Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Published in The Blog, villin. Tags: Interviews, Iowa, Music, Podcasts.
Listen to the villin podcast via… Zachary Lint is a multi-medium creator from Fairfield, Iowa, widely known for his music recorded and released as Coolzey. In our conversation we talked about his musical history, including the two albums he’s released this year, but also his new short film called Burlington Paranormal. The horror comedy is […]
Published in The Blog. Tags: Iowa, Photos.
Hiking and trail photos shot November 26, 2022 at Palisades-Kepler State Park in Mount Vernon, Iowa.
Published in Little Village Magazine, The Blog. Tags: Interviews, Iowa, Music.
For the music industry, 2021 was definitely a memorable year. With concerts and live entertainment essentially on ice for much of the year, consumers pivoted, directing their expendable income to physical products instead, resulting in a landmark year for record stores. Variety reported in March that 2021 marked the first year since 1996 that both […]
Published in The Blog. Tags: Iowa, Kansas City, Live, Music, Nashville, Photos, Video.
Photos shot October 30, 2022 at the Olympic South Side Theater in Cedar Rapids, Iowa for the Iowa Music Awards. Photos shot October 22, 2022 at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Kansas City, Missouri. Photos shot October 8, 2022 at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa (for the Iowa State Cyclones vs. Kansas State […]
Published in Letterboxd, The Blog. Tags: Film.
Film diary and review entries made on the movie social media website Letterboxd. For more reviews, follow Razzle Dazzle Cedar Rapids on Letterboxd. 10/2/2022 Witchboard, 1986 (Rating: 2/5) First viewing and I greatly appreciated the ’80s-ness of it all, but looking back on it I’m internally debating whether there was a sense of self-awareness to […]
Published in The Blog. Tags: Iowa, Photos.
Hiking and trail photos shot October 23, 2022 at Lacey-Keosauqua State Park in Keosaqua, Iowa, including shots of the Des Moines River.
Published in The Blog. Tags: Kansas City, Photos.
Photos taken October 22, 2022 at Parkville Nature Sanctuary near Kansas City in Parkville, Missouri.
Published in The Blog, villin. Tags: Interviews, Iowa, Music, Podcasts.
Listen to the villin podcast via… That Honorroll KID is an MC based in Des Moines who just released a new album titled Peace God. In our conversation we discussed how the 18 track full-length differs from past work, including the Phase 2 EP which he dropped earlier this year with 1400slim. We also touched […]
Published in The Blog. Tags: Interviews, Iowa, Music.
“Music was everything,” said Rick Noggle from behind the counter of his vintage store, 20 Years Awesome, located in downtown Cedar Rapids. “Work was not relevant. Money was not relevant.” Writing, recording and performing under the name imperfekt for roughly two decades, music was Noggle’s main focus—his baby, even—until he had an actual child. Then his world […]
Published in The Blog. Tags: Iowa, Photos.
Photos shot October 7, 2022 at Mount Trashmore in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, along with the surrounding Czech Village and New Bohemia neighborhoods.
Published in The Blog. Tags: Iowa, Photos.
Hiking, trail, and overlook photos shot October 2, 2022 at Pikes Peak State Park in McGregor, Iowa. Hike began at Pikes Peak overlook following the Bridal Veil Trail to East Hickory Ridge, West Hickory Ridge, Weeping Rock, Chinquapin Ridge and Point Ann trails back to the overlook.
Published in Little Village Magazine, The Blog. Tags: Interviews, Iowa, Music.
This fall will see a wide range of releases from Iowan artists spanning the diverse rap and hip-hop spectrum. While this is far from a comprehensive list of what’s on tap for the next several months, here’s a cross-section looking at five releases from young, up-and-coming artists who have new projects on the way. [Continue […]
Published in Little Village Magazine, The Blog. Tags: Interviews, Iowa, Music.
“It’s a fun atmosphere to sell records in,” Brian Brandsgard told Little Village of the aesthetics and energy Big Grove Brewery in Iowa City. “It’s just a perfect place to have it.” Brandsgard is the organizer of the Big Grove Vinyl Market, which he has held periodically at the brewery since it opened five years ago. Now, […]
Published in Little Village Magazine, The Blog. Tags: Album Reviews, Interviews, Iowa, Music.
The album opener to The I & I by Teller Bank$ finds the Des Moines-based rapper reflecting on the practical value of processing his trauma through his art. In “Friends,” he comments on the market forces which encourage work that perpetuates negative stereotypes: “I had to swing my sword before I use my pen / I had […]
Published in Little Village Magazine, The Blog. Tags: Interviews, Iowa.
