful acts,especially acts that increase its own

powers, we the people via the states areobliged to nullify them.

7) Holding the federal governmentto only the powers enumerated in theConstitution does not happen by itself.It requires the constant vigilance andenforcement by the people. There is noincentive for the federal governmentto limit itself, so it will always strive toextend its authority by any means it

can by any means the people allow byignoring and/or leaving unchallengedsuch occurrences. Model state legislationto nullify such overreaches is online atTenthAmendmentCenter.com/legislation.

8) The federal courts are part of thefederal government and cannot be trustedto limit any of the federal branches. Thecourts will interpret the Constitutionto the federal governments advantageat the expense of the people. A perfectexample of this is the U.S. SupremeCourts ruling in Wickard V. Filburn. Thecourt determined that even though aproduct (wheat) was grown but not sold,its lack of being sold impacted commercein other states. This absurdity has sinceprovided cover for all manner of federal-government overreach.

9) Nullification is the rightful remedyfor holding the federal government tothe Constitution. The 10th Amendmentaffirms that every state has the right

to reject federal laws and mandatesthat are unconstitutional. Any federallaw that violates the Constitution is anunlawful act, and the states are obligedto nullify, refusing to enact such acts intheir respective states. Each states law-enforcement personnel, all of whom takeoaths of office to uphold both their statesand the United States constitutions, areobliged to protect their states residentsrights, and therefore must enforce

nullification when imposed.Solutions for Americas socioeconomicproblems will eventually force us todetermine once and for all whether thefederal government works for we thepeople, or whether we the people aresubservient to the federal government.Many of us are too frightened to standup to the federal governments increasingusurpation, while others genuinely wanta centralized government in charge ofour lives. And many among the youngergenerations dont even know they have achoice.

It is time for Americans to reject once

Nullification: The Rightful Remedy

Continued On Page 5


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Open Letter to the Scott County Board of

Supervisors:Recently you decided to delay thepublic hearing on the request by OrascomConstruction Industries (OCI) to build afertilizer-manufacturing facility in closeproximity to Walcott from August 2 to August28. The reason given for the change of datewas to give OCI more time to produce a fullpresentation and to arrange for more companyofficials to attend the hearing. This is veryaccommodating of you.

How much time will OCI be given for this

presentation half an hour, a whole hour?Conversely, how much time will individualcitizens be allowed to speak two, possibly fiveminutes? Will the citizens of Scott County begiven an extra four weeks, as OCI has, to make astudied rebuttal to its presentation? This wouldonly be fair.

One would think OCI should have hadwhatever information it is going to present on the28th available months ago for the public to digestand research. Rather, the public only became

aware of this proposed project just a few weeksbefore the planning-and-zoning commissionshearing on July 17. Why was information aboutthis project withheld from the public until thelast minute, and why is it seemingly on the fasttrack for approval? Information forthcoming

from OCI thus far has been scant, with little

detail that at times is conflicting. One thingwe do know is that OCI likes the Walcottsite because it has minimal environmentalrestrictions.

There are many reasons why you, as electedofficials of the citizens of Scott County, shouldvote against this project. You should already bekeenly aware of the concerns voiced about theloss of prime agricultural land, rezoning thatwould be a direct contradiction of your owncomprehensive plan, serious safety concernsthat should not be taken lightly, environmental

concerns (water, air, noise, light, odor), concernsabout significantly lowered property values, andI could go on.

Another aspect that you should closelyscrutinize, and that all taxpayers should be awareof, is how the financing for this project is beingproposed. The estimated cost is $1.3 billion. OCIitself describes the venture as risky and is askingthat loans and incentives be made available toit. This includes $1.6 million in forgivable andlow-interest loans from the state, about $1.2

billion in federal loans through the 2008 flood-relief money (the Midwest Area Disaster Reliefprogram with total bonding ability of about $2.6billion, of which OCI is asking for almost half),and $2 million from local government incentivesfor various infrastructure needs. Undoubtedly,

Vote No on Fertilizer Plant

LETTERS

local tax-increment financing will be asked to be

part of the package. We, the taxpayers, are beingasked to finance about 95 percent of this facility.We, the taxpayers, are being asked to practicallybuild this facility for OCI and shoulder all therisk. OCI is one of the core Orascom Groupcompanies based in Cairo, Egypt. It has deeppockets. The fertilizer plant will be called IowaFertilizer Company LLC, with incorporation inDelaware. Should the facility encounter financialdifficulties, we will likely be left holding the bag.This amounts to corporate welfare on a grandscale, and for a foreign entity that should be

funding the project through private means.A final note: In 20 to 30 years, when this

facility has reached the end of its useful life, wewill likely be left with the equivalent of a 300-acretoxic-waste dump. The prime agricultural land itonce was will be gone forever.

All these points can be gone into in muchfurther detail. The bottom line is: These concernsfar outweigh the estimated economic gains,which I believe to be exaggerated. I implore youto protect this prime agricultural preservation

land and the citizenry of Scott County as statedin your comprehensive plan and vote no to therezoning of this precious asset.

Royce Bare

Walcott, Iowa

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speeches should serve as a crystal-clearindicator that the message is all hatand no cattle in other words, puremanipulation.

As Michael Boldin, founder of theTenth Amendment Center, says inNullification: The Rightful Remedy: TheConstitution is not about political parties.Its not about political ideologies. Its notabout political candidates. Its not aboutpolitics at all. The Constitution is aboutliberty. Its about limiting the federal

government to certain enumeratedpowers, so we can deal with the mostdifficult, the most divisive, the mostproblematic issues where they belong close to home, in our states.

ILLINOIS POLITICS

The Illinois Republican Party has relent-lessly bashed House Speaker MichaelMadigan almost every day via press

release during the past few months. Not manyof those statements have been covered by themedia, but the GOP is obviously hoping tomake Madigan an issue in this election byblaming him for justabout every problemin Illinois, even morethan it did two yearsago.

Madigan has alsobeen hammered by theChicago Tribune in aseries of stories abouthis alleged conflictsof interest. Madiganinitially dismissed thecriticisms as garbagebut eventuallyresponded point-by-

point in a letter thatwas mostly ignoredby the media, and never addressed by theTribune itself. The Tribunes editorial boardhas led the charge against the speaker over theyears, demanding his toppling as the Housestop guy.

House Republicans have tried for at leasttwo decades to make the speaker an issue incampaigns. Its never really succeeded, mainlybecause people hadnt heard enough about

Madigan to be moved by the GOPs negativeadvertising.

Because it seems clear that the GOP plansto use Madigan as its favorite target againthis year, I went looking for a poll to see ifattacking him now might work in a stateHouse race after years of bad publicity. Anorthern suburban legislative district thatleans Republican seemed a good place tolook, because the Tribune is read prettywidely up there and the residents might be

more inclined to accept the fact that Madiganwas bad for Illinois.Campaigns being campaigns, I cant

divulge which district this poll comes from,but it was paid for by a northern suburbanRepublican. It was a legitimate live telephonepoll of 301 people taken by a national pollsterin mid-July.

Again, this district leans Republican, so theMadigan numbers are probably a bit worsethan they would be statewide.

Madigans image was tested by the poll,

which found his positive rating at just 16percent, while his negative rating was at 44percent. Just 3 percent had a strongly positive

view of his image, while 31 percent had astrongly negative view.

But 40 percent either had never heard ofMadigan (17 percent) or had no opinion (23percent). This is generally regarded as a well-educated region with politically aware voters,yet a very large percentage of that populationdoesnt really seem to care either way aboutthe speaker.

The crosstabs have amuch higher margin oferror than the full polls5.7 percent, but theyrestill worth a look.

In the age brackets,Madigans worst ratingcomes from people 65and over. A whopping63 percent of peoplein that age range havea negative opinionof Speaker Madigan,with 53 percent havinga strongly negative

viewpoint. Only 8percent of that age group

have a positive view of the speaker, and 29percent either have never heard of him (9) orhave no opinion (20) .

Fifty-eight percent of those aged 55 to 64had a negative view of Madigan, while 42percent of those who were 45 to 54 have anegative view of him, and of those who were18 to 44, 28 percent have a negative view.

The general rule of thumb in politics is

that the older one gets, the more one votes.And this poll in this particular district clearlyshows that the older one gets, the more onedespises Michael J. Madigan.

