Travel

May052010

2010 Semi-Annual Midwestern Concert Bonanza!

It’s that time again! Here it goes:

Iowa City:
Sat 05/15/10 – Henry Rollins – Capitol Theatre (Davenport)
Sun 05/16/10 – Barenaked Ladies – RiverCenter / Adler Theatre (Davenport)
Fri 05/21/10 – The Tallest Man On Earth – The Mill
Sat 06/12/10 – The Mountain Goats – Blue Moose Tap House
Sat 06/12/10 – These United States – The Mill
Sat 09/18/10 – Janis Ian – City Park

Des Moines:
Sun 06/06/10 – Marcy Playground – House Of Bricks
Sat 07/03/10 – “80/35 Festival” – Western Gateway Park (Spoon, Will Whitmore, Modest Mouse, The Walkmen, and more)
Sun 08/08/10 – The Black Keys – Val Air Ballroom (West Des Moines)
Sun 08/15/10 – “Iowa State Fair” – Iowa State Fairgrounds Grandstand (VANILLA ICE!)
Sun 10/10/10 – Willie Nelson – 7 Flags Event Center (Clive)

Madison:
Fri 06/11/10 – These United States – Memorial Union Terrace @ UW
Sat 06/19/10 – CocoRosie – Barrymore Theatre
Wed 07/14/10 – Simon & Garfunkel – Kohl Center Arena
Fri 10/22/10 – Arlo Guthrie – Monroe High School (Monroe)

Omaha:
Thu 05/06/10 – 30 Seconds To Mars – Sokol Auditorium / Underground
Tue 05/11/10 – Matt Pond PA – Slowdown
Sat 05/15/10 – Mastodon – Sokol Auditorium / Underground
Mon 05/17/10 – Mono – The Waiting Room
Sun 05/23/10 – Less Talk More Polka – Duffy’s Tavern (Lincoln)
Thu 05/27/10 – Insane Clown Posse – Westfair Amphitheatre (Council Bluffs)
Sun 05/30/10 – Earth, Wind & Fire – Harrah’s Casino – Stir Concert Cove (Council Bluffs)
Sat 06/05/10 – Damien Jurado – Bourbon Theatre (Lincoln)
Mon 06/07/10 – Blitzen Trapper – Slowdown
Sun 06/13/10 – The Mountain Goats – Slowdown
Sun 06/13/10 – The Psychedelic Furs – The Waiting Room
Fri 06/25/10 – Mates of State – Slowdown
Sat 06/26/10 – Henry Rollins – Sokol Auditorium / Underground
Tue 07/06/10 – The Hold Steady – Slowdown
Sat 07/24/10 – “Maha Music Festival” (Old 97s, Spoon, Superchunk, The Faint) – Lewis And Clark Landing
Sun 08/01/10 – Al Green – Harrah’s Casino – Stir Concert Cove (Council Bluffs)
Wed 08/04/10 – Better Than Ezra – Horseshoe Casino / Whiskey Roadhouse (Council Bluffs)
Mon 08/09/10 – Gogol Bordello & Primus – Harrah’s Casino – Stir Concert Cove (Council Bluffs)
Sat 08/28/10 – The Black Crowes – Harrah’s Casino – Stir Concert Cove (Council Bluffs)
Sat 10/09/10 – The Flying Karamazov Brothers – Lied Center (Lincoln)
Fri 05/20/11 – Vienna Teng – Holland Performing Arts Center

