MAY 2014
8
ROCK FOR A CAUSE
10
MAXIMUM RESULTS
13
PULSE HIT LIST
16
MARION ARTS FESTIVAL
19
NO SOUP FOR YOU! PULSE 1
2 PULSE
CONTENTS ames
ankeny
cedar falls
cedar rapids
des moines
05.14 indianola
iowa city
waterloo issue 116
6
WEEKEND FOR THE AGES
100 E. Fourth St. | Waterloo, IA 50703
HIT US UP
Wanna know more about this awesome magazine? Get in touch.
The Treetown Musical Festival on Memorial Day weekend in Forest City is stacked with some of the biggest names in country music.
14
An award-winning product of Courier Communications and Pioneer Communications
SHOUT OUT
pulse@wcfcourier.com
LIKE
SERIOUSLY FUNNY GUY
facebook.com/PulseMag
TWEET
Never underestimate pity sex, says Wartburg student Andrew Tubbs. It’s one of the “perks of being a disabled wallflower.”
@CVPulse And find out what’s going on and the latest in entertainment news 24/7 at
CVPULSE.COM.
THAT'S
EDITORIAL STAFF
WHAT'S UP
Meta Hemenway-Forbes Editor 319.291.1483 meta.hemenway-forbes@ wcfcourier.com
The issue you’re holding in your hot little hands marks a pivotal moment for Pulse magazine, and we’re glad you’re here to share it with us. This month, Pulse extended its reach into central Iowa, adding Des Moines, Ames, Ankeny, Indianola and some cool places in between. Add that to our eastern Iowa coverage of Waterloo, Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids and Iowa City and we’ve got a big chunk of Iowa on our entertainment radar. The best part? Pulse is still available free at hundreds of locations near you.
Alan Simmer Associate Editor 319.291.1487 alan.simmer@ wcfcourier.com
20
John Molseed Staff Writer 319.291.1418 john.molseed@ wcfcourier.com
We’ve added some friendly new faces to our staff to help us out. Writer Nate Brown of Des Moines will keep you keyed in to central Iowa’s hot spots and events, and Pulse’s new central Iowa superstar ad sales team — Ann Donohoe, Meghan Keller and Kimberly Hawn — can help you get your marketing message front and center in this fancy feast of a publication. In eastern Iowa, the quirky folks you’ve grown to love will still be working to bring you the awesome entertainment news you expect. Ad sales maven Sheila Kerns is ready to tackle your marketing needs, and banjo-playing writer John Molseed, well, need we say more? He plays the banjo! And don’t even get us started on our award-winning designers, David Hemenway and Alan Simmer.
Nate Brown Staff Writer 515.246.0402 ext. 204 nbrown@ pioneermagazines.com David Hemenway Lead designer 319.291.1475 david.hemenway@ wcfcourier.com
SALES STAFF
24
22
Yeah, this is some kinda love fest. But that’s how excited we are about this new adventure! So please join us in a big welcome-to-Central-Iowa group hug.
Editor
EASTERN IOWA
Sheila Kerns 319.291.1448 sheila.kerns@wcfcourier.com
CENTRAL IOWA
Ann Donohoe 515.246.0402 adonohoe@pioneermagazines.com Meghan Keller 515.246.0402 mkeller@pioneermagazines.com Kimberly Hawn 515.246.0402 khawn@pioneermagazines.com
14
SPONSORED BY
PULSE 3
Join the club NATE BROWN | PULSE WRITER
W
hen the Des Moines Social Club opens its doors May 10 for an official launch party at its new home in the repurposed, historic downtown firehouse, it will cement its future as a cultural anchor for Des Moines and Iowa and serve as a cornerstone on which other organizations may build. Since its inception in 2008, the Social Club has been a transformative force for the metro area’s arts, education and entertainment scenes. Standing amid the ever-evolving backdrop of downtown Des Moines, the DMSC is notable for its diverse mix of offerings as a nonprofit. We’ve condensed just a fraction of all the sweet details into a down-and-dirty guide for your easy consumption.
4 PULSE
1937
The year the firehouse was built. Formerly Fire Station No. 1, the building was in use until September 2012, when construction on a new department headquarters was completed. Renovations include a Firefighters’ Memorial, which lists the names of nearly every firefighter who lived and worked in the building.
200,000
The estimated number of visitors expected at the club this year. The strategic location of the firehouse in the heart of downtown places the DMSC near many employers and existing businesses. Foot traffic is expected to rise to 300,000 in 2015. That’s a whole lot of feet.
Photos by LUCAS MOSER, NATE BROWN and PEYTON MITCHELL
11
Scheduled art showings at the Viaduct Gallery in 2014, including a cellphone photo showdown dubbed the Instagrammies and Des Moines’ annual Pedal Art show. Other programs will include artist residencies and callfor-entry shows. The gallery is named for the Ninth Street viaduct that lies directly to the east of the building and sits near the Capes Kafé, a newly-relocated Des Moines coffee shop formerly known as Cup O’ Kryptonite.
$8 million
The amount allocated to fully renovate and convert the firehouse to a functional, multi-use space, including some historic preservation.
167
Total capacity of the downstairs bar area. The bar will play host to a number of events, including trivia nights, vinyl and electronic DJs, poetry slams and comedy shows. Bar patrons will also have access to a rooftop patio overlooking the courtyard.
7,000
Square footage of Malo, the on-site Latin restaurant. Malo will seat 225 people indoors and an additional 75 on an outdoor patio. Chef George Formaro (of Des Moines restaurants Django and Centro fame) conceived of Malo eight years ago while on vacation in Latin America. Malo will feature a wood-fired grill, house-made tortillas and a full bar.
10
Plays scheduled for 2014 at the Kum & Go Theater. Utilized by five local theater companies, the black box-style theater (read: reconfigurable) will also play host to band performances, parties, movie screenings and live professional wrestling.
Des Moines Social Club grand opening party Saturday, May 10 @ 5 PM Keynote speaker: David Byrne from Talking Heads desmoinessocialclub.org
Photo by DAN WEEKS A commissioned mural sits directly outside of the Des Moines’s Social Club’s Viaduct Gallery.
ON THE COVER: An octopus mural greets visitors to the DMSC courtyard. Photo by Dan Weeks.
PULSE 5
S
ome of the biggest names in country music will crash Forest City on Memorial Day weekend for the Tree Town Music Festival. Among the star-studded lineup are Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, Brantley Gilbert and Scotty McCreery. Set against the picturesque backdrop of Heritage Park, Tree Town Music Festival brings Nashville to Iowa with non-stop music from two stages, other on-site entertainment during the day and a country music party night under the stars. If you’re looking for the full festival experience, the campgrounds boast more than 1,800 campsites across 200 acres. The fun continues in the campgrounds, with flip cup competitions, golf cart taxis, food and drink vendors and more. Feeling super special? VIP tickets are available for those looking for the premium Tree Town Music Festival experience. VIP ticket holders will be given prime seating, with the best view of the main stage, the closest parking to the festival entrance, access to mouth-watering catered food and discounted drinks at a private bar.
