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[wenslowmusic-blog]

NEW MUSIC OUT NOW!

[ruixzine]

Week 18

Man, I feel like we haven’t talked in forever, you guys. You may have noticed that I took last week off from the blog. If you didn’t notice, then you are most people. But if you did notice, I apologize. I got caught up with other shit, not the least of which was my lawn, which I had let grow to about the height of my truck at that point. I also had another podcast interview to do that night, but I will get more into that in a minute. I did put up a link to the latest episode of Ruix Podcast, the one where Alec Bauer and I jawed off about tattoos and art and other shit. Look, the bottom line, ladies and gentlemen, is that I needed the time away from you. Sometimes, a little space is needed to help a relationship flourish. Anyway, I missed you, boo. Does that count for anything?

As of now, the Alec episode is still the most current episode available now. Alec flew back all the way from San Diego JUST to do the podcast. Actually, that’s a complete lie. The episode was released the same day as the Dubuque Ink & Art Expo at Five Flags, which is the actual reason he came back home. Turns out, the guy’s talent puts him in pretty high demand among tattoo-hungry Dubuquers. Rightly so, too. Almost half the work I have done is all Alec. Anyway, it’s a great episode and I urge you to check it out. In the same weekend, I sat down with Alex Nowacki (aka BOAR) and Pat Gilligan (aka I Like You, Go Home) for a conversation about the noise scene in and around Dubuque and beyond. Those guys had a lot to say and it was a blast hanging out and killing a bottle of tequila with them. Should be up really soon.

Another Iowa artist, Bret Miller and I had scheduled a time to sit down and talk this past Sunday. He was also in town showcasing/selling his art at the Expo. Unfortunately, shit got fucked up on Sunday and we had to cancel. So now we’re gonna do it this Saturday. Should be fun. Even though Bret’s kind of a diva. He’s the only guest we’ve had so far that comes with a rider. We’ll see how this goes. (Of course I’m kidding. I’m just preemptively giving him shit because I know he’s going to harp on me about being a Redskins fan like he always does).

Music Series VI also happened on Sunday, which is another reason things got a bit crazy and Bret’s interview had to be postponed. BUTT (I) (haha), it was very well attended and a super fun time. As far as I can tell, everyone had fun. Shit even got kinda rowdy, what with people falling down drunk and shit.. but it was a metal show, so we knew what the score was. I Like You Go Home kicked things off. This was Pat’s last ILYGH show as a resident of Dubuque before he moves off to beautiful, sunny Aurora, Illinois (Party on, Pat), so I know he was excited to make it a good performance. And it was. Just the right thing to set the tone for the rest of the show. Next up was National Hero from the Quad Cities. These guys were a 2-piece grindcore outfit. It was sloppy, but pretty fun. They looked like they were having fun, at least. Sept of Memnon, also from the QC followed them with a tight set of black metal (sans corpse paint, which I appreciate). They kicked a bunch of ass. And rounding out the night was Dubuque’s own Mutilated by Zombies, who kicked a bunch more ass. I dug this show a lot. I honestly don’t listen to a lot of extreme metal anymore (does L.A. Guns count?). Those days are kinda behind me, for the most part. But every once in a while I dig going to a metal show. Or, you know, every once in a while, maybe I’ll wait until like track 4 or 5 to change it to something else when an Emperor record or a Dying Fetus record comes up on my iTunes. That’s the best I can do these day. Otherwise, I get too exhausted. But MBZ were great that night. They really are, as far as I know, the only death metal band in town. And they’ve got that shit down. Everything from the precise triggered blast beats to the Metalocalypse-style choreography. You should see them the next time they have a show if you haven’t already because they kinda rule. (Side note: my only gripe is before their set started, Greg wouldn’t stop playing his drums. Maybe he was tuning, or practicing or whatever but a really rad Dio record was playing on the house system and I wanted to hear it. But that’s my problem... not theirs).

After the show, Pat asked me to grab a drink with him. I had class very early the next morning, but since Pat is leaving town soon, I figured I’d take him up on it. We went to Eronel, who was hosting a band called Fuckstick or Sticklecock or some such shit. Anyway, it sucked. They were like a joke-cover band, meaning they cover songs but write their own lyrics in place of the original (I’m using the word “write” extremely liberally here). AND IT WAS FUCKING PACKED! People were hanging on these date rapists EVERY GOD DAMN WORD. A few people that I knew even looked over at me when one of the band would say something “funny,” as if to say, “right?” I loved hanging out with Pat for a brief period and normally if I say “one drink,” it’s not that hard to convince me to stay for one or two or several more. I couldn’t chug my one drink quick enough. Eronel is batting a solid zero in terms of the bands they’ve been getting lately. Well, let’s say, they’re batting a one. A couple of weeks ago, they had Black Oak Arkansas. I missed it, unfortunately, but they are awesome and I heard from several people that the show was awesome too. Of course, they had to go and taint the awesomeness of that show too by booking local cover band MissBehavin’ to open the show. (They’re exactly what you think they are with a name like that, by the way). Whatever, it’s no big deal. I stopped working there over a year ago, my brother and Drew don’t own it anymore and all of my friends either quit or got fired and moved on months ago, so I have no real obligation to go there anymore.. but still. I’m a sentimental guy. And that bar got me through the toughest year of my life. It’s just a shame. But those are the breaks, I guess.

Anyway, we’ve got some more shows in the works for you here at the DAAC/Ruix HQ. Tomorrow, October 2 is the closing reception for the Salon show, upstairs at DAAC. So it’s really your last chance to see all the artwork by all these incredible local and regional artists hanging in the gallery before it gets taken down. So come down and check it out. Also featured will be live music from Waterloo’s Dylan Sires & the Neighbors and of course the Quad Cities’ prodigal son Pat Stolley and his Multiple Cat, who I am always excited to see. Just about as excited as I am to see all of you at the reception tomorrow night (see what I did there?) 7pm, people.

Music Series VIII is set for October 16 down in the basement. This show will feature GOSH from the Quad Cities (man, I’m starting to notices that we’ve been swinging on the Quad Cities nutsack a lot the last few months), Arc Numbers from Dubuque (that’s Bob Bucko and Kristina Castaneda, if that helps you decide whether you’re attending or not) and newcomers The Deep Light. The Deep Light is sort of from Dubuque, but live in rural Wisconsin at the moment. It’s the new project from Shawn Healey of Big Muddy, Snidely Whiplash fame. Oh, and I guess he’s in that Venereal Crush band, too. Anyway, this show should be a good one, and I’m guessing you won’t want to miss it. More on that show as it comes closer.

The only other thing coming up is the Darkslide Skateboard Show at DAAC on November 28. This is the next art show and it will showcase skateboard decks that have been painted or somehow artistically modified by a range of talented artists. The show is going into its third year and it will feature live music from Dubuque bands Snuff Queen and Telekinetic Yeti, as well as Garbage Man from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Thee Micro-Mantis. Thee Micro-Mantis are based out of Denver, but they feature Dubuque natives Cale Bruggeman and Tony Willis, who is also a contributing artist to the show. Should be a fun time.

Okay, guys. I’ve got nothing else this week. But again, I’m sorry for my absence last week. I’ll never leave you again. (That’s not true, I definitely will leave you again at some point).