As musical genres become increasingly more specific — especially in metal, which can range from thrash and speed to grindcore and even rap metal — it can be difficult for a band to find its own niche. Des...

Angels — usually portrayed as holy creatures with light coming out of their smiles, butterflies swirling around their bodies, and bright yellow halos hovering above their heads. But in Anne Rice’s...

To continue our theme of comfort food from last week, I want to share a ridiculously simple recipe which may strike many as a rather strange dish, but I promise — it’s insanely comforting. My mom makes...

As winter descends, it becomes more difficult to get out of your warm, cozy bed for that cold morning class. What better way to wake up than with some music? Here are some songs that are guaranteed to...

The Killers Rarely are there albums that people listen to over and over again. They memorize the words to each song, fantasize about the lead singer, and even years later, for them, the CD still seems...

“It’s not so much about the reefer.” A bold statement regarding a production titled Reefer Madness, but actor John Watkins insists it’s true. “The operative word in the title is ‘madness,’...

In 1964, Rich Riggleman played the role of the bell announcer in the controversial play The Playboy of the Western World. Now, 45 years later, he is directing a production of that play for Dreamwell Theatre...

Dominating the contemporary world of music, the JACK Quartet is a four-man super squad armed with bows and strings. Whether it is decoding 700-year-old musical scripts for a modern-day audience or distorting...

Comedian Paula Poundstone was “born” to Tweet. Twitter allows her to make jokes about things she sees in her life that don’t always make it into her performance, she said. “I do the same goddamn...

Chris Ford is writhing on the floor. It’s his last song, and with his band still jamming on stage, he belts out improvised lyrics while curled up in the fetal position. An entranced audience circles...

For Brenda Hillman, falling in love with an art form is quite like falling in love with a person. Finding the excitement of new love and exploring its depths are exactly how she approaches her poetry,...

Regional string players have immersed themselves in the work of the “Father of the String Quartet” to pull off the largest cooperative performance of string musicians Iowa City has ever seen. Musicians...