River Cities' Reader - Issue 898 - December 24, 2015

CenterStage Craft
River Cities Reader Vol. 23 No. 898 Dec. 24, 2015 - Jan. 6, 2016
Business Politics Arts Culture Now You Know RiverCitiesReader.com
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GUEST COMMENTARY
by Thomas L. Knapp
Millennials: Lets You and Them Fight
n October/November survey
by the Harvard Institute of
Politics and covering the midsection (adults between 18 and 29) of
the millennial demographic found
that after the November terror attacks
in France (but before the December 2
attack in San Bernardino), that demographics support for deployment of
U.S. ground troops against the Islamic
State in Iraq & Syria jumped from 47
percent to 60 percent. (See RCReader.
com/y/poll.)
But when asked a followup question
If the United States needed
additional troops to combat the
Islamic State, how likely would you
be to serve? 85 percent responded
probably wont join or wont join.
Assuming that all or nearly all of the
40 percent who oppose a ground war
answered probably not or heck no,
it follows that the other 45 percent
who answered that way support
the idea as long as it doesnt involve
actually putting on uniforms, picking
this survey who support the idea of a

up rifles, and placing their own lives
war enthusiastically enough to send
on the line.
Im a war veteran myself, but I dont others off to potentially die or return
minus limbs or with
count myself among
traumatic brain
the if you havent
I wish I could get
injuries, but not
served or wont serve,
enough to risk those
youre not entitled to
inside the heads of
things themselves.
an opinion crowd.
As the late
Everyones entitled
the three-quarters of
economist Milton
to an opinion. Even
military-age people
Friedman pointed
those who dont
out, incentives
actually do the heavy
in this survey who
change depending
lifting pick up some
on whose money
of the costs. They pay
support the idea of a
youre spending,
taxes. They support
war enthusiastically
and on whom. If
loved ones in uniform.
spending
And the risk of
enough to send others youre
your own money on
personal harm from
yourself, you have
blowback la 9/11
off to potentially die.
a great incentive to
and San Bernardino,
get value for price.
while minimal so far,
If youre spending
is real.
On the other hand, that differential/ other peoples money on yourself, that
incentive lessens and a little more
overlap bugs me. I wish I could
so if youre spending your money on
get inside the heads of the threesomeone else. But if youre spending
quarters of military-age people in
other peoples money on other people,

the incentive pretty much disappears.
Why should you care? Youre neither
paying the price nor gaining the
benefit.
In this situation, whats being spent
by those who support a war but dont
plan to enlist is not money, but lives
the lives of other people (U.S. troops)
to be sacrificed for other people
(Iraqis and Syrians).
Theyre entitled to their opinions.
But given the incentives, Im not
inclined to give those opinions
too much weight. Im a little older
than the millennials. Ive seen this
movie before. In fact, I was one of
the thousands of extras. Im against
another remake.
Thomas L. Knapp is director
and senior news analyst at the
William Lloyd Garrison Center for
Libertarian Advocacy Journalism
(TheGarrisonCenter.org), where this
commentary originally appeared.
ILLINOIS POLITICS

by Rich Miller
CapitolFax.com
Competition on Ballot Makes

Compromise Less Likely
The Illinois Republican Party compounded

ne of the realities of Illinois legislative
politics is that our states system tends the problem recently by blasting Bradley
and Representative Brandon Phelps
to discourage competition.
(D-Harrisburg) for standing with Illinois
Byzantine ballot-access laws, a highly
House Speaker Michael Madigan (whom the
partisan legislative-district map-drawing
Republicans now refer to as #TaxHikeMike)
process, heavily concentrated populations of
against taxpayers.
partisan voters in Chicago (Democrats) and
The Republican Party accuses Madigan,
in the collar counties and
and by extension Bradley
Downstate (Republicans),
and often-tireless work by
Legislators who arent and Phelps and others,
of publicly favoring a
incumbents and political
parties at the state and local accustomed to challenges return to the 5-percent
state income tax. They
levels to reduce opposition
may not be willing to conveniently forget that
all combine to help tamp
Rauner has said he will
down the number of
take the tough votes.
raise taxes once he gets
competitive races.
his Turnaround Agenda
The net result is that
passed.
Illinois has among the fewest challenged
And its not just the general election thats
state-legislative races in the country just
complicating matters. Look at what happened
39 percent in 2014, which put us in the
bottom fifth of the nation. By contrast, nearby not long ago when conservative activist Dan
Proft examined GOP Representative David
Michigan saw a 100-percent challenge rate
Harris nominating petitions to see if he could
in the 2014 general election, and the rates in
both California and Minnesota were above 90 kick the Arlington Heights legislator off the
ballot. Proft pointed out that Harris had
percent.
previously voiced support for tax increases.
Thats simply unheard of here.
Harris, in turn, noted Rauners support for
The states rate of challenged races might
be higher next year. Governor Bruce Rauners hiking taxes to balance the budget, but the
message was clear: Proft controls a big pot of
vast personal cash reserves and his access to
campaign money, and Republicans need to
many wealthy friends mean the Republican
beware of crossing him.
Party can widen the playing field. The
The Illinois GOPs #TaxHikeMike assault
Democrats are also looking at doing the
could even play out in Speaker Madigans own
same thing, fielding candidates in districts
legislative district.
that they have previously avoided. (GOP
Madigans Democratic primary opponent,
Representative Bill Mitchell, for instance, has
Jason Gonzales, has a campaign message
a pretty decent general-election opponent for
that appears specifically designed to attract
the first time in a long while.)
money from wealthy people who are fed up
While thats good for politics, is it good for
with the speakers longtime dominance. Some
government?
Democrats (and Republicans) are speculating
It almost assuredly is a good thing in the
long run. Far too many people think they own that forces allied with Rauner could spend
millions of dollars on that one race alone.
their districts. Competition is good.
Blanketed network TV ads with a solid
But in the here and now, these campaigns
are just one more headache to deal with in the message can move voters, especially with that
kind of money behind them.
ongoing governmental impasse. Legislators
Madigan is a notoriously cautious
who arent accustomed to challenges may
politician. So whether or not his enemies pull
not be all that willing to take the tough votes
the trigger on a massive campaign assault,
necessary if the leaders ever come to a deal.
hell deploy enough foot soldiers to cover his
Indeed, we could see a tail-wagging-thedistrict many times over.
dog scenario. For instance, as a member of
Chicago and Cook County voters (and
House Democratic leadership, Representative
Madigan represents both kinds) are already
John Bradley (D-Marion) has taken a ton of
up in arms about property and sales-tax
votes that his conservative southern-Illinois
constituents probably wouldnt love, including increases, so we can also probably expect
Madigan to be at least reluctant to raise taxes
a vote for the 2011 income-tax hike.
Bradley is now a tier-one target. And unless before the March 15 primary.
What Im saying here is that if you think
we see a massive political truce with pledges
a solution to this impasse has looked next to
to not use tough votes against incumbents
impossible for the past several months, the
(as we did in the old days under Republican
situation may have gotten substantially worse
governors Jim Thompson, Jim Edgar, and
since the candidate filing period ended.
George Ryan), its probably safe to assume
that Bradley and many, many others arent
Rich Miller also publishes Capitol Fax (a daily
going to want to be a part of any compromise
political newsletter) and CapitolFax.com.
that involves a tax hike.
Movie Reviews
by Mike
Mike Schulz
Schulz mike@rcreader.com
mike@rcreader.com
by
Ive Got a Great Feeling About This ...
STAR WARS: THE

FORCE AWAKENS
What a relief that Star Wars: The

Force Awakens has finally opened. Now
we can actually talk about it! Wasnt
it amazing when the Stormtroopers
collectively rebelled against their
oppressors and found new careers as
human bowling pins? And when George
Lucas made a cameo as a Jawa? And
when it was revealed that everything in
the previous trilogy had only been an
Ewoks dream? And ... .
Oh, sorry. Um ... . Spoiler alert?
I kid, of course. Yet Im only opening
on a note of such levity because its
fitting for director/co-writer J.J. Abrams
breathlessly anticipated franchise
installment, the biggest surprise of
which is that its really, really funny. Its
also many other things: smart, rousing,
cheeky, reverent, touching, deeply
satisfying. A day after seeing the film,
though, Im still knocked out by how
many times I found myself laughing,
and not just in that Heh heh heh ...
way that accompanies moments of fan
service, as when reference is made to
Death Star trash compactors, or Han
Solo mutters, Ive got a bad feeling
about this ... . Star Wars obsessives
may have treated the series impending
return with hyper-serious fervor (and,
consequently, may have dulled interest
in the movie for the non-obsessives
among us). But for all of its legitimate,
earned gravity, The Force Awakens is
remarkably lighthearted a 130-minute
smile interrupted only by occasional
gasps and more frequent giggles.
In deference to those waiting to
Adam Driver in Star Wars: The Force Awakens

catch the film until cineplexes are less
crowded, Ill refrain from spoilers, at
least regarding specific narrative details.
(Were actually given a pretty thorough
summary of The Force Awakens plot in
the opening crawl presented, it goes
without saying, in gradually vanishing
News Gothic font against the majestic
strains of John Williams Star Wars
theme.) So lets nutshell this thing. As
in Real Life, roughly three decades have
passed since the events of Return of the
Jedi. The evil Empire is gone, but the
nefarious First Order has taken its place.
Princess Leia now General Leia is
leading the resistance against it. Luke
Skywalker has been training Jedi, and,
in the wake of one of his pupils turning
toward the Dark Side, has gone missing.
The First Order, and its black-clad Kylo
Ren, are desperate to find him. The
X-wing pilot Poe has a map fragment
suggesting Lukes location, which he
hides in his faithful droid BB-8. The
droid falls in the hands of the scrapmetal scavenger Rey, who teams up with
First Order resistor Finn. Familiar faces
return. New ones are introduced. And
Yoda turns out to be Chewbaccas father.
(Sorry. Couldnt help myself.)

But while that may seem like a lot
of information even in simplified
form, one of the chief thrills of The
Force Awakens lies in its concise, lucid
storytelling. Unexpectedly, the movies
script by Abrams, Lawrence Kasdan,
and Michael Arndt is actually quite
handsomely constructed. Much of the
dialogue, of course, is pure Star Wars
corn; upon the unwelcome arrival of
Stormtroopers, you can bet one of our
heroes will say, Weve got company!,
and maybe only Harrison Fords Han
Solo could get away with the line I
thought it was a lot of mumbo jumbo.
Yet from scene to scene, you always
have a clear sense of what the stakes
are, and wholly understand the causes
and effects, and theres a simple (though
never simplistic) beauty to watching
events unfurl much like they did very
much like they did in Lucas 1977
original.
This last bit might rankle those
hoping for an entirely fresh experience,
and at times The Force Awakens seems
to suggest Nietzsches theory of eternal
recurrence with TIE fighters that while
generations may pass, the Star Wars

universe exists in an endless loop of
repeating incidents. I dont, however,
mean this as an insult. Abrams love
of the franchise is so potent, and
delivered with such a good-natured
wink, that theres actually great joy
and welcome humor in the echoing.
Reys dune-filled home planet Jakku
is just like Tatooine; the seedy bar
where she and her friends hole up is
just like the Mos Eisley Cantina; BB-8
is just like R2-D2. (More accurately,
this beeping, purring, rolling creature
is like WALLE as played by Cast
Aways Wilson.) Yet you cant help but
grin at the delight Abrams takes in
simultaneously honoring and everso-slightly tweaking Lucas iconic
settings and figures. Sometimes the
effect is so powerful that you cackle
and well up in the same breath, as
in our first view of the Millennium
Falcon, or during the scene that offers
a priceless spin on Obi-Wans These
are not the droids youre looking for.
Taken overall, The Force Awakens
is a glorious blend of old and new
delights, and I, for one, found equal
pleasure in both. I adored the witty,
resourceful new recruits Daisy
Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac,
and Adam Driver as much as I did
seeing Carrie Fisher and Harrison
Ford and Fords fuzzball friend. I
marveled at the stunning new CGI
wonders (such as the Supreme Leader
Snoke and goggle-eyed oracle Maz,
voiced, respectively and superbly,
by Andy Serkis and Lupita Nyongo)
Continued On Page 9
COVER STORY
Center-Stage Craft
Spotlight Turns with the Readers Theatre Reviewers
he ends of calendar years always