Among independents, a voting bloc thattends to lean more Republican, 46 percenthave a negative view of Madigan, with 31percent having a strongly negative view. But43 percent either have never heard of Madigan(17) or didnt have an opinion (26). And 56percent of independents aged 55 and up have a

negative view of Madigan, while a third eitherdidnt know about him or had no opinion.The bottom line here is that there are

some real dangers for the Democrats withMadigans negative image. His 59-percentnegative rating among older women, whotend to be more independent, is high enoughon its own to set off alarm bells, at least in thisdistrict. Even 41 percent of Democrats aged55 and older have a negative view of him,according to the poll. So, yes, the cumulativeresult is that the attacks may be having some

impact. Well know more as the campaignproceeds.

Rich Miller also publishes Capitol Fax (a dailypolitical newsletter) and CapitolFax.com.

by Rich Miller

CapitolFax.com

Can GOP SuccessfullyMake Madigan the Villain?

This poll in this

particular districtclearly showsthat the older one

gets, the more onedespises House

Speaker MichaelJ. Madigan

and for all the same tired, albeit familiar,patterns of political thought governingAmerican elections, thanks in large partto politicians unholy alliance with themedia cartel to administer a strict policyof divide and conquer.

Stop watching, listening to, andreading news that is mostly emotionallycharged with little substance. If you donot learn something new, or at leastsomething relevant, then you are likelybeing polarized, not informed. But most

importantly, if actual solutions arentbeing proffered, reject it as a source ofinformation. The glaring absence ofanything resembling solutions in all ofnews, punditry, talk radio, and election

by Kathleen McCarthy

[email protected]

WORDS FROM THE EDITOR

Nullification: The Rightful RemedyContinued From Page 3


6/28


Active in Iowa

Irecently came across a photographof downtown Davenport taken fromthe corner of Second and Harrison

streets and facing north. The photo hasa 1907 copyrightdate but appearsto have been takenbefore 1892, whenthe Redstone Build-ing was built. As Ilooked at the imagecarefully, I wasstruck by the real-ization that nothingin this photo notone building orobject still exists.

I also saw a set ofcentury-old photosof a roller coaster,

merry-go-round,music pavilion, bowling alley, tunnel oflove, and steep water ride proclaimedas the largest amusement park west ofChicago at the present-day location

of the Black Hawk State Historic Site. Itis so strange to see old photos that areidentified as places we know well, yetlittle in them is familiar.

From one year to the next, the QuadCities seem to change little. Overthe course of decades, however, thedifferences are dramatic.

The same is true of public artworks.Many dozens of artworks have beenpainted over, removed, or relocated.Not surprisingly, aging materialsaccount for the disappearance of manyof these artworks; the cumulative

effects of sunlight and temperatureextremes take their toll on paint andmaterials such as wood.

The decision to move an artwork toanother site, onthe other hand,usually stemsfrom remodelingor changes in

ownership of theproperty wherethe artworkwas originallysituated.

The followingare some of thebest-knownartworks in theQuad Citiesthat have been

removed orrelocated. Some were painted on walls;some stood prominently in front ofbuildings; and some lived in parksand cemeteries. Some were created

by renowned artists, others by areastudents. What they have in common isthat they are no longer at their originalsites.

Missing MuralsFor more than half a decade, an

enormous mural with a towering

portrait of Bix Beiderbecke was oneof downtown Davenports signaturelandmarks. Titled Davenport Blues,it was painted on the west side ofthe parking ramp at the corner of

Second and Perry streets. It wasfeatured in newspapers, brochures, andinnumerable snapshots taken by fans ofBix and early jazz.

Loren Shaw Hellige painted the25-foot-tall portrait and the entire

sheet music for Davenport Blues, asong written by Bix and first recordedin 1925. She was assisted by Gene

Hellige, who marked the location of thenotes with charcoal before she paintedthem. It took six months, from July toDecember 1988,for the mural to becompleted.

The mural waspainted almostentirely in blackand white. The highcontrast of value

drew attention, and combined withthe murals monumentalscale it created a senseof importance and seriousness. Themural wasnt a visual interpretation ofthe music or an attempt to present the

jazz icon in a new light; its restraint anduse of the most familiar image of Bixmade it feel timeless.

Even when the mural was firstproposed, Hellige was aware that theramp was structurally unsound. Theparking ramp was torn down in 1995and was replaced by the Radisson QuadCity Plaza hotel.

Several blocks to the east was The

River Styx, a mural painted on panelby Pat Collins in 1994. WhereasDavenport Blues stood out throughits sheer scale and visual clarity, thismural was brimming with crypticsymbols that invited thought and

interpretation. Itslocation on a buildingnear the foot of the

Government Bridge an entrance to theRock Island Arsenal gave the artwork amilitary context.

The 24-foot-longmural depicted theMississippi River as

it passes thorough the Quad Cities.Collins, however, transformed thefamiliar bridges and buildings into a

personal narrative with the inclusionof symbolic objects such as thereliquary with a skull and lit candle

and words written in Russian thatwere based, in part, on his travels inthe Soviet Union. The artworks title,which is the name of the river in Greekmythology that separates the livingworld from Hades, adds another layerof references. Its total absence of livingpeople and its maze-like staircases andladders reinforced the murals surrealquality.

Only an unpainted rectangulararea on the exterior wall of the DamView tavern gives any indication that

COVER STORY

Lost Quad CitiesRemoved, Relocated, and Recovered Public Art

Courtesy Loren Shaw Hellige

Photo by Bruce Walters



Davenport Blues

The River Styx

Wall of Faces

Pre-1982 downtown Davenport


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the mural ever existed. River CitiesReaderPublisher Todd McGreevyacquired the mural in the past fewyears and said he hopes to display itpublicly again.

Wall of Faces was painted onthe concrete wall on Lincoln Roadnear 18th Streetin Bettendorf. Themural was created inthe late 90s by the

Street Heat youthprogram, led byartist Glenn Boyles.It depicted a row ofsix-foot-tall headsthat were uniform inscale and proportion,but with each facedivided down thecenter and each halfof the face differing inskin color, hairstyle,etc. The proportionalsameness made thedifferences all themore striking.

The mural wasreplaced in 2011by another,Active inIowa, that weaves together patternsand a series of images including a19th Century bicycle, a catfish, and asoccer ball. Led by educator Michelle

Garrison, students in the Quad CityArts Metro Arts summer youthprogram completed the mural inabout six weeks.

Murals dont necessarily have ashort lifespan. Thebuilding-sizedmural of BlackHawk in the RockIsland District waspainted in 1993

and is still in fineshape.

However, manyarea muralsare more thantheir finishedappearances; theyare an opportunityfor area youth toplan and execute an enormous projectcooperatively. Boyles said that he

likes the mural that replaced Wall ofFaces and that he expected the muralhe worked on to be painted over oneday. And, as he pointed out, his piecereplaced an even earlier mural.

A Survivor AmongSculptures

In 1998, a welded metal sculpturewas installed in Molines Florecienteneighborhood near Fifth Avenue andSeventh Street. The sculpture was

created by lead artistCharles Knudsen andsix youth from theneighborhood as part

of the Street Heatprogram. Most if notall of the studentsparticipated in theMoline Boys & GirlsClub. The brightlypainted sculpturewas centered on asun symbol withstylized rays of lightemanating from

its center. On topof the sun stood aspread eagle holdinga snake. Beneaththe sun were twinlightning bolts andcloud-like patterns.The symbols drew

from the areas Latino heritage.Though the sculpture was celebrated

when it was created even namedto the honor roll ofMidwest Livingmagazines 1998 Hometown PrideAwards Program it was taken downin the next decade. Even the lead artistisnt certain when it was removed. Orwhy.

During theFirst World War,two Germanwar memorialsin DavenportsWashington

Square weredestroyed. Onememorializedparticipants in theFranco-PrussianWar of 1870-71. The othercommemorated

veterans of the1848 war over Schleswig-Holstein,a region between Germany and

Denmark a conflict that led to thefirst wave of German immigration toDavenport. This memorial was defacedwith yellow paint and later, accordingto some reports, thrown into the

Mississippi.A replica of the 1848 memorial, based

on a photograph, was dedicated in 2008and placed near Lady of Germania, abronze sculpture created by Jeff Adamsin 2006 that sits at the foot of theCentennial Bridge in Davenport. Ladyof Germania is itself based on a statuethat once stood on a fountain in thecenter of Washington Square, a full cityblock that is the present site of the Scott

County FamilyY at 606West SecondStreet. (SeeRCReader.com/y/germania.)