Tree Town Music Festival May 23-25 Forest City treetownfestival.com
SCOTTY McCREERY
6 PULSE
TOBY KEITH
SARAH DARLING
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)
June 14th
- Free Snapshot Wheat Keg post ride July 12th - New Belgium Tap Invasion August 16th - End of the Year Finale!!!
BRAD PAISLEY
Grand and 1st Prize Giveaway
MEGAN ELLIS
- 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
CHRIS YOUNG
PULSE 7
Helping hands
S
pend the day rockin’ for a cause Saturday, May 17, at Jules Bar in Cedar Rapids. Jules has a full lineup of talent ready to raise some dough for Ronald McDonald House charities, an organization with more than 300 locations that provide housing and support to families of children with serious illnesses. The Ronald McDonald House assists more than 7 million families every year. Nebraska-based rockers Paisty Jenny will headline the event. They call themselves “a dirty rock band with something to say” and have been compared to Hinder, Shinedown and Seether. Gregg Lee (lead vocals and guitars), Stan Liberty (lead guitar), Gabe Mathews (bass) and Tye Lovette (drums) have released four CDs. Their recent single, Criminal, was submitted to and qualified for nomination in multiple Grammy Award categories. “Paisty Jenny is really excited to be part of this show,” Lee said. “There are so many children affected by illnesses, and
8 PULSE
HILARY MAHONEY | PULSE WRITER
rockin’ for The Ronald McDonald House is just a small way we can help to make a difference.” Also on the bill are Divinion, a progressive rock/metal band based in the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City area. According to the band’s bio, the group “defies classification, yet still maintains strong roots in the rock/metal genre. Musically, they’re continually pushing the boundaries of what is possible, keeping a careful balance between bleeding-edge musicianship and catchy songwriting.” Fellow locals Violent Intent describe themselves simply as “the latest in power metal technology.” The event, which kicks off at 3 p.m., also includes a motorcycle and car show, raffles and great food and drinks. Ronald McDonald House fundraiser featuring Paisty Jenny, Divinion and Violent Intent Saturday, May 17 @ 3 PM Jules Bar, Cedar Rapids
JOHN MOLSEED | PULSE WRITER
D
ylan Sires and Neighbors are headed to a whole new neighborhood. The Cedar Valley trio is planning a September tour in Japan and are asking for fan support. The rock and power pop trio is holding a series of fundraising concerts to help with travel expenses. Tokyo-based record label This Time Records is arranging the tour schedule and hotel accommodations. The label specializes in power pop — a popular genre in Japan. “Power pop has a huge following in Japan,” said Dylan Sires, lead vocalist and guitar player. The label will run a print of the band’s recent album, Someone. The group will spend about six days in Japan and play an ambitious schedule of multiple shows in and around Tokyo. “The way they set this up, we will get no rest,” Sires said. The band members will have to pay for travel to Japan and back. “There’s a good opportunity for this to be a successful endeavor for us,” said Ross Klemz, drummer. “But we have to get there first.” Sires said the group’s fundraising target is about $5,000 for travel and other expenses not covered by the record label. He added he’s confident that the band will be able to raise the money based on early fan support.
APRIL 25–MAY 18
“When people hear about it, people are happy about it,” Sires said. “People support you and that’s a good thing about being an Iowan.” “I think our fans in the Cedar Valley are some of the most supportive people, let alone our friends and family,” Klemz said. This Time Records contacted the band after it received praise on other power pop genre fan sites. Although Sires is reluctant to say his group is an exclusively power pop band, he said the majority of their music is likely under the genre. “I hope we will be well received,” he said. This Time Records is planning and promoting the shows, but even with that support, the trip will require personal investment from band members. Most of the Tokyo venues are pay to play, which means musicians have to pay for stage time. “It makes sense in a big market considering how much it takes just to survive there,” Sires said. The Japan tour is just one of many opportunities the band has found so far in 2014. The group played a prominent slot at the annual Mission Creek festival in Iowa City in March, sharing the stage with Georgia rock band Of Montreal. As soon as the group returns from Japan, they will go on a national tour.
ARTWORK © VICTORIA KANN
Cedar Valley pop trio raising money for overseas adventure Apr. 25-May 18
TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW
MAY 23-JUNE 8
RESERVE YOUR TICKETS TODAY!
277.6261 DMPLAYHOUSE.COM
COURTESY AND SHUTTERSTOCK PHOTOS
PROSPECT HILL
May 4-26 5-3 5-10 5-16 5-17 5-24 5-31
8PM-10PM Ben Cooks-Feltz with Mother Banjo BareFoot Dave MalaM open MiC Chrys MitChel paul DoFFing Banish MisFortune
Two-fer fundraiser WHO: Prospect Hill, For the Broken WHEN: Friday, May 23 @ 8 PM WHERE: Blitzcreek, 4406 Alice Road, Center Point INFO: Tickets are $10 and money raised will help Blitzcreek filing for nonprofit status so it can host other fundraising concerts and events. Camping is available.
WO-030212008
PULSE 9
Maximum success
C
hris Ford wants the patronage of a little more than 1/100th of 1 percent of Iowans. Ford, of Iowa music groups Christopher the Conquered and Gloom Balloon, is a founding member of Maximum Ames Records. The record label has seen increasing success with each record it has released in the less than three years since it was founded. Getting a steady market of 500 sales for each release would give Maximum Ames a good plateau of sustained success, Ford said. “How do we find 500 people in Iowa who will buy a record no matter what?” Ford said. “That should not be difficult. There is a way to solve that problem.” Maximum Ames Records has released 16 vinyl albums — each one with increasing sales from the last. The business is sustaining itself, which is what found-
10 PULSE
ers wanted. Vinyl is an expensive format for independent musicians. Ford and members of Mumford’s, Derek Lambert and the Prairie Fires, Pennyhawk and other Ames area groups that share members got together to work on putting out a vinyl release. “We all wanted vinyl records simply because it’s something we like,” Ford said. “It was started as a label that wanted to get back to putting out things that people want to keep,” said Patrick Fleming, of Poison Control Center and Gloom Balloon. “We’ve always been of the mindset that if you make something quality with a quality package, people will want to buy it.” The group of musicians had a fundraising show and pressed its first record in 2011 — Triple Trinities
by Mumford’s. Revenue from the early record sales went back into producing the next albums. “We knew with just a little bit of promotion and work, we could sell 150 records,” Fleming said. The label’s most recent release, Tomboys on Parade, is from Cedar Falls band Twins. Twins had two backto-back album release shows at the Octopus in Cedar Falls, which featured various Maximum Ames artists as guest performers. Twins then departed for an album release tour. Twins’ commitment to book shows, go on tour and promote the album is exactly the creative and business relationship Maximum Ames works to build with artists. “We really, for the most part, are looking for people looking to collaborate equally every step of the way,”
JOHN MOLSEED | PULSE WRITER
ting to the point now most of our releases sell 100, 150 within a week after release,” Ford said. The label leaders also agreed not to overextend themselves in releasing albums each year. The label is trying to maintain a pace of about four albums a year, Ford said. Three months gives the label time to adequately promote and market each album, he added. Four albums a year may not sound like a lot compared to other labels, “but we put everything into those albums,” Fleming said.
