Articles - The Echo

Articles

From France to QC, The Art Of post doom romance.

From France to QC, The Art Of post doom romance.

Art. noun. - the use of the imagination to express ideas or feelings. Music comes in all wave shapes & amp sizes. Given the unique nature of sound, and the unique nature of humans, sound activates various regions of the brain. As you know, certain genres, lyrics,...

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Music Venues of the Quad Cities | Raccoon Motel

Music Venues of the Quad Cities | Raccoon Motel

ABOUT THIS SERIES:"Music Venues in the Quad Cities" is a 12 part series providing a comprehensive overview of live music venues in the Quad Cities area, with a specific focus on venues whose audience capacity is below 500. The series aims to highlight the vibrant...

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Festive Christmas Concerts Happening In The QC

Festive Christmas Concerts Happening In The QC

"Merry Christmas ya filthy animals!" Families are reuniting from all over the globe. Kids are begging for the latest Fortnite, Minecraft, InstaPrint Cameras, etc. etc. and finding out if they are on the naughty or nice list. It's the time of year where food comas are...

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Dark Star Orchestra Shines On Capitol Theatre

Dark Star Orchestra Shines On Capitol Theatre

I hopped out of my bed, skipped to my bathroom, and jumped in the shower.  I am just kidding.  It takes me two hours to get out of bed, and it is more of a falling motion.  All hyperbole aside, I stumbled onto my feet with a mile-wide smile on my face, on the...

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Void Church Presents: Activity w/ Moscow Puzzles

Void Church Presents: Activity w/ Moscow Puzzles

With summer officially behind us, and the chill of early October fully immersing itself into our surroundings, it's hard not to have our thoughts shift to darker imagery as we trade the warmth of the summer sun for the glowing heat of candles illuminating the...

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Room to Improv: A Sonic Journey Through Spontaneity

Room to Improv: A Sonic Journey Through Spontaneity

When one hears the word improv, especially in relation to those that occupy the middle of the country, I would imagine the first thing that comes to mind is a show hosted by Drew Carey. This show had a mixed cast, that among others prominently featured Wayne Brady and...

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I-Rock Rocks Its 4th Birthday With Rust Belt Show

I-Rock Rocks Its 4th Birthday With Rust Belt Show

I-Rock 93.5 is celebrating its fourth birthday in the best and most appropriate way – with a huge hard rock concert at East Moline’s Rust Belt. On Friday, Sept. 15, the Quad-Cities radio station will unleash a free “4 Freakin’ Years Of Hard Rock” party featuring...

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Summer Jam Vol. 3 Returns to Downtown East Moline

Summer Jam Vol. 3 Returns to Downtown East Moline

James ‘Lobo’ Lopez and Colin Brandt have once again joined forces with Hey Bryans to bring this summer’s ultimate party back to East Moline. That’s right, it’s time for Summer Jam Vol. 3! Summer Jam Vol. 3 makes its way to Hey Bryans (1140 15th Ave East Moline) on...

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Alternating Currents Plugs Into Quad-Cities Aug. 17-20

Alternating Currents Plugs Into Quad-Cities Aug. 17-20

Alternating Currents is recharged and ready to electrify local music fans Aug. 17-20 with over 100 acts across 30 venues throughout the Quad-Cities. Featuring an eclectic and vibrant mix of music, comedy, film and visual arts strewn across two states and multiple...

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Empty Graves Comes To Life With New Album And Tour

Empty Graves Comes To Life With New Album And Tour

Quad-Cities millenialcore band Empty Graves is on the rise, with an addicting new song, “Dog Pills,” an upcoming album, “Virulent,” and a burgeoning tour slate.   The group -- Brockton Reddish on vocals, Benjamin Larson on guitar, and Brendan Cone on bass – is...

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Say It Again: Play It Again

Say It Again: Play It Again

Subatlantic, a band comprised of Phil Pracht (drums, background vocals) Rebecca Rice (lead vocals, guitar, keyboard) Sean Chapman (bass, cello, background vocals), and Adam Kaul (lead guitar, background vocals) has become one of my favorite groups in the local Quad...

