Ep 36 - Song 1: "Black Witch" by The Starry Nights

Starry Nights is a band from Iowa City who do NOT know how to write about themselves and publicize themselves very well!

Lineup:
Kate Kane - vocals, guitar
Trevor Treiber - vocals, guitar

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

BandCamp:
https://starrynights.bandcamp.com/

To download the podcast, right click and hit "Save as...":
https://archive.org/download/IowaMusicShowcaseEpisode36/Iowa%20Music%20Showcase%20-%20Episode%2036_.mp3

Labels: 2010s, 2015, acoustic, Black Witch (song), Ep 036, Halloween, Halloween 2016, Halloween music,Iowa City, Iowa City area, Kate Kane, pop music, pop punk, Starry Nights (band), Trevor Treiber

IMSC Ep 36 - Song 2: "Wapsipinicon" by The Mayflies

"Original rock, with elements of bluegrass, honky tonk, blues, psychedelia, and just about any American roots music you can think of. Tremendous songwriting, agile and impressive musicianship, dynamic and engaging live shows; this is just some of what makes The Mayflies a stand-out musical force."
- from their SonicBids page

"The Mayflies have been pushing the outer limits of jam rock and bluegrass in the Midwest and Colorado since 2001. The Mayflies are known for their inexhaustible energy, whipping their fans into a sweat-drenched, blissful frenzy."
- from their ReverbNation page

Ep 36 - Song 3: "The Way That I Live" by Mumford's

"Mumford's began as a solo project in the summer of 2008 and has expanded into a wild freak-folk storyteller dance band with a horn section. The songs always have a strong emphasis on storytelling and character development and use a variety of voices and instrumentation to bring across specific characters and circumstances."
- from their Facebook page

"As a band that has toured all over the nation and performed in 32 states, the Mumford’s have stayed true to their roots through it all. 'We hang an Iowa flag at all of our shows,' said band leader Nate Logsdon.

"Logsdon, a talented individual who plays trumpet, piano, and guitar as well as performing vocals, originally started as a solo act playing acoustic guitar. The band formed in 2008 and has transformed over the past three years. Logsdon described their style of music as 'high energy rock with a horn section,' but their genre can also be identified as psycho folk.

"However, Mumfords’ music keeps its folksy vibe through narrative style lyrics. The songs tell stories with the added bonus of a heavy and dancey twist. The band also incorporates choreographed dances into their performances to help engage the audience.

"The band has another quirk to call their own: they’re nonexclusive. The band has a policy of remaining open to meeting and playing with new people. Things come up, and members may have to move or leave the band for personal reasons, so the band has grown and adapted to accommodate...

"When asked about the band’s creative process for writing songs, it came to light that the entire band has a hand in the creation as well as the singing, through collaboration and contribution of ideas. According to Lyng, Logsdon, the primary singer/songwriter, comes to the band with an idea and all members can add any thoughts or suggestions."
- from an article by Elaine Godfrey in the Iowa State University Digital Repository

Lineup:
Nate Logsdon - vocals, guitar, piano, horn
James Doxon - percussion, vocals
Kate Kennedy - sax, clarinet, accordion, vocals, more
Kai Tanaka - lead guitar
Chris Lyng / Tushar Dayal - bass

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

BandCamp:
https://mumfordsmusic.bandcamp.com/

To download the podcast, right click and hit "Save as...":
https://archive.org/download/IowaMusicShowcaseEpisode36/Iowa%20Music%20Showcase%20-%20Episode%2036_.mp3

Labels: 2010, 2010s, Ames, Ames area, Chris Lyng, Ep 036, Halloween, Halloween 2016, James Doxon, Kai Tanaka, Kate Kennedy, Mumford's (band), Nate Logsdon, novelty music, rock music, The Way That I Live (song), Tushar Dayal