bring with them a certain amount
of reflection, and questions that we
find ourselves quietly grappling with. Did
I achieve personal fulfillment and happiness? Were there people I improperly
appreciated or unintentionally wronged?
What are we going to do about the Readers annual year-in-theatre article now that
Thom White has moved to Kentucky?!
Okay, that last one was probably just my
question. And one I didnt grapple with all
that quietly.
As readers of our theatre coverage
likely know, a family relocation meant
that longtime reviewer Thom had to step
down from his chief-critic position this
fall after nearly six years on the beat and
328 analyses of area productions. (Yup. I
counted.) In his place, we hired a team of
new authors who have been contributing
reviews since mid-October, and wholl
continue to alternate visits to area venues.
Were certainly sorry to see Thom go,
but also excited about bringing a fresh
group of perspectives and opinions to
the area-theatre conversation even if
offering a comprehensive wrap-up on the
2015 stage scene proved, for hopefully
understandable reasons, infeasible.
So in lieu of that, I offered our reviewers
(and our recently relocated reviewer) a
challenge: Write about anything you want
pertaining to area theatre as long as (a) its
personal, (b) it allows readers to learn a
bit about you, and (c) it at least somewhat
touches on a 2015 theatrical experience.
What follows, I hope youll find, are
year-end essays as varied as their authors
voices. Victoria Navarro explains how
youthful stage experiences led to her
post-retirement appreciation for theatre.
Brent Tubbs details how the stage, and
the people hes frequently on-stage with,
helped him through a difficult 2015. Dee
Canfield shares the many inspirations
behind her annual returns to Genesius
Guild. Jeff Ashcraft explores how theatre
can be a haven for people who feel they
dont belong anywhere else.
Thom, meanwhile, offers a collective
thank-you-slash-love letter to everyone
who makes area theatre so special. Oh
yeah: And I wrote something myself, just
because its so hard to get me to shut up
and because I saw a show that made me
remember why I fell in love with this art
form in the first place.
Heres to further stage memories made
in 2016!
Mike Schulz
Quaking Fright /
Taking Flight
ost people only know

me as a retired teacher
and librarian. Few
people know that my past included some local theatre, plus
a year attending interior-design
school in Chicago. And although
my acting career was short and
more than 30 years ago, I have
two distinct memories.
My first attempt at acting
was when, as a high-school
Anthony Natarelli, Joe Maubach, and Tristan
senior, I got a walk-on part in
Tapscott in the Ditrict Theatres High Fidelity
our school play Orwells 1984. I
continued my love affair with theatre
was to enter, hand the character Winston
by supporting local productions as an
a large envelope, and say, Here is the
audience member and, more recently,
information youve been waiting for.
as a reviewer, and feel that having been
Winston, played by Ed Motto, would
on-stage gives me a deep appreciation
then say his line, and I would exit. So
of well-done performances. Listing my
on opening night, I made my entrance,
favorites from 2015 would be unfair to
walked to my mark, looked out into the
those productions I did not attend. But I
audience to see my best friend and her
will say that among those I did see, there
new boyfriend in the front row, and ... I
is one performer who stood out: Calvin
froze. I opened my mouth, and nothing
Vo in the QC Theatre Workshops Tribes,
came out. Luckily, Motto saw my distress,
a production in which he portrayed a
and saved me by asking, Is this the
deaf son in a troubled family, and showed
information Ive been waiting for? I
that communication is more than spoken
came out of my stupor long enough to
words. I hope the 2016 theatre scene has
nod, and made my exit to the sound of
more Vo.
the directors backstage groan. (The next
Meanwhile, because of my interiornight, however, I came on stage and nailed
design background, I have a particular
it, and thought, Broadway, here I come!)
interest in scenic design, and among the
I also remember that in 1985, I was
local productions I saw in 2015, two sets
taking some classes at Marycrest College
especially stood out for me.
and saw that there were auditions for
The intimate venue that was the former
The Wizard of Oz. I got the part of
home to the District Theatre on Rock
Sophisticated Witch, friend to the
Islands Second Avenue was transformed
Wicked Witch of the West. It was a
into a record store for its production of
minor role in a short scene intended to
High Fidelity. With every inch covered in
lend some comic relief, and involved
posters, album covers, records, T-shirts,
me flying up and off stage. (I think I got
instruments, et cetera making us feel
the part because of my diminutive size,
that we were right there in that shop
not my acting talent.) I was fitted with a
how could the theatre possibly fit
homemade harness with a cable attached
musicians, as well? By putting them in a
to the ceiling of the Capitol Theatre. Offloft above the stage. Brilliant!
stage were two St. Ambrose University
And Augustana Colleges Machinal was
football players, one of whom held the
a dark drama with a set that added to
cable and stood atop a six-foot-high set of
its tone. Several large platforms shaped
prop stairs. Holding the cable, he would
like gears and cogs served as stages for
leap off the top stair, catapulting me into
the different scenes. But within those
the rafters and off-stage, and into the arms
platforms were removable pieces that the
of the other football player (a receiver, I
stage crew would use to construct tables,
presumed). Crazy-dangerous! But I loved
chairs, and other pieces of furniture,
the sensation of flying, if only for that
transforming the stage space into offices,
brief moment.
a bedroom, a courtroom, and more,
No longer active on-stage, I have
depending on the needs of the scene. Sort
of like Legos on steroids.

My hope, as a reviewer, is to be
informative and fair. Director Anne
Bogart once said, Theatre is where size
and scale can be altered by the artists
to create unforgettable journeys for the
audience. I, for one, am ready to buckle
on my harness and enjoy the flight.
Victoria Navarro

New and Improv-ed
hen asked to look back on

the year and write about what
shows or performances might
have stood out, it was very difficult for me,
because I had a year that would maybe
have caused another person to say, Im
not going near a theatre ever again. But I
cant and wont ever say anything like that.
I believe theatre can heal. I have always
believed this, and in 2015 I got firsthand
experience. Theatre is a beautifully therapeutic process. Whether you are performing it, writing it, watching it, or listening
to it, theatre can transport you to another
world, sometimes right when you most
need it to.
Before I get
too Montel
Williams
on you, Ill
tell you that
I perform
improv
comedy at the
Establishment
in Rock
Island. I
started with
ComedySportzs Brent
ComedySportz
Tubbs
(front) and Patrick
when I was
Adamson
just 17 and
havent stopped for the past 16 years.
After studying and performing with some
of the best improvisers in Los Angeles, I
moved back to the Quad Cities just a few
short years ago. I was lucky enough to hop
back in with the local CSz group and am
so proud to have been in on the ground
floor of what are now the Studio Series
shows the theatre offers on Fridays and
Saturdays. I would put the levels of talent
and entertainment they pump out every
weekend on a par with anything I saw in
L.A. So what Ill most remember about
theatre in 2015 is the Establishment. But
not for the reasons you might think.
Its not because I perform there on a
regular basis and its an easy plug. Its not

because of the fantastic talent involved
and the quality of their shows. Its not even
because of a specific performance. Its
because of the love, and the support, and
the healing power of laughter that they
offered me through what was personally
a very difficult time. Its because of
the incredibly big hearts of every staff
member and performer at that theatre. We
have a saying in the improv world: I got
your back. We say it as a way to symbolize
that we will protect each other on stage.
When you say it enough, it crosses over
into real life as well. Every member of the
Establishment not only had my back this
year, but carried me. (Which, to be honest,
is not that much, considering Im 5-foot-4
and 119 pounds ... . But you get the idea.)
Being in a theatre, and laughing, is the
equivalent to eating a salad dressed with
vitamins by which I mean its really good
for you. It might have even saved me.
To anyone who has ever performed in
a play, a dance presentation, a concert, et
cetera, you know that those you perform
with can be like family. And sometimes
just by being on stage with them, without
your even knowing it, you are helping
them escape, even for just a little bit.
Theatre is powerful. When everything
falls into place, and everyone finds
themselves sharing in the experience,
you find yourself being transported no
matter where you are in the theatre on
stage, in the tech booth, moving sets, or
sitting in the audience. Everyone at the
Establishment helped transport me in
2015, and for that I am eternally grateful.
Theatre, to me, is a comfort, like
walking into your living room with
your favorite people and sitting in your
favorite chair. So I salute not only the
Establishment, but the other venues in the
Quad Cities that offer similar safety and
comfort when welcoming people theatre
participants and audience members alike
into their living rooms. Unfortunately,
I did not see a lot of theatre in 2015. But I
am beyond thrilled to be reviewing for the
Reader now, and cannot wait to see whats
in store for 2016. If were ever in a theatre
at the same time and you see me, please
say Hi. After all, were just hanging out
in the living room ... .
Is that enough cheesiness for you?
What? I can add more cheese? Okay! Im
out! Dim the lights! Play the theme from
Breakfast Club! Fist pump! I got your
back!
Brent Tubbs
The Phenomenon of the

Stage-Right Butterfly
got bit by the acting bug while sitting

under a starlit canopy in Rock Islands
beautiful Lincoln Park, attending an early1970s Genesius Guild production of a Greek
tragedy. I dont imagine there was much live
theatre available in the area during my childhood in the 50s and 60s. But having grown
up in reduced circumstances in Rock Islands
Arsenal Courts housing project, its not likely
that our family would have known about it,
or would have been able to attend, even if it
had been available. So the Guild production
was eye-opening in many ways.
Seeing that performance, I was enamored
with the idea of performing on the Guild
stage. Prior to that, Id only had a small role
in a junior-high play, and had next to no
confidence and very little acting skill. In
addition, my life had not taken the usual
turn. I had been married at 18, and by 22 I
was a single mother of two sons, waitressing
and attending college. But for several
summers, my boys went for extended stays
with my brother in Montana, and in the
summer of 74 with a bit of free time on
my hands and the strong encouragement
of an actor friend I found myself reading
Shakespeare aloud for the first time in my
life while auditioning for the Guild.
To my delight, I was cast as a member of
the Greek chorus in that years production
of Aeschylus Seven Against Thebes. And
just this past summer, I was cast as Mistress
Quickly in the Guilds The Merry Wives of
Windsor, giving me the opportunity to revive
the role I played in the same Guild play
in 1979. Although I have performed with
several local and regional theatre groups,
the Genesius Guild was my first love,
theatrically speaking, and I have returned to
it many times over the years.
It wasnt because acting for the Guild
was a walk in the park (so to speak).
Guild founder Don Wootens small-d
democratic mission of bringing classicalGreek and Shakespearean plays to the
masses is no ordinary task. But since the
plays are performed in a public, outdoor
setting, the Guild has been successful
not only in creating audience members
from unsuspecting onlookers of all social
and economic backgrounds, but also in
recruiting a few to the stage bringing to life
the perennial Guild joke: Hey, kid, wanna
Dee Canfield in Genesius Guilds 1979 The

