Iowa City Days

I also went to class

I enrolled in UI in the Fall of 1986. I graduated high school in 1984. I took what kids today are calling a gap year. I managed a video store in my hometown. Was a pretty cool gig, but I was ready for college.

Being an introvert by nature, the new school and city were somewhat intimidating. I grew up in a college town(we lived on the townie side of the town) so the size of the school didn’t bother me, but it was getting to know people. My two roommates were good guys, though our interests did not match up.

I know one thing that links people to their surroundings and that is music. A friend from elementary school was in town and told me to meet him down at Gabe’s Oasis for some music. I saw The Pontiac Brothers and Soul Asylum. Soul Asylum, I believe, was touring the “Hang Time” album. Gabe’s Oasis was a little club so you are bound to meet new people. Little did I know that my friend Bob was friends with Dave Pirner. He sat with us for a spell and I tried not to fanboy too much as I had dug Soul Asylum for quite some time. Always nice to meet someone and they are as cool as you want them to be.

I now had to find others that equaled my intense love of music. Bob did not stick around Iowa City so I was off to find my crew. I took a job at food service in the dorms. Who knew I would ride with these guys(not really ride in the literal sense, none of us had a car) for the duration of my studies and beyong. Don, Paulie B, David, and Brian J. It started with just talking about music, then going to shows became a thing. Readers of this article will assume this, but going to shows in a smelly little club with your buddies is one of the best things in the world.

Iowa City had a very active music scene when I was there with bands like Full Fathom Five, The Dangtrippers, and Head Candy getting national attention. They were OUR bands more than anything. House of Large Sizes would make there way down from Cedar Falls on occasion and add a little flavor.

Plus, we had what would nowadays be called an Americana or Roots band. It was a collective of players from various bands and they were called Devastation Wagon. They had classics like, “Outta My Life, Outta My Trailer” and “Knob Crankin Mama”. They would pack the bar any time they played. I found a very odd 8mm film on YouTube used as a video for the above two songs. They were classic and I still talk to their drummer when he is in town for a show.

I don’t know if you would call our antics moshing or not, it was about 10–15 guys out on the dance floor running into each other. I say guys but I do remember running into a girl in the middle of the pit. I raised my hands to let her pass(always a gentleman), she said, “Bring it!!”. Gave her a good shove and she flew off the floor back into the tables. Didn’t appear to be any damage as she was laughing about it.

There was one glorious night that lived in infamy for me and the guys. It was a solid triple bill of local acts and we had been dancing for a couple hours. I stepped off to have a beer or two. As I was walking back to the floor the crowd parted. There was my friend Paulie B walking off the floor with a gash on his forehead and his goofy grin on his face. Apparently his forehead made contact with the back of someone’s head resulting in said head wound. Blood was spurting out of his forehead and we both busted up laughing. Fortunately for us there were nursing students there that night and were able to stop the bleeding with towels and such. We stepped out in the crisp Fall night and I asked him if he wanted stitches. His response: “No way. This is going to be an awesome scar.” Oh to be in my twenties and to feel invincible.

I was fortunate to catch some great acts. A Soundgarden/Mudhoney bill was priceless. As I looked up dates for these shows I saw that Nirvana there in the Summer of 1989. If I went I don’t remember it at all.

L7 and The Flaming Lips(not on the same bill) were shows I remember quite well. The Lips had a fog machine and you couldn’t see the band at any time. During the L7 show someone up front got a little friendly and hit the mic which pushed it into the lead singers mouth. Ouch. That did not go well.

I met Bob Mould one night. He was still located in Minneapolis at that time and was doing solo acoustic shows. I don’t remember if it was “Workbook” or “Black Sheets of Rain” that he was touring on, but I got to have a brief conversation with him at the nasty men’s urinal/trough. Very nice guy and one of my favorites as he went on to form Sugar and then back to solo work.

I hung around Iowa City after graduation and became assistant manager at a local video store. I was married by this time. Unfortunately by 1992 the marriage was on the rocks. She had moved out of our crappy apartment.

I would return to Iowa City thru the years to watch football, but never went back to the Oasis. If I didn’t have my crew it just wasn’t right. I have lost touch with those guys through the years but I know that Paulie B became a teacher and Brian J. became a lawyer. Fortunately I have memories. When I hear certain songs from that era my mind goes right back to those times. I would not trade any of those moments as they contributed to the person I am now.

Until next time, I wish you much peace.