Brian J. Bowe

Holland, MI USA
Contact

Professional Experience

Award winning journalist kicking out the jams in academia for the moment (with a healthy dose of freelance work on the side). My speciality is rock 'n' roll journalism, but I've covered everything -- city hall, police, entertainment, business and transportation. I've interviewed dark horse presidential candidates, community activists, retired revolutionaries, D-Day veterans and rock stars. I've analyzed campaign finance data for election stories and used the Freedom of Information Act to pry open government documents.

Expertise

Content Editor (online)
6 Years
Reporter
11 Years
Writer
11 Years

Specialty

Arts & Humanities
11 Years
Entertainment
11 Years
Music
11 Years

Industries


Academia Administration
6 Years
Newspaper - Local/Regional
11 Years
Online/new media
4 Years

Total Media Industry Experience

11 Years

Media Client List (# assignments last 2 yrs)

Metro Times (10+), Grand Rapids Press (10+)

Other Work History

Grand Valley State University, Communications Specialist/Web editor; CREEM Magazine, Editor

Computer Skills

Proficient in Mac OS X, Word, Excel, NewsEdit Pro IQue, some experience with Dreamweaver, Quark, Photoshop

Showcase

Hard News

Filters Rejected
(Holland Sentinel 2/23/2000)
Holland city voters rejected a proposed ordinance to require Internet filters on Herrick District Library computers.