Other parksculptures such asthe centralfountainin SpencerSquare indowntownRock Island,the statue at Stag Hill in Rock IslandsLongview Park, and the iron fountainat Vander Veer Botanical Park inDavenport have also been removedover theyears. Oneintriguing

survivoris thecherubicface builtinto thecenterof thedecorativewindmillin theVander Veer conservatory. It was taken

from the original fountain when it wasreplaced in 1935. The iron fountain wasdonated to the park in 1906, making theface more than a century old.

New Contexts forMoved Sculptures

Near the entrance to the DavenportMuseum of Art at 1737 West 12thStreet were two monumental metal

sculptures with rusted surfaces:Trapezium by Beverly Pepper (1981)and Sophisticated Ladyby ClementMeadmore (1977). Peppers 23-foot-tallsculpture rose vertically from an anvil-

like base. Though shorter by eight feet,Meadmores work was equally massive.

The two sculptures were removed onMay 1, 2001 more than a year beforethe groundbreaking ceremony for theFigge Art Museum, their intendeddestination once the new buildingwas completed. The removal was partof the construction project to createan entrance and parking area for thePutnam Museums IMAX Theatre.

TheChicagocompanyMethods &Materialslifted thesculpturesby crane,transportedthem byflatbedtruck, and

reinstalledthem onthe lawn ofDavenports

Public Works Center (1200 East 46thStreet).

The sculptures have now been atthe Public Works Center for a decade,

though theirresidencethere was

meant to betemporary.Trapezium isinstalled onan immenselawn, andSophisticatedLadyisnear theentrance to

the building. The building itself is

appropriate for their scale, medium,and modern style, but the sculpturesseem isolated and without context, asthe center is located in a commercialand light-industrial area. Across thestreet is an empty field.

A third Davenport Museum of Artsculpture, Rhythm by Gene Horvath(1983), was also near the museumsentrance. Though substantially smaller,it worked well with the other twopieces, as each emphasized the spacesbetween its angular forms. Rhythm hasbeen in storage at the Figge since itsremoval.

by Bruce Walters

Continued On Page 20





Florenciente sculpture

Century-old face in the VanderVeer

windmill

Sophisticated Lady

Trapezium


8/28


theres a nagging homogeneity over

the 13 tracks less in style andinstrumentation than in tone andapproach. The songs often lacka sense of drama and arc, moresimple and direct statements of ideasand feelings than developmentsor explorations of them. You canget a pretty full sense of each trackfrom the words of its chorus forexample, Just stay with me andsuch straightforward lyrics need

more vigorous or surprising musicaltreatments to avoid feeling blunt andobvious.

The strongest tracks highlight thatshortcoming by way of contrast. The lopingPass Me by employs a slightly anxiousrhythm and swells of light feedbackand keyboards. The prominent drums,keyboards, sax, and high-pitched bass ofcloser Comeback create a funky mood,and Ryans voice and words dont need

to pull such a heavy load. Horns, a fastertempo, and relatively aggressive guitarselevate Ashamed to Go, and underscorethat the roots-rock context of Jim theMule serves Ryans songs better than thegenerally more laid-back treatments of theDawn.

And the solo-acoustic-guitarinstrumental Folk Song is the albumsmost lyrical, expressive, and evocativetrack concisely sketching an emotionallandscape without words.

Jim the Mule and Sean Ryan & the Dawn

will be holding a joint CD-release show

on Friday, August 24, at the Redstone

Room (129 Main Street, Davenport;

RiverMusicExperience.org). The Kerry

Tucker Band and Busted Chandeliers open,

and the show starts at 8 p.m. Jim the Mule

will perform at 9:30 p.m.; Sean Ryan & the

Dawn go on at 10:30 p.m. Advance tickets

are $7, and admission is $10.

For more information on Jim the Mule, visit

JimTheMule.com. For more information on

Sean Ryan & the Dawn, visit RCReader.

com/y/dawn.

Vol. 19 No. 811August 16 -29, 2012

River Cities Reader532 W. 3rd St.

Davenport IA 52801

RiverCitiesReader.com

(563)324-0049 (phone)

(563)323-3101 (fax)

[email protected]

Publishing since 1993

The River Cities Readeris an independent newspaper

published every other Thursday, and available free

throughout the Quad Cities and surrounding areas.

2012 River Cities Reader

AD DEADLINE:5 p.m. Wednesday prior to publication

PUBLISHER

Todd McGreevy

EDITOR

Kathleen McCarthy

EDITORIALManaging Editor: Jeff Ignatius [email protected]

Arts Editor, Calendar Editor: Mike Schulz [email protected]

Contributing Writers: Amy Alkon, Rob Brezsny, Lynn Campbell,

Michelle Garrison, Rich Miller, Frederick Morden, Bruce Walters,

Thom White

ADVERTISINGAccount Executive:

Jason Farrell [email protected]

Advertising Coordinator: Nathan Klaus

Advertising rates, publishing schedule, demographics,

and more are available at

QCAdvertising.com

DESIGN/PRODUCTIONArt Director, Production Manager: Shawn Eldridge

[email protected]

Graphic Artist: Nathan Klaus [email protected]/Production Interns:

Aubrey Downey

Grant Swanson

Matt Thomas

ADMINISTRATIONBusiness Manager: Kathleen McCarthy

Office Administrator, Classifieds Manager, Circulation Manager:

Rick Martin [email protected]

Distribution: William Cook, Cheri DeLay, Greg FitzPatrick,

Tyler Gibson, Daniel Levsen, J.K. Martin, Jay Strickland

A Concise RevelationMUSIC By Jeff Ignatius

[email protected]

Ive reviewed several recordings

by both Sean Ryan (solo and withhis band The Dawn) and Jim the

Mule over the years, but the YoureGonna Regret Me EP is the first op-portunity Ive had to hear Ryan aspart of the latter band.

Its a bit of a revelation, as Ryansvoice, musicianship, and sensibilitiesare excellent complements to Jimthe Mules sturdy country rock.With multi-instrumentalist/singer

Ryan and guitarist/singer TomSwanson splitting songwritingand vocal duties over seven tracks,theres a natural variety, and the EP formatfeels like an ideal showcase for the differentfacets of the ensemble.

More importantly, each song is maturewith a fully formed, distinct personality, yetthey clearly spring from the same parents;their differences resonate as much as theirsimilarities.

The EP opens with the rollicking, chock-full title track, banjo paired with countryguitar, and Swansons casually confidentsinging matched against the female backing

vocals. At less than two and a half minutes,it seems almost cruelly abrupt given allthats going on.

Shimmy Shimmy Shake returnsthe band to its familiar straight-aheadAmericana rock, and Big Dumb Rockalso travels that path. The formers sharp,warm lead guitar and the latters cheeky,infectious chorus lift them above genreexercises. Brighter Day is a dusty, campycowpoke anthem complete with tuba,and Ryans earnest singing is enticinglyincongruous with the otherwise archtreatment. This is certainly the mostplayful Ive heard Jim the Mule, live or onrecord.

But Youre Gonna Regret Me is reallydistinguished by three tracks. RyansPeaceful Heart (Its a Long & Restless

Wind) oozes longing, and the singingand lead guitar, in particular, are full ofhope weighed down by authentic sorrow.Wanderer is a gentle rocker carried byRyans stalwart voice but gorgeously filled

Jim the Mule, Youre Gonna Regret Me, and Sean Ryan & the Dawn, All Time Low; Performing August 24 at

the Redstone Room

out by organ, subdued guitar accents,and a lovely, extended instrumental outrofeaturing coalescing guitars. And Swansonspatient Marilene has a wash of softinstrumental colors that builds into therestrained intensity of its chorus.

Jim the Mule and Sean Ryan & the Dawnwill be sharing the spotlight at an August24 CD-release concert at the RedstoneRoom, with both bands playing their newrecords in their entirety.

Sean Ryan & the DawnsAll Time Lowsuffers a bit in the comparison. It hasplenty of charms, but at almost twice the

length ofYoure Gonna Regret Me, it begsfor more diversity, sharper definition, andgreater nuance.

Ryans voice and playing remainstrong and certain throughout, but

Jim the Mule

Sean Ryan & The Dawn All Time Low


9/28



10/28


Given its sorority sort of feel,

the Circa 21 Dinner Playhouses

The Dixie Swim Club which

concerns the annual, beach-cabin gather-

ings of five former

members of a college

swim team will

likely appeal to the

women in the audi-

ence. However, not

being a woman my-self, I can also say that

I quite enjoyed the

August 3 performance

of the show for the

chemistry between

the actors, the stunning

set, and the humor

that playwrights Jessie

Jones, Nicholas Hope, and Jamie Wooten

put into their comedy.