Merry Wives of Windsor
play King Lear?
I was happy to be cast alongside the
occasionally awkward (and sometimes
troubled) teen, geeky bookworm, and
middle-aged salesman or housewife, as well
as a few seasoned actors who would carry
most of the acting weight, and to rehearse
like mad often until the wee hours for
a brief two-week period before facing the
terror of opening night. And I was overjoyed
to do it. I not only survived those summers,
but thrived.
Like so many others, I came back for the
magic magic that included the adrenalineenhanced experience of learning about
the classics and acting and stagecraft, not
to mention the magic of forming lifelong
friendships. And I will never forget my
early days, hearing Don talk of the poets
and playwrights, inspiring in me such a
wonderful sense of being a part of something
timeless like there was a direct link from
the mind of the poet to those of us in that
green park under those lofty oaks who were
preparing to enact his words.
And, finally, there was the wonderful
phenomenon of the stage-right butterfly.
For several summers, some of us were
visited, during performances, by a butterfly
that hovered and danced around our
shoulders as we stood stage-right. To me,
the butterfly was a reminder that, despite
the difficulties of my life in the moment, life
could magically be transformed. I have come
a long way from that young woman who
first auditioned in 1974. The Guilds mission
touched my life in a deep and profound
way, and those summers in the park were an
important part of broadening my horizons,
and of my personal transformation and
growth. I will always be grateful.
With apologies to the Bard, here is my
tribute to Don and the Guild:
Where shall you find us on a summers day?
Not knowing lines and feeling desperate.
Rough winds and words from Wooten
shape our play
And rehearsals lease hath all too short a
date.
And when too hot the eye of heaven
shines,
In polyester robes with fake fur trimmed,
Upon the vasty stage we say our lines
Or not we miss our cues (our memories
dimmed).
But those eternal summers shall not fade,
Nor lose their magic as in age we grow.
Those lofty oaks above us giving shade,
Our happy band we few cavort below.
Comedic chases, timeless tragedy,
And so much joy and so our thanks
to thee.
Dee Canfield

Jason Gabriel (center), Thomas Brooke, Kelly Rose Thompson, and Michael Alexander
(top) in Countryside Community Theatres
Jesus Christ Superstar
An Island for Misfit Toys
hat does one write about when, as

a new theatre reviewer, one is assigned to write about theatre? Not
a specific play, character, or musical. Not a
specific company or genre. Just: Write about
Quad Cities theatre. Ask me for an opinion
on something, anything, and I will issue
an opinion. However, just to begin writing
about theatre in general is like opening the
monochromatic door of Dorothys house
and seeing Munchkinland for the first time.
Its just so vast and vibrant!
Lets start at the beginning my
beginning, to be specific. Theatre lit up
my world for the first time when I was cast
in the title role of an elementary-school
production of Rip Van Winkle. It was my
first audition and, not to brag, I completely
nailed it. I knew when I had finished reading
that I would be cast as the lead. It still makes
smile today; I wasnt the most gifted athlete
or class brainiac, so it was the first time I
recall feeling like I was truly meant to do
something. As a fifth-grader, it just seemed
the most natural act to slip into a completely
different character than my own. (Plus, I
Continued On Page 8
COVER STORY
Continued From Page 7
Center-Stage Craft
got to wear Miss Calcaris awesome Santa
beard.) Much like Rip Van Winkle, the
entire experience had awakened me from a
slumber, and began to shift my perspective
on my young life.
You should understand that I never felt
like I quite fit in anywhere and still dont,
for that matter. Not in college, or in my work
or church; not in my Rotary club; not even
with my own family. Most of my life, I have
had this feeling of being like a misfit toy.
Nobody wants a Charlie-in-the-Box, right?
This may be a surprise to those who know
me, because over the years I have acquired
the skills to play whatever role is required of
me throughout any given day. Ive learned
from life experience that the acting classes I
took as a young man provided me so much
more than how to define, interpret, and
express the intentions of specific characters.
They taught me how to cope and navigate
through aspects of my everyday life. In a
sense, theatre taught me how to be myself.
Throughout high school, college, and
beyond, I spent years working on various
aspects of theatre while maintaining a
full-time day job and building a home
and family. I have been blessed to
direct productions in several Quad City
community theatres, and also at the highschool and collegiate level. I was even one of
the founders of the old Ghostlight Theatre
a predecessor to several of the independent
theatres that dot the current theatrical
landscape. But years and years of shows
took their toll, and in 2002 I burned out and
needed a break.
Fast-forward to 2015, a year that has been
a time of theatrical resurrection for me.
And yes, the pun is intended, because after
more than a decade out of the Quad Cities
theatre scene, I decided to jump back in and
direct Countryside Community Theatres
production of Jesus Christ Superstar. It
brought me back together with a group of
dear friends for one of my favorite musicals.
Just as importantly, the gig allowed me to
work with some energetic young talent
on a fast-paced, intense production with a
great amount of intimacy shared by those
involved. The experience revived my passion
and awakened me from a long theatre-less
slumber.
With renewed fire in my belly, my
wife and I made it a point to attend more
productions this year than we have in a
very long time. We saw Quad City Music
Guilds Urinetown, Young Frankenstein, and
Cats; Playcrafters Harvey; Countrysides
Big Fish; and the District Theatres A Few
Good Men and The Addams Family. I was
also fortunate enough to be chosen by the
Reader to become a member of its theatre-
review crew, which allowed me to publicly

share my thoughts on Augustana Colleges
Machinal and the Districts Big Rock Candy
Christmas. Reviewing put the art into a
different perspective, because not only was
I providing an opinion; I now had to back
up my view with reasonable thought and
reflection. Some of the 2015 productions I
saw were well-produced and some not as
polished, but the eye-opener was finding
new admiration for those who continue
to create the art by bringing a diverse and
captivating menu of theatre to Quad Cities
audiences.
From the smell of the makeup to the
sounds of a gathering audience, there is
nothing quite as comforting and renewing as
the theatre to my weary soul. Maybe there is
a place for this Charlie-in-the-Box, after all.
Cheers to 2016, and to viewing, reviewing,
and experiencing more theatre in and
around the Quad Cities.
Jeff Ashcraft

Exit Inter(e)view
ive-plus years as a reviewer with the

River Cities Reader leaves me with a
lot of memories. There are so many
great productions that will stick with me for
years as well as some, um, not-so-great
ones that I feel like Ive experienced a
five-year master class on acting, directing,
and producing. Quad Cities theatre is alive,
thriving, and evolving, and it has been a
wonder to behold.
Through my reviews, you may know
what Ive thought about every production
Ive seen in the Quad Cities over the past
five years. There are a few things, though,
that I will miss that were not a part of those
reviews.
Ill miss chatting with theatre owners and
box-office staffers before performances, as I
frequently did with New Ground Theatres
Chris Jansen we once joked about how
my partner wasnt my plus one for a show
even though I really wanted musical-loving
Matt to see a well-written, notably produced
play. The QC Theatre Workshops Tyson
Danner and I would chit-chat a bit, though
my admiration for him always made me
feel self-conscious, and I remember the first
awkward hug I shared with the Harrison
Hilltop-turned-District Theatres Tristan
Tapscott; he wanted to shake hands, but after
seeing him so often on-stage, I felt I knew
him better than that. (We hugged at every
subsequent meeting.) Though we talk at
great length through Facebook, Countryside
Circa 21s Les Misrables

Community Theatres Christina Myatt and
I would simply acknowledge each other in
the lobby, out of professional courtesy. The
Richmond Hill Barn Theatre box office
afforded me the chance to meet some of my
favorite actors face-to-face, such as John
VanDeWoestyne and Jackie Patterson, as
well as catch up with Molly McLaughlin. The
ladies working the Playcrafters Barn Theatre
box office were great fun, always providing a
laugh as I retrieved my tickets. Then theres
Quad City Music Guild, where I consistently
forgot that the will-call area is not the same
as the box office and was embarrassed every
single time .
I also made a surprising number of offstage friends along the way. It was always
a pleasure to see a seat saved for me next
to dedicated theatre-goer Mike Reid at the
opening-night performance of a Prenzie
Players, New Ground, or Genesius Guild
production. While my preference was to
arrive about 10 minutes before the start
of a performance, Id often arrive earlier if
I expected to see Mike, so that we could
chat about HBOs True Blood or movies
he recommended. And I formed a good
friendship with former Quad-City Times
theatre reviewer David Burke. David
frequently messaged me during the week
to ask about my theatre schedule so wed
know whether wed bump into each other
during our reviewing duties. At intermission,
though, we always avoided discussing our
opinions about the evenings entertainment
such talk would be saved for our chats at
another play or musical after our reviews
were published.
The masochist in me will also miss
checking my phone on Sundays, sometimes
all day, to see if Mike Schulz needed more
revisions on a review. I always gave my best
while writing, but consistently feared that
my best wasnt good enough. (I turned in
each piece over the last five years thinking,
This will be my last, because Mike will have
grown tired of so much editing.) While I
wont miss that not-good-enough feeling,
I will miss Mikes notes, typed in boldface,
throughout my early drafts. He never held
back his honesty, wrapping it in humorously

harsh wording that, because of our long
friendship, I actually welcomed.
I could go on and on about favorite
moments as an area-theatre reviewer, such
as laughing with the Circa 21 Dinner
Playhouse Bootleggers as they bustled by
with trays full of salads, or how it startled
me every time the box-office attendants
at the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre
and Timber Lake Playhouse recognized
me on sight. With sadness, I could lament
the discontinuation of several favorite
theatre companies during my time with
the Reader, such as the Curtainbox Theatre
Company, the Green Room Theatre, and the
Riverbend Theatre Collective. Or I could
praise, at length, the delightful simplicity
of the productions at Scott Community
College and the sometimes awe-inspiring
work at Augustana College and St. Ambrose
University. Instead, Ill leave it at this: I love
you, Quad Cities theatre community, and
miss being a part of you. Youll forever hold a
special place in my heart.
Thom White

Friends with Benefit
n December 15, St. Ambrose

University hosted a fundraiser for
the theatre-department costume
designer Dianne Dye a cabaret event held
to offset medical expenses in the wake of
her husbands recent passing. Friends, fans,
colleagues, and current and former students
(some traveling from as far as the East Coast)
were in attendance, and if youve followed
SAU theatre through the years since Diannes
first production in 1998, it was one of those
nights when you couldnt stop seeing people
you recognized, and most likely adored.
I bumped into one such adored party
in the lobby. After a hug and some small
talk, she asked if I was among the evenings
scheduled entertainers, and I said no, I was
just there to watch. And Im reviewing it.
After enjoying her incredulity for a couple
of seconds, I told her I was kidding. But it
appears the jokes on me. Because now, in
my reflective frame of mind, I really want
to review it or, rather, suggest why that
two-and-a-half-hour benefit exemplified
everything I love about theatre.
Youd have to search long and hard to find
a human being as warm, kind, and gifted
as Dianne Dye ... and even post-search,
you might not find one. Yet while Ive been
fortunate to call her a friend for many years,
I cant fathom that anyone attending that
December 15 event whether or not they
MOVIES
By Mike Schulz
mike@rcreader.com
Ive Got a Great Feeling About This ...
St Ambrose Universitys Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells

knew her personally left with any doubts
about Diannes profound effect on those
who love her. All you had to do was look at
the lineup of performers, whose collective
talents made the cabarets $25 ticket price an
absolute steal.
For longtime fans of SAU theatre, this
thing was unbelievable a ceaseless cascade
of happy memories. With theatre professor
Corinne Johnson serving as the nights
graceful, grateful emcee, alumni reprised
beloved roles: Seth Kaltwasser delivered his
dynamic Magic to Do opener from 2008s
Pippin; Dan Hernandez made a riotous
return as the Adolpho of 2010s The Drowsy
Chaperone; Daniel Sheridan and Daniel
Rairdin-Hale now, respectively, the artistic
director of Davenport Junior Theatre and the
chair of SAUs theatre department revisited
their Jerome siblings from 2003s Brighton
Beach Memoirs, proving that no fundraiser
is truly complete without a bunch of good
masturbation jokes.
There were beautiful, funny, touching
numbers performed by graduates whose
work you always admired: Andrew Benson,
Chris Galvn, Emily Kurash, Stephanie
Seward, Jenny Stodd. (Louis Hare and Aaron
Randolph III, meanwhile, teamed up for a
hilariously bro-mantic rendition of REO
Speedwagons Cant Fight This Feeling
that wont be forgotten any time soon.)
There was an enjoyably cheeky turn by SAU
senior Jonathan J.J. Johnson, and terrific
solos by former students perhaps previously
unknown to you. If, like me, you missed
the departments City of Angels in 2001,
you missed what emcee Johnson revealed
was your one chance to catch Jill Schmits
in a university musical. Schmits gorgeous
soprano and endearing stage presence on
Tuesday made you instantly regret it.
And, oh, the heavy hitters that came
out for this thing! Broadways The Boy

