Pulse Magazine, March 2015 by CVPulse

MARCH 2015

ALBUM REVIEWS

PULSE HIT LIST

BIG SCREEN RUNDOWN

MOODIE BLACK

STOMP ON IT

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

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

Featuring Beck's homemade microbrews, voted best burger, locally owned restaurant, sports bar and place to play pool in the Cedar Valley.

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.

WATERLOO

Bourbon Street | American, Cajun and Creole 314 Main St., Cedar Falls 319-266-5285 Hours: Monday – Saturday 4 - 10 pm 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. 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.

PRICING GUIDE (per entrée) | $10

2 PULSE

$20

$30

$40+

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 11:00 am - 9:00 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.

CONTENTS

cedar falls . cedar rapids . iowa city . waterloo

issue 126

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

SPITTIN’ FIRE

HIT US UP

Country music sassafras Miranda Lambert will drop some concert heat at Cedar Rapids’ U.S. Cellular Center.

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

SHOUT OUT

pulse@wcfcourier.com

LISTEN IN

Pulse music reviewer and banjo player John Molseed calls Annalibera’s new album, Nevermind I Love You, “spooky and soulful.”

facebook.com/PulseMag

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

WORLD STAGE

CVPULSE.COM.

Pulse caught up with Cedar Falls native Cyrus Moussavi, who hosts and produces Raw Music International, a documentary series about underground music around the world.

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

GOLDEN BOYS Ireland’s young trad trio Socks in the Frying pan promises some sizzle at CSPS in Cedar Rapids. You know you want some of that crackle and snap.

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

he Mission Creek Festival turns 10 this year, and has magically managed to avoid those awkward ’tween years. Seriously, this festival is as cool as it gets with a fab mix of entertainment, food, film and smarts. From March 31 through April 5, Iowa City’s downtown will be transformed into an easily navigated nexus of art in venues of all sorts, shapes and sizes. Many of those spots are within about five minutes walking distance of each other. That’s right. You won’t even need a GPS. The week-long Mission Creek madness features a strong balance of national, international and regional musicians, writers and artists performing and exhibiting their work. The festival is produced by the Englert Theatre, Iowa City’s 102-year-old historic performing arts space. In addition to a diverse lineup of musicians, authors, filmmakers, visual artists, crafters, chefs and its second annual Innovation Conference, Mission Creek Festival this year will also include a performance by rising comedy star Cameron Esposito. A full schedule and ticket info are available at missionfreak.com.

HORSE FEATHERS

Saturday, April 4 @ 9 PM The Mill, Iowa City

Mission Creek Festival March 31 – April 5 Downtown Iowa City missionfreak.com

SIDEWALK CHALK

Wednesday, April 1 @ 9 PM The Yacht Club, Iowa City

KING TUFF

Sunday, April 5 (TBD) Englert Theatre, Iowa City

4 PULSE

REAL ESTATE

Thursday, April 2 @ 8 PM Englert Theatre, Iowa City

FREDDIE GIBBS

Thursday, April 2 @ 9 PM Blue Moose Tap House, Iowa City

THE SEA AND CAKE

Friday, April 3 @ 9 PM The Mill, Iowa City

SHOVELS & ROPE

Friday, April 3 @ 8 PM Englert Theatre, Iowa City

COURTESY PHOTOS, SHUTTERSTOCK

PULSE 5

Sassy spitfire Grammy nominated country superstar Miranda Lambert is known for her heartfelt lyrics and feisty style, and she’ll be bringing both to the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids. The country music firecracker’s list of awards and accomplishments is long -- 2012 American Country Music Female Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year; CMT Female Video of the Year; and CMA Female Vocalist of the Year and

COURTESY PHOTO

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Song of the Year, just to name a few. Lambert is best known for her long line of hit singles including Over You, Baggage Claim, White Liar, The House That Built Me”and Heart Like Mine. Miranda Lambert

with Justin Moore and Sunny Sweeney Saturday, March 14 @ 7:30 pm U.S. Cellular Center, Cedar Rapids $52.75 | uscellularcenter.com