Designer Susan D. Holgerssonsplaying area clearly establishes the

productions setting before it even begins.

Her seaside cabin, which boasts antique

white and deep-aqua striped walls, a

loft, large windows, and even a steamer

trunk, makes it apparent that the story

is set on an ocean beach one likely on

the East Coast, given the color scheme.

And her creation is just as striking as her

dilapidated theatre was for Circa 21s

Southern Crossroads earlier this year.

Once the play starts, and the sets

locale is confirmed, director Jim

Hesselman takes us to the first ofThe

Dixie Swim Clubs annual lakeside

get-togethers, in which former

swim-teammates enjoy a weekend of

companionship and swim in the Atlantic

Ocean. Carrie SaLoutos Sheree was

the team captain in college, and 22, 27,

33, and 56 years later the time frame

covered in the course of the play she

continues to be the one to take careof her team by arranging the rental,

organizing the meals, and planning the

weekend schedules. Autumn ORyan

whose jovial Mrs. Claus in Holly Jolly

Christmas I still clearly remember three

years after the show graced the Circa 21

stage plays Dinah, a brassy but fun-

loving lawyer. Lora Adams gets to show

off her sexier side as the serial bride

Lexie, yet manages to avoid portraying

her as a stereotypical slut jumping fromman to (younger) man while undergoing

more and more cosmetic surgery along

the way. Lexie could be unbearably

stuck up, but through Adams nuanced

THEATRE

A Cabin o White Chicks Sittin Around Talkin

The Dixie Swim Club,at the Circa 21 Dinner Playhouse through September 15

By Thom White

characterization, its clear why Lexie is

still adored by the rest of the ladies, and

Serena Vesper, too, is likable for her

former nun Jeri Neals ever-joyful nature.

It is Rachelle

Walljaspers

Vernadette, though,

whose presence sets

the tone for this

touching comedy.

Whenever theplot gets a bit too

dry or even a bit

dull as when Jeri

Neal explains why

she decided to get

pregnant, or Lexie

talks about yet another

divorce Walljaspers

somewhat trashy victim of domestic

abuse (at the hands of a reallytrashy

husband) delivers a whopper of a funnyline. What I love about Walljasper, in

every performance of hers Ive seen, is

the actors ability to play endearingly

dimwitted yet absolutely sincere

characters. While Vernadette does

crack herself up at times, Walljasper

tends toward underplaying jokes as if

she doesnt know that what shes saying

is funny, and her unassuming nature

makes them even funnier; its as if shes

an accidental comedian. Her Vernadette

just says it like she sees it and, in so

doing, manages to be hilarious. (At one

point, Vernadette says that she thinks the

problem with husbands is that theyre

always saying theyll die for you, but they

never do.)

While I think the comparisons

between the lessons learned in the show

and the womens experiences on their

old swim team are a bit forced and,

therefore, rather annoying I still quite

liked Circa 21s The Dixie Swim Club.The sincerity in Hesselmans production

kept me interested in what would

happen to the plays characters, while the

humor, particularly when delivered by

Walljasper, had me laughing more than

enough to walk away from the evenings

entertainment with a satisfied smile on

my face.

The Dixie Swim Club runs at the Circa 21

Dinner Playhouse (1828 Third Avenue,Rock Island) through September 15, and

information and tickets are available

by calling (309)786-7733 extension 2 or

visiting Circa21.com.

Carrie SaLoutos, Rachelle Walljasper,

Serena Vesper, Autumn ORyan, and

Lora Adams

TICKETS: $20(children 12 and under are free.)

Tickets are available at Quad City Bank and Trust,

Whiteys Ice Cream, and through Ticketmaster at 800.745.3000.

Q U A D C I T Y B A N K & T R U S T

F E A T U R I N G

T H E C O N C E R T

R I V ER F R O N T

SEPTEMBER 8, 2012

LECLAIRE PARK, DAVENPORT

Complete concert details at www.qcsymphony.com


11/28



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13/28


by Mike Schulz [email protected] Mike Schulz [email protected] Reviews by Mike Schulz [email protected]

THE CAMPAIGNAs the movies trailers have been running

since what feels like the lastpresidentialcampaign, its understandable if viewers enterthe Will Ferrell/Zach Galifianakis politicalspoofThe Campaign worried that all of thehilarious bits have already been spoiled for

them. The wonderful surprise of director JayRoachs comedy, however, is that they havent not unless viewers have somehow beenprivy to a trailer that lasts 85 minutes.

Nimbly vacillating between broadslapstick and sharp satire, The Campaignboasts the highest of high concepts, withFerrells smarmy, aggressive, horndogDemocrat Cam Brady in a North CarolinaCongressional race against Galifianakissweet, passive, mincing Republican Marty

Huggins. With these actors in these roles, thefilm could easily have emerged as an initiallyamusing, quickly tiresome autopilot comedy,one with little on its mind beyond scoringlaughs from endless repetition of its starsfamiliar shtick. (This is hardly the first timeweve seen Ferrell play a strutting egomaniacor Galifianakis portray a clueless man-child.)Yet beginning with its early scene in whichFerrells incumbent publicly apologizesfor leaving a sexually explicit message ona Christian familys answering machine eventually blaming hisfaux pason the familyfor still havingan answering machine Roachs movie proves far smarter, and a gooddeal funnier, than perhaps anticipated.

As youve likely seen The Campaignspreviews, youve likely seen its majorcomedic money shots: Ferrell punching ababy in the face, Galifianakis shooting Ferrell

in the leg,Galifianakisyoung sonadmitting thathe let a petting-zoo goat lickhis (gasp!).Happily,though,these andother farcicalgambits featurepunchlinesthat pay offeven beyondthe routinescomic shock that shooting incident leads to an uptick in thepolls for the shooter and for all of the lunatic

clowning on hand, Chris Henchys and ShawnHarwells script is also unexpectedly savvy. Iloved the scene in which Brady tries, in vain, torecite the Lords prayer with mime-show hintsfrom his chief of staff (Jason Sudeikis). But Icackled even harder at the debate sequence thatfound Huggins deriding one of Bradys self-authored books as a Communist manifesto a 15-page book, titled Rainbow Land, that Bradywrote in second grade. The Campaigns satireisnt exactly stinging, but its certainly astute, and

while Ferrell and Galifianakis easily sustain theirwinning, oftentimes riotous sketch-comedycaricatures, theyre at their most inspired whendemonstrating how close to real life the filmspolitical lampoons actually are. (John Lithgowand Dan Aykroyd, obviously having a ball, playa pair of corrupt billionaires who are thinlydisguised versions of the Koch brothers ... sothinly disguised that theyre named theMotch

brothers.)By its

climax, TheCampaigntoo heavilyindulges inthe kind of

Mr. Smith

Goes to

Washington

sentimentalitythat,previously,it mostlyavoided.Yet eventhen, theres

something terrifically charming about the filmscheerful (if cheerfully vulgar) political fantasy;

Roachs offering suggests that even the mostmean-spirited of buffoons can learn to be a

genialbuffoon, a lesson that you wish moreactual politicians would take note of. All told,The Campaign is a delightful surprise, withpossibly its biggest and best surprise comingfrom Karen Maruyamas sensational, hystericalsupporting turn. I wouldnt dream of spoilingthe joke of her role, but I hope that, somewhere,Hattie McDaniel and Butterfly McQueen arelaughing their heads off.

THE BOURNE LEGACYA sleek, efficient continuation of Matt

Damons action-thriller franchise, directorTony Gilroys The Bourne Legacycasts JeremyRenner as a super-spy genetically engineeredfor maximum ass-kicking capability, and themovie feels a little genetically engineered, too

exciting and accomplished, but lackingthe humanity and wit of the series previousinstallments. Although Renner does amore than serviceable job of suggestinghis operatives escalating desperation andenacts heroic feats with spectacular skill,youre not really allowed to feel much for hisAaron Cross, and while the numerous actionscenes are well-choreographed, too few aretruly exhilarating; the movies a bit on theeffective-but-generic side. Nonetheless, itremains a pretty terrific time. Gilroy stagesseveral encounters particularly a sustainedgunfight in a ramshackle house withspeed and clarity, and the jolts providedare legitimately startling, with the earlydestruction of a log cabin and the medical-research-lab shooting spree (the latterinstigated by a terrifying eljko Ivanek) real

gut-wrenchers. The stuntwork is exceptionaland the films performances are uniformlystrong, with welcome new recruits EdwardNorton, Stacy Keach, and Oscar Isaac joiningBourne-series veterans some of themseen in mere cameos Scott Glenn, DavidStrathairn, Albert Finney, and Joan Allen.And while The Bourne Legacys final thirddoesnt give her the chance to do much morethan panic and run and scream Hes got agun! and Aaron, run!, Rachel Weisz, as a

brilliant scientist and Cross unwitting tag-along, is at least given an applause-worthybit in the films climactic, mostly awesomechase scene. If you ever find yourselftearing through metropolitan crowds on amotorcycle with a crazed gunman on yourtail, I pray you also have Weisz sitting side-saddle. That lady can kick.

