Pulse, May 2015 by CVPulse

MAY 2015

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CONTENTS

05.15 cedar falls . cedar rapids . iowa city . waterloo

issue 128

An award-winning product of Courier Communications 100 E. Fourth St. | Waterloo, IA 50703

MALT MASH-UP

HIT US UP

OK, it’s hops, not malt, that two Iowa breweries are mixing to create a collaborative beer. But we love alliteration. And beer. So quiet down with the technicalities and go read the story.

Wanna know more about this awesome magazine? Get in touch.

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Mumford & Sons Gentlemen of the Road Tour’s Waverly stopover in June is THE hot ticket in summer music festivals this year. You’d be nuts not to get tickets for a seat on this crazy train.

And find out what’s going on and catch up on entertainment news 24/7 at

CVPULSE.COM.

EDITORIAL STAFF

Meta Hemenway-Forbes Editor 319.291.1483 meta.hemenwayforbes@wcfcourier. com

GAME TIME We’ve got reviews of Xenoblade Chronicles 3D and Sid Meier’s Starships along with a look at upcoming games like the toocute-to-handle Splatoon and its polar opposite, The Witcher 3.

Alan Simmer Associate Editor 319.291.1487 alan.simmer@ wcfcourier.com

John Molseed Staff Writer 319.291.1418 john.molseed@ wcfcourier.com

David Hemenway Lead Designer 319.291.1475 david.hemenway@ wcfcourier.com

SALES Sheila Kerns 319.291.1448 sheila.kerns@wcfcourier.com

SPONSORED BY

PULSE 3

50 artists. 14,000 people. 23 years. META HEMENWAY-FORBES | PULSE EDITOR

ith pieces ranging from beautiful to quirky to both, the Marion Arts Festival will put you in the center of collaborative, creative merrymaking at its finest. The 23rd annual festival takes place May 16 in City Square Park. Consistently named among the top tier of juried art events nationwide, the Marion Arts Festival presents 50 artists offering fine art to a crowd in the thousands.

“On a sunny day we expect between 12,000 and 14,000,” said festival organizer Deb Bailey. “Last year was the first real weather challenge we’ve had in more than 10 years and we still had an estimated 9,000 (in attendance). We felt fortunate. People are interested and they will brave chilly temps to come out.” Along with artists and their works, the festival also includes the annual Art in the Depot activity. Folks of all ages can contribute hands-on toward the creation of a community project that later will be installed as an enduring piece of public art. There’s also the Empty Bowls Project, which involves more than 500

area students in the creation of more than 1,000 ceramic bowls. The bowls are donated to the festival and sold that day to raise funds for area food banks. “To date we have raised more than $82,000 for area food banks,” Bailey said. Additionally, the Emerging Artist Program showcases the talents of college artists who have been mentored to sell their work alongside the festival’s slate of juried exhibitors. Add in a slate of specialty foods and off-beat artist demonstrations and the festival offers a high-caliber, fully accessible cultural experience – a day of fine art and flip flops, families and

connoisseurs, fun and education. For those wanting something a little less leisurely, lace up the running shoes and hit the MAF 5K, or, for the brave, the MAF Half-Marathon. Trust us -- we know firsthand -- it’s a fast, flat course through uptown Marion. “This is my 11th festival. I hope to drop dead in this job,” Bailey said, laughing. “It’s a privilege to work with the artists and a joy to put this festival together.” Marion Arts Festival Saturday, May 16 Marion Square Park marionartsfestival.com

Amy Arnold Andrew Johnson 4 PULSE

Andrew Kosten

SHUTTERSTOCK BACKGROUND

Justin Cox Brian Beam

Jerry Brown

Jesper Johansen Tom Bloyd

Angie Pickman

Laura Kochevar

Ynon Mabat

ON THE COVER Chris Vance Laurie Pollpeter Eskenazi

Craig Lossing PULSE 5

Ice cold collaboration JOHN MOLSEED | PULSE WRITER

arching to a different drummer is not new for craft brewers. Sometimes, being a drummer isn’t either. Two Iowa brewers are teaming up to brew a beer and make some music. Millstream Brewing Co., Iowa’s oldest craft brewery, is joining with Broad Street Brewing Co., one of Iowa’s smallest craft breweries, for a collaboration beer being released in May. At two events marking the launch of the brew, the breweries’ head brewers will not only provide refreshment but entertainment as well. The head brewers from Millstream and Broad Street -- Chris Priebe and Trevor Schellhorn, respectively -- met early this year at a beer festival. They discovered that their approaches to brewing, as well as their hobbies, are similar. Schellhorn is a drummer and Priebe plays bass. “Every time I hire an assistant brewer or every time I to talk to a brewer, I find out they play an