from Oz director Philip Wm. McKinley,
who helmed SAUs 2007 world premiere
Crme de Coco, crooned a lovely Christmas
tune in Act I before returning for Act II
wisecracks sporting a dime-store wig, house
dress, and lopsided breasts. (It was that
kind of evening.) Crazy-gifted SAU scenic
designer Kris Eitrheim and indefinably
great actor/professor Michael Kennedy
read a collection of poems that started silly
and ended gloriously sweet. Guys & Dolls
Fugue for Tinhorns was given vibrant life
by what Johnson called a holy trinity of
talents: frequent Circa 21 Dinner Playhouse
director and University of Indiana Southeast
professor Jim Hesselman; Bill Thiessen,
director of opera for the University of Iowas
School of Music; and Circa 21 resident
costumer Greg Hiatt, the latter singing onstage for the first time in more years than
hed probably like me to reveal.
But perhaps the most purely moving
moment of the evening beyond the
thunderous, tear-filled standing ovation that
greeted Dianne Dyes ascent to the podium
came from the former students sending
their well wishes via video montage. Even
though they couldnt be in attendance, all
of these graduates had been clearly affected
by Diannes guidance and friendship, and
clearly needed that feeling to be shared.
And watching that video, seeing those
performances, and sitting amidst that
delighted audience made me feel humble
and honored: This, I thought, is what theatre
is about. Participants and patrons alike
were there for the love of the art, and the
people who make that art, and the people for
whom it gets made. Were all there together.
Were there to support one another. And
were there when were needed most.
Mike Schulz
and grinned
contentedly
at the aerial
battles and
lightsaber
duels. I
swooned at
the gorgeous
imagery. I
got misty at
the climax.
And thanks
to the films
resoundingly
cheerful
spirit and excellent gags, I laughed
and laughed and laughed. The Force
Awakens is a spectacular subtitle for a
Star Wars movie. Considering this latest
trilogys insanely promising start, and
if it werent already taken, A New Hope
wouldve been a fine one, too.
ALVIN & THE

CHIPMUNKS: THE
ROAD CHIP
By chance, do any of you have West
Coast friends whove appeared in the
Alvin & the Chipmunks movies as extras
those background figures who dance
and whoop it up while the rodents sing
helium-filled renditions of top-40 hits?
If so, have you ever asked them if they
were as embarrassed to be there as they
looked? On at least four occasions in
the new Alvin & the Chipmunks: The
Road Chip, I couldnt take my eyes off
the grown men and women shaking
their booties while Alvin and company
delivered ear-splitting harmonies
suggesting a Glee soundtrack performed
exclusively by boiling tea kettles. I cant
decide if their collective expressions read
as This is the stupidest thing Ive ever
done or Im too drunk to know whats
going on, but either way, the extras
frenetically edited joy in response to
the novelty crooning resembles nothing
so much as humiliation. It was bad
enough witnessing their frozen grins
and glazed Is this really happening?
euphoria at an L.A. house party and in
a southwestern country bar. But once
the theoretical euphoria made its way to
New Orleans, I wanted to weep. Hasnt
that poor city been through enough?
Regardless, The Road Chip isnt
terrible, just as its three predecessors
werent terrible, even though Ive entered
every single one thinking, This is
going to be terrible. Its bad, to be sure.
Director
Walt
Beckers
manic
kiddie
comedy,
which
concerns a
trek from
California
to Florida
as the
Chipmunks
hope to
prevent
caretaker Dave (Jason Lee) from
proposing to girlfriend Samantha
(Kimberly Williams-Paisley), is
expectedly overrun with dopey puns,
lame slapstick, and the requisite unfunny
fart, pee, and poop jokes. It might also
be the final nail in the coffin of Jason
Lees once-healthy career, considering
the man doesnt even pretend to be
enjoying this anymore. (When the
munks jump up for a hug, Lee has to
wrap his arms around himself and sway
back and forth and feign adoration for
the CGI critters, and the sight is literally
painful.) But the movie is just diverting
enough to not be actively offensive.
There are several snappy one-liners
and a surprisingly entertaining scene
with Samanthas teen son (Josh Green)
trying to smuggle Alvin and Simon
past airport security; one especially
amusing bit, with Uzo Aduba as a dryly
harried TSA officer, finds Alvin forced
to pose as a stuffed-animal version of
himself. And in his role as a psychotic air
marshal holding a major grudge against
the Chipmunks, Tony Hale I have to
admit made me laugh out loud on at
least a half-dozen occasions. With his
singular comic hysteria that can switch
instantaneously from shrieking apoplexy
to somnolent muttering, the actor gives
adult patrons without kids no reason to
feel mortified for sitting through Alvin
& the Chipmunks: The Road Chip or,
at least, little reason. Its also nice to see
Hale picking up the mantle from the
series previous baddie played by David
Cross. I can only presume Will Arnett is
next on deck.
For reviews of Sisters, In the Heart of the
Sea, Chi-raq, and other current releases,
visit RiverCitiesReader.com.
Follow Mike on Twitter at Twitter.com/
MikeSchulzNow.
10
Whats Happenin on New Years
appy Holidays, Jeff!

And to you, as well, Mike. I presume you
have the Whats Happenins for me?
Au contraire, boss and friend I have the Whats
Happenin on New Years Eve for you!
Of course.
Once again, well be publishing a center-spread account
of all the information we have, as of press time, regarding
the areas music scene on December 31 what bands are
playing, where you can find open-mic or karaoke nights,
and all that jazz!
The jazz pun intended, right?
The jazz pun absolutely intended! Well have listings
Remember the King @ Circa 21
for whats going on where and at what times and for how
much, as well as mentions of New Years Eve niceties we
RiverCity 6s and Gray Wolf Bands concerts at Jumers, or
know about: party favors, drinks specials, champagne toasts the New Years toga party at Me & Billy ... .
... .
Oh! Thank God. That explains the costume.
Gotcha.
What, this? Nah. Its just laundry day and Im out of
As always, were also including the venues addresses,
clean clothes.
phone numbers, and Web sites for added convenience. And
So you came to the office dressed in a sheet?
of course, as the online version of Whats Happenin on
Dude, its cold out there.
New Years Eve can be viewed 24/7 at RiverCitiesReader.
com, we can
The entire River Cities
add and update
Reader extends to you
listings there all
and yours our best
the way through
wishes for a very safe
the afternoon of
and Happy New Year!
December 31.
See you in 2016!
Nice, huh?
Very.
11th Street Precinct
Just think:
(2108 East 11th
Its one-stopStreet, Davenport):
shopping for
Corporate Rock,
anyone who wants
9 p.m., no cover,
to know about
(563)324-9545,
the Travoltas
11thStreetPrecinct.
gig at the Quadcom.
Cities Waterfront
Bier Stube Moline
Covention
(415 15th Street,
The Dawn @ Renwick Mansion
Center, or the
Moline): DJ &
Karaoke Night, 9 p.m., no

cover, (309)797-3049, BierStube.com.
Cabanas (2120 Fourth
Avenue, Rock Island): The
Night People, 8:30 p.m., no
cover, party favors, (309)2837564.
Central Avenue Tap (2604
Central Avenue, Bettendorf):
Cross Creek Karaoke, 8:30
p.m., no cover, (563)355-7212.
Eleven F
Circa 21 Dinner Playhouse
(1828 Third Avenue, Rock Island): Remember the King:
Celebrating 80 Years of Elvis with Robert Shaw, 7:30 p.m.
doors, 8 p.m. buffet, 9:15 p.m. show, $74-86, party favors,
champagne toast, balloon drop, (309)786-7733 extension 2,
Circa21.com.
Circle Tap (1345 Locust Street, Davenport): Cody Road
with Matt Stein, 9 p.m., no cover, (563)322-9276.
Crust Pizzeria (2651 East 53rd Street, Bettendorf):
Frankie Joe & Kinfolk, 9 p.m., no cover, (563)424-5502,
CrustStoneOvenPizza.com.
Dam View Inn (410 East Second Street, Davenport):
DJ Night, 9 p.m. no cover, drink specials, (563)324-4335,
Facebook.com/Dam.View.
Edje Nightclub at Jumers Casino & Hotel (777 Jumer
Drive, Rock Island): Gray Wolf Band, 7 p.m., no cover,
(309)756-4600, JumersCasinoHotel.com.
Gabes (330 East Washington Street, Iowa City):
Winterland, The Candymakers, 10 p.m., $10-15, or $100
VIP seating for four, (319)354-4788, ICGabes.com.
Grumpys Saloon (2120 East 11th Street, Davenport):
The Stone Flowers, 9 p.m., no cover, (563)323-6300.
Harley Corins (1708 State Street, Bettendorf):
Moonshine Run, 9 p.m., no cover, (563)355-0655.
Iowa City Yacht Club (13 South Linn Street, Iowa City,
Iowa): Dead Larry, Soul Phlegm, Rude Punch, 10 p.m.,
$10-15, (319)337-6464, IowaCityYachtClub.org.
The Lucky Frog Bar & Grill (313 North Salina Street,
s Eve
(2104 State Street, Bettendorf): Karaoke with

McClausland, Iowa):
Double Dz, 8 p.m., no cover, (563)355-2985,
Charlie Walters
PurgatorysPub.com.
Band, 9 p.m.,
Quad-Cities Waterfront Convention
(563)225-3764,
Center (2021 State Street, Bettendorf):
Facebook.com/
The Travoltas, 8:30 p.m., $20, party
LuckyFrogBar.
favors, (800)843-4753, Bettendorf.
Me & Billy
IsleOfCapriCasinos.com.
Kitchen & Bar
Rascals Live (1414 15th Street, Moline):
(200 West Third
Electric Shock: The AC/DC Show, Bad Hair,
Street, Davenport):
8 p.m., (309)797-9457, RascalsLive.com.
Toga Party, 9 p.m.,
Renwick Mansion (901 Tremont
no
cover,
dance
Fifty Two @ RIBCO
Avenue, Davenport): Masquerade at the
music, champagne
Mansion: 8 p.m. doors, Soap, 9 p.m., The
toast, togas encouraged but not required, (563)323-1195,
Dawn, 10:45 p.m., The Joe Marcinek Band
MeAndBilly.com.
featuring Bernie Worrell, 12:30 a.m.,
The Mill (120 East Burlington Street, Iowa City, Iowa):
Wylde Nept, 4 p.m., $10, DJ Johnnysixx, 10 p.m., no cover, $20-25, drink specials, (563)324-9678,
RenwickMansion.com.
drink specials, champagne toast, (319)351-9529, ICMill.
Rhythm City
com.
Casino (101 West River Drive,
My Place the Pub
Davenport): The Old 57s,
(4405 State Street,
11 a.m. and 5 p.m., Smooth
Bettendorf): Jam
Groove, 7:30 p.m., party favors,
Night, 9 p.m., no cover,
champage toast, (563)328-8000,
(563)424-1011.
RhythmCityCasino.com.
Oculus Sports Bar at
Riverside Casino & Golf
Jumers Casino & Hotel
Resort Event Center (3194
(777 Jumer Drive, Rock
Highway 22, Riverside, Iowa):
Island): The RiverCity
Rubix Cube, 9 p.m., no cover,
6, 10 a.m. and 10 p.m.,
party favors, champagne
no cover, (309)756-4600,
toast, (319)648-1234,
JumersCasinoHotel.com.
Ohnward Fine Arts
RiversideCasinoAndResort.
Center (1215 East Platt
com.
Riverside Casino & Golf
Street, Maquoketa,
Resort Show Lounge (3194
Iowa): The Neverly
Highway 22, Riverside, Iowa):
Brothers, 7 p.m., $25Smoke & Guns, 6 p.m., Hold
30, (563)652-9815,
On Band, 9:30 p.m., no cover,
OhnwardFineArtsCenter.
party favors, champagne
com.
The Neverly Brothers @ Ohnward Fine Arts Center
Purgatorys Pub
toast, (319)648-1234,
11
by Mike Schulz
mike@rcreader.com
Rubix Cube @ Riverside Casino Event Center

