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Know More, Do More • RiverCitiesReader.com
WORDS FROM THE EDITOR
Resistance Is Futile, Your Profile Tells All
H
ow do Americans square their claim
of a free and open people when we
surrender our privacy and personal
details of our lives for nothing more
than convenience without question or
the most rudimentary concern for the
consequences?
In December 2016, the Federal Commu-
nications Commission (FCC) proposed a
rule, “Protecting the Privacy of Customers
of Broadband and Other Telecommunica-
tions Services” (81 Fed. Reg. 87274, Dec.
2, 2016). (rcreader.com/y/fcc) This rule,
known now as Public Law 115-22, was
designed to protect customers by prohibit-
ing broadband and telecommunications
providers from collecting, selling, dis-
seminating customers’ personal, business
and health information to third parties for
free or for profit.
Under the Congressional Review Act,
this FCC rule would have automatically
become law after a specific statutory
period of time, unless Congress jointly
passed, and the President signed, a “Disap-
proval Resolution” objecting to the rule.
So curiously, once the 115th Congress
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Stop in to The Hungry Hobo for a
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favorite toppings like broccoli,
bacon bits, butter, cauliflower, chili,
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was sworn in, the Senate passed its “disap-
proval resolution,” for Public Law 115-22,
followed by the House of Representative’s
on March 28, 2017. On April 3, President
Trump signed the “Disapproval Resolu-
tion” permanently blocking FCC Public
Law 115-22 from becoming federal law,
effectively destroying any chance of
reclaiming control over our own personal
information, thereby selling our privacy
interests to the highest bidders. (rcreader.
com/y/fcc1)
The looming question is why would
Congress and President Trump so egre-
giously betray the American people? We
will get to that.
On December 14, 2017, the FCC voted
to repeal and replace previously estab-
lished Net Neutrality rules under its Open
Internet Order 2015 with new rules under
Restoring Internet Freedom Order 2017.
This new order will repeal the classifica-
tion of Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
as public utilities (restoring ISPs to their
original designation as information
providers), but still requires transparency
reporting on how providers are treating
River Cities’ Reader • Vol. 25 No. 945 • January 2018
customers relative to access.
The argument for Net Neutrality is that
it ensures a level playing field in terms of
user access. ISPs couldn’t up-charge con-
sumers or content providers for enhanced
delivery of data based on programming
or content. Without these Net Neutrality
rules, ISPs could choose to interfere with,
or worst-case censor, customers’ access to
content. Net Neutrality 2015 was sold by
its proponents as the way to ensure ISPs
could never start cherry picking what they
provided.
The argument against Net Neutral-
ity focuses primarily on the risk to the
marketplace as a result of more govern-
ment control over the Internet. Reclassify-
ing ISPs to a public utility via the Open
Internet Order 2015, arguably placed ISPs
under excessive government regula-
tory authority. And as the Reader cover
story prior to the 2015 FCC vote stated,
practically speaking, we already enjoy net
neutrality without government interfer-
ence. (rcreader.com/y/fcc2)
MOBILE ORDERING DELIVERY
3
By Kathleen McCarthy
Unholy Alliances
Traditionally, utilities (which are very
specifically tasked) experience expensive,
often inefficient government oversight,
and contribute to insurmountable barri-
ers to competition (especially due to the
high overhead cost for necessary infra-
structure). These types of public-private
partnerships, while widely accepted,
create additional cost burden(s) directly
associated with heavy regulatory compli-
ance, and are always passed onto consum-
ers because, no matter how you splice it,
utilities are usually monopolies in their
respective service areas, regardless the size
of the market.
Most federal regulations find their
genesis in industry leaders’ lobbying to
promote burdensome rules to protect their
market positions. Such unholy alliances
between private and public sectors result
in expensive regulations, strictly enforced,
to enhance barriers that prevent new pro-
viders from entering the market and com-
peting. Such regulations can also provide
Continued On Page 5
REWARDS
 4 River Cities’ Reader • Vol. 25 No. 945 • January 2018
ILLINOIS POLITICS
Rival Political Factions Are
Gearing Up for Battle
T
he last time Representative Dan Burke
(D-Chicago) had a serious primary oppo-
nent, in 2010, the longtime Southwest
Side legislator won by just 579 votes over activ-
ist Rudy Lozano. And it could’ve been a closer
race had two Latino “candidates” not been put
on the ballot to siphon away almost 400 votes
from the progressive activist Lozano.
At the moment, the age-old Chicago
machine practice of running fake primary
candidates designed to draw votes away from
opponents is on hold while a federal judge
takes a look at a lawsuit filed by Speaker
Michael Madigan’s vanquished 2016 primary
opponent. Madigan is alleged to have put two
do-nothing candidates with Latino surnames
on the ballot to draw votes away from Jason
Gonzales. That never used to be considered a
crime.  Unfair and maybe unethical, but not
illegal. Whatever it is, it’s now under judicial
scrutiny.
This time around, Representative Burke is
going one-on-one with Aaron Ortiz, a teacher
and head soccer coach at Back of the Yards
High School.
What makes this race one to watch is that
Ortiz has been endorsed by Cook County
Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, a 2015
Chicago mayoral candidate and Bernie Sand-
ers’ top guy in the city in 2016 who is now
running for Congress with the support of
the retiring incumbent, Congressman Luis
Gutierrez.
Representative Burke is a member of
Speaker Madigan’s leadership team and his
brother Ed is a powerful Chicago alderman.
Those guys take care of their own. If Repre-
sentative Burke is willing to wage an all-out
street fight, then that’s what will happen.
So two rival Chicago political factions – the
regulars and the progressives – are gearing
up for battle on several fronts while some are
attempting to cut a deal that clears a path for
people on both sides.
Commissioner Garcia and his allies are
supporting Alma Anaya for Garcia’s county
board seat. Anaya has run Garcia’s district
office. Senator Martin Sandoval (D-Chicago)
is supporting his daughter, Angeles Sandoval,
for that same county board spot. Senator San-
doval, who has one of the strongest remaining
political organizations in the city, and Senator
Tony Muñoz (D-Chicago) have each contrib-
uted $55,000 to Angeles Sandoval’s campaign.
Senator Muñoz is a top contender for Illinois
Senate President whenever incumbent John
Cullerton decides to retire. Ms. Sandoval
should therefore have little trouble raising
money from special interests.
Senators Sandoval and Muñoz and Rep-
resentative Burke and their allies want Chuy
Garcia to pull his support from Ortiz and
Anaya, clearing the path for Representative
Know More, Do More • RiverCitiesReader.com
By Rich Miller
CapitolFax.com
SPECIAL EVENT
Burke and Ms. Sandoval.
In exchange, the “regular Democrats”
will stay out of the Garcia’s “progressive”
campaign for Congress. If not, they may back
someone like Sol Flores, the only woman in
the race to replace Congressman Gutierrez.
Flores was just endorsed by EMILY’s List.
So that may be why a Public Policy Poll-
ing survey was released last week showing
Garcia getting 53 percent in the Democratic
primary. Everybody else was in single digits,
including Flores, who was at 3 percent. Garcia
could wind up cruising to victory, so why not
stick to his guns on the other campaigns?
Well, few people like to work more than 5-8 p.m. Tuesday
they absolutely have to, and nothing is ever a
100-percent bet in politics. So we’ll see where February 13
this one goes. A lot of maneuvering appears to
be ahead.
A couple of small pieces have already fallen $35 until February 12
into place.
Lourdez Laura Ramos, who was backed
$40 day of event
by Congressman Gutierrez, withdrew from Sponsored by KWQC-TV6
the 3rd Illinois House District Democratic
primary against Representative Luis Arroyo
Davenport, Iowa • 563.326.7804
(D-Chicago). Representative Arroyo had been
www.figgeartmuseum.org
supporting Richard Gonzales in the 4th Con-
gressional District primary against Gutierrez,
but Arroyo will now reportedly withdraw his
backing and word is Gonzales may get out
of the race. Gutierrez and Arroyo have been
waging a bitter battle over the future status of
Puerto Rico.
Alex Acevedo, the son of former Represen-
tative Eddie Acevedo, recently dropped out
of the Cook County commissioner race to
replace Garcia and endorsed Angie Sandoval.
Acevedo and Senator Sandoval are longtime
allies.
However, state Representative Theresa Mah
(D-Chicago) told me last week she is backing
Alma Anaya for county board, which puts her
at odds with her state Senator, Tony Muñoz. 
But, she said, she is not supporting the Chuy
Garcia-backed candidate against Representa-
tive Burke, Aaron Ortiz.
Representative Mah has her own primary
opponent, Francisco Rodriguez, who is appar-
ently backed by former Representative Acev-
edo, who is now running for county sheriff. So
there may be another knot to untangle before
this is all done.
Got all that? Just your usual Chicago
intrigue.
Rich Miller also publishes Capitol Fax, a
daily political newsletter, and CapitolFax.
com.
New column published
weekly at rcreader.com
Know More, Do More • RiverCitiesReader.com
WORDS FROM THE EDITOR
Resistance Is Futile, Your Profile Tells All
Vol. 25 · No. 945 significant revenue streams for govern-
ment agencies’ imposing costly fines for
JANUARY 2018 violators. Finally, many of the regulators
are culled from the industry being regu-
532 W. 3rd Street Davenport IA 52801
(563)324-0049 (phone) (563)323-3101 (fax)
lated and are actually previous employees
from the largest companies within the
RiverCitiesReader.com | info@rcreader.com
industries they are supposed to regulate.
Publishing Since 1993 Too cozy for comfort, or credibility.
The Reader is an independently owned publication dedicated to It boils down to who should be allowed
providing readers and members the “keys to the Quad Cities’culture.” to control the rules of the road for Internet
NOW PRINTED MONTHLY commerce – the ISPs or government?
Newly printed complimentary editions are available monthly at Since government oversight of content
select locations in the region - rcreader.com/distribution.
is an unacceptable authority under the
PRINT & DIGITAL ADVERTISING: Constitution, perhaps reclassifying ISPs as
PRINT ADVERTISING SPACE RESERVATION DEADLINE IS THE 3rd public utilities under the Open Inter-
WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH FOR THE FOLLOWING MONTH
net Order 2015 was the first step in an
WEBSITE & WEEKLY E-NEWSLETTER ADVERTISING DEADLINE IS
EVERY MONDAY FOR THURSDAY PLACEMENTS. attempted workaround?
Visit QCAdvertising.com for publishing calendar, For now, that question is on hold. The
monthly themes, sponsorships, sizes and pricing. FCC’s Restore Internet Freedom Order
PUBLISHER 2017 still requires increased transparency
Todd McGreevy • todd@admospheres.com by ISPs via rigorous reporting on cus-
tomer access for FCC review, and “restores
EDITOR & BUSINESS MANAGER
broadband consumer protection authority
Kathleen McCarthy • km@rcreader.com
to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
ARTS & CALENDAR EDITOR to provide uniform online protections
Mike Schulz • mike@rcreader.com against unfair, deceptive, anti-competitive
GRAPHICS & AD COORDINATING practices,” as stated in FCC’s December 14
Nathan Klaus • nathan@rcreader.com news release, titled “FCC Acts to Restore
Internet Freedom.” (rcreader.com/y/fcc3)
DISTRIBUTION & OFFICE MANAGER
But for now, the ISPs are back in the
Rick Martin • rick@rcreader.com
driver’s seat for the rules of the road, as it
IT-SYSMIN has been since the Internet’s inception.
William Reveal Which brings us back to Public Law
ADVERTISING SALES 115-22. Few Americans are even aware of
Lauren Wood • sales@rcreader.com the obscene failure of Congress and Presi-
dent Trump to uphold the oath each took
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
to protect and defend the Constitution by
Amy Alkon, Jeff Ashcraft, Hannah Bates, Rob Brezsny,
Johnnie Cluney, Dee Canfield, Rich Miller, Sean Moeller, killing FCC Public Law 115-22.
Victoria Navarro, Brent Tubbs But put in context with highly contro-
PRINT COPY DISTRIBUTORS versial, mostly covert government pro-
Ingalls Family, Cheri DeLay, Greg FitzPatrick, N. A. Rice, H. grams that massively spy on Americans
Keyser, Jay Strickland via collection, recording, storing: (1) all
KNOW MORE. DO MORE. landline and cell phone conversations, (2)
© 2017 River Cities’ Reader all Internet browsing/activity, (3) all e-mail
and social-media content, (4) all public
and private camera data, utility usage,
auto travel, and anything else digital that
can be captured – all without a warrant.
This “metadata” is described by officials
and media as a benign collection of dispa-
rate information on all Americans, which
is a total misrepresentation of the gravity
and usefulness of such aggregate informa-
tion based on current technologies.
The above surveillance is “what”
the government captures and stores in
massive computer farms built in the last
several decades, the newest in Bluffdale,
Utah. (rcreader.com/y/fcc4)
However, using metadata in countless
meaningful ways without a warrant (for
use in prosecuting a crime) or express
permission from the American people is
River Cities’ Reader • Vol. 25 No. 945 • January 2018
Continued From Page 3
constitutionally disallowed. This is a core
principle of the American Republic under
the rule of law.
Resisting by Consenting?
Even though the government is gener-
ally prohibited from using the metadata it
collects, private entities and corporations
are not. Nor is the government prohibited
from acquiring/purchasing metadata
collected from third parties, including
ISPs (ie; Comcast, MediaCom, AT&T)
and information aggregators (ie; Google,
Facebook, Amazon, YouTube, Twitter,
Microsoft, Apple) by third parties.
Private sector entities are allowed to
collect, sort, analyze, categorize, compart-
mentalize, and manipulate data for profit.
Consumers have provided our consent for
these activities. Our personal data can be
shared for free, or sold for profit to third
parties, including governments, as raw
metadata, or in specified pre-defined ways,
and the sky is the limit. Nothing in the US
Constitution prohibits the government
from purchasing data in all manner of
usable formats as an end user.
So perhaps this explains why Congress
ignored the people’s interests in killing
Public Law 155-22 back in April 2017.
The US government is among the larg-
est customers of not just ISPs, but also the
major information aggregators, globally.
For example, imagine the possibilities
using advanced predictive capacities,
coupled with the potential for refined
nudging (behavior modification) to effect
public acceptance/opposition as needed.
While retailers, banks, media, and
scores of other industries utilize mass data
synthesis in their operations, this type of
metadata manipulation by government
violates everything principled in the US
Constitution.
The private sector’s pursuit of socio-
economic dominance in America still
requires disclosure of personal informa-
tion by permission. Americans would
never willingly give such permission to
the government nor is the government
allowed to seek it. However, most would,
and already have, given permission for
unfettered access to and redistribution
of their personal information to privately
owned ISPs and all manner of data aggre-
gators for little more than convenience.
Do The Limbic-Media
If one really thinks it through, this
group give-away of our individual profiles
to corporations, and by association to gov-
ernment, makes the notion of “resisting”
5
By Kathleen McCarthy
in this country absurd on its face. The
resist movement is unproductive primarily
because there is not a scintilla of sacrifice,
let alone intellectual challenge or discom-
fort. Certainly any logical progression
toward viable solutions is lost.
Reducing most socioeconomic issues to
politically ideological sides of some linear
extreme can only be sustained via highly
charged emotional engagement. Intel-
lectual analysis and exchange of ideas is
a clear and present danger that threatens
redundant, overly simplistic volatile pos-
turing, yet is fast becoming the normative
way we engage with one another.
Social media is invaluable in stimu-
lating the limbic system of our brains
(emotions) by encouraging interactions
with like-minded people, even whole com-
munities, designed to reinforce a sense of
satisfaction and belonging. Intellectual
challenges are too often easily persecuted,
often instantaneously rejected, collectively
dismissed, even banished from the realm.
But would users, all of whom provide
massive amounts of personal data to ser-
vices for free, alter their usage if they knew
these providers and aggregators were
creating unimaginable numbers of algo-
rithms, based on the zillions of browses,
e-mails, tweets, and Facebook postings,
for sale to countless third parties?
And what if third parties used such
massive data compilation to manipulate
and/or modify users’ behavior without
their knowledge or consent? Who then is
culpable?
It never once occurs to users to “resist”
the terms and conditions that relin-
quish ownership and/or beneficial use of
personal data for the astronomical profit
of others, for undisclosed purposes? And
what of our Constitutionally protected
rights to our own property, privacy, and
quiet enjoyment of both?
Americans have all but lost the criti-
cal distinction of ‘protected rights’ that
separates our rule of law from any other in
history. Constitutionally protected rights
refers to each individual’s organic rights
inherent in our humanity and off limits to
government to, in any way, intrude upon.
Be perfectly clear: our “rights” accrue to
us as human beings, and not as privileges
bestowed upon us by government. If we
lose this foundational distinction, we will
ultimately lose our Republic.
 6 River Cities’ Reader • Vol. 25 No. 945 • January 2018
VISUAL ARTS
Openings & Gallery Events
Thursdays at the Figge, art-themed activities,
discussions, tours, refreshments, and more; guests
are invited to experience the current exhibitions and
permanent collection gallery as well as shop the Museum
Store; free; for information, call 563-326-7804, Figge Art
Museum, 225 W. 2nd St., Davenport IA, FiggeArtMuseum.
org, 5pm Thu Dec 28 thru Thu Jan 25
Free Senior Day, with a 1:30pm Gallery Tour and a
2:30pm film; seniors also get 10% off in the Museum
Store and Figge Cafe; for information, call 563-326-
7804, Figge Art Museum, 225 W. 2nd St., Davenport IA,
FiggeArtMuseum.org, 1:30pm Thu Jan 4
Closing Reception for Goddess Tales: Deb Doehler
- Carolyn Krueger - Lisa Mahar, exhibit of ceramics and
mixed-media; free; for information, call 563-424-1210…
MidCoast Gallery West, 5pm Fri Jan 12
Joe Hotle Photography Gallery Opening, gallery
event featuring cocktails and hors d’ouevres; for
information, call 563-265-0966… CoWorkQC, 6pm Thu
Jan 18
Final Friday at Bucktown, monthly gallery events,
demonstrations, and more; featuring the activity
“Create… Bucktown Center for the Arts, 6pm Fri Jan 26
Exhibits & Shows
Winter Nights, Winter Lights, the outdoor gardens will
be in winter bloom this December… Quad City Botanical
Center, thru Sat Dec 30
Irma René Koen: An Artist Rediscovered, exhibition
features paintings by Rock Island native and distinguished
artist of the 20th Century Koen (1883-1975); Tue.-Sat.
10am-5pm, Thu. 10am-9pm, Sun. noon-5pm; free with
$4-7 museum admission; for information, call 563-326-
7804, Figge Art Museum, 225 W. 2nd St., Davenport IA,
FiggeArtMuseum.org, thru Sun Dec 31
Kent A. Broadbent - Rhonda Gates - Linda Lewis,
exhibit of abstract landscape paintings by Broadbent of
Annawan and Gates of Rockford, with ceramic sculptures
by Lewis of West Des Moines; for information, contact
Dawn Wohlford-Metallo at 309-793-1213 ext.108 or
dwmetallo@quadcityarts.com, Quad City International
Airport Gallery, 2200 69th Ave., Moline IL, QuadCityArts.
com, thru Sun Dec 31
Roaming Quilts: Voices of Foster Children,
exhibition of three quilts comprised of 30… Quad City
Botanical Center, thru Sun Dec 31
Power and Piety: Spanish Colonial Art from the
Patricia Phelps De Cisneros Collection, exhibition of
56 objects, ranging from paintings to silver candlesticks
to bishop’s chairs, made in the Spanish and Portuguese
colonies of the Americas from the late 17th to the early
19th centuries; Tue.-Sat. 10am-5pm, Thu. 10am-9pm, Sun.
noon-5pm; $4-7 museum admission; for information,
call 563-326-7804, Figge Art Museum, 225 W. 2nd St.,
Davenport IA, FiggeArtMuseum.org, thru Sun Jan 7
Art Meets the River: River Action Exhibition, exhibit
featuring work by local artists inspired by… Bereskin
Gallery & Art Academy, thru Fri Jan 19
Con/In-Fluence: Works by Steve Banks & Philip
Laber, Banks creates mixed-media painted constructions
utilizing oil paint,… Quad City Arts Center, thru Fri Jan 26
DeSoto Arts: Joel Knanishu - Eerica Parrott - Ryan
Veach - Amber Williams, exhibit or ceramics, collages,
and more; Wed.-Sat.… Midcoast at Bucktown Gallery, thru
Sat Jan 27
Edouard Duval-Carrié: Endless Flight, exhibit of
works by Duval-Carrié, one of the foremost Haitian artists
working today who makes paintings and sculptures that
translate Haitian culture into modern terms; Tue.-Sat.
10am-5pm, Thu. 10am-9pm, Sun. noon-5pm; free with
$4-7 museum admission; for information, call 563-326-
7804, Figge Art Museum, 225 W. 2nd St., Davenport IA,
FiggeArtMuseum.org, thru Wed Jan 31
Goddess Tales: Deb Doehler - Carolyn Krueger
- Lisa Mahar, exhibit of ceramics and mixed-media;
Wed.-Sat. 11:30am-5:30pm;… MidCoast Gallery West, thru
Wed Jan 31
New Photography in the Lewis Gallery, exhibit of
recently acquired works that span nearly 150 years of the
photographic medium, featuring photos by Gertrude
Käsebier, William Henry Jackson, Minor White, Emmet
Gowin, and Ann Hamilton; Tue.-Sat. 10am-5pm, Thu.
10am-9pm, Sun. noon-5pm; free with $4-7 museum
admission; for information, call 563-326-7804, Figge Art
Museum, 225 W. 2nd St., Davenport IA, FiggeArtMuseum.
org, thru Wed Jan 31
Rick Lodmell, acrylics exhibit; Mon -Fri, 6am-7:30pm,
Sat, 8am-5:30pm,… MidCoast Centre Station Gallery, thru
Wed Jan 31
Classes
Clothed Figure, Thursdays thru Jan. 25, with instructor
Brad Bisbey; learn to… Bereskin Gallery & Art Academy,
11am Thu Jan 4
Creation Studio Workshop: Bullet Journals, this
analog method of personal organization was developed
by digital… Bettendorf Public Library, 7pm Thu Jan 4
Adult Coloring, coloring pages, gel pens, colored
pencils, and crayons are provided;… River Valley District
Library, 2pm Fri Jan 5
Approaches to Watercolor Application 102,
Saturdays thru Jan. 27, with instructor Bob Zeidler; this
class… Bereskin Gallery & Art Academy, 9am Sat Jan 6
Card Making with Donna Banta, join us in making
homemade greeting cards; each participant will…
LeClaire Community Library, 11am Sat Jan 6
Introduction to Painting with Pastels, Saturdays thru
Jan. 27, with instructor Iyla Thill Ferguson; learn… Bereskin
Gallery & Art Academy, 10am Sat Jan 6
Adult Coloring Night, de-stress and express yourself
through art; the library will provide… East Moline Public
Library, 5:30pm Mon Jan 8