6 PULSE

instrument,” Priebe said. When Schellhorn learned Priebe plays bass, he joked they should collaborate musically as well in brewing. “I was totally being sarcastic, but Chris said, ‘yeah, that’s a great idea,’” Schellhorn said. The two quickly agreed to brew a batch of beer together. Convincing Schellhorn to play took some convincing – and still might. “It might take a lot of our hopped pilsner to pull it off,” Schellhorn said. The yet-to-be-named pilsner will be a light, citrusy take on a German pilsner. Just don’t tell a purist it’s a pilsner. With about 10 percent of the grains coming from rye and it being dry hopped with a generous helping of Citra hops, it breaks more than a couple of traditions. “No self-respecting German would put rye in a beer,” Schellhorn said. However, craft brewers aren’t bound by tradi-

tion. “I’m not a big fan of being a stickler,” Priebe said. “Creative license is a big part of (craft beer).” As warmer weather moves in for the spring and more breweries are producing “session” beers, which have lower alcohol by volume, this follows that trend but puts the two breweries’ own spin to it. “Pilsner is sort of the original session beer,” Schellhorn said. “It’s going to be a good, smooth beer,” Priebe said. Like the beer, the band doesn’t have a name. Schellhorn is leaning toward the Yeasty Boys. The release parties featuring the breweries’ collaborative beer and music are set for May 22 at the Broad Street Brewing Co. taproom, 113 Broad St., Reinbeck, and May 23 at the Millstream Brewery, 835 48th Ave., Amana. The beer will be aged slightly in casks, Priebe said. They will be ceremonially tapped at each event.

Calendar of events April 25- Honor Flight - Electric Park 2 Shows – 12:00pm Matinee 5:30pm Evening Show May 22- 4th Street Cruise Show & Shine- Pavillion 4:00 - 9:00pm Dance to the Pastmasters 5:00 - 9:00 May 25 – Circus 2 Shows – 5:00pm & 7:00pm May 26- Iowa State Tailgate – Pavillion 5:00 - 9:00pm May 30- Honor Flight Dance – Pavillion 8:00 - Midnight ($10.00 at door)

Call 319-234-7515 for more information or visit www.nationalcattlecongress.com

TWENTY-FOUR

SEVEN

365 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ART GALLERIES, EVENTS MUSEUMS AND EXHIBITS

MOVIES NEWS & REVIEWS, RELEASES & TRAILERS LIVE MUSIC SOUNDBITES, NEWS INTERVIEWS, CD RELEASES AND LIVE MUSIC VENUES SHUTTERSTOCK PHOTO

PULSE 7

Mumford

and Sons (and friends) Grammy-winning U.K. band Mumford and Sons created the Gentlemen of the Road tour to bring big-name performers to spots off the beaten path.

The lineup also includes Blake Mills, Jenny Lewis, The Maccabees, The Very Best, Rubblebucket and JEFF The Brotherhood as well as yet-tobe-announced local and regional acts. More than 35,000 people are expected to attend the festival.

Stay tuned Headed to the festival? (You should be!) Pulse has got you covered. Check out our June issue for the definitive guide to the Gentlemen of the Road event. It’ll have maps, schedules and vendors aplenty. Don’t miss it!

Gentleman of the Road Tour June 19-20, Waverly $199 | Waverly Chamber of Commerce gentlemenoftheroad.com

2015 IOWA STATE FAIR

GRANDSTAND LINE-UP THURSDAY, AUGUST 13

SUNDAY, AUGUST 16

with special guest for KING & COUNTRY 8 P.M. | $32

with special guest CAROLINE KOLE 8 P.M. | $45

CASTING CROWNS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19

REBA

FRIDAY, AUGUST 14

MONDAY, AUGUST 17

with special guest EASTON CORBIN 8 P.M. | $35

with special guest MICHAEL RAY 8 P.M. | $60

JUSTIN MOORE

CARRIE UNDERWOOD

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15

TUESDAY, AUGUST 18

with special guests STYX and TESLA 7 P.M. | $53

8 P.M. | $35

DEF LEPPARD

YES AND TOTO

GRAND OUTLAW NATIONAL TRACTOR AND TRUCK PULL

SPONSORED BY IOWA FARMER TODAY 2 P.M. | $20 ADULTS, $10 CHILDREN AGES 6–11 free for ages 5 and under

and special guest CHRIS JANSON 8 P.M. | $40

THE FRAY

with special guest ANDY GRAMMER 8 P.M. | $38

SATURDAY, AUGUST 22

MEGHAN TRAINOR SUNDAY, AUGUST 23

ROCK-A-THON

starring DEE SNIDER, DOKKEN, WARRANT, FIREHOUSE and EDDIE TRUNK 6 P.M. | $30

ON SALE NOW

800.745.3000 · IOWASTATEFAIR.ORG

8 PULSE

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21

with special guest TBA 8 P.M. | $40

THURSDAY, AUGUST 20

ALABAMA

PRESENTED BY

Tickets for all concerts and events are on sale now through all Ticketmaster outlets, online at ticketmaster.com or by phone at 800.745.3000. All concert seats are reserved. All track events are general admission. Convenience charges apply to all tickets. The Iowa State Fair Ticket Office will open July 6 for walk-up orders only (assuming tickets remain). Grandstand tickets do not include admission to the Fair. Gate admission must be purchased separately.

COURTESY AND SHUTTERSTOCK PHOTOS

The tour’s June 19 and 20 stopover brings them, The Flaming Lips, Dawes, My Morning Jacket and others to Waverly.