SHUTTERSTOCK IMAGE
Ford said. Twins leader Luke Sires has also helped other Maximum Ames artists promote their work. “He’s definitely the type of guy you want to work with,” Fleming said. Depending on the contribution for pressing, promotion and other expenses, bands keep at least 50 percent of the revenue from the albums produced by Maximum Ames. It’s up to the musicians to record and mix the music. Artists maintain all rights to the recordings. So far, no album has lost money for the label. Ford credits that to the hard work of the musicians and the label to promote the albums and the quality music being produced in Iowa. “Through promotions, release shows, we’re get-
GreG's Place Restaurant and Night Club - Open for lunch and dinner -
Relaxed Comfortable Dining and Dancing Experience. Serving Lunch and Dinner Seven Days a week.
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 9-1
May 3 - Diamond Cut Rock May 16 - Smoking Guns
926 LaPorte Road, Waterloo
(319) 232-5125 PULSE 11
HEARD THAT
PERT NEAR SANDSTONE THE HARDEST PART OF LEAVING
I
n the past couple of years, Pert Near Sandstone has gone from a regional favorite to a nationally known act. The Minnesota bluegrass band released The Hardest Part of Leaving in the middle of this momentum, and its release will add to their success. The Hardest Part of Leaving doesn’t significantly diverge from Pert Near’s established sound. It has driving bluegrass barn burner songs such as Walk Right in Belmont, which kicks off with a fast fiddle lick and never lets up. Pert Near is also known for new takes on old classics and well-known fiddle tunes, which they also do with a fiddle-heavy version of Stagger Lee. That formula of a combination of quick
JOHN MOLSEED | PULSE WRITER
licks and new takes on old fiddle tunes has worked for Pert Near. They have emerged as a leader and influence in a thriving roots music and bluegrass scene in Minnesota. With The Hardest Part of Leaving, they follow the age-old advice to not fix something that isn’t broken. They also manage to keep their familiar sound but not get stale. You’re No Good to Me has an almost ragtime blend to their signature bluegrass. Hellfire, with Kevin Kniebel’s signature vocals and rhythmic banjo flailing, has Pert Near’s distinct flavor of bluegrass, but it also has a deeper, robust sound of heavy string bass bowing layered vocals. The song is new and different while still exemplifying Pert Near’s sound. The song
makes old-timey grandiose statements about what one will do to get back the woman he loves. Hellfire also fits to the over-arching theme of the album: traveling, returning or trying to get back to somewhere or someone. I’ll Find You laments about mistakes and leaving the past behind. Another Fool advises someone not to show their woman the world (“She’ll get a little keen and leave you”). These all seem to fit The Hardest Part of Leaving theme. From this album it seems the message is the hardest part of leaving is trying to get back to where you were before. This might be why the album isn’t a significant departure from Pert Near’s past work. Even so, the band continues moving forward.
JASON DeRULO TALK DIRTY
TRISH BRUXVOORT COLLIGAN WILD ACRE
I
owa folk artist and songwriter Trish Bruxvoort Colligan has been producing and releasing music for more than a decade.
Colligan, of Strawberry Point, has a soothing voice that blends well with multiple genres that can be considered folk music.
Her latest work, Wild Acre, is a polished production recorded at a barn at Seed Savers Exchange in Decorah.
The songs vary from solemn piano ballads to a near-bluegrass reprise of the title track.
Using vividly spiritual lyrics, Colligan’s music exudes serenity and appreciation of life, nature and beauty.
The album was produced with help from a successful crowd-sourcing campaign. An album release show is planned for May 3 at Seed Savers in Decorah. — John Molseed, Pulse
P
art of our job at Pulse is to share local and touring music with our readers. But words can only go so far to describe a song.
That’s why we’re launching the White Screen Series, a monthly video featuring exclusive performances of Iowa and touring artists. These performances will be shot and recorded in front of a white screen. The production value will be simple and low-tech to maintain a focus on the music. Our first artist is Har-di-Har. The Minneapolis experimental rock/jazz duo got their start in Cedar Falls. Julie Baldwin-Thoreen and Andrew Thoreen are University of Northern Iowa alumni. They continue to perform in the Hawkeye state and promote Iowa music with their company, Slim Beast Productions. The couple use their musical dexterity to produce the sound of a full band. They share a drum kit, strum guitar and play keyboard all at the same time. If that’s hard to imagine, have a look for yourself on the inaugural White Screen Series video, where the duo performs the original song We’ve Been Missing. Submit suggestions for the White Screen Series to john.molseed@ wcfcourier.com.
12 PULSE
HAR-DI-HAR WE’VE BEEN MISSING SEE THE VIDEO AT CVPULSE.COM
J
ason DeRulo tries too hard at the wrong things. He is a good singer and songwriter, but remember how he sang his own name in every song? Yeah, he’s that guy. On Talk Dirty, despite already having hits with the title track and The Other Side, his gimmick is cornering the market on sexthemed pop songs. There’s Wiggle, where Snoop Dogg offers pickup lines. There’s Bubblegum with Tyga about “ghetto booties.” There’s Zipper about, well, zippers. And to complete the pandering, following Stupid Love, a blatant Justin Timberlake rip-off, he ends with a sweet marriage proposal, Marry Me. Yeah, that’s believable. — Glenn Gamboa, Newsday
OUR PICKS, YOUR CLICKS Drove Me Wild by Tegan and Sara This catchy pop song from Canadian indie twins will leave listeners unsure whether to shake their hips on the dance floor or in the bedroom. — Christinia C. Partition by Beyonce Beyonce rolls out a serious overshare here, but DANG IT that beat is poppin.’ So go ahead, Bey, turn up the heat. — Meta H. Sleeping With a Friend by Neon Trees This song gives you plenty of chances to contemplate your relationships with the people you wish you hadn’t friend-zoned so long ago. — Nate B. Debra by Beck I love Beck because his catalog runs the gamut. But this track is his funkiest. It’s slow, subtle, cool and sexy as hell. — Chris E.
