The red lights beamed on our foreheads in a cramped rectangle as we watched The Spill Canvas perform by the bar at The Picador during the hot summer of 2006. Unfortunately the band seemed annoyed and angry about the atmosphere of their venue. Their comments about the heat and the narrow venue were repeated on stage and muttered under their breaths as we passed them walking to their van after the show. Gabes was just being transformed into the Picador and the stage that performers use now was not yet available.
The Spill Canvas, from Sioux Falls, South Dakota has not become close to mainstream until recently. Their new single titled “All For You” has debuted on MTV in the countdown for “Most Downloaded Videos.” Their music can be recognized as alternative but their words are poetry and their songs have passion. Sadly, their 2008 and 2007 tour hasn’t included anything close to Iowa City, with their closest location being Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
I can’t help but wonder what kind of management allowed The Spill Canvas to play in such a setting that was almost miserable. I have gone to many concerts, and not once have I heard a band complain about the venue. So I can only infer from my experience that The Spill Canvas might be avoiding Iowa City. But like the typical bands that play at The Picador, I can’t imagine who else would fit in better.
Hopefully The Spill Canvas’s last image of Iowa City isn’t how inconvenient The Picador was in 2006, and it’s of the hardcore fans that withstood the horrible temporary venue to watch them play. I can only hope…or write on their wall on Myspace.
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