WILCO If you don’t want to miss out on acts like veteran indie groups Wilco and Weezer, the headliners of this year’s festival in downtown Des Moines, you’ll want to get your tickets now. Wilco, the Chicago-based alt-rock band headed by Jeff Tweedy, is taking a break from a 20th anniversary tour to headline. Weezer is coming off touring for their 2014 release, Everything Will Be Alright in the End. Jenny Lewis, Run the Jewels and Kind Country will join another nearly four dozen acts on stage at 80/35, with more yet to be announced. With more acts and more than 30,000 people expected to attend Iowa’s largest music festival, tickets are already selling fast. VIP tickets are sold out, but two-day passes are still available.

WEEZER

J.LEWIS

80/35 featuring Wilco, Weezer and dozens more July 10-11, Des Moines $59, $39 advance; $90, $50 gate | midwestix.com

WEEZER JENNY LEWIS RUN THE JEWELS TALIB KWELI WILCO JON WAYNE & THE PAIN LETTUCE CLOUD NOTHINGS EMPIRES HOT BUTTERED RUM HEAD FOR THE HILLS ST. LUCIA NATURAL CHILD JADEN CARLSON BAND AMASA HINES THE KICKBACK KIND COUNTRY CANBY FLY GOLDEN EAGLE BOH DORAN ROME FORTUNE

Presenting Sponsor

Major Sponsors

PULSE 9

Xenoblade 3D: I’m really feeling it! ALAN SIMMER | PULSE WRITER

’ve been enjoying the stable 3-D and the faster download times of my New 3DS XL for the past few months, but I didn’t really understand how much more juice is under the hood until I popped in Xenoblade Chronicles 3D. I’m still a little stunned this Wii port works on a handheld at all, much less that it looks just as good, if a bit smaller. Yes, Shulk is a still a fishy-faced monster man, which is actually a bit harder to take if you’ve been playing with him in Smash Bros. But the character models are not the visual highlight of Xenoblade. That would be the dramatic vistas and landscapes of the Bionis and Mechonis, two defunct titans on which our story unfolds. And therein lies the key detriment to the New 3DS version of this RPG classic.

The handheld can cope with the large draw distance required, but the sweeping grandiosity of the Gaur Plains and the shimmering isles of the Eryth Sea are a bit muted by the smaller presentation. It can also be harder to see details during fights. Positioning is very important during battle, with many attacks producing extra damage or effects if delivered from the side or rear, and it can be tricky to decide which way an enemy is facing. Keeping a closer eye on the aggro ring helps, but it’s not as easy to process the entirety of a fight with all the action in a smaller space. Those beefs aside, the game feels very at home on a portable device. Xenoblade is a game that can eat up many, many, many, many hours of your life — I think my Wii try took about 140 hours. Given the quest-based nature of the game, it’s easy to flip open your New 3DS and knock a few out if you’ve got a little bit of time. (Even if it’s your first time through, don’t feel bad about looking up a quest guide online so you aren’t spending hours sprinting around looking for missions.) When I step back and looks at the scales, the pros and cons of Xenoblade Chronicles 3D pretty much balance each other out. If you missed the now-rare game on the Wii, this is an excellent chance to pick it up. If you already have it, there’s no compelling reason to get the port — besides a great excuse to spend more time in its expansive world and get hyped for Xenoblade Chronicles X. Reason enough in my book.

For: New 3DS | Price: $39.99 | Rated: T

Puzzle and Dragons SMT: Devil Survivor Z + Super Mario Bros 2 Record Breaker A Japanese smartphone game turned 3DS blockbuster, plus a Mario-themed version because why not?

SMT is, of course, Shin Megami Tensei, so expect demons and kids and fun that doesn’t have to make sense.

3DS; May 22.

3DS; May 5.

MAY 19 FOR: PC, PS4, XB1

This game looks technically amazing and topically intriguing. Kill monsters and pretty much do whatever else you want in a fully realized world.

PULSE 13

ALAN SIMMER | PULSE

MAY 1

MAY 15

Far From the Madding Crowd In Victorian England, the independent and headstrong Bathsheba Everdene attracts three very different suitorzzz… Zzz… Zzz…

Mad Max: Fury Road Charlize Theron’s character is literally named Furious, but there’s an “a” at the end to make it feminine. May we suggest Mad Maxine instead?

Ride Helen Hunt writes, directs and stars in this flick about a helicopter parent who hovers across the country in pursuit of her surf-loving son.

I’ll See You in My Dreams If you wanted to watch a movie about dating while elderly, this is your chance! Stars Blythe Danner, plus Rhea Perlman alert!

MAY 8

MAY 29

Hot Pursuit Reese Witherspoon and Sofia Vergara could be a comedy duo like Amy Poehler and Tina Fey. Or a duo like Ben Affleck and JLo. Time will tell!

San Andreas Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has to survive several explosions to rescue his … looks like a daughter, in this case, from an earthquake.

Welcome to Me There’s plenty of fertile ground for Kristen Wiig to plow here as a lottery winner with borderline personality disorder who buys her own talk show.