Creation Studio Drop-In: Caesar Cipher Wheel, also
known as an Alberti Cipher Wheel, this cipher machine…
Bettendorf Public Library, 3pm Mon Jan 8
Paint Your Home, Barn, or Favorite Building in
Watercolor, Thursdays thru Jan. 30; create a unique
painting in this Lifelong… Black Hawk College Outreach
Center, noon Tue Jan 9
Watercolor Basics 101, with instructor Bob Zeidler;
after years of study, exposure to… Bereskin Gallery & Art
Academy, Tue Jan 9 thru Tue Jan 23
Creation Studio Drop-In: Fingerprint Art, create the
most unique masterpiece using your unique fingerprints
and… Bettendorf Public Library, 3pm Mon Jan 15
Introduction to Painting with Pastels, thru Jan. 20,
with instructor Iyla Thill Ferguson; learn basic… Bereskin
Gallery & Art Academy, 10am Tue Jan 16
Life Drawing, facilitated by Brad Bisbey; $15; for
information and to register,… Bereskin Gallery & Art
Academy, 1pm Sun Jan 21
Creation Studio Drop-In: DIY Spy Periscope, a
periscope is an excellent addition to your spy toolkit;…
Bettendorf Public Library, 3pm Mon Jan 22
Creation Studio Drop-In: Glass Etching, learn how to
etch designs into glass using etching cream… Bettendorf
Public Library, 3pm Mon Jan 29
Call For Entry
Quad City Botanical Center Exhibitions, regional
artists within a 300-mile radius of… Quad City Botanical
Center, thru Mon Jan 15
Steve Banks Artwork in the Con/Influence Exhibit @ Quad City Arts Center
Know More, Do More • RiverCitiesReader.com
MUSIC
Concerts
Ellis Kell Winter Blues Camp Jam, performance
by students on the camp designed for area musicians
from 8-18 years old; for information, call 563-326-
1333, The Redstone Room, 129 Main St, Davenport IA,
RiverMusicExperience.org, 6pm Sat Dec 30
NYE w/ Tom Petty Tribute, a celebration of the life and
music of Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Petty; Jason Carl &
the Whole Damn Band will open the night followed by a
tribute featuring Jason Carl, Chris Noth, Rick Stoneking,
Jamie Hopkins, Sarena Whitmer, Steve Lowder, and Ryan
Summer; $15; for tickets and information, call 563-326-
1333, The Redstone Room, 129 Main St, Davenport IA,
RiverMusicExperience.org, 9pm Sun Dec 31
New Year’s Eve Soiree: Funktastic Five, funk
musicians in concert, with dinner-and-entertainment
packages available ranging... Steeplegate Inn, Sun Dec 31
Surf Rock Beach Party, a half concert/half party
featuring favorite summertime hits from the… Circa ‘21
Dinner Playhouse, 9:15pm Sun Dec 31
The Last Glimpse - Jenny Lynn Stacy - Waking
Robots, for information, call 309-793-1999… RIBCO, 9pm
Sun Dec 31
Moeller Nights: Sunshrine, rockers in concert, with
sets by Leather Parachute and Nonnie… Triple Crown
Whiskey Bar & Raccoon Motel, 7pm Thu Jan 4
Minus Six, concert with the local rock musicians,
featuring an opening set by The Real Quaid; $8 adv / $10
day of show; for tickets and information, call 563-326-
1333, The Redstone Room, 129 Main St, Davenport IA,
RiverMusicExperience.org, 8pm Fri Jan 5
Know More, Do More • RiverCitiesReader.com
Chamber Music Quad Cities: Solo Voices -- Music
of J.S. Bach and Beethoven, featuring Gregory Sauer
on cello, Thomas Sauer on piano, and… Trinity Episcopal
Cathedral, 7:30pm Sat Jan 6
TOMB, concert with the Brooklyn-based metal band; for
information, call 309-793-1999… RIBCO, 9pm Sat Jan 6
Augustana College Saxophone Quartet Concert,
join a group of Augustana’s finest saxophone musicians for
a… Moline Public Library, noon Fri Jan 12
Nivrana: Tribute to Nirvana, concert with the grunge-
rock tribute artists; $8 adv / $10 day of show; for tickets and
information, call 563-326-1333, The Redstone Room, 129
Main St, Davenport IA, RiverMusicExperience.org, 9pm
Fri Jan 12
The Manny Lopez Big Band, Lopez and his 13 piece
big band will be playing… The Circa ‘21 Speakeasy, 6pm
Fri Jan 12
Vince Neil, concert with the lead vocalist of heavy metal
band Mötley Crüe; $25-55; for tickets, call 563-328-8000,
Rhythm City Casino Resort Event Center, 7077 Elmore Ave.,
Davenport IA, RhythmCityCasino.com, 8pm Sat Jan 13
Moeller Nights: Har-Di-Har, concert with the
Minneapolis-based art-pop musicians, featuring an
opening set… Triple Crown Whiskey Bar & Raccoon Motel,
8:30pm Sun Jan 14
HS Honor Band, for information, contact Keri Rursch at
KeriRursch@augustana.edu or 309-794-7721, Centennial
Hall, Augustana College, 3703 7th Ave., Rock Island IL,
Augustana.edu, 6:30pm Mon Jan 15
Moeller Nights: Rayland Baxter, concert with the
alternative-country musician from Nashville; $15… Triple
Crown Whiskey Bar & Raccoon Motel, 7pm Wed Jan 17
Moeller Nights: Ratboys, concert with the Chicago-
based indie rockers, featuring opening sets by… Triple
Crown Whiskey Bar & Raccoon Motel, 6pm Thu Jan 18
Pokey LaFarge, a concert with the Americana musician
presented in three parts: I. Reshuffling the Deck, II. Ten
Daggers on the Table, III. The Songs; $20 adv / $25 dos; for
tickets and information, call 563-326-1333, The Redstone
Room, 129 Main St, Davenport IA, RiverMusicExperience.
org, 8pm Thu Jan 18
A Parenthesis of Cellos (Augustana Cello Choir),
Augustana cello students will perform a series of duets,
ending with a performance of Heitor Villa-Lobos’
Bachianas Brasilieras No. 5. Dr. Michelle Crouch (soprano)
will be the featured soloist; for information, contact Janina
Ehrlich at janinaehrlich@augustana.edu, Wallenberg
Hall, Augustana College, 3520 7th Ave., Rock Island IL,
Augustana.edu, 7:30pm Fri Jan 19
Bucktown Revue, a quintessentially Quad Cities show
featuring premier Midwestern singer/songwriters and…
Nighswander Theatre, 7pm Fri Jan 19
Windy City Dueling Pianos, high-energy live music
played on two pianos by highly skilled… The Circa ‘21
Speakeasy, 8pm Fri Jan 19
Augustana Percussion Ensemble Concert, the
chamber group performs music specifically written for the
percussion ensemble from 1930 to the present, along with
various transcriptions and arrangements of music never
imagined for percussion; for information, contact Dr. Tony
Oliver at tonyoliver@augustana.edu or 309-794-8966,
Bergendoff Hall of Fine Arts - Augustana College, 3701 7th
Ave., Rock Island IL, Augustana.edu, 7pm Sat Jan 20
Moeller Nights: Helena Deland, concert with the
Canadian pop musician; $8… Triple Crown Whiskey Bar &
Raccoon Motel, 8pm Sat Jan 20
Quad Cities Circus Band, live music written for the
circus; a free-will offering will… Grace Lutheran Church,
3pm Sun Jan 21
Augustana College Student Recital, free; for
information, contact Keri Rursch at kerirursch@augustana.
edu or 309-794-7721, Centennial Hall, Augustana College,
3703 7th Ave., Rock Island IL, Augustana.edu, 10:45am Tue
Jan 23
Brown Bag Lunch: Daniel Stratman, concert with
the QC native and California transplant; attendees are…
Bettendorf Public Library, noon Fri Jan 26
River Cities’ Reader • Vol. 25 No. 945 • January 2018 7
Eric Gales, concert with the blues-rock musician in
support of his album “Middle of the Road,” featuring
an opening set by Craig Erickson Group; $15 adv / $18
day of show; for tickets and information, call 563-326-
1333, The Redstone Room, 129 Main St, Davenport IA,
RiverMusicExperience.org, 8pm Fri Jan 26
An Evening with JJ Grey & Mofro, concert with the
Southern-rock and blues-rock singer/songwriter; $37
adv / $40 dos; for tickets and information, call 563-326-
1333, The Redstone Room, 129 Main St, Davenport IA,
RiverMusicExperience.org, 7pm Sun Jan 28
Augustana College Student Recital, free; for
information, contact Keri Rursch at kerirursch@augustana.
edu or 309-794-7721, Wallenberg Hall, Augustana College,
3520 7th Ave., Rock Island IL, Augustana.edu, 7:30pm Tue
Jan 30
Faculty Recital: John Cummins, saxophone, recital
with the Augustana music instructor; free; for information,
contact Keri Rursch at kerirursch@augustana.edu or 309-
794-7721, Wallenberg Hall, Augustana College, 3520 7th
Ave., Rock Island IL, Augustana.edu, 7:30pm Wed Jan 31
CONNECT FOR FREE
Special Event
Music Trivia Night, $10/person, teams of 4-8; test your all around the Quad Cities
musical knowledge at a trivia night hosted by the RME
& Mississippi Valley Blues Society; profits from the event with Xtream WiFi!
benefit both organizations to support music and music
education in our community; bring your own snacks, there
will be drinks available at the bar; there will be raffles for Xtream WiFi gives you the freedom to surf and
prizes from local businesses; for information, call 563-
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LITERARY ARTS
MEDIACOM INTERNET CUSTOMERS
Readings & Discussions FREE unlimited access to Xtream WiFi
Book’em Mystery Book Club, pick up a copy from the
reference desk and start… Moline Public Library, 6:30pm
Thu Dec 28
NOT A MEDIACOM INTERNET CUSTOMER?
Enjoy 30 FREE minutes of Xtream WiFi each month
Stranger Than Fiction Book Club, the club takes a look
at the world we’re living in… Fairmount Street Library,
6:30pm Thu Jan 4
Hidden Figures, a discussion of Margot Lee Shetterly’s
book with the Alpha… Rock Island Public Library -
Downtown Library, 3pm Mon Jan 8
Short & Sweets, discuss short stories while eating
yummy sweets; all registrants receive… Fairmount Street
Library, 10am Mon Jan 8
Rosemary, a discussion of Kate Clifford Larson’s book
with the Get… Coffee Hound - Bettendorf, 7pm Tue Jan 9
See YA, a book club for adults; find out why so many…
Davenport Public Library - Eastern Ave. Branch, 6:30pm
Wed Jan 10
The Case of the Missing Servant, a discussion of
Tarquin Hall’s book with the Mystery Book… Bettendorf
Public Library, 9:30am Sat Jan 13
The Alice Network, enjoy a cocktail or two while talking
about Kate Quinn’s… Icons Martini, 7pm Tue Jan 16
All the Light We Cannot See, a discussion of Anthony
Doerr’s book with the Contemporary Books… Bettendorf
Public Library, 1pm Wed Jan 17
Island Beneath the Sea, a discussion of Isabel Allende’s
book with the 30/31 Book… Rock Island Public Library -
Downtown Library, 6:30pm Wed Jan 17
The Boys in the Bunkhouse, a discussion of Dan Barry’s
book with the Contemporary Books… Bettendorf Public
Library, 7pm Wed Jan 17
Jane Eyre, a discussion of Charlotte Bronte’s novel with
the Southwest Branch Book… Rock Island Public Library -
Southwest Branch, 6pm Tue Jan 23
Beartown, a discussion of Fredrik Backman’s book with Sign in to XtreamWiFi and get connected today!
the Adult Book… LeClaire Community Library, 6:30pm
Wed Jan 24
LEARN MORE AT
Last Monday Book Club Discussion, this month’s
choices are from the Nonfiction/ Biography genre; light…
MEDIACOMCABLE.COM/XTREAM-WIFI
Silvis Public Library, 6:30pm Mon Jan 29
 8 River Cities’ Reader • Vol. 25 No. 945 • January 2018
THEATRE
Faves in Fives 2017
Highlights from the Year in Area Theatre
L
ive! From wherever you’re reading
this! It’s the Second-Annual Reader
Tony Awards!
For those of you who missed our
inaugural ceremony, that’s maybe because
we didn’t have one. Instead, we published
an article in which our paper’s theatre-
reviewing quintet of Jeff Ashcraft, Dee
Canfield, Victoria Navarro, Brent Tubbs,
and yours truly picked some of our favor-
ite productions, performers, technicians,
and memories from yet another inspiring,
jam-packed year in area theatre.
It turned out to be, at least from our
vantage points, an idea so nice we’re doin’
it twice.
Although the five of us each reviewed
between eight and 12 local productions
in 2017, that didn’t stop us, as true Lovahs
of the Theatuh, from seeing plenty more
that we didn’t write about. (Some of us
were even lucky enough to direct and act
in a few shows.) But even so, there was
no way that we could get to everything,
so please consider the following citations
examples of things we loved, as opposed
to the be-all-end-all of collective opinion.
Our inclusions, we think, are awesome.
We also know they’re a mere drop in the
bucket of pleasurable, exciting, hugely
satisfying area theatre.
In lieu of hauling out the Price-Water-
house team or what have you, it’s up to
me to explain the qualifications. None of
us could cite a production for more than
two personal mentions. Shows had to be
locally produced. None of us were allowed
to cite anything we were personally
involved in. None of us were allowed to be
in contention – though the shows them-
selves were fair game, as were reviewer
spouses and kids. (Buy stock in Tubbs
Talent, if such a corporation exists.)
And yes, for the sake of your patience,
there was again a 50-word maximum on
write-ups. Imagine a world in which that
was an actual requirement for awards-
show speeches. Okay, you can stop smil-
ing now.
With all this celebration does come
some unfortunate news, as Dee Canfield
and Victoria Navarro have chosen to
move on after two-plus years of Reader
reviewing. reviewing for us. They will be
much-missed, and everyone at the Reader,
me most especially, thanks them for their
time, dedication, talent, and individual
voices – I’ve greatly enjoyed, as I hope you
have, hearing what these smart, theatre-
loving writers have had to say about our
mutually beloved art form.
But Canfield’s and Navarro’s depar-
tures also mean that we’ll be seeking out a
few new voices for our theatre-reviewing
task force – be on the lookout for the
official call for entry! – as we hope to
continue the Reader’s tradition of offering
first-rate area-theatre coverage for many
years to come.
Here endeth the prelude. Bring on the
Reader Tonys! (And we really do need
a better brand. The Readies? The Stage
Hounds? The RCRrrrrs? We’ll work on it.)
– Mike Schulz
Production
Annie Jr., Augustana College, Center
for Living Arts, Penguin Project of the
Quad Cities (Jeff Ashcraft). Witnessing
the magic when young performers with
intellectual, developmental, and physical
disabilities are encouraged and able to
perform on-stage like any other young
artists satisfied my soul in ways I cannot
adequately describe. Directors Dino and
Tina Hayz’s opening-night presentation
was the most electric, captivating produc-
tion I’ve seen in ages.
Brighton Beach Memoirs, Mississippi
Bend Players (Brent Tubbs). This show,
from beginning to end, packed a huge
punch through Cory Johnson’s superb
direction, the gorgeous lighting and set,
and some of the finest area acting I’ve
seen. A beautiful, believable telling of a
great story, this inaugural-season MBP
production indicated that we have much
to look forward to.
The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Prenzie
Players (Victoria Navarro). Under Kate
Farence’s direction, 15 amazing actors
portrayed 66 characters in Bertolt Brecht’s
epic. This complicated story included
star-crossed lovers, a woman and child on
the run, a wedding/funeral, and a behead-
ing, and it was all made accessible by the
Prenzies’ energy and creativity, resulting
in a brilliant theatre experience.
Little Shop of Horrors, Quad City
Music Guild (Mike Schulz). I thought
my tear-filled happiness watching 1986’s
movie couldn’t be replicated. I thought
wrong in this stage-sunbeam made soul-
ful through Matt Holmes’ loving direc-
tion and peerless leads Andy Sederquist
and Abbey Donohoe. George Schulz (no
relation, BTW) voiced Audrey II, and
should be court-ordered to tour the role
forever.
Peter & the Starcatcher, QC Theatre
T.J. Green, Jackson Green, and Megan Clarke in St. Ambrose University’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile
Workshop (Dee Canfield). Oh joy, joy,
joy – that’s what I felt in every moment
of the QCTW’s production. It was just
so wonderful – would that I could view
it again and again. With its impeccable
direction by Calvin Vo, imaginative stag-
ing, creative script, and marvelous acting,
what was not to love?
Director
Debo Balogun, Elephant’s Graveyard,
New Ground Theatre (Mike). A passion
project shared with passionate – and
compassionate – emotion, Balogun’s
stark, terrifying, heartbreaking take on
George Brant’s period drama was seam-
less performance-, tech-, and humanity-
wise, boasting a 15-minute group stare
I’ll never forget. Leaving the theatre, it
felt unseasonably warm. Due to Balogun’s
work, I was still shaking.
Tyson Danner, Broken, QC Theatre
Workshop (Jeff ). Danner put together the
best stage ensemble I saw this past year.
His ability to help Broken’s actors layer
their characters with so much humanity
made the play’s difficult, tragic subject
matter connect with us on profound and
emotional levels that resonated long after
the closing blackout.
Kate Farence, The Caucasian Chalk
Circle, Prenzie Players (Dee). Everyone
involved in the Prenzies’ collaborative
production of Bertolt Brecht’s classic
deserves special mention. But none more
so than Farence, whose imaginatively
realized vision took viewers deep into a
parable-within-a-play through creative
staging and her direction of 15 actors who
portrayed more than 60 characters. Brava!
Becca Johnson, The 25th Annual
Know More, Do More • RiverCitiesReader.com
Putnam County Spelling Bee, Black Box
Theatre (Brent). Johnson put together
a very fun musical that never seemed to
stop moving. From spinning bleachers
to audience volunteers, Johnson made us
feel that the cast was always in control
even though it easily could’ve turned into
“Pandemonium,” with some really excel-
lent prop choices in Leslie Munson’s “tiny
hands.”
Tom Morrow, Annie, Quad City Music
Guild (Victoria). Whenever you have
children and animals in a production, you
have to bring some magic to make every-
thing work – and Morrow must have gone
to Hogwarts. Even though this musical
has been around since 1977, Morrow
established a tone that made it newly
relevant in today’s political climate.
Lead Actress
Jessica Denney, Peter & the
Starcatcher, QC Theatre Workshop
(Jeff ). As the only female in an otherwise-
male cast, Denney held her own in this
Peter Pan backstory by making her Molly
an exceptionally strong figure who bal-
anced inspiration and heroism while
leading her “Lost Boys” on an adventure.
A study in sensational character devel-
opment, Denney’s portrayal was nearly
flawless.
MJ Mason, The Madwoman of Chail-
lot, Augustana College (Dee). Mason has
a special place in my heart. She com-
pletely captivated me with her every word
and action in the title role of Augustana’s
production, and her ability to bring to life
such an iconic, ageless, and fully-realized
character was thrilling and sublime.
Continued On Page 18
Know More, Do More • RiverCitiesReader.com
Workshops & Classes
Quad Cities Writers Group, dedicated to supporting
and encouraging writers of all levels, experiences…
Davenport Public Library - Eastern Ave. Branch, 5:30pm
Mon Jan 1
USA VETS Writers’ Studio, workshop and feedback
group for all past and present military… Midwest Writing
Center, 1pm Thu Jan 4
Writer’s Studio, listen to area writers’ works and brings
works to share … Midwest Writing Center, 11am Sat Jan 6
Quad Cities Writers Group, dedicated to supporting
and encouraging writers of all levels, experiences…
Davenport Public Library - Eastern Ave. Branch, 5:30pm
Mon Jan 15
Writer’s Studio, listen to area writers’ works and brings
works to share … Midwest Writing Center, 11am Sat Jan 20
THEATRE
Performances
Elf: The Musical, musical-comedy adaptation of the
Will Ferrell holiday comedy, directed by… Circa ‘21 Dinner
Playhouse, 7:45pm Fri Dec 29 and Sat Dec 30
The Woman in Black, Stephan Mallatratt’s two-man
ghost story, directed by Craig Cohoon; Fri. & Sat. 7:30pm,
Sun. 3pm; $13; for tickets and information, call 309-762-
0330, Playcrafters Barn Theatre, 4950 35th Ave., Moline IL,
Playcrafters.com, Fri Jan 12 thru Sun Jan 21
Freaky Friday, musical-comedy adaptation of Disney’s
body-switching comedy; Fri., Sat., Wed., and… Circa ‘21
Dinner Playhouse, Wed Jan 17 thru Wed Jan 31
Paw Patrol Live! Race to the Rescue, family-themed
stage adventure with characters from… Adler Theatre,
6pm Tue Jan 23 and Wed Jan 24
In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play), Sarah
Ruhl’s Tony-nominated tale of sexual desire, motherhood,
breastfeeding, and jealousy, directed by Jennifer
Popple; $9-11; Fri. & Sat. 7:30pm, Sun. 1:30pm; for tickets
and information, call 309-794-7306, Brunner Theatre
Center, Augustana College, 3750 7th Ave., Rock Island IL,
Augustana.edu, Fri Jan 26 thru Sun Jan 28
The Wizard of Oz, stage adaptation of the children’s
book classic in a Broadway… Adler Theatre, 8pm Sat Jan
27
Sleuth, Anthony Shaffer’s Tony-winning mystery-thriller,
directed by Lora Adams; Fri.… The Black Box Theatre, Sat
Jan 27 thru Sun Jan 28
Auditions
King John, auditions for the Prenzie Players’ presentation
of Shakespeare’s history play… Butterworth Center Craft
Room, Thu Jan 4 and Sat Jan 6
Classes
Acting for Ages 10-12, Saturdays thru Apr. 7; this
imaginative, high energy environment provides…
Davenport Junior Theatre, 11:15am Sat Jan 13
Acting for Ages 5-6, Saturdays thru Apr. 7; this
imaginative, high energy environment provides…
Davenport Junior Theatre, 10am Sat Jan 13
Acting for Ages 7-9, Saturdays thru Apr. 7; this
imaginative, high energy environment provides…
Davenport Junior Theatre, 11:30am Sat Jan 13
Advanced Acting for Ages 10+, Saturdays thru
Apr. 7; class deepens the imagination and technique…
Davenport Junior Theatre, 10:30am Sat Jan 13
Costume Creation for Ages 11+, Saturdays thru Apr.
7; students will learn how to develop… Davenport Junior
Theatre, 9:30am Sat Jan 13
River Cities’ Reader • Vol. 25 No. 945 • January 2018 9
Creative Theatre Fun for Ages 3-4, Saturdays thru Apr.
7; students explore creative role-play, mime, imaginary…
Davenport Junior Theatre, 9am Sat Jan 13
Mainstage Studio for Ages 11+, Saturdays thru Apr.
7; this class will explore how imagery… Davenport Junior
Theatre, 8:45am Sat Jan 13
Acting for Ages 10-12, Mondays thru Apr. 2; this
imaginative, high energy environment provides…
Davenport Junior Theatre, 7pm Mon Jan 15
Acting for Ages 5-6, Mondays thru Apr. 2; this
imaginative, high energy environment provides…
Davenport Junior Theatre, 4pm Mon Jan 15
Acting for Ages 7-9, Mondays thru Apr. 2; this
imaginative, high energy environment provides…
Eric Gales @ The Redstone Room - January 26
Davenport Junior Theatre, 4:30pm Mon Jan 15
Creative Theatre Fun for Ages 3-4, Mondays thru Apr.
2; students explore creative role-play, mime, imaginary…
Davenport Junior Theatre, 5:15pm Mon Jan 15 Broadway for Ages 7-9, Tuesdays thru Apr. 3; class
develops storytelling and communication skills…
Improv for Ages 10-12, Mondays thru Feb. 19; led by Davenport Junior Theatre, 6:30pm Tue Jan 16
David Casas; students will… Davenport Junior Theatre,
6:30pm Mon Jan 15 Creative Theatre Fun for Ages 3-4, Tuesdays thru
Apr. 3; explore storytelling through song and dance;…
Intermediate Acting for Ages 7-9, Mondays thru Apr. Davenport Junior Theatre, 4pm Tue Jan 16
2; physicality, characterization, and vocalization skills
are… Davenport Junior Theatre, 6:45pm Mon Jan 15 Teen Acting, Tuesdays thru Apr. 3; this imaginative,
high energy environment provides… Davenport Junior
Acting for Ages 10-12, Tuesdays thru Apr. 3; this Theatre, 6:15pm Tue Jan 16
imaginative, high energy environment provides…
Davenport Junior Theatre, 4:15pm Tue Jan 16 Acting for Ages 7-9, Wednesdays thru Apr. 4; this
imaginative, high energy environment provides…
Acting for Ages 5-6, Tuesdays thru Apr. 3; this Davenport Junior Theatre, Wed Jan 17
imaginative, high energy environment provides…
Davenport Junior Theatre, 5:45pm Tue Jan 16 Broadway for Ages 10-12, Wednesdays thru Apr. 4;
students explore the creative, and fun,… Davenport Junior
Acting for Ages 7-9, Tuesdays thru Apr. 3; this Theatre, 6pm Wed Jan 17
imaginative, high energy environment provides…
Davenport Junior Theatre, 5pm Tue Jan 16 Creative Theatre Fun for Ages 3-4, Wednesdays thru
Apr. 4; explore storytelling through song and dance;…
Broadway for Ages 5-6, Tuesdays thru Apr. 3; class Davenport Junior Theatre, 5:30pm Wed Jan 17
develops storytelling and communication skills…
Davenport Junior Theatre, 4:30pm Tue Jan 16
 10 River Cities’ Reader • Vol. 25 No. 945 • January 2018 Know More, Do More • RiverCitiesReader.com