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PULSE 7

HEARD THAT

ANNALIBERA NEVERMIND I LOVE YOU

nnalibera’s Nevermind I Love You, set for release this month from the Des Moines-based Sump Pump Records label, is a beautiful, haunting collaboration of some of Iowa’s best musical talent. The heart of the album is Anna Gebhart’s powerful but airy vocals that seem to float effortlessly across full octaves. Her reverberating vocals, haunting keyboard accompaniment, strings arranged by Dustin Harmsen (HD Harmsen) and dissonant minor flourishes combine to create a work that feels like a vivid and strange yet pleasant dream. The album’s first single, Black Cat White Cat,

JOHN MOLSEED | PULSE WRITER

has a heavy but beautiful arrangement. The lyrics carry a sense of nostalgia — “desperate to go back in time.” Its structure is complex but easy to follow. Ryan Steir of the River Monks adds a bright ringing guitar melody to a cacophony of echoing sounds. Most of the songs are by Gebhart, except for Clouds, which was also penned by Steir. The two also share lead vocals in the song. The pop-sounding Bloom is the most upbeat song on the album. It’s also a break-up song or, more accurately, a get-lost song. In the final track, Honesty, Gebhart’s voice flutters to high notes, showcasing her musical training and talents. Although this

song is the most obvious display of her talents, the whole album is testimony to her songwriting and arranging skills. All the tracks have complex arrangements or parts that fit together for a smooth final product. Vermillion, despite ringing reverb and guitar, has the sound of a classical waltz in a melancholy key. Nevermind I Love You also showcases Harmsen’s string arrangements and Steir’s ability to add just the right amount of guitar without oversaturating it. The whole album is a collection of songs not just expertly written and performed but immaculately composed with exquisite musical skill.

THE MICHAEL REED BAND RUNNING WILD

DAVE PLAEHN RADIO SISTER

o say Dave Plaehn’s Radio Sister is a project more than 30 years in the making would be, although accurate, a bit of an exaggeration. Recording on some of the tracks began in 1981 at Catamount Studios in Cedar Falls. Eight of the 12 tracks were recorded there in 1983 and 1984, but the material sat unused after Plaehn moved out of the area. It would have been a waste for these tracks to sit indefinitely on a studio shelf, as Plaehn’s vocals are smooth and clear and display a versatile range, while the production and music are tight and professional.

Some of the material shows its age, which is not entirely a bad thing. The 1980s sound is popular again, and it’s strongest on I Want Love, one of the best tracks. It’s musically tight, the reggae beat is infectious and Plaehn’s vocals are warm and emotional. A few songs don’t hold up quite as well when Plaehn blends the ’80s sound with blues in a way that is somewhat tiresome now, but the album finishes with strippeddown blues tracks that show off his vocal and rhythm skills. Although enjoyable on its own, the album is enticing knowing the songs sat unreleased like a time capsule for more than three decades. — John Molseed, Pulse

THE MAVERICKS MONO

he conceit on the Mavericks’ second album since regrouping in 2012 following a long hiatus is that they’ve taken their timeless, pan-genre sound back into the studio and mixed everything monaural, putting Mono in line sonically as well as stylistically with many of the band members’ favorite vintage recordings. It opens with the seductive All Night Long, another tune reflecting lead singer and chief songwriter Raul Malo’s Cuban heritage. His songs are lyrically simple yet emotionally and sonically resonant enough to envision listeners being drawn in even if they don’t know the language.

The Mavericks delve into the myriad dimensions of love — desired, found, lost — and set them with a musically rich vocabulary that spans catchy R&B (What Am I Supposed to Do), irresistible retro swing (Stories We Could Tell, Out the Door), manic Latin pop (What You Do to Me), smoldering soul (The Only Question Is) and breathtaking Roy Orbison-esque operatic balladry (Fascinate Me). There’s even an overt nod to the musical forebear whose catholic tastes are closest to Malo’s — the late king of Tex-Mex, Doug Sahm, whose 1992 song Nitty Gritty closes the album with an ebullient deep-twang rendition replete with the Vox organ that was integral to Sahm’s work. — Randy Lewis, Los Angeles Times