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Dawn And On Rises For Eighth Annual Fest In Schwiebert Park

Dawn And On Rises For Eighth Annual Fest In Schwiebert Park

Eight is looking great for the annual Dawn and On Festival, returning for its eighth summer to Rock Island’s Schwiebert Park on July 8. The all-day fest’s lineup this year will include The Big Wu, Jon Stickley Trio, The Dawn (go figure!), Strange Neighbors, The...

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Rhythm On The River

Rhythm On The River

Coordinating with Juneteenth in the Quad Cities, a new “Rhythm on the River” concert will be Sunday, June 18 at Schwiebert Park in downtown Rock Island, celebrating the contributions of Black musicians and highlighting Black voices in our local music scene.  Rhythm On...

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The Sound Conservatory

The Sound Conservatory

It’s been nearly a year since The Sound Conservatory, 1600 2nd Ave., Rock Island, moved to its current space, and the bustling music school, store and concert venue continues to grow. In a new summer concert series, the sophisticated, stunning building (in the former...

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QC Summer Concert Series Guide!

QC Summer Concert Series Guide!

With Memorial Day weekend just passed, it’s officially summer in the Quad-Cities! Of course, that means the start of the outdoor concert season in and around the area, and, as usual, there’s a full slate of live tunes in all music genres on the menu for the sunny...

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Studio Spotlight: Charm Media Group

Studio Spotlight: Charm Media Group

As someone that is about as far from a music/sound engineer as possible, it's easy for me to recognize the unique facets of the various spaces I have been lucky enough to explore and expose through these monthly features, or perhaps it's more that I discover details...

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Studio Spotlight: Skylark QC

Studio Spotlight: Skylark QC

Located along the one-way rush of 7th Ave in Rock Island, only a couple blocks from the Moline border, lies an old building that began as a church in the late 19th century, living several non-secular based roles, before once more becoming a place of worship prior to...

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Album Review: Logan Springer & The Wonderfully Wild

Album Review: Logan Springer & The Wonderfully Wild

  The Echo recently sat down with Logan Springer of Logan Springer & the Wonderfully Wild to learn more about their upcoming sophomore album, Crow. The Americana crooner promises an eclectic and memorable set of tracks on the horizon for this next collection....

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STUDIO SPOTLIGHT: ACE Radio Studio

STUDIO SPOTLIGHT: ACE Radio Studio

This month's feature takes us a bit out of the QCA, and while the location is a bit of a drive North from "Quad Cities Proper", the driving force behind this studio, Robert Siegworth certainly plays a major role in the music scene of this area, as well as helping...

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Album Review – Monica Austin’s Midwest Mama

Album Review – Monica Austin’s Midwest Mama

Monica Austin is not your typical blonde-haired, blue-eyed female country artist. In her first full-length album, Midwest Mama, Austin doesn’t just bring another generic collection of love songs. This is a true storytelling record. An autobiographical homage to every...

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Not To Be Underestimated, BTDT Is Breaking Barriers

Not To Be Underestimated, BTDT Is Breaking Barriers

Been There & Done That: The Echo recently sat down with Ava, Izzy, Katie and Carson of BTDT (formerly Been There Done That) to learn more about their band, how they got started here in the Quad Cities, and some advice they have to share for other musicians...

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Studio Spotlight – Modern Myth

Studio Spotlight – Modern Myth

The East Village of Davenport looked a little less lively on a hazy Saturday morning as the rain struggled to decide if it would keep falling or simply hang above, haunting the city all afternoon. The spirits provided the night prior had all dried up while I made my...

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Alborn Pushing Forward With New EP, Powerman 5000 Tour

Alborn Pushing Forward With New EP, Powerman 5000 Tour

Alborn make the kind of music that would sound great backing a movie montage of the current frenetic pace of the band: Loud, aggressive, driving, and with enough melodic punch to make it memorable. The seven-year-old Illinois alternative metal act -- comprised of...