Aloha Bradley Cooper. Rachel McAdams. Emma Stone. Alec Baldwin. John Krasinski. Bill Freaking Murray. If this is bad, someone should be blackballed.

MAY 1

STARRING: Jeremy Renner, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, James Spader

10 sensing PULSE a record-breaking box office weekend in the near future. I’m

MAY 15 STARRING: Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Brittany Snow They should have called it 2 Pitch 2 Perfect instead of Pitch Perfect 2.

MAY 22 STARRING: Britt Robertson, George Clooney, Hugh Laurie, Judy Greer I’m not really sure what the plot of this movie is, but it looks very pretty and I trust director Brad Bird, who also wrote and directed The Incredibles and Ratatouille.

College Hill Arts Festival

37th Annual

Cedar Falls, Iowa | West 23rd and College

June 19-20, 2015 Friday Noon - 8 pm and Saturday 10 am - 5 pm

www.collegehillartsfestival.com 75 Juried Artists | Music | Kid’s Activities Free Admission | Free Parking

MAY 22 STARRING: Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne, Jason Statham, Jude Law, Allison Janney This farce reunites McCarthy and Byrne with Bridesmaids director Paul Feig — to great comic effect, one hopes. When McCarthy’s CIA desk agent volunteers to go undercover to take down an arms dealer, hijinks and disguises galore will no doubt ensue.

2401 Falls Avenue Waterloo, IA 40701

Monday-Saturday 11AM to 9PM DISNEY, UNIVERSAL, 20TH CENTURY FOX PHOTOS

PULSE 11

ALAN SIMMER | PULSE WRITER

Nintendo’s taking aim at the first-person shooter genre, and their guns are filled with ink. Cover the battleground with your color, then turn into a squid to quickly swim through it. The victor controls the most territory at the end of the match. Cute, quirky and ripe with possibility, this could be a real winner.

FOR: Wii U

MAY 29

Starships ahoy! JAMES FRAZIER | PULSE WRITER

n the gaming world, designer Sid Meier’s name is synonymous with strategy games of high accessibility and even higher quality. Meier has cited board games from his childhood as an influence, and it has always shown; colorful displays, interlocking sets of rules that form a smooth overall dynamic, activities that usually focus on a scope far wider than the individual. Sid Meier’s Starships is simpler than usual, designed with ease of play and quick(er) gaming experiences in mind. The graphics and design aren’t anything that couldn’t have been found at the start of the century, though their simplicity ensures few will worry about system requirements. Starships is accessible enough that there’s an iPad version, though I played it on PC. The game sees players take the lead of an interstellar empire, where they control a fleet of powerful starships. Diplomacy is an option but also an afterthought. The real meat of the game comes in navigating your warships to different star systems and convincing them to join your empire. Each player gets one fleet, usually consisting of a handful of ships. All vessels are identical when purchased, with functionality fleshed out through the purchase of upgrades. Within this relatively simple system is a litany of ways to play. Ships can be equipped with cloaking devices for ambushes or powerful sensors to hunt others down. Lasers, plasma

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guns and torpedoes vary in effectiveness at different ranges, meaning you can tailor your fleet for close or distant combat. Armor and shields keep ships alive through fierce firefights, while vessels can launch fighter squadrons to distract and outflank the enemy across hexbased maps. Each engagement comes with mission objectives, which range from destroy ’em all to escorting allied vessels. Managing resources and planets occupies the majority of the game’s non-combat time. Each planet confers a bonus on your empire, while the world’s surface facilities produce different resources to fuel your war machine. Ships aren’t really destroyed during battles, just damaged or knocked out. Afterwards, they can be resurrected with the expenditure of some resources, and usually a small sum at that. At first it’s a relief to see your beloved flagship hasn’t been permanently lost. But then you’ll notice little suspense to all but the most crucial battles, and even then you’re not tested by any sort of emotional or even practical attachment to your ships. Defeating an enemy homeworld vanquishes them altogether and gives you ownership of their empire. This means a small empire can quickly find itself elevated to the top, though this also means a war between computer players can suddenly mean a Game Over as one side skyrockets to the top. This makes quick moves a necessity, further facilitating the game’s light feel. The potential

Sid Meier’s Starships For: iOS, Mac, PC | Price: $14.99 | Rated: E10+ Pros: Easy to learn, low system requirements. Cons: Primitive graphics, low stakes.

for drama is there, but with these mechanics, you’re not likely to find yourself terribly moved or excited by each campaign’s outcome. The game’s speed does make Starships addictive, the brevity encouraging the “one more turn” syndrome that can turn an intended casual play-through into a marathon time eater. Compared to masterpiece titles such as Civilization or Alpha Centauri, though, Starships is minor Meier. NINTENDO, 2K GAMES, PROJEKT RED, SHUTTERSTOCK IMAGES

Xenoblade 3D: I’m really feeling it!

But the character models are not the visual highlight of Xenoblade. That would be the dramatic vistas and landscapes of the Bionis and Mechonis, two defunct titans on which our story unfolds. And therein lies the key detriment to the New 3DS version of this RPG classic.