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owa-based The Michael Reed Band has an old-school rock sound. Running Wild, released late last year, features nothing complicated or surprising, which is kind of refreshing. The album starts with a ballad that would do for a soundtrack for driving around town on a summer night. Band namesake Michael Reed strums acoustic guitar while Neil Matthias plays electric guitar to create the timeless blended rock sound. The title track is a danceable song. It’s the kind of song a band would end a show or set with during a live performance. Reed’s vocals could use more backing to give it the final piece it needs for a rock anthem sound. The children’s choir at the end is unexpected but, given the song’s flavor, not entirely out of place. The Christian overtones are hard to miss in the rest of the album. In Write Your Name, it’s clear whose name the song is about. The band plans a series of shows to support the release this month. — John Molseed, Pulse

OUR PICKS, YOUR CLICKS Pots and Pans by Les Savy Fav Only this quirky group could write an anthemic toe-tapper about a fictional band that tours in spite of its lack of a fan base or catchy tunes. — Christinia C. Lifted Up (1985) by Passion Pit Yay, catchy new Passion Pit in advance of their next album! But I’ll have to take them at their word about how great ’85 was. — Alan S.

Get to Know by Charlie Belle This catchy, understated bit of power pop will get your toes tapping. — Wes T.

Til It’s Gone by Yelawolf Straight outta Slumerican culture, this thundering, angry track speaks to the line between family obligation and personal responsibility. — Meta H. Jungle Love by Morris Day and the Time This funk-pop classic features Prince, yes, the Prince, playing most of the instruments. 1983 never sounded so good. — David H. Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars This song is insanely catchy. And that video, though. Not since the ‘80s has a pop music video been so fun. Julio! Get the stretch! — Meta H. Wild Bill Jones by Pert Near Sandstone This stomping-good-time song will make you want to pass around that long-neck bottle before going out on one last spree. — John M. Elvis Presley Blues by Gillian Welch A different take on The King’s life in the always-gorgeous harmonies of Welch and David Rawlings. — Doug H. Chicken Pox by I’m From Barcelona Heartbreak seems easier to survive when you believe you’re inoculated. This Swedish pop band adds extra salve with their catchy song. — Christinia C. Daffodils by Mark Ronson feat. Kevin Parker When you’re done jamming to Uptown Funk you can join me chilling over here with the smooth, streetwise Daffodils. — Alan S. Coming Home by Leon Bridges Bridges revives the sound of soul’s golden age without sounding like just another retread. — Wes T. John the Revelator by Son House This a cappella version of the gospel/blues standard was recorded in 1965, but that voice sounds like it’s coming from 1835. — Doug H.

Cultural connection Cedar Valley native finds harmony around the globe

The Yangon Ferry Pier became an obsession for Moussavi while he was shooting in Burma.

COURTESY PHOTOS and SHUTTERSTOCK BACKGROUND

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Moussavi found blind Luo guitarist Olima Anditi, who some people assumed had died years ago, playing in Western Kenya.

Jacob Russell, left, and Cyrus Moussavi, right, on the road in Burma.

JOHN MOLSEED | PULSE WRITER

Syrian Kurds, at a Friday market in Iraq.

A musician at a music school dedicated to preserving traditional Kurdish music in Sulaymaniah, Iraq.

edar Falls photographer and producer Cyrus Moussavi has found that some stories have a universal appeal. Not just for those willing to listen, but also for those who share their stories. “When you go to a place and ask to record people’s music, they’re very receptive,” he said. Moussavi, 28, is the host and producer of Raw Music International, a documentary series about underground music around the world. The series has taken him to Kenya, Turkey, Iraq, Ukraine, Burma and Trinidad. Back home, he’s found an enthusiastic audience. When he showed his Iowa friends footage from Kenya, Moussavi found particular footage caught their attention the most. “I noticed the only time they seemed really interested was when I was showing videos of rappers and reggae performances,” Moussavi said. Far from home and in unfamiliar places, Moussavi used music to build rapport with people. “I found I connected so much better with people when we were talking about music,” he said. Moussavi said he grew obsessed with music. Although he initially used it as an ice breaker, he found it could be the centerpiece of his work. Past and current cultures intersect in music. Moussavi decided to document that in places experiencing upheaval. He saved money and paid his way to Iraq, where he met a British photojournalist. He began documenting music to capture sounds of everyday culture in parts of Iraq. From there, they went to Ukraine. “I try to get to places you read about in the news,” he said. “I’m interested in what happens in that upheaval that people aren’t seeing.” NBC News was interested as well. It picked up his documentary on Ukraine and funded his trip to Burma. In Ukraine, a pro-Western uprising