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STUDIO SPOTLIGHT: FUTURE APPLETREE 2

STUDIO SPOTLIGHT: FUTURE APPLETREE 2

Located in the oldest city of the Quad Cities sits a quaint building that holds many records and many stories. Residing at 311 21st St, Rock Island, IL 61201, next to Ragged Records Music & Record Store, Future Appletree 2 - owned and operated by American audio...

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ECHO INTERVIEW: DOPPELGANGER

ECHO INTERVIEW: DOPPELGANGER

Doppelganger - Photo by: Bleak Visuals OVER 1 MILLION VIEWS AND COUNTING... Alex Coats and Kyle Delveau met in middle school and have been playing together since 2007. They started forming Doppelganger after graduating high school in 2013 with Kyle's older brother....

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QC Rock Academy Meets Old Dominion

QC Rock Academy Meets Old Dominion

This past Saturday, the band Old Dominion performed to a huge crowd at the Vibrant Arena in Moline. Before the show, they invited a group of young music students from QC Rock Academy to hang out during their soundcheck and meet the band. If you aren’t familiar with QC...

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ECHO INTERVIEW: MICHAEL MONCADA & WHISKEY HIGH

ECHO INTERVIEW: MICHAEL MONCADA & WHISKEY HIGH

Michael Moncada & Whiskey High brings energy, grit, and heart with their signature outlaw sound! They have been making waves across the scene, with shows in major cities across the Midwest. The band is comprised of seasoned musicians, whose stage presence and...

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ECHO INTERVIEW: ANGELA MEYER

Photo: Angela Meyer Performing at Codfish Hollow Barnstormers Angela pulls in the crowd with a sweet voice and honest songwriting.  She knows what it's like to be in the audience, her earliest memories taking her back to being a child dancing around a smoky beer tent...

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What The Hell Is An EPK, And Why Every Artist Needs One.

What The Hell Is An EPK, And Why Every Artist Needs One.

I was at a show the other day and overheard a conversation, to which one person said, "What the hell is an EPK?". The Quad Cities is ranked 11th in the nation for the highest concentration of musicians. Upon hearing this, I knew I needed to write this article for our...

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ECHO INTERVIEW: TIMBO

ECHO INTERVIEW: TIMBO

A Nashville plainsman with a voice that moans for home, singing from the heart of his travels, heartbreaks, and ups and downs along the way. Like the grit in a wound on a skinned knee, Timbo carries a sound of a life lived hard and a life lived simply adventurous....

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ECHO INTERVIEW WITH: THE TEXTURES

ECHO INTERVIEW WITH: THE TEXTURES

Summercamp: On The Road champions (2020, and 2022) | The Textures are a 6 piece Funk/Soul & Alt-fusion band playing original music based out of the Quad Cities. With the new release of their single, "Poppin' Balloons" the Textures are excited to be playing, The...

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Taking on the Glory and Gross of Summer Camp

Taking on the Glory and Gross of Summer Camp

Witnessing forty-five hours of music, one-hundred and twelve miles from my home, over three days, from five stages, two tents, and the pop-up shows in the forest remind me of the following exchange in the film Field of Dreams. Ray Kinsella: “Is there a heaven? “John...

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Piano Project Brings Music to Iconic Quad-City Destinations

Piano Project Brings Music to Iconic Quad-City Destinations

River Music Experience unveils their creative placemaking program: OneSound. The OneSound Piano Project has strategically placed ten artist-designed pianos in iconic Quad-City locations for the public to interact with, bringing more music, art, and interaction to our...

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Summer Concert Series Guide

Summer Concert Series Guide

Summer is just around the corner which means warmer temps, patio hangs and free outdoor live music! Luckily we live in the Quad Cities where there is no shortage of any of those things.  Grab your friends and family (and your lawn chairs) because we have an exclusive...