Listen to Mike every Friday at 9am on ROCK 104-9 FM with Dave & Darren

The Running Men

Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis in The Campaign



14/28


Whats HappeninTheatreThe World GoesRound

Circa 21 Dinner Playhouse

Thursday, August 16, through

Thursday, August 30

As a former member of the Circa 21 DinnerPlayhouses performing wait staff TheBootleggers, Im always psyched to see one of the

groups full-length musical revues. As a two-time

actor for the wonderfully gifted (and just-plain-

wonderful) director Jim

Hesselman, Im alwayspsyched to see one of thevisiting artists Circa 21productions.

On August 16, the RockIsland theatre will debut itsproduction of Kander &Ebbs The World Goes Round,a musical revue featuringthe Circa 21 Bootleggers,directed by Jim Hesselman.

That sound you just heard was my heart skipping

a beat. Though with the amount of sodiu

diet, thats been happening a lotlately ... .But still! Booties! Hesselman! Kander &

Whats not to love?! A two-act showcase fesome of the finest works in the composerscanon, 1991s off-Broadway smash The WoRoundearned three Drama Desk Awards,Outstanding Musical Revue, and was the rof rave reviews, with the New York Times ca handsome, tasteful, snazzily staged outpof song and dance that celebrates all the vithe Kander-Ebb catalogue. And those son

dances are sure to sound and look dazzlin

ACTING

SMARTHelpful Tips on Appearing

More Intelligent Than You

Actually Are

Aoife ODonovan, the lead singerand songwriter for the progressivebluegrass/string ensemble Crooked Still, willperform a special concert at Rock IslandsRozz-Toxestablishment on Wednesday,August 22, treating local audiences to thegorgeous, evocative vocals and serenelyconfident presence that led USA Todaytoproclaim her the newest darling of the

Americana set. But if youre wanting to seeand hear ODonovans talents in person yetarent fully familiar with the indie-folk artistherself, here are five ways to fit in amongstRozz-Toxs Wednesday-night crowd withoutfeeling totally out-of-the-loop.

1) Know some of Aoifes musicalbackground: A Massachusetts native,ODonovan spent numerous childhoodsummers in Ireland studying Celticfolk music and dance, went on to studycontemporary musical improvisation atthe New England Conservatory, and, atage 18, co-founded Crooked Still with herbandmates in the summer of 2001.

2) Know where youve heard Aoifessongs and with whom she has performedthem: Also a member of the femalefolk trio Sometymes Why, ODonovanscompositions have been heard in the TVseries True BloodandPrivate Practice and inthe feature film Get Low, and she has sharedstages with the likes of the Boston Pops, theUtah Symphony Orchestra, and legendary

cellist Yo-Yo Ma.3) Know what music reviewers have

said about Aoife: Among ODonovanscritical plaudits, many garnered for her 2010solo EP debut Blue Light, the WashingtonPosthas praised her crystal-clear vocals,theHuffington Postlabeled her exquisite,and AllMusic.com raved about herluminous singing and saintly upper

register.4) Know how to pronounce Aoife: Its

EEF-ah.5) Know how to use her name in a

sentence: Say to a friend, Im going to seethat amazing singer Aoife ODonovan atRozz-Tox on August 22, and Aoife were you,Id join me. And then duck, because yourfriend will no doubt take a swing at you forthat awful joke.

Admission to Aoife ODonovans 8 p.m. all-ages concert is $10, and more information

on the night is available by e-mailing info@

rozztox.com or visiting RozzTox.com.

TheatreNext to Normal

District Theatre

Friday, August 24, through Sunday, September 9

O

ccasionally, Ill recommend an emotionally

wrenching movie or play to friends and familymembers, and invariably, after theyve sobbed theirway through the entertainment, theyll hit me withWhy didnt you tellme Id need tissues for that thing?!Well, the District Theatre is opening Next to Normalon August 24, and while I havent yet seen this musicalon-stage, its Broadway soundtrack is also emotionallywrenching. If you listen to the CD, though, Im hereto tell you that it doesnt require tissues. It requires afreakin squeegee.

Time will tell if director Bryan Tanks District Theatre

production does, too, but the show certainly has allthe makings for a soul-satisfying sob-fest. The winnerof three 2009 Tony Awards and the 2010 PulitzerPrize for Drama it being among only eight musicalsin history to receive Pulitzer recognition Next toNormalemploys rock, power ballads, and lyrically

1) And the World Goes Round

2) Class3) The Grass Is Always Greener

4) Isnt This Better?

5) We Can Make It

6) Maybe This Time

7) Coffee in a Cardboard Cup

A) Chicago

B) Cabaret

C) New York, New York

D) The Rink

E) Funny Lady

F) 70, Girls, 70

G) Woman of the Year

Whats Happenin

Answers:1C,2A,3G,4E,5D,6B,7G.Hmm.Nowthat

Ithinkaboutit,maybeitsthecoffeeinthecardboardcupsthatsmaking

myheartskipthosebeats....


15/28


What ElseIs Happenin


MUSICFriday, August 17, and Saturday,

August 18 River Roots Live. Annual

music festival featuring the outdoor Rib Fest,

educational workshops and presentations,and Better Than Ezra, Tonic, and Keller

Williams with the Travelin McCourys

headlining more than a dozen bands.LeClaire Park (River Drive and Ripley Street,

Davenport). 11 a.m. gates. Free admission to

5 p.m.; $5 after 5 p.m. For information, visitRiverRootsLive.com.

Friday, August 17 Adam T. Tucker

Tribute 2 McGraw. Country artist paystribute to Tim McGraws greatest hits. Quad-

Cities Waterfront Convention Center (1777

Isle Parkway, Bettendorf). 7:30 p.m. $10-15.For information, call (800)724-5825 or visit

Bettendorf.IsleOfCapriCasinos.com.Friday, August 17 Hugh Laurie with

the Copper Bottom Band. Concert with

the musician and star of TVs House and

his ensemble. Englert Theatre (221 EastWashington Street, Iowa City). 8 p.m. $35-45.

For tickets and information, call (319)688-

2653 or visit Englert.org.Saturday, August 18 In the Flesh. Pink

Floyd tribute band performs an all-ages

outdoor show, weather permitting. RockIsland Brewing Company (1815 Second

Avenue, Rock Island). 8:30 p.m. $8. Forinformation, call (309)793-4060 or visitRIBCO.com.

in my

Ebb!turingshow-tunerld Goes

includingcipientlling ituring

tues ofs and

, with the

shows participants including Circa 21 favorites Bret

Churchill, Marc Ciemiewicz, Jennifer Diab, LauraHammes, Brad Hauskins, Andrea Moore, Sara Nicks,Jan Schmall, and Rodney Swain.

Yet how well-versed are you in both Kander & Ebbssong catalogue and show catalogue? Lets find out! Trymatching the famed K&E tunes to the left with themovies or stage musicals in which they appeared.

The World Goes Roundwill be staged inshow-only, 7 p.m. performances on August16, 21, 23, and 30, and information andtickets are available by calling (309)786-7733

or by visiting Circa21.com

MusicTad RobinsonThe Muddy Waters

Friday, August 24, 9 p.m.

haunting refrains to tell its tale of the Goodmans, anupper-middle-class family whose matriarch suffersfrom a steadily worsening bipolar disorder. With herconflicted husband, anxious daughter, and mysteriousson at her side, Mom wrestles with personal demonswhile attempting to secure a normal life, resulting inwhat the New York Times called a brave, breathtakingmusical and a work of muscular grace and power.

