When the phone rang at work, I wasn’t expecting to hear a friend’s mother on the line. My pleasant surprise quickly faded. The police were at my friend Jamey’s apartment building. There had been a murder. Could I check around the newsroom to find out more? I called an editor, she didn’t have any names,… Read More Remembering Jamey

Last week Dan (I know his real last name, but he’s managed to trick Facebook with his fake name, so I’ll respect his privacy) Oldermusicgeek put together a playlist dedicated to me for the Iowa Music Showcase podcast. I’m honored, especially because he put got quotes and suggestions from people around the music scene to… Read More Joe Lawler: The playlist

This is just a short entry to post this week’s Critical Mass, a radio show I co-host on KFMG. Normally I co-host with Chad Taylor, or more rarely with Brian Campos, but this week it was just me. Luckily, I had two guests in the studio, Alllison Fegley of Hoyt Sherman Place and Finn Andersen,… Read More Joe’s solo Critical Mass show

Awhile back I saw a listing for a solo “Breaking Bad” performance at Wooly’s and was ready to buy a ticket on the spot. I love the show, which creator Vince Gilligan has described as “Mr. Chips meets Scarface.” I like that description, but Walter White’s journey struck me as something more like Michael Corleone’s… Read More One Man Breaking Bad: the one who mocks

The two biggest influences on my sense of humor have probably been “The Simpsons” and “Mystery Science Theater 3000.” About 90 percent of my references are from the former, but if you hear me say something that sounds less familiar, it’s likely from the latter. I’m can’t remember if my first exposure to the “Cowtown… Read More In the not too distant past: Mystery Science Theater 3000 and me