Corridor Buzz | Articles > REVIEW: Camp Euforia offers a sweltering mix of music

REVIEW: Camp Euforia offers a sweltering mix of music

07-12-2008 | Music

By Loren Keller

Article Tools

del.icio.us

Released just a week after the statewide smoking ban went into effect, the Diplomats of Solid Sound's "Smokey Places" is technically outdated for most of Iowa, though the smokers at Camp Euforia seemed to enjoy the now-rare chance to light up legally (and often) while listening to live music during the festival's opening day Friday.

Delivered in a sultry vocal by Diplomette Kathy Ruestow, "Smokey Places" was just one of many highlights of the Diplomats' tight, hour-plus set played on Camp Euforia's side stage in a barn on farm property near Lone Tree.

Drummer Jim Viner encouraged the sweaty crowd to "do the Lone Tree thang" prior to a hot cover of Eddie Bo's "We're Doing It (Thang)". The crowd seemed a little tentative at first but were quickly hooked by the band's catchy take on 60s soul, R&B and funk.

The seven-piece group featuring the Diplomettes (now a duo after singer Abbie Sawyer moved to New Zealand) played most of the songs on its terrific new self-titled release, including "Come in My Kitchen" "Trouble Me," "Hurt Me So," "Soul Connection" and "Plenty Nasty," featuring a killer saxophone riff and added percussion by Sarah Cram on tambourine and Ruestow on cowbell.

Co-founder Doug Roberson encouraged fans to check out CD and vinyl versions of their record released by Pravda Records July 8. "If you like it, pick one up because gas isn't cheap and we're not billionaires."

Earlier in the afternoon, Iowa City's Uniphonics played the main stage, thanking the crowd profusely and giving "Camp Euforia" repeated shout-outs. Their set of noodling funk/rap included the originals "Let Me Go," a country stomper that got progressively faster, and a reggae ode to weed called "We Got It."

Back in the barn, Des Moines' six-piece Mr. Baber's Neighborhood played a lively hour of traditional bluegrass in a near-perfect setting. The self-described "urban hillbillies" performed in a tight cluster around a single microphone and delivered precise, lightning-fast finger picking.

This is the Camp Euforia festival's fifth year, and organizers have clearly put some thought into creating a diverse line-up of 22 local and Midwestern bands as well as a comfortable festival experience (as much as that was possible in Friday's 90 percent humidity.) An estimated 200 campers set up tents around the festival site, a farm about 20 minutes southeast of Iowa City.

Also playing the mainstage Friday evening were Bob Dorr and the Blue Band of Cedar Falls, whose vigorous set of blues drew the somewhat older lawn-chair crowd.

"This band is older than some of you are," Dorr told the crowd before playing "Madness on Main Street," a tune the band played at its first gig some 27 years ago.

I've listened to Dorr's distinctive low voice on KUNI radio for years but had never seen his band play live; finally putting a voice to a face was curiously satisfying and he clearly has the pipes for both studio and stage. As a singer, he sounds like a gruffer Neil Diamond; he also played the harmonica on "She's Got the Mojo & the Say So" and bongos on "You Got Legs." (Check out Dorr's KUNI music program "Down on the Corner" in the coming weeks to hear recordings from the festival.)

The Diplomats set followed and segued nicely into a main stage set by the Iowa City world music ensemble Euforquestra. The band is moving to Ft. Collins, Colo., next month and its farewell gig is set for July 26 at the Yacht Club in Iowa City.

"Soon they'll be a national act and we'll have to pay hundreds of dollars to see them," Dorr said in a bit of an overstatement, though the band's gigs have been well-attended throughout the country. (Read a CorridorBUZZ.com review of Euforquestra's recent Iowa City Jazz Festival performance here.)

"Are you ready to get 'forqued'?" Dorr asked the crowd.

Clearly they were; cooler weather tonight should draw another several hundred fans to hear Euforquestra play another set tonight. Public Property, Fat Maw Rooney and Cornmeal are also scheduled to play, with The Gglitch set to close the festival with a 12:30 set tonight.