With Next to Normals six-person cast featuringDistrict Theatre veterans Sara King, Kelly Lohrenz, SteveLasiter (all pictured, respectively), Tristan Tapscott,Michael Tallon, and James Fairchild, Tanks actors haveabsolutely exquisite material to work with here, andrest assured, not all of that material is grim; Tallon, forinstance, plays a sweetly goofy stoner in the production,and one of my favorite songs in the show is actually apeppy comic number from Act I titled Its Gonna BeGood. Ill grant you, though, that that one isnt quite asstrong as the You Dont Know/I Am the One trio, orthe heartbreaking So Anyway, or the climactic Light,which Im currently listening to ... .

Aw, damn it ... . Wheres my squeegee?Next to Normalruns from August 24 through

September 9, and information and tickets are available bycalling (309)235-1654 or visiting DistrictTheatre.com.

And heres to you, oh Tad Robinson,Blues fans love you more than you will know. (Woh, woh, woh)

Your last CD, Mr. Robinson,Back in Stylemade critics shout Hooray!(Hey, hey, hey ... hey, hey, hey)

Raised in New York City, and a smash in Chicago(Singing with Dave Specter & the Bluebirds),Hes a gifted vocalist on soulful, bluesy fare.Most of all, he blows a mean harmonica.

Coo, coo, ca-choo, Mr. Robinson,Youve a six-album discography. (Hee, hee, hee)We ask you please, Mr. Robinson,

Make some more before we start to cry.(Hi, hi, hi... hi, hi, hi)

Seven nominations from the Blues Music Awards,Rave reviews from Mojoand from DownbeatLaugh about it, shout about it ... what is there to lose?You can now play anywhere you choose!

Where have you gone, Mr. Robinson?Oh, hey the Muddy Waters booked your set! (What a get!)Your fans rejoice, Mr. Robinson!The twenty-fourth of August is the day!

(Hey, hey, hey! Hey, hey, hey!)

Tickets to Dan Robinsons August 24 concert at Bettendorfs TheMuddy Waters are $5, and more information on the night is availableby calling (563)355-0655 or visiting TheMuddyWaters.com.

by Mike Schulz

[email protected]

(Sung to a popular ditty from TheGraduate. Feel free to harmonize.)


16/28


River Roots Live ScheduleFriday, August 175:30 p.m., South Stage: Jason Carl & the Whole Damn Band

6:30 p.m., North Stage: The Low Down

7:30 p.m., South Stage: Maps & Atlases

8:30 p.m., North Stage: The Nighthawks

9:30 p.m., South Stage: Keller Williams with the Travelin

McCourys

11 p.m., North Stage: Family Groove Company

Saturday, August 18

noon, North Stage:Jordan Danielsen

1 p.m., South Stage: Orangadang

2 p.m., North Stage: American Dust

3 p.m., South Stage: Quiet Corral

4 p.m., North Stage:Joe Robinson

5 p.m., South Stage:Julia Nunes

6 p.m., North Stage: Steepwater Band

7 p.m., South Stage: Eric Sardinas

8 p.m., North Stage: Tonic

9:30 p.m., South Stage: Better Than Ezra

11 p.m., North Stage: The Congress

When I interviewed Better ThanEzra singer/songwriter/guitaristKevin Griffin earlier this month, I

asked him whether the groups next album originally conceived as a late-2012 release had been pushed to next year to mark thebands quarter-century milestone.

I had no idea that next year will be the25th anniversary, he said. Oh my God.

He recovered quickly, though:This is the

25th-anniversary release, which will ... beour swan song.

He was kidding about Ezras retirement,saying that it just felt like the thing to say.And the band certainly shows no signs ofquitting at 25 years. The trio is one of theheadliners at this years River Roots Livefestival, it continues to regularly producenew music that connects with fans, andGriffin has built a second career writingsongs for other artists (including Sugarland,

James Blunt, Train, and Debbie Harry) thatkeeps him busy when Ezra isnt.Putting out new music ... , that makes

it worth it for me, he said. If I want towrite songs for Better Than Ezra, I wantthose songs to have the ability to get playedon the radio, and have that whole life thata hit song can have. I have to believe thatthe songs on a Better Than Ezra recordare worthy of that, rather than just being aroad dog and a nostalgia act. At some point weve been around a long time theresgoing to be a bit of nostalgia. I mean, werea 90s band. But I want Ezra to be a vitalthing ... [with] fresh music and inspirationgoing into it.

The groups career has generated its share

of faint praise, with the band and its musicappealing yet somewhat anonymous. (Thelyrics to Extra Ordinary play off this:Still I couldnt get arrested / Though I gotmore hooks / Than Madonna got looks.)

But Better Than Ezra has been unusuallysteady and consistent, with a new studioalbum arriving every two to four years, andall of them since 1993s platinum Deluxecharting in the United States. The bandsrecords have also performed steadily bettersince 1998s How Does Your Garden Grow?,with 2009s Paper Empire reaching a peakchart position of62. From Deluxe

through 2005sBefore the Robots,each albumhas had at leastone chartingsingle althoughtheyve naturallyshifted from thealternative to adultcharts.

Beyond

commercialdurability, BetterThan Ezras powerpop remainssturdy andtimeless. Hits suchas Good and Inthe Blood (bothfrom Deluxe) stillwork surprisinglywell and sharecore strengthswith Paper Empiresongs such asTurn Up the Bright Lights and BlackLight. Its fair to say the band has earned itslongevity.

And Better Than Ezra aims to please,building its shows around hits. Were neverafraid to play the songs people know, butlately weve been getting better at playingdeeper cuts in our catalog, for our fans whosee us a lot, Griffin said. And he promised

at least a few new songs at River Roots Live.So dont be surprised to hear Good,

King of New Orleans, At the Stars,Desperately Wanting, Porcelain, andUnder You in Davenport.

But you shouldnt expect Rosealia orThis Time of Year, Griffin said: Its kindof like a shirt that you loved. At some point... one day you put it on, and nothingschanged with the shirt you took great careof it but the magic is suddenly gone, and

its relegated to the bottom drawer. Andsome songs are that way.

Griffin continues that elusive quest for

MUSIC

Extra OrdinaryBetter Than Ezra, August 18 at River Roots Live

by Jeff Ignatius

[email protected]

Given that Keller Williams albumsfeature one-syllable titles thatroughly describe their contents,

a look at his discography hints at theartists aggressively nomadic nature.Over the past few years alone, theres abluegrass covers album (Thief), family-friendly music (Kids), reggae dub funk

(Bass), and thisyears Pick, a

bluegrass recordwith the Trav-elin McCourys featuring twosons of genrelegend DelMcCoury. AndWilliams is ofcourse knownfor his soloshow, in which

he live-loopsall the parts tobecome his ownband.

Although Ihave not beendiagnosed, Iwould thinktheres anAttentionDeficit Disorderthats in playhere, Williamssaid in a recent

phone interview. And I mean that inthe best possible way. I personally cantjust focus on one genre of music withoutlosing interest. ... Its very easy for me toplay bass and reggae musicwith one group and the nextday play guitar in a bluegrassband. It gives me the mostjoy to be able to do that. Too

much of one thing, it couldbe bad, and I could slip intoa rut where Im just thinkingabout other things on stage.... Once I play solo for manyweeks in a row, Im so readyto play with other people, andvice versa.

Despite keeping his schedule varied,band and solo settings have theirfrustrations. In solo shows, he said, I

think that thought kind of creeps in: Iwish I could playing with other people,communicating without language. Thecamaraderie of bands ... is just incredible,and I often miss that. At the same time,

... [when playing with a band] sometimesI cant reach that level of energy that I canreach with my solo act.

But when Williams performs atRiver Roots Live on August 17 with theTravelin McCourys, neither of thoseshould be an issue. The McCourys is awhole different ballgame, Williams said.Its such a joy for me to be able to playwith them, I dont think Ive ever wanted

to be anywhere else than up on stage withthem at that time.

While Williams has done bluegrassbefore with the Keels, most notably the Travelin McCourys features a fullersound. With the Keels, Williams is partof a trio, playing the mandolin role onguitar and singing distinctive three-partharmonies. That offers more air, morespace than the Travelin McCourys,which adds banjo and fiddle to the mix.

Theyre just incredible musicians,first and foremost, Williams said. Theyhave the unbelievable knowledge of thebluegrass art form. ... Whats really funfor me I think is the harmonies. To beinvolved in a vocal chord that we cancreate. It just gives me chill bumps.