and political shift was followed by a Russian invasion. Moussavi found musical interests and tastes weren’t just part of people’s identity but also an identifier in a divided nation. “You won’t find many pro-Russian rockers or rappers there, just like you won’t find many pro-Republican punk bands back home,” he said. “Musicians walk a fine line of being part of that place and documenting at the same time.” In Ukraine he met a pro-West hiphop artist in Odessa. Moussavi described the city as a post-Soviet New Orleans. But its quirky, musical atmosphere shifted while he stayed in the city as fighting spread there. In the Ukrainian piece, Moussavi includes footage from violent clashes shot by Odessa hip-hop artist Oleg Karpenko. Burma, also undergoing political change, provided stories and insights from long-oppressed ethnic minorities. It also provided perfect filming conditions. “You almost can’t go wrong there,” he said. “The light in Burma is just gorgeous.” After Burma, Moussavi traveled to Carnival in Trinidad for the next installment. Although NBC News has purchased his next two projects following the Ukraine piece, the future of Raw Music International isn’t certain financially. “I’m still not sure if it will work, to be honest,” he said. However, the concept and interest aren’t going away. “I’d really like to keep this ongoing and return to people and see how people change,” he said. Even if funding dries up, the concept could be applied at home, he added. “The U.S. is so big and diverse you could probably do this project just in the U.S.,” he said. Photos, profiles and videos can be viewed at rawmusicinternational. com. PULSE 11

It’s up to 14 recruits to stop the tidal wave of destruction across Orience in a bloody, mature version of Final Fantasy.

MARCH 17 FOR: PS4, XB1

ALAN SIMMER | PULSE WRITER

ScreamRide

I must have missed the history class covering how President Lincoln assembled a team of American heroes like Tom Sawyer, Tiger Lily and John Henry to fight off an alien menace. I’ll get caught up with this steampunk strategy RPG, where the amount of steam you have determines how much you can move and shoot.

My impression of this is that it’s RollerCoaster Tycoon for the sadists who really enjoyed designing tracks that lead to fiery crashes and many sad, dead little park visitors. X360, XB1; March 3.

Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters

MARCH 13

The magazine you’re a part-timer at is really a front for a ghost-hunting organization. Wave your hands in the air like a ghost who don’t care and banish them from the physical plane.

FOR: 3DS

PS3, Vita; March 10.

Do you have too many friends? Invite some of them over, pop in this game in and then foil all of their plans as Bowser in a 4 vs. 1 match. Goodbye, social obligations! Oh, and did I mention it works with amiibo? *laughter slowly turning into loud, wracking sobs*

Resident Evil: Revelations 2 Clare Redfield is used to fighting zombies, but the Afflicted move fast and use simple weapons, which sounds like an actual nightmare I might have now.

MARCH 20 FOR: Wii U

PC, PS3, PS4, Vita, X360, XB1; March 18.

Bloodborne Roam around a gothic, horror-filled city and slash everything that moves to itty bitty pieces. Just a normal day for most of us. PS4; March 24.

Story of Seasons The team behind Harvest Moon is still pumping out the entries in Japan, but they don’t own the rights to the English name. Hence this rebrand! 3DS; March 31.

MARCH 17 FOR: PC, PS3, PS4, X360, XB1

Because if there was a time for a game that lets you step into the role of a militarized policeman, it would be now, obvs.

Majora returns ALAN SIMMER | PULSE WRITER

hough I don’t share the sentiment, I understand why Majora’s Mask is the favorite game of many Legend of Zelda fans.