IMSC Ep 36 - Song 4: "Under Porches, Beds & Stairs" by Oh Possum

"Oh Possum formed in mid-2005 from the various musical projects of it's individual members. Adam Haug and Will Bliss had taken a hiatus from their two-piece singer/songwriter band a.lonely.rope, and started having improv, instrumental sessions with Will on drums and Adam playing guitar. At the same time, Adam had another musical project with then roommate, Nick Lambert, based on MIDI sequenced electronic music and Nick on turntables. Jake Nelson is a musician and video artist from the area who had been a long-time friend of everyone involved, and Micah Sturdevant joined the group in the spring of 2006, bringing a mastery of effects processing and a creative approach to building sounds.

"After a few haphazard experiments, the entire project took on a life of it's own. The band now includes an audio/visual live show and multi-instrumental music bringing an ever-growing array of musical approaches and sounds, incorporating electronic music, moog styth, guitar, drums, various percussion, xylophone, turtablism, lap steel guitar and bizarre circuit bent effects.

"The result of the various influences and backgrounds of the individuals involved is a juxtaposition of melodius low points to grating and heavy highs, with a union of hip hop and drum & bass influenced electronic beats and varied instrumentation. Live shows include art-video projections that sync to the music, and epic crescendos of sound, creating a sensory mosaic of music and imagery."
- from the Oh Possum page on the Underground Archives website

IMSC Ep 36 - Song 5: "Alexander" by Angers/Powers

"A.P. was formed in 2009 when Rob and Trevor, having finished practicing the night away with their other bands, would find themselves still wanting to make songs. Rob's wife's grand piano and Trevor's acoustic guitar were available, and the two started writing and playing songs in that format. Often this was done very late at night, and frequently well into the morning. Trevor's girlfriend Amanda would sometimes come to these experimental practices to listen, and when it was learned she too could play piano, she was given an accordion and electric reed organ and coerced into joining the band. In February 2011 Steven recorded and played on the band's first album at Animal Kingdom Studios. James joined in 2012 and the band recorded 'The Bicycle E.P.' on Halloween 2012 at the Sonic Factory, with Kevin Drew behind the helm. On a very foggy weekend in December 2012, another full length album was recorded, again with Steven working his recording magic. Angers Powers is available to play weddings, plays, movies, bat and bar mitzvahs, funerals, and any other occasion where champagne is consumed."
- from their Facebook page

Lineup:
Rob Ogg
Trevor Powell
Amanda Schreiber
Steven Heathcote
James White

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/lynyrd.cohen/

BandCamp:
https://sumppumprecords.bandcamp.com/album/angers-powers

To download the podcast, right click and hit "Save as...":
https://archive.org/download/IowaMusicShowcaseEpisode36/Iowa%20Music%20Showcase%20-%20Episode%2036_.mp3

Labels: 2010s, 2011, Alexander (song), Amanda Schreiber, Angers/Powers (band), Des Moines, Des Moines area, Ep 036, folk music, Halloween, Halloween 2016, James White, pop music, Rob Ogg, Steven Heathcote,Trevor Powell

IMSC Ep 35 - Song 1:"Alnilam" by The Vahnevants

"Listening to The Vahenevants is a lot like walking into a late-50’s/early-60’s themed diner, then immediately leaving that shithole through the backdoor after gagging at the abundant kitsch, only to find yourself outside next to four frycooks, hunched over on their break in paper hats with cigarettes in their hands and dice and dollars on the asphalt. Yeah, the aesthetic is present, but the rawness and realness is there tenfold.