The collaboration started with anafternoon in Nashville to kind of feeleach other out, to see if we played welltogether. ... It was really, really fun, andvery natural. Thats the beautiful thingabout bluegrass. Once you get somepeople together who never met or playedtogether, everyone understands theformula; it can be as if we had rehearsed.There are a lot of songs that were likethat on that first day. It was really kind of

cool.From there they booked shows about

20 so far and they recorded the bulk

ofPick in three days. Its split betweenWilliams songs and his typically oddassortment of covers, from Steve Earle

Keller Williams with the Travelin McCourys, August 17 at River Roots Live

An Element of Surprise

Photo by Rick Olivier

Photo by Casey Flanigan

Continued On Page 18 Continued On Page 18


17/28



18/28


Saturday, August 18 Signal Path.

Acclaimed electronica musicians in concert. The

Redstone Room (129 Main Street, Davenport).10 p.m. $10. For tickets and information, call

(563)326-1333 or visit RiverMusicExperience.org.Saturday, August 18 The Franti Project:

The Music of Michael Franti. Musical tribute to

the American poet and composer performed byPat Willis and his ensemble. Davenport Farmers

Market (421 West River Drive, Davenport). 10

a.m. Donations encouraged. For information,

visit FreightHouseFarmersMarket.com.Saturday, August 18 Here Come the

Mummies. Funk and R&B performed in fullmummy attire. Englert Theatre (221 East

Washington Street, Iowa City). 7 p.m. $31. For

tickets and information, call (319)688-2653 orvisit Englert.org.

Sunday, August 19 The Anthony

Catalfano Quartet. Acclaimed jazz pianistand his ensemble perform and educate in

Polyrhythms Third Sunday Jazz Workshop

& Matine Series. The Redstone Room (129Main Street, Davenport). 3 p.m. all-ages jazz

workshop $5/adults, children free; 6 p.m.

concert $10-15. For tickets and information,call (309)373-0790 or visit Polyrhythms.org or

RiverMusicExperience.org.

Sunday, August 19 Dawes. Acclaimed

rockers of the recent Nothing Is Wrong in concert.

Englert Theatre (221 East Washington Street, Iowa

City). 8 p.m. $16-18. For tickets and information,

call (319)688-2653 or visit Englert.org.

Wednesday, August 22 Mickey Hart

Band. Concert with the ensemble led by theformer Grateful Dead drummer. Englert Theatre

(221 East Washington Street, Iowa City). 8

p.m. $30-32. For tickets and information, call(319)688-2653 or visit Englert.org.

Thursday, August 23 The Nadas. Iowas

acclaimed alt-rock-country band in concert. The

Redstone Room (129 Main Street, Davenport).8 p.m. $12-17. For tickets and information, call

(563)326-1333 or visit RiverMusicExperience.org.

Friday, August 24 The Dawn and Jim the

Mile Double CD Release Show. Americana

musicians in concert, with opening sets by theKerry Tucker Band and Busted Chandeliers. The

Redstone Room (129 Main Street, Davenport).

8 p.m. $10. For tickets and information, call(563)326-1333 or visit RiverMusicExperience.org.

Saturday, August 25 Cheap Trick.

Legendary pop and rock musicians in concert.

Riverside Casino & Golf Resort (3184 Highway

22, Riverside). 8 p.m. $35-55. For tickets

and information, call (877)677-3456 or visitRiversideCasinoAndResort.com.

THEATREThursday, August 16, through Sunday,

August 26 The Curious Savage. John Patricks

comedy about family members fighting fora $10-million inheritance, directed by Don

Hazen. Richmond Hill Barn Theatre (600

Robinson Drive, Geneseo). Thursday-Saturday7:30 p.m., Sunday 3 p.m. $8-10. For tickets

and information, call (309)944-2244 or visitRHPlayers.com.

Thursday, August 16, through Sunday,

August 26 Some Enchanted Evening. Season-

closing Rodgers & Hammerstein revue featuringhighlights from the composers stage-musical

oeuvre. Timber Lake Playhouse (8215 Black Oak

Road, Mt. Carroll). Tuesday-Saturday 7:30 p.m.;Sunday, Wednesday, and August 18 2 p.m. $15-

23. For tickets and information, call (815)244-

2035 or visit TimberLakePlayhouse.org.Friday, August 17, through Saturday,

September 1 Red. John Logans Tony-winning

drama about painter Mark Rothko, directedby Tyson Danner. QC Theatre Workshop (1730

Wilkes Avenue, Davenport). Friday and Saturday

7:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m. doors for artist exhibits.Pay What Its Worth admission price. For

information, visit RedQC.com.Friday, August 17, through Sunday,

August 19 Pearl City Cabaret. The Pearl

City Players present a musical revue featuring

selections from Les Miserables, Ragtime, Songs

for a New World, and other stage hits. Bob RoachLittle Theatre (152 Colorado Street, Muscatine).

Friday and Saturday 7:30 p.m., Sunday 2:30 p.m.

$5-8. For information, e-mail [email protected].

EXHIBITFriday, August 24 Figuratively Speaking.

Opening reception for the visual-art exhibit

running through the fall, featuring works by

Heather Anderson, Steven Andresen, GretchenCleve, Zach Cleve, Emma Farber, Meghan

Hollister, Adam Little, Mike Mendoza, and

Gretchen Stabile. The Phoenix Art Gallery (1530Fifth Avenue, Moline). 6-9 p.m. Free admission.

For information, call (309)762-9202 or visit

AtThePhoenix.com.

SPORTSSaturday, August 25 MMA Extreme

Challenge. Competitions featuring amateur

and professional mixed-martial-arts fighters.Quad-Cities Waterfront Convention Center(1777 Isle Parkway, Bettendorf). 7 p.m. $25-35.

For information, call (800)724-5825 or visit

Bettendorf.IsleOfCapriCasinos.com.

EVENTSSaturday, August 18 2012 Floatzilla.

River Action hosts the Quad Cities third-annualpaddle-sports festival, culminating with a

Guinness World Record attempt at the largest

flotilla of kayaks and canoes. Sunset Parks LakePotter (31st Avenue and Route 92, Rock Island).

8 a.m. launch start, 2 p.m. world-record attempt.

$10-20 registration, free for spectators. Forinformation, call (563)322-2969 or visit Floatzilla.

org.Friday, August 24, and Saturday, August

25 Bottoms Up Burlesque Caribbean Show.

A Caribbean celebration with area burlesque

dancers and comedians. Circa 21 Speakeasy

(1818 Third Avenue, Rock Island). 8 p.m. $15-18.

For tickets and information, call (309)786-7733extension 2 or visit Circa21.com.

Friday, August 24, through Sunday,

August 26 Princeton Days Festival. Annualcelebration featuring the lighted boat parade,vendors, childrens activities, and more.Downtown Princeton, Iowa. Free admission.For information, visit PrincetonDays.PrincetonIowa.us.

Saturday, August 25 River City Beer

Festiv-ale. Third-annual outdoor eventfeaturing samplings of dozens of premium

brews and specialty beers. Rock Island BrewingCompany (1815 Second Avenue, Rock Island).

2-6 p.m. $20. For information, call (309)793-

1933 or visit RIBCO.com.Saturday, August 25 Evening of Extreme

Fun: Steve Lane Benefit. Fundraiser for Quad

Citian recently diagnosed with small-cell lungcancer, featuring a 50/50 raffle, auction, karaoke,

food, door prizes, gift baskets, and more.

V.F.W. 1303 (3715 Ninth Street, Rock Island). 4p.m. Donations encouraged. For information,

call (309)373-5289 or (309)788-7585, or visit

Support2Lanes.com.Sunday, August 26 QC Ride for the

Cure. Annual fundraiser for Susan G. Komen

Quad Cities, with vehicles stopping at multiplesites, a silent auction, a 50/50 drawing, and

more. Milan Community Center (2701 First

Street East, Milan). 9-11 a.m. registration,with the last vehicle in by 4:30 p.m. $15-20/

vehicle, $5-10/passenger. For information, visit

QCRideForTheCure.org.

Sunday, August 26 QC Phoenix Festival.

Second-annual fundraiser to raise awarenessabout domestic violence, themed Still IRise, featuring musical performances, artexhibits, presentations, and more. SchwiebertRiverfront Park (along the Mississippi Riverbetween 17th and 20th streets, Rock Island).For information, call (309)292-6380 or visitQCPhoenixFestival.com.

Continued From Page 15

What Else Is Happenin

MUSIC

Extra Ordinaryby Jeff Ignatius

[email protected]


magic songs, and he said he still doesnthave a recipe after all this time. If I knewhow to always get that, then wed be U2,he said. Playing a song live is the bestlitmus test ... . Now whether its going tostand the test of time, you dont know. Butinstant likability is always a good sign.

