It gets a little funny tonight in Iowa City. A handful of the finest and oddest pop craftsmen are on display this evening at the Mill. Headlining this motley crew: Dead Milkmen guitarist Joe Jack Talcum. Talcum’s still writing jangly pop gems with healthy dollops of irreverence and humor (check “U Turn Me On” and “Methodist Coloring Book” on his myspace page). The bill is bolstered by  Milkmen/Talcum acolytes The Bassturd from Las Vegas and Iowa City’s own Samuel Locke-Ward.

The Bassturd, who won’t let his failure in the 2008 presidential election stimey his enthusiasm for 2012, plays off-the-wall numbers like “Fucking U Down” built around accordion swells or moving to a synth for scronky accompaniment to bile-soaked tongue in cheek.

Of course there’s Samuel Locke-Ward. Tonight Sam’s gigging with Darren Brown of Violent Femmes and Boy Dirt Car. Like any of SLW’s projects, there’s no telling what this will really sound like. Sam will be funny. Sam will most likely play guitar. There will probably be amazing pop hooks hidden behind snark and what appear to be mental health issues. However, these are only guesses.

We did just find out how a collaboration between Sam and The Bassturd would sound, however. Yesterday, our friends over at Daytrotter posted SLW’s and The Bassturd’s joint session. It’s a barn-burner folks. With two tracks from SLW (including one from the out-of-print wonder Boombox by Bedside) and a cut from one of The Bassturd’s many EP’s, this is a Daytrotter session deserving of commercial release

Who: Joe Jack Talcum w. Samuel Locke-Ward vs. Darren Brown and The Bassturd
Where: The Mill
When: Tonight (9.13), 9 pm
Cover: $6