"On The Last Drag, the follow up to their excellent debut Bum Out!, The Vahnevants contiue their warbly, don’t-wop-ness with eight tracks of new material. Balanced between drugged vocals and softly tape-manipulated sonics, The Last Drag settles into the dirt much like dead-skin flaking off the body. Proper placement, y’all."
- from a review by Bort on the Tine Mix Tapes website

"Straight from the mean streets of Des Moines, IA. The Vahnevants are a group of warblely sounding miscreants with a “Back From the Grave” vibe."
- from the Pop Occulture website

"The Vahnevants are a 50’s-early 60’s inspired garage band. They are a warbly, surf rock band that would also fit into rockabilly and even some old-fashioned country-western, only, I dunno, less clean. Not like, language or content, but they just feel like they’re covered in muck. They’re like The Everly Brothers if Phil had just completed a 12 hour shift as a bus driver then headed straight to the studio and Don got hit in the head with a rubber mallet just prior to recording...

"Why I think it works is the same reason why I think Nevermind I Love You works: Sincerity. Sincerity doesn’t always mean taking yourself seriously, but it does mean believing in what you are doing. No, I don’t think The Vahnevants are some emotional powerhouse and we need to take everything they do to heart and really think about their art and what it all means. But they aren’t just screwing around either. They mean this and they believe this and whether it is high art or just super sincere shtick, it works."
- from a Dave Murphy review on the Des Moines Is Not Boring website

Lineup:
jared james vaughan III
Micah Sturdevant
Ryan C. Meier
james dean brittenson

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

BandCamp:
https://thevahnevants.bandcamp.com/

To download the podcast (right click and hit "Save as..."):
https://archive.org/download/IowaMusicShowcaseEpisode35/Iowa%20Music%20Showcase%20-%20Episode%2035_.mp3

Labels: 2010s, 2016, Alnilam (song), Des Moines, Des Moines area, Ep 035, garage rock, Halloween,Halloween 2016, James Dean Brittenson, Jared James Vaughan III, Micah Sturdevant, Ryan C Meier,Vahnevants (band)

IMSC Ep 35 - Song 2: "Vampires" by Bryan Baker

"Singer / Songwriter, Geek Werewolves howling for lost love and regret, robots enslaving and destroying humanity, lost love returning in the zombiepocalypse, and that's just the first three songs!"
- from his ReverbNation page

“... if you want to just laugh a bit and enjoy some good tunes strummed and played well by a guy wearing his geekiness on his sleeve, Bryan Baker may have just helped invent a new niche genre: geek-folk.”
- from Bryon Dudley on the Des Moines Music Coalition (DMMC) website

“[He's] The voice of apocalyptic whimsey.”
- from Des Moines singer, Tina Haase Findlay

"Kaklick Martin (an old alias of Bryan Baker's) makes some music that can be best described as the honkey tonk meets the metaverse, in the album 'Roadhouse Ranch and Saloon' he sprinkles ideas like cybersex, furries and pose balls right along with the sawdust, traditional and futuristic at the same time. He also offers straight ahead rock along with social and political commentary in his album 'Big Bad World'."
- from the description of his act on the DemiCon 19 web page

IMSC Ep 35 - Song 3: "Vampire Club Pt II" by Lipstick Homicide

Photo by Patrick Houdek
https://www.facebook.com/PatrickHoudekPhotography/

"Where has Lipstick Homicide been all my life? Vocalist/bassist Rachel Feldmann’s voice is like an angelic rainbow made of marshmallows sprinkled with pixie dust. As for the rest of the band, Kate Kane (guitars/vocals) and Luke Ferguson (drums) they hold everything tightly in place and have great chemistry. I’m a huge fan of pop punk, but it’s really hard to find good female fronted pop punk and Lipstick Homicide are the cat’s meow! This is up there with Kentucky’s Shark Week and NYC’s The Homewreckers both of whom I hold as top contenders in female fronted pop punk."
- from a review by Chuck Livid on TuffGnarl.com

"It’s hard for me not to think of Lipstick Homicide as kids; they’re contemporaries of my children. I first heard them when they were barely old enough to drive, and now they’re all grown up, actual 20-somethings. Throughout that time they’ve been remarkably consistent—they play melodic punk rock. Punk is by definition a pretty static genre: You’ve got loud guitars, loud drums and loud singing—it’s not like a band would improve punk rock by incorporating free jazz or bhangra—deviate too far from the format laid down by the Ramones and you’re no longer punk.