RiversideCasinoAndResort.com.
Rock Island Brewing Company (1815 Second
Avenue, Rock Island): Eleven Fifty Two, 9th St.
Memory, Kronos Resistor, Age of Star, 8:30 p.m.,
(309)793-1999, RIBCO.com.
The Rusty Nail (2602 West Locust Street, Davenport):
Lynn Allen, 9 p.m., (563)386-1900, NewRustyNail.com.
Steventons (1399 Eagle Ridge Road, LeClaire): North
of 40, 9 p.m., $75, hors doeuvres, party favors, champagne
toast, (563)289-3600, Steventons.com.
Thirstys on Third (2202 West Third Street, Davenport):
DJ Night, 9 p.m., (563)424-1123, Facebook.com/
ThirstysOn3rd.
Uptown Bills Coffee House (730 South Dubuque Street,
Iowa City): Open Mic Night, 7 p.m., no cover, (319)3390804, UptownBills.org.
Walcott Coliseum (116 East Bryant Street, Walcott,
Iowa): The Tailfins, 7 p.m. buffet-style dinner, 8 p.m.
dance lesson, 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. music and dancing,
$30 or $10 for dance-only, party favors, (563)349-1805,
WalcottColiseum.com.
12
MUSIC
Vol. 23 No. 898
Dec. 24, 2015 - Jan. 6, 2016

River Cities Reader
532 W. 3rd St.
Davenport IA 52801
RiverCitiesReader.com
(563)324-0049 (phone)
(563)323-3101 (fax)
info@rcreader.com
Publishing since 1993

The River Cities Reader is an independent
newspaper published every other Thursday,
and available free throughout the Quad Cities
and surrounding areas.
2015 River Cities Reader
AD DEADLINE:
5 p.m. Wednesday prior to publication
PUBLISHER
Todd McGreevy
EDITOR
Kathleen McCarthy
EDITORIAL
Managing Editor: Jeff Ignatius jeff@rcreader.com
Arts Editor, Calendar Editor: Mike Schulz mike@rcreader.com
Contributing Writers: Amy Alkon, Jeff Ashcraft, Rob
Brezsny, Dee Canfield, Heather Herkelman, Rich Miller,
Frederick Morden, Victoria Navarro, Brent Tubbs,
Bruce Walters
ADVERTISING
Advertising Coordinator: Nathan Klaus
Advertising rates, publishing schedule, demographics,
and more are available at
QCAdvertising.com
DESIGN/PRODUCTION
Art Director, Production Manager: Shawn Eldridge

shawn@rcreader.com
Graphic Artist: Nathan Klaus nathan@rcreader.com
Design/Production Interns:
ADMINISTRATION
Business Manager: Kathleen McCarthy
Office Administrator, Classifieds Manager, Circulation
Manager: Rick Martin rick@rcreader.com
Distribution: William Cook, Cheri DeLay,
Greg FitzPatrick, Daniel Levsen, M.M. Rice
Jay Strickland, Ron Thompson, C. Keyser
A 2015 Album
or my 10th-annual album of
songwriter handed off
voice the only obvious
some favorite songs of the year,
the production reins
thing to cling to. But
the simple rules remain the same,
(and full control of the
her manner has a
although I cheated a little on both: one
sound) to Quad Cities
dead-eyed flatness
song per artist, and no artists representproducer Pat Stolley,
reflecting the lyrics
ed on previous years collections.
and The Creeping
a desperation to
Ive never cast these exercises as
Heart is a stunning
feel something, in
the best songs of the year because my
demonstration of how
this case by getting
tastes are idiosyncratic and because its
that process should work.
wasted: I wanna do
impossible to hear everything. The latter Strauses singing and
/ drugs right now.
is especially true this year: I didnt listen
lyrics are foregrounded,
Theres no romance in
to nearly as much new music as I would
and Stolleys musical
that self-destructive
have liked ... but there was still plenty
backdrop is minimal,
impulse or the
to love.
slightly alien, and entirely
self-awareness of its
Two Gallants, Fools Like Us.
fitting. The music is
effect and thats
Brooks Strause
Sixteen years after the debut of the
a precise mix of rigid
underscored by
White Stripes and 13 since the first
percussion patterns, clouds of processed
the thudding of drums and rhythm
album from the Black
bass and keyboard
guitar, and the piercing knives of the
Keys, its surprising
sounds, and organic,
lead guitar. Thats not much of an
that the indie-rock
spare acoustic guitar a
accomplishment, but theres a rough
guitar/drum duo can
seductive bed from which
beauty buried within, in particular
still be as vital as it is
Strause beckons. But its
multiple guitars and vocal lines coming
on Two Gallants We
not quite clear whether his together in crude harmony in the final
Come Undone. The taut
intentions are noble, and
Fools Like Us from the
theres the complicating
outset has a skip in its
factor of a title recalling
step but is completely
Edgar Allan Poe. The
unassuming until the
song has an undeniable
Two Gallants
break when it shifts
gravitational force and
to a different unassuming groove with
certainly feels inviting, but theres an edge
a slower tempo. The key for this coarse
of menace.
power pop is being subtly, simply artful:
Kacey Musgraves, Family Is Family.
a finely calibrated sense of the weight of
I wont pretend
each section, and of the proper time to
this is a great
The Revivalists
build, hold, and release the tension.
song, but its
chorus.
Courtney Barnett, Kims Caravan.
a great song
The Revivalists, Gold to Glass.
Although
if you have a
Here is a song designed explicitly to
a critical
family that falls
provide comfort, with its narrator
darling for her
somewhere
needing a friend and ultimately
songwriting,
between evil
Courtney
and perfect. The offering, I am someone to help your
hard times pass. The words wander
Barnett is,
tune is jaunty,
and search through bleak times and
in her vocal
the pedal-steel
wallow a bit in misery, echoed by a
delivery and
guitar is corny,
Kacey Musgraves
simple refrain on acoustic guitar that in
arrangements,
and Musgraves
Courtney Barnett
a bit of an
sings with such good cheer that standard- a handful of notes sketches the songs
basic mindset. But the remainder of the
acquired taste.
issue dysfunction feels pretty damned
swelling arrangement is rich, robust,
Her style is more compelling to me
fun. The pluses and minuses come in a
and loaded with vibrant life. Aside from
with a foundation of rock, and this
rush of pairings They might smoke
percussion crunches, the horns, piano,
song is an odd choice given that its a
like chimneys / but
and other elements and flourishes
crawl to climax. But that method makes
give you their kidneys
nearly melt together. And if the lyrics
sense in the context of its intensifying
/ Your friends come in
are downtrodden, the hopefulness
free association, starting with a sleepy
handy / but family is
in the singing, growing in certainty,
Water marks on the ceiling / I can see
family and if its a
foreshadows the resolution of broken
Jesus / And hes frowning at me and
bit obvious, its also full
people finding each other.
slowly coalescing into a concrete plea
of smartly articulated
Kaki King featuring Ethel, Trying
So take what you want from me that
truth.
to Speak II. I included Kaki King in
neatly captures the relationship between
Colleen Green,
my 2010 album, but I consider this
artist and audience.
Things That Are Bad
less her song than the string quartet
Brooks Strause, The Creeping
for Me (Pt. II). InEthels. I dont mean to diminish Kings
Heart. On The Chymical Wedding of
your-face and jagged,
Colleen Green
contributions; she wrote and arranged
Brooks Strause, the Iowa City singer/
with Greens pleasant
13
by Jeff Ignatius
jeff@rcreader.com
it, and her

guitar work
as always is
stunningly
detailed. But
her instrument
sounds agitated
and frustrated
here static
despite its busyness, struggling
mightily
to express
something
while the
contemporary-classical ensemble
with grace and intensity paints a rich
emotional picture. For the instrumentals
first half, Ethel is achingly pretty, but
it picks up on the guitars anxiety and
the work turns dark and ominous. The
guitar provides the baseline emotion,
and the quartet soars above it and then
plunges deep below, a musical version of
a sine wave.
Ruby Friedman Orchestra, Youll
Never Leave Harlan Alive. Darell
Scotts song, thanks largely to the TV
show Justified, has had a long and varied
life. The Ruby Friedman Orchestras
version, featured on the shows 2014
season finale and on the bands 2015
EP, is my favorite. Friedman is a great
interpreter her House of the Rising
Sun is another spectacularly invested
version of a familiar tune and she
gives Scotts song a balanced blend of
grit, sweetness, yearning, warmth, and
hopelessness. But its greatest feat is
generating a perfect mood for the song
evoking rural Kentucky while feeling
modern and fresh, but most importantly
never losing sight of it haunted nature.
Built to Spill, When Im Blind.
I somehow completely missed out on
Speedy Ortiz, Mister

Difficult. The mostmagical moments in music
are those unexpected
touches that feel of-apiece with the whole but
transform it. In Speedy
Ortizs Mister Difficult,
its a hushed command
from singer Sadie Dupuis:
Boys be sensitive / And
girls be be aggressive. Her
vocals to that point have
Built to Spill
a calming lilt, but those words in the
Built to Spill in the 1990s, but catching
plainness of delivery, the repetition of
up with the band because of 2015s
be, and the U-turn in the arrangement
Untethered Moon has been rewarding.
demand full attention. In truth,
When Im Blind isnt typical of the
though, the song is a collection of little
consistently strong record, but Im
surprises, crafted with the utmost care.
including it here because it transcends
The warped guitar cacophony mixed just
the bands sturdy-pop leanings. It spends low enough to avoid being disruptive.
more than half of its eight-plus minutes
The late-arriving background vocals,
jamming on a basic noise-guitar idea,
and the earlier, ghostly vocal effects. The
exploring it from high-pitched shards
delicacy of the lead guitar line and the
to thick, low-end chunks. The songs
percussion
opening
that embody
minute
the songs
and a half
restrained
promises
pressure,
the bands
never allowed
expertly
to escape.
catchy guitar
Two
rock, but
Gallants,
then the
Invitation to
tune enters
the Funeral.
the strangely
Yes, its
Sleater-Kinney
hypnotic
cheating to
middle
include two
section, anchored by frantic yet
songs from Two Gallants, but Invitation
steady drum and bass but otherwise
to the Funeral is such a strong
unpredictably feral. Massed guitars
complement to Fools Like Us that I
suddenly yet inevitably join in a
couldnt resist; piano replaces guitar, and
triumphant climax leading back to
nakedness replaces rock posturing. Its
pleasant vocals, and the conventional
also a demonstration of Two Gallants
has been elevated by the journey.
range, as other, similar duos couldnt
Speedy Ortiz
pull off a song this earnest or heartfelt.
The drums are incongruously blunt
against the emotional piano, but so are
the lyrics There is there a foul taste
in the air. Yet the song is all about the
escalation in the singing, and every other
element becomes window dressing. The
vocals are rough yet finely controlled
yet also naturalistic and expressive, and
the closing wails convey dull aches and
sharp pains as clearly and fully as any
words.
Sleater-Kinney, No Anthems.
When Sleater-Kinney called it quits in
2006, the timing seemed right. While
2005s The Woods had its high points,
it also suggested a topnotch band that
had played out its ideas; the sprawling
aggression felt off for a trio that had so
successfully, distinctively, and concisely
blended rock, punk, and pop with
a different emphasis each time. The
reunion album No Cities to Love still
errs on the side of muscle, but its far
more streamlined and disciplined, and
No Anthems is a great summation
of the band refusing to repose: angular
and loud enough to feel in your bones,
but also tightly coiled and full of threat.
The band hasnt sounded this defiantly
dangerous since Call the Doctor nearly
two decades ago.
14
Ask
the
A Man Walks into