DANCE
Broadway for Ages 5-6, Thursdays thru Apr. 5; class Tap I for Ages 7+, Wednesdays thru May 9; tap uses
CONTINUED

THEATRE / Classes
Improv for Ages 10-12, Wednesdays thru Apr. 4;
through games and exercises, students develop…
Davenport Junior Theatre, 7:15pm Wed Jan 17
Improv for Ages 5-6, Wednesdays thru Apr. 4; through
games and exercises, students develop… Davenport
Junior Theatre, 4:30pm Wed Jan 17
Improv for Ages 7-9, Wednesdays thru Apr. 4; through
games and exercises, students develop… Davenport
Junior Theatre, 5:45pm Wed Jan 17
Acting for Ages 5-6, Thursdays thru Apr. 5; this
imaginative, high energy environment provides…
Davenport Junior Theatre, 4pm Thu Jan 18
Acting for Ages 7-9, Thursdays thru Apr. 5; this
imaginative, high energy environment provides…
Davenport Junior Theatre, 6pm Thu Jan 18
Broadway for Ages 10-12, Thursdays thru Apr. 5;
class develops storytelling and communication skills…
Davenport Junior Theatre, 7:15pm Thu Jan 18
develops storytelling and communication skills…
Davenport Junior Theatre, 5:45pm Thu Jan 18
Broadway for Ages 7-9, Thursdays thru Apr. 5; class
develops storytelling and communication skills…
Davenport Junior Theatre, 4:30pm Thu Jan 18
Homeschool Acting for Ages 10-12, Thursdays
thru Apr. 5; this imaginative, high energy environment
provides… Davenport Junior Theatre, 12:20pm Thu Jan 18
Homeschool Acting for Ages 13+, Thursdays thru Apr.
5; this imaginative, high energy environment provides…
Davenport Junior Theatre, 1:30pm Thu Jan 18
Homeschool Acting for Ages 5-6, Thursdays thru Apr.
5; this imaginative, high energy environment provides…
Davenport Junior Theatre, 10:40am Thu Jan 18
Homeschool Acting for Ages 7-9, Thursdays thru Apr.
5; this imaginative, high energy environment provides…
Davenport Junior Theatre, 9:30am Thu Jan 18
Intermediate Acting for Ages 10-13, Thursdays thru
Apr. 5; physicality, characterization, and vocalization skills
are… Davenport Junior Theatre, 6:30pm Thu Jan 18
Intermediate Acting for Ages 7-9, Thursdays thru
Apr. 5; physicality, characterization, and vocalization skills
are… Davenport Junior Theatre, 5:15pm Thu Jan 18
Classes
Ballet Quad Cities School of Dance Classes, offering
classes in Ballet Pointe, Modern, Jazz, Tap, Conditioning,
Creative… Ballet Quad Cities School of Dance, thru Wed
Jan 31
Advanced Ballet/Pointe, Saturdays thru May 12;
students work to master the ballet… Davenport Junior
Theatre, 9am Sat Jan 13
Beginning Ballet for Ages 5-6, Saturdays thru May 12;
class provides proper training in ballet… Davenport Junior
Theatre, 11:35am Sat Jan 13
Beginning Tumble for Ages 5-7, Saturdays thru May 12;
floor gymnastics for the beginning to… Davenport Junior
Theatre, 10:10am Sat Jan 13
Budding Ballerinas for Ages 3-4, Saturdays thru
May 12; our tiniest dancers learn ballet fundamentals…
Davenport Junior Theatre, 10:40am Sat Jan 13
Tumble Tots for Ages 3-4, Saturdays thru May 12; our
littlest tumblers begin learning basic… Davenport Junior
Theatre, 9:10am Sat Jan 13
Ballet I for Ages 7+, Mondays thru May 7; class provides
proper training in ballet… Davenport Junior Theatre, 6pm
Mon Jan 15
Ballet II for Ages 9+, Mondays thru May 7; class provides
proper training in ballet technique,… Davenport Junior
Theatre, 4:10pm Mon Jan 15
Ballet III for Ages 10+, Mondays thru May 7; class
provides proper training in ballet technique,… Davenport
Junior Theatre, 5:15pm Mon Jan 15
Ballet IV for Ages 10+, Mondays thru May 7; class
provides proper training in ballet technique,… Davenport
Junior Theatre, 6:45pm Mon Jan 15
Beginning Ballet for Ages 5-6, Mondays thru May 7;
class provides proper training in ballet… Davenport Junior
Theatre, 5pm Mon Jan 15
Budding Ballerinas for Ages 3-4, Mondays thru May 7;
our tiniest dancers learn ballet fundamentals… Davenport
Junior Theatre, 4pm Mon Jan 15
Advance Tumble, Tuesdays thru May 8; floor gymnastics
for the intermediate to… Davenport Junior Theatre,
7:15pm Tue Jan 16
Beginning Tumble for Ages 8+, Tuesdays thru May 8;
floor gymnastics for the beginning to… Davenport Junior
Theatre, 4:55pm Tue Jan 16
Hip Hop I for Ages 10+, Tuesdays thru May 8; this course
uses high energy, contemporary… Davenport Junior
Theatre, 6pm Tue Jan 16
special tap shoes to… Davenport Junior Theatre, 5:40pm
Wed Jan 17
Tap/Jazz II for Ages 9+, Wednesdays thru May 9; tap
uses special tap shoes to… Davenport Junior Theatre,
5:50pm Wed Jan 17
Tap/Jazz III, Wednesdays thru May 9; jazz utilizes
techniques and movements from… Davenport Junior
Theatre, 4:50pm Wed Jan 17
Tap/Jazz III, Wednesdays thru May 9; tap uses special tap
shoes to… Davenport Junior Theatre, 7:05pm Wed Jan 17
Beginning Ballet for Ages 5-6, Thursdays thru May 10;
class provides proper training in ballet… Davenport Junior
Theatre, 5:10pm Thu Jan 18
Budding Ballerinas for Ages 3-4, Thursdays thru
May 10; our tiniest dancers learn ballet fundamentals…
Davenport Junior Theatre, 4:10pm Thu Jan 18
Homeschool Ballet I for Ages 7+, Thursdays thru May
10; class provides proper training in ballet… Davenport
Junior Theatre, 12:25pm Thu Jan 18
Homeschool Ballet II for Ages 9+, Thursdays thru May
10; class provides proper training in ballet… Davenport
Junior Theatre, 11:15am Thu Jan 18
Homeschool Ballet III for Ages 10+, Thursdays
thru May 10; class provides proper training in ballet…
Davenport Junior Theatre, 10:10am Thu Jan 18
Homeschool Ballet IV for Ages 10+, Thursdays
thru May 10; class provides proper training in ballet…
Davenport Junior Theatre, 9am Thu Jan 18
Homeschool Beginning Ballet for Ages 5-6,
Thursdays thru May 10; class provides proper training in
ballet… Davenport Junior Theatre, noon Thu Jan 18
Homeschool Budding Ballerinas for Ages 3-4,
Thursdays thru May 10; our tiniest dancers learn ballet
fundamentals… Davenport Junior Theatre, 11am Thu
Jan 18
Lyrical I for Ages 10+, Thursdays thru May 10; a
combination of ballet, jazz, and… Davenport Junior
Theatre, 6:15pm Thu Jan 18
Poms I for Ages 5-6, Thursdays thru May 10; focused on
areas of dance, cheer,… Davenport Junior Theatre, 4pm
Thu Jan 18
Poms II for Ages 7-9, Thursdays thru May 10; focused on
areas of dance, cheer,… Davenport Junior Theatre, 5pm
Thu Jan 18
Poms III for Ages 10+, Thursdays thru May 10; focused
on areas of dance, cheer,… Davenport Junior Theatre,
7:25pm Thu Jan 1