Most video games have a bright line drawn through them, delineating the plot and the path of the main character. The world around that line is sketched in as necessary to create an immersive experience, but the bubble extends only so far. You can see the edge of that bubble in blank city storefronts and nameless peasant workers, in side quests that serve little purpose other than a shiny trinket at the end of a few minutes’ labor — details that are sketched in but never fully fleshed out. There’s very little of that in Majora’s Mask. It’s an especially striking conclusion when compared to its predecessor, Ocarina of Time, whose assets it recycles and repurposes. Does anyone really care what happens to the “Chicken Lady” in Ocarina? To the dancing couple from Castle Town? Or to the man who sprints around Hyrule Field?

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There’s no emotional investment there. (Considering you can’t win the race against the running man, I’m a little miffed he survives the apocalypse, frankly.)

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Ocarina survives — thrives, really — on the strength of its dungeons and its main plot, as most games do. And that’s fine.

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But Majora stakes out a different path. That “Chicken Lady” — a character whose very identity to the player is based on a love of poultry, for crying out loud — becomes Anju, the emotional centerpiece of the most complicated quest in the game.

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Exploring her story, as well as those of the other residents of Termina, imbues the main quest with additional urgency. Stopping the manic moon about to crash into Clock Town is the right thing to do, of course, but once you begin to care about the townsfolk, there is no other option.

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Our hero, Link, only has three days before the moon falls. It’s far too little time to help everyone, much less do the legwork required to halt a plummeting celestial body. The central mechanic of the game, then, is the ability to reset time itself, returning to the beginning of the three-day cycle at will.

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This cycle provides a unique dynamic that allows for more failure than usual. Instead of holding your hand and ensuring the rules are clear, Majora will allow you to implode on your own before helping you up and nudging you in the right direction for your second attempt. The game does this via the Bombers’ Notebook, a log of all the important events throughout Termina. It’s been improved for the 3-D remake, with rumors filtering in through the other Bombers and a list of events in addition to the classic schedule format. The consequences of your choices are real, dealing with more adult themes than any other game in the series. As the title would imply, masks are a crucial element of the gameplay, providing Link new abilities and new identities. That concept runs through the game, which often hints at the difference between our private and public faces. The dancing couple? They run a game shop, and your success makes them question their relationship. The running man is now the postman, torn between his duty and his desire. And gentle Anju will stand with defiance against the wrath of the moon if it will reunite her with her missing fiance. You’ll spend many days traipsing around helping citizens without making any inroads on one of the game’s four dungeons. You’ll visit the same locations many times, growing familiar with the rhythms of life in Clock Town. NINTENDO, EA, SQUARE ENIX IMAGES

For: 3DS | Price: $39.99 | Rated: E10+ PROS: Much-improved graphics with delightful details. CONS: Why can I never remember the Song of Healing? That focus on the journey, instead of a dogged pursuit of the destination, sets Majora’s Mask apart from the rest of the Zelda series and from most video games, even those produced in the 15 years since the original. The remake, which graciously tidies up some questionable choices, is a welcome reminder that we could use more games like it.

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MARCH FILMS

ALAN SIMMER | PULSE

MARCH 6

MARCH 13

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel I’m really confused as to how this sequel ever got made, but if you wanted more funny old British people, you’ve got it! Unfinished Business Vince Vaughn’s been quiet for a while, so maybe I’m ready for more of him in this wacky business road trip flick. Also stars the better Franco brother. Merchants of Doubt A documentary that looks at pundits-for-hire. You know, the type of people who pretend to be experts and tell you toxic slime is totally safe and there’s no cause for concern.

Run All Night Taken 3 was only two months ago, but if you missed it, here’s another chance, essentially. Liam Neeson shoots a bunch of people to save his estranged son for reasons that I’m sure none of us actually care about MOAR EXPLOSIONS PLZ.

STARRING: Lily James, Richard Madden, Cate Blanchett, Helena Bonham Carter, Stellan Skarsgard If Disney is reimagining this story like they did with Sleeping Beauty and Maleficent, I’m on board. Even if it’s just a straight-up live action remake, it might be worth it for Helena Bohnam Fairypants and Cate Blanchett looking evil in a wide variety of hats.