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The Resilience of Live Music in a Celebrated Community

The Resilience of Live Music in a Celebrated Community

Not even a pandemic could best the remarkable music scene in the Quad Cities. The Quad Cities is home to a rich Mississippi blues heritage on the scale of New Orleans, Memphis, Tenn. and St. Louis. Historic venues such as the Col Ballroom and the Adler Theater have...

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An Open Door At The Village Theatre

An Open Door At The Village Theatre

The Quad Cities is home to a number of memorable live music venues. Be they small and intimate spaces, grand concert halls, theaters, or repurposed rooms, the locations where live music can be experienced in this area are certainly more than you can count on two...

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Five Bands You Should Know From Dr. Manisha Virdi

Five Bands You Should Know From Dr. Manisha Virdi

Dr. Manisha Virdi is a friendly dentist by day and an avid showgoer by night. At least once a week you can find her at a concert in the Quad Cities and on extra special nights she even opens her home to touring artists passing through. Her dedication to the QC music...

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Blues N’ (Crawford) Brews

Blues N’ (Crawford) Brews

The Quad Cities is known for its thriving live music scene partially made possible by the many bars, restaurants and breweries that host performers year-round. Many local acts earn a living performing locally thanks to these establishments. However, few are as dynamic...

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A Q+A with CJ Parker of CJ Parker & XII

A Q+A with CJ Parker of CJ Parker & XII

CJ Parker hit the ground running in 2022. With the first-quarter recognition from MTV news, keep in mind with only four-track released) his momentum as a solo artist and with CJ Parker & XII has skyrocketed. The Davenport Central graduate is only a few years out...

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We Are Greer

We Are Greer

UT alumnus, English professor and Music Director Anthony Greer would never have guessed he’d be returning to his alma mater to teach. However, he does come from a large family of UT instructors. “My grandfather, grandmother, and great-uncle taught here until 1999, and...

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Five Bands You Should Know from Jaawan Arrington

Five Bands You Should Know from Jaawan Arrington

Jaawan Arrington is a QC Native that uses his skills outside of the newsroom to promote positivity. Through the 100 Series lifestyle brand, Jaawan has encouraged thousands of Quad Citizens to keep it 100 and share their stories. In his own words, here are a handful of...

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East Moline Middle School Mariachi Band in Rebuilding Year

East Moline Middle School Mariachi Band in Rebuilding Year

Nearly one in every five East Moline residents is Hispanic or Latino, so it makes sense there is a solid Mariachi band program at Glenview Middle School, 3100 7th St., East Moline. Formed in 2015 by Richard Clark, who retired last year, the Mexican music program is...

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Your Musical Guide to St. Patricks Day in the Quad Cities

Your Musical Guide to St. Patricks Day in the Quad Cities

The Midwest adopts a Texan identity when it comes to holidays, especially St. Patricks Day. If you didn’t already know our Bi-State St. Patricks Day Parade is one of the largest bi-state parades in the country. While we could dive into how hilarious and kind of...

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Five Bands You Should Know from Josh Graves

Five Bands You Should Know from Josh Graves

Josh Graves, Underground Economy owner, knows a thing or two about the Quad Cities music scene. His experience working with bands in the Underground Economy studio and through the Underground Xperience showcases has him circulating through various artists in our...

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The Best (musical) Date Nights in the Quad Cities

The Best (musical) Date Nights in the Quad Cities

Romantic holidays come with their fair share of challenges. What do we do? How can I make it different than a regular date? I don’t have a romantic partner, so do I just sit at home and wallow? Luckily, there are plenty of great little pockets in the Quad Cities where...

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Barefoot Keyboardist Murray Lee, New Album and Studio Space

Barefoot Keyboardist Murray Lee, New Album and Studio Space

Often Greek Gods were portrayed barefoot because they were thought to stand above us, having no need for the protection of shoes. Following in their footsteps, Murray Lee is often around the Quad Cities playing gigs barefoot. He doesn't consider himself a Greek God...

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A Q+A with Piso’s Cure

A Q+A with Piso’s Cure

Piso's Cure is a newer band on the Quad-City music scene. The five-piece R&B outfit consists of Frankie Fontagne (bass, vox), Chrissy Boyer (vox), John Sorensen (drums), Logan McDaniel (guitar), and Jacob Palmer (keys). We sat down with them to chat about their...