Hip Hop I for Ages 13+, Tuesdays thru May 8; this course
uses high energy, contemporary… Davenport Junior
Theatre, 7:10pm Tue Jan 16
Hip Hop I for Ages 7-9, Tuesdays thru May 8; this course
uses high energy, contemporary… Davenport Junior
Theatre, 5pm Tue Jan 16
Intermediate Tumble for Ages 8+, Tuesdays thru May
8; floor gymnastics for the beginning to… Davenport
Junior Theatre, 5:55pm Tue Jan 16
Li’l Hip Hop for Ages 5-6, Tuesdays thru May 8; this
course uses high energy, contemporary… Davenport
Junior Theatre, 4:10pm Tue Jan 16
Tumble Tots for Ages 3-4, Tuesdays thru May 8; our
littlest tumblers begin learning basic… Davenport Junior
Theatre, 4pm Tue Jan 16
Beginning Ballet for Ages 5-6, Wednesdays thru May
9; class provides proper training in ballet technique,…
Davenport Junior Theatre, 4:10pm Wed Jan 17
Beginning Tap for Ages 5-6, Wednesdays thru May 9;
tap uses special tap shoes to… Davenport Junior Theatre,
4pm Wed Jan 17
Budding Ballerinas for Ages 3-4, Wednesdays thru
May 9; our tiniest dancers learn ballet fundamentals…
Davenport Junior Theatre, 5pm Wed Jan 17
COMEDY
Studio Series: Critical Hit, sketch comedy and
improvisational games for ages 17+; $5 or… The
Establishment, 9:30pm Fri Dec 29
ComedySportz, Fri. & Sat. 7pm; interactive comedy with
the area’s long-running… The Establishment, 7pm Fri Dec
29 thru Sat Jan 27
Studio Series: caRICKatures Christmas, sketch
comedy and improvisational games for ages 17+; $5 or…
The Establishment, 9:30pm Sat Dec 30
Studio Series: It’s Your Fault, sketch comedy
and improvisational games for ages 17+; $5 or… The
Establishment, 9:30pm Fri Jan 5
Studio Series: Wisenheimer, sketch comedy
and improvisational games for ages 17+; $5 or… The
Establishment, 9:30pm Sat Jan 6
Circumstantial Comedy Show, on Sundays; for
information, call 563-424-5506… Brew, 10pm Sun Jan 7
thru Sun Jan 28
Studio Series: Shakespeared!, sketch comedy
and improvisational games for ages 17+; $5 or… The
Establishment, 9:30pm Fri Jan 12
Know More, Do More • RiverCitiesReader.com
Teach Me to Murder, dinner and an interactive mystery
with the comedians of It’s… Skellington Manor Banquet &
Event Center, 6:30pm Fri Jan 12
Slay Bells Ring, dinner and an interactive mystery with
the comedians of It’s… Skellington Manor Banquet &
Event Center, 6:30pm Sat Jan 13
Studio Series: MFK, sketch comedy and improvisational
games for ages 17+; $5 or… The Establishment, 9:30pm
Sat Jan 13
Studio Series: Survivor, sketch comedy and
improvisational games for ages 17+; $5 or… The
Establishment, 9:30pm Fri Jan 19
Open Source Improv, improvisational comedy with
veterans of ComedySportz, Livewire, the Blacklist, and…
The Circa ‘21 Speakeasy, 8pm Sat Jan 20
Studio Series: 309, sketch comedy and improvisational
games for ages 17+; $5 or… The Establishment, 9:30pm
Sat Jan 20
Speakeasy Laugh Hard Comedy Show, event
featuring some of the funniest stand up comedians
from… The Circa ‘21 Speakeasy, 8pm Fri Jan 26
Studio Series: Movie the Musical, sketch comedy
and improvisational games for ages 17+; $5 or… The
Establishment, 9:30pm Fri Jan 26
Studio Series: The Stand Up Showcase, sketch
comedy and improvisational games for ages 17+; $5 or…
The Establishment, 9:30pm Sat Jan 27
MUSEUMS
A Look in the Toy Chest: Toys Through Time,
more than 50 seventh graders of the Creative… German
American Heritage Center, thru Sun Dec 31
German American Heritage Center Giant Advent
Calendar, thru Jan. 8; every night from Dec. 1-24, one of…
German American Heritage Center, thru Mon Jan 8
Noon Year’s Eve, a special New Year’s Eve party for
youths with music,… Family Museum, 9am Sun Dec 31
Explorers/Explorers Jr: The Wild Ocean, workshop
in which kids learn about the relationship between
humans… Putnam Museum & Science Center, 9am Sat
Jan 6
Second Saturdays at the German American
Heritage Center, children and students with a valid ID
are welcome to… German American Heritage Center,
10am Sat Jan 13
Family Fun Night: Oceans & Reefs, discover our
relationship with the ocean and how we can… Putnam
Museum & Science Center, 5pm Fri Jan 19
German Influence on American Craft Spirit
Production, explore spirits that have been influenced by
hundreds of years… German American Heritage Center,
2pm Sun Jan 21
MOVIES
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, for teens and
adults; a screening of Peter Jackson’s Oscar-winning…
Fairmount Street Library, 12:30pm Thu Dec 28
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, for
teens and adults; a screening of Peter Jackson’s Oscar-
winning… Fairmount Street Library, 4pm Thu Dec 28
The Kids Are All Right, a screening in the Independent
Film Series; two children conceived… Rock Island Public
Library - Downtown Library, 5:30pm Thu Jan 4
El botón de nácar (The Pearl Button), director Patricio
Guzmán’s 2015 documentary presented as part of the
23rd Annual Hispanic Film Festival; free; for information,
call 309-794-7670, Hanson Hall of Science, Augustana
College, 726 35th St., Rock Island IL, Augustana.edu, 7pm
Wed Jan 10
Recent Releases, see a film recently released on DVD;
free; for information,… Davenport Public Library - Eastern
Ave. Branch, 2pm Fri Jan 12
The Wizard of Oz @ Adler Theatre - January 27
Afternoon Classic Films, watch your favorites return
to the screen and enjoy a… Davenport Public Library -
Eastern Ave. Branch, 2pm Wed Jan 17
No más bebés (No More Babies), director Renee
Tajima Peña’s 2017 documentary presented as part of the
23rd Annual Hispanic Film Festival; free; for information,
call 309-794-7670, Hanson Hall of Science, Augustana
College, 726 35th St., Rock Island IL, Augustana.edu, 7pm
Wed Jan 17
Tarde para la ira (The Fury of a Patient Man), director
Raúl Arevalo’s 2016 thriller presented as part of the 23rd
Annual Hispanic Film Festival; free; for information, call
309-794-7670, Hanson Hall of Science, Augustana College,
726 35th St., Rock Island IL, Augustana.edu, 7pm Wed
Jan 24
’85: The Greatest Team in Football History, the
documentary chronicles the Chicago Bears’ journey to
their Super Bowl… Rave Cinemas Davenport 53rd 18 +
IMAX, Mon Jan 29
Ixcanul, director Jayro Bustamante’s 2015 thriller
presented as part of the 23rd Annual Hispanic Film
Festival; free; for information, call 309-794-7670, Hanson
Hall of Science, Augustana College, 726 35th St., Rock
Island IL, Augustana.edu, 7pm Wed Jan 31
SPORTS
Quad City Mallards vs. Cincinnati Cyclones, minor-
league professional ice hockey; $10-30; for tickets, call
800-745-3000… TaxSlayer Center, 7:05pm Fri Dec 29
Quad City Mallards vs. Fort Wayne Komets, minor-
league professional ice hockey; $10-30; for tickets, call
800-745-3000… TaxSlayer Center, 7:05pm Sat Dec 30
Quad City Mallards vs. Indy Fuel, minor-league
professional ice hockey; $10-30; for tickets, call 800-745-
3000… TaxSlayer Center, 7:05pm Fri Jan 12 and Sat Jan 13
Quad City Mallards vs. Kalamazoo Wings, minor-
league professional ice hockey; $10-30; for tickets, call
800-745-3000… TaxSlayer Center, 7:05pm Fri Jan 19
Quad City Mallards vs. Cincinnati Cyclones, minor-
league professional ice hockey; $10-30; for tickets, call
800-745-3000… TaxSlayer Center, 4:05pm Sun Jan 21
Quad City Mallards vs. Cincinnati Cyclones, minor-
league professional ice hockey; $10-30; for tickets, call
800-745-3000… TaxSlayer Center, 6:35pm Wed Jan 31
OTHER EVENTS
Accepting Submissions: 18th Annual Eddy Awards,
awards are presented in six categories to… River Action,
thru Fri Jan 19
Holidays Can Be a Drag Show, featuring the DJs of Just
Let Go; for information, call… RIBCO, 9pm Fri Dec 29
The Project of the Quad Cities Friday-Night
Dinner, on Fridays; $5/plate or $10/all you can eat; for
information,… Mary’s on 2nd, 5pm Fri Dec 29
Quad Cities Comic Book Convention, featuring
dealers from four states specializing in comic books new…
Ramada Inn - Bettendorf, 10am Sat Dec 30
River Cities’ Reader • Vol. 25 No. 945 • January 2018
Bottom’s Up Quad City Burlesque, New Year’s Eve
burlesque with the Quad Cities’ premiere troupe… The
Circa ‘21 Speakeasy, Sun Dec 31
Steventon’s New Year’s Eve Party, the New Year’s Eve
party will have live music by… Steventon’s, 10pm Sun
Dec 31
First Friday in LeClaire, with fun food and cocktail
sampling at the Mississippi River… Downtown LeClaire,
5pm Fri Jan 5
Viva La Divas Drag Show, featuring award-winning
performers from across the Midwest; $10-12; for tickets…
The Circa ‘21 Speakeasy, 8pm Fri Jan 5
Bottom’s Up Goes to Broadway, a Great White Way
tribute with Bottom’s Up Quad Cities… Circa ‘21 Dinner
Playhouse, 8pm Sat Jan 6
Mike Super: Magic & Illusion, an evening with the
“America’s Got Talent” finalist and winner of… TaxSlayer
Center, 7:30pm Sat Jan 6
The Big Dirty: A Celebration of Dirt & People,
fundraiser for Hidden Grove Homestead featuring raffles,
50/50 drawings, and live… Bier Stube Moline Blackhawk
Room, 7pm Fri Jan 12
Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration: The Time
Is Now, annual celebration featuring live music,
presentations, and more; for information, call 309-794-
7306, Centennial Hall, Augustana College, 3703 7th Ave.,
Rock Island IL, Augustana.edu, Sat Jan 13
Winter Survival: An Escape Room Challenge, as
the last of the group enters, the door locks… East Moline
Public Library, 9am Sat Jan 13
Bald Eagle Day Presentations, join us for a bald eagle
photo and video presentation… LeClaire Civic Center,
2pm Sun Jan 14
Taste of LeClaire, receive free food and beverage
samples from various shops and… Downtown LeClaire,
1pm Sun Jan 14
Retro Gamers Club, an adults-only night of playing
video games from the 80s,… Rock Island Public Library -
Downtown Library, 5pm Wed Jan 17
Speakeasy Trivia Night w/ Mr. Trivia, participants can
bring food but no beverages, which must be… The Circa
‘21 Speakeasy, 6pm Thu Jan 18
9th Annual Winter Wine Experience, wine-tasting
and fundraiser presented by Dimitri Wine & Sprits,
helping to fund the RME’s educational programming;
with hors d’oeuvres, a 50/50 raffle, silent auction, and
live music by the Kellen Meyers Trio and additional
artists; 6pm wine tasting, 8-10pm Redstone Room
cocktail party; $45-55, $250 for reserved tables of four;
for tickets and information, call 563-326-1333, RME
(River Music Experience), 129 N. Main St., Davenport IA,
RiverMusicExperience.org, 6pm Sat Jan 20
St. Ambrose University Trivia Night, $64 early bird
price (through Jan. 16), or $80 at… Rogalski Center - St.
Ambrose University, 6pm Sat Jan 20
Trivia Night in LeClaire, tables of 8; $10 per person;
Mulligans and refreshments available… LeClaire Civic
Center, 7pm Sat Jan 20
CINCH World’s Toughest Rodeo, the nation’s best
bucking broncs and bulls and the world’s… TaxSlayer
Center, 7:30pm Fri Jan 26 and Sat Jan 27
11
Chess Club, for those interested in chess who would like
to play… Bettendorf Public Library, 2pm Sat Jan 27
The Big Spin: Second-Hand Music Sale, a massive
sale of second-hand music -- vinyl, 8-track, CDs,
equipment,… Davenport RiverCenter, 11am Sun Jan 28
LECTURES
Community Connections: Native American
Archaeological Sites in Iowa, a presentation with
PhD candidate Addison Kimmel; free; for information,…
Bettendorf Public Library, 1:30pm Thu Jan 4
A Journey Through History with Retro Quad Cities,
spend an evening with David Sebben, creator of the
Retro… Rock Island Public Library - Downtown Library,
6pm Mon Jan 8
The Rock Island Arsenal During WWI, a presentation
in the library series Over There: A Look… Rock Island
Public Library - Downtown Library, 6pm Wed Jan 10
Mostly True Tales with Spinsby & Wales, an ongoing
series of LeClaire history talks hosted by local… LeClaire
Community Library, 6:30pm Thu Jan 11
Backyard Chickens, the presenters are Davenport
residents and certified trainers under the… Fairmount
Street Library, 6pm Thu Jan 18
Extreme Couponing, Sheena Hunter, an “extreme
couponer,” presents tips and tricks of… Rock Island Public
Library - Downtown Library, 6pm Thu Jan 18
The Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber, a lecture by the pastor of
House for All Sinners & Saints in Denver and author of New
York Times bestsellers “Accidental Saints: Finding God in
All the Wrong People” and “Pastrix: the Cranky, Beautiful
Faith of a Sinner & Saint”; for information, contact Connie
Huntley at 309-794-7213, Gerber Center, Augustana
College, 3435 9 1/2 St., Rock Island IL, Augustana.edu,
10am Thu Jan 18
Trax from the Stax: Shoegaze Presented by Shane
Brown, join Dispatch/Rock Island Argus columnist Shane
Brown for an overview… Bettendorf Public Library,
7:30pm Thu Jan 18
World Affairs Council: Family-Affiliated
Extremism/Terrorism and Responses, with Dr. Dean
Alexander, Director, Homeland Security Research Program
and Professor,… Bettendorf Public Library, 7pm Tue Jan
23
Bodies in Video Games: Performing Gender in
Digital Spaces, a Tea Talk with Dr. George Boone,
visiting assistant professor of business administration;
this presentation presents historical examples of
games reinforcing traditional gender forms, games
that challenged gender norms, and the ways gaming
technologies themselves upset our distinctions between
body and technology; for information, e-mail wgs@
augustana.edu, Carlsson Evald Hall - Augustana College,
3601 7th Ave., Rock Island IL, Augustana.edu, 4pm Wed
Jan 24
Har-Di-Har @ Triple Crown Whiskey Bar and
Raccoon Motel - January 14
12 River Cities’ Reader • Vol. 25 No. 945 • January 2018
CONTINUED
LECTURES
How Technology is Changing -- and Changing the
Job Market, Too, Information Technology professional
Andy Shearouse will help us look at… Rock Island Public
Library - Downtown Library, 6pm Wed Jan 24
Coffee Chemist, Dunn Brothers Coffee will show you
how to craft the… Fairmount Street Library, Sat Jan 27
COURSES
Iowa Corn “Future of Agriculture” Scholarships
Available, designed to aid in the development of
future… thru Wed Jan 31
Drop-In Tech Help, bring in any device and we will give
it a… LeClaire Community Library, 2pm Fri Dec 29
One-on-One Device Advice, let a librarian help you get
started on your new… Davenport Public Library - Eastern
Ave. Branch, Wed Jan 3
One-on-One Device Advice, let a librarian help you get
started on your new… Davenport Public Library - Main,
4pm Mon Jan 8
Moving to Windows 10, $40; for information and to
register, call 309-796-8223… Black Hawk College Adult
Learning Center, 5:30pm Wed Jan 10
Safety Summit, get updated information from safety
professionals, gather resources to turn… Black Hawk
College - Quad City Campus, 8am Wed Jan 10
Excel Level 1 (Office 2013/2016), $97; for information
and to register, call 309-796-8223… Black Hawk College
Adult Learning Center, 8:30am Thu Jan 11
One-on-One Device Advice, let a librarian help you
get started on your new… Fairmount Street Library, 4pm
Thu Jan 11
Technology Open Lab, if have a tech question, get
individualized assistance with questions… Rock Island
Public Library - 30/31 Branch, 9am Fri Jan 12
Winter Symposium Day: Privilege, an alternative
day of learning that includes presentations by faculty,
students, staff, alumni, and invited speakers, held at
various campus locations; free; for information, contact
Jeffrey A. Ratliff-Crain at JeffreyRatliff-Crain@augustana.
edu or 309-794-7331, Augustana College, Rock Island IL,
Augustana.edu, 9am Wed Jan 17
Orientation Session: Highway Construction
Careers Training Program (HCCTP), the 13-week
program starting Mar. 5 aims to increase the… Black Hawk
College - Quad City Campus, 6pm Thu Jan 18
Master Gardener Training, Fridays thru Apr. 20; Master
Gardeners are members of the local… Rock Island County
Extension, 9am Fri Jan 19
Orientation Session: Highway Construction
Careers Training Program (HCCTP), the 13-week
program starting Mar. 5 aims to increase the… Black Hawk
College - Quad City Campus, 10am Fri Jan 19
Technology Open Lab, if have a tech question, get
individualized assistance with questions… Rock Island
Public Library - Southwest Branch, 9am Fri Jan 19
Pesticide Safety Education Program Test, in
cooperation with the Illinois Department of Agriculture,
University of… Rock Island County Extension, Tue Jan 23
Orientation Session: Highway Construction
Careers Training Program (HCCTP), the 13-week
program starting Mar. 5 aims to increase the… Black Hawk
College - Quad City Campus, 10am Wed Jan 24
One-on-One Device Advice, let a librarian help you get
started on your new… Davenport Public Library - Eastern
Ave. Branch, noon Wed Jan 24
Drop-In Tech Help, bring in any device and we will give
it a… LeClaire Community Library, 2pm Fri Jan 26
Technology Open Lab, if have a tech question, get
individualized assistance with questions… Rock Island
Public Library - Downtown Library, 9am Fri Jan 26
Know More, Do More • RiverCitiesReader.com
Orientation Session: Highway Construction
Careers Training Program (HCCTP), the 13-week
program starting Mar. 5 aims to increase the… Black Hawk
College - Quad City Campus, 2pm Fri Jan 26
Leadership Development Program Spring 2018, a
four-month program for men and women who want to…
Integrity Integrated Inc., 7:30am Wed Jan 31
MEETINGS
Centering Prayer, meeting consisting of experience,
education, and sharing, with… St. Andrew Church, 1pm
Thu Dec 28
Centering Prayer, meeting consisting of experience,
education, and sharing, with… St. Paul Lutheran Church -
Davenport, 6pm Thu Dec 28
Centering Prayer, meeting consisting of experience,
education, and sharing, with g… Holy Family Catholic
Church, 1:30pm Thu Dec 28
Independent Scholars Evening, on Thursdays; a
free-standing, public forum for the support of… Moline
Commercial Club, 7pm Thu Dec 28
Quad Cities Open Coffee, pitch your business idea,
get help on developing your business… CoWorkQC, 6pm
Thu Dec 28
Scott County Board Meeting, for information, call 563-
326-8749 or e-mail board@scottcountyiowa.com… Scott
County Administrative Center, 5pm Thu Dec 28
Adult Children of Alcoholics, weekly meetings
on Saturdays, a meeting of the 12-step, 12-tradition…
Edwards Congregational Church, 10am Sat Dec 30
Citizens to Reform Animal Control, lunchtime
discussions on the first and last Saturdays of the month; for
information, call 563-676-8656 or 309-236-7113, or e-mail
ecumenicalfellowship@hotmail.com or e-fellowship@
hotmail.com, RME (River Music Experience), 129 N. Main St.,
Davenport IA, Facebook.com/groups/1950037481900586/
?ref=bookmarks, noon Sat Dec 30
Citizens to Reform DHS (Illinois Child and Family
Services), lunchtime discussions on the first and last
Saturdays of the month; for information, call 563-676-8656
or 309-236-7113, or e-mail ecumenicalfellowship@hotmail.
com or e-fellowship@hotmail.com, RME (River Music
Experience), 129 N. Main St., Davenport IA, Facebook.com/
groups/1728464627181097/?ref=bookmarks, noon Sat
Dec 30
Quad Cities Computer Society Meeting, featuring a
featured presentation; guests can attend the Beginners
SIG… Butterworth Center, 7pm Mon Jan 1
Stitching Group, on Wednesdays except for the 2nd
Wed; all crafters are… River Valley District Library, 1pm
Wed Jan 3 thru Wed Jan 31
Emotions Anonymous, on Mondays; a self-help group
based on 12-step traditions… St. John’s Lutheran Church -
Rock Island, 6pm Mon Jan 8 thru Mon Jan 29
Cookbook Club, register and check out the pre-selected
cookbook available at the… East Moline Public Library,
5:30pm Mon Jan 15
QCMUG (Quad Cities Macintosh Users Group)
Meeting, with a special program/presentation on
Macintosh Applications or hardware, and… Bettendorf
Public Library, 6:30pm Tue Jan 16
HEALTH
2nd Annual Integrative Lifestyle Forum, held from
9am-noon and 1-4pm; an engaging day of education…
Radisson Quad City Plaza Hotel, 1pm Sat Jan 6
Hy-Vee’s Healthier Alternatives, Chrissy Watters is
a Rock Island Hy-Vee Dietician who will… Silvis Public
Library, 6pm Mon Jan 8
Alzheimer’s 411, the Davenport Alzheimer’s Association
will be giving a presentation educating… Silvis Public
Library, 10:30am Sat Jan 20
Know More, Do More • RiverCitiesReader.com
Cinch World’s Toughest Rodeo @ TaxSlayer
Center - January 26 and 27
Hands Only CPR, Diane Hudson of the American Red
Cross will be giving… Silvis Public Library, 6pm Mon Jan
22
Living In a Toxic World, join us as local Holistic Health
Practitioners Lori Sullivan and… Davenport Public Library
- Eastern Ave. Branch, Tue Jan 23
SENIORS
Weekly & Bi-Weekly
Low-Impact Exercise, Mon.-Fri.; $3-5; for information,
call 563-386-7477… CASI (Center for Active Seniors), 9am
thru Fri Dec 29
New Horizons Band Practice, on Thursdays; $2-5; for
information, call 563-386-7477… CASI (Center for Active
Seniors), 12:30pm thru Thu Jan 25
Zumba Gold, on Thursdays; $3-5; for information, call
563-386-7477… CASI (Center for Active Seniors), 9:30am
thru Thu Jan 25
Euchre, on Thursdays & Fridays; $2-5; for information, call
563-386-7477… CASI (Center for Active Seniors), 12:45pm
thru Fri Jan 26
Billiards, Mon.-Fri.; $2; for information, call 563-386-
7477… CASI (Center for Active Seniors), 8am thru Wed
Jan 31
Bingo, on Fridays; no admission fee, card costs are 25 &…
CASI (Center for Active Seniors), 12:30pm thru Fri Jan 26
Ceramics I & II, on Fridays; $7-11; for information, call
563-386-7477… CASI (Center for Active Seniors), 9am thru
Fri Jan 26
Golden Tones Chorus Practice, on Fridays; $2-5; for
information, call 563-386-7477… CASI (Center for Active
Seniors), 9am thru Fri Jan 26
Senior Theatre: Second Avenue Players, on Fridays;
$2-5; for information, call 563-386-7477… CASI (Center for
Active Seniors), 10:30am thru Fri Jan 26
Zumba, on Fridays; $3-5; for information, call 563-386-
7477… CASI (Center for Active Seniors), 8am thru Fri Jan
26
Bridge, on Mondays & Fridays; $2-5; for information, call
563-386-7477… CASI (Center for Active Seniors), 12:30pm
thru Mon Jan 29
Canasta, on Tuesdays; $2-5; for information, call 563-386-
7477… CASI (Center for Active Seniors), 1pm Tue Jan 2
thru Tue Jan 30
Ceramics II, on Tuesdays from 9:30am-noon or 1-2:30pm;
$7-11/session, $9-12/all day; for… CASI (Center for Active
Seniors), 1pm Tue Jan 2 thru Tue Jan 30
Genesis Foot Clinic, Mon. & Tue. from 9-11:30am and
1-3pm; $22, reservations required;… CASI (Center for
Active Seniors), Tue Jan 2 thru Tue Jan 30
Knitting & Crocheting, on Tuesdays; make hats, scarfs,
and mittens for children and… CASI (Center for Active
Seniors), 12:30pm Tue Jan 2 thru Tue Jan 30
Line Dancing I, on Tuesdays; $3-5; for information, call
563-386-7477… CASI (Center for Active Seniors), 9am Tue
Jan 2 thru Tue Jan 30
Line Dancing Lesson, on Tuesdays; free; for information,
call 563-386-7477… CASI (Center for Active Seniors),
8:30am Tue Jan 2 thru Tue Jan 30
Riverview Manor Blood Pressure Checks, on
Tuesdays; free; for information, call 563-386-7477… CASI
(Center for Active Seniors), 8:30am Tue Jan 2 thru Tue
Jan 30
Senior Technology Clinic, on Tuesdays; $5-7; for
information, call 563-386-7477… CASI (Center for Active
Seniors), 1pm Tue Jan 2 thru Tue Jan 30
Spiritual Devotions, on Tuesdays; free; for information,
call 563-386-7477… CASI (Center for Active Seniors), 8am
Tue Jan 2 thru Tue Jan 30
Cribbage, on Wednesdays; $2-5; for information, call
563-386-7477… CASI (Center for Active Seniors), 1pm Wed
Jan 3 thru Wed Jan 31
Energizing Yoga, on Wednesdays; $7-10; for
information, call 563-386-7477… CASI (Center for Active
Seniors), 2pm Wed Jan 3 thru Wed Jan 31
Evening Bingo, on Wednesdays; 5:30pm doors, 6pm
early-bird bingo, with regular bingo… CASI (Center for
Active Seniors), 6pm Wed Jan 3 thru Wed Jan 31
Low-Impact Exercise, Mon., Wed., & Fri.; $3-5; for
information, call 563-386-7477… CASI (Center for Active
Seniors), 9am Wed Jan 3 thru Wed Jan 31
Pinochle, on Wednesdays; $2-5; for information, call 563-
386-7477… CASI (Center for Active Seniors), 1pm Wed Jan
3 thru Wed Jan 31
St. Anthony’s Blood Pressure Checks, on
Wednesdays; free; for information, call 563-386-7477…
CASI (Center for Active Seniors), 8:30am Wed Jan 3 thru
Wed Jan 31
TOPS Meeting, on Wednesdays; the Taking Off Pounds
Sensibly Group; 11:30am weigh-in,… CASI (Center for
Active Seniors), 11:30am Wed Jan 3 thru Wed Jan 31
River Cities’ Reader • Vol. 25 No. 945 • January 2018
T’ai Chi Ch’un, on Wednesdays; $24-36/6 weeks; for
information, call 563-386-7477… CASI (Center for Active
Seniors), 10:25am Wed Jan 3 thru Wed Jan 31
Zumba Gold, on Wednesdays; $3-5; for information, call
563-386-7477… CASI (Center for Active Seniors), 9am Wed
Jan 3 thru Wed Jan 31
Line Dancing II, on Thursdays; $3-5; for information, call
563-386-7477… CASI (Center for Active Seniors), 2:30pm
Thu Jan 4 thru Thu Jan 25
Ceramics I, on Mondays & Fridays; $7-11; for information,
call 563-386-7477… CASI (Center for Active Seniors),
9:30am Fri Jan 5 thru Mon Jan 29
Shuffleboard, on Mondays; $2-5; for information, call
563-386-7477… CASI (Center for Active Seniors), 2:15pm
Mon Jan 8 thru Mon Jan 29
Ugly Quilts, on Mondays; no sewing experience
necessary; free; for information, call… CASI (Center for
Active Seniors), 8am Mon Jan 8 thru Mon Jan 29
Zumba Gold Toning, on Mondays; $3-5; for information,
call 563-386-7477… CASI (Center for Active Seniors),
10:15am Mon Jan 8 thru Mon Jan 29
December & January
New Year’s at Noon, celebrate the new year with a
potluck and champagne (or… CASI (Center for Active
Seniors), 11:30am Thu Dec 28
Personal Reflexology, by appointment only, with Janet
Latchaw;… CASI (Center for Active Seniors), 1pm Thu
Dec 28
Red Hat Club Luncheon, locations vary; for information,
call 563-386-7477… CASI (Center for Active Seniors), noon
Tue Jan 2
Trinity Foot Clinic, $25, reservations required; for
information, call 563-386-7477… CASI (Center for Active
Seniors), 1pm Wed Jan 3
Genesis Foot Clinic, from 9-11:30am and 1-3pm; $22,
reservations required; for information, call… CASI (Center
for Active Seniors), Thu Jan 4
Senior Bingo, for information, call 309-755-9614… East
Moline Public Library, 3pm Thu Jan 4
CASI Book Club, $2-5; for information, call 563-386-
7477… CASI (Center for Active Seniors), 10am Fri Jan 5
Movie Matinee, $2-5; for information, call 563-386-
7477… CASI (Center for Active Seniors), 1pm Tue Jan 9
Grief Support Group, donations accepted; for
information, call 563-386-7477… CASI (Center for Active
Seniors), 9:30am Wed Jan 10
iPad/iPhone Clinic, $2-5; for information, call 563-386-
7477… CASI (Center for Active Seniors), 9am Mon Jan 15
Walgreens Medication Review & Blood Pressure
Check, free; for information, call 563-386-7477… CASI
(Center for Active Seniors), 10am Thu Jan 18
13
Classic Movie, $2-5; for information, call 563-386-7477…
CASI (Center for Active Seniors), 1pm Tue Jan 23
Grief Support Group, donations accepted; for
information, call 563-386-7477… CASI (Center for Active
Seniors), 9:30am Wed Jan 24
KIDS’ STUFF
Weekly & Bi-Weekly
Winter Evening Playgroup, on Tuesdays, for ages
3-6.; in addition to our fun… LeClaire Community Library,
6:30pm Tue Jan 2 thru Tue Jan 30
Preschool Storytime, Tuesday through Friday at 10am;
stories, songs, finger plays, and… Bettendorf Public
Library, 10am Tue Jan 2 thru Wed Jan 31
Winter Reading Bingo, thru Feb. 28; each Bingo square
contains a reading/library activity,… LeClaire Community
Library, Tue Jan 2 thru Wed Jan 31