a Barnacle
Advice
Goddess
Im a 43-year-old man, and Im trying to

build my career after years of being a stay-athome dad. I got involved very quickly with
a woman I met online, but the truth is that
shes just not smart enough for me. I feel bad
because shes very sweet, but Id rather devote
my time to my work. Ive tried to break up
with her numerous times, but she just doesnt
seem to get it. Ill tell her I really need time
to myself, but shell still call incessantly. How
do you tell somebody its over in a way that is
kind but gets through to them?
Im Done
You need time to yourself ? Great. She can
do that. Just call her when youre ready. No, not
on the phone. Shell be out on your porch in
her sleeping bag.
Welcome to the rose-colored distorto-vision
of being optimistically biased succumbing
to the human tendency to see whats positive
instead of whats realistic. (What I refuse
to believe wont hurt me!) Were especially
likely to go happily dumb when our ego is
involved. Evolutionary biologist Robert Trivers
explains in The Folly of Fools that we protect
our happiness via self-deception. We have a
psychological immune system that works
not by fixing what makes us unhappy but by
minimizing it and lying about it.
Neuroscientist Tali Sharot finds from her
brain-imaging research that having a distorted
positive view comes out of what she calls
selective updating. When our brain gets
information that things are going to be better
than expected, its all, Yes, sir, well send that
around. But information that things will be
worse than expected? That gets kicked under
the bed or would if the brain had feet and
slept in a bed.
There is another possibility here. Even if
your girlfriends intelligence level leaves you
confused about whether to take her to dinner
or just water her and put her in indirect
sunlight, she may be what I call instinctually
smart. Possibly, its clear to her that you want
to end it but shes ignoring that in hopes of
wearing you down. Regardless of the reason
shes still hanging around, the only way to
change that is by telling her that you two are
done, using very direct language, such as, Im
sorry, but its over between us. I am breaking
up with you. Should she keep contacting you,
make it similarly clear that theres no room at
the inn for hope.
BY AMY ALKON
This is actually the kind way to break up

with a refuse-to-believe-er: being momentarily
cruel, ideally as soon as you realize its over.
In other words, putting your girlfriend out
of her misery starts with putting her through
it pronto. Keep merely hinting that its over
and, well, if an asteroid destroyed life on Earth
as we know it, three things would survive:
cockroaches, the Kardashians, and your
relationship.
The Endear Hunter
My girlfriend rarely, if ever, calls me by

my actual name. Other women Ive dated
have done this, too. It makes me think of that
country song that goes, You dont have to
call me Darlin, Darlin. Ive come to realize
that Ive been steadily losing interest in my
girlfriend, and maybe she senses that. Or
could it be something else? Why do women
do this not calling men by their actual
names?
Nameless
There are times when only your actual name
will do because the alternative is Hey, Magic
Penis, Im over here! Aisle four!
But generally speaking, the way people
address each other is a statement about the
kind of relationship they have. So when the
nurse comes into the waiting room with a
clipboard, you never hear, Okay Poo-poo
Face the doctor will see you now. A cop,
likewise, will not ask, Do you know how fast
you were going, Turtle Butt?
A pet name is part of creating a relationship
culture things you do and say that mark
the relationship as a distinct little society.
(Cutesy handles also tend to, uh, travel better
than matching bones through the nose.) Not
surprisingly, relationship communication
researcher Carol Bruess finds that partners in
happy relationships use nicknames more than
those in unhappy ones. Referencing previous
research, Bruess explains that nickname use
both creates intimacy and reflects it. So its
possible that your girlfriend using nicknames is
a ploy perhaps an unconscious one to bring
you two closer. (If she talks all cootchie-cuddlycoo, cootchie-cuddly-coo might follow.)
But seeing as you have been steadily losing
interest in your girlfriend, why are you sitting
around pondering nickname use? You need to
do your part: Inform your girlfriend that the
relationshippy-poo can no longer breathe on
its ownie-cakes, and that its time she started
referring to you as her ex-schmoopie or,
better yet, that a------ she used to date.
Got A Problem? Ask Amy Alkon.
171 Pier Ave, #280, Santa Monica, CA 90405

or e-mail AdviceAmy@aol.com (AdviceGoddess.com)
2015, Amy Alkon, all rights reserved.
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY
ARIES (March 21-April 19): The

raw materials you have at your
disposal in 2016 may sometimes
seem limited. You might not have access
to all the tools you wish you did. You
could be tempted to feel envy about the
vaster resources other people can draw on.
But I honestly dont think these apparent
inhibitions will put you at a disadvantage.
Within your smaller range of options, there
will be all the possibilities you need. In fact,
the constraints could stimulate your creativity
in ways that would have never occurred if
youd had more options.
LEO (July 23-August 22): Avoid pain

and pursue pleasure. Be kind, not cruel.
Abstain from self-pity and ask for the
help you need. Instead of complaining,
express gratitude. Dodge time-wasting activities
and do things that are meaningful to you. Shun
people who disrespect you and seek the company
of those who enjoy you. Dont expose yourself
to sickening, violent entertainment; fill your
imagination up with uplifting stories. Does the
advice Im offering in this horoscope seem overly
simple and obvious? Thats no accident. In my
opinion, what you need most in 2016 is to refresh
your relationship with fundamental principles.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You

know what physical hygiene is. But are
you familiar with imaginal hygiene?
Educator Morgan Brent defines it like this:
Imaginal hygiene is the inner art of selfmanaging the imagination, to defend it from
forces that compromise, pollute, colonize,
shrink, and sterilize it, and to cultivate those
that illuminate, expand, and nourish it. Its
always important for everyone to attend to this
work, but its especially crucial for you to focus
on it in 2016. You will be exceptionally creative,
and therefore likely to generate long-lasting
effects and influences out of the raw materials
that occupy your imagination.
VIRGO (August 23-September 22):

Many of the atoms that compose your
flesh and blood were not part of your
body 12 months ago. Thats because every year, 98
percent of you is replaced. Old cells are constantly
dying, giving way to new cells that are made from
the air, food, and water you ingest. This is true
about everyone, of course. Youre not the only one
whose physical form is regularly recycled. But
heres what will be unique about you in 2016: Your
soul will match your bodys rapid transformations.
In fact, the turnover is already underway. By your
next birthday, you may be so new youll barely
recognize yourself. I urge you to take full charge of
this opportunity! Who do you want to become?
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Your

mind sometimes works too hard and
fast for your own good. But mostly its
your best asset. Your versatility can sometimes
be a curse, too, but far more often its a blessing.
Your agile tongue and flexible agenda generate
more fun than trouble, and so do your smooth
maneuvers and skillful gamesmanship. As
wonderful as all these qualities can be, however,
I suggest that you work on expanding your
scope in 2016. In my astrological opinion,
it will be a good time for you to study and
embody the magic that the water signs possess.
What would that mean exactly? Start this way:
Give greater respect to your feelings. Tune
in to them more, encourage them to deepen,
and figure out how to trust them as sources of
wisdom.
LIBRA (September 23-October

22): The English word aint can
mean am not, is not, are not, or have not.
But it aint recognized as a standard word in the
language. If you use it, you risk being thought
vulgar and uneducated. And yet aint has been
around since 1706, more than 300 years. Most
words that are used for so long eventually become
official. I see your journey in 2016 as having
resemblances to the saga of aint, Libra. You will
meet resistance as you seek greater acceptance of
some nonstandard but regular part of your life.
Heres the good news: Your chances of ultimately
succeeding are much better than aints.
CANCER (June 21-July 22):

Swedish movie director Ingmar
Bergman won three Academy
Awards and was nominated for eight others.
Numerous filmmakers have cited him as
an important influence on their work. His
practical success was rooted in his devotion to
the imagination. I am living permanently in
my dream, from which I make brief forays into
reality, he said. Can you guess his astrological
sign? Cancer the Crab, of course! No other
tribe is better suited at moving back and forth
between the two worlds. At least potentially,
you are virtuosi at interweaving fantasy with
earthy concerns. The coming year will afford
you unprecedented opportunities to further
develop and use this skill.
SCORPIO (October 23-November

21): My old friend John owns a
520-acre farm in Oregons Willamette
Valley. Blueberries are among the crops
he grows. If he arranges their growing season so
that they ripen in July, he can sell them for $1.75
a pint. But if he designs them to be ready for
harvest in late summer and early fall, the price
he gets may go up to $4 a pint. You can guess
which schedule he prefers. I urge you to employ
a similar strategy as you plot your game plan for
2016, Scorpio. Timing may not be everything, but
it will count for a lot.
SAGITTARIUS (November
22-December 21): In 1803, the U.S.
government bought a huge chunk
of North American land from the French
government. At a price of three cents per acre,
the new republic doubled its size, acquiring
whats now Louisiana and Montana and
everything between. I dont think youll add
15
by Rob Brezsny
that much to your domain in 2016, Sagittarius,
but its likely you will expand significantly.
And although your new resources wont be as
cheap as the 1803 bargain, I suspect the cost,
both in terms of actual cash and in emotional
energy, will be manageable. Theres one way
your acquisition will be better than that earlier
one. The Americans bought and the French
sold land they didnt actually own it belonged
to the native people whereas your moves will
have full integrity.
CAPRICORN (December
22-January 19): The coming year
will be a favorable time for you to
nourish a deeper devotion to truth, beauty,
and goodness. Anything you do to make your
morality more rigorous will generate benefits
that ripple through your life for years to come.
Curiously, you can add to the propitious effect
by also cultivating a deeper devotion to fun, play,
and pleasure. There is a symbiotic connection
between the part of you that wants to make the
world a better place and the part of you that
thrives on joy, freedom, and wonder. Heres the
magic formula: Feed your lust for life by being
intensely compassionate, and vice versa.
AQUARIUS (January 20-February
18): I predict that 2016 will be
your Year of Fruitful Obsessions. In giving
this positive spin to the cosmic tendencies, Im
hoping to steer you away from any behavior
that might lead to 2016 being your Year of
Fruitless Obsessions. One way or another, I
think youll be driven to express your passions
with single-minded intensity. Focused
devotion sometimes verging on compulsive
preoccupation is likely to be one of your
signature qualities. Thats why its so important
to avoid wasteful infatuations and confounding
manias. Please choose fascinations that are
really good for you.
PISCES (February 19-March 20):
Your symbol of power in 2016 will be
the equal sign: =. Visualize it in your
minds eye every morning for 20 seconds.
Tattoo it on your butt. Write it on an index
card that you keep under your pillow or on
your bathroom mirror. Gestures like these
will deliver highly relevant messages to your
subconscious mind, like Create balance and
cultivate harmony! and Coordinate opposing
forces! and Wherever there is tension between
two extremes, convert the tension into vital
energy! Here are your words of power in 2016:
symbiosis and synergy.
Homework: Send me predictions for your
life in 2016. Where are you headed? Go to
RealAstrology.com; click on E-mail Rob.
Go to RealAstrology.com to check out Rob Brezsny's
EXPANDED WEEKLY AUDIO HOROSCOPES

& DAILY TEXT MESSAGE HOROSCOPES
The audio horoscopes are also available by phone at
1-877-873-4888 or 1-900-950-7700
16
Crossword
NO NEED TO WRAP December 24, 2015
December 10 Answers: Page Right
Open House: Free Admission

German American Heritage Center
Sunday, Jan. 3rd 12-4pm
1:30- Dr. Cora Lee Kluge:

The Enemy at Home
Learn the story of how GermanAmericans both helped and

hindered their national profile
during the World War I era.
712 West 2nd St. Davenport
gahc.org 563.322.8844
December 10 Crossword Answers
ACROSS
1. Pile Pelion on _
5. Of the cheek
10. Down with!
14. Wellaway!
18. Monies won
19. Pointless
20. Variety of pear
21. Squander
22. Start of a quip by Marge Piercy
:3 wds.
25. Film _
26. LeBlanc or Groening
27. Pain
28. Damage
30. One of the Muses
32. Indian weight
33. Steal
35. British gun
36. Calendar abbr.
38. Part 2 of quip: 6 wds.
45. Reverb
46. Oppose
47. Public house
48. Mob VIP
49. Place for a speaker
50. Trounces
51. Like some gardens
53. Luck _ _ Lady
54. A state: Abbr.
55. Data compartments
56. Repairs
57. Portmanteau word
59. Court officer
61. Fiery offense
62. Pepos
67. Leg up
69. Of sheep
70. Golden
73. Factions
74. Imaginary animal
75. Subjected to frat rituals
77. _ soda
78. Old French coin
79. Hand tool
80. Concentrate
81. Buddy
82. Gods Little _
84. Gormandize
85. Mushroom variety