Chicago:
Sat 05/08/10 – Joel McHale – Chicago Theatre
Tue 05/18/10 – Them Crooked Vultures – Aragon Ballroom
Wed 05/19/10 – Conan O’Brien – Chicago Theatre
Fri 05/21/10 – Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings – Vic Theatre
Sun 05/23/10 – Imogen Heap – Riviera Theatre
Tue 05/25/10 – Jill Scott – United Center
Thu 05/27/10 – Toots & The Maytals – House Of Blues
Sat 05/29/10 – Smoking Popes – Lincoln Hall
Sun 05/30/10 – Brian Jonestown Massacre – Metro / Smart Bar
Wed 06/02/10 – Erykah Badu – Chicago Theatre
Wed 06/02/10 – Gwar – Durty Nellie’s (Palatine)
Fri 06/04/10 – New Kids On The Block – The Venue at Horseshoe Casino (Hammond)
Mon 06/07/10 – She & Him – Millennium Park
Tue 06/08/10 – Matt Pond PA – Lincoln Hall
Wed 06/09/10 – Damien Jurado – Schubas Tavern
Thu 06/10/10 – George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic – The Cubby Bear
Fri 06/11/10 – Phish – Toyota Park (Bridgeview)
Fri 06/11/10 – The Psychedelic Furs – Metro / Smart Bar
Sat 06/12/10 – Concrete Blonde – Vic Theatre
Tue 06/15/10 – Cute Is What We Aim For – Reggies Rock Club
Fri 06/18/10 – CocoRosie – Metro / Smart Bar
Fri 06/18/10 – Wreckless Eric & Amy Rigby – Schubas Tavern
Mon 06/21/10 – The Books – Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Tue 06/22/10 – Mates of State – Lincoln Hall
Fri 06/25/10 – Mason Jennings – Lincoln Hall
Mon 06/28/10 – Mirah – Lincoln Hall
Fri 07/09/10 – “Weird Al” Yankovic – Star Plaza Theatre (Merrillville)
Fri 07/16/10 – Old 97’s – Navy Pier
Sat 07/24/10 – Built To Spill – First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre (Tinley Park)
Sat 07/31/10 – Al Green – The Venue at Horseshoe Casino (Hammond)
Wed 08/18/10 – Blondie – The Venue at Horseshoe Casino (Hammond)
Wed 08/18/10 – “Honda Civic Tour” (New Found Glory, Paramore, Tegan and Sara) – Charter One Pavilion @ Northerly Island
Sat 09/25/10 – Bill Cosby – Hemmens Cultural Center (Elgin)
Tue 10/05/10 – Willie Nelson – Rialto Square Theatre (Joliet)

Minneapolis:
Thu 05/06/10 – Low – Varsity Theater
Fri 05/07/10 – Joel McHale – Mystic Lake Casino (Prior Lake)
Fri 05/14/10 – Henry Rollins – Pantages Theatre
Mon 05/17/10 – Barenaked Ladies – The Orpheum Theatre
Tue 05/18/10 – Conan O’Brien – The Orpheum Theatre
Tue 05/25/10 – Toots & The Maytals – First Avenue
Fri 05/28/10 – Brian Jonestown Massacre – The Cabooze
Sat 06/05/10 – She & Him – First Avenue
Tue 06/08/10 – Local H – The Rock (Maplewood)
Wed 06/09/10 – Matt Pond PA – 7th Street Entry
Fri 06/11/10 – The New Pornographers – First Avenue
Sat 06/12/10 – The Psychedelic Furs – First Avenue
Sat 06/19/10 – Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings (with MGMT and OK Go) – Walker Arts Center
Sat 06/26/10 – Ween – The Roy Wilkins Auditorium (Saint Paul)
Thu 07/01/10 – Mirah – Cedar Cultural Center
Thu 07/01/10 – Tool – Xcel Energy Center (Saint Paul)
Sat 07/03/10 – The Hold Steady – The Cabooze
Tue 07/13/10 – Joan Baez – Minnesota Zoo Amphitheater (Apple Valley)
Wed 07/14/10 – Modest Mouse – The Orpheum Theatre
Sun 07/18/10 – Wolf Parade – First Avenue
Sun 08/15/10 – The Black Crowes – Minnesota Zoo Amphitheater (Apple Valley)
Sat 08/21/10 – Blondie – Treasure Island Resort & Casino (Red Wing)
Mon 08/30/10 – Lady Gaga – Xcel Energy Center (Saint Paul)
Sun 09/12/10 – Pavement – The Roy Wilkins Auditorium (Saint Paul)
Fri 10/08/10 – Willie Nelson – Mystic Lake Casino (Prior Lake)
Sat 01/08/11 – The Flying Karamazov Brothers – Orchestra Hall

St. Louis:
Tue 05/11/10 – The Forecast – Firebird
Wed 05/12/10 – Reverend Horton Heat – Old Rock House
Wed 06/09/10 – Erykah Badu – Fabulous Fox Theatre
Fri 06/11/10 – Brian Jonestown Massacre – Off Broadway Nightclub
Mon 06/21/10 – Blitzen Trapper – Off Broadway Nightclub
Wed 06/23/10 – Passion Pit – The Pageant
Mon 06/28/10 – The New Pornographers – The Pageant
Thu 07/01/10 – Henry Rollins – The Pageant
Mon 07/12/10 – “Weird Al” Yankovic – The Family Arena (Saint Charles)
Sat 07/17/10 – Lady Gaga – Scottrade Center
Fri 08/06/10 – Gogol Bordello – The Pageant
Sat 08/28/10 – George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic – Chaifetz Arena

