What better way to spend Cinco de Mayo, then in a Russian themed coffee shop, drinking a German beer, made in Iowa. I really can’t think of any; especially when you through in some sweet records, and the blues played by Iowa City band Crokane.
It’s nice doing Scented Vinyl again in the spring; it seems to totally change the atmosphere inside Mars Café. The doors are open, the sun is out until almost 8:30, and the place is busier than ever. The music of the night really matched the feel of the café, a lot of great stuff from what should be staples in anybody’s record collection.
Here is some of what we played…
David Bowie – Hunky Dory Rolling Stones – Exile on Main St. Iron and Wine – The Creek Drank the Cradle Atlanta Rhythm Section – Champaign Jam Jimi Hendrix – Axis, Bold as Love The Beatles – Magical Mystery Tour The National – Boxer The Arcade Fire – Keep the Car Running 45” Bruce Springsteen – Greetings From Ashbury Park Bob Dylan – Highway 61 Revisited The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band Dave Brubeck Quartet – Time Out Elton John – Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy The Blues Vol. 3 – Muddy Waters
Nathan Croson and Kate Kane are relatively new to the Iowa music scene. The two met up last year and not only combined their music styles, but also their last names. Croson + Kane = Crokane. Inspired by blues greats such as Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, Howlin Wolf and more, Nathan is finding his niche in a Blues scene with some talent. The “Iowa Sound” isn’t something that is easily mastered, in fact, few have done it i.e. Joe Price, Greg Brown, David Zollo…
After a few more years of practicing their craft, Crokane will be ready to get out of recording in their mom’s basement and into a nice studio. Not that anything is wrong with that, at all, what a great way to get initiated into one of the best Blues scenes around. To find out more about Crokane, check out their website www.myspace.com/crokane and download the interview and songs here for free!