Kick Out The Jams

Iggy Pop: Open Up and Bleed
(Harp Magazine 5/1/2007)
Book review of new Iggy Pop biography by Paul Trynka
Belle and Sebastian: Just a Modern Rock Story by Paul Whitelaw
(Harp Magazine 9/1/2005)
Book review
Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison by Michael Streissguth
(Harp Magazine 11/1/2004)
Review of book about Johnny Cash's seminal album
The Dawn of Indian Music in the West--Bhairavi
(Harp Magazine 9/1/2006)
Book review
Every Little Thing Gonna Be Alright: The Bob Marley Reader
(Harp Magazine 7/1/2004)
Book review of anthology edited by Hank Bordowitz
Rolling Thunder Logbook by Sam Shepard
(Harp Magazine 11/1/2004)
Review of book chronicling Bob Dylan's chaotic 1975 tour
The Going Gets Weird
(Metro Times 3/21/2007)
Review of "The Weirdness" by The Stooges
The Stooges: Philosopher Kings and Pagan High Priests
(CREEM Magazine 6/1/2003)
A religious experience under the palms
Turn Me On, Dead Man by Andru J. Reeve
(Harp Magazine 3/1/2005)
Review of book about The Beatles and the “Paul-Is-Dead” Hoax
Cinderella’s Big Score by Maria Raha
(Harp Magazine 3/1/2005)
Book review
Whores: An Oral Biography of Perry Farrell and Jane’s Addiction by Brendan Mullen
(Harp Magazine 7/1/2005)
Book review
Open Up and Read
(Harp Magazine 5/1/2007)
Iggy biographer Paul Trynka on the Pop-ster's "good genes."
Bill Kirchen: Hammer of the Honky-Tonk Gods
(Harp Magazine 3/1/2007)
Record review
Stay Free
(Metro Times 5/2/2007)
Interview with counterculture legend John Sinclair
Bubble and Scrape
(Metro Times 3/21/2007)
Interview with the reunited Sebadoh
Get Your Multiculturalism On, Baby
(Metro Times 7/13/2005)
Concert of Colors sports a killer mash-up of styles and sounds, but, as some heavy-hitters tell us, there is a greater purpose.
Motor City Gritterati
(Metro Times 7/6/2005)
Documenting Detroit’s not-so-ephemeral sonic grind
Wayne Kramer: Returning to the Scene of the Crime
(Metro Times 6/7/2006)
Wayne Kramer talks Bush, drugs, sobriety, the Iraq war, MC5 lawsuits and the Dixie Chicks
Was (Not Was): Out Come the Freaks
(Metro Times 12/24/2004)
Surrealist political funk rockers Was (Not Was) re-form just in time for the apocalypse.
Howling Diablos: Workin' the Car Wash
(Metro Times 4/13/2005)
With a sizzling new disc on a high-profile label, the Howling Diablos are no longer the Rodney Dangerfields of Detroit.
Hank III: Satan is Real
(CREEM Magazine 7/1/2006)
Satan is real, but Kid Rock's country credentials aren't.
Was (Not Was): Can You Imagine All That Milk?
(CREEM Magazine 2/1/2004)
Pondering the band's sociapolitical importance while eating a rusty can of corn (Reprint of Bowe's liner notes from the reissue of the band's debut album)
Nick Cave: God Is In The House
(CREEM Magazine 7/1/2003)
Interview with Bad Seed numero uno
Wayne Kramer: Adult World
(CREEM Magazine 7/1/2002)
Wayne's all growed-up record reviewed
Bill Kirchen's Telecaster Thunder
(Metro Times 2/21/2007)
Interview with Bill Kirchen, the king of dieselbilly twang
Dinosaur Jr.: Gods of Thunder
(CREEM Magazine 8/1/2005)
Hearing damage with reunited legendary psychedelic noise punks
Mike Watt: My Words Are War
(CREEM Magazine 6/1/2003)
With new book collecting his Minutemen lyrics, Watt speaks his mind
Sebadoh: The Return of the Kings of Lo-Fi
(CREEM Magazine 6/1/2004)
Barlow and Loewenstein return from extended nap for more downmind folk-punk! (Note: This is the interview in which Bowe breaks the news of the possible upcoming Dinosaur Jr. reunion which happened a year later)
MC5: I Believe to My Soul
(CREEM Magazine 7/1/2004)
Surviving members reunited -- and it feels sooooo good!
Slayer: Singing in the Rain
(CREEM Magazine 11/1/2004)
Partly cloudy with a 100 percent chance of evil
Donovan: Molten Truths
(CREEM Magazine 6/1/2005)
His cosmic wheels are still turning....
Von Bondies: Upbeat Beatdowns
(CREEM Magazine 3/1/2004)
Jason Stollsteimer takes a Jack White-administered licking and keeps on ticking
Carlos Guitarlos
(CREEM Magazine 9/1/2003)
A former Rhythm Pig talks music, life, and that damn atachafalaya.
MC5: Together in the Darkness
(CREEM Magazine 10/1/2002)
The documentary "A True Testimonial" debuted in Chicago with great fanfare (little did we know how wrong things would turn shortly thereafter)
The Sights: Living the Life They Sing about
(CREEM Magazine 6/1/2005)
But after a while will they burn out like the rest?
MC5: Sell Out the Jams?
(CREEM Magazine 3/1/2003)
This message brought to you by Levi's and Boy Howdy beer!
Hubert Sumlin: Walking in Them Shoes
(CREEM Magazine 3/1/2005)
The originator of a million stolen licks speaks out
Mooney Suzuki invades Coachella
(CREEM Magazine 6/1/2003)
MC5: Live From London
(CREEM Magazine 3/1/2003)
An account of the infamous reunion gig from the surviving members.

Hail to Thee, Grand Valley

Hard Lessons Learned
(Grand Valley Magazine 2/1/2006)
Service in the Peace Corps proves challenging, rewarding path for alumni
Q&A: Kevin Matthews
(Grand Valley Magazine 2/1/2006)
Alumnus is back on the air in Grand Rapids
Behind the Scenes
(Grand Valley Magazine 6/21/2005)
Taking a look under Grand Valley's hood: a tour of the Central Utilities Building.
Ways of Knowing
(Grand Valley Magazine 6/21/2004)
Longtime dean will step into new appointment with math and philosophy
Noteworthy Success
(Grand Valley Magazine 6/21/2005)
Trumpet professor builds program to a national level
Q&A: Jonathan White
(Grand Valley Magazine 10/1/2004)
A chat with the executive director of Grand Valley's Homeland Defense Initiative
A Gift From Prison
(Grand Valley Magazine 6/21/2006)
Classes help prisoners find avenues to contribute to society
Environmental LEEDership
(Grand Valley Magazine 10/1/2005)
Grand Valley buildings aim to be more eco-friendly
Focus on Service Learning
(Grand Valley Magazine 10/1/2004)
Padnos College of Engineering professor Shirley Fleischmann helps her students give back to the community