Music Festivals:
Pitchfork (Chicago)
Lollapalooza (Chicago)
LouFest (St. Louis)
Lilith Fair (Chicago/Minneapolis/St. Louis)
Soundset (Minneapolis)
Warped Tour (Chicago, Minneapolis, St. Louis)

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Mar042010

30 Before Thirty!

I’ll be turning 30 years old on July 12, 2010, and I decided to partake in the project where you make a list of thirty things you want to accomplish before your 30th birthday. I don’t have long to go, but I’m hoping I can polish off everything on this list by making the items reasonable:

  1. Hang curtains (whether store-bought or handmade) in every window of the house, and get rid of every shred of miniblinds that have been haunting my windows and my dreams since we moved in.
  2. Install hardwood flooring throughout the main floor of the house (!!!).
  3. Pay off my credit card.
  4. Brew a batch of stout beer.
  5. Plan and start saving for an autumn vacation in Vancouver/Seattle.
  6. Grow delicious foods from heirloom seeds from Baker Creek, including a healing herb garden.
  7. Get a really great haircut from my bestie JoAnn at G Spot Hair Design, one that is an actual hairdo rather than something I pull back into a bun everyday.
  8. Get new glasses and contacts.
  9. Paint every room in the house something other than “Ultra White”.
  10. Scan all of our photos and organize them somewhere online.
  11. Update my Iowa City tumblr at least once a week.
  12. Continue my weight loss/fitness streak. Weight Watchers is working!
  13. Throw a May Day party.
  14. Organize and clean the basement.
  15. Try sewing another purse.
  16. Bake the perfect Blondie.
  17. Finish watching the whole Arrested Development series (we’re on an extended hiatus, mid-season 2).
  18. Create monthly music mixes without missing a month.
  19. Try making homemade ketchup.
  20. Build a pergola on the patio to continue cultivating an awesome backyard oasis.
  21. Finally part with (donate) the ugly fleece that’s clogging up my fabric stash.
  22. Go scooter camping in Palisades.
  23. Buy a bike helmet so I can safely ride all over town.
  24. Start really using the calendar/scheduling app on my iPhone to help keep my life more organized.
  25. Try raw milk.
  26. Mail goodies to my faraway friends.
  27. Build a respectable cocktail station.
  28. Start a food blog with aforementioned JoAnn.
  29. Make a batch of Navratan curry.
  30. Throw a fabulous 30th birthday party on my patio.
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Jan192009

Semi-Annual Concert Bonanza

Iowa City:
Sun 01/25/09 Willy Porter  The Mill
Sat 02/14/09 Marah  The Picador
Fri 02/20/09 Mason Jennings  The Englert Civic Theatre
Sat 02/21/09 William Elliott Whitmore  The Picador
Sun 02/22/09 William Elliott Whitmore  The Picador
Tue 03/03/09 Duncan Sheik  CSPS / Legion Arts
Tue 03/17/09 Bonnie “Prince” Billy  The Picador
Thu 03/26/09 Squirrel Nut Zippers  Redstone Room (Davenport)
Tue 04/07/09 The Hold Steady  The Picador

Des Moines/Ames:
Wed 02/04/09 tapes ‘n tapes  The Maintenance Shop
Sat 02/28/09 Andrew Bird  Hoyt Sherman Place
Mon 03/16/09 Bonnie “Prince” Billy  Vaudeville Mews
Fri 03/27/09 “The Harlem Globetrotters”  Wells Fargo Arena
Wed 04/22/09 New Found Glory  People’s

Omaha:
Fri 01/23/09 Cursive  Slowdown
Sat 01/24/09 Cursive  Slowdown
Fri 01/30/09 Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin  Box Awesome
Thu 02/12/09 Peking Acrobats  Orpheum Theater
Mon 02/16/09 Marah  The Waiting Room
Fri 02/27/09 Andrew Bird  Slowdown

