Java Joe's - 7-8:30p
Vaudeville Mews - 10p
Our early show was at Java's Joes and it went quite well. There were swing dancing lessons in the theater part of the building, so we played in the main cafe area. Mingling folks, crazy looking homeless people who weren't homeless at all, and young kids trying to look like crazy homeless people pretty much made up the crowd.
We met 2 of Sarah Palin's campaign workers who were in town setting up for her Des Moines visit. They bought CD's, which was nice. Vaudeville Mews, the club next door, was having an all-ages rock show and no one came so the bands from that were milling about as well.
We did a long 1 1/2 hr. set, packed up and loaded in next door. The clubs are next door to each other.
Vaudeville Mews is a typical bar/venue, but I have to say they aren't very interested in having bands play their venue. They would rather be closed and be at home. Case in point. A band from Canada was setting up when we loaded in, they were supposed to play the all-ages show but got into town late, drove all day from Denver! So we said, cool, play. They played to the 2 people who came to see them and then when the local band went to set up, the club manager told them to go home because they didn't bring any paying customers!
So this poor local band, which I booked to play the CD release with us, had to come out late, listen to a band they really didn't like and then were told to leave!
If a band drives to play your venue, I think you should at least give them the option to decide whether to play or not. This is a growing epidemic within the music scene, venues that make you feel like, oh great the bands here...in a negative way.
Thumbs down for Vaudeville Mews!
We got on the road and made it to Iowa City by 2a. Fog like pea soup all the way, the guys were a bit nervous.
Friday, October 24 - Iowa City
Java Blend Radio Show - 12noon
Java House - 8p
We did 2 shows in Iowa City as well. 1st at noon for Iowa Public Radio's, Java Blend Radio Show. It's a live audience taping and airs a few weeks later. Ben Keiffer is the host and he had this to say about us, "Rich music mined from the depths of Americana. Feldmann’s probing lyrics and yearning growl will echo in your soul and lift you up."
We played an hour set, mixed the new stuff in with the old and it was really a great show. It's recorded at the Java House, which is where we would play that night, and it was full of people at the noon hour and what can I say, great show, great crowd, great time.
The show was a little slow that night, not many folks were out, but we had a good time with those who were there. We went out to the Mill afterwards and had an interesting time...don't sit next to the jukebox! Lots of college kids, all looked way to young to be in a bar. They all seemed to want to stand next to the jukebox and block the door to the bathrooms and since we were sitting in the booth next to the jukebox, by the door to the bathrooms, we had butts in our faces the whole night...one thing I learned, Midwestern white kids have no butts.
It rained most the time in Iowa City so we didn't get many pictures except this scary looking Ronald McDonald.
Saturday, October 25 - Davenport
Mojo's - 7p
Mojo's Coffeehouse is on the ground level of the River Music Experience building, which not only has multiple venues but acts as sort of a music museum.
We had to end early, 8p instead of 9, because their was a Smooth Jazz series going on upstairs and the guys were wailing! It was fun to see all the people all dressed up...unfortunately they walked by us and went upstairs.
A couple came out to see us who heard me on the radio about 8-9 years ago and have followed me since. It was great to talk with them and they dug the "private" show.
We decided to drive home that night and left Davenport by 8:30p. We stopped at Iowa's largest truck stop, got some supplies and were on the road. We got to Minneapolis by 4a. I was home by 5a.
Crazy wind through Iowa on the drive back which showed up in the form of snow in MN. First snow of the year...Oct. 26.
Jed took a bunch of photo's and you can see them @ flickr.com