Exploratorium, on Wednesdays; a different STEAM
program each week; free; for… Moline Public Library, 2pm
Wed Jan 3 thru Wed Jan 31
Teen Gaming, on Wednesdays; try out new games and
gaming systems; we… Fairmount Street Library, 2:30pm
Wed Jan 3 thru Wed Jan 31
Toddle Time Playgroup, on Wednesdays & Thursdays;
ages 0-3 enjoy a self-guided morning of… LeClaire
Community Library, 10:30am Wed Jan 3 thru Wed Jan 31
Winter Morning Playgroup, Wed. & Thu. for ages 0-3;
in addition to our… LeClaire Community Library, 10:30am
Wed Jan 3 thru Wed Jan 31
Preschool Storytime, on Thursdays for ages 3-5; stories,
rhymes, songs, and more… Moline Public Library, 10am
Thu Jan 4 thru Thu Jan 25
Silvis Library Story Time, on Thursdays; meet for a
story, craft, or activity, and… Silvis Public Library, 6pm Thu
Jan 4 thru Thu Jan 25
Tales for Tots, on Thursdays; ages birth to age three and
a caregiver are… Bettendorf Public Library, 6:30pm Thu
Jan 4 thru Thu Jan 25
Child’s Play, on Saturdays; designed for preschoolers,
but all welcome; rotating programs… Bettendorf Public
Library, 10pm Sat Jan 6 thru Sat Jan 27
D & D: First Campaign, on Saturdays; ages 8-13 learn the
basics of the game… Davenport Public Library - Eastern
Ave. Branch, 1pm Sat Jan 6 thru Sat Jan 27
Preschool Storytime, Mondays at 6:30pm; stories,
songs, finger plays, and action rhymes… Bettendorf Public
Library, 6:30pm Mon Jan 8 thru Mon Jan 29
Story Time for Littles, Mondays at 9:30 & 10:45am, for
ages 0-3; nurture your… Moline Public Library, Mon Jan 8
thru Mon Jan 29
Tales for Tots, on Mondays; ages birth to age three and a
caregiver are… Bettendorf Public Library, 10am Mon Jan
8 thru Mon Jan 29
14 River Cities’ Reader • Vol. 25 No. 945 • January 2018
MUSIC
2017: The Year in Music
Moeller’s Mysterious, Marvelous Picks
I
t’s frightening to get into the month of
December – every damned year – and
wonder where it all went. Not a year
goes by now where we don’t stammer all
bug-eyed and with feigned amusement
and bewilderment to each other about
how fast everything got away from us.
This just consumes more of the precious
stuff that we are so concerned about
pissing away or having picked from our
pockets. We love doing it though, and
here’s my contribution to the continuing
– and steady, despite everything we say
about it – march-of-time from last year
when I wrote this column, to this year’s
incomplete-and-largely-arbitrary list of
my favorite songs to make up an album
for 2017 (the year of the rooster, fittingly
enough).
Once again, a prelude is always in
order when rolling out one of these
opinionated and nuanced lists ranking
works of art based on taste, and taste
alone. How often do we get those text
messages and completely miss the tone
or the tongue tucked firmly into that hot
cheek meat on the other side of the phone
– and missed the fun of the exchange
entirely? We must have some context for
those wink-wink, nudge-nudge, pseudo-
saucy texts just as there needs to be some
framework and texture to what I’m about
to lay out below.
Last year, I attributed some kind of
life moment or memory to every song I
decided to write about as my favorites of
Glen Campbell
the year. This year, after going back and
tallying up all of the concerts I produced
in 2017, I’ve come to the conclusion that
I’ve forgotten more about this year than
I have in any other year since I started
being heavily involved in this rock-and-
roll circus over a dozen years ago.
There were 200 Moeller Nights shows
this year and next year I’m going to try
and double that number. Why not? This
year, these were the songs that kept bug-
ging me. They itched and I scratched,
over and over and over again. I couldn’t
help myself. They worked me over for
various reasons. I savored many – replay-
ing them on repeat cause I didn’t want to
stop singing them in the car. I listened
to and marveled at many of them for
reasons you can’t figure out no matter
how hard you try. I played some of them
insanely loud (ask my wife when we’d
switch cars for a day) just because they
made me happy.
A good friend of mine once relayed a
phrase that her mother would lob at her
as an explanation for her poor choice in
men, saying, “Your taste is only in your
mouth.” I suppose that’s how it is with
music, too, isn’t it? My taste is shit, and
yours is amazing, but I think there are
a lot of songs below that we can all get
behind, if you’ll give them half a chance.
[NOTE: /y/ shortlinks to video/audio
sources for selections below are provided
in print and to be added to rcreader.com.
e.g. rcreader.com/y/sm171]
Julia Michaels
Izaak Opatz, Mariachi Static
A few albums might have come close
to having been listened to more than
this debut by Izaak Opatz, but only
because I didn’t have it as long. Since
the moment that I really got infatuated
with Izaak around the time that I was
scheming with Jonny Fritz at Mile of
Music in Appleton, backstage at the Cat
Power/Temptations show. I don’t know
that there’s been a more accomplished,
sun-drenched collection of folk-country
songs in a very long time. Opatz gives off
a feel like none other, a completely new,
warm sound that’s somewhere between
Ryan Adams and Tom Petty, but fi lling
more of a role of frontiersman (if that
frontiersman had email and text) riding
between towns, possibly having kitchen
sex after coffee and either leaving behind
or taking broken hearts with him as he
moved along. /y/sm171
R.LUM.R, “Frustrated”
Every time I make these lists, I like
there to be a couple premonitions on
there. It’s fun feeling like I’m bucking
a trend or calling the Powerball num-
bers before the ping pong balls are even
loaded into the machine. Now, that’s not
to say that no one’s aware of the picks I’m
going to make, but it does mean that as
far as the big map is concerned, these art-
ists aren’t much more than freckles yet.
Izaak Opatz above is the least known of
the three that fit the category on this list.
R.LUM.R. is banging hardest already,
garnering over a million monthly listen-
ers on Spotify and the reason being is
this sultry burner. Reggie Lamar Wil-
liams Jr. became a bit of an R&B sensa-
tion this year with this song and it landed
him a performance on Jimmy Kimmel
Live. His falsetto is spectacular and the
explosiveness of this arrangement are
obvious and they were in full effect when
he played The Raccoon Motel around the
4th of July. Watch out for R.LUM.R. He’s
gonna be a beast. /y/sm172
Know More, Do More • RiverCitiesReader.com
By Sean Moeller
Julia Michaels, “Issues”
With children and more drop-offs
and pick-ups than anyone should have to
handle, top-40 radio is always on in our
vehicles. Hometown girl Julia Michaels
has been writing for other stars for years,
but this year finally blasted out and made
herself a star with this ubiquitous hit.
The way that it came a bit out of nowhere
and then just struck hard, along with
the subtle way that the song structure
behaves, it reminds me a lot of how
Lorde came on the scene with “Royals.”
It’s a stunning display of restraint and
yet Michaels delivers her hooks without
mercy. Such an impressive little ear devil.
/y/sm173
Big Thief, “Shark Smile”
A couple of times over the last few
years, I’ve been asked to write bios for
some artists I’ve made acquaintances
with and it’s always both an honor and
an incredible amount of pressure that
I mentally mask as an inconvenience. I
only take the gigs when the records floor
me, when they make me cuss at their
brilliance. The newest Big Thief record
was one of those that made me drop f’s
and s’s all over the place. “Shark Smile”
is my favorite track from this album and
it’s a tight little story about foggy lust, as
if those stories are ever tight rather than
messy and incoherent. The chorus makes
you wish you were younger, when these
kinds of words might just walk into your
life. /y/sm174
Father John Misty, “Pure
Comedy”
I went out to Denver early this year
to visit my friend Nathaniel Rateliff for
a few days, just for the hell of it, and the
video for this song had just been released.
We watched it a couple of times in a row,
there at his kitchen table and every senti-
ment seemed to encapsulate everything
that had just happened in America as
well as foretell everything that was about
Know More, Do More • RiverCitiesReader.com
to happen. The muck was going to get
muckier and the dummies were gonna
get dumber or make themselves more
visible. This song is somewhat akin to
Bright Eyes’ “When the President Talks
To God,” but in a less seething, spitting
venom sort of way. This is a resignation,
not a pity party. It’s after a full collapse,
when heads just can’t shake disgustedly
enough. And Josh Tillman sums it up
pointedly when he sings, “The only thing
that seems to make them feel alive is the
struggle to survive, but the only thing
that they request is something to numb
the pain – til there’s nothing human left.
Just random matter suspended in the
dark. I hate to say it but each other’s all
we’ve got.” /y/sm175
Overcoats, “Father”
Already on my short list to bring to the
Quad Cities as soon as possible before
they put out their full-length, Overcoats
begin it with this short, short snapshot
that hits hard at the need of a daughter
needing her dad. As a father with three
daughters, keeping this message of when
someone needs you badly, they’re going
to stubbornly fight admitting that you
need anyone until it’s too late. This song
is a swirling wash of all the spiders that
get into our heads and crawl around on
top of one another, looking for the light.
/y/sm176
Glen Campbell, “I’m Not
Gonna Miss You”
Years ago, I was lucky enough to spend
a few hours making a recording with
Glen Campbell at a studio that belonged
to Conor Oberst in the hills of Los Ange-
les. It was a studio where the first Dawes
and Father John Misty records had been
made, amongst others, and it was a gor-
geous sunny day. Campbell was in good
spirits and his entire family was there. I
got to meet his wife and his grown chil-
dren. He’d already been diagnosed with
the Alzheimer’s that would claim his life
prematurely this year, but he had only
R.LUM.R
begun to feel mild effects of the disease.
While this song wasn’t released in 2017,
I listened to it a lot since his passing and
it might qualify as the saddest song ever
written. In it, he’s telling all of his loved
ones that he’s not going to miss them
when he dies because he’s not even going
to remember them. It’s simply devastat-
ing and a mesmerizing way to not have to
go through that pain. /y/sm177
TWAIN, “The Sorcerer”
Without a doubt, this song struck me
hardest in 2017 and in a way it blindsided
me. I’ve been lucky enough over the years
to get to meet so many people that oddly
enough become more than just people
we know. They become friends. Some of
them even become good friends. Few, if
any become great friends. But there are
a few. In a year of great transition and
tremendous newness – as well as just
more of the same hustling and bustling
of everything that’s been building up
for over a decade – there are new people
that entered my life, I think, exactly
when they were supposed to enter and
that alone is improbable. The people that
drift in and out of our lives like strategic
wanderers are those we get excited to see
for short durations and those small doses
fi ll us up. Then there are the wives, hus-
bands, partners and the special, rare few
anomalies who we just can’t live without.
They are the people who create a vacuum
where moments feel like eternity and you
just think to yourself how nice it is to get
lost with for a while. We all need those
people so badly. Mat Davidson’s song
is a reminder of this special connection
that can be found in the oddest places
sometimes. /y/sm178
SUSTO, “Jah Werx”
Hearing 600 people at Codfish Hollow
sing this non-word mantra as loud
and as spine-tinglingly happily back at
the band this summer was one of my
favorite moments of the year. We’ve kind
of grown along with this band from
River Cities’ Reader • Vol. 25 No. 945 • January 2018
Big Thief
Charleston, South Carolina over the last
few years as they’ve made this a home
away from home. Justin Osborne writes
with an understanding of himself and all
of his demons in a way that most other
writers don’t have a grip on, or they’d
prefer to claim different narratives that
make them appear more complicated
and therefore special. Here, Osborne is
worshipping his concocted Valhalla-
type place that amounts to a morning,
a day, or an evening that gains serious
points for the struggles being minor or
more manageable than they were the
day before and for that, we drink and we
toast. /y/sm179
Sheer Mag, “I Need to Feel
Your Love”
There aren’t bands on my wish list.
There aren’t shows that I regret not
having attended and there aren’t really
bands that are on something stupid like
a bucket list. But I wish I would have
caught Sheer Mag somewhere this year.
They’re the only ones I can think of that
I feel that way about. And the perfect
place to listen to this song might go
something like this: Give me somewhere
with ridiculously poor ventilation. I need
it to be not just sweaty, but also a place
where all of the ripeness of a few hundred
people could mingle and jockey for
supremacy. I want it to stink. I want there
to be an illegal way of drinking, perhaps
a keg over in the corner where the beer is
free but there’s nothing to serve it in so
you will have had to have brought your
own empty vessel – like an old Gatorade
bottle that you had stowed on the floor in
the back seat of your car. And I want to
be there with my two best buds and we
just forget everything. /y/sm1710
Ron Gallo, “Put the Kids to
Bed”
From an album that mocks domestic-
ity in what comes across as smart aleck
15
punk attitude and with reckless, but
logical abandon, Ron Gallo released a
flawless album that feels like it should
have come out on Lookout! Records, not
New West. It dives into the lunacy that
grabs so many people way before they
should even be considering the mere
thought of whether or not they should
get married or have children. They’re
really at the point in their relationships
where they shouldn’t even be sending
out Christmas cards together cause they
haven’t been together long enough and
don’t really know each other that well.
Instead, they decide to make a person
with someone they occasionally think is
either psychotic or on their better days is
just a sociopath. It creates a blistery ten-
sion that Gallo captures here in this rager
that feels like a pack of cigarettes and an
un-mowed backyard covered in faded
and half-crushed beer cans, piles of dog
turds and broken kids toys. /y/sm1711
Yon Ort, “What You Feel”
It’s just the start for Eric Wilson’s new
group Yon Ort, but if this song and the
band’s performances at the November
GAS Fest (and the reactions to them –
only their third and fourth shows ever!)
are any indication, there’s going to be
some fire behind these guys for some
time. “What You Feel” is a song I imag-
ine you’d hear drifting over a Joshua Tree
sunset, before the coyotes come out, as
the cactuses are cooling and the peyote is
setting up shop. /y/sm1712
Honorable mentions: Niall Horan
“Slow Hands,” Charlie Puth “Attention,”
Sampha “(No One Knows Me) Like the
Piano,” The Kernal, “I Understand” and
“Try Again,” Sam Coffey & the Iron
Lungs, “Talk 2 Her,” HAIM, “Want You
Back,” Okey Dokey, “Hurts To Be You.”
Visit MoellerNights.com to keep up
with Sean’s live music productions.
 16 River Cities’ Reader • Vol. 25 No. 945 • January 2018
CONTINUED
KIDS’ STUFF / Weekly & Bi-Weekly
Library Playgroup, on Tuesdays; open play and
socialization for children 0-5 and… Fairmount Street
Library, 10am Tue Jan 9 thru Tue Jan 30
Toddler Tales, on Wednesdays; stories, songs, and a craft
for early learning… Rock Island Public Library - Southwest
Branch, 10:30am Wed Jan 10 thru Wed Jan 31
Toddler Tales, on Fridays; stories, songs, and a craft for
early learning… Rock Island Public Library - Downtown
Library, 10:30am Fri Jan 12 thru Fri Jan 19
Choose Your Own Winter Reading Adventure, thru
Feb. 10; choose among four different reading adventures;
pick… Moline Public Library, Sat Jan 13 thru Wed Jan 31
Read a Latte Winter Reading Program, at all Rock
Island public libraries; read… Sat Jan 13 thru Wed Jan 31
Toddler Tales, on Tuesdays; stories, songs, and a craft for
early learning… Rock Island Public Library - 30/31 Branch,
10:30am Tue Jan 16 thru Tue Jan 30
December
Lego Club: Outer Space, grades K-5 create and share
themed masterpieces that will be… Silvis Public Library,
3:30pm Thu Dec 28
Showtime at Silvis: The Polar Express, refreshments
provided; free; for information, call 309-755-3393… Silvis
Public Library, 10am Thu Dec 28
Silvis Library Story Time, on Thursdays; meet for a
story, craft, or activity, and… Silvis Public Library, 6pm
Thu Dec 28
Tales for Tots, on Thursdays; ages birth to age three and
a caregiver are… Bettendorf Public Library, 6:30pm Thu
Dec 28
UPCOMING ENTERTAINMENT
Vince Neil of Motley Crue
Saturday, January 13, 8 PM
Tickets: $25 - $55
7077 Elmore Avenue, Davenport, IA 52807
Thursday Theatre: Sing-along, see the live action
version of the classic tale “Beauty… Bettendorf Public
Library, 1:30pm Thu Dec 28
Zoo Camp - Winter Wonders: Migration, ages 6-12
can have fun during winter break while participating…
Niabi Zoo, 1pm Thu Dec 28
Zoo Camp - Winter Wonders: Toughing It Out,
ages 6-12 can have fun during winter break while
participating… Niabi Zoo, 9am Thu Dec 28
Kids Gaming, kids are invited to come play on the
library’s Wii… Fairmount Street Library, 2pm Fri Dec 29
Petite Picassos, ages 5 & under use all of their senses
during… Rock Island Public Library - Downtown Library,
10:30am Fri Dec 29
Showtime at Silvis: Merry Christmas, Olivia,
refreshments provided; free; for information, call 309-755-
3393… Silvis Public Library, 10am Fri Dec 29
Zoo Camp - Winter Wonders: Day 3, ages 6-12 can
have fun during winter break while participating… Niabi
Zoo, 9am Fri Dec 29
Zoo Camp - Winter Wonders: Toughing It Out,
ages 6-12 can have fun during winter break while
participating… Niabi Zoo, 1pm Fri Dec 29
Child’s Play, on Saturdays; designed for preschoolers,
but all welcome; rotating programs… Bettendorf Public
Library, 10pm Sat Dec 30
New Year’s Eve Party, an early New Year’s celebration
for the whole family with… Fairmount Street Library, 11am
Sat Dec 30
Story Time in the Putnam’s Giant Screen Theater,
cozy up in the Putnam Museum’s Giant Screen Theater
with… Putnam Museum & Science Center, 10:30am Sat
Dec 30
The Guess Who
Saturday, February 10, 8 PM
Tickets: $25 - $55
®
Know More, Do More • RiverCitiesReader.com
January
Jolly Rancher Readers, teens share their thoughts and
get suggestions from others on… Silvis Public Library,
5:30pm Tue Jan 2
Can-Do Chemistry, for ages 4 & 5, with instructors Diane
Whiteman and… Bereskin Gallery & Art Academy, Wed
Jan 3
Reading & Making, for ages grades K-2 on Wednesdays
thru Feb. 7, with… Bereskin Gallery & Art Academy, 4pm
Wed Jan 3
Swim School for Ages 4-15, Wednesdays thru Feb.
7; $45 for six classes; for information and… Black Hawk
College - Community Aquatic Center, Wed Jan 3
Story Time for Littles: Evening Edition, for ages 0-3;
nurture your baby and toddler’s love of… Moline Public
Library, 6pm Wed Jan 3
Mini Makers, for ages 10 months to 3 years; sensory play
encourages… LeClaire Community Library, 10:30am Thu
Jan 4
Ologies: Dare To Explore -- Egyptology, explore Philip Laber’s Loess Hills in the Con/Influence
the ology series with crafts and activities; free; for…
Davenport Public Library - Eastern Ave. Branch, 4pm Thu
Exhibit @ Quad City Arts Gallery
Jan 4
Putnam Explorers/Explorers Jr: The Wild
Reading Assistance Dogs, children have the Ocean, find out how you connect to the ocean’s wild,
opportunity to read aloud to dogs from… Bettendorf sometimes… Putnam Museum & Science Center, 9am
Public Library, 6pm Thu Jan 4 Sat Jan 6
Teen Advisory Group, meet new friends and help Crafternoon: Pinecone Hedgehog, using a pine cone
advice the library regarding teen… Moline Public Library, and felt, kids (age 6+) can… Fairmount Street Library, 4pm
3:30pm Thu Jan 4 Mon Jan 8
Tabletop Games for Kids, enjoy your favorite classic Read to a Dog, QC CAN’s Reading Assistance Dogs are
board game, or try a new… Davenport Public Library - specially trained, along with… Davenport Public Library -
Eastern Ave. Branch, 3:30pm Fri Jan 5 Eastern Ave. Branch, 5pm Mon Jan 8
Make & Take Craft: CD Spinning Tops, children will be Teen Game Night, a night of games on the Xbox 360 and
able to decorate and make a classic… Silvis Public Library, the… River Valley District Library, 5:30pm Mon Jan 8
11am Sat Jan 6
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Saturday, March 31, 8 PM Saturday, April 21, 8 PM
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Know More, Do More • RiverCitiesReader.com
Afternoon Storytime: Kittens & Mittens, stories,
songs, and activities with kitten and mitten themes;
free;… Davenport Public Library - Eastern Ave. Branch,
3:30pm Tue Jan 9
Biblioteens, teens learn about new books, hang out,
and have some… LeClaire Community Library, 4:30pm
Tue Jan 9
KinderNature, fun and hands-on learning with your 3-5
year old;each child… Quad City Botanical Center, 10:30am
Tue Jan 9
Minecraft & Raspberry Pi 101, for grades 3-12 on
Thursdays thru Feb. 15, with instructor… Bereskin Gallery
& Art Academy, 7pm Tue Jan 9
Mitten Wreath, an activity in the Southwest Family Craft
series; free; for… Rock Island Public Library - Southwest
Branch, 6pm Tue Jan 9
Petite Picassos, ages 5 & under use all of their senses
during… Rock Island Public Library - 30/31 Branch,
10:30am Tue Jan 9
Teen Anime Club, anime and manga fans are invited to
watch, discuss and… Moline Public Library, 3:30pm Tue
Jan 9
STEAM-azing: Fun with Static Electricity, science,
technology, engineering, art, and math projects for kids
and… Rock Island Public Library - 30/31 Branch, 3:30pm
Wed Jan 10
Creativity Lab, ages 5 & up explore the creative process
and experiment… Moline Public Library, 6:30pm Thu
Jan 11
Ologies: Dare To Explore -- Monsterology, explore
the ology series with crafts and activities; free; for…
Davenport Public Library - Eastern Ave. Branch, 4pm Thu
Jan 11
Strawbees, this STEAM program invites kids to engineer
and create with… Fairmount Street Library, 4pm Thu Jan
11
Book Friends Bingo: Winter Reading Kickoff, all ages
are invited to Book Friends Bingo to celebrate… Fairmount
Street Library, 11am Sat Jan 13
Choose Your Own Adventure, explore wonders from
all over the globe as your experience… Moline Public
Library, 2pm Sat Jan 13
Read a Latte Winter Reading Kickoff, held in
conjunction with the reading program being held at…
Quad City Botanical Center, 12:30pm Sat Jan 13
Spy Training, for ages 5-12; spies undergo extensive
training before they enter… Bettendorf Public Library,
2pm Sat Jan 13
Winter Storytime: Winter Reading Kickoff, a
special Winter Storytime to celebrate the kickoff of the…
Fairmount Street Library, 10am Sat Jan 13
Manga Book Club, for teens who love manga; we will
have copies available… Bettendorf Public Library, 4pm
Mon Jan 15
Pokemon Night, for ages 12-18; Pokemon crafts, trivia,
and fun; see what… Rock Island Public Library - Downtown
Library, 5:30pm Mon Jan 15
Rock Art!, the whole family is invited to come and paint
rocks… Fairmount Street Library, 6pm Tue Jan 16
Teen Volunteer Council, hang out, eat snacks, and
share your ideas on how… Fairmount Street Library, 4pm
Tue Jan 16
Petite Picassos, ages 5 & under use all of their senses
during… Rock Island Public Library - Southwest Branch,
10:30am Wed Jan 17
Story Time for Littles: Evening Edition, for ages 0-3;
nurture your baby and toddler’s love of… Moline Public
Library, 6pm Wed Jan 17
Family Story Time: Read to a Therapy Dog, let your
child practice their reading skills judgement free with…
Silvis Public Library, 6pm Thu Jan 18
River Cities’ Reader • Vol. 25 No. 945 • January 2018
Family Storytime, for all ages; the library and local
organization Unite in… Davenport Public Library - Main,
10am Thu Jan 18
Ologies: Dare To Explore -- Pirateology, explore
the ology series with crafts and activities; free; for…
Davenport Public Library - Eastern Ave. Branch, 4pm Thu
Jan 18
STEM Lab, try your hand at Squishy Circuits, create with
Strawbees, build… Davenport Public Library - Main, 4pm
Thu Jan 18
Teen Advisory Group (TAG), help plan cool events,
request new library materials, eat snacks,… LeClaire
Community Library, 4:30pm Thu Jan 18
Colored Pencils, Doodles, and Paint by Sticker,
coloring, drawing, and paint-by-sticker program for
artistically inclined kids of… Fairmount Street Library, 4pm
Fri Jan 19
Bettendorf Public Library Winter Carnival, free;
for information, call 563-344-4175… Bettendorf Public
Library, 10am Sat Jan 20
Crafternoon: Crayon-Resist Watercolor Painting,
ages 6+ can create a masterpiece using crayons and
watercolor… Fairmount Street Library, 4pm Mon Jan 22
Anime Night, teens watch anime, enjoy Japanese snacks,
and learn to write… Rock Island Public Library - Downtown
Library, 5:30pm Tue Jan 23
Lego Night, play with the library’s thousands of Legos for
an hour… Fairmount Street Library, 6pm Tue Jan 23
Sensory Sensitive Storytime, held while the library is
closed to the general public,… Fairmount Street Library,
9:30am Tue Jan 23
Teen Cupcake Wars, compete to win the best teen
cupcake decorator; materials and… Silvis Public Library,
5:30pm Tue Jan 23
17
Paw Patrol Live! Race to the Rescue, family-themed
stage adventure with characters from… Adler Theatre,
6pm Tue Jan 23 and Wed Jan 24
Book Party: Warriors, activities based on the Warrior
series books by Erin Hunter;… Davenport Public Library -
Eastern Ave. Branch, 4pm Wed Jan 24
Afternoon Storytime: Penguin Power, a penguin-
themed storytime with songs, rhymes, and a fun
penguin… Fairmount Street Library, 3:30pm Thu Jan 25
Hug-a-Book Dance Party, move and play to music as
you learn; our Hug-a-Book… Rock Island Public Library -
Downtown Library, 6pm Thu Jan 25
Lego Club: Oceans, grades K-5 create and share themed
masterpieces that will be… Silvis Public Library, 3:30pm
Thu Jan 25
Ologies: Dare To Explore -- Mythology, explore
the ology series with crafts and activities; free; for…
Davenport Public Library - Eastern Ave. Branch, 4pm Thu
Jan 25
Petite Picassos, ages 5 & under use all of their senses
during… Rock Island Public Library - Downtown Library,
10:30am Fri Jan 26
Toddlerpalooza, sing, dance, and get your wiggles out
with all kinds… Fairmount Street Library, 10am Sat Jan 27
Crafternoon: Pop Art Self-Portraits, unleash your
inner Warhol with these cool photo collages; using…
Fairmount Street Library, 4pm Mon Jan 29
Exploratorium, Jr., drop in for a hands-on project for
children up to… Moline Public Library, 6pm Mon Jan 29
Teen & Tween Gaming Night, play Wii U, Xbox 360,
and enjoy board and Role… Rock Island Public Library -
Downtown Library, 5:30pm Tue Jan 30
Teen Advisory Board, teens share ideas on what would
make the library a… Silvis Public Library, 5:30pm Tue Jan
30