Chicago:
Tue 01/20/09 The Killers  UIC Pavilion
Thu 01/22/09 Animal Collective  Metro / Smart Bar
Thu 01/29/09 Vic Chesnutt/Elf Power  Empty Bottle
Sat 01/31/09 Gene Ween  Schubas Tavern
Fri 02/06/09 Sybris  Schubas Tavern
Fri 02/06/09 Rhett Miller  FitzGerald’s
Thu 02/12/09 Fujiya & Miyagi  The Bottom Lounge
Thu 02/12/09 Antony & The Johnsons  Vic Theatre
Sat 02/21/09 Smoking Popes  The Cubby Bear
Sun 02/22/09 Juana Molina  Morse Theater
Sat 02/28/09 Dropkick Murphys  Congress Theater
Sat 03/07/09 tapes ‘n tapes  Metro / Smart Bar
Sat 03/07/09 John Prine  Genesee Theatre
Sat 03/14/09 Bonnie “Prince” Billy  Vic Theatre
Tue 03/17/09 Flogging Molly  Congress Theater
Sat 03/21/09 “The Oddity Faire: A Mutated Mini Fest” (DeVotchka, Les Claypool)  Riviera Theatre
Sat 03/28/09 Bloc Party  Riviera Theatre
Wed 04/01/09 “Speaker Series” – Al Gore  Chicago Theatre
Sat 04/04/09 Morrissey  Aragon Ballroom
Fri 04/10/09 Andrew Bird  Civic Opera House
Fri 04/17/09 Vienna Teng  Schubas Tavern
Thu 04/23/09 David Sedaris  Paramount Theatre
Sat 05/02/09 Joel McHale  The Venue at Horseshoe Casino
Sun 05/03/09 The Books  Museum of Contemporary Art
Sun 05/24/09 Boyz II Men  Private Function
Sat 06/20/09 Matthew Sweet  Naper Settlement

Minneapolis:
Fri 02/06/09 tapes ‘n tapes  First Avenue
Sun 02/08/09 Rhett Miller  Fine Line Music Cafe
Wed 02/11/09 Fujiya & Miyagi  7th Street Entry
Sat 02/14/09 Antony & The Johnsons  Pantages Theatre
Mon 02/23/09 Flogging Molly  Myth
Sun 03/01/09 Dropkick Murphys  Myth
Thu 03/19/09 Bonnie “Prince” Billy  McGuire Theater
Thu 03/19/09 “The Oddity Faire: A Mutated Mini Fest” (DeVotchka, Les Claypool)  Myth
Tue 03/24/09 Squirrel Nut Zippers  Varsity Theater
Mon 03/30/09 Bloc Party  First Avenue
Sat 04/04/09 Margaret Cho  Treasure Island Event Center
Mon 04/06/09 Morrissey  The State Theatre
Fri 04/10/09 Art Garfunkel  Orchestra Hall
Sat 04/11/09 “The Harlem Globetrotters”  Target Center
Sat 04/11/09 Andrew Bird  The State Theatre
Thu 08/06/09 The Guess Who  Private Function

Kansas City, MO:
Thu 01/29/09 Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin  Jackpot Music Hall
Mon 02/02/09 tapes ‘n tapes  Jackpot Music Hall
Thu 02/12/09 G. Love & Special Sauce  Harrah’s North Kansas City
Fri 02/13/09 Joel McHale  Uptown Theater
Sat 02/14/09 B.B. King  Midland Theatre
Tue 02/17/09 Marah  The Record Bar
Sat 02/21/09 Rufus Wainwright  Uptown Theater
Tue 02/24/09 Flogging Molly  Uptown Theater
Fri 02/27/09 Ryan Adams  Uptown Theater
Mon 03/16/09 Andrew Bird  Liberty Hall
Mon 03/16/09 “The Oddity Faire: A Mutated Mini Fest” (DeVotchka, Les Claypool)  Beaumont Club
Tue 03/17/09 Joan Baez  Liberty Hall
Tue 04/07/09 Morrissey  Midland Theatre
Tue 04/07/09 Bonnie “Prince” Billy  Granada Theatre
Wed 04/29/09 Reverend Horton Heat  The Bottleneck
Sat 05/02/09 The Killers  Capitol Federal Park At Sandstone
Fri 07/24/09 Reverend Horton Heat  The Crossroads
Sun 10/11/09 Lewis Black  Ameristar Hotel & Casino

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Jan152008

Semi-Annual Concert Bonanza!