I’m still a little stunned this Wii port works on a handheld at all, much less that it looks just as good, if a bit smaller. Yes, Shulk is a still a fishy-faced monster man, which is actually a bit harder to take if you’ve been playing with him in Smash Bros.

The handheld can cope with the large draw distance required, but the sweeping grandiosity of the Gaur Plains and the shimmering isles of the Eryth Sea are a bit muted by the smaller presentation.

ALAN SIMMER | PULSE WRITER ss

nal

T heat r

It can also be harder to see details during fights. Positioning is very important during battle, with many attacks producing extra damage or effects if delivered from the side or rear, and it can be tricky to decide which way an enemy is facing. Keeping a closer eye on the aggro ring helps, but it’s not as easy to process the entirety of a fight with all the action in a smaller space.

Iowa’s Oldest Professional Theatre’s 2015 Season Begins!

Marquetta senters as The Matchmaker

April 30 May 21

Those beefs aside, the game feels very at home on a portable device. Xenoblade is a game that can eat up many, many, many, many hours of your life — I think my Wii try took about 140 hours. Given the quest-based nature of the game, it’s easy to flip open your New 3DS and knock a few out if you’ve got a little bit of time. (Even if it’s your first time through, don’t feel bad about looking up a quest guide online so you aren’t spending hours sprinting around looking for missions.)

By Thornton Wilder

he On T Main Stage Old Creamery favorite, Marquetta Senters, stars as delightful professional busybody, Dolly Levi, in this classic romantic comedy!

When I step back and looks at the scales, the pros and cons of Xenoblade Chronicles 3D pretty much balance each other out. If you missed the now-rare game on the Wii, this is an excellent chance to pick it up. If you already have it, there’s no compelling reason to get the port — besides a great excuse to spend more time in its expansive world and get hyped for Xenoblade Chronicles X. Reason enough in my book.

May 28 - 31

by andrew edlin On the Studio q Stage

For: New 3DS | Price: $39.99 | Rated: T

“fascinating, hilarious, and dramatic... a truly remarkable play!”

Sponsored by:

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Winner of the Olivier Award for Best New Comedy!

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PULSE 13

HAR-DI-HAR WE ARE | THEY ARE

xperimental rock duo Har-di-Har is adept at creating a full-band sound. Watching Julie and Andrew Thoreen share a drum kit, play keys and guitar at the same time is almost as hypnotic as their haunting, melodic singing. Har-di-Har was established while the two were living in Cedar Falls. They have since moved north to Minnesota but return to their home state for shows and events. Their new EP, We Are | They Are, doesn’t significantly depart from the pair’s signature sound of blended synth, drums and looping, spooky harmonized vocals. What is new and surprising is the complex

JOHN MOLSEED | PULSE WRITER

orchestration on display in the fourtrack album. Instead of replicating their live performance sound, We Are | They Are features layers of sounds and instrumentations not found on their previous recordings, resulting in an impressive, full sound. Bottom Dollar best demonstrates that approach. A deep bass punctuated with a snare and Julie’s rapid-fire lyrics, a trombone line and various noises give the song a hip-hop feel. Recording separate tracks gives the couple the freedom to mix and add. Andrew adds trombone, one of his main instruments as a music major at University of Northern Iowa.

Julie adds multiple layers and synth sounds. Perhaps to free them up for their added parts in the album, John Peter sits in on drums in We Scare Each Other and Cory Healey is in on drums on Bottom Dollar. According to the couple, We Scare Each Other was inspired by an argument between them that resulted in Andrew being booted out of the car and forced to walk home. Despite this, the album demonstrates the pair can maintain a harmonious relationship. The four-song EP is a run-up to the duo’s first full-length album they plan to release later this year.

JESSE MALIN NEW YORK BEFORE THE WAR

LUDACRIS LUDAVERSAL

hether as Chris Bridges or as his nom de rap, Ludacris, the emcee-turnedactor has spent the latter half of this decade honing his cinematic skills, notably in the Fast and Furious series.

double-time rhythms, title track Ludaversal announces the rapper’s rude intentions and deep commitment: “They say Luda don’t want it no more / Nah, I’m as hungry as the first day.”

This can’t hide the fact that, earlier in the 2000s, he was an avatar in pushing Atlanta (the city and the aesthetic) in the Dirty South’s rise to hip-hop prominence. With a voice like a hot slide trombone, a patented punctuated flow and a friendly, lyrical braggadocio, Ludacris has carved out his own brand of pop-hop.

Sure, there are a lot of “I’m back” bits and typical rap gloats and boasts, but Ludacris still manages to go deep and ruminate. The rope-a-dopey pulse of Ocean Skies gives way to a personal story of familial addictions. Grass Is Always Greener and Charge It to the Rap Game find Luda dealing seriously with leeches in the media and his family. Luckily, Luda still sounds like the rubber-band man throughout.

