AUGUST 2014
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ART IN FLUXX
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HIP-HOP HOPES
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LATE NIGHT MUNCHIES
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PULSE HIT LIST
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BIG SCREEN RUNDOWN
Lost Island full bleed
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contents ames
ankeny
cedar falls
cedar rapids
des moines
08.14 indianola
iowa city
waterloo issue 119
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But you can find out for sure if you play Always Sometimes Monsters. Catch our review of this intriguing video game.
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ARt shoW With peRks
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Color-minded artist Bret Miller blends beauty with substance at his new exhibit at Sidecar Coffee in Cedar Falls.
Alan Simmer Associate Editor 319.291.1487 alan.simmer@ wcfcourier.com John Molseed Staff Writer 319.291.1418 john.molseed@ wcfcourier.com
Cady Colosimo Staff Writer 515.246.0402 ext. 204 ccolosimo@ pioneermagazines.com David Hemenway Lead Designer 319.291.1475 david.hemenway@ wcfcourier.com
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sAles stAFF eAsteRn ioWA Sheila Kerns 319.291.1448 sheila.kerns@wcfcourier.com
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OWN THE NIGHT AT THE 2014 IOWA STATE FAIR CADY COLOSIMO | PULSE WRITER
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FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE
ashville natives Lady Antebellum are making their way to the Iowa State Fair this year. Since first entering the country music arena in 2008 with their self-titled debut album, the band has seen an insane amount of success. To date they have released five albums, four of which have gone platinum. The Lady has also racked up seven Grammys and endless other awards. When they aren’t slaying award season, they’re touring the world with country heroes like Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw. On Saturday, Aug. 16, Lady Antebellum will grace the Iowa State Fair grandstand stage as a part of their cross-country tour of summer fairs. The Iowa State Fair has a history of attracting big country acts like Reba McIntyre and Garth Brooks. In fact, playing the Iowa State Fair is pretty much a rite of passage for any country superstar. Now it’s Lady Antebellum’s turn to own the night.
GRANDSTAND STAGE Newsboys with special guest Matthew West Thursday, Aug. 7 @ 8 PM; $30 Happy Together Tour starring The Turtles Friday, Aug. 8 @ 8 PM; $25 Goo Goo Dolls and Daughtry with special guest Plain White T’s Saturday, Aug. 9 @ 8 PM; $39 Florida Georgia Line with special guest Colt Ford Tuesday, Aug. 12 @ 8 PM; $40 Jake Owen and Eli Young Band with special guest The Cadillac Three Thursday, Aug. 14 @ 7 PM; $40 Chevelle and Halestrom Friday, Aug. 15 @ 8 PM; $35 Lady Antebellum with special guests Billy Currington and Kelsey K Saturday, Aug. 16 @ 8 PM; $49
NEWSBOYS
FAIRVIEW FREE STAGE
BUD LIGHT FREE STAGE
Foreigner and Styx Sunday, Aug. 17 @ 8 PM; $39
Los Lonely Boys Thursday, Aug. 7 @ 8 PM
Alien Ant Farm Saturday, Aug. 9 @ 8 PM
Winger Thursday, Aug. 7 @ 8 PM
Slaughter Saturday, Aug. 10 @ 8 PM
Tickets for all shows are available at iowastatefair.org.
The Nadas Friday, Aug. 8 @ 7 & 9 PM
The Romantics Wednesday, Aug. 13 @ 8 PM
Great White Friday, Aug. 8 @ 8 PM
Fastball Sunday, Aug. 17 @ 8 PM
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LADY ANTEBELLUM
LOS LONELY BOYS
JAKE OWEN SHUTTERSTOCK AND COURTESY PHOTOS
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GREAT THINGS TO DO AT THE IOWA STATE FAIR There’s no shortage of weird sights to see and diabetes-inducing foods to eat at the Iowa State Fair. The fair runs for 10 days, Aug. 7-12, and still there isn’t time for all of it. Believe me, I’ve tried. Here’s a roundup of some fair classics and quirky stuff to see (and selfie) to help you plan your time at the nation’s greatest fair.
CADY COLOSIMO PULSE WRITER
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IOWA CRAFT BEER TENT 48 taps of glorious Iowa beer, free live music and sweet temporary tattoos. Need I say more?
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VARIED INDUSTRIES BUILDING OK, so maybe you aren’t in the market for a hot tub, but you can still walk around this air-conditioned building when you need a break from the heat and use a real, flushable toilet while you’re there. Lots of booths hand out free swag, too. Score!
BEARD CONTEST There are few greater things in this world than a fine beard. They will all be on display here. Prizes are awarded in categories like longest beard, most historic nature and best beard design with costume. Catch it at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12, in Pioneer Hall.
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SUPER BULL See the largest bull in the state of Iowa and probably the universe. You can also see the biggest pig. I always make a point to touch its nose. It’s super soft and maybe a little wet. While you’re chilling with the livestock, go hold a baby piglet. It’s good for the soul.
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GOTHIC PHOTO OP
New to the fair is God Bless America, a 25-foot sculpture of the farmer and his wife from Grant Wood’s famous American Gothic painting. This might be the only time the fair has this special traveling sculpture, so make sure to check it out at Pella Plaza. It would also make for a killer Instagram photo.
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CORN DOGS
An oldie but a goodie. If you can only do one thing at the fair, you’d better eat a corn dog or risk being kicked out of the state and forced to live in (gasp!) Nebraska.
The fair is mostly about eating, so why not wash down that corn dog with a deep-fried Twinkie or funnel cake on a stick? There are several new additions to the “food on a stick” category for 2014, so you can pick your poison.
PARTY LIKE A rockstar!
LDW AUG 28 I 6:30PM
A fair classic, this year’s butter sculpting theme is “Butter Field of Dreams.” Butter sculpting is not only a thing, it’s a time-honored and world-famous tradition at the Iowa State Fair. Check out 2011’s Butter on Netflix before you head to the fair. It’s got a great cast and will renew your love for the butter cow.
W E E K E N D
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WITH CRAIG CAMPBELL & CHARLIE WORSHAM! TICKETS STARTING FROM $19.