MARCH 13

14 PULSE

DISNEY, COLUMBIA, DREAMWORKS, SHUTTERSTOCK IMAGES

STARRING: Jim Parsons, Rihanna, Steve Martin, Jennifer Lopez, Matt Jones Let’s be real: It’s a Dreamworks picture, so it’ll be funny, it’ll be good, but it still won’t rise to the level of a Pixar film.

MARCH 13

MARCH 20 Insurgent Part two of the series that’s set in a postapocalyptic dystopia but isn’t The Hunger Games. So adjust your expectations accordingly.

The Gunman Sean Penn must think really highly of himself if he expects his long-time love to reconnect with him while he’s on the run across Europe to clear his name. Sorry, that’s a deal-breaker.

MARCH 27 Get Hard Will Ferrell hires Kevin Hart to coach him on how to go to prison, a plot that seems to run through a minefield. Directed by Etan Coen, who is not Ethan Coen. (The more you know!)

Serena This seemed like awards show bait but got buried in March, probably because it’s not very good. I mean, it’s a period piece about a timber empire, so, duh, big surprise.

MARCH 6

STARRING: Sharlto Copley, Hugh Jackman, Sigourney Weaver, Dev Patel Apparently the robot police overlords of the future are not nice bots. But when one gets stolen and reprogrammed, it gets thoughts and feelings — whoa whoa whoa whoa — feelings.

PULSE 15

Brooms, garbage cans, hubcaps, matchboxes -- with a lit- addition of two new full-scale routines, utilizing props like tle knack and knocks, all can make beautiful music and one tractor tire inner tubes and paint cans. helluva show. Head to the Paramount Theatre March 3 to see what all the noise is about. Stomp, an international percussion sensation, will fill the Stomp Paramount stage with magnificent rhythm. The return of Tuesday, March 3 @ 7:30 PM Paramount Theatre, Cedar Rapids the percussive hit promises new surprises, with some sec- $48-$63 | paramounttheatrecr.com tions of the show now updated and restructured and the

Moodie Black has seemingly appeared out of thin air, rising from disintegrated dustings of a newly popular genre — noise. Shaped and formed in the deserts of Arizona, Moodie Black pulled themselves up by the boot straps, undaunted by criticism for their abrasive sound and controversial stage shows. Regarded as a legitimate pioneer of mood in a very small class of noise rap (Death Grips, BLACKIE, Dalek), the band’s unorthodox approach to production, mixing and live performance has begun to be recognized by the masses. 16 PULSE

COURTESY PHOTO

Outfitted with disembodied baby heads tethered to gold chains, Moodie Black is visceral, melodic and devastatingly moody. The duo, fronted by menacing figure “K.” (Chris Martinez) and backed by guitarist Sean Lindahl, have audiences anticipating Moodie Black’s upcoming album, Nausea, the follow-up to the critically acclaimed Sana Sana. Moodie Black Saturday, March 14 @ 10 PM Iowa City Yacht Club $5 | iowacityyachtclub.org

Socks in the Frying Pan

COURTESY PHOTO

Looking for a little sizzle? Check out Socks in the Frying Pan, a young trad trio from Country Clare, Ireland, that blends Irish traditional melodies with hot, innovative rhythmic treatments. Socks in the Frying Pan is made up of brothers Shane and Fiachra Hayes on accordion and fiddle/banjo, accompanied by Aodán Coyne on guitar and vocals.

Wisconsin Public Radio said the band’s music is “full of youthful energy, complete with creative rhythmic nuances and most of all, invested with solid melodic vocal lines.” Socks in the Frying Pan Tuesday, March 17 @ 7 PM CSPS Hall, Cedar Rapids $25 advance, $30 door | legionarts.org

Quiz hotshot! Are you a

or a

March 12 & 13, 2015

7:00pm | Waterloo Center for the Arts $20 Adults, $12 Children (12 & under) For tickets call 319.291.4490 or visit the WCA Proceeds support Friends of the Art Center

SUPPORTED IN PART BY A CITY OF WATERLOO HOTEL-MOTEL TA X GR ANT

making plans? we’ll point the way

a) HAPPY BANANA?

b) SAD BANANA?