Shower Out Loud Bring music to your shower like never before with the new Moxie™ showerhead + wireless speaker. Pair music, news and more to the magnetic wireless speaker with any device that’s enabled with Bluetooth® technology. Then pop the speaker into the showerhead and get ready to shower out loud. Check out Moxie at your nearest KOHLER® Showroom.
Learn more at KOHLER.com/Moxie
Boom Boom by John Lee Hooker Watch your baby talk around this blues king, ’cause he might take you home. — MacKenzie E. Everybody’s Talkin’ by Harry Nilsson Harry’s almost perfect voice is in its prime on one of his most wellknown recordings. His high notes are effortless. — David H.
The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Kohler Co. is under license. Other trademarks and trade names are those of their respective owners.
McDonald Supply Kitchen & Bath Gallery 3310 University Avenue Waterloo, IA 50701 (319)234-6853 - Like us on FACEBOOK
Cheap Sunglasses by RAC feat. Matthew Koma I’m turning into such a twee indie hipster in my old age. If you see me drinking PBR, please punch me in the face. — Alan S. Pretty Girls by Wale feat. Gucci Mane and Weensey Women everywhere will be flipping their digits to the D.C.-based smooth talker in this hip-hop a-go-go ode to pretty ladies at the club. — Christinia C. Hard to Handle by The Black Crowes Back in 1990, while most of our readers were just learning to walk, I was shaking my money maker to The Black Crowes. — David H. Black Bug by Wick-it the Instigator In the style of seminal mash-up record The Grey Album, this 2010 release weds The Black Keys with Big Boi. Because awesome. — Nate B. She Drives Me Crazy by Fine Young Cannibals Ok, so none of the young cannibals are fine. But who can resist that ’80s clap track? — MacKenzie E. Smoke by Fifty Cent feat. Trey Songz Smoke is the fourth single he’s released from his upcoming album, Animal Ambition, set to drop in June. Fiddy is such a tease. — Meta H.
FOLLOW US ON SPOTIFY AT CVPULSE PULSE 13
MELODY PARKER | PULSE WRITER
W
hat happens when you spend too much time in front of the computer screen? For Chawne Paige, it led to painting. Paige, a digital artist specializing in design and typography, is the curator for the Waterloo Center for the Arts. Over the winter months, he took a turn in his personal work, leaving the computer screen behind in favor of large, 7-foot-tall canvases. “The kind of paintings that I’m doing now are a counterpoint to me spending all day in front of the computer,” he explains. The resulting work has become an exhibition now showing at Sidecar Coffee in Cedar Falls. The title of the show, “B|W,” describes the nature of the pieces, meaning both “Big Works” and “Black & White.” The large canvases, enclosed in wooden frames, are composed only using black and white ink and acrylic paint. The only other colors are the grays that result from their combination. To create texture, Paige also uses gypsum, a form of plaster. Paige says that the shift in medium has helped him use his design skills in a new way. “The computer takes the pizzazz out of the creative process because it’s so easy to set up an arrangement with line guides and come to a formula that always works for a poster. That’s something that ends up being an easy solution. In a painting, it’s not so easy.” In order to execute the same kind of composition on a canvas, Paige needs to be in complete control of the ink and paint. In addition, he needs to be in complete control of his body, as the physical demands of such a large surface require balance, concentration and lots of patience. The process involves a large time commitment, waiting for materials to dry before sanding them down to create the kind of textures and depth of detail he desires. Paige is happy to spend that kind of time and effort to get the effect he wants. “The relationships between all of the elements are considered. Those relationships are important. The little details in the design are why I’ve been doing this stuff for so long.” Sidecar proprietor Andy Fuchtman is excited to display the art on his walls. In addition to his pride in showing excellent work, he is happy about how the work makes the shop itself more beautiful. Paige’s flair for design and composition led him to provide work uniquely suited for the shop’s aesthetic. “What Chawne did is create a body of work that is almost tailored to our shop,” Fuchtman says/ “He painted one canvas horizontally just so it would fit over our bar. The whole space has been refreshed.” Paige thrives on this sort of spatial composition. “It’s a strange dance that happens in my creative process. There’s a moment where it all comes to. Where things are aligned appropriately, where things are balanced appropriately,” he explains. Gaining this same sort of balance in the long, rectangular room came to him easily. Hanging the canvases himself, Paige created a precise number of paintings to perfectly accentuate the space. AARON McNALLY In addition to the pleasure Paige gets from working, he sees the show as an opportunity to continue his career as a visual artist.“It’s nice to have a chance to exhibit,” he says. “It offers the motivation to continue producing work.” The coffeehouse also serves as a casual, public-friendly model for exhibition. “I like exhibiting in coffee shops because in some sense, it gets rid of some of the pretentious nature of galleries. It’s easier to take your time with the work.” B|W Through May 19 Sidecar Coffee, Cedar Falls
14 PULSE
Prijedor: Lives from the Bosnian Genocide From 1992 to 1995, a genocidal war engulfed the former Yugoslav republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina. In the city of Prijedor, extreme nationalist Serb forces seized control of the multi-ethnic community and began a systematic persecution of the area’s Muslim and Catholic population. “Prijedor: Lives from the Bosnian Genocide,” an exhibit at the Grout Museum of History and Science in Waterloo, honors the memory of the lives lost in the Prijedor genocide and the experiences of the survivors whose stories are told. Thousands in and around Prijedor were subjected to extreme and escalating violations of human rights, including dismissal from jobs, expulsion from homes, forced labor, use as human shields, imprisonment in concentration camps and ultimately, torture, rape and mass killing. A generation that had embraced the imperative “never again” now watched another European community undergo a genocidal ethnic cleansing. This exhibit runs through June 28. It is included with regular museum admission, which is $10 for adults, $5 for veterans and children ages 4 to 13, and free for Grout Museum District members and children 3 and younger. groutmuseumdistrict.org
PULSE 15
It’s about the art Experience collaborative, creative merrymaking at its finest at the 22nd annual Marion Arts Festival May 17 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 and fine craft to an audience of 14,000. Last year, MAF was named among the top 30 festivals in the country and the No. 1 show featuring 100 artists or fewer. The annual Art in the Depot activity finds attendees of all ages contributing hands-on toward the creation of a community project later installed as an enduring piece of public art. The Empty Bowls Project involves more than 500 area students through the creation of over 1,000 ceramic bowls, which are then donated to the festival and sold day-of to raise funds for area food banks. Addition-
ally, the Emerging Artist Program showcases the talents of college artists who have been mentored to sell their work alongside the festival’s roster 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. Be fleet-footed on the fast, flat course through uptown Marion.
Marion Arts Festival Saturday, May 17 Marion Square Park www.marionartsfestival.com DAVID BARTHEL
DEBRA EHMANN
BEKAH ASH
Fiesta de Mayo!