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THE BACKYARD BBQ
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DEEP-FRIED ERRY-THANG ON A STICK
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SHUTTERSTOCK, COURTESY, THOMAS BARRAT PHOTOS
PULSE 7
Hearth Fest For 10 years, Hearth Fest has brought people together for outdoor music, art and food for a good cause. The annual fundraiser is Sunday, Aug. 17, at Gateway Park in Cedar Falls and features live music, entertainment and art to raise money for the Northeast Iowa Food Bank.
Artists donate work and proceeds from sales to the cause. Musicians donate their time and talents while attendees pay what they choose for food at the Karma Cafe. The event is for all ages with children’s activities throughout the day, including a poster coloring contest and a show by the Dean of Juggling. Festivities begin at 2 p.m.
Enjoy Old World Italian Cuisine!
Last year’s event netted more than $4,200 for the food bank. The Northeast Iowa Food Bank serves 16 counties in Northeast Iowa. This year’s music lineup: 2 p.m., Kym & Staci, Newt & Zoot 2:30 p.m., Bryan Sink 3 p.m., Karen Rochford & Chelsea Ewen 4 p.m., Atomic Fireballs 4:30 p.m., Comfort Kings, Dead Writer 5:15 p.m., Uncle Chuck 6 p.m., Karla Ruth 6:30 p.m., Raldo and Friends 7:15 p.m., jam session with Raldo
Pasta, Pizza, Salads and all your favorites Des es Moin Moines’ most complete menu cluding Steak, Ch inclu k, Chicken and Seafood
CADY COLOSIMO | PULSE WRITER Des Moines’ 12th annual 515 Alive Urban Music and Arts Festival will take place Aug. 2 in Western Gateway Park. In previous years, 515 focused on electronic music but is now expanding to include other genres. “Electronic music has always had a very prominent role in 515 Alive, and it has remained that way since the beginning. However, bands and hip-hop acts are becoming more and more a part of the show,” said Dan Green, 515 director of operations.
One owner. One name. Family run since 1946.
The Original Lacona Family Restaurant!
2400 Ingersoll • Des Moines
515.288.2246
www.noahsdesmoines.com Monday–Thursday 11 am–11 pm Friday & Saturday 11 am–Midnight Never on Sunday
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515 features a crazy cool light show, go-go dancers, a car show and lots of music, and Green says it’ll be “one of the wildest nights of the summer.” eventbrite.com 515alivefestival.com
Cloudy with a Chance of Techno John Wayne and the Pain Downlink Terravita Splitbreed Dead Larry Filibusta Angel Alanis Hodj SP3 Beak Nasty DJ Raj Linear Symmetry T-Beck iParty Showcase Climax Holy White Hounds Gorilla Stomp Squad Lesson7 Matt Rissi
a t
“ a t g t w
E
SHUTTERSTOCK, COURTESY PHOTOS
August NCC CAleNdAr OF eVeNts
Aug. 3rd Neisca - Pullin Simonsen Arena Saturday and Sunday Open to the public - Free admission Aug. 4-6 Camp Hope - Grounds Aug. 8th Easy Does It D.J. - Electric Park Doors @ 7:00 Dance 7:15-11:15 for $10.00 Aug. 14th Thursday Night Dance - Barefoot Becky - Electric Park Doors @ 6:00 Dance 7:00-10:00 for $10.00 Aug. 15th SEVENDUST with Gemini Syndrome - Pepsi Pavilion Advance tickets at NCC and Ticketmaster $22.00, day of $25.00 Aug. 15th Bill Chrastil - Electric Park $10.00 at the door 7:00 – 11:00 Aug. 22nd Public Dance with Faythe Kubik - Electric Park Doors @ 7:00 Dance 7:15-11:15 for $10.00 Aug. 22-23 Barrel Racing - Pullin Simonsen Arena Saturday and Sunday Open to the public - Free admission Aug. 22-23 Motocross - Track Aug. 30-31 Neisca - Pullin Simonsen Arena Saturday and Sunday Open to the public - Free admission *Progressive Bingo on Sunday, Monday, and Thursday – Pepsi Pavilion Call 319-234-7515 for more information or visit www.nationalcattlecongress.com
J
ordan Weber’s first art gallery in the Des Moines East Village was inconsistent with his mission to bring art to inner city youth. At that location, he wasn’t connecting with his target audience. “The whole idea of that gallery was to engage kids in the inner city, but it was outside of it so no one came to it besides hipsters and YPs,” he said. So Weber, 29, decided if he couldn’t bring the kids to the art, he’d take the art to the kids. For five months, Weber has tooled around the city in the Fluxx Truck, a mobile art gallery. “The main goal is to inspire youth through activist-based art,” he said. “We do a lot of street art and graffiti classes, like tutorials on how to do wheat paste, tutorials on the basics of graffiti and what graffiti is. So basic tools for empowerment through art. … We try to expose them to different techniques where they can get their hands on stuff really cheap.” Empowering youth through art stems from Weber’s own experiences growing up in Des Moines.
“There only seems to be a few different ways to succeed — either becoming some sort of professional athlete or an entertainer of some kind. At least that’s what I grew up with too, especially with young black males. There’s these unwritten rules and we’re trying to break them with art,” he said. Early on, Weber found his niche on the basketball court. He played for Simpson College and Kirkwood. Then he got hurt. “I dropped out of college because I got hurt, so I stopped playing basketball and art was kind of the saving grace. It became a tool. I worked construction after that and it was the sh*ttiest five years of my life. So art really was like a way to channel a lot of aggression and all that failure that came from not playing basketball anymore,” he said. Now he wants to be the channel by which other inner city kids discover their art talents. The Fluxx Truck acts as a gallery and a classroom. The truck was funded by the Des Moines Social Club, which found merit in Weber’s ideas. The side of the truck features work by the artist Gage, one of Weber’s artistic inspirations.