Once on the brink of demolition, a building constructed over 100 years ago is about to be reborn as Cedar Rapids’ newest bar and music venue. First opening as the Ideal Theatre over a century ago, the building at 213 16th Ave SE will start a new chapter of its story, written by its new […]
Published in The Blog, villin. Tags: Interviews, Iowa, Music, Podcasts.
Listen to the villin podcast via… Teller Bank$ is an MC and producer based in Des Moines and his new album, The I & I, is the third in a trilogy released with producer Ed Glorious. This discussion drifts heavily into the esoteric, looking at such influences as the 12th book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible […]
Published in The Blog. Tags: Iowa, Photos.
Hiking trail and lake photos shot September 2, 2022 at F.W. Kent Park in Oxford, Iowa.
Published in Little Village Magazine, The Blog. Tags: Interviews, Iowa.
“This play is really about gun violence,” Wings writer and director Matt Falduto told Little Village. “It was inspired by the student advocates after different school shootings that have happened.” Wings, which opens Friday, Sept. 2 at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts, is set in a world “where teenagers come of age by getting their wings […]
Published in The Blog. Tags: Iowa, Photos.
Hiking and trail photos shot August 30, 2022 at Ledges State Park in Madrid, Iowa.
Published in The Blog. Tags: Iowa, Photos.
Photos shot August 28, 2022 at the Indian Creek Nature Center in Marion, Iowa.
Published in The Blog. Tags: Iowa, Photos.
Hiking photos shot August 21, 2022 at Coralville Lake along the Squire Point and Woodpecker Trail Systems in North Liberty, Iowa.
Published in The Blog, villin. Tags: Interviews, Iowa, Music, Podcasts.
Listen to the villin podcast via… Chris Jones is an MC and producer based in Des Moines, Iowa and he just released his debut album titled Unplugged. In our discussion we exchanged thoughts on social media, finding personal meaning in the creation of art, the branding of self, and a story of self-sabotage revolving around […]
Published in The Blog, villin. Tags: Interviews, Iowa, Music, Podcasts.
Listen to the villin podcast via… Gifo is a rapper based in Sioux City, Iowa and his new release, Hell Bound, is out now. In our discussion we connected on ideas around creative growth, the Hometown Heroes collective, Latino and Hispanic representation, and “Tears,” which is one of seven new tracks on the EP. villin: The […]
Published in The Blog. Tags: Iowa, Photos.
Photos shot July 21, 2022 along Lake MacBride’s North Shore Trail/Hoover Trail (~10 miles total) in Solon, Iowa.
Published in The Blog, villin. Tags: Music, Nashville.
In January 2022 I began using villin as a vehicle to release playlists featuring music from Nashville artists. I did this through a pair of playlists, featuring Nashville Rap & Hip-Hop and Nashville Electronic & Dance Music. Additionally, I created similar music video playlists on YouTube, again featuring Nashville Rap & Hip-Hop and Nashville Electronic […]
Published in The Blog. Tags: Iowa, Photos.
Hiking photos shot July 10, 2022 on a ~9 mile hike around Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area in Palo, Iowa.
Published in The Blog, villin. Tags: Music, Nashville.
In January 2022 I began using villin as a vehicle to release playlists featuring music from Nashville artists. I did this through a pair of playlists, featuring Nashville Rap & Hip-Hop and Nashville Electronic & Dance Music. Additionally, I created similar music video playlists on YouTube, again featuring Nashville Rap & Hip-Hop and Nashville Electronic […]
Published in The Blog. Tags: Iowa, Photos.
Hiking photos shot July 7, 2022 throughout Wildcat Den State Park in Muscatine, Iowa, including the Lower Picnic Areal Trail, Park Boundary Trail, Campground Trail, Punch Bowl Trail, and Mill Trail, leading to the Pine Creek Mill.
Published in The Blog. Tags: Iowa, Photos.
Hiking photos shot July 2, 2022 at Maquoketa Caves State Park in Maquoketa, Iowa.
Published in Little Village Magazine, The Blog. Tags: Album Reviews, Iowa, Music.
“Cause who the fuck gon’ save your family if it isn’t you?” raps FlyLife on the title track from his recently released album. “I know it’s usually guns and drugs but this a different view.” The song serves as the culmination of a broader idea, each prior track helping to redefine a concept of what […]