86. Late night host
92. Skill
93. Challenge
94. Hurry
95. Insolent talk
97. Pollute
100. Like a soubrette
101. Dissertation
106. Culture medium
107. Discord personified
109. End of the quip: 3 wds.
112. Blackballs
113. In _
114. Bargain
115. Wall pier
116. Cutting or bleeding
117. Hydros
118. Disreputable
119. Sandbox vessel
DOWN
1. Decides
2. NYC neighborhood
3. Brit. money
4. Banned fireproofing aid
5. Woe
6. Tiny colonists
7. Lingers
8. Black cuckoo
9. Ump relative
10. Native American of Maine: Var.
11. Lout
12. _ _ Lay Dying
13. Inspection
14. Annual book
15. Kind of word
16. City in Italy
17. Stiff hair
23. Pt. on a compass
24. The Dioscuri, e.g.
29. Sch. subj.
31. In medias _
33. Glaswegians
34. Colleen
35. Forwards
36. Sunshine State city
37. Painting technique of light and dark
39. Eyespots
40. Russian river

41. City on the Danube
42. Clothier
43. Overthrow
44. Prods
45. Cheese variety
50. Critter
51. _ not, want not
52. Desire personified
55. Game of kings and queens
56. Quaff
57. Council
58. Clair de _
60. Agitated state
61. Blazing
62. Attaches a certain way
64. Striped, in biology
65. Form of John
66. Lapis _
67. Alliance org.
68. Painting on dry plaster
71. Jeer
72. Sailors saint
74. Serf
75. Golden _
76. Playing cards
79. Unmatched
80. Baptismal bowl
81. Utter nonsense
83. Back
85. A little wet
88. _ -de-vie
89. Kind of monkey
90. Impair
91. Categorically
96. Hosp. area
97. Innocent one
98. Minced oath
99. Tooth
100. Flat bread
101. Lineage diagram
102. Interpret
103. _ Karenina
104. Small monkey
105. Abbr. in citations
108. Rend
110. CIA forerunner
111. Native American of the Southwest
YOUR
DUN DUDUDUDUN DUDUDUN
GIG
HEEEEERE!!!

And We're Not Just Talking Six to the
Chest Stacatto Riffs. Send ANYTHING
Live Music, to Mike@RCReader.com
17
Live Music Live Music

Email all listings to calendar@rcreader.com Deadline 5 p.m. Thursday before publication
THURSDAY
00
24
FRIDAY
00
25
2015/12/24 (Thu) -
Jordan Danielsen & Jef Spradley - 11th

Street Precinct, 1107 Mound St.
Davenport, IA
2015/12/25 (Fri) -
Pastmasters - Riverside Casino and

Golf Resort, 3184 Highway 22 Riverside, IA
30
SATURDAY
2015/12/26 (Sat) -
26
AsBigAsAMouse - The Hong Kong

Sleepover - Drama Major - RIBCO,
1815 2nd Ave. Rock Island, IL
Code 415 - Purgatorys Pub, 2104 State
St Bettendorf, IA
Funktastic Five - Rascals Live, 1414 15th
St. Moline, IL
John Burns - Uptown Bills Coffee
House, 730 S. Dubuque St. Iowa
City, IA
Keep Off the Grass - 11th Street Precinct, 1107 Mound St. Davenport, IA
Kerry & Rich Acoustic Duo - Len
Browns North Shore Inn, 700 N.
Shore Dr. Moline, IL
Pastmasters - Junior Talley & Jesse
Aaron - Riverside Casino and Golf
Resort, 3184 Highway 22 Riverside, IA
Russ Reyman Request Piano Bar - The
Phoenix Restaurant & Martini Bar,
111 West 2nd St. Davenport, IA
Them SomBitches - Keeley Filgo - Silver Hands - Rozz-Tox, 2108 3rd Ave.
Rock Island, IL
The Nuclear Plowboys - The Rusty Nail,
2606 W. Locust St. Davenport, IA
Wild Oatz - Harley Corins, 1708 State
St. Bettendorf, IA
SUNDAY
2015/12/27 (Sun) -
Silver Hands @ Rozz-Tox - December 26
27
Steve McFate Acoustic - Mr. Eds Liquor

Store and Tap, 127 4th St. W. Milan, IL
Sunday Jazz Brunch w/ the Josh Duffee Jazz Quartet (9am) - Bix Bistro,
200 E. 3rd St. Davenport, IA
TUESDAY
2015/12/29 (Tue) -
29
Alexis Stevens - Crystal City - The Mill,

120 E. Burlington St. Iowa City, IA
Chris Avey Live - My Place the Pub, 4405
State St. Bettendorf, IA
The Coveralls - The Rusty Nail, 2606 W.
Locust St. Davenport, IA
WEDNESDAY
2015/12/30 (Wed) -
30
Chris Avey Experience Acoustic Show

- Rascals Live, 1414 15th St. Moline, IL
Gary Pickett (5:30pm) - The Rusty Nail,
THURSDAY
2015/12/31 (Thu) -
31
Charlie Walters Band - The Lucky Frog

Bar and Grill, 313 N Salina St McCausland, IA
Cody Road w/ Matt Stein - Circle Tap,
Corporate Rock - 11th Street Precinct,
1107 Mound St. Davenport, IA
Dead Larry - Soul Phlegm - Rude
Punch - Iowa City Yacht Club, 13 S
Linn St Iowa City, IA
Electric Shock: The AC/DC Show - Bad
Hair - Rascals Live, 1414 15th St.
Moline, IL
Eleven Fifty Two - 9th St. Memory
- Kronos Resistor - Age of Star RIBCO, 1815 2nd Ave. Rock Island, IL
Frankie Joe & Kinfolk - Crust Pizzeria,
2561 E. 53rd Ave. Bettendorf, IA
Gray Wolf Band - Edje Nightclub at
Jumers Casino and Hotel, I-280 &
Hwy 92 Rock Island, IL
Lynn Allen - The Rusty Nail, 2606 W.
Masquerade at the Mansion: Soap

(9pm) - The Dawn (10:45pm) - Joe
Marcinek Band featuring Bernie
Worrell (12:30am) - Renwick Mansion, 901 Tremont Ave Davenport, IA
Moonshine Run - Harley Corins, 1708
North of 40 - Steventons, 1399 Eagle
Ridge Rd LeClaire, IA
Remember the King - Circa 21 Dinner Playhouse, 1828 3rd Ave. Rock
Island, IL
Rubix Cube - Riverside Casino Event
Center, 3184 Highway 22 Riverside, IA
Smoke & Guns (6pm) - Hold On
Band (9:30pm) - Riverside Casino
and Golf Resort, 3184 Highway 22
Riverside, IA
The Neverly Brothers - Ohnward
Fine Arts Center, 1215 E Platt St.
Maquoketa, IA
The Night People - Cabanas, 2120 4th
Ave. Rock Island, IL
The Old 57s (11am & 5pm) - Smooth
Groove (7:30pm) - Rhythm City Casino, 101 W. River Dr. Davenport, IA
The RiverCity 6 (10am & 10pm) Oculus Sports Bar - Jumers Casino
& Hotel, 777 Jumer Dr. Rock Island, IL
The Stone Flowers - Grumpys Saloon,
2120 E 11th St Davenport, IA
The Tailfins - Walcott Coliseum, 116 E
Bryant St Walcott, IA
The Travoltas - Quad-Cities Waterfront
Convention Center, 2021 State St.
Bettendorf, IA
Winterland - The Candymakers Gabes, 330 E. Washington St. Iowa
City, IA
Wylde Nept (4pm) - The Mill, 120 E.
Burlington St. Iowa City, IA
Continued On Page 18
18
Live Music Live Music Live Music

Email all listings to calendar@rcreader.com Deadline 5 p.m. Thursday before publication
FRIDAY
2016/01/01 (Fri) -
00
1
SUNDAY
2016/01/03 (Sun) -
Pseudoubt - Otis Apollo - Art Haus

Eviction Notice - Rozz-Tox, 2108 3rd
Barefoot Becky & the Ivanhoe DutchAve. Rock Island, IL
men (noon) - Walcott Coliseum, 116
E Bryant St Walcott, IA
2016/01/04 (Mon) Good Vibe Tribe (6:30pm) - Iowa City
Yacht Club, 13 S Linn St Iowa City, IA Moeller Mondays Presents - Rozz-Tox,
Smoking Guns - Riverside Casino
2108 3rd Ave. Rock Island, IL
and Golf Resort, 3184 Highway 22 Take a Breath - Brian Moroney - Time
Riverside, IA
Atlas - Kickbox - Clay Borrell - Cup
Soap - The Dawn - Joe Marcinek
Check (5:30pm) - Gabes, 330 E.
Band - Gabes, 330 E. Washington
Washington St. Iowa City, IA
St. Iowa City, IA
2016/01/05 (Tue) 2016/01/02 (Sat) Chris Avey Live - My Place the Pub, 4405
Aseethe - Venereal Crush - Dredge
- Nest of Snakes - Gabes, 330 E. Pseudoubt - Imperfekt - Whensday Washington St. Iowa City, IA
Gabes, 330 E. Washington St. Iowa
Cosmic - 11th Street Precinct, 1107
City, IA
Mound St. Davenport, IA
Kerry & Rich Acoustic Duo - The Grape
Life Wine Store & Lounge, 3402
Elmore Ave. Davenport, IA
2016/01/06 (Wed) Man in Black: The Music of Johnny
Cash - Circa 21 Dinner Playhouse, Animal Maps - Gabes, 330 E. Washing1828 3rd Ave. Rock Island, IL
ton St. Iowa City, IA
Pat Foley - Governors Pub & Grill, 3470 Brian Ritchey - Rozz-Tox, 2108 3rd Ave.
Middle Rd. Bettendorf, IA
Rock Island, IL
Smoking Guns - Riverside Casino
and Golf Resort, 3184 Highway 22 2016/01/07 (Thu) Riverside, IA
Snake Chasers Trio - Uptown Bills Kirby Jayes - Rozz-Tox, 2108 3rd Ave.
Coffee House, 730 S. Dubuque St.
Rock Island, IL
Iowa City, IA
Satsang - Gabes, 330 E. Washington St.
The Knockoffs - Hawkeye Tap Sports
Iowa City, IA
Bar N Grill, 4646 Cheyenne Ave.
Davenport, IA
2016/01/08 (Fri) -
MONDAY
30
SATURDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
Dustin Prinz - Gabes, 330 E. Washington St. Iowa City, IA

Shannon Murray - Uptown Bills
Coffee House, 730 S. Dubuque St.
Iowa City, IA
6
7
18th Avenue Elvis Tribute/Benefit Gabes, 330 E. Washington St. Iowa

City, IA
WEDNESDAY
2016/01/13 (Wed) -
The Hong Kong Sleepover @ RIBCO - December 26

Alyx Rush - RME Community Stage, 131
W. 2nd St. Davenport, IA
Jerry Beauchamp Dance - Walcott
Coliseum, 116 E Bryant St Walcott, IA
Justin Morrissey - River House, 1510
River Dr. Moline, IL
New Odyssey - Riverside Casino and
Rude Punch - Drama Major - MC
Squared - The Redstone Room, 129
Main St Davenport, IA
Sunshine & Brad Unplugged - Circa
21 Dinner Playhouse, 1828 3rd Ave.
Rock Island, IL
The Manny Lopez Big Band (6pm) The Circa 21 Speakeasy, 1818 3rd
Ave. Rock Island, IL
Vice Squad - Harley Corins, 1708 State
St. Bettendorf, IA
30
SATURDAY
2016/01/09 (Sat) -
Ana Gasteyer & Her Jazz Quintet John and Alice Butler Hall, University
of Dubuque Heritage Center, 2255
Bennett St. Dubuque, IA
Code 415 - The Rusty Nail, 2606 W.

