IMSC Ep 1 - Song 1: "I O W A" by Demigod

Don't know much about this band. A friend gave me a couple of their tracks. They're from Des Moines.

UPDATE Feb 18, 2017

The Des Moines Register had a recent article by Mike Kilen on Mr Randy Kong, providing a lot more information on this mystery man - http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/life/2017/02/17/des-moines-street-musician-has-played-years-passersby-one-day-crowd-stopped-thank-him/98047268/

"Randy Kong is the Des Moines skywalk musician with the booming voice, rattling the glass windows with cover tunes such as the Monkee’s “Daydream Believer.” He has long black hair and wide-set eyes. Many assume he’s a homeless Native American. He’s not.

"Kong is a 61-year-old bachelor who got some songs and a tattoo out of broken engagements and instead spent his years working by day and playing rock music at night. The half Chinese, half Hispanic guitar player just loved playing music...

“'He used to be in these crazy shock metal bands, and clubs wouldn’t let him play because it was too vulgar. Now, he’s in the skywalk doing John Denver covers,' said (Kasey) McCurdy, who finally came to know him a year ago...

"'I’ve learned so many lessons about life from him. Being kind to people. Being content,' McCurdy said. 'My entire life, so many people around me are chasing a career path, and they get there and are no happier. Here’s Randy. Is he world famous? No. He just wants to play music.'...

"'I’m going to do this until I die,' he said. 'If I have to play with a machine hooked up to me.'"

End update

Lineup
Randy Kong
Steve Morrow

Labels: 2010s, blues, blues rock, Demigod (band), Des Moines, Des Moines area, electric blues, Ep 001, I-O-W-A (song), Iowa Pride, Randy Kong, Steve Morrow

IMSC Ep 1 - Song 2: "We're So Lonely" by Christopher the Conquered

"His winning charm is subtle and earnestness; if he has to sing a downbeat ballad rife with wary words straight from the heart, he’s going to do it. But if his piano solos are unconventional and his ponderous lyrics seem coy, it’s often downplayed into the decorous blend of instrumentation." Paste Magazine

“One of Iowa’s most promising exports.” Daytrotter.com

"[Ford is] never afraid to speak his mind or turn something on it’s head. Writing from the heart is always the best way to go, and on this album Ford does that in spades." Josh Terzino, music-defined.com

“A bizarro-world Randy Newman, Ford is hilarious and sincere, veering close to parody but saving it with heart.” L. Kent Wolgamott, Lincoln Journal-Star

Press photo by Jerrod Jordahl

Homepage: http://www.christophertheconquered.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christophertheconquered

Bandcamp: https://christophertheconquered.bandcamp.com/releases

"Iowa City Song Project": http://maximumamesrecords.com/2012/09/iowa-city-song-project/

Labels: 2010s, 2012, alternative music, Chris Ford, Christopher the Conquered (band), Des Moines, Des Moines area, Ep 001, Iowa Pride, progressive soul, soul (genre), We're So Lonely (song)

IMSC Ep 1 - Song 3: "Fairfield" by Jefferson County Green Band

The JCGB is one of the most authentic, versatile and compelling bands in the Midwest. Their music is roots rock, infused with an outlaw flair. Whether cutting loose at an all-day outdoor music festival, a college, a bike rally, a main stage or a tavern-this is a band guaranteed to lift your spirits and get your feet moving with their irrepressibly tight musicianship and down-home esprit de corps. - from jeffersoncountygreenband.com/

Lineup:
lead vocals/acoustic guitar - Steve MacLain
harmonica - Kevin Riley
bass - Tim Duffy
drums - David Hurlin

Home page: http://jeffersoncountygreenband.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1greenband

ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/jeffersoncountygreenband

Labels: 2010, 2010s, blues, David Hurlin, Ep 001, Fairfield, Fairfield (song), Fairfield area, folk (genre), Greg Brown, Iowa Pride, Jefferson County Green Band, Kevin Riley, rock, roots rock, Steve MacLain, Tim Duffy

Ep 1 - Song 4: "Des Moines River Conference" by North of Grand

A Farewell To Rockets, the fifth album from Iowa’s North of Grand, marks the end of an era and the beginning of another. The band’s Brolester Records debut is a tribute of sorts to the Rocket Transfer Warehouse, the brick building NOG called home for a decade before being booted - so the structure in downtown Des Moines could be converted into condos. Rockets is also NOG’s first recording as a quartet. The addition of lead guitarist Matt Wellendorf has transformed the band from a somewhat simple, punk-pop trio into a fully-realized rock n roll machine.- from North of Grand's Facebook page