College Hill Arts Festival
36TH ANNUAL A Fiesta de Mayo community celebration is set for 1 to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 3, at the RiverLoop Expo Plaza in downtown Waterloo. The free event commemorates Cinco de Mayo, a celebration of Hispanic freedom and culture. There will be music, a Zumba class, salsa and traditional dance performances, kids’ activities, a piñata, inflatables, food and beverages.
June 20-21, 2014 www.collegehillartsfestival.com FRIDAY • Noon - 8pm SATURDAY • 10am - 5pm Cedar Falls, Iowa | West 23rd and College
waterloocenterforthearts.org
SHUTTERSTOCK PHOTO
One cheeky show
75 Juried Artists | Music | Kids Activities Free Admission | Free Parking
It’s time to get spanked. And this time, harder. The country’s No. 1 ladies night out returns with an all-new sexy and satirical show, Spank! Harder. The phenomenon of Spank! The Fifty Shades Parody took the world by storm in 2013, delivering a night of naughty and hilarious fun to women in more than 160 cities across the globe. Your cheeks will hurt with laughter as Spank! Harder picks up where the original left off, parodying not only Fifty Shades of Grey, but taking aim at a variety of pop culture that’s begging to be swatted. Spank! Harder Thursday, June 5 @ 7:30 PM Paramount Theatre, Cedar Rapids $25-$35 | paramounttheatrecr.com
MAY NCC CAleNdAr OF eVeNTS May 2nd – Honor Flight Show – Electric Park 2 Shows: 12pm or 5:30pm • Advance Tix only. b4 April 18th at HyVee May 3rd – World’s Largest Garage Sale – Estel Hall 7:00am - 2pm • Waterloo Broadcasting 319-833-4800 May 2-4 – Barrel Racing – Pullin Simonsen Arena Saturday and Sunday • Open to the public- Free Admission May 8th – Thursday Night Dance - Lyle Beaver – Electric Park Doors @ 6:00 Dance 7:00-10:00 for $10.00 May 9th – Easy Does It D.J. – Electric Park Doors @ 7:00 Dance 7:15-11:15 • for $10.00 May 9th – Circus Spectacular 2 shows: 4:30 & 7:30 • Kids 12 &under $14 adults $18 May 10th – Green Scene Plant Sale – AG building Sale Saturday 9:00am - Noon May 11th – Waterloo Breeders Rabbit Show – Estel Hall May 16th – Public Dance with Faythe – Electric Park Doors @ 7:00 Dance 7:15-11:15 • for $10.00 May 17th – Cedar Valley Derby Divas Roller Derby – McElroy Auditorium Tickets $8 in advance • $10 at the door May 21st – Iowa State Tailgate Party – Grounds/Pavilion May 23rd – Show and Shine Car Show – Grounds/Pavilion May 24th – 4th Street Cruise Dance – Blue Suede Cruise – Electric Park May 30th – Public Dance with Faythe – Electric Park Doors @ 7:00 Dance 7:15-11:15 • for $10.00
*Progressive Bingo on Sunday, Monday, and Thursday – Pepsi Pavilion Call 319-234-7515 for more information or visit www.nationalcattlecongress.com COURTESY PHOTO
PULSE 17
Bluegrass flash Chris “Critter” Eldridge of The Punch Brothers has teamed up with Grammy-nominated jazz guitarist Julian Lage for a four-track EP, Close To Picture, and will bring their prebop swing and bluegrass flash to Cedar Rapids’ CSPS Hall. Julian Lage was the subject of an Academy Award-nominated documentary, Jules at Eight, and gained pivotal early exposure as a protégé of legendary vibraphonist Gary Burton, with whom he has recorded and performed. At age 8 he was playing with Carlos Santana, and by the time he was 13, he had performed with Gary Burton and Herbie Hancock. His own releases are the Grammy-nominated Sounding Point and Gladwell. Julian Lage & Chris Eldridge Tuesday, May 6 @ 7 PM CSPS Hall, Cedar Rapids $16 advance | $19 door www.legionarts.org COURTESY PHOTO
2014 IOWA STATE FAIR
grandstand line-up THURSDAY, AUGUST 7
SUNDAY, AUGUST 10
TUESDAY, AUGUST 12
FRIDAY, AUGUST 15
with special guest MATTHEW WEST 8 P.M. | $30
10:30 A.M. HOT LAPS, 11 A.M. RACES $15 ADULTS, $5 CHILDREN AGES 6–11 free for ages 5 and under
with special guest COLT FORD 8 P.M. | $40
with special guest TBA 8 P.M. | $35
NEWSBOYS
FRIDAY, AUGUST 8
HAPPY TOGETHER TOUR 2014
starring THE TURTLES featuring FLO & EDDIE, CHUCK NEGRON formerly of Three Dog Night, Gary U.S. Bonds, MITCH RYDER & THE DETROIT WHEELS, GARY LEWIS & THE PLAYBOYS 8 P.M. | $25
SATURDAY, AUGUST 9
GOO GOO DOLLS AND DAUGHTRY
2014
with special guest PLAIN WHITE T'S 8 P.M. | $39
18 PULSE
WINGED SPRINT CARS
SUNDAY, AUGUST 10
A CONVERSATION WITH THE ROBERTSONS: WILLIE, KORIE & SI THE STARS OF A&E’S DUCK DYNASTY 8 P.M. | $32
MONDAY, AUGUST 11
DEERY BROTHERS SUMMER SERIES
FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13
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
THURSDAY, AUGUST 14
LATE MODELS, IMCA SPORT MODS, IMCA STOCK CARS, IMCA HOBBY STOCKS AND KARL CHEVROLET DIRT TRUCKS 5:30 P.M. HOT LAPS, 6 P.M. RACES $17 ADULTS, $5 CHILDREN AGES 6–11 free for ages 5 and under
JAKE OWEN’S DAYS OF GOLD TOUR
starring JAKE OWEN & ELI YOUNG BAND with special guest The Cadillac Three 7 P.M. | $40
ON SALE NOW IOWASTATEFAIR.ORG | 800.745.3000
PRESENTED BY
CHEVELLE AND HALESTORM SATURDAY, AUGUST 16
DEMOLITION DERBY AND FIGURE EIGHT 11:30 A.M. | $15 ADULTS, $5 CHILDREN AGES 6–11 free for ages 5 and under
SATURDAY, AUGUST 16
LADY ANTEBELLUM
with special guests BILLY CURRINGTON and KELSEY K 8 P.M. | $49
SUNDAY, AUGUST 17
FOREIGNER AND STYX with special guest TBA 8 P.M. | $39
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 7 for walk-up orders only (assuming tickets remain). Grandstand tickets do not include admission to the Fair. Gate admission must be purchased separately.
