Poltz and his band are the evening's openers, but they draw the night's biggest crowd. When Poltz finishes his set, a few of the sloshy girls decide to stick around for the second act: Kansas City's Howard Iceberg and the Titanics.
The only thematic consistency between these two bands are the lead singers' vests and hats. But where Poltz wears his like a Lilith Fair interloper, Iceberg looks like an Orthodox rock-and-roll elder.
His Titanics are some of this city's most esteemed musicians.
On drums: Pat Tomek, of the legendary Rainmakers.
On bass: Scott Easterday, moonlighting from his own band, the Expassionates. Easterday also led an eponymous band in the 1990s and later was a member of Mongol Beach Party.
On lead guitar: Gary Paredes, who has played with Iceberg for more than 20 years. With his vaguely Ron Wood-like haircut, skinny black jeans and untucked white tuxedo shirt, Paredes looks as if he does, as Iceberg puts it, "know the entire vocabulary of rock-and-roll guitar."
Also on guitar is Dan Mesh, a former sideman for Holler and Mike Ireland. Mesh, who has played at the Grand Ole Opry, is the quintessential rhythm guitarist, making no attempt to draw attention to himself. But he's mesmerizing anyway, thanks to his Greek-statue face.
These guys are classics. And though they're playing in front of a thinned-out crowd at a small club in a midsized Midwestern city on a forlorn Friday night, they make an enormous sound.
It's centered on Iceberg's voice, a rusty faucet.
Even when Iceberg lubes it with Jägermeister, that voice is grainy and searching.
He plays his guitar flat, like a dobro, even though he's standing. And he's chewing gum.
Such eccentricities fade to the background when one of Iceberg's songs takes control of a room. That's obvious as soon as the first one gets going.
"I Think About You" is a basic lost-love song with a simple refrain: You don't even know that I'm alive/Oh, but me, I think about you/All the time. Easterday, who exudes a sad-man stage presence, doesn't have a singing part, but he's mouthing the words anyway, as though taking solace for his own broken heart.
Three songs later, a couple of Poltz's remaining fans take advantage of the wide-open dance floor for a two-woman Bus Stop during the angry "A Love That Doesn't Die." (Iceberg and his Titanics inspire strange random dancing. A few weeks later, during one of Iceberg's songs at a Haiti benefit at Crosstown Station, a middle-aged woman who has spent the evening listening to a Rolling Stones cover band will hit the concrete floor for some break-dancing spins in her white capri pants.)
The buzz from "A Love That Doesn't Die" fades, and Iceberg introduces the next song.
"It used to be called 'The Kansas City Waltz,'" he says. "But it's not in three-quarter time and it doesn't mention Kansas City. So now it's called 'Victim of Rock and Roll.'"
Howard Iceberg estimates that he has written 800 songs. He says not all of them are good, but a growing number of Kansas City musicians disagree.
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I first became familiar back in the 90s with Howard's song, "It's a football,it's penis,it's a gun", but that just got me lured in,;it was wacky and fun. I heard a few other songs of Howards that thankfully one of the Kansas City radio stations I listened to at the time played. So then I found where I could go see him live. I saw him at the Bottleneck in Lawrence about an hour's drive from where I lived. I did not realize the Bottleneck's shows started so late and I had to go to work the next day. I enjoyed every minute of it. I even got Howard to sign my CD of "Short Songs for Temporary People. And a great night it was. I listen to that CD often.
I first became familiar back in the 90s with Howard's song, "It's a football,it's penis,it's a gun", but that just got me lured in,;it was wacky and fun. I heard a few other songs of Howards that thankfully one of the Kansas City radio stations I listened to at the time played. So then I found where I could go see him live. I saw him at the Bottleneck in Lawrence about an hour's drive from where I lived. I did not realize the Bottleneck's shows started so late and I had to go to work the next day. I enjoyed every minute of it. I even got Howard to sign my CD of "Short Songs for Temporary People. And a great night it was. I listen to that CD often.
I saw Howard at the Czar Bar the other day. What an interesting article. There's not many like Howard around, now.
I saw Howard at the Czar Bar the other day. What an interesting article. There's not many like Howard around, now.
Howard, I had the pleasure of being your neighbor and the honor of working for you for a while before I got moved to this $(*$# nursing home. You deserve a bazillion accolades, especially because you don't want them (teehee)
I hop you and Kirby are well
Howard, I had the pleasure of being your neighbor and the honor of working for you for a while before I got moved to this $(*$# nursing home. You deserve a bazillion accolades, especially because you don't want them (teehee) I hop you and Kirby are well
Nice article about someone who has published almost nothing. I have played in KC for 20 years and every record I have recorded has been published and distributed through retail outlets around the world.
Grats Howard who ever on your article. Much to do about nothing.
Nice article about someone who has published almost nothing. I have played in KC for 20 years and every record I have recorded has been published and distributed through retail outlets around the world. Grats Howard who ever on your article. Much to do about nothing.
Great article, Great songwriter, Great man. I've had the pleasure of being a fan for about 20 years and for the past 5 or so I've been shooting video of him and his various Titanics. All the best to everyone who has been a part of Howard's music.
Great article, Great songwriter, Great man. I've had the pleasure of being a fan for about 20 years and for the past 5 or so I've been shooting video of him and his various Titanics. All the best to everyone who has been a part of Howard's music.
Howard's voice may be an aquired taste but his songswriting is ingrained into the pattern of your life even at the first hearing. All hail Howard Iceberg and the Titanics no matter which lineup it happens to be.
Howard's voice may be an aquired taste but his songswriting is ingrained into the pattern of your life even at the first hearing. All hail Howard Iceberg and the Titanics no matter which lineup it happens to be.
Thanks for an amazing article about an amazing man. I'm lucky to know Howard and he's been so supportive of the first Apocalypse Meow and the Midwest Music Foundation. We are working with Pat Tomek and Howard to get some of his songs available for download on the MMF website. www.midwestmusicfound.org
There are so many talented musicians in this city and thanks for taking the time to showcase one of the best!
Gosh, I just love it when a writer gets the artist and can articulate the story in a way that makes a reader feel like an insider. Thanks for the article, CJ. One of the band members is a friend of mine and I'm happy to see these guys written up in a way that not only does them justice, but, in my opinion, leaves the reader wanting more !
SWAK !
A.
Thanks for an amazing article about an amazing man. I'm lucky to know Howard and he's been so supportive of the first Apocalypse Meow and the Midwest Music Foundation. We are working with Pat Tomek and Howard to get some of his songs available for download on the MMF website. www.midwestmusicfound.org There are so many talented musicians in this city and thanks for taking the time to showcase one of the best!
Gosh, I just love it when a writer gets the artist and can articulate the story in a way that makes a reader feel like an insider. Thanks for the article, CJ. One of the band members is a friend of mine and I'm happy to see these guys written up in a way that not only does them justice, but, in my opinion, leaves the reader wanting more ! SWAK ! A.
Howard is not only a gifted songwriter, but also a wonderful mentor. Thank you for this great article:)
Great to read about a musician in The Pitch who is just dedicated to making great music, and doesnt subscribe to the latest musical trends or fads. We need more artists like him in KC!!
Great article about someone who has impacted so many people in a positive, meaningful way.
Howard is not only a gifted songwriter, but also a wonderful mentor. Thank you for this great article:)
Great to read about a musician in The Pitch who is just dedicated to making great music, and doesnt subscribe to the latest musical trends or fads. We need more artists like him in KC!!
folks have been asking where they can find howard's cd. streetside in kc has some, but village records online seems to have the best supply, including "november night." here's a link:http://www.villagerecords.com/....
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