EXHIBITION CLOSING SOON

EDOUARD DUVAL-CARRIÉ
ENDLESS FLIGHT
THROUGH FEBRUARY 4, 2018
Sponsored by Brian and Diana Lovett, and
Barbara Leidenfrost in memory of her husband, Oscar Leidenfrost
Edouard Duval-Carrié, Haitian, b.1954, My Life as a Tree, 2015, mixed media on aluminum, Courtesy of the Artist

Davenport, Iowa • 563.326.7804

www.figgeartmuseum.org
18 River Cities’ Reader • Vol. 25 No. 945 • January 2018
THEATRE Continued From Page 8
Faves in Fives 2017
Highlights from the Year in Area Theatre
Samantha Matthews, Ghost: The
Musical, Circa ‘21 Dinner Playhouse
(Brent). Sometimes, in musicals, strong
acting appears to take a backseat to a
strong voice. But Matthews showcased
both. There was great truthfulness to her
performance as Molly, even when she
was playing opposite … well, a ghost. But
Matthews also demonstrated rich vocals
that made her portrayal that much better.
Christina Myatt, Sunset Boulevard,
Quad City Music Guild (Victoria).
Playing the aging diva Norma Desmond,
Myatt’s command of character was
spellbinding. Whether being demanding,
needy, or coquettish, or appearing on the
brink of madness, Myatt’s performance
as the delusional and desperate Desmond
was both powerful and unsparing, allow-
ing the audience to empathize and grasp
the cruel unfairness of Hollywood.
Nancy Teerlinck, Murderers, Black
Box Theatre (Mike). Ah, if only the
“Reader Tonys” were actual Tonys.
Because much like her titular character,
I would kill to hear a Nancy Teerlinck
acceptance speech – particularly if this
wonderful performer delivered it with the
bone-dry wit, abject hilarity, and power-
fully subtle emotional realism she brought
to murderess Lucy Stickler.
Lead Actor
Tristan Odenkirk, Brighton Beach
Memoirs, Mississippi Bend Players
(Brent). To say I was captivated by Oden-
kirk is a true understatement. With his
entertaining facial expressions, adolescent
mannerisms, and impeccable comedic
timing, I didn’t want to take my eyes off
Odenkirk’s Eugene – especially after he
discovered women – for a second, for fear
of missing the slightest eyebrow lift.
Luke Rose, Elf: The Musical, Circa
‘21 Dinner Playhouse (Victoria). I don’t
know from which well of talent Circa
found Rose, but I hope it’s drawn from
again, because this performer won my
heart. Portraying Elf ’s ever-cheerful,
charming, lovably goofy Buddy, Rose
proved he could not only act and dance,
but his solo elicited cheers. He’s a true
triple-threat.
Adam Sanders, The Diviners, Rich-
mond Hill Barn Theatre (Mike). Sanders’
excellence as an itinerant preacher came
from him playing his lead more as sup-
port – commandingly passionate, but
appearing far more interested in making
others look good through sincere focus,
empathy, and connection with his co-
stars. They wound up looking awfully
good. Sanders, with his performance
humility, looked great.
Aaron Sullivan, The Caucasian Chalk
Circle, Prenzie Players (Dee). Sullivan
was masterful as the corrupt judge Adzak
– at times majestic, and at other times
rude, overbearing, and sarcastic. But no
matter his mood or intention, Sullivan
was in complete command of his role and
was a complete and utter joy to watch.
John Whitson, West Side Story, Quad
City Music Guild (Jeff ). Whitson’s ill-
fated Tony was so full of hope and love
that he almost sold me on his ability to
overcome the warring gangs that compose
West Side’s angry, violent world. With his
beautiful vocals and solid acting, Whitson
was the perfect choice to lead this high-
energy, well-produced classic.
Featured Actress
Andrea Braddy, The Trojan Women,
Genesius Guild (Dee). Genesius Guild’s
production, under the direction of Dori
Foster, had much to recommend it, but
especially Braddy’s performance as
Cassandra. Wearing a highly stylized
traditional mask, Braddy wowed me with
her tremendous vocal skills in her por-
trayal of Cassandra’s agony, foreseeing her
future as a captive of war.
Megan Clarke, Picasso at the Lapin
Agile, St. Ambrose University (Mike).
Admittedly, I cited Clarke last year and
acted with her this past summer. But to
charges of bias I say: “Schmendiman!”
Because playing that excitable little
(male) freak in Steve Martin’s absurdist
comedy, Clarke was unforgettable: fear-
less, riotous, physically and verbally witty,
and more animated than anyone on The
Simpsons.
Jackie Patterson, Steel Magno-
lias, Playcrafters Barn Theatre (Jeff ).
Although Playcrafters’ show was staged
in January, Patterson’s performance at
its climax still haunts me today. When
she broke down in devastating anger
and anguish over the death of M’Lynn’s
daughter, Patterson exhibited a complex
performance depth that was difficult to
ignore, hard to achieve, and tough to
forget.
Audrey Rose, Titanic, Augustana
College (Brent). Portraying a third-class
Irish passenger, Rose was a splendid
singer and actress, and delivered one of
the finest stage accents I’ve ever heard. I
John Whitson and Callen Brown in Quad City Music Guild’s West Side Story
still remember her expression in “Lady’s
Maid” when Rose shared her hopes about
American life, saying much of it with just
the look on her face.
Sara Tubbs, Annie, Quad City Music
Guild (Victoria). As Grace, the secretary
to Daddy Warbucks, Tubbs brought a
natural style and class to her role, and
her characterization added a sense of
humanity that contrasted with the gritty,
“hard-knock” times of the show’s Great
Depression setting. In addition, Tubbs’
rich singing voice was resonant and
beguiling.
Featured Actor
Marc Ciemiewicz, A Year with Frog &
Toad, Circa ‘21 Dinner Playhouse (Vic-
toria). Playing six roles in this children’s
musical, Ciemiewicz transitioned seam-
lessly from one to another, and showcased
an operatic voice, to boot. He was totally
immersed in each character, be it a bird, a
frog, a lizard, a mole, or – my favorite – a
slow-moving, literal carrier of snail-mail.
Rob Keech, Little Shop of Horrors,
Quad City Music Guild (Mike). As Orin
Scrivello, D.D.S., Keech (an honest-to-
God dentist) did the impossible. He
finally, finally, made audiences under-
stand why Audrey would ever date this
sadomasochistic nightmare – at least if
Audrey’s Orin were this phenomenally
funny and thunderously present, and if
he sang this well. Still wouldn’t date him,
though.
Michael J. King, Broken, QC Theatre
Workshop (Jeff ). I’ve always appreci-
ated King’s talents, and his portrayal of
a detective who tries to uncoil the world
of human trafficking was a contempo-
rary departure from his classical roles.
Know More, Do More • RiverCitiesReader.com
Amongst those of a very strong cast, his
Broken performance shined a compas-
sionate light onto a character that could’ve
easily been two-dimensional.
Tristan Odenkirk, The Madwoman
of Chaillot, Augustana College (Dee).
Helpless I was, laughing so hard that tears
were streaming down my cheeks – Oden-
kirk’s understated yet Igor-like Sewer
Man portrayal was the funniest thing I’ve
seen on an area stage maybe ever. Thank-
fully, his scene was short; had it gone on
much longer, I probably couldn’t have
survived it.
John VanDeWoestyne, Inherit the
Wind, Richmond Hill Barn Theatre
(Brent). VanDeWoestyne delivered Henry
Drummond’s lines in such fresh ways that
they made all of the attorney’s discover-
ies seem present and real, and while the
courtroom setting could’ve inspired
a “just the facts” portrayal, the actor
brought life to every word he spoke. This
was a true a whirl-Wind performance.
Costuming
Suzanne DeReu, Doublewide, Texas,
Richmond Hill Barn Theatre (Mike).
Hell, I would’ve chosen DeReu just for
Marilyn Monroe’s Seven Year Itch dress
accented by a floor fan for strategic waft-
ing. But while DeRue’s movie-themed
ensembles were fab, her trailer-park
denizens’ everyday attire was superbly
character-revealing and appropriate –
stretch pants, jean shorts, bunny costume
… . You know. Texas.
Dianne Dye, Brighton Beach Memoirs,
Mississippi Bend Players (Dee). Dye’s
designs have beautifully enhanced every
production in which I’ve seen them fea-
tured, and this was indeed the case with
Know More, Do More • RiverCitiesReader.com
her work for this Neil Simon comedy. Her
costumes were wonderfully evocative of
Depression-era Brooklyn, and were an
important element in helping to create the
play’s illusion of reality.
Dianne Dye, Zombie Prom, Missis-
sippi Bend Players (Jeff). Dye’s costumes
excel at helping make a good show great,
and her vibrant colors and pattern-perfect
period costuming of Zombie Prom’s high-
school students and faculty were fantastic.
She coordinated colors to characters,
everything fit properly, and there was
attention to detail right down to the shirt
and sweater buttons.
Gregory Hiatt, Snapshots: A Musical
Scrapbook, Circa ‘21 Dinner Playhouse
(Victoria). Given Snapshots’ six actors
and story that spans more than 20 years
(sometimes out of sequence), Hiatt’s selec-
tion of clothing and high standard for
detail augmented this production greatly.
A few extremely quick costume changes –
some transpiring under a bedsheet – had
me convinced that Hiatt is a sorcerer.
Angie Stark, The Little Mermaid,
Quad City Music Guild (Brent). Having
to costume multiple mermaids, fish, a
seagull, and a giant squid couldn’t have
been easy. But Stark and her costume
crew did some incredible and iconic
work bringing this underwater world to
life – Ursula and her moving tentacles,
specifically, were costume highlights from
the whole year.
Scenic/Lighting Design
Kris Eitrheim, Picasso at the Lapin
Agile, St. Ambrose University (Mike).
After a while, it becomes easy to take
Eitrheim’s gifts for granted. Which is why
his typically stellar, detailed period design
became even more memorable when –
poof! – it suddenly vanished, and, like the
show’s characters, we were left contem-
plating life, love, and the absence of that
fantastic set.
Susan Holgersson, Brighton Beach
Memoirs, Mississippi Bend Players
(Dee). I loved this set. Through her
wonderfully envisioned and constructed
design, Holgersson created a comfort-
able yet modest family home befitting the
play’s era. Containing rooms upstairs and
down, it provided us with a strong sense
of place and was the perfect setting for a
nostalgic glimpse into the past.
Susan Holgersson, Crimes of the
Heart, Augustana College (Victoria).
Beth Henley’s play is usually set in a
homey 1970s kitchen. But Holgersson and
her crew assembled a Bauhaus-meets-Dr.
Seuss set comprised of dark-gray, multi-
level areas with ramps and pillars that
somehow reduced the Brunner Theatre’s
large space into an intimate stage with the
focus on characters and story.
Susan Holgersson, Mike Turczynski,
Ring of Fire, Circa ‘21 Dinner Playhouse
(Brent). This revue not only had Holg-
ersson’s massive railroad track cutting
through the stage – one so realistic that
I kept waiting for a giant train to roll in
– but many lovely lighting moments by
Turczysnki that brought us to whole new
locations without physical set pieces being
moved.
Bob Williams, Alex Chaplain, Zach
Chaplain, West Side Story, Quad City
Music Guild (Jeff). The stark silhouettes
of Williams’ balconies and chain-link
fencing combined with the Chaplains’
multi-hued lighting created a stark yet
passionate environment for the war
between the Jets and Sharks. Keeping
things simple by using clean lines and
fundamental colors to portray emotion
helped this team establish the perfect
tone.
Music/Sound
The 25th Annual Putnam County
Spelling Bee, Black Box Theatre (Dee).
Director Becca Johnson’s presentation
was enjoyable for many reasons, not the
least of which were the music and lyrics
River Cities’ Reader • Vol. 25 No. 945 • January 2018
by William Finn and book by Rachel
Sheinkin that so colorfully and cleverly
illuminated each entrant’s backstory and
experience in the bee. The entire thing
was pure delight.
Constellations, Playcrafters Barn
Theatre (Mike). Director Alexander
Richardson kicked off Playcrafters’ Barn
Owl Series with style, and author Nick
Payne’s do-over romance was made addi-
tionally stylish through composer Micah
SantAmour-Bernas’ edgy, haunting, bril-
liant soundscape that lasted – no joke –
the entirety of the play’s 80 minutes. Why
isn’t this available on Spotify?!
I Love You Because, Black Box Theatre
(Victoria). With music director Amy
Trimble on piano, assistant music direc-
tor Mason Moss on keyboard, and Dale
Huntly on percussion, accompaniment
was provided for the show’s 18 songs that
ranged from pop to jazz to ballads to rap
with some quirky tempo changes. The six
actor/singers and their band were flawless.
Peter & the Starcatcher, QC Theatre
Workshop (Jeff). Providing the only
music in what was really a non-musical
play, Mary Coker accompanied the cast
on a few songs, and also underscored the
emotion of the entire storyline with her
adept piano-playing abilities. She was
the one artist constantly within sight,
and gave real power to an already superb
performance.
Titanic, Augustana College (Brent).
Under Ron May’s music direction,
Titanic, as played by an amazing pit
orchestra, sounded flawless. From the
piano to the strings to everything in
between, it was impressive to hear such a
great score being played live – so impres-
sive that I downloaded the score upon
leaving the theatre.
Memorable Moment
The Generations, Annie, Quad City
Music Guild (Brent). Theatre is home
for me, so every moment I’m in one is
19
memorable. But this year, my daughter
made her stage debut with her mom
co-starring, and seeing her sing, dance,
and make people laugh alongside my wife
was one of the proudest moments in this
young father’s life.
The Grief, Tin Woman, Black Box
Theatre (Dee). Throughout the show,
I was perturbed with Brant Peitersen’s
character not because he was was incon-
solable, but because he was abrupt and
rude. But when his patriarch broke and
expressed his deep grief, he was com-
pletely transformed, and I was moved to
tears in this year’s single best moment.
The Journey, Annie Jr., Augustana
College, Center for Living Arts, Pen-
guin Project of the Quad Cities (Jeff).
After any Penguin Project production,
everyone involved traditionally gathers
on-stage to sing and dance to Journey’s
rock classic Don’t Stop Believin’. And this
past March, our entire audience was on
its feet – rockin’ out with tears streaming
– as Annie Jr.’s special young performers
rejoiced in their opening night.
The Lunatic, The Comedy of Errors,
Genesius Guild (Mike). He spoke for
five minutes. His character doesn’t much
affect the plot. But as Shakespeare’s
conjurer/exorcist Dr. Pinch, Jacob Lund
(hysterically fake-breaded) made you
ignore every sound remotely near Lincoln
Park – cars, cicadas, fireworks – and focus
instead on a portrayal that was weird,
deeply committed, and ferociously funny.
The Wail, Sunset Boulevard, Quad
City Music Guild (Victoria). This
tension-filled musical builds to a tragic
ending. But evidently, on the night I
attended, a male patron was feeling par-
ticularly sensitive to Norma’s emotional
state, because after the climactic gunshot,
he loudly and dramatically yelled, “Oh-h-
h, Norma!!!” The actors stayed in charac-
ter. I had to stifle a charmed laugh.
20 River Cities’ Reader • Vol. 25 No. 945 • January 2018 Know More, Do More • RiverCitiesReader.com

VOCABULARY LESSON · JANUARY 2, 2018

Crossword Nov. 30 Answers: Page 21

ACROSS 80. Drift 38. Ore deposit

1. Punched-out paper piece 81. Proofreading mark 39. Favor
5. Shot of booze 82. Seasons goddesses 40. “When in _...”
10. Ladle 83. “Wish you _ _!” 41. Borrower’s “grade”: 2 wds.
15. Air route 85. Fire 42. Peace goddess
19. Rabindra Shankar Chowdhury, 86. Make more certain 43. Flitted
familiarly 87. Hit hard 45. Comical
20. Floorer’s cousin 88. Part of USNA: Abbr. 46. Harsh legislator of old
21. _ New Guinea 89. Thin 49. Persona non _
22. Eye part 90. YEAR (noun): 4 wds. 50. Root
23. Seed part 99. Flowing garment 51. Linger
24. Doddering 100. Milk: Prefix 53. Monsieur Diderot
25. Collect 101. Simple, in a way 54. Fruity beverage
26. Dollar part 102. Scut 55. Fellows
27. HAPPY (adj.): 4 wds. 103. Analogous 57. Removes, in printing
31. Earth goddess 104. Transform 58. Blanches
32. River in England 105. Flop of the fifties 59. Bovine creature
33. Weir 106. Sch. out west 60. Cutting tool
34. Move up 107. Plague 61. Top ballerina
37. Beatitude 108. Brings to maturity 62. De Carlo or Elliman
39. Began with introductory remarks 109. Bargains 63. Blended
44. “_ Doone” 110. Exuviate 64. Disagreement
45. Scoria 69. Support for a coffin
46. Stingless bee DOWN 70. Novice
47. Estuary 1. Tor 71. Part of ABA or AMA: Abbr.
48. Release 2. Mata _ 73. Paton or Turing
49. Measure of quality 3. Tel _ 74. Mangel-wurzel
50. Espresso froth 4. Hard-working 76. Bicuspid
51. Province: Abbr. 5. Produced for the theater 77. Unhinged
52. Felis silvestris catus 6. Shinobi 78. Driving force
53. Ending for roller or motor 7. Mixed collection 80. Southeastern Asian
54. Rub 8. Depend 81. Animal stomach
55. Annapolis student 9. Formal exposition 82. Hoagie
56. Exemplar 10. Major suit 84. Given to traveling
58. Artistic work 11. Vacation venues 85. Players
59. Hallowed place 12. Girasol 86. Caravan animals
60. NEW (adj.): 4 wds. 13. River in England 88. Later
65. Where Venezia is 14. Rose Bowl location 89. Wild party
66. More foul 15. Egg-shaped fruit 90. Pig in a _
67. Old English diarist 16. Affirm 91. Sponsorship
68. Presents 17. Hawaiian goose 92. Valley
69. Heavyweight 18. Nosh 93. Number prefix
70. Old wives’ offerings 28. Grandmother 94. Put cargo aboard
72. Trucker’s place 29. Projecting piece of land 95. Word on a card
75. Rests 30. Vault 96. Tex-Mex fare
76. Aches 34. One of the D’Urbervilles 97. Rise
77. Giant in Norse myth 35. Cell body 98. Louver part
78. Infiltrator 36. Inferior judge of the arts 99. Hoofer’s forte
79. Cakes and _ 37. “Dracula” writer _ Stoker
Know More, Do More • RiverCitiesReader.com
Movie Reviews
Saber the Moment
Mark Hamill in Star Wars: The Last Jedi
STAR WARS:
THE LAST JEDI
Over the decades, the Star Wars fi lms
have boasted so many unforgettable
sounds – light sabers swooshing, R2-D2
beeping, Darth Vader breathing – that
it’s both unexpected and rather amazing
to find the signature sound in Star Wars:
The Last Jedi to be silence.
Writer/director Rian Johnson’s daz-
zling sci-fi entertainment is certainly
fi lled with aural wonders, from the
high-pitched shrieks of puffin-like beings
called Porgs to the malice-dripping
rumble of Andy Serkis’ Supreme Leader
Snoke. Yet what I most thrilled to were
the moments that weren’t merely sub-
dued, but nearly or completely devoid of
dialogue, music, and background effects
– the still, eerie preambles to Rey’s and
Kylo Ren’s telepathic communications,
for example, and the jaw-dropping three-
to-five seconds following a decisive blast
into hyperspace. The Last Jedi is fantastic
fun, and in its occasional instances of
quiet, you feel the audience rapt with
attention and awe, totally hushed except
for those patrons – perhaps including
yourself – muttering barely audible
“Whoa”s.
If your Last Jedi experience was
anything like mine, however, the crowd
probably wasn’t voiceless for long. How
could it have been, when Johnson and
his sterling performers and tech team
were giving us so much worth cheering?
It’s still too early to get into plot specif-
ics here without plastering “SPOILER
ALERT!” at the top of every paragraph,
if not every sentence. But damn did John-
son and company keep providing grand
gestures and riotous throwaways that
elicited, and deserved, roars of approval:
the magnificently choreographed two-
on-12 light-saber battle; the payoff to
BB-8’s tenure as a slot machine; the sur-
prisingly gruesome execution that ends
with a satisfying thunk; Luke Skywalker
casually flicking a speck of dust off his
shoulder. Bits such as these, and there
are oodles of them, aren’t fan service.
They’re in service to the enjoyment of
everyone, regardless of their personal
stakes in the Star Wars universe. To be
sure, familiarity with previous install-
ments – especially J.J. Abrams’ 2015 The
Force Awakens – will help make sense
of the proceedings. Yet I’m not sure it’s
altogether necessary; Johnson’s storytell-
ing is so confident and engaging, and the
fi lm’s particulars so satisfying, that even
River Cities’ Reader • Vol. 25 No. 945 • January 2018
By Mike Schulz • mike@rcreader.com
a Star Wars newbie should have
no problem following the action
and having a kick-ass time.
Series devotees, it should go
without saying, will likely have a
better one, although they’ll also
be more likely to nitpick. And
nitpicking, to be honest, is kind
of easy. Even this only-moder-
ately invested fan couldn’t figure
out the logic behind the Maz
Kanata cameo (why her?) and
several contrived “Where’d he/
she come from?!” appearances,
and you don’t have to love the
new Star Wars movies – just
Oscar Isaac – to be disappointed
that Resistance pilot Poe has
been made largely irrelevant.
(I also could’ve done without
the trio of adorable tykes – two
boys and a girl, natch – whose
presences hint at Force-ful
adventures yet to come. One
trilogy at a time, please!) But
beginning with the traditional
opening blast of John Williams’
fanfare, there’s so much else
to adore that even perfectly reasonable
complaints end up feel like quibbles,
especially once you realize how smartly
and subversively Johnson is popping
holes in the franchise’s built-in porten-
tousness. All told, this is serious stuff,
yet never so serious that it deprives us of
excellent jokes.
There’s actually an outstanding one
in The Last Jedi’s first minutes, when a
sneering threat by Domhnall Gleeson’s
First Order general is nonchalantly
brushed off by Poe, who claims not to
have heard it. (Sadly, that’s also as good
as Isaac’s material gets.) All through-
out, however, visual and verbal wit
abounds when you don’t expect it to.
Mark Hamill’s Skywalker, for instance,
has never been a source of Star Wars
hilarity. You sure wouldn’t know it from
this installment, though; Hamill earns
a laugh even before he speaks, and his
scenes involving Luke’s introduction
to, and Jedi-training of, Daisy Ridley’s
Rey are both powerfully sincere and
frequently funny. (“Where are you
from?” “Nowhere.” “No one’s from
nowhere.” “Jakku.” “Okay, that’s pretty
much nowhere.”) John Boyega is reliably
amusing as the heroic coward Finn,
21
and is given a charming ally in Kelly
Marie Tran’s Rose. Even Adam Driver’s
incandescent, conflicted evil as Kylo Ren
is occasionally leavened by humor, and
Johnson sometimes pulls off intensely
clever gags through mere acts of bait-
and-switch, as when we’re led to believe a
major character will be played by Justin
Theroux, only to find his thunder stolen
by Benicio Del Toro.
Yet for all of your chuckles, and all of
your astonishment at the bevy of glori-
ous effects and imaginatively conceived
creatures, you’ll also be hard-pressed not
to well up. For many of us, that was going
to be a given merely through the partici-
pation of Carrie Fisher, whose character
arc and beautifully calibrated perfor-
mance as General Leia make you rue the
performer’s passing even more than you
did before entering the auditorium. But
I found myself repeatedly close to the
emotional edge in Johnson’s enthralling
Star Wars: The Last Jedi: at the electrify-
ing tension between Rey and Kylo Ren,
even when they were literal worlds apart;
at the master plan of Laura Dern’s Vice
Admiral Holdo; at the sight of a well-
worn cloak falling gently to the ground.
“I’m just glad you’re here,” says Leia to a
long-absent figure from her past. I was
crazy-glad to be there, too.
For reviews of Pitch Perfect 3, Down-
sizing, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,
Ferdinand, The Greatest Showman, All
the Money in the World, Darkest Hour,
The Shape of Water, Father Figures,
and other releases, visit RCReader.com/
movies.
November 30 Crossword Answers
22 River Cities’ Reader • Vol. 25 No. 945 • January 2018 Know More, Do More • RiverCitiesReader.com

Alice in Wanderland to combat the uniquely male problem of

“paternity uncertainty” – basically the “who
I follow you on Twitter, and I was dis- actually is your daddy?” question. A woman,
gusted to see your tweet about marriage, of course, knows that the tiny human who’s
“No, humans aren’t naturally monoga- spent a good part of nine months sucker-
mous – which is why people say relation- punching her in the gut is hers. However, our
ships ‘take work,’ while you never hear male ancestors lacked access to 23andMe
anybody talking about what a coal mine mail-in DNA tests. So male emotions seem
an affair can be.” If a person finds fidelity to have evolved to act as an alarm system,
so challenging, they should stay single. goading men to protect themselves (such as
– Ethical Married Person with a scary expression of anger to forewarn
their partner), lest they be snookered into
raising another man’s child.
Reality has this bad habit of being kind of
The problem with the enraged response is
a bummer. So, sure, that person you married
that it kicks our brain into energy conser-
all those years ago still has the capacity to
vation mode – shunting blood flow away
surprise you with crazy new positions in bed
from our higher-reasoning department and
– but typically they’re yogi-like contortions
toward our arms and legs and organs needed
they use to pick dead skin off the bottoms of
for “fight or flight.” So the mere mention of
their feet.
cheating – even coupled with suggestions
That line you quote, “relationships ‘take
for how to prevent it – kills any possibility
work,’ while you never hear … what a coal
of reasoned thinking. In our dumbed-down
mine an affair can be” is actually from one of
enraged state, all we’ve got is the knee-jerk
my old columns. I tweeted it along with this
response: “I am so totally moral, and so is
advice: “Don’t just assume you & romantic
my wife, and anyone who needs to discuss
partner (will) stay monogamous. Maybe
how they’ll stay monogamous is the Whore
discuss how, exactly, you’ll go about that.”
of Babylon!”
From where I sit – opening lots of letters
Unfortunately, aggressive denial of real-
and e-mail from cheaters and the cheated
ity is particularly unhelpful for infidelity
upon – this is simply good, practical mar-
prevention. It’s especially unhelpful when
riage- and relationship-preserving advice.
it’s coupled with feelings of moral superior-
But from some of the responses on Twitter,
ity. Organizational behaviorist Dolly Chugh
you’d think I’d suggested braising the family
and her colleagues find that people’s view
dog and serving him on a bed of greens with
of themselves as “moral, competent, and
a “tennis ball” of candied yams.
deserving … obstructs their ability” to make
Though some men and women on Twitter
ethical decisions under pressure.
merely questioned my take, interestingly, the
So as the late infidelity researcher Peggy
enraged responses (ranging from imperson-
Vaughan advised, “a couple’s best hope for
ally rabid to denigratingly hateful) came
monogamy lies in rejecting the idea that they
entirely from men. Granted, this may just
can assume monogamy without discussing
have been due to chance (who was shirking
the issue.” They should instead admit that
work on Twitter just then), or it may reflect
“attractions to others are likely … no matter
research on sex differences that suggests men
how much they love each other” and “engage
tend to be more comfortable engaging in
in ongoing honest communication about
direct conflict.
the reality of the temptations and how to
However, though evolutionary psycholo-
avoid the consequences of acting on those
gist David Buss, among others, finds that
temptations.”
both men and women are deeply upset by
For example: What’s the plan if, say, mari-
infidelity – or the mere prospect of it – there
tal sex gets a little sparse? If the marriage hits
seems to be a sex difference in who is more
a rough patch? If that hot co-worker starts
likely to go absolutely berserk over it. Buss,
hitting on you when you’re drunk and a little
looking out over the anthropological litera-
unhappy while on a business trip?
ture, observes: “In cultures the world over,
Maybe it seems depressing to discuss this
men find the thought of their partner having
stuff. However, a wedding ring is not an elec-
sexual intercourse with other men intoler-
trified fence. Accepting that is probably your
able. Suspicion or detection of infidelity
best bet for avoiding emotional devastation
causes many men to lash out in furious anger
and divorce when, 25 years in, a “jug of wine,
rarely seen in other contexts.”
a loaf of bread, and thou” still keeps the old
Evolutionary psychologists have specu-
spark alive in bed – but only when supple-
lated that the fierceness of male sexual
mented with a well-charged cordless cattle
jealousy may be an evolved adaptation
prod.