In Fluxx
TEXT AND PHOTOS BY CADY COLOSIMO
PULSE 9
Cedar Falls Downtown ~ Explore Discover Indulge
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
st
u Aug
Wednesdays at 6:15pm - Cedar Valley Cyclists Wednesday Night Rides Saturdays from 8:30am-noon - Farmers Market August 8th - Movies Under the Moon: An American Tail August 8th - CVC Friday Night Loop Bike Ride August 15th-16th - Sidewalk Sales August 22nd - Movies Under the Moon: Brave August 22nd - CVC Friday Night Loop Bike Ride August 23rd - Panthers on Main
Aug 7 Aug 9 Aug 14 Aug 15 Aug 16 Aug 21 Aug 28 Aug 30
Check our website for 2014 Events at www.cedarfallsdowntown.com WO-030212008
Chic WHERE
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AFFORDABLE! MON.-THURS. 10 AM - 6 PM FRIDAY 10 AM TO 7 PM SAT. 10 AM - 5 PM 321 Main St., Cedar Falls
319.266.6497 Be our friend on facebook! 10 twitter. PULSE/LBLitzonmain
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8PM-10PM JAzz by HAnds of Time uncle cHuck JAzz by HAnds of Time open mic dAve mAlAm JAzz by HAnds of Time JAzz by HAnds of Time THe Honey bees
META HEMENWAY-FORBES | PULSE EDITOR
A
aron Nesby got his musical start as a tiny tot, learning to play guitar, keyboard, drums and bass guitar before he even reached his tender teens. He was inspired by his musician dad who, back in the day, played with the electronic funk/soul band Exotic Storm. Now, at 18, Nesby still finds his music fix on those instruments, but is generating buzz online with some different instruments — a mixer and some killer sound editing software.
Known to his fans as AGunz, Nesby’s built a following on Reverbnation and other up-and-comer-artist sites with tracks like Go Hard, Spoke the Truth, Made N***a and a couple of dozen others. He’s got listeners in Missouri, Minnesota, California and places in between. His online success has inspired him to release a mix tape in the coming weeks. AGunz’ gritty lyrics and artfully mixed beats resonate with listeners — anybody who’s had a rough come-up can relate, he said. “I had some trouble in school. I had lots of bullies (because of) my rough clothes, big ears. Music is my relief. I took
MATTHEW PUTNEY | PULSE PHOTOGRAPHER
my anger out on my guitar and my keyboard,” AGunz said. Pulse caught up with the budding producer and rap/trap artist from Waterloo to find out what inspires him.
Q. If you had to compare your sound to an established hip-hop artist, who would it be? A. I don’t compare myself to nobody. I’m different. I always switch up my flow. Q. When you’re not busy laying your own tracks, who do you listen to? A. I listen to myself — I’d rather listen to somebody who feels me, and who better than me for that? Q. You’re this talented kid from Iowa. Does the hip-hop industry overlook talent from this part of the country? A. They ignore the Midwest
so much. Waterloo has so much talent but there’s nobody looking at us. They think we don’t struggle, but we struggle just like people in the big cities do. Q. Some of your lyrics indicate you started down the wrong path but have turned yourself around. A. I don’t want no beef, bro. I don’t play around with that life no more. I put my heart in the (recording) booth now. I want to be a role model for other kids, let them know there is life and there is good out there. Q. Hip-hop artists are known for being hard souls, but everybody has a soft spot. What’s yours? A. My brother Andre drowned in the (Cedar) river (last year). He was my right hand man. He was working on a song with me and never finished it. So I promised him we would make it big, so everything I do now is officially for ’Dre.
LISTEN FOR YOURSELF reverbnation.com/agunz
PULSE 11
Got Art?
Southern roots
COURTESY PHOTO
Left: Dean Schwarz, Barn Storms, 2012. Stoneware, 20 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches. Photo: Harry Baumert, Minneapolis, MN. Right: Dean Schwarz, Marvin Cone and Grant Wood Discuss the Death of Farm Architecture, 2012. Stoneware, 20 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches. Photo: Harry Baumert, Minneapolis, MN.
FREE SUMMER ADMISSION July 1 - August 31, 2014
410 Third Ave SE • Cedar Rapids, IA www.crma.org • 319.366.7503 Sponsored by:
Born and raised in the deep South, Will Kimbrough’s body of work reflects years of learning the intricacies of folk, blues, gospel, country, rock’n’roll, punk rock and jazz. With songs recorded by Jimmy Buffett, Little Feat, Jack Ingram, Todd Snider and others, Kimbrough’s multidisciplinary approach has led to collaborations in the studio and onstage with artists including Rosanne Cash, Guy Clark, Rodney Crowell, Steve
Earle, Emmylou Harris and John Prine. Kimbrough was recognized in 2004 as the Instrumentalist of the Year by the Americana Music Association. Will’s latest album is Sideshow Love, a 12-track song cycle exploring the human heart and love in all its guises.
Will Kimbrough Saturday, Aug. 23 @ 8 PM $16 advance; $19 door CSPS, Cedar Rapids
COURTESY PHOTO
Sevendust Wednesday, Aug. 6 @ 6:30 PM Wooly’s, Des Moines with Gemini Syndrome $23-$25
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Friday, Aug. 15 @ 7 PM National Cattle Congress, Waterloo $28.75 sevendust.com
KISS
Arena rock Arena rock Arena rock
Two of the world’s greatest rock bands will make a stop in Des Moines as part of a classic hit-fueled tour of more than 40 cities. KISS and Def Leppard will take the stage at Wells Fargo Arena Wednesday, Aug. 20, performing the hits that made them the iconic bands they are today. With combined album sales of
over 200 million, KISS and Def Lep- hugely impressive lighting and pard remain the dominant power- sound production and over-the-top houses of rock, tallying dozens of pyrotechnics. chart-topping hits, countless soldout tours and awards and accolades from around the globe. KISS and Def Leppard Known for their elaborate and Wednesday, Aug. 20 spectacular stage shows, each band Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines plans to give fans the ultimate sum- $47-$151; other VIP packages available mer concert experience: Think dahlstickets.com
TWENTY-FOUR
SEVEN
365 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ART GALLERIES, EVENTS MUSEUMS AND EXHIBITS
MOVIES NEWS & REVIEWS, RELEASES & TRAILERS
COURTESY PHOTOS
DEF LEPPARD
LIVE MUSIC SOUNDBITES, NEWS INTERVIEWS, CD RELEASES AND LIVE MUSIC VENUES
PULSE 13
OCT. 17-NOV. 2
SEPT. 5-28
CADY COLOSIMO | PULSE WRITER
RESERVE YOUR TICKETS TODAY!