With producer David Banner providing

— A.D. Amorosi, Tribune News Service

KITSCH WHITE PICKET FENCES 2.5

mily Otis, the velour-throated chanteuse who has owned intimate spaces like Octopus and the Carriage House, has never disappointed audiences. And this time she’s outdone herself. Her new trio, Kitsch, features Jonny Dexter (of Lover’s Speed) on drums and Michael Bowman on bass — a power trio of sorts that prepares the listener for something along the lines of punk or hardcore. Listeners will not be disappointed as they enter the first of three tracks on White Picket Fences 2.5, which kicks off with a distorted riff reminiscent of rockabilly with a thrashy edge. The song develops over the course of its heartfelt verses into cascades. The chorus pulls the band into a woozy triple

14 PULSE

t was more than a decade ago that Jesse Malin made the transition from punk and glam rocker to urban troubadour with The Fine Art of Self-Destruction, winning the admiration of Bruce Springsteen, among many others. Malin has always been a rocker at heart, however. And at his best on his first album in nearly five years, the New York native and former D Generation front man melds his scruffy street-poet aesthetic with the power and the glory of the big beat.

meter and stops itself dead silent before catching its breath, regaining its balance and kicking, full force, back off into four. Otis, one suspects, would not release a recording with just any old band, and she has chosen her men wisely. Dexter is adept at keeping pace through all of the shifts in mood (including an eerie bossa) and never loses his hold of the ensemble. Bowman accentuates and keeps an undertow without showing off. This restraint is of utmost importance for accompanying Otis, whose voice is undoubtedly the showcase. The band works healthfully as a whole, and the result is a sound that is anything but stagnant. Take, for example, the whistle solo toward the end. Kitsch, indeed.

If that sounds like the M.O. of a certain New Jerseyan, Malin puts his own Manhattan-centric stamp on the template — and Turn Up the Mains is closer to the Stones than Springsteen anyway.

A full-length album is in play, and shows are set May 8 at the Octopus in Cedar Falls and May 30 at the Vaudeville Mews in Des Moines.

On Bent Up, Malin sings of a character who’s “all messed up on rock ’n’ roll.” But with this sweepingly ambitious set (which also has some fine quieter moments, such as the soul-tinged She Don’t Love Me Now), Malin taps into what’s most inspiring and redemptive about the music.

— Aaron McNally, Pulse

— Nick Cristiano, Tribune News Service

OUR PICKS, YOUR CLICKS Soon as We Rise by Duane Stephenson Velvety reggae about social uplift for whenever the world gets you down. — Wesley T. 9 to 5 by Smallpools This track off the group’s new album, Lovetap, has a zesty chorus that brings a smile to my face every time. — Alan S. Shanghai Cigarettes by Caitlin Rose This is the kind of sad country song an indie pop fan can get behind: charming, twangy and more than a little quirky. — Christinia C. Dry the Rain by Beta Band Off the group’s Champion Versions EP in 1997. “I will be your light” is all right. — Doug H. Best Friend by Yelawolf feat. Eminem Roots meets rap meets huh? Thankfully, Yela’s sweet, spiritual sound is enough. I’ll hit up the Genius annotation for the rest. — Meta H. Have You Seen My Love? by Barenaked Ladies This love song from the 2003 album Everything to Everyone sounds more like a lullaby. It’s slow and steady with wonderful harmonies. — David H.

La Loose by Waxahatchee Delicate, drum machine-driven pop that sounds like summer. — Wesley T. Avalanche by Walk the Moon “One glance and the avalanche drops / One look and my heartbeat stops.” Because when you know, you know. — Alan S. The Obvious Child by Paul Simon Listen to this 1990 track from pop great Simon just once and you’ll be happily bouncing to the beat for the rest of the day. — Christinia C. She’s Lost Control by Joy Division From the 1980 Atmosphere single, a claustrophobic, foreboding, danceable song. — Doug H. Little Tiny Moustache by Stephen Lynch Lynch’s sweet vocals and hilarious lyrics are in abundance on this song about dating a Nazi. — David H. All I Ever Wanted by Montana of 300 feat. Dallas Eli This poignant cut will resonate with anyone who spent their early years as a have-not. Deep stuff. — Meta H.

Who doesn’t like seeing their photo in Celebrations? Now you can upload and share your celebrations online in a snap. Go to www.WCFCourier.com/celebrations.

OVED

Cedar Valley House Concerts welcomes back Daphne Willis — yes, the Daphne Willis — for a performance Thursday, May 21 at 122 W. 10th St., Cedar Falls. Minimum requested donation to see the show is $20, all of which goes to the artist. Doors open at 6:45 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30 p.m. Seating is limited, so be sure to RSVP to cvhouseconcerts@gmail.com. A second May concert featuring a double bill takes place at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 22 at 3905 Wedgewood Drive, Cedar Falls. Performing are Joe Firstman and Tom Brosseau (feat. Andru Bemis.) RSVP to the email address above, with “Tom” in the subject line.

Daphne Willis in the house

COURTESY PHOTO

Barenaked ladies Gotta see the show ’cause then you’ll know the vertigo is gonna grow, cause it’s so dangerous you’ll have to sign a waiver. OK. You gotta see the show, but you won’t have to sign a waiver

for the Barenaked Ladies’ performance Monday, June 8 in Cedar Rapids. These Canadian pop rockers can play their butts off, as evidenced by their smash hits One Week, If I Had a

Million Dollars and Brian Wilson. And for the uninitiated, the group is neither barenaked nor ladies. Discuss. Sharing the concert bill are the Violent Femmes and Colin Hay.