Got a problem? Write Amy Alkon, 171 Pier Ave, #280, Santa Monica CA 90405, or e-mail
AdviceAmy@aol.com (AdviceGoddess.com). Weekly radio show: BlogTalkRadio.com/AmyAlkon. Order Amy
Alkon’s book, Good Manners for Nice People Who Sometimes Say F--- (St. Martin’s Press, June 3, 2014).
©2017, Amy Alkon, all rights reserved. New column published weekly at rcreader.com
Know More, Do More • RiverCitiesReader.com
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY
ARIES (March 21-April 19): “I need
more smart allies, compassionate
supporters, ethical role models, and
loyal friends, and I need them right now!” writes
Joanna K., an Aries reader from Albuquerque,
New Mexico. On the other hand, there’s Jacques
T., an Aries reader from Montreal. “To my
amazement, I actually have much of the support
and assistance I need,” he declares. “What I seem
to need more of are constructive critics,
fair-minded competitors with integrity,
colleagues and loved ones who don’t assume that
every little thing I do is perfect, and adversaries
who galvanize me to get better.” I’m happy to
announce, dear Aries, that in 2018 you will benefit
more than usual from the influences that both
Joanna and Jacques seek.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In the
Scots language spoken in Lowland
Scotland, a watergaw is a fragmented
rainbow that appears between clouds. A skafer is a
faint rainbow that arises behind a mist, presaging
the imminent dissipation of the mist. A silk
napkin is a splintered rainbow that heralds the
arrival of brisk wind and rain. In accordance with
the astrological omens, I propose we use these
mysterious phenomena as symbols of power for
you in 2018. The good fortune that comes your
way will sometimes be partially veiled and
seemingly incomplete. Don’t compare it to some
“perfect” ideal. It’ll be more interesting and
inspiring than any perfect ideal.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): In 2018,
half-buried residues from the past will
be resurfacing as influences in your life.
Old dreams that you abandoned prematurely are
ripe to be re-evaluated in light of what has
happened since you last took them seriously. Are
these good or bad developments? It will probably
depend on your ability to be charitable and
expansive as you deal with them. One thing is
certain: To move forward into the future, you will
have to update your relationships with these
residues and dreams.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Poet
Diane Ackerman tells us that human
tongues, lips, and genitals possess
neural receptors that are ultra-responsive.
Anatomists have given un-sexy names to these
bliss-generating parts of our bodies: Krause end
bulbs, also known as bulboid corpuscles.
(Couldn’t they have called them “glimmering
rapture hubs” or “magic buttons”?) In any case,
these sweet spots enable us to experience
surpassing pleasure. According to my under-
standing of the astrological omens for 2018,
Cancerian, your personal complement of bulboid
corpuscles will be even more sensitive than usual.
Here’s further good news: Your soul will also have
a heightened capacity to receive and register
delight.
LEO (July 23-August 22): Mise en place
is a French term whose literal
River Cities’ Reader • Vol. 25 No. 945 • January 2018
translation is “putting in place.” When used by
professional chefs in a restaurant kitchen, it refers
to the task of gathering and organizing all the
ingredients and tools before beginning to cook. I
think this is an excellent metaphor for you to
emphasize throughout 2018. In every area of your
life, thorough preparation will be the key to your
success and fulfillment. Make sure you have
everything you need before launching any new
enterprise or creative effort.
VIRGO (August 23-September 22):
Experimental composer Harry Partch
played one-of-a-kind musical
instruments that he made from objects such as car
hubcaps, gourds, aluminum ketchup bottles, and
nose cones from airplanes. Collage artist Jason
Mecier fashions portraits of celebrities using
materials like noodles, pills, licorice candy, bacon,
and lipstick tubes. Given the astrological
configurations for 2018, you could flourish by
adopting a similar strategy in your own chosen
field. Your most interesting successes could come
from using things as they’re not “supposed” to be
used. You could further your goals by mixing and
matching resources in unique ways.
LIBRA (September 23-October 22): I
wish I could make it nice and easy for
you. I wish I could proclaim that the
forces of darkness are lined up against the forces
of light. I’d like to be able to advise you that the
opening months of 2018 will bring you a
showdown between wrong and right, between
ugliness and beauty. But it just ain’t that simple.
It’s more like the forces of plaid will be arrayed
against the forces of paisley. The showdown will
feature two equally flawed and equally appealing
sources of intrigue. And so you may inquire,
Libra, what is the most honorable role you can
play in these matters? Should you lend your
support to one side or the other? I advise you to
create a third side.
SCORPIO (October 23-November 21):
In 2018, your tribe will be extra-skilled
at opening things that have been shut or
sealed for a long time: heavy doors, treasure
boxes, rich possibilities, buried secrets, shy eyes,
mum mouths, guarded hearts, and insular minds.
You’ll have a knack for initiating new markets and
clearing blocked passageways and staging grand
openings. You’ll be more inclined to speak
candidly and freely than any other generation of
Scorpios in a long time. Getting stuck things
unstuck will come naturally. Making yourself
available for bighearted fun and games will be
your specialty. Given these wonders, maybe you
should adopt a new nickname, such as Apertura
(the Italian word for “opening”), Ouverture (the
French word for “opening”), Šiši (Yoruban),
Otevírací (Czech), Öffnung (German), or
Kufungua (Swahili).
SAGITTARIUS (November
22-December 21): I predict that the
coming months won’t bring you the
kinds of opportunities you were imagining and
23
By Rob Brezsny
expecting, but will bring you opportunities you
haven’t imagined and didn’t expect. Will you be
alert and receptive to these sly divergences from
your master plan? If so, by September of 2018 you
will have become as smart a gambler as maybe
you have ever been. You will be more flexible and
adaptable, too, which means you’ll be better able
to get what you want without breaking stuff and
wreaking whirlwinds. Congratulations in
advance, my daring darling. May your experi-
ments be both visionary and practical. May your
fiery intentions be both steady and fluidic.
CAPRICORN (December 22-January
19): Hungarian psychiatrist Thomas
Szasz dismissed the idea that a person
should be on a quest to “find himself” or “find
herself.” “The self is not something that one
finds,” he said. Rather, “it is something one
creates.” I think that’s great advice for you in 2018,
Capricorn. There’ll be little value in wandering
around in search of fantastic clues about who you
were born to be. Instead you should simply be
gung-ho as you shape and craft yourself into the
person you want to be.
AQUARIUS (January 20-February
18): Is there anything about your
attitude or your approach that is a bit
immature or unripe? Have you in some way
remained an amateur or apprentice when you
should or could have become fully professional by
now? Are you still a dabbler in a field where you
could be a connoisseur or master? If your answer
to any of these questions is yes, the coming
months will be an excellent time to grow up,
climb higher, and try harder. I invite you to regard
2018 as the Year of Kicking Your Own Ass.
PISCES (February 19-March 20): In
2018, one of your themes will be “secret
freedom.” What does that mean? The
muse who whispered this clue in my ear did not
elaborate further. But based on the astrological
aspects, here are several possible interpretations.
(1) You may have to dig deep and be strategic to
access resources that have the power to
emancipate you. (2) You may be able to discover a
rewarding escape and provocative deliverance
that have been hidden from you up until now. (3)
You shouldn’t brag about the liberations you
intend to accomplish until you have accomplished
them. (4) The exact nature of the freedom that will
be valuable to you might be useless or irrelevant
or incomprehensible to other people.
Homework: Name 10 items you would put in a
time capsule to be dug up by your descendants
in 500 years. Testify at FreeWillAstrology.com.
New column published weekly at rcreader.com
Go to RealAstrology.com to check out Rob Brezsny’s
EXPANDED WEEKLY AUDIO HOROSCOPES
& DAILY TEXT MESSAGE HOROSCOPES
The audio horoscopes are also available by phone at
1-877-873-4888 or 1-900-950-7700
24 River Cities’ Reader • Vol. 25 No. 945 • January 2018 Know More, Do More • RiverCitiesReader.com

Live Music Live Music Live Music

Email all listings to calendar@rcreader.com • Deadline 5 p.m. Thursday before publication

Rock Island IL
Banjoy – The Mill, 120 E. Burlington SATURDAY
2018/01/13 (Sat)
13 (6pm) – Triple Crown Whiskey Bar
& Raccoon Motel, 304 E Third St., SUNDAY 21
St., Iowa City IA The Acoustic Project (6pm) – Cool Davenport IA Big Mean Sound Machine – Gabe’s,
Beanz Coffeehouse, 1325 30th St., Pokey LaFarge – The Redstone 330 E. Washington St., Iowa City IA
THURSDAY
2018/01/04 (Thu)
4 Rock Island IL
Bugeye Sprite – Fargo Lounge, 4204
Room, 129 Main St, Davenport IA Quad Cities Circus Band (3pm) –
Grace Lutheran Church, 1140 E.
Moeller Nights: Sunshrine –
Leather Parachute – Nonnie
Avenue of the Cities, Moline IL
Greg & Rich Acoustic Duo – Isle FRIDAY
2018/01/19 (Fri)
19 High St., Davenport IA

Parry – Triple Crown Whiskey Bar Casino Hotel Lone Wolf Bar, 1777
& Raccoon Motel, 304 E Third St., Isle Parkway, Bettendorf IA
Davenport IA Jos Sasson & Friends – Uptown Bill’s
Coffee House, 730 S. Dubuque St.,
FRIDAY
2018/01/05 (Fri)
5 Iowa City IA
N or t he rn Paralle ls 14: DJ
WEDNESDAY 24
Bo Ramsey and the Third Floor – 2018/01/24 (Wed)
CSPS/Legion Arts, 1103 3rd St SE,
Cedar Rapids IA Burlington Street Bluegrass Band –
Bucktown Revue – Nighswander The Mill, 120 E. Burlington St., Iowa
Theatre, 2822 Eastern Ave,
Davenport IA
City IA

Aseethe @ Rozz-Tox - January 3
THURSDAY 28
EyeHateGod – No Funeral –
Aseethe – RIBCO, 1815 Second
Ave., Rock Island IL
FRIDAY 29
2017/12/29 (Fri)
Doug Brundies Big Acoustic Show
– Green Tree Brewery, 309 N. Cody
Rd., LeClaire IA
Fool House – Riverside Casino and
Golf Resort, 3184 Highway 22,
Riverside IA
Greg & Rich Acoustic Duo – Len
Brown’s North Shore Inn, 700 N.
Shore Dr., Moline IL
Haphazard – 11th Street Precinct,
1107 Mound St., Davenport IA
The Horse Theory – Thunderscope
– Creeping Charlie – Iowa City
Yacht Club, 13 S Linn St, Iowa City IA
Jim Ryan – Chief’s Bar & Grill, 1600
Crosstown Ave., Silvis IL
Karen Meat – Heat – The Mill, 120 E.
Burlington St., Iowa City IA
Rosie & the Rivets – Rhythm City
Casino Resort Rhythm Room, 7077
Elmore Ave., Davenport IA
Whoozdads? – Isle Casino Hotel
Bettendorf, 1777 Isle Parkway,
Bettendorf IA
SATURDAY 30
2017/12/30 (Sat)
The Crooked Cactus Band – 11th
Street Precinct, 1107 Mound St.,
Davenport IA
Minus Six – The Real Quaid – The
Redstone Room, 129 Main St,
Davenport IA
Mountain Swallower – Cool Beanz
Coffeehouse, 1325 30th St., Rock
Island IL
Bar, 111 West 2nd St., Davenport IA
Tony Hoeppner & Friends (6pm) –
Still Standing – Dredge – Tong Po
Hy-Vee Market Grille - Silvis, 2001
– Upon the Death Horse – RIBCO,
5th St., Silvis IL
1815 Second Ave., Rock Island IL
SATURDAY 6
SUNDAY 31
2018/01/06 (Sat)
2017/12/31 (Sun)
Chamber Music Quad Cities: Solo
Chicago Catz – Rhythm City Casino
Voices –– Music of J.S. Bach &
Resort Rhythm Room, 7077 Elmore
Beethoven – Trinity Episcopal
Ave., Davenport IA
Cathedral, 121 W. 12th St.,
Code 415 – Harley Corin’s, 1708 State
Davenport IA
St., Bettendorf IA
Corporate Rock – 11th Street
Eliminator: ZZ Top Tribute Band –
Precinc t, 1107 Mound St.,
Ohnward Fine Arts Center, 1215 E
Davenport IA
Platt St., Maquoketa IA
Elvis Presley Tribute Night –
Frankie Joe & Kinfolk – Green Tree
Uptown Bill’s Coffee House, 730 S.
Brewery, 309 N. Cody Rd., LeClaire
Dubuque St., Iowa City IA
IA
Greg & Rich Acoustic Duo – Green
The Generations Band – Jumer’s
Tree Brewery, 309 N. Cody Rd.,
Casino & Hotel, 777 Jumer Dr., Rock
LeClaire IA
Island IL
Ron Tegeler Jazz Trio (6pm) – Cool
Greg & Rich Acoustic Duo – Geneseo
Beanz Coffeehouse, 1325 30th St.,
Brewing Company, 102 S. State St.,
Rock Island IL
Geneseo IL
Russ Reyman Request Piano Bar –
The Last Glimpse – Jenny Lynn
The Phoenix Restaurant & Martini
Stacy – Waking Robots – RIBCO,
Bar, 111 West 2nd St., Davenport IA
1815 Second Ave., Rock Island IL
TOMB – RIBCO, 1815 Second Ave.,
Lonesome Fugitives (noon) – Rosie
Rock Island IL
& the Rivets (5pm) – The Dweebs
WEDNESDAY 10
(9:30pm) – Riverside Casino and
2018/01/10 (Wed)
Golf Resort, 3184 Highway 22,
Riverside IA
Burlington Street Bluegrass
The Mand – K & T’s Bike Rack
Band – The Mill, 120 E. Burlington
Sports Bar & Grill, 3303 Brady St.,
St., Iowa City IA
Hyperactive – Mike Derer –
Higgy – Rozz-Tox, 2108 Third Ave.,
Rock Island IL
Rebirth Brass Band – Englert
Theatre, 221 East Washington St.,
Iowa City IA
Rude Punch – 11th Street Precinct,
1107 Mound St., Davenport IA
Russ Reyman Request Piano Bar –
The Phoenix Restaurant & Martini
Bar, 111 West 2nd St., Davenport IA
The Stone Flowers – K & T’s Bike Rack
Sports Bar & Grill, 3303 Brady St.,
Davenport IA
Vince Neil – Rhythm City Casino
Resort Event Center, 7077 Elmore
Ave., Davenport IA
Whoozdads? – The Grape Life Wine
Store & Lounge, 3402 Elmore Ave.,
Davenport IA
SUNDAY 14
2018/01/14 (Sun)
Moeller Nights: Har–Di–Har –
Mountain Swallower – Triple
Crown Whiskey Bar & Raccoon
Motel, 304 E Third St., Davenport IA
Squirrel Nut Zippers – Englert
Theatre, 221 East Washington St.,
Iowa City IA
MONDAY 15
2018/01/15 (Mon)
HS Honor Band (6:30pm) –
Centennial Hall, Augustana
College, 3703 7th Ave., Rock Island
IL
TUESDAY 16
2018/01/16 (Tue)
JAERV (6:30pm) – Ca D’Zan, 411
South Rd., Cambridge IL
Funktastic Five – 11th Street
Precinc t, 1107 Mound St.,
Davenport IA
Local H – Otros Outros – Bird
Worship – Gabe’s, 330 E.
Washington St., Iowa City IA
Old Salt Union – High Water Mark
– Iowa City Yacht Club, 13 S Linn St,
Iowa City IA
A Parenthesis of Cellos (Augustana
Cello Choir) – Wallenberg Hall,
Augustana College, 3520 7th Ave.,
Rock Island IL
Quartermoon Tinsnips (6pm) –
Cool Beanz Coffeehouse, 1325 30th
St., Rock Island IL
Windy City Dueling Pianos – The
Circa ‘21 Speakeasy, 1818 Third
Ave., Rock Island IL
SATURDAY 20
2018/01/20 (Sat)
30th Anniversary Party: Aaron
Kamm & the One Drops – 6 Odd
Rats – Goosetown – Glass Femur
– Soul Sherpa (6pm) – Iowa City
Yacht Club, 13 S Linn St, Iowa City IA
Augustana Percussion Ensemble
Concert – Bergendoff Hall of Fine
Arts - Augustana College, 3701 7th
Ave., Rock Island IL
Awful Purdies – Uptown Bill’s Coffee
House, 730 S. Dubuque St., Iowa
City IA
Greg & Rich Acoustic Duo – Jim’s
Knoxville Tap, 8716 Knoxville Rd.,
Milan IL
Haphazard – 11th Street Precinct,
1107 Mound St., Davenport IA
Moeller Nights: Helena Deland
– Triple Crown Whiskey Bar &
Raccoon Motel, 304 E Third St.,
Davenport IA
FRIDAY 26
2018/01/26 (Fri)
Brown Bag Lunch: Daniel Stratman
(noon) – Bettendorf Public Library,
2950 Learning Campus Dr.,
Bettendorf IA
Eric Gales – Craig Erickson Group –
The Redstone Room, 129 Main St,
Davenport IA
Greg & Rich Acoustic Duo – Geneseo
Brewing Company, 102 S. State St.,
Geneseo IL
Larry Boyd (6pm) – Cool Beanz
Coffeehouse, 1325 30th St., Rock
Island IL
The LK Trio – Steeplegate Inn, 100 W.
76th St., Davenport IA
Playlist – 11th Street Precinct, 1107
Mound St., Davenport IA
Split Lip Rayfield – Chatsworth
& Dupree – Gabe’s, 330 E.
Washington St., Iowa City IA
SATURDAY 27
2018/01/27 (Sat)
Greg & Rich Acoustic Duo – Circle
Tap, 1345 W. Locust St., Davenport
IA
The Jason Carl Band – 11th Street
Precinc t, 1107 Mound St.,
Davenport IA
Michael McDermott – Princeton
Coffeehouse, 25 E. Marion St.,
Princeton IL
Russ Reyman Request Piano Bar –
The Phoenix Restaurant & Martini
Bar, 111 West 2nd St., Davenport IA
Three Son Green – Copper Smoke
Trails – Hep Cat – Iowa City Yacht
Club, 13 S Linn St, Iowa City IA
SUNDAY 28
2018/01/28 (Sun)