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Streaming and the Local Quad-City Music Scene

Streaming and the Local Quad-City Music Scene

There is something to be said about how music fans in the Quad Cities come together to support their local music scene. Our community hosts so many events throughout the year, the fans share them in their circles and show up to support their favorite bands. With so...

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Rapper, Big Man G Lays His Claim on the QC

Rapper, Big Man G Lays His Claim on the QC

In the words of the late Stephen Sondheim, "Opportunity is not a lengthy visitor." This notion is not lost on Devin Martel. From an outside perspective, the Quad-City rapper more commonly known as Big Man G seizes every opportunity laid in front of him. Behind the...

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A PSA on PROs

A PSA on PROs

Becoming a music industry professional requires a base level of knowledge. Whether you’re looking to become an artist, producer, manager (the list goes on), there are fundamental aspects of the industry to know early on.  Know the ins and outs of your stage plot. ...

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Lewis Knudsen Premiers New Album at the Redstone Room

Lewis Knudsen Premiers New Album at the Redstone Room

After becoming a full-time musician in 2018, Lewis Knudsen found himself on the edge of a precipice. The Covid Pandemic forced him to try other avenues that were not live music.  “After the shutdown, I looked around and asked myself, "how can I make music if I never...

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Baby Garp Moves to Rock Island

Baby Garp Moves to Rock Island

The River Music Experience and Sean Moeller of Codfish Hollow have partnered to bring "Baby GARP" to the Quad Cities this year. The one-day festival will take over Schwiebert Riverfront Park in Rock Island, IL, on Sept. 11.  Scheduled initially for Codfish Hollow in...

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Everything You Need To Know About Open Mic And Jams

Everything You Need To Know About Open Mic And Jams

Open mics (OM) and jams (OJ) have been a long-standing tradition for generations in the music world and are a crucial grassroots method of building a healthy music scene. It is a ground-level entrance to any music scene for any experience level. They offer so many...

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How to Get Started on Your Vinyl Journey

How to Get Started on Your Vinyl Journey

Starting your vinyl collection is full of excitement! What records do you buy first? How do you organize them? What piece of furniture will you use to store them? There are so many questions right from the jump. I’m Jon (also known as Centaur Noir) from Ragged Records...

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Q-C Live Music Venues Seeing Varied Responses to Covid, Reopening

Q-C Live Music Venues Seeing Varied Responses to Covid, Reopening

Independent Venue Week returns July 12 – 18, 2021, bringing together venues from across the country for a series of shows and programming in celebration of the spirit of independence. Across the country and the Quad-Cities, independent live music venues are finally getting back to a sense of normalcy.

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The Quad Cities Step Up in Solidarity

The Quad Cities Step Up in Solidarity

Solidarity: Coming Together to Support Survivor Services is a call to action to show up and show out for survivors, ensuring that the Quad Cities is a welcoming, safe, and thriving place for everyone. This concert is raising funds to support Family Resources and will support victims of sexual violence in the Quad Cities. 

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Dawn and On Music Festival Returns to Schwiebert Park July 10

Dawn and On Music Festival Returns to Schwiebert Park July 10

The day-long festival, heading into its sixth year, will be headlined by jam rockers Magic Beans and Illinois bluegrass favorites The Way Down Wanderers, who travel the country. Additionally, the festival will feature Wisconsin folk-rockers Them Coulee Boys, Midwest supergroup Middle Western featuring David Zollo and William Elliot Whitmore, along with Peoria bluegrass staples Still Shine. 

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Too Many Gigs, Too Many Years.

Too Many Gigs, Too Many Years.

I met Frank Holst at Brew in the East Village (beautiful spot with a patio and great food). He was coming from a meeting and told me to, “look for the old guy.” We both already had lunch, so we decided on drinks. He ordered lemonade and I had beer. The day was a...

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