Barenaked Ladies

with Violent Femmes and Colin Hay Monday, June 8 @ 7 PM McGrath Amphitheatre, Cedar Rapids $39.50 | $45 | $65 ticketmaster.com

COURTESY PH OTO

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Lucky lady Last year, Suzy Bogguss put out her new album, Lucky, funding the project entirely with a $75,000 Kickstarter campaign. Sheer genius. Lucky, which honors legendary songwriter Merle Haggard and

includes favorites such as Silver and platinum- and gold-selling Wings, Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down albums. and Today I Started Loving You Again, landed a spot in the top 20 on the Suzy Bogguss Americana chart. Sunday, May 10, @ 7 PM The Grammy-winning Bog- Englert Theatre, Iowa City guss boasts eight Top 5 singles $25 | englert.org

$5 OFF With Purchase of

$25 or More GreGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Place

Must present coupon. Not valid with any other offer or discount. Expires 5-22-15

GreG's Place Restaurant and Night Club

- Open for Breakfast Lunch and Dinner Relaxed Comfortable Dining and Dancing Experience. Serving Lunch and Dinner Mon.,Tues.,Wed. 11am-2am, Thur., Fri., Sat. 6am-2am and Sun. 6am-2pm

New Menu Including Smoked Meats

Weekly Specials Monday: $10.00 2 for 1 Select Martinis Tuesday: Tall Boy Tuesday! All $2.50 Wednesday: Whiskey Weds, 50 cents off all whiskey, Thursday: Thirsty Thursday $1.00 Off Pitchers, 50 cents OFF Pints, Rib Night, Friday: TGIF - Happy Hour all day, Rib Night! $2.00 Wells and $2.50 Domestic Bottles Saturday: Any Bomb Shot 4 For $10.00, Rib Night, Sunday: Sunday Fun Day: $3.00 Vodkas.

Music

CO U

HO TO

Thur.-Fri. DJ 9-1 Sat. Live Bands 9-1

926 LaPorte Road, Waterloo

(319) 232-5125 PULSE 17

Check our website for 2015 Events at

www.cedarfallsdowntown.com

Calendar of Events May-August, 2015 • Wednesday on Wheels: Every Wednesday beginning May 6th, 6:15pm - Corner of 4th & Main • Farmers Market: Every Saturday beginning May 2nd, 8:30am-noon - Overman Park • Girls’ Night Out: May 7th, 5-8pm - Downtown Cedar Falls • Starting From Scratch: Homesteading in Rural Iowa: May 14th, 7pm - Victorian Home & Carriage House Museum • Cedar Falls Municipal Band Performance: Every Tuesday June-July, 7:30pm - Overman Park • Live to 9: June 5th, 6-9pm - Sturgis Park • Movies Under the Moon - 101 Dalmatians: June 5th - Overman Park • Live to 9: June 19th, 6-9pm - Sturgis Park

Is Here

• Movies Under the Moon - The Sandlot: June 19th - Overman Park • Sturgis Falls Celebration: June 25th-28th • Movies Under the Moon - The Princess Bride: July 10th - Overman Park • Historical Society Garden Tour: July 12th, 1-5pm • Live to 9: July 17th, 6-9pm - Sturgis Park • Live to 9: July 24th, 6-9pm - Sturgis Park • Movies Under the Moon - Night at the Museum: July 24th - Overman Park • Shrine Bowl Parade: July 25th, 9:30am - Downtown Cedar Falls • Sidewalk Sale Days: July 31st-August 1st - Downtown Cedar Falls • Live to 9: August 7th, 6-9pm - Sturgis Park • Movies Under the Moon - Sleeping Beauty: August 7th - Overman Park • Movies Under the Moon - Shrek: August 21st - Overman Park • Cedar Valley Gran Fondo & Fondo Fest: August 22nd -

Monday - Friday 10 AM - 6 PM Saturday 10 AM - 5 PM

Downtown Cedar Falls • Live to 9: August 28th, 6-9pm - Sturgis Park

18 PULSE

321 Main St., Cedar Falls

319.266.6497

Be our friend on facebook! twitter. /LBLitzonmain

in good CEDAR FALLS

Beck’s Sports Grill | American, Sports Bar 2210 College St., Cedar Falls 319-277-2646 Hours: Open daily at 11 am www.barmuda.com Featuring Beck's homemade microbrews, voted best burger, locally owned restaurant, sports bar and place to play pool in the Cedar Valley.

