During the final day of the Mission Creek Festival, the Trumpet Blossom Cafe held an event featuring three artists. Amongst them was Slacker, a local Iowa City band.
The duo band consists of musicians Oliver Booth and Isaac Crawford, who have played together at various locations across the city before. Claire Cox, Crawford’s partner, explained how the pair may stand out against other music groups.
“They have a unique style, like the weirdness that the band Ween can have and then maybe some grunge,” Cox said.
This was apparent through their music and stage performance. Upon taking the stage, the pair seemed to be opposites, with Booth in a button-down and a tie and Crawford in a dress with pants, a hat, and sunglasses. It was clear their common ground was built on friendship and their music.
Clayton Racevskis, a first-year student at the University of Iowa and a long-time friend of both band members, attended the event. Racevskis described how both Crawford and Booth have bounced around the music scene of Iowa City.
“They’ve been doing music locally in different bands, hopping around for years now,” he said. “They’ve been a really great part of the community, and I think they deserve all of our support.”
The crowd for Slacker’s performance gathered up close to the front of the stage, which gave the band a chance to connect with their audience more, as they made jokes between the transitions of their songs.
Alex Allton, another attendee and Booth’s girlfriend, touched on how the venue also helped with the togetherness the crowd felt.
“I think the building itself, the employees, they kind of help bring a sense of community. It’s not hard to feel like part of the team,” Allton said.
From the cafe’s wooden stage to its special wooden arches over the bar, the Trumpet Blossom created a cozy environment that allowed the audience to feel comfortable in the crowd. Between the option of sitting in a side booth to eat food during the show or standing in the small area of space around the stage, fans could enjoy the show however they wanted.
Another guest at the show, Juliette Enloe, who had never seen the band perform before, also recognized the way the venue added to the energy of the gig.
“Everybody filtering in and out and getting some lunch or a drink has been nice for that wacky, different kind of vibe,” Enloe said.
Slacker’s punk, grunge-style performance was only enhanced by the venue they played in. Molly Enochson, another attendee, discussed how the band continues to improve every time she sees one of their concerts.
“They’re amazing. I’ve only seen them three times, and every set is completely different. It’s always a wild card,” Enochson said.