No soup for you! It’s been more than 15 years since he wrapped up Seinfeld, his hit NBC sitcom, and the funny man in the puffy shirt has now returned to his stand-up roots and has taken his act on the road. Comedian Jerry Seinfeld will perform May 30 at the Des Moines Performing Arts Center. Buy tickets for yourself or someone else as a Festivus gift. Whatever you do, don’t miss this gig. The Soup Nazi is watching.
COURTESY PHOTO
Jerry Seinfeld May 30 Des Moines Performing Arts Center desmoinesperformingarts.org ticketmaster.com
22nd annual
marion arts festival saturday may 17
Presenting Sponsor
Major Sponsors
9 am - 5 pm city square park
marionartsfestival.com PULSE 19
Go Hypernova and swallow everything in your path as Kirby flips between the foreground and the background in his newest adventure.
In a fully wired world, there is no privacy. But if you’re Aiden Pearce, a hacker with an axe to grind, that’s your No. 1 advantage. Cause traffic accidents for your pursuers or make a train stop just for you. When the grid is your playground, anything is possible.
MAY 27
ALAN SIMMER | PULSE WRITER
Drakengard 3 A scantily clad woman, a dragon and a big sword on the cover? You might be surprised to learn it’s not a JRPG! No, Zero’s just out for a little hackand-slash sororicide. No big deal, right? PS3; May 20.
Mario Golf: World Tour
MAY 2 FOR: 3DS
There’s only one question about this game. Will Mecha-Hitler somehow rise from the dead for a return appearance? We can only hope so.
FOR: PC, PS3, PS4, X360, XB1
Now, I’m no physicist, but golfing underwater does not seem like a thing that would either be fun or actually work. Then again, throwing fireballs seems impossible, so whatever. 3DS; May 2.
Mugen Souls Z This one really is a JRPG! Syrma, the ultimate god, has just woken up from a long nap and is ready to reunite the 12 worlds. Frankly, ruling one world sounds exhausting enough. No wonder she slept so long. PS3; May 20.
Mind Zero In this dungeon crawler, minds are a kind of weapon/persona/ monster that Kei, an ordinary high school student, suddenly finds himself able to wield. Vita; May 27.
Hakuoki: Stories of the Shinsengumi Not entirely sure what a Shinsengumi is, frankly, but you can find out in this choose-your-ownadventure game, now with six love interests! May 6. 20PS3; PULSE
FOR: PC, PS3, PS4, X360, XB1; Wii U coming later
MAY 30 It’s anti-grav time as Mario and friends take to the walls and ceilings. When the track turns sideways, so do the tires. Bonus: Play as all of the Koopa kids!
FOR: Wii U
MAY 27
Tweaks make Yoshi’s New Island a challenge ALAN SIMMER | PULSE WRITER
S
uper Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island is a perfect game. I would not change a single thing about it. Enter Yoshi’s New Island, a sequel to the original for the 3DS. Talk about some big shoes to fill. During World 1, my excitement quickly turned to annoyance. How dare Nintendo make a game that wasn’t exactly like its nearly 20-year-old predecessor? No bonus games at the end of levels! No special items, like the P Block or +20 Stars! Kamek is the boss fight at every Level 4 fortress, not a magically enhanced enemy! Red eggs don’t get two rebounds and don’t give stars unless you hit an enemy! Starting from a checkpoint ring only leaves you with 10 stars! And who wrote this music?! Nevertheless, I trudged on. And somewhere between World 2 and World 4, a funny thing happened: I got over myself. Suddenly I found myself grooving to the spastically up-
brief animation where Yoshi picks up an egg to throw it, which means you have to anticipate your attacks more. Rapid-fire chucking isn’t nearly as fast as it used to be, and it’s tougher to aim accurately on the fly. I assume it was a conscious decision, but it’s not one I For: 3DS | Price: $39.99 | Rated: Everyone agree with. Though you get used to it after awhile. PROS: Classic level design, beautiful artwork, great 3-D. So yeah, it’s not quite as good as Yoshi’s Island. (To CONS: That egg-throwing delay, random medal collection. be fair, very, very, very, very few games are.) But the happiness that underpins the series is out in full force. beat soundtrack. I was smiling. I was enjoying myself. When Poochy runs over to greet you or when a Yoshi Once I stopped expecting a carbon copy of Yoshi’s Is- makes that little “bum” noise every time it (he? she? land with new level designs — which I would still buy hesh? ze? thon?) makes an egg, try to keep the grin in a heartbeat, hint, hint! — I found that Yoshi’s New from your face. It’ll be a challenge. Island is, in fact, pretty darn fun. A common complaint about Nintendo games is that they’re too easy. Most of the tweaks to this game make it harder than the SNES classic. The level design is, of course, brilliant. But while they may be easy enough to complete, it’s become more challenging to get a perfect score in one go. Fortunately, finishing a level with 30 stars, 20 red coins or 5 flowers can be done independently from each other, so one run can focus on collection and another on not getting hit. The only thing that really, truly irks me: There’s a
Metal Gear Solid V little more than an overpriced demo JAMES FRAZIER | PULSE WRITER
L
et’s hope Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes isn’t an indicator of things to come.
I don’t say that because Ground Zeroes, the latest chapter in creator Hideo Kojima’s genius, jaw-dropping, uber-cinematic Metal Gear series is a bad game; I say that because it isn’t even really a game. It’s a glorified demo with a $30 price tag. Long gone are the days where players were given a healthy chunk of a new title for free. Though contemporary gamers are now used to being overcharged for downloadable and extra content, Ground Zeroes, despite the brief bits of distilled awesomeness, ultimately comes off as a craven attempt to relieve series fans of precious gaming dollars. 1998’s Metal Gear Solid promised “Tactical Espionage Action” and delivered it in a uniquely absorbing world, one that skillfully mixed gunplay, stealth, lengthy cinematics, outrageously stylized camp and deadly serious philosophy. Through the years, the labyrinthine story has deepened to the point where a stack of phone books wouldn’t have enough paper
and print to cover it all, but, amazingly, it has remained of consistent quality, thanks to Kojima’s strict oversight and prolonged development cycles. One thing you can always expect: Each game chronicles a chapter in the colorful, violent history of a commando with the code name Snake, even though who this exact man is changes depending on the era (there’s one born in 1935 and another, his clone, born in 1972). Ground Zeroes takes place in 1975, with Snake tasked with extracting two prisoners from a secret military base in Cuba. The hallmarks of the series are here: a militaristic design that plays with fantasy but is grounded in realism, gameplay that sees you sneaking around armed guards (and blasting away at them if spotted), frequent breaks in the action for theatrical exposition and a story that’s at turns brutal, funny, sad and outrageous. Longtime series voice actor David Hayter, whose rough but humane readings granted Snake’s saga a riveting pathos, has unfortunately been replaced. But his
NINTENDO, BETHESDA, UBISOFT, KONAMI, SHUTTERSTOCK IMAGES
For: PS3, PS4, X360, XB1 | Price: $29.99 | Rated: Mature PROS: Stunning design and tone, excellent gameplay, Kiefer Sutherland. CONS: An outrageous rip-off. Criminally brief. Borrow it or get it from the bargain bin. replacement, tough guy Kiefer Sutherland, is a welcome addition. As fun as Ground Zeroes is, the experience is gallingly brief, the sort a competent gamer in no particular hurry could beat in an hour or two. There’s at least one video on YouTube featuring a player completing the story mission in just under eleven minutes. The good news to all this: The next chapter in the Metal Gear series, The Phantom Pain, will hit shelves in 2015. That title will reportedly be a full-length game with all the talky, bloody, weird grandeur Metal Gear fans have come to expect. But Ground Zeroes might have been better titled The Phantom Game. As a demo, this title’s about 4 1/2 stars. As a game, it’s more like 2 stars.