Jordan Danielsen - River House, 1510
Milk Duct Tape - Dynoride - Waking
Robots - Rozz-Tox, 2108 3rd Ave.
Rock Island, IL
New Odyssey - Riverside Casino and
SUNDAY
2016/01/10 (Sun) -
10
Brianna Lane - Gabes, 330 E. Washington St. Iowa City, IA
MONDAY
2016/01/11 (Mon) -
11
Moeller Mondays Presents - Rozz-Tox,

2108 3rd Ave. Rock Island, IL
Wave Chapelle - Lucien Petersen Satori - Gabes, 330 E. Washington
St. Iowa City, IA
TUESDAY
2016/01/12 (Tue) -
12
Chris Avey Live - My Place the Pub,

4405 State St. Bettendorf, IA
13
Burlington Street Bluegrass Band The Mill, 120 E. Burlington St. Iowa
City, IA
The Wrong Omar - Gabes, 330 E. Washington St. Iowa City, IA
THURSDAY
2016/01/14 (Thu) -
14
Jason Aldean - Thomas Rhett - A Thousand Horses - i wireless Center, 1201

River Dr Moline, IL
Sara Ehrhardt - Riverside Casino and
Soul Low - Rozz-Tox, 2108 3rd Ave.
Rock Island, IL
Vine Street Vibes - Gabes, 330 E. Washington St. Iowa City, IA
FRIDAY
2016/01/15 (Fri) -
15
Bucktown Revue - Nighswander Theatre, 2822 Eastern Ave Davenport, IA

Chris Avey - River House, 1510 River
Dr. Moline, IL
Cornmeal - The Last Revel - The
Redstone Room, 129 Main St Davenport, IA
Dirt Road Rockers - Harley Corins, 1708
Land of Blood & Sunshine Record
Release Show - Condor & Jaybird Idpyramid - Rozz-Tox, 2108 3rd Ave.
Rock Island, IL
Ma Kenna & Brock (6pm) - Foolhouse

Band (7:30pm) - Material Girl
(9pm) - Riverside Casino and Golf Resort, 3184 Highway 22 Riverside, IA
The Ron Tegeler Jazz Guitar Trio - The
Grape Life Wine Store & Lounge,
3402 Elmore Ave. Davenport, IA
30
2016/01/16 (Sat) SATURDAY
16
Foolhouse Band (7:30pm) - Material Girl (9pm) - Riverside Casino

and Golf Resort, 3184 Highway 22
Riverside, IA
Joseph Halls Elvis Rock n Roll Remember Tribute Show - Ohnward
Fine Arts Center, 1215 E Platt St.
Maquoketa, IA
Justin Morrissey - River House, 1510
Stone Tattoo - Harley Corins, 1708 State
St. Bettendorf, IA
The RiverCity 6 - Edje Nightclub at
Jumers Casino and Hotel, I-280 &
Hwy 92 Rock Island, IL
The Stone Flowers - The Office Bar &
Grill, 305 3rd St. Sherrard, IL
SUNDAY
2016/01/17 (Sun) -
17
Alex Kostka - Free Cake for Every

Creature - Kyle Prenevost - RozzTox, 2108 3rd Ave. Rock Island, IL
Wanyama - Gabes, 330 E. Washington
St. Iowa City, IA
MONDAY
2016/01/18 (Mon) -
18
Mississippi Valley Country & Western

Music Association Dance - East
Moline American Legion, 829 16th
Ave. East Moline, IL
Comedy
DJs/Karaoke/
Jams/Open Mics
THURSDAYS
THURSDAYS
Cross Creek Karaoke Central Avenue Tap, 2604 Central Ave., Bettendorf, IA.
DJ Johnnysixx (Dec. 31, 10pm) The
Mill, 120 E. Burlington St., Iowa
City, IA.
DJ Night (Dec. 31) Dam View Inn,
410 E. 2nd St., Davenport.
DJ Night w/ 90s Music Thirstys
on Third, 2202 W. Third St., Davenport, IA.
Jam Night My Place the Pub, 4405
State St., Bettendorf, IA.
Karaoke Night Bier Stube Moline,
415 15th St., Moline, IL.
Karaoke w/ Double Dz Purgatorys
Pub, 2104 State St., Bettendorf, IA.
Open Jam Night (Jan. 7) Harley Corins, 1708 State St., Bettendorf, IA.
Open Mic Night Uptown Bills Coffee House, 730 S. Dubuque St.,
Iowa City, IA.
FRIDAYS
FRIDAYS
Cross Creek Karaoke Firehouse Bar

& Grill, 2006 Hickory Grove Rd.,
Davenport, IA.
DJ Dolla The Smoking Dog Pub, 1800
Second Ave., Rock Island, IL.
DJ K Yung Barrel House Moline, 1321
Fifth Ave., Moline, IL.
Karaoke Night Circle Tap, 1345 West
Locust St., Davenport, IA.
Karaoke Night The Grove Tap, 108
S. 1st St., Long Grove, IA.
Karaoke Night Miller Time Bowling,
2902 E. Kimberly Rd., Davenport, IA.
Karaoke Night Roadrunners Roadhouse, 3803 Rockingham Rd.,
Davenport, IA.
Karaoke Night Thirstys on Third,
2202 W. Third St., Davenport, IA.
Soulshake Gabes, 330 E. Washington St., Iowa City, IA.
SATURDAYS
SATURDAYS
DJ Dolla The Smoking Dog Pub,

1800 Second Ave., Rock Island, IL.
Karaoke Night The Grove Tap, 108
S. 1st St., Long Grove, IA.
Karaoke Night Miller Time Bowling, 2902 E. Kimberly Rd., Davenport, IA.
Karaoke Night Roadrunners
Roadhouse, 3803 Rockingham
Rd., Davenport, IA.
Open Mic Night Downtown Central Perk, 226 W. 3rd St., Davenport, IA.
Twisted Mics Music & Entertainment Barrel House Moline, 1321
Fifth Ave., Moline, IL.
SUNDAYS
SUNDAYS
Karaoke Night 11th Street Precinct, 1107 Mound St., Davenport, IA.
Karaoke w/ JB Promotions The
Rusty Nail, 2606 W. Locust St.,
Davenport, IA.
MONDAYS
MONDAYS
Open Mic w/ J. Knight The Mill,

120 E. Burlington St., Iowa City, IA.
TUESDAYS
TUESDAYS
Acoustic Jam Night w/ Steve McFate (Jan. 5) Mr. Eds Liquor

Store & Tap, 127 Fourth St. W.,
Milan, IL.
26
Acoustic Music Club (4:30pm)

River Music Experience, 129 N.
Main St., Davenport, IA.
Open Mic Night Broken Saddle,
1417 5th Ave., Moline, IL.
Open Mic Night Cool Beanz Coffeehouse, 1325 330th St., Rock
Island, IL.
Open Mic w/ Corey Wallace 11th
Street Precinct, 1107 Mound St.,
Davenport, IA.
Tuesday Blues Jam w/ Mark Avey
& Detroit Larry Davison
Cabanas, 2120 4th Ave., Rock
Island, IL.
Underground Open Mic w/ Kate
Kane Iowa City Yacht Club, 13
S. Linn St., Iowa City, IA.
SATURDAY 26
30
SATURDAY
WEDNESDAYS
The Circumstantial Comedy

Show (9pm) BREW, 1104 Jersey Ridge Rd., Davenport, IA.
WEDNESDAYS
Acoustic Jam Night w/ Steve McFate McManus Pub, 1401 7th

Ave., Moline, IL.
Cross Creek Karaoke Harley Corins, 1708 State St., Bettendorf, IA.
Jam Session w/ Ben Soltau Iowa
City Yacht Club, 13 S. Linn St.,
Iowa City, IA.
Karaoke Night 11th Street Precinct, 1107 Mound St., Davenport, IA.
Karaoke Night Circle Tap, 1345
West Locust St., Davenport, IA.
Karaoke Night RIBCO, 1815 2nd
Ave., Rock Island, IL.
Open Jam w/ Earth Ascending
Bent River Brewing Company, 512
24th St. Rock Island, IL.
Open Mic Night Boozies Bar &
Grille, 114 W. 3rd St., Davenport, IA.
Co m e d y S p o r t z ( 7 p m ) Th e
Establishment, 220 19th St.,
Rock Island, IL.
Studio Series: Dont Try This at
Home (9:30pm) The Establishment, 220 19th St., Rock
Island, IL.
The Blacklist: Blacklist Against
Humanity / Shots & Giggles
w/ Sherra Lasley and Kelly
Coughlin (9pm) The Backroom Comedy Theater, 1510
N. Harrison St., Davenport, IA.
27
SUNDAY
SUNDAY 27
28
MONDAY
MONDAY 28
Tom Garlands Catacombs of

Comedy Showcase (10pm)
Iowa City Yacht Club, 13 S. Linn
St., Iowa City, IA.
29
TUESDAY
TUESDAY 29
Comedy Open Mic (8:30pm)

Harley Corins, 1708 State St.,
Bettendorf, IA.
WEDNESDAY
WEDNESDAY 30
30

Penguins Comedy Club,
208 Second Ave. SE, Cedar
Rapids, IA.
The Backroom Comedy Open

Mic Night (7:30pm) The
Backroom Comedy Theater,
1510 N. Harrison St., Davenport, IA.
THURSDAY
THURSDAY 31
31
Brandon Hot Sauce Glover

Gary Menke Jake Harris Rober t Crouse (8pm
& 10pm) The Golden Leaf
Banquet & Convention Center,
2902 E. Kimberly Rd, #1., Davenport, IA.
Doug Thompson (7 & 10pm)
Rapids, IA.
The Blacklist: Blacklist Against
Humanity / The New Years
Resolutions (9pm) The Backroom Comedy Theater, 1510
N. Harrison St., Davenport, IA.
FRIDAY
FRIDAY 1
ComedySp or tz (7pm) Th e
Rock Island, IL.
Studio Series: The Establishment Stands Up (9:30pm)
The Establishment, 220 19th
St., Rock Island, IL.
30
SATURDAY
SATURDAY 2
ComedySp or tz (7pm) Th e
Rock Island, IL.
19
Studio Series: Wisenheimer

(9:30pm) The Establishment,
220 19th St., Rock Island, IL.
The Blacklist: Shots n Giggles
(9pm) The Backroom Comedy Theater, 1510 N. Harrison
St., Davenport, IA.
SUNDAY
SUNDAY 3
The Circumstantial Comedy

Show (9pm) BREW, 1104 Jersey Ridge Rd., Davenport, IA.
MONDAY
MONDAY 4
Tom Garlands Catacombs of

Comedy Showcase (10pm)
Iowa City Yacht Club, 13 S. Linn
St., Iowa City, IA.
TUESDAY
TUESDAY 5

Harley Corins, 1708 State St.,
Bettendorf, IA.
WEDNESDAY
WEDNESDAY 6

Rapids, IA.
The Backroom Comedy Open
Mic Night (7:30pm) The
Backroom Comedy Theater,
1510 N. Harrison St., Davenport, IA.
FIGGE ART MUSEUM EXHIBITION
ELLEN WAGENER | HORIZON LINES

Through January 24, 2016
Ellen Wagener takes the quintessential Midwestern landscaperows of corn
receding to the horizon under ever-changing skiesas the starting point for
her works. Working in pastel, and often in series and at large scale, she uses
sketches, photographs and her memory to create vivid evocations of particular
weather patterns and times of day.
Ellen Wagener, Four Elements: The Cyclonic Change in the Blink of an Eye (air),
2015, pastel on paper, one of four panels, each 15x15 in., courtesy of the artist.
Davenport, Iowa 563.326.7804

www.figgeartmuseum.org
20
Ride for
your future
and theirs.
20
A DAY AT THE PARK!

Hop aboard ROUTE 20, and enjoy
a day at Molines beautiful Prospect Park
with your friends and family!
Taking the car less often means

cleaner air and cost savings
for you.

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River Cities' Reader - Issue 898 - December 24, 2015

River Cities' Reader - Issue 898 - December 24, 2015