Jeremy Messersmith 10/8 - Urbandale

Jeremy Messersmith's music has been described as "metropolitan poetry" and it certianly lives up to that description.  His ability to weave a story while plucking his guitar is rivaled by few.

Messersmith based in MPLS (after moving there to attend North Central University) could be the posterchild fort the hip indie music scene there.  Here are a few reasons why I love Jeremy Messersmith and why you should too:

1) His sound is as sweet as sugar, smoother than vanilla, and as good as ice cream.  Exhibit A:

2) Some of his music (including the above song) is for sale at the amazing price "pay what you wish" on bandcamp.  This means that you can try him for free on your iPod, etc. before getting the vinyl/cd/t-shirt you really want or need. Score.  Kind of like test driving a car before you buy it...

3) He is hip as hell and probably coming to a neighborhood home near you.  This fall Mr. Messersmith began what he calls "The Supper Club Tour".  Earlier in the year he sent out requests to everyone on his e-mailing list to find yards, big living rooms, barns, or whatever to serve as places for him to play across the country.  People quickly responded and thus the Supper Club was born.

Luckily, for all you music/Messersmith fans in the area, he is playing a Supper Club show in Urbandale on Monday, Oct. 8.  An intimate setting such as this ought to be a surreal experience. I'm pretty sure it'll blow you away like the feather at the end of "Forrest Gump".

-CK

Manhatten Short Film Festival 10/5

"One World, One Week, One Festival"

Manhattan Short has descended upon Des Moines again this year and due to its popularity, the Des Moines Art Center will show it TWO weekends in a row. I have confirmation from the first showing that this is an event you don't want to miss if you're a film fan, but if you intend to get a seat you had better show up early because the first viewing premiered to a full house.  The second viewing takes place on Friday, Oct. 5 at 6:30pm in the Levitt Auditorium at the Des Moines Art Center---AND IT'S FREE!

Manhattan Short is unique because it is the first global film festival and they don't believe "the masses are asses". Starting Sep. 28 and ending Oct. 7 an estimated total of 100,000 people from 300 cities and six continents (unfortunately not in Antarctica because the emperor penguins can't agree on a location to build a theater) will view and vote for the best film. After the votes are tallied the winner will be announced via their press page. Sweet.

This is the 15th year of the film festival and organizers had to respond to its increasing popularity after reportedly received 520 entries from 49 countries with genres ranging from comedy to drama, thereby making Manhattan Short a truly diverse film experience.

-CK