PULSE 21
NATE BROWN | PULSE WRITER happy hour 3-7 and great food! april 27
Fuel halFway to new yorK 7pm $20
may 2
hed pe soil 8pm $15
may 3
ill Convoy 15 year anniversary party 9pm $5
may 9
tantriC $12
may 10
the melismatiCs hazer 9pm $5
may 16
powerman 5000 9 eleCtriC 8pm $15
may 17
mushroomhead 8pm $20
may 23
CornstoCK with loCal h smile empty soul more tba 6pm $15
may 24
CornstoCK with the Goodyear pimps nil8 6pm $10
may 25
CornstoCK with Caroline’s spine more tba 7pm $12
T
he term “drinking games” has a whole new meaning with the addition of three arcade bars in Des Moines and Ames over the last seven months. Haven’t had a chance to visit these digitized dram shops? Don’t worry – it’s not game over.
KaraoKe every thursday!
3555 University Ave Waterloo 287-5747
www.thereverb.net
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
Moonwalker
Inspired by Sega’s 1990 Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker game, the drink, like the dance move, may take practice to master but will make a great addition to your repertoire. The sweet tang of fruit and chocolate is balanced by the smoothness of the RumChata and cream of coconut, while the dark rum and nutmeg add a bite you’ll tip your hat to. No word yet on if drinking a Moonwalker will improve your dancing skills. WHAT YOU NEED 3 ounces pineapple juice 1.5 ounces Myers’s Dark Rum 1 ounce RumChata 1/2 ounce orange juice 1/2 ounce chocolate syrup 1 tablespoon cream of coconut Powdered or granulated sugar Orange peel Nutmeg WHAT TO DO Coat the rim of a highball glass with sugar. Mix the chocolate syrup and Myers’s in the glass before adding ice. Combine the other ingredients in a shaker and gently pour the mixture over a spoon and into the glass so it floats on top of the chocolate and rum. Garnish with an orange twist and sprinkle with nutmeg.
View Up-Down’s full menu of video game-themed drinks at their location in Des Moines’ East Village or check out updowndsm.com. 22 PULSE
Pulse asked Darren Helm, a seasoned mixologist at the Des Moines bar Up-Down, to concoct an original video game-themed cocktail that you can make from the comfort of your home battle station. So fire up your console, load up the liquor cabinet and let the games begin!
Silicon stereotypes W
ith Mike Judge’s new HBO sitcom Silicon Valley, it’s tempting to say its creator bit off more than he could chew. But Judge doesn’t appear to have tried to chew anything. The latest from the man behind Beavis and Butthead and King of the Hill, for all its profanity and swipes at the corporate tech culture, is shockingly inert. Between those classic TV shows and movies like Office Space, Judge’s credentials as a satirist are unrivaled. But here, he paints his assortment of awkward programmers in broad strokes, foregoing the surgical precision of good satire. Beavis and Butthead had edge and King of the Hill had depth. There’s little of either in Silicon Valley, which so far coasts along on nerd jokes only marginally sharper than the tripe seen on The Big Bang Theory. In Silicon Valley, Richard (Thomas Middleditch) is a genius whose ideas lack vision when he accidentally creates the Next Big Thing. He lives in an “incubator” owned by a former programmer (T.J. Miller), a house with free rent for up-and-comers in exchange for 10 percent of any future profits. Richard’s
program, Pied Piper, is an inane piece of software that allows users to check for music copyrights, but it just so happens to have an algorithm with the potential to revolutionize the industry and make billions. After a bidding war between Steve Jobs-esque guru Gavin Belson (Matt Ross, a bright spot) and venture capitalist Peter Gregory (the late Christopher Evan Welch) over who gets his talents, Richard goes into business for himself, taking on his roommates as the startup’s staff. There’s some truth in Judge’s portrait of these would-be tech gods. It’s not a struggle to picture Richard and company crammed in tight quarters, subsisting on cereal, energy drinks and pot while patiently trying to climb the corporate ladder or bypass the rungs altogether. It’s also easy to imagine big shots like Belson aggressively engaging in idiotic mysticism and philosophy while cultivating an obscene egotism to subordinates. What isn’t clear, but should be, is exactly what Judge is trying to do with all this. At this point, these nerds are interchangeable stereotypes in geeky attire.
When did Judge become so interested in low-hanging fruit? Even the crude misadventures of Beavis and Butthead were filled with commentary on contemporary idiocy and society’s tolerance of it. Where’s the insight into these hapless but talented computer experts? Judge says Silicon Valley is partially inspired by his own brief stint at a tech company in the 1980s. “It really felt like a cult. The people I met were like Step-
HBO PHOTOS
JAMES FRAZIER | PULSE WRITER
ford Wives,” he told Wired. “They were true believers in something, and I don’t know what it was.” From the looks of this show, he still doesn’t have a clue.
Silicon Valley Sundays @ 9 PM HBO
PULSE 23
MAY 2 STARRING: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx, Paul Giamatti Peter Parker runs the gauntlet as the mysterious company Oscorp sends up a slew of supervillains against him. Sure, sure, Spider-Man is awesome, but we’re really looking forward to seeing Jamie Foxx as conflicted supervillain Electro.
MAY 23
STARRING: Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy OK, we’re getting confused in the spacetime continuum here, but it won’t stop us from enjoying old friends Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart. In this installment, the X-Men send Wolverine to the past in a desperate effort to change history.
STARRING: Angelina Jolie Does it even matter who else is in this? No. No it does not. Look at her. She is terrifying. If this isn’t amazing, it’ll be a huge letdown.