If you answered b), then you should go to cvpulse.com and turn that frown around.

ReaD. WATCH. sURF CVPulse.com

PULSE 17

JAMES FRAZIER | PULSE WRITER

ustified, FX’s neo-Western, faces sundown with its sixth season. That finality imbues the stalwart series with a dramatic heft not seen since the first season, where sardonic, trigger-happy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) first became known to American audiences as he casually gunned down an old foe over lunch. At the time, the show’s world, an impoverished Kentucky region dominated by clever crooks and sinister crime lords, vibrated with danger and country-fried intrigue, making it a must-watch. Subsequent seasons were consistently entertaining but often lacked the fresh edge of the first year, where its square-jawed law enforcement officers sought to untangle the seedy web crafted by the area’s supply of violent deviants. But with the end comes a liberation from expectations, something the showrunners are wisely taking advantage of. The season premiere already saw the demise of a series staple, and one can safely bet that more will perish by the time the last round has been fired. Based on the newly-late author Elmore Leonard’s short story Fire in the Hole, Justified goes into the final season with the kind of

amusing grit and wit that made it one of this century’s most interesting series, the sort of crime thriller where verbal sparring brought even more thrills than the ample gun duels. Central to the curtain call is the conflict that has dramatically carried the series from the pilot, that between Raylan and childhood-pal-turned-gangster Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins). After years of crossing paths while facing their own numerous adversaries, Raylan, looking down the barrel of fatherhood and a related transfer to Florida, has decided to make Boyd’s takedown his final act as a Kentucky lawman. In the meantime, Boyd has gone from charming crook to compelling albeit solidly evil anti-hero, the kind of bad guy you cheer for when he’s against other villains and perhaps — reluctantly — root for when he’s faced with the forces of good. Now the stakes are higher, the drama more compelling, the humor distinctly bittersweet. For years, it seemed impossible that colorful characters such as head marshal Art Mullen (Nick Searcy), femme fatale Ava Crowder (Joelle Carter), sociopathic mobster Wynn Duffy

(Jere Burns), and hapless Nazi punk Dewey Crowe (Damon Herriman) could become casualties, but with the exception of Raylan, protected until at least the finale, everyone appears vulnerable to an untimely end. There are even a few newcomers worth caring about, such as powerful boss Avery Markham (Sam Elliot) and his right-hand man, Ty Walker (Garret Dillahunt), each of whom you’d readily see taken down by our favorites on either side of the law. It’s to the series’ credit that when it

comes to the finale, your guess is as good as mine. Practically everyone who carries a weapon — and that’s nearly the whole cast — seems vulnerable to harm. Allow me to make two predictions: The last installment will feature a Western showdown for the ages, and the results will make six seasons a ride well worthwhile. Justified FX @ 9 PM Tuesdays

FX PHOTOS

Check our website for 2014 Events at

www.cedarfallsdowntown.com

CALENDAR OF EVENTS littleBits - March 7th at the Cedar Falls Public Library CFPL Library Mystery VII - March 13th at the Cedar Falls Public Library Pi Day - March 14th in Downtown Cedar Falls littleBits - March 21st at the Cedar Falls Public Library

8PM-1 0PM 8PM-10PM March 6 ZooT & NewT

March 7 Phil & Travis

March 14 UNcle chUck March 20 oPeN Mic

MalaM March 21 Dave

where Check Out LBL meet Fashion & Style t e up on Main Stre

March 28 rick vaNDerwall Jazz by Hands of Time every Thursday 8-9:30

Pastrie s Pa

!!!

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

321 Main St., Cedar Falls 102 Main ST. Cedar Falls | 319.277.1596

319.266.6497

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PULSE 19

COMING UP AT

GALLAGHER BLUEDORN

EMILY

BEAR Saturday, April 18, 3 PM Curtain Talk Begins at 2:15 PM Tickets: $35—$29

20 PULSE