Okay, lovelies. Here’s what’s coming up within the next few months around the midwest:
(and keep in mind that I’ve been out of new indie for a few months, so I might have missed a bunch)

Iowa City
1/30 – G Love and the Special Sauce – IMU
2/08 – Willy Porter – The Mill
3/28 – Cowboy Junkies – Englert
4/04 – Cursive – The Mill
5/05 – Randy Newman – Englert

Omaha
1/16 – Reverend Horton Heat/Nashville Pussy – Sokol Underground
2/09 – Daniel Johnston – Slowdown
3/01 – They Might Be Giants – Sokol Underground
3/08 – Tilly and the Wall – The Waiting Room
3/15 – Jonathan Richman – The Waiting Room
3/20 – Jose Gonzalez – Sokol Underground
4/02 – Nada Surf – The Waiting Room
4/08 – Why? – The Waiting Room
4/10 – The Black Keys – Slowdown
6/27 – Willie Nelson – Harrah’s Convention Center

Chicago
1/16 – John Vanderslice – Schubas Tavern
1/19 – Talib Kweli – House of Blues
1/20 – The Walkmen – Schubas Tavern
1/23 – Cornelius – Metro
1/25 – Supersuckers – Brauerhouse Bar
1/25 – Marah/Hot Hot Heat – Vic Theatre
1/26 – Girl Talk – Metro
1/30 – The Go-Go’s – House of Blues
1/31 – Todd Rundgren – Park West
2/01 – DJ Shadow/Cut Chemist/Kid Koala – Park West
2/01 – Mute Math/Alanis Morissette – Sears Centre
2/08 – Iris DeMent/John Prine – Chicago Theatre
2/10 – Cat Power & Dirty Delta Blues – Vic Theatre
2/15-16 – Flogging Molly/Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band – House of Blues
2/15-20 – Wilco – Riviera Theatre
2/15 – Spice Girls – United Center (who’s with me?)
2/23 – New York Dolls – Double Door
2/27 – HorrorPops – Metro
2/29 – Sia – Metro
2/29 – John Corbett – Rialto Square Theatre (I don’t care if it’s country, it’s AIDAN!)
3/01 – PM Dawn – Double Vision (HAHAHAHAHAHA)
3/05-06 – The Pogues – Riviera Theatre
3/14-16 – The Magnetic Fields – Old Town School of Folk Music
3/15 – Xiu Xiu – Reggie’s Live
3/18 – The Raveonettes – Double Door
3/21 – John Vanderslice/Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks
3/22 – Les Claypool – Vic Theatre
3/29 – Electric Six – Double Door
4/04 – Nada Surf – Metro
4/12 – The Black Keys – Riviera Theatre
4/17 – Hot Chip – Vic Theatre
4/18 – Reverend Horton Heat/Nashville Pussy/Backyard Tire Fire
5/17 – The Cure – Allstate Arena
6/20 – Willie Nelson – Ravinia Festival

Minneapolis
1/26 – Marah – The 400 Bar
1/30 – Hot Hot Heat – Fine Line Music Cafe
2/04 – DJ Shadow/Cut Chemist/Kid Koala – First Avenue
2/11 – Cat Power & Dirty Delta Blues – First Avenue
2/24 – New York Dolls – Fine Line Music Cafe
2/26 – Sia – Fine Line Music Cafe
2/28 – The Hives – First Avenue
3/14 – Xiu Xiu – Triple Rock Social Club
3/19 – John Vanderslice/Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks – First Avenue
4/03 – Nada Surf – First Avenue
4/11 – The Black Keys – First Avenue
4/20 – Reverend Horton Heat/Nashville Pussy/Backyard Tire Fire – First Avenue

Madison, WI
1/19 – The Walkmen – High Noon Saloon
1/29 – Hot Hot Heat – Majestic Theatre
2/09 – Willy Porter – Thrasher’s Opera House
2/09 – Iris DeMent/John Prine – Young Auditorium
2/29 – They Might Be Giants – Barrymore Theatre
4/03 – Cursive – University of Wisconsin
4/21 – Reverend Horton Heat/Nashville Pussy/Backyard Tire Fire
6/22 – Willie Nelson – Crystal Grand Music Theatre

Maybe sometime soon I’ll get around to making up my list of movies to see. Here’s hoping!

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Dec072007

Travel? Yes, please!

I’m going to try to plan a trip for next year. I get itchy feet every so often, and whereas that has usually resulted in a move (or has been satisfied by a move, such as when I was a kid), I think it’s safe to try to quell the feeling by simply getting away from my everyday life.

So! What do I want? This:

  • Fly away on a plane
  • Needs to last more than 3 days(can include the weekend, of course)
  • Somewhere I’ve never been before
  • Preferably Europe, but it’ll really depend on cost of travel

Any ideas? I’ll take them all!

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