MAY 30
24 PULSE
MAY 16 STARRING: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Bryan Cranston, Ken Watanabe The world’s most famous monster is pitted against malevolent creatures who, bolstered by humanity’s scientific arrogance, threaten our very existence. Pro: Waaaaayyyy better special effects than in the 1954 original. Con: Giant creatures trying to destroy human kind. Meh.
making plans? we’ll point the way
ReaD. WATCH. sURF CVPulse.com
OTHER MAY FILMS MAY 2
MAY 9
Belle
Neighbors
Walk of Shame
Chef
MAY 16 Million Dollar Arm
MAY 23 Blended
MAY 30 A Million Ways to Die in the West
DISNEY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER BROS., 20TH CENTURY FOX, SONY PHOTOS
PULSE 25
Stand-up guy
META HEMENWAY-FORBES | PULSE EDITOR
M “
ost people in wheelchairs can use the stairs. Except they go down once. Really fast.” That’s No. 9 on the list of 10 things Andrew Tubbs says people don’t know about disabled people. Can’t believe he said that? Scoop your jaw off the floor and see No. 6: “Those who are disabled are very hard to offend. The only way I’m really offended is if someone tries to not offend me. Then you’re treating me differently.” Tubbs’ list can be seen on his YouTube Channel, Cripples Corner, where he pokes fun of his experiences as a “differently-abled” person. In some of the videos, he’s joined by his high school classmate Hannah Sawyer, who uses a wheelchair. In all of the videos, he’s funny. Really funny. “It’s really a way of laughing at the situation so we have power over the situation,” Tubbs said. Tubbs, 20, was born with thrombocytopenia-absent radius (TAR) syndrome. The disorder causes insufficient and abnormal platelet formation, creating bleeding risks and skeletal malformations. Tubbs has had 11 surgeries to correct bowing and other defects in his legs, and he’s missing the radius bone in each of his forearms. “I’ve never been good at sign language. Ironically, I can do the sign for T-Rex really well.” (No. 3) Tubbs uses humor to disarm and inform. “People feel awkward when they meet a person with different abilities,” he said. “We like to send the signal that this is an OK topic. Most people are just curious.” Tubbs is able to walk, though for long distances he uses a motorized wheelchair that he “may or may not have drag-raced in” a time or two. Special tools help extend his reach and allow him to manipulate buttons and zippers while getting dressed. A second-year music major at Wartburg College in Waverly, Tubbs aims to follow up a bachelor’s degree with a master’s and doctorate in musicology. Eventually, he wants to teach music at the collegiate level. It’s clear, though, that a career in comedy could be an option. Tubbs’ stand-up comedy routine won the crowd favorite award at the 2014 Wartburg Battle of the Unsigned Artist. TAR syndrome was a comedic gold mine for his brass and bawdy performance. Notably, “pity sex” being one of the “perks of being a disabled wallflower.” No topic is off limits for Tubbs, who jokes about sneeze guards that force him to army-crawl through mashed potatoes and the challenges of Snapchat (“I just get a view of my nose”). While he has gotten some strange questions about the nature of his disability (“I was asked if I age. What am I, Benjamin Button?”), his goal is to always remain approachable and open. Which is clearly outlined in the No. 1 item on Tubbs’ list of things to know about people with disabilities. “You can come and talk to us. If we’re at a bar or the movies or someplace where it’s socially acceptable for social interaction, we won’t bite you. I might. Or you might get your toes run over. OK, you can come and talk to us. Just be a little bit careful.” 26 PULSE
TIFFANY RUSHING / PULSE PHOTOGRAPHER Andrew Tubbs on the Wartburg College campus in Waverly.
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 CedarValley.
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 wine list. Voted best choice for dinner with best steak in the Cedar Valley
WATERLOO
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 list. Voted best place for a business lunch.
Ginger Thai Cuisine | Authentic Thai Food 111 W. 2nd Street, Cedar Falls 319-266-2150 Hours: Monday - Saturday 11 am - 3 pm, 5 - 9 pm; Sunday 10 am - 4 pm facebook.com/ginger-thai-cuisine Authentic thai cuisine offering lunch and dinner options. Appetizers, entrees, desserts and express menu for a quick lunch. A variety of flavors from coconut, fresh lemongrass, ginger, tofu and vegetables. Take-out and delivery available.
Soho Sushi Bar & Deli The Stuffed Olive | Deli, Sushi, Tapas, Martinis 119 Main St., Cedar Falls 319-266-9995 Hours: Mon-Fri at 6:30 am and Sat-Sun 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. Homemade cookies made from scratch daily! Now open for breakfast too! Stuffed Olive voted best place for a girls’night out.
The Lone Wolf | Bar, Restaurant 777 Isle of Capri Blvd., Waterloo Guerilla Brewing/Lava Lounge/Beer Hall | 319-833-2157 Microbrewery and Bar Hours: Monday-Friday-Breakfast 7:00 am - 10:30 pm 2401 Falls Ave., Waterloo Sunday-Thursday 11:30 am - 1:00 am 319-234-5686 Friday & Saturday - 11:30 am - 2:00 am Hours: Monday - Thursday 5 pm - Midnight Voted best burger, best happy hour, best locally owned restaurant Karaoke - Wednesday 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm Friday & Saturday 4 pm - Midnight and sports bar in the CedarValley Howl Hour 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm Monday - Thursday Artisanal Nano Brewery is releasing limited run beer, producing $2.00 drafts & domestic beers and food specials 10 gallons of each new recipe. We produced 50 different beers in www.waterloo.isleofcapricasinos.com 2013. Brand new brew gets tapped everyThursday. Whether you feel like getting food to go or plan to stay a while,The ® Lone Wolf is sure to please. We have mouth-watering food and thirstOtis and Henry’s Bar and Grill | quenching drinks with an atmosphere unlike any other. Bar and Grill Southtown Bar & Restaurant | 777 Isle of Capri Blvd., Waterloo American 319-833-2241 2026 Bopp St., Waterloo Rudy’s Tacos | Hours: Tuesday - Saturday open at 5 pm 319-236-9112 Mexican Closed Sunday and Monday Hours: 7 am - 10:30 pm, bar open later 2401 Falls Ave., Waterloo www.waterloo.isleofcapricasinos.com www.southtownwaterloo.com 319-234-5686 Located next to Witham Ford behind Golf Headquarters. Stop Combines the comfort of a neighborhood bar and grill with the Hours: Monday - Saturday 11 am - 9 pm www.rudystacos.com in for the great broasted chicken or fresh-made pork tenderloin. favorites of a steakhouse. Choose from the delicious pastas, Rudy’s uses local ingredients through the Northern Iowa Food sandwiches, salads, steaks, fish and more. and Farm Partnership’s Buy Fresh/Buy Local program.
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
$20
$30
Hilton Garden Inn | 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.
$40+
Feeling boxed in? Find a new rental in The Courier’s Classified Section in the paper or online at WCFCourier.com.
PULSE 27
28 PULSE