277.6261 DMPLAYHOUSE.COM
Des Moines Onstage Presents:
The 8 Time Tony Award Winning Broadway Musical! Rated R for Mature Content Adults: $15 • Students: $12 August 8th 7:30pm August 15th 7:30pm August 9th 7:30pm August 16th 7:30pm August 10th 2:00pm August 17th 2:00pm Kum & Go Theater 901 Cherry Street Des Moines, IA 50309
www.desmoinesonstage.org
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SHUTTERSTOCK IMAGES
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p late and craving sweets but unwilling to shed your jammies for some real clothes to satisfy the urge? At Insomnia Cookies you can get warm, fresh-out-of-the-oven cookies delivered right to your doorstep until 3 a.m. Takes that pajama dilemma right out of your hands, doesn’t it? Naturally, ice cold milk is also an option. Insomnia will deliver that, too. The national chain opened in Ames in May, much to the delight of sweet-toothed Iowa State students. The store offers an array of cookies for a buck and some change each and brownies for $2.75. You can also get ice cream (Helloooo??? Make a cookie sandwich!) as well as a bevy of mix-ins and toppings to further sweeten the deal. Even in what are normally quiet summers in the college town, business is booming. Nary a crumb is left over as students rave about the late night treats -- especially the white chocolate macadamia cookies. If you’re feeling especially agoraphobic, you can order online and track your order with the — wait for it — cookie tracker. Sort of like the U.S. Postal Service package tracker, but tastier.
ORDER YUMMY COOKIES AT INSOMNIACOOKIES.COM
PULSE 15
Thunder in the Valley The second Thunder in the Valley air show Aug. 23-24 at the Waterloo Regional Airport has been promoted as a “patriotic tribute to our military of yesterday, today and tomorrow.” It’s that and more. Specifically, it’s downright cool. Scheduling is currently tentative, but air performances are expected to start 10:30 a.m. and end before 5 p.m. each day. Gates will be open at 8 a.m. each day. Advance tickets can be purchased online and at participating Hy-Vee locations through July 31 for $15 and will be $20 thereafter. Children 12 and younger will be admitted free and must be accompanied by an adult. Performers expected at the show include the U.S.A.F Thunderbirds, Aeroshell
Aerobatic Team, Silver Wings Command Exhibition Parachute Demonstration Team and Matt Younkin. All performers, static display aircrafts and times are subject to change and their status will be updated up until the day of the show.
Thunder in the Valley Air Show Aug. 23-24 Waterloo Regional Airport cedarvalleyairshow.com
SHUTTERSTOCK PHOTO
toast to art
Enjoy a Saturday evening outdoors experiencing amazing food, wine and beer at the Stem and Stein event from 4 to 8 p.m. Aug. 16 at the RiverLoop Expo Plaza in downtown Waterloo. Your ticket includes a commemorative glass and all the tastings you can handle. Feeling super special?
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VIP admission includes exclusive access to the VIP tent and premier wine, beer and food tastings in addition to special demonstrations. All proceeds from the event benefit the Friends of the Waterloo Center for the Arts. For more information about Stem & Stein visit cvstemandstein.com.
Cedar Valley Pridefest The third annual Cedar Valley Pridefest takes Adult tickets are $7 in advance at cedarvalplace Aug. 23 in downtown Waterloo to highlight leypride.com and $9 at the gate. Admission is free the diverse gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender for kids 12 and younger. community of eastern Iowa. The 300 block of West Fourth St. will be closed off and become home to the Bud Light Stage, Cedar Valley Pridefest where there will be live music, female and male Downtown Waterloo impersonator shows and roller derby. There also Saturday, Aug. 23 will be food and drink vendors, along with infor- noon to midnight cedarvalleypride.com mation booths. SHUTTERSTOCK PHOTO
$5 OFF $25 or More GreG’s Place
Must present coupon. Not valid with any other offer or discount. Expires 8-25-14
GreG's Place Restaurant and Night Club
- Open for Breakfast Lunch and Dinner -
Kilts and kin Go ahead. We dare you to call it a skirt. Because when these kilted lads get a hold of you you’re gonna need more than a blarney stone for luck. Dozens of buff Irishmen and their kin will participate in the Highland Games during the annual Iowa Irish Fest Aug. 1-3 in downtown Waterloo. We’re not sure what a clachneart and a braemar stone are, but we’re pretty sure they’re heavy and equally sure these dudes are gonna carry or throw them. Or both. If you’re not interested in such displays of strength and endurance, there’s plenty more at the Irish Fest to enjoy in and around Lincoln Park. Think musical headliner Gaelic Storm! And food! And stuff for kids! And you get the idea!
SHUTTERSTOCK PHOTO
Iowa Irish Fest Friday, Aug. 1, to Sunday, Aug. 3 Downtown Waterloo $15 three-day pass; free for 12 and younger iowairishfest.com
Relaxed Comfortable Dining and Dancing Experience. Serving Lunch and Dinner Open 6 a.m. - 2 a.m. 7 Days a week. Serving Breakfast 6 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Weekly Specials Monday: $7.50 2 for 1 Martinis Tuesday: Tall Boy Tuesday! All $3.00 Wednesday: Whiskey Weds, 50 cents off all whiskey, Thursday: Thirsty Thursday $1.00 Off Pitchers, 50 cents OFF Pints, Friday: TGIF - Happy Hour all day! $2.50 Wells and Bottles Saturday: Any Bomb Shot 4 For $10.00 Sunday: Sunday Fun Day: $3.00 Vodkas.
