“Love is in the air” this weekend, can’t you smell it…wait, maybe you should change your socks.  Yeah, that’s better.  Oh yeah: Love…

Valentine’s Day brings out mixed emotions in me: spite for the commercialism foisted upon us meeting my actual belief in love, it’s a generally confusing and often galling time of the year for me.  However, this Valentine’s Day is made considerably less problematic by the amazing slate of shows we’ve got here in Iowa City.

The Mike and Amy Finders Band w. Almost any husband and wife duo that can play bluegrass in a 5 state radius / The Mill / 7 pm
The hardened cynic inside me has already melted at the prospect of The Finders making a return to Iowa City.  For the 8th year in a row, Mike and Amy Finders are hosting the Sweetheart’s Serenade.  The whole thing sounds a bit expensive ($35 in advance, $42 at the door) but it comes with 5 additional bluegrass acts as well as a 3 course meal.  This thing is pretty much the most epic bluegrass event of this or any year.  Menu and full band itinerary right here.

Marah w. Stacy Webster and David Lumberg (The Mayflies) / The Picador / 9 pm / $10

Oh Marah, somehow I can imagine young emo children and young modern country fans hand in hand listening to this.  Maybe that’s a bit extreme, but Marah’s got an arena-ready sound; gritty lead vocals (echoes of Paul Westerberg); strong, narrative-driven lyrics, and huge la-la-la choruses all of that mixed with some strong country sensibilities and some serious fiddle playing.  There’s a good chance, after all the good press, that next time they roll through town, Marah will be posted-up at The Englert.  Catch ‘em in a small club while you can.

Mint Wad Willy w. The White Tornado Outbreak and Mannix! / The Yacht Club / 9 pm / $5

I think whoever booked this show forgot what February 14th is, because there isn’t a shred of Valentine’s Day cheer or Anti-Valentine’s Day bile on this bill, it’s pretty much like a normal night at the Yacht Club.  Mint Wad Willy heads up a stacked bill with their serious southern rock-infused jams.  The White Tornado Outbreak is going to be an outbreak of monumental proportions, this show being the first with a horn section.  And damn, if you don’t know Mannix! by now, you best.  We’ve been pimping their shit for too long for you to be out of the loop.

Ratt Poison w. Tender Meat, Petit Mal, Be Kind to Yr Neighbor, and Supersonic Piss / The Glory Hole / 9 pm / $5
If you made it this far without puking in your mouth, and didn’t see anything for your black heart and noise-addled ears, this is probably the show for you.  The Glory Hole has brought in two smashing acts from Minneapolis to regail you this fine Valentine’s Day Eve.  Ratt Poison sounds kind of like a midi-circus organ rolling down a hill at hyper speed.  Northern mate Tender Meat has concocted a sort of savant geek rock full of goofy keyboard noises and playful hollers.  The show comes with a trio of stellar Iowa City talent: Supersonic Piss is pretty much as abrasive as their name implies, Be Kind to Yr Neighbor bring more noise than two people should be capable of and Petit Mal have the kind of gritty pop-riffage that will feel right at home in a basement.