Soho Sushi Bar & Deli The Stuffed Olive | Deli, Sushi, Tapas, Martinis 119 Main St., Cedar Falls 319-266-9995 Hours: Monday – Friday at 6:30 am; Saturday – Sunday at 7:00 am www.barmuda.com Fresh made sushi and deli sandwiches, PRICING GUIDE (per entrée) | $10

WATERLOO

Bourbon Street | American, Cajun and Creole 314 Main St., Cedar Falls 319-266-5285 Hours: Monday – Saturday 4 - 10 pm www.barmuda.com Bourbon Street is a step off of Main Street into the French Quarter featuring Certified Black Angus steaks and delicious seafood complimented by an extensive menu and great wines. Ferrari’s Ristorante | American and Italian 1521 Technology Pkwy., Cedar Falls 319-277-1385 Hours: Monday – Friday 11 am - 10 pm, Saturday 4 - 10 pm www.barmuda.com Ferrari’s features only the finest steaks, freshest seafood and authentic Italian fare. Offering light, quick lunch options along with an extensive dinner menu and wine.

salads and paninis combined with globally inspired tapas dishes and over 100 different martinis.Also serving homemade breakfast selections and cookies made from scratch. Beck’s Sports Brewery Sports Bar | American, Microbrewery 3295 University Ave., Waterloo 319-234-4333 Hours: Open daily at 11 am www.barmuda.com Featuring Beck’s homemade microbrews and famous burgers, wings and pizza. Voted best burger (10 years running), best happy hour, best locally owned restaurant and sports bar in the Cedar Valley. Guerilla Brewing/Lava Lounge/Beer Hall | Microbrewery and Bar 2401 Falls Ave., Waterloo 319-234-5686 Hours: Monday – Thursday 5 pm - Midnight; Friday & Saturday 4 pm - Midnight Artisanal Nano Brewery is releasing limited run beer, producing 10 gallons of each new recipe.We produced 50 different beers in 2013. Brand new brew.

Hilton Garden Inn Garden Grille & Bar | 7213 Nordic Drive Cedar Falls 319-266-6611 HiltonGardenInn.com Hours: Breakfast Monday-Friday 6:00 am – 10:00 am Saturday-Sunday and Holidays 7:00 am – 11:00 am Lunch Monday – Friday 11:00 am – 2:00 pm Saturday-Sunday and Holidays CLOSED $20

$30

Dinner Monday – Sunday and Holidays 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm Full service dining with intimate atmosphere, exterior patios and fire pits. Open to the public for breakfast, lunch and dinner.A freshly prepared breakfast buffet is offered daily, Monday-Fridays our Personalized Pasta Bar Buffet is available along with our full lunch menu. Dinner menu with entrées from a great steak to yummy burgers and delicious desserts. Bar menu available for smaller bites, great beers on tap and selective wines.

Combines the comfort of a neighborhood bar and grill with the favorites of a steakhouse. Choose from the delicious pastas, sandwiches, salads, steaks, fish and desserts. Rudy’s Tacos | Mexican 2401 Falls Ave., Waterloo 319-234-5686 Hours: Monday – Saturday 11:00 am - 9:00 pm www.rudystacos.com

Our experienced staff and delicious menu selections are sure to make your dining with us a success.

Rudy’s uses local ingredients through the Northern Iowa Food and Farm Partnership’s Buy Fresh/Buy Local program.

The Lone Wolf | Bar, Restaurant 777 Isle of Capri Blvd., Waterloo 319-833-2157 Hours: Monday – Friday Breakfast 7:00 am - 10:30 pm Sunday – Thursday 11:30 am - 1:00 am Friday & Saturday 11:30 am - 2:00 am Karaoke – Wednesday 8:00 pm - Midnight Howl Hour 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm Monday – Thursday Glass of Wine $1.50 Retro Beers $1.50 $2.00 off appetizers www.waterloo. isleofcapricasinos.com

Hurricane Grill and Wings American Restaurant and Bar 2027 Crossroads, Blvd., Waterloo 319-833-9464 Hours: Open daily at 11:00 am www.hurricanewingsia.com

Whether you feel like getting food to go or plan to stay a while,The Lone Wolf is sure to please. Otis & Henry’s Bar and Grill. | Bar and Grill 777 Isle of Capri Blvd., Waterloo 319-833-2241 Hours: Tuesday – Saturday open at 5 pm Closed Sunday and Monday www.waterloo. isleofcapricasinos.com

Hurricane Grill and Wings is a fun family restaurant with a tropical feel, specializing in wings that are “LIVE WITH FLAVOR” with over 30 sauces to choose from. Offering an outdoor patio with a super menu and specialty drinks.

Hy-Vee Market Café | 1422 Flammang Drive, Waterloo 319-274-0407 Hours: Sunday – Thursday 6:00 am to 9:00 pm Friday – Saturday 6:00 am to 10:00 pm www.hy-veemarketcafe.com Hy-Vee Market Café is a full-service restaurant where the goal is to serve great food at a great value in a great atmosphere. Offers breakfast, lunch and dinner and features delicious appetizers, salads, sandwiches, and a full bar. Every menu item is made-to-order with fresh ingredients and served by friendly wait staff. On Sundays join us for brunch, which includes an exceptional buffet with a Create-YourOwn Eggs Benedict and Omelet Station.

$40+

PULSE 19

COMING UP AT

GALLAGHER BLUEDORN

Friends Presents

THE TEXAS TENORS

Wednesday, July 15, 7:30 PM Tickets: $35—$29

FOR TICKETS: WWW.GBPAC.COM or 1-877-549-SHOW (7469) 20 PULSE