"Lipstick Homicide has remained pure. What has changed since their first recorded works six or seven years ago is the increased sophistication of their song writing. They still hew pretty close to the holy trinity of bar chords, but every song finds new ways to jump nimbly around them, occasionally approaching the sly intricacy of Alex Chilton. Songs like “I Don’t Want To Be Here Any More” seems much longer than its minute and 43 seconds, because they pack so much harmonic variety into it. It’s no surprise that Green Day’s Billy Armstrong is a fan—they’re half his age and already beating him at his own game.

"And then there’s that sound, ably captured by Luke Tweedy at Flat Black. I don’t know if it’s the guitars, the amplifiers or the attitude, but Lipstick Homicide has a distinctive roar that just feels good on the ears. Luke Ferguson’s frantic, chaotic drumming perfectly compliments the sustained riffing. Rachel Feldmann’s voice is remarkable for what she doesn’t do—no yelps, screams, growls, just a unaffected vocal tone that still cuts through the sonic mayhem around it. Out Utero is pure, sensual, loud, unsubtle, exciting music that proves both punk’s staying power, and Lipstick Homicide’s authoritative mastery of the form."
- from a review by Kent Williams on the Little Village website

IMSC Ep 35 - Song 4: "Minotaur" by Foxholes

"Formed in late August 2012, Foxholes is a musical collaboration between Trevor Holt, Jessica Villegas, Ben Barndollar, Kyle Folvag and Craig Bowers – five laser focused Iowans committed to creating music that moves the people of Des Moines, Iowa and beyond. Hack a band member’s phone (please don’t) and you’ll find influential indie rock playlists littered with Pixies, the Jesus and Mary Chain, Velvet Underground, The Replacements and the like.

"Foxholes’ fascination with guitars has always been clear, but that has never limited them. A professional passion for creative evolution and growth can be heard throughout the history of the band’s tracks. Listen and you’ll hear a group on a mission to bring you fresh tunes sweetened with the occasional keyboard, cello, mandolin and glockenspiel.

"While shows outside of Iowa are not uncommon for the band, the Des Moines music scene is near and dear to the hearts of Foxholes members. If making the best rock music out there is their number one priority, contributing to, promoting and supporting the musical talent of Iowa is a close second. A group of five friends, making and supporting music – that’s Foxholes."
- from their home page

"Now, Foxholes didn’t exactly come out of nowhere, but they are finally starting to get the attention they deserve. Foxholes is a band that has been making a lot of noise in Des Moines. Their quick and grimy rock has been bringing them attention and accolades for a little while now...

"The group describes itself on Facebook as what would result 'if Pixies and the Replacements had a baby, and then that baby was dropped on its head a bunch of times,' but those cheeky references sell it short. Foxholes’ listed influences are undeniable, but the band has the conviction, creativity, and chops to own its sound and never comes across as nostalgic for the heyday of 120 Minutes – although it might make listeners pine for the era."
- from a River City Reader article

"Foxholes has turned a decent little trick. The band is reminiscent of a lot of other acts without ever feeling wholly derivative. Kicking back and listening to 'Can’t Help Myself,' you’ll find yourself conjuring up images of The Replacements and Dinosaur Jr., and front man Trevor Holt’s smoky voice occupies a space between Iggy Pop and The Strokes’ Julian Casablancas, but the end result is pure Des Moines pop/rock. For a band that’s less than 2 years old, the group has a remarkable level of confidence in what Foxholes is.
- from a Cityview review by Chad Taylor

Lineup:
Ben Barndollar - Drums
Craig Bowers - Guitar
Kyle Folvag - Guitar
Trevor Holt - Vocals + Guitar
Jessica Villegas - Bass + Vocals

Home page:
https://foxholesdsm.bandcamp.com/