Benjamin Cartel – Seth Knappen
– Konrad – Rozz-Tox, 2108 Third
Ave., Rock Island IL
Bob Dorr & the Blue Band – CSPS/
Legion Arts, 1103 3rd St SE, Cedar
Rapids IA
Bugeye Sprite – Harley Corin’s, 1708
State St., Bettendorf IA
David Zollo & the Body Electric –
Brother Trucker – The Mill, 120 E.
Burlington St., Iowa City IA
The Dweebs – Riverside Casino and
Golf Resort, 3184 Highway 22,
Riverside IA
Ellis Kell Winter Blues Camp Jam
(6pm) – The Redstone Room, 129
Main St, Davenport IA
Frankie Fontagne & the Ramblers
– 11th Street Precinct, 1107 Mound
St., Davenport IA
Greg & Rich Acoustic Duo – Green
Tree Brewery, 309 N. Cody Rd.,
LeClaire IA
Hazida – Colidescope – B-Sides –
Iowa City Yacht Club, 13 S Linn St,
Iowa City IA
John Burns – Uptown Bill’s Coffee
House, 730 S. Dubuque St., Iowa
City IA
Minor Decline – Fierce Amateurs
– Not Dead Yet – Plunkett –
Road Soda – Bent River Brewing
Company, 1413 5th Ave., Moline IL
Rosie & the Rivets – Rhythm City
Casino Resort Rhythm Room, 7077
Elmore Ave., Davenport IA
Russ Reyman Request Piano Bar –
The Phoenix Restaurant & Martini
WEDNESDAY 17
Davenport IA
2018/01/17 (Wed) Roger Carlson & Friends (6pm) – An Evening with JJ Grey & Mofro –
FRIDAY 12
Midnite Riders Band (5:30pm) –
2018/01/12 (Fri) Cool Beanz Coffeehouse, 1325 30th The Redstone Room, 129 Main St,
East Moline American Legion, 829
Moeller Nights: Rayland Baxter St., Rock Island IL Davenport IA
16th Ave., East Moline IL
Augustana College Saxophone – Triple Crown Whiskey Bar & Russ Reyman Request Piano Bar – Folk Songs & Horn Calls (2:30pm)
Motorboat – Thirsty’s on Third, 2202
Quartet Concert (noon) – Moline Raccoon Motel, 304 E Third St., The Phoenix Restaurant & Martini – Coralville Center for the
W. 3rd St., Davenport IA
Public Library, 3210 41st St., Moline Davenport IA Bar, 111 West 2nd St., Davenport IA Performing Arts, 1301 5th St.,
NYE Masquerade: Psalm One –
IL Tony Hoeppner & Friends – Green Coralville IA
THURSDAY 18
Angelenah – James Cam’Ron
The Big Dirty –– A Celebration of 2018/01/18 (Thu) Tree Brewery, 309 N. Cody Rd., Greg & Rich Acoustic Duo (2pm) –
– Wolf Mixer – Gabe’s, 330 E.
Dirt & People: The Dirty Loew – LeClaire IA Len Brown’s North Shore Inn, 700
Washington St., Iowa City IA
The Dirty Beet Brothers – Jenny Moeller Nights: Ratboys – Nnadi N. Shore Dr., Moline ILa
NYE w/ Tom Petty Tribute – Jason
Lynn Stacy & the Dirty Roosters Ogbonnaya – Condor & Jaybird 2018/01/21 (Sun)
Carl & the Whole Damn Band –
– Bier Stube Moline Blackhawk
The Redstone Room, 129 Main St,
Room, 1423 5th Ave., Moline IL
Davenport IA
Cobalt Blue – 11th Street Precinct,
New Year’s Eve Soiree: Funktastic
1107 Mound St., Davenport IA
Five – Steeplegate Inn, 100 W 76th
Digitour: Arctic Lights (6:30pm) –
St., Davenport IA
Gabe’s, 330 E. Washington St., Iowa
Night People (5:30pm) – Richie Lee
City IA
(9:30pm) – Rhythm City Casino
Greg & Rich Acoustic Duo –
Resort Rhythm Room, 7077 Elmore
Sergeant Major’s, 213 6th Ave. W.,
Ave., Davenport IA
Andalusia IL
North of 40 – Steventon’s, 1399 Eagle
Larry Boyd (6pm) – Cool Beanz
Ridge Rd, LeClaire IA
Coffeehouse, 1325 30th St., Rock
Russ Reyman Request Piano Bar –
Island IL
The Phoenix Restaurant & Martini
Live Lunch w/ Tony Hoeppner
Bar, 111 West 2nd St., Davenport IA
(noon) – RME Community Stage,
Soul Storm – 11th Street Precinct,
129 Main St., Davenport IA
1107 Mound St., Davenport IA
The Manny Lopez Big Band (6pm) –
Surf Rock Beach Party – Circa ‘21
The Circa ‘21 Speakeasy, 1818 Third
Dinner Playhouse, 1828 Third Ave.,
Ave., Rock Island IL
Rock Island IL
Nivrana: Tribute to Nirvana – The
Wylde Nept (3pm) – New Year’s Eve
Redstone Room, 129 Main St,
Dance Party (9pm) – The Mill, 120
Davenport IA
E. Burlington St., Iowa City IA
Sons of Serendip present Songs
WEDNESDAY 3
in the Key of Wonder: 50 Years
2018/01/03 (Wed)
of Stevie Wonder – University of
Dubuque’s Heritage Center, 2255
Aseethe – Chill Smith – Venereal
Bennett St., Dubuque IA
Crush – Rozz-Tox, 2108 Third Ave., Minus Six @ The Redstone Room - January 5
Know More, Do More • RiverCitiesReader.com
MUSIC
How Collectable is an MP3?
The Ups and Downs of DIY Music Mediums
E
verything that goes out of fashion
seems to make a resurgence at some
point or another. This trend is no
different in the music scene. Record
collectors have seen formats come and
go. But most recently, the focus is on the
comeback of vinyl records and cassette
tapes. The summer of 2003 saw the death
of the cassette. Record stores had to price
cassettes at just a dollar or two below CD
releases, forcing the consumer to make
the obvious choice and purchase the CD
over the cassette. This deliberate move
was brought on by distribution compa-
nies jacking up the price of tapes. The
cassette was being phased out. The same
thing happened with VHS and it’s nearly
caused the CD to go the way of the dodo.
There was nothing better than a new
casingle (cassette single made popular
in the ‘90’s) besides perhaps a double
cassette such as the Smashing Pumpkins’
Mellon Collie & the Infinite Sadness (that
now retails for $60 or more for a used
copy on eBay). There is just something
nostalgic about cassettes. We all remem-
ber the tapes we wore out in our favorite
spots. We would rewind and fast-forward
to our hearts content. It was played and
loved and it showed. However, as lovely
as it is to hear where you have worn down
your personal cassette, it’s also annoying
to hear someone sing like they are under-
water or possessed by the devil because
tape warps and melts! I remember too
well my copy of The Violent Femmes’
self-titled album succumbing to a melty
end on the passenger seat of my Honda
Civic. If cassettes are such a chore, why
then, in the past couple of years, have we
seen the cassette making a comeback?
The recent trend in albums being pressed
onto vinyl may explain some of this.
River Cities’ Reader • Vol. 25 No. 945 • January 2018 25
By Johnnie Cluney
At the time tapes were being phased
out, my friends and I were busy scour-
ing yard sales and thrift stores in search
of cheap vinyl records. We were always
asked the same question when making
our purchases: “Why do you want that
junk?” Vinyl was a laughable thing of
the past. It was something your parents
had in the back of their closet. Vinyl was
heavy and dirty and nobody wanted it.
Despite these considerable drawbacks to
vinyl and cassettes, in the underground
music scene, bands and record labels
were still producing albums on these
formats. They were cheaper to press than
CDs. In the DIY music scene, vinyl and
cassettes have never gone away. Vinyl
and cassettes continue to be the staple Illustrations by Johnnie Cluney
formats for DIY music. I personally
and sought out as cool pieces. They are their own Walkman which they have
knew vinyl was on its way back when
becoming collectors’ items. dubbed “The Burger Buddy.” Their
I spotted a brand new copy of Shania
The secret is out. Justin Bieber has device is a cassette player that also has
Twain’s double-LP Up sometime in 2004
a cassette release. Eminem put out MP3 capabilities. The Burger Buddy will
in a record shop in Chicago. I could not
The Slim Shady LP on tape and Purple convert your cassette to an MP3. Burger
believe it. It was right there next to T-Rex
Rain by Prince & the Revolution was Records is a punk and garage rock label.
and Tortoise, right there behind the T
re-released posthumously on cassette. They have put out 1,141 cassettes to date.
card. Despite the fact that no one seems
Billboard lists these albums as selling Their catalog includes artists such as Ty
to want these dinosaurs, in 2016 vinyl
nearly 4,000 copies on tape in 2016 with Seagull and King Tuff. At the other end
sales were projected to move 40 million
the number one selling cassette of last of the music spectrum is Hausu Moun-
units according to Jordan Passman, CEO
year being the soundtrack for Guard- tain. This Chicago based label releases
of Score A Score, which specializes in
ians of the Galaxy. Even though tapes are ambient bleep and bloop drone for the
creating and licensing original music,
now being noticed on a mainstream level modern age on both cassette and vinyl.
sound design, and voice-over for all types
again, this will not make the under- Their roster currently holds 17 artists.
of media. As noted by Passman, “Record
ground cassettes any less collectable. Regardless of which format you prefer
sales neared the $1 Billion benchmark
Most of these underground DIY labels to listen to music on there are some ques-
for the first time this millennium and
only press a small run of tapes with each tions to ask yourself when considering
that number has not been touched since
one being hand-numbered. This makes which format to use: Do I subscribe to a
vinyl’s heyday back in 1980.”
them really limited and super collect- streaming service? If so, which service
Just like records were once viewed,
able. The price of these DIY cassettes should I subscribe to? Do I purchase a
cassettes have also been seen as a dead
is usually somewhere between $5-10 tangible artifact to prove I own it? Am I
format. While cassettes are not on the
whereas something on the mainstream at ease with my music archives existing
same level, financially, as vinyl – in
level would maybe be $10-15. I had a in the cloud? Do I feel guilty about not
2016, National Audio sold $5 million
conversation with National Audio, the paying for music and streaming it for
in cassettes, compared to vinyl, which
biggest tape duplication company in free? (This question plagues the music
sold about 3.2 million LPs at around $30
North America, sometime in 2011 while listener daily).
per LP – they are wanted, collectable,
ordering some cassettes of my own for Why would anyone want to own a
my music project. They informed me bunch of records and tapes when you
that they were all finished with the Pearl can just listen to Spotify or any other
Jam 20th-anniversary cassettes, so my streaming service for free? Most cassette
order would not be a problem to finish in labels like Hausu Mountain also host a
a timely manner. They were also about Bandcamp page where the listener can
to buy out their biggest competitor. The download or stream MP3s, so what’s
tape seemed to be doing pretty well for the point? Perhaps, if you are old school
itself. Duplicating and dubbing tapes is enough, you will get down to Ragged
nothing new in the underground music Records and buy yourself a copy of your
scene. There are now and always have favorite album on your favorite format.
been tape labels. These are record labels Any way you look at it, in 2018, you have
that focus on releasing their artists’ many options available to you. But how
albums on cassette. One well-known collectable is an MP3? I’m not sure that
tape label, Burger Records based out of anyone ever had a friend over to check
Fullterton California, has even created out their Spotify collection.
26 River Cities’ Reader • Vol. 25 No. 945 • January 2018
DJs/Karaoke/Jams/Open Mics
THURSDAYS
THURSDAYS
Karaoke Night – Bier Stube Moline,
415 15th St, Moline IL
Karaoke w/ Double Dz – Purgatory’s
Pub, 2104 State St, Bettendorf IA
Open Mic Night (6pm) – Energized
Cafe, 226 W. 3rd St., Davenport IA
Open Mic w/ H.C. Wallace – Boots,
2228 E 11th St, Davenport IA
Rock the House Karaoke – Bottoms
Up on 7th, 1814 7th St., Moline IL
Thumpin’ Thursdays DJ Night –
Rascals Live, 1414 15th St., Moline IL
Underground Open Mic w/ Kate
Kane – Iowa City Yacht Club, 13 S
Linn St, Iowa City IA
FRIDAYS
FRIDAYS
Cabana Karaoke Night – Cabana’s
Bar & Grille, 2120 4th Ave., Rock
Island IL
DJ Dolla – RIDRS (Rock Island Dirt
Road Saloon), 1722 Second Ave.,
Rock Island IL
DJ K Yung – Barrel House Moline,
1321 5th Ave., Moline IL
DJ Lacey – Hawkeye Tap Sports
Bar N Grill, 4646 Cheyenne Ave.,
Davenport IA
Karaoke Night – Circle Tap, 1345 W.
Locust St., Davenport IA
Karaoke Night – K & T’s Bike Rack
Sports Bar & Grill, 3303 Brady St.,
Davenport IA
Karaoke Night – Miller Time Bowling,
2902 E. Kimberly Rd., Davenport IA
Karaoke Night – Roadrunners
Roadhouse, 3803 Rockingham Rd.,
Davenport IA
Karaoke Night – The Grove Tap, 108 S
1st St, Long Grove IA
Karaoke Night – V.F.W. Post 9128,
2814 State St., Bettendorf IA
Karaoke Night w/ Mike Matthews –
Hollar’s Bar and Grill, 4050 27th St,
Moline IL
Open Jam Night – Chief’s Bar & Grill,
1600 Crosstown Ave., Silvis IL
Open Mic Coffeehouse (Jan. 19)
Ratboys @ Triple Crown Whiskey Bar and Raccoon
Motel - January 18
– First Lutheran Church Parish
House, 1600 20th St., Rock Island IL
Soulshake – Gabe’s, 330 E.
Washington St., Iowa City IA
SATURDAYS
SATURDAYS
Community Folk Sing (3pm, Jan.
13) – Uptown Bill’s Coffee House,
730 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City IA
DJ Dolla – RIDRS (Rock Island Dirt
Road Saloon), 1722 Second Ave.,
Rock Island IL
Irish Music Session (3pm, Jan. 6) –
Uptown Bill’s Coffee House, 730 S.
Dubuque St., Iowa City IA
Karaoke Night – Boozie’s Bar & Grill,
114 1/2 W. 3rd St., Davenport IA
Karaoke Night – K & T’s Bike Rack
Sports Bar & Grill, 3303 Brady St.,
Davenport IA
Karaoke Night – Miller Time Bowling,
2902 E. Kimberly Rd., Davenport IA
Karaoke Night – Roadrunners
Roadhouse, 3803 Rockingham Rd.,
Davenport IA
Karaoke Night – The Grove Tap, 108 S
1st St, Long Grove IA
Karaoke Night w/ Jim Harker –
Hollar’s Bar and Grill, 4050 27th St,
Moline IL
Songwriters' Round Table (Jan. 13,
noon) – RME Community Stage,
129 Main St., Davenport IA
Tw i s t e d M i c ’s M u s i c a n d
Entertainment – Barrel House
Moline, 1321 5th Ave., Moline IL
Ukulele Social Club (4pm, Jan. 20) –
Uptown Bill’s Coffee House, 730 S.
Dubuque St., Iowa City IA
SUNDAYS
SUNDAYS
Karaoke Night – 11th Street Precinct,
1107 Mound St., Davenport IA
Open Mic Night (5pm) – Lynn’s BBQ
& Saloon, 1151 E. Iowa St., Eldridge
IA
Know More, Do More • RiverCitiesReader.com
MONDAYS
MONDAYS
Karaoke Monday w/ Pierced
Productions Karaoke – Grumpy’s
Saloon, 2120 E 11th St, Davenport
IA
Open Mic w/ J. Knight – The Mill, 120
E. Burlington St., Iowa City IA
Say Anything Karaoke – Gabe’s, 330
E. Washington St., Iowa City IA
Underground Open Mic w/ Kate
Kane – Iowa City Yacht Club, 13 S
Linn St, Iowa City IA
TUESDAYS
TUESDAYS
Karaoke Night w/ Okeedokee It’s
Karaoke – Lynn’s BBQ & Saloon,
1151 E. Iowa St., Eldridge IA
Open Mic Night – Broken Saddle,
1417 5th Ave., Moline IL
Open Mic Night – Cool Beanz
Coffeehouse, 1325 30th St., Rock
Island IL
Tuesday Blues Jam w/ Mark Avey
& “Detroit” Larry Davison –
Cabana’s, 2120 4th Ave., Rock
Island IL
WEDNESDAYS
WEDNESDAYS
Hump Day Wing & Sing w/
Marybeth – Hawkeye Tap Sports
Bar N Grill, 4646 Cheyenne Ave.,
Davenport IA
Karaoke Night – 11th Street Precinct,
1107 Mound St., Davenport IA
Karaoke Night – Circle Tap, 1345 W.
Locust St., Davenport IA
Karaoke Night – RIBCO, 1815 Second
Ave., Rock Island IL
Open Jam w/ The Channel Cats –
Bent River Brewing Company, 512
24th St., Rock Island IL
Open Mic Night – Boozie’s Bar
& Grille, 114 1/2 W. Third St.,
Davenport IA
Open Mic Night (5:30pm, Jan. 10 &
24) – Milltown Coffee, 3800 River
Drive #2, Moline IL
Know More, Do More • RiverCitiesReader.com
MUSIC
2017’s 3-2-1 Music Lists from Quad Citizens
L
et’s put a new twist on an old format
– the ubiquitous year-end lists about
music. We invited Quad Citizens who
we know contribute to, support, and/or
promote the local-music scene to give us
their takes on 2017 via a 3-2-1 format. We
asked: What are the three top songs they
loved listening to this year; the two top live
shows they saw in the Quad Cities; and
the number-one artist they most want to
see perform here live in 2018? These are
presented in the order in which they were
received, and if you would like to con-
tribute to this year’s list, or be invited to
participate next year, please e-mail music@
rcreader.com. (We will publish supple-
ments to these lists each week in January at
our RCReader.com Web site.)
Michele Darland, Putnam
Museum
3: Any three songs on Sounds of Tar-
antino by The Soundtrack Studio Stars,
2014.
2: Janet Jackson and Elton John.
1: Billy Joel.
Brett Dale,
River Music Experience
3: “Montreal” by The Ghost of Paul
Revere from Monarch, 2017 (this whole
album is 10 out of 10); “Only Lonely”
by The Ballroom Thieves from a single
release, 2017 (same deal – go buy their
Deadeye album now); “T-Shirt” by The
Foo Fighters from Concrete and Gold,
2017 (for the shock value of the Foo’s step-
ping up their game).
2: Middle Western at the Redstone
Room in March (Daytrotter Downs ‘17);
Desert Noises at the Raccoon Motel in
August (Alternating Currents ‘17).
1: The Devil Whale. (Buy their online
album Teeth!)
Joan Sweeney, Inquirehire
3: “The Emotion” by the Borns from
Dopamine, 2015; “Not Gonna Let You
Walk Away” by Lolo from In Loving
Memory of When I Gave A Sh*t, last
updated Nov 2016; “It’s Our Time” by
Jonny P from Good to You, 2017.
2: Lolo at the Codfish Hollow & Rac-
coon Motel; Borns at the Village Theatre.
1: Vampire Weekend.
Gary Heitman, homegrown
QC music nerd
3: “Mythological Beauty” (or “Shark
Smile”) by Big Thief from Capacity, 2017;
“Radio” by Sylvan Esso from What Now,
2017; “Awake and Pretty Much Sober” by
Violents & Monica Martin from Violents
& Monica Martin, 2017.
2: Margaret Glaspy at the Village
Theatre, January 16, 2017; J.E. Sunde and
Monica Martin at Raccoon Motel, June
10, 2017. (Hearing this duo perform “I
Will Smile When I Think of You” live,
and only 20 feet from me, was easily one
of my favorite “live music moments” ever.
Absolutely mesmerizing.)
1: Wilco. (Their Adler concert was
potentially the best “big rock show” I’ve
been to in Davenport. The band, sound,
crowd … everything about this show was
awesome.)
Jason Parris, booking agent for
RIBCO
3: “DNA” by Kendrick Lamar from
DAMN, 2017; “Talking About You” by
John Hoyles from Night Flight, 2017;
“Sever The Head (Part III)” by Aseethe
from Hopes Of Failure, 2017.
2: Melvins with the Spotlights at
RIBCO, September 26; Bell Witch &
Primitive Man at RIBCO, October 28.
1: The Jesus Lizard.
Johnnie Cluney, artist/
musician/writer
3: “Little Dog Mind” by Twain from
Rare Feeling, 2017; “Offa My Hands” by
Jessica Lea Mayfield from Sorry Is Gone,
2017; “Aster” by Bill MacKay from Esker,
2017.
2: The Body at Daytrotter; Bill MacKay
at Rozz Tox.
1: Neil Young (of course).
Pat Stolley, musician/artist
3: “Daddy Long Legs” by Midnight
Sister; “Darling” by Real Estate; “The
Push & Pull” by Joan Shelly.
2: Thick Business at Rozz Tox, May;
Landlady at Raccoon Motel, October.
1: Omni.
John Roche, RILCO Inc.
3: “We Don’t Deserve Love” by Arcade
Fire from Everything Now, 2017; “Oh
Baby” by LCD Soundsystem from Ameri-
can Dream, 2017; “Burnout Blues” by
Washed Out from Mister Mellow, 2017.
2: RLumR at the Racoon Motel, July 3;
Matthew Logan Vasquez at the Raccoon
Motel, May 8.
1: Washed Out.
David Baker, KALA-FM
3: “Ballad Of The Dying Man” by
Father John Misty from Pure Comedy,
2017; “Spiderwebs” by Post Modern
River Cities’ Reader • Vol. 25 No. 945 • January 2018
David Zollo & The Body Electric at Triple Crown Whiskey Bar and Raccoon Motel - December 3, 2017
Jukebox feat. Belle Jewel (1940s Jazz, No
Doubt Cover Version) from Fake Blues; “A
Day In The Life” by Giles Martin from
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
Remix, 2017. (Martin’s new remix is bright
and allows you to hear every instrument
and voice like never before.)
2: Grace Kelly Quartet, The Redstone
Room Third Sunday Jazz, September
17, 2017; Corey Dennison Band at the
Mississippi Valley Blues Festival, July 4th
Weekend 2017.
1: Bob Dylan.
Kyle Carter, Downtown
Davenport
3: “Pinball King” by Terra Lightfoot
from New Mistakes, 2017; “Smoke” by
Tara Terra from Daughter, 2014; “Then
Okay” by Julia Nunes from Some Feelings,
2015.
2: Terra Lightfoot w/ The Still Tide &
The Velies at the Raccoon Motel, August 3;
Ben Folds at the Adler Theatre/Alternating
Currents, August 27.
1: Caroline Rose
Tom Corlett, music fan
3: “Sea of Clouds” by Deer Tick from
Deer Tick Vol.1, 2017; “My Name is
Human” by Highly Suspect, from Mister
Asylum, 2015; “Early Spring Till” by
Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats
from Live at Red Rocks, 2017.
2: Leftover Salmon at the Redstone
Room, July 3; Deer Tick at Codfish
Hollow Barn, October 24.
1: John Butler Trio.
Joshua Ford, Ford Photography
3: “Twin Torches” by Man Forever from
Play What They Want, 2017 (super-hon-
ored to have created a video for this track,
27
By Todd McGreevy
which features the legendary avant-garde
giant Laurie Anderson and percussion by
Kid Millions of Oneida); “Nothing Left
to Die For” by Jex Thoth from Jex Thoth,
2013 (finally got to see Thoth live this year,
been on heavy rotation since); “Old Black”
by Earth from Angels of Darkness, Demons
of Light 1, 2011 (Earth gets played far more
in my studio than anything else, period).
2: Archeress at Cinema at the Figge,
April 27 (I had Quad Cities’ own Archeress
live-score three international short films,
and the way the sounds and images
complemented each other was perfect,
so beautiful – very stoked to see what
Archeress does in 2018); Thou / Aseethe
/ Closet Witch at RIBCO October 25.
(Aseethe and Closet Witch are two favorite
bands, both from Iowa, and both punch
above their weight in a big way. Hands
down best lineup of the year. I mean, come
on … .)
1: HIDE (from Chicago, would be per-
fect for All Senses Festival).
Todd McGreevy, River Cities’
Reader publisher
3: “I Could Have Had Religion” by
Rory Gallagher from Live in Europe
1972, 1972 (How did I not ever hear Rory
before 2017?! Put YouTube on autoplay for
Rory and hear all the artists he influenced
from Queen to Iron Maiden to Stevie
Ray Vaughn.); “Had a Dad” by Jane’s
Addiction from Nothing’s Shocking, 1988;
“Falling From Above” by Neil Young
from Greendale, 2003. (Best lyric on this
must-have album: “I won’t retire, but I
might retread.”)
2: Margaret Glaspy at the Village The-
atre, January 16; Dave Zollo and the Body
Electric at Raccoon Motel, December 3.
1: Neil Young. (One more time before he
goes, cause when he’s gone … .)
28 River Cities’ Reader • Vol. 25 No. 945 • January 2018 Know More, Do More • RiverCitiesReader.com

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