Music
August 9-JJ Ace 9-1 August 23- Johny Mullet 9-1
926 LaPorte Road, Waterloo
(319) 232-5125 PULSE 17
HEARD THAT
SOTR CAF ONE MORE FALL
S
otr Caf has something to say. The Iowa artist is hard to classify by genre. His newest EP, One More Fall, is mostly hiphop but the included instrumental tracks could be classified as blues or blues/folk. But putting Caf’s music into a genre is irrelevant. Caf isn’t looking for people to listen to his music; he wants someone to hear him. One More Fall begins with Find Me and a foot-tapping acoustic guitar riff and rhythm. Then things get heavy. In his lyrics, Caf is searching for a connection. Most modern rock or hip-hop artists sell themselves with a facade of self-assured confidence or outright arrogance. Caf’s self-doubt and distress over the prospect of
JOHN MOLSEED | PULSE WRITER having a one-sided conversation is palpable. That insecurity is a departure from industry posturing and makes the album more intimate. In Find Me, Caf says he’s not asking for much, “a reminder — a touch,” and laments that “nobody hears what I mean.” For most artists and musicians, to not be heard — not have a connection with an audience — is an ever-present insecurity. To be misunderstood is the ultimate failure. In One More Fall, Caf acknowledges this fear and uses it to push him to make a connection with the listener. Crushed is and isn’t a break-up song. Caf empathizes with someone dealing with
rejection but highlights that breaks cut both ways and carry with them past wounds. Caf, again searching for connections, describes floating in space – a nod to the cover art that, until hearing this track, looks innocuous but seems to carry some symbolism. In musical arrangement, Crushed is roomy and light. At its opposite, You Don’t Know has a heavier beat and sound but the song’s strong language doesn’t carry as strong of a message as the other tracks. Sotr Caf is a regular performer around eastern Iowa and can find his niche in jazz, blues, hip-hop and rock shows. The accompanying instrumental versions of the songs on One More Fall show why. The significant take away from his new album
is he is a legitimate hip-hop artist who’s finding his voice and is worth listening to.
MEDIA FRESH VOL. I
MORRISSEY WORLD PEACE IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS
R
ue the day when Morrissey runs out of gripes. Throughout his 37-year career, he’s transformed torment and disdain into a memorable body of work with both the Smiths and as a solo artist.
It’s also the musicality. The serious themes are nicely contrasted with an ironically uptempo flavor. There’s bounciness to these tunes, including some perfectly placed flourishes from flamenco guitar.
The 55-year-old crooner has always approached romance and anything else that gets in his craw with stark reality. This time, on his 10th album, World Peace is None of Your Business, he’s decided to exorcise more of his political demons.
As for the rest of the album, Morrissey attacks the modern idea of masculinity while showing his most vulnerable qualities on I’m Not a Man and goes slightly romantic on Kiss Me a Lot.
He takes on bullfighting, human cruelty and bad relationships. And it’s more than the clever lyrics that make this collection work.
Morrissey clearly shows he has not shed any of his trademark wit or dissension, and while not the best album he’s ever recorded, it’s a pretty strong collection. — John Carucci, The Associated Press
CHRIS FAIRBANK LETTERS FOR THE WIND
C
hris Fairbank’s music is largely just his voice and an acoustic guitar, but with raw talent and a voice like his it’s all you need. I had the privilege of seeing Fairbank play in a friend’s living room one time and was astounded. On Letters for the Wind, his style sounds familiar and different at the same time. Nice voice, nice guitar chords. Lots of guys set out with nothing but a guitar and a dream; lots of them fail. I’ve seen several singer-songwriters trying to accomplish this, and Fairbank does it with ease. The key is his lyrics are heartfelt without sounding too forced. Her Heat is the opener on this emotional album. With lines like “She always knew
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what’s best for me” and “Her heart and me were free to sing,” it evokes images of a love that faded. The chorus at the end is especially nice.
had never heard of Media Fresh until I stumbled upon them at Des Moines’ GDP music festival, which showcases local artists. I was blown away by their energy, but I was more blown away by their music. Media Fresh isn’t a group as much as a hiphop collective of several MCs, all in their late teens and early 20s. For as young as they are, they have talent to spare. From the opening track, Intro’s Outro, to the closing Outro’s Intro (clever, huh?), Media Fresh doesn’t let up. Not only are the rhymes sick, but the beats are dope too. They mix tracks themselves and do an impressive job — no easy feat. Good Knight is my favorite; it has an old school flavor to it. As always, there’s mad flow, this time coming from Breazy Low and Top Flight. I also like June Dreams with KiDD, which has a different old-school vibe.
The album as a whole is not emotional in a sad, depressing way, but in a way that actually makes you think and feel something. It’s clear the artist put real thought and soul into this. That’s rare these days. The pace picks up a little on About Colors, and I imagine myself ribbon dancing on the grass. I think Chris would like that. On Joslyn, Fairbank urges “Take a breath, take your time,” which is the feeling I took away from all of his music. This album is about slowing things downs. Humans are
I
always in a rush; why? We all need to slow down and take things in. Fairbank’s album is great music to do it to. — Cady Colosimo, Pulse
Sound-wise, the album gives off a late ’90s rap music vibe. Back when music was real, ya know? Biggie and Tupac were still alive and Jigga Man was just coming onto the scene. It was a good time, and Vol. I takes us back to it. — Cady Colosimo, Pulse
OUR PICKS, YOUR CLICKS Fever by The Black Keys I had to go out and buy a new leather jacket after listening to this catchy tune. The louder it plays, the more badass you’ll feel. — Alisa H. Do You by Spoon Time off has been good to Austin indie rockers Spoon, who returned in style after a four-year hiatus with this summer’s anthemic pop-rock. — Christinia C. Doses and Mimosas by Cherub A party song for people who are over partying. Side note: I would love to down champagne with these bros. — Cady C. Trouble by Neon Jungle The gals of Neon Jungle drop some delightful British trashiness over generic, buzzy beats. — Wes T.