Lineup
guitars/vocals - Sean Wilson
drums - Pat Curtis
bass - Dan Ketelsen

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/northofgrand

Bandcamp: https://northofgrand.bandcamp.com/

ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/northofgrand

Labels: 2000s, 2009, alternative rock, Dan Ketelsen, Des Moines, Des Moines area, Des Moines River Conference, Ep 001, North of Grand, Pat Curtis, pop punk, power pop, rock, Sean Wilson, Setbacks are Scheduled for Tomorrow

Ep 1 - Song 5: "Des Moines" by Stuck with Arthur

Stuck With Arthur was a Des Moines band in the 2000's. They played pop rock and alternative rock. They also feature Chris Ford of Christopher the Conquered on drums.

Lineup
Adam Bartelt, Thomas Logan, Spenser Ford, and Chris Ford

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stuck-with-Arthur/13680838989

PureVolume: http://www.purevolume.com/stuckwitharthur

Labels: 2000s, 2005, Adam Bartelt, alternative rock, Christopher Ford, Des Moines, Des Moines (song), Des Moines area, Ep 001, pop rock, rock, Spenser Ford, Stuck with Arthur, Stuck with Arthur (album)

IMSC Ep 1 - Song 6: "Iowa Waltz" by Greg Brown

You haven't heard of Greg Brown, then you don't know the Iowa folk scene. The man has dominated it for a couple of decades now. And there is a push to make "Iowa Waltz" our state song!

Lineup
Greg Brown - vocals, guitar
Dave Hansen - bass
Dave Moore - harmonica
Al Murphy - fiddle
Mike Watts - drums
John Welstead - drums
David Williams - banjo, guitar, mandolin

Greg Brown dot org - http://www.gregbrown.org/

Greg Brown music - http://gregbrownmusic.org/

Labels: 1980s, 1981, Adam Bartelt, Al Murphy, ballads, blues, Dave Hansen, Dave Moore, David Williams, Ep 001, folk (genre), Greg Brown, Iowa City, Iowa City area, Iowa Waltz, Iowa Waltz (album), John Welstead,Mike Watts

IMSC Ep 1 - Song 7: "Iowa" by Joseph David Soukop

Photo: David Derong/Iowa State Daily

Joseph Soukop is known to Iowa and Ames music scene as a drummer, but he probably thinks of himself more as a poet that drums than a drummer that writes poetry.

"It is also interesting to note that when he got his diploma he immediately burnt it so he does not have a university diploma."

Dr. N - Doctor Notes

"He has just returned from travelling around Europe, sleeping on the streets. He indicates he was robbed and had "some problems" and returned back to Iowa. He is currently sleeping on a couch of a friend. No cell phone."

Dr. N - Doctor Notes

"...for Jim's Real Life Superhero Recognition...this round goes to josephdavidsoukup for general risk-taking and realness in artistry."

Jim Coppoc - Jimmy Awards

"He's a constant innovator, seeker, and word bender. He wills everything he has into his performance and his life, sometimes barely able to stand after."

Jay Parry - Ames Poetry Revival

"...decided to leave...to replace the farm life he had known his whole life for a life of anarchy and corybantic homelessness."

Amy Thompson - The Iowa State Daily

"The sum total is pretty overwhelming and really captures (his) free spirit and unstoppable art-making."

Nate Logsdon - The Ames Tribune

Intro and Closing - Dylan Boyle

Dylan Boyle is an Iowa artist currently living in Des Moines. He has a blues/psychedelic band called Electric Jury. He also hReas played guitar for the band, Peace, Love, and Stuff, for ages. He's also an accomplished solo artist.

And I'm grateful that he was more than willing to do a theme song for my little podcast!

Lineup
Dylan Boyle - guitarist

Photo by Lucas Moser of Aim for Saturn Photography, and a member of the Iowa Concert Photographerscollective

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/dylanisblue

ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/dylanboyle

YouTube :https://www.youtube.com/user/dylanisblue

Labels: 2010s, 2014, acoustic, acoustic blues, blues, Des Moines, Des Moines area, Dylan Boyle, Electric Jury,Iowa Music Showcase, Iowa Music Showcase theme song, Peace Love and Stuff