Most things he writes, he said, aresimple songs: Simple and weightyand brilliant are not mutually exclusivethings. ... Trying to distill what youretrying to convey is always a challenge

but ultimately the best way to serve thesong.

Better Than Ezra will perform at 9:30p.m. on Saturday, August 18, on RiverRoots Lives south stage. The event takesplace in Davenports LeClaire Park, and

admission after 5 p.m. is $5. For moreinformation, visit RiverRootsLive.com.

For more information on Better ThanEzra, visit BetterThanEzra.com.

to Jessie J to My Morning Jacket. The

intense, dexterous instrumental break

on his own Mullet Cut gives the

inherently goofy song an urgency and

seriousness thats a bit incongruous,

positioning virtuoso musicianship

against good humor without

compromising either.Williams said audiences can expect a

healthy serving from the record at River

Roots Live, and also some new covers

although he declined to say what they

might be: Im operating on the element

of surprise.

Keller Williams will perform at 9:30

p.m. on Friday, August 17, on River

Roots Lives south stage. The event takes

place in Davenports LeClaire Park, and

admission after 5 p.m. is $5. For moreinformation, visit RiverRootsLive.com.

For more information on Keller Williams,

visit KellerWilliams.net.

An Element of Surprise

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HOPE SPRINGSMeryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones, in

Hope Springs, portray a Midwestern couplewhose 31-year marital rut has made itdifficult for them to even be in the same roomtogether, making the stars characters twoof the only people on Earth who wouldntwant to spend all day, every day, with MerylStreep or Tommy Lee Jones. I have a fewproblems with director David Frankelsdramatic comedy, most of them concerningFrankels direction of it; he peppers the score,

and impedes the momentum, with toomany easy-listening ballads despite lovingAnnie Lennoxs Why, I didnt really needto hear the entire song here and visually,the movie is terribly static. (Much of ourtime is spent in couples-counseling sessionsled by a fine, serious Steve Carell, but as wasproved especially well on HBOs In Treatment,on-screen therapy neednt be presentationallytedious.) But I wouldve happily enduredmuch worse for the chance to see Streep and

Jones, in their first cinematic pairing, playoff one another with the relaxed, confidentaplomb they demonstrate in Hope Springs.From literally their first moments in view,with Streeps Kay nervously preparing herself

MOVIES

The Running Men

by Mike Schulz

[email protected]


for sex while Jones Arnold absently reads a

golfing magazine, the audience is alert to theactors subtle comic genius; every one of Jonesgrouchy-tightwad grumblings scores a laugh,and when Kay is asked if she prefers giving orreceiving oral pleasure, Streep brings downthe house with a perfectly sincere, perfectlytimed Huh? Yet theres also legitimate painbehind Kays and Arnolds struggles, andVanessa Taylors beauty of a script grantsthe stars ample opportunities to stretchtheir dramatic muscles through a series

of anguished, revealing conversations andsilent glances that give the chuckles deeperresonance. In a rather unusual reversal fromthe norm, Hope Springs is a film with weakdirection but a first-rate script. It also hasMeryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones. Thatsthe highest nine-word recommendation Ithink Ive ever written.

For reviews ofTotal Recall, Diary of aWimpy Kid: Dog Days, Nitro Circus: TheMovie, and other current releases, visitRiverCitiesReader.com.

Follow Mike on Twitter at Twitter.com/

MikeSchulzNow. 2012 Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc. Must be 21 to enter the casino. Management reserves all rights.Gambling a problem? There is help. And hope. Call 1-800-BETS-OFF. www.theislebettendorf.com

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Ri Citi R d V l 19 N 811 A t 16 29 201220 B i P liti A t C lt N Y K Ri Citi R d


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Another sculpture by Gene Horvathhas also been moved. Invitation wasinstalled in 1982 at the entrance to theFirst National Bank of the Quad Citiesin downtown Rock Island for the banks130th anniversary. (See RCReader.

com/y/horvath.) In 2011, the sculpturewas given as a gift to the city when thebank buildings current owner, ModernWoodmen of America, made plans forexterior improvements. The sculptureis now located on Fourth Avenue near17th Street only a few blocks awayfrom its original location.

When viewed from an approach tothe banks entrance, the sweep of thesculptures arc was emphasized. At its

current location on a one-way street,it will be seen primarily from an anglethat highlights its openness. Its presentplacement in a flowerbed amid treesseems to bring out an organic, almosttree-like form in the sculpture.

Sol LeWitts Towerwas installed nearthe entrance to the RiverCenter at 136East Third Street in Davenport in 1984.

Twenty years later, it was moved to theFigge Art Museum plaza. Althoughspecifically designed for its originalsite, the 21-foot-tall sculpture is better-suited to its new location because of thespaciousness of the plaza and the works

visual consistency with the minimalistarchitectural style of the museum. (SeeRCReader.com/y/lewitt.)

Since 1954, the granite sculpture ofBlack Hawk by David Richards hasgazed over the Rock River from a high

ridge at the Black Hawk State HistoricSite. The location of the sculpturenear the site of Black Hawks village,Saukenauk, is so appropriate andpoignant that its surprising to learn thatthe sculpture was first in downtownRock Island, on Second Avenue, formore than 60 years. (See RCReader.com/y/blackhawk.) The sculpture wasmoved from Spencer Square when theRock Island post office was built on the

site.Two elegant

sculptures oflions, originallypurchasedby FrederickWeyerheuserin 1889-90, werealso moved fromSpencer Square in1954. They were

placed near thesouth entrance toLongview Park.After 120 years,they were crackedand physicallydeteriorating. Inthe past few years,they have been replaced with new lionstatues.

For decades, the grave of Charles H.Deere (1837-1907) in Molines RiversideCemetery was marked by a large crossand a cast-metal sculpture of a womanapproximately seven feet in height. Thecross remains, but the sculpture wasremoved by the family in the 1970s afterit became a target of vandalism andthe subject of spooky stories about ablack angel. In one story, a womans hairturned white after spending the nightwith the statue. In another, a dead boywas found in the sculptures arms.

The woman is now at the entranceto the Mandala Center in New Mexicoon the Sierra Grande Mountain.Anna Hewitt Wolfe, great-great-greatgranddaughter of John Deere, founded

the retreat center.The sculpture is usually describedas an angel, yet there are no wings orovert angelic symbols. Through hergentle gesture and facial expression, thewoman expresses a sense of serenity.One hand holds a wreath (a traditionalsymbol of victory) and the other holdsgrapes (a symbol of the Eucharist).Removed from a cemetery and far fromthe urban legends about a black angel, itis hard to envision this sculpture in anyother environment.

A Happy EndingIn 1976, thieves stole a 1905 Tiffany

stained-glass window from theDenkmann mausoleum in Rock IslandsChippiannock Cemetery.

Measuring 40 by 50 inches, thewindow was visible from outside of themausoleum, its rich colors iridescent

and radiant. Titled The River of Life, it isa bountiful imagewith flowers infull bloom and agolden river gentlywinding throughthe landscape.Partly because ofour associationof stained-glasswindows with

religion and itslocation in acemetery, it isimbued with aspiritual quality.

The search forthe stolen windowby the cemetery

superintendent, Greg Vogele, paidoff after two decades when a Floridamuseum that specialized in Tiffanysinformed him that it had received aflyer advertising the stolen artwork.Working with the FBI, the window wasrecovered from a residence in Jamaica,New York. The window was finallyreturned to the Denkmann familyin 1997 and was restored. It is nowon permanent loan to the Figge ArtMuseum and displayed prominentlyin the museums permanent-collectiongallery on the second floor.

Whats LostWhen I looked at the old photo of

downtown Davenport, I realized thatthe familiar landmarks rather than

the location itself create a sense ofplace and character. The Gateway Archimmediately identifies St. Louis. TheStatue of Liberty is synonymous withNew York. My immediate image of RockIsland is the towering mural of BlackHawk. These iconic public artworkstell us of the aspirations, ideals, andself-identity of these cities, as do moremodest examples.

Those things are lost when a piece ofart is removed or destroyed.

And when public art is preservedbut moved, a new setting can eitherdiminish or improve it, becauseartworks in public spaces are seen inrelation to their environment, not inisolation.

The statue of Black Hawk is allthe more meaningful because of its

Documents

River Cities' Reader - Issue 811 - August - 16 - 29