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Booty by Jennifer Lopez feat. Pitbull “She got the boom, shake the room / That’s the lightning and the thunder.” Seriously. This is one bangin’ club rumpshaka. — Meta H. I Am a Lake by The River Monks Simultaneously driving and wistful, the song is about resolution, love and bravery. One of the best tracks from the band’s newest release. — John M.
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McDonald Supply Kitchen & Bath Gallery 3310 University Avenue Waterloo, IA 50701 (319)234-6853 - Like us on FACEBOOK
Call Me by St. Paul & The Broken Bones It’s the top soul jam from this seven-piece college-boy band based in Alabama. Vocalist Paul Janeway works a stage like Sam Cooke. — MacKenzie E. Believer by American Authors You’ve heard Best Day of My Life. You might have missed their earlier single, which is a better song, says I. — Alan S. Rockstar by A Great Big World “Ah ha ha, I just wanna be a rockstar.” Or maybe I just wanna drink a Rockstar. — David H. Hem of Your Garment by Cake In honor of the recently completed 80/35 Festival. Menacingly masochistic with a side of horns. — Doug H. This Year by The Mountain Goats A near-perfect song, equal parts blissful reminiscence and youthful defiance in the face of life’s torturous grind. — Mike A. All About That Bass by Meghan Trainor A great beat, a fun island vibe and a defiant stance against unattainable standards of beauty make this song catchy and powerful. — Alan S.
FOLLOW US ON SPOTIFY AT CVPULSE PULSE 19
AUGUST 19 FOR: PS3 The battle system for this game is the DRLMBS, or Double Raid Linear Motion Battle System. That sound is my brain exploding.
ALAN SIMMER | PULSE WRITER
Akiba’s Trip The subtitle is Undead and Undressed because the point of the game is to strip vampires of their clothes so the sun can turn them into piles of dust. That seems like the easiest way to do things. PS3, Vita; Aug. 5.
Not sure about you, but I think I’ll refrain from messing around with anything in pointy armor that looks like it’s on fire inside. But if that’s your route to getting your soul back, more power to you.
Madden NFL 15 Since this isn’t college football, you can actually play with Peyton Manning and Adrian Peterson instead of Shmeyton Channing and Hadrian Petersen. The joys of licensing! PS3, PS4, X360, XB1; Aug. 26.
Ultra Street Fighter IV
FOR: PS3, X360
AUGUST 12
If you didn’t already own some version of Super Street Fighter IV, you can get the latest update in one convenient box featuring new fighters like Rolento here. PC, PS3, X360; Aug. 5.
Sacred 3 You get to be one of the five folks on the box in this arcade-style hack ’n’ slash. But someone has to sit on the bench since the co-op only supports four players. Sad face. PS3, X360; Aug. 5.
AUGUST 29
inFamous: First Light
FOR: 3DS
Fetch is in a prison for people with super powers. How one builds an effective prison for people with supernatural abilities is beyond me, but I digress. Something about dark memories and escaping, etc.
Take the incomparable Layton puzzle-solving games and marry it with the Ace Attorney courtroom series, two of my all-time favorites. I don’t care if you play this because I’ll play it enough for both of us. (You should still play it.)
PS4; Aug. 25.
NINTENDO, SQUARE ENIX, DEVOLVER DIGITAL, BANDAI NAMCO, DEEP SILVER, SHUTTERSTOCK IMAGES
You might be a monster inside JAMES FRAZIER | PULSE WRITER
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lways Sometimes Monsters is a strange little game with a lot on its mind. Underneath its aesthetic and gameplay, in the vein of an early’90s RPG, there’s a strong undercurrent of morality-driven storytelling. You pick and name a character who finds his or herself in a conundrum upon receiving an invitation to an ex’s wedding. Your character decides to travel to the wedding in a bold effort to win the ex back. The catch: Your character is broke, a writer with a reputation as a loser and an empty bank account. So just getting there is a challenge, one that requires you to earn money, wheel and deal, beg, plead and more. Parts of Always Sometimes Monsters involve cash grabs, usually by completing mini-games like working the line at a slaughterhouse, shipping boxes and hacking computers. These sections have the tendency to get tedious — perhaps intentionally so, as the game clearly strives to evoke a lifelike feel — but they’re a little too close to actual labor for comfort. Where the game stumbles as a menial labor simulator, it thrives as a complex story. From start to finish,
you’re offered the option to behave in strikingly different ways. Is it OK to pilfer a few bucks from a drug addict when you’re desperate for cash? Or to blackmail a cruel physician into giving your desperately ill friend much-needed medical treatment? Can you justify rigging an election, or allowing someone to die to further your career? Of course, it’s just a game, and one of its pleasures is that one can behave badly with no real-world consequences. Yet Always Sometimes Monsters is written skillfully enough that actions carry substantial emotional weight. The philosophical questions bluntly posed by the game are myriad, but the most compelling and pertinent one is twofold. Do you behave like someone who deserves the love of a wonderful person? And does whether you “deserve” them have anything to do with it? The choices you make interlock to form one of multiple endings that emphasize the kind of person you were along the way. It would be nice if the game were clearer about those connections. The game’s dialogue is written as somewhat straightforward but with an adult edge, often in situations that
For: PC | Price: $9.99 PROS: Engaging, morally complex storytelling. CONS: Low-fi graphics a necessary evil for this indie production.
seem more like clumsy attempts at edginess than necessary color. Even as the dialogue and visuals can suggest immaturity, Always Sometimes Monsters is one of the more mature gaming options out there. It’s one of the very few that imbues decisions with the psychic impression it makes on your identity. Deep stuff for a strange little game.
Soul Suspect closer to movie than game JAMES FRAZIER | PULSE WRITER
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etective Ronan O’Connor is having a bad day. This is evident from the first moment of Murdered: Soul Suspect, where we meet him as he’s being thrown out of a window to plummet to his demise. If this sounds more like the start of a movie than a game, that’s somewhat appropriate, as Murdered is at its core a digital story with a game around it. Still, that’s not necessarily bad news. The story is quite good, a cut well above average. What it lacks in gameplay it makes up for with sympathetic characters, a slightly spooky murder mystery, appealing graphics and a moody score that shades in an eerie atmosphere. From the moment Ronan hits the ground floating as a ghost, he’s off to working the case of the serial slaughterer known as the
Bell Killer. As a ghost, Ronan is imbued with a host of powers, including the ability to leap into the bodies of others, teleportation, haunting common items and walking through walls. There are ghostly objects as large as buildings that can impede your progress and force you to find creative ways to get to where you need to go, like possessing a cat and climbing through a vent. Much of the action sees Ronan scouring crime scenes for clues to his death, segments where the player will observe and catalog clues within the environment. Though it gives the impression of detective work, these parts really don’t require much in the way of puzzle solving. Danger lurks in the form of demons. These monsters constitute the game’s combat-
For: PC, PS3, PS4, X360, XB1 Rated: M
related activities, which see Ronan sneaking around, killing them via some sort of mystic choking maneuver. Their real function seems to be a way to stall the player. Don’t expect more than 10 hours out of this; many players boast of play-throughs as brief as six hours. Much of the thematic heft comes as Ronan encounters other ghosts from all eras, lingering on this plane of existence due to unresolved issues. Ronan’s own story features a connection to his deceased wife that makes him an apparition you can root for. This title might have been better served by a design that gave the player a hand in the story. Even though Soul Suspect might unfold more as a movie than a game, chances are you’ll have more fun than you would with a bigscreen version of the same tale.
PULSE 21
STARRING: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper This looks goofy and fun. Cooper voices a raccoon. ENOUGH SAID.
AUGUST 15 STARRING: Michael Fassbender, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Domhnall Gleeson Yeah, that’s Fassbender inside that weird mask as an eccentric (shocker) leader of a pop band.
AUGUST 1
OTHER AUGUST FILMS AUGUST 1
AUGUST 8
Get on Up A biopic on legendary musician James Brown.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Michael Bay ruins your childhood memories.
Calvary Priest Brendon Gleeson battles evil; we scream. What If Harry Potter might hook up with his best friend.
The Hundred-Foot Journey Chef Helen Mirren hates the Indian family across the street. Into the Storm Tornadoes chase down attractive teens, others.
AUGUST 15 The Expendables 3 Every action star ever together for some reason. The Giver Latest dystopian young adult fiction adaptation. Let’s Be Cops Two guys are fake cops; life has no consequences? The Trip to Italy Brits star as themselves while they eat things. Life After Beth Man’s girlfriend dies, then comes back to life. The One I Love Couple on the rocks takes weekend getaway.
STARRING: Jessica Alba, Mickey Rourke, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Josh Brolin
AUGUST 22 If I Stay Coma girl’s spirit has to decide to live injured or go into the light. When the Game Stands Tall Guy who played Jesus coaches a football team to a record record. Love Is Strange Older gay couple lives separately after job loss. Are You Here Owen Wilson and Zach Galifianakis road trip for an inheritance.
AUGUST 29 Jessabelle Injured woman stalked by demon in Louisiana. As Above, So Below Archaeologists explore Parisian catacombs, likely die. The November Man Brosnan makes things blow up as ex-CIA. The Congress Not a movie about government, thank god. One Chance The Susan Boyle story, but with a guy instead. Life of Crime Man doesn’t want to pay wife’s kidnapping ransom.
Marv, Nancy, Johnny and Dwight are about to find out just how deep the dirty runs in the hyper-violent underworld of Sin City. (Spoiler: Real deep.)
ST 22 AUGU
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MAGNOLIA, MARVEL, WEINSTEIN PHOTOS
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.
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.
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, salads and paninis combined with globally inspired tapas dishes and over 100 different martinis. Also serving homemade breakfast selections and cookies made from scratch.
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.
PRICING GUIDE (per entrée) | $10
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.
$20
$30
Hilton Garden Inn
Garden Grille Restaurant |
Conference Center 7213 Nordic Dr., Cedar Falls 319-266-6611 New Hilton opened in 2012, elegant dining and entertaining of Hilton standards. Full service hotel with Ballroom seating up to 350 people. Garden Grille Restaurant and Bar open to the public for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as large exterior patios with firepits. Full service dining on site, Chefs with banquet menus and banquet bars available. Deposits and minimums required, full payment required prior to event. Guest room blocks available. 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 - 11:00 pm 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 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 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 1 1 am - 9 pm www.rudystacos.com Rudy’s uses local ingredients through the Northern Iowa Food and Farm Partnership’s Buy Fresh/Buy Local program. Hurricane Grill and Wings American Restaurant and Bar 2027 Crossroads, Blvd., Waterloo 319-833-9464 Hours: Open daily at 11:00am www.hurricanewingsia.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. The Full Monte | Comfort Food Rediscovered 220 East 4th St., Waterloo 319-415-7073 Hours: 11-3, Monday-Friday Find our menu on Facebook: The Full Monte Waterloo IA Welcome to the Full Monte; a boutique café, in a unique gallery setting. Soups, sandwiches, salads, plus your favorite comfort foods, are freshly prepared from local ingredients. The menu changes every day so we can follow the season. Healthy, tasty, satisfying. Discover this little gem.
$40+
PULSE 23
All Aboard JAMES FRAZIER | PULSE WRITER
This exhibition traces the trajectory of Wood’s interest in Impressionism from the 1910s through to his dramatic stylistic change in the late 1920s. The exhibition provides an enlightening look at this important yet overlooked period in the career of an American master.
Grant Wood, Calendulas, 1928-1929. Oil on composition board, 17 ½ x 20 ¼ in. Gift of John Reid Cooper and Lee Cooper van de Velde in honor of their grandparents John C. and Sophie S. Reid and their parents James L. and Catherine Reid Cooper. 89.5.4.
This exhibition is made possible by Rockwell Collins and a Program Fund Grant of the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation.
410 Third Avenue SE Cedar Rapids, IA 52401 319.366.7503 www.crma.org
T
he TNT military thriller The Last Ship, produced by Michael Bay, can be called a lot of things, but subtle isn’t one of them. This is a show whose characters are primarily square-jawed members of the United States Navy, tried and true, manning (and womanning) a guided missile destroyer on a quest to save America, and if there’s time, the world. The titular vessel is filmed in a way that’s a cross between jingoistic and romantic, its guns and armaments and high-tech tools rendered as if for a recruiting commercial, while the handsome, multi-ethnic crew members loyally follow their even more handsome lily-white commander into battle greatness. What this show isn’t, at least so far, is morally complex. But it becomes hard to hold that against it, as this piece of action-filled televised red meat never tries to be anything other than entertaining. For every person who changes the
channel at the oft-banal dialogue, or who rolls their eyes at the gung-ho patriotism, a handful more will become absorbed with the constant thrills and find themselves buoyed by the unapologetically pro-American vibe. The show gets a lot from its premise, one that puts its characters under a tense post-apocalyptic strain. The USS Nathan James is a destroyer sent to Antarctica on what is ostensibly a training exercise, with all communications cut off from the rest of the world. At the end of the mission, the crew, including Capt. Tom Chandler (Eric Dane), is a bit surprised to discover that a plague has swept the Earth, killing the majority of its population and effectively ending civilization. Their journey is more than one of mere survival, though, as the training mission was actually a cover for a scientist (Rhona Mitra) to research the virus’ origins, developing a cure along with it. The ship’s crew are developed more
Guided road and soft trail rides departing from Mulligans every Wednesday at 6:15. Riding May through August with chances to win prizes from New Belgium Brewing Co. and Mulligans weekly.
Saturday Fat Tire Rides (2:00pm start time)
August 16th
TNT PHOTO
for symbolism than depth. The scientist is a brilliant, beautiful, busty and British paleomicrobiologist, which is to say, a more convincing Maxim magazine pin-up than arch-egghead. Her presence serves to consistently remind us that the material, very loosely based on a novel of the same name by William Brinkley, is more fluff than substance. In a few respects, The Last Ship is the anti-Walking Dead, and not just because the plague’s victims stay dead. That wildly popular series’ characters are disheveled and violent, emotionally wrought by the disastrous state of affairs, plodding slowly toward either torturous survival or grisly death. For all its flaws, it often manages an engaging end-of-the-world complexity. The Nathan James’ crew is professional, straightforward, eager to accomplish their mission and, more often than not, a little blasé about the whole end-of-the-world thing. In one scene, the XO (Adam Baldwin) mentions he just received word his son has died, then promptly blows off the news. In another scene, a sailor casually announces she’s a lesbian in a moment that, on this show, passes for character
development. That said, for something that’s often so ham-handed and obvious, substantial tension sneaks up on you. These characters might be archetypes, but they’re still engaging as representatives of a benevolent ideal — in this case, one that places the salvation of humanity at the feet of the American military machine. Thus the action, of which there is a great deal, is riveting. The Last Ship often manages to successfully sell us on the idea that the crew are at risk of irreversible failure. What ultimately makes The Last Ship one worth boarding, thickly laid clichés aside, is that it provides a journey not commonly traveled, a departure from the police procedurals, medical dramas and period pieces that constitute most television today. Eventually, The Last Ship will need to change course for it to become truly must-see. The characters will need to deepen, the setting will have to expand, the scenarios will need to get slightly more clever. For now, watching the crew of the Nathan James confront new dangers and find solutions to the unsolvable is stirring stuff.
End of the Year Finale!!! Grand and 1st Prize Giveaway
- Grand Prize - A trip to Tour de Fat for you and your friends in Fort Collins, CO. Hotel accommodations, travel cash, and VIP Event treatment. - 1st Prize - 2014 New Belgium Fat Tire Cruiser
on
For more information follow us @2WheelWednesday @MulligansCF
Sunday @ 8 PM on TNT PULSE 25
JOHN MOLSEED PULSE WRITER
B
ret Miller’s art work is layered in both meaning and media. Miller combines stencil images with acrylic paint on handmade canvas to give his work texture. The images he places on the canvas give it subtext. Miller recently debuted 15 new pieces for a show at Sidecar Coffee in Cedar Falls, which runs through Sept. 9. The theme of his show is people who are inspirational artists, musicians and political figures. Most of the subjects of his new work have suffered or sacrificed in their fight for equality. Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, who has been jailed for political and artistic statements, is featured with a collage of his work behind him on the canvas. Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in the U.S., is featured in front of a rainbow flag. With the heroes also come villains. In a statement about the state of U.S. security, one work featuring a trio of motion-activated toy security cameras, painted with stars and stripes, will track people’s movements. Patrons will find Vladimir Putin, dressed as Napoleon Bonaparte, leering at them as they sip a latte. Paired with Putin is a long, horizontal portrait of the Rus-
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sian leader’s nemesis, punk trio Pussy Riot. The narrow canvas is based on a photograph that was taken through a slot of the holding cell door when the three appeared in court on charges of hooliganism. “I kind of did the same color scheme,” Miller said. “They go well together.” Most of Miller’s canvas work features central images in front of a collage of repeated images and splattered paint. The central images usually take five stencil layers of paint. Behind the stencil work and paint, Miller assembles a collage of photographic images that match the subject. Accompanying Putin are images of masked Russian soldiers in unmarked uniforms from the Russian incursion into Ukraine. A portrait of Malala Yousafzai has a collage of photos of Pakistani Taliban behind her. Yousafzai stood up to Taliban doctrine by advocating for education for women and girls. She survived a Taliban-led assassination attempt in 2012. Finding his technique took years of experimenting, Miller said. “And a thousand mistakes just trying to make it better.” Some images aren’t as heavily political. This latest round of work also features hip-hop artists Adam Yauch and Chuck D. On another canvas, Muhammed Ali fights a 1980s-era Rock ’Em Sock ’Em Robot. A stenciled painting of a school bus shows it tagged with graffiti declaring “skool sux.” “I was awful in school,” Miller said. That’s likely because questioning or outright mocking authority doesn’t make for a good student. For Miller, that irreverence has made good art.
PULSE 27
Saturday, Oct. 18, 3 PM & 8 PM Curtain Talk begins at 2:15 PM & 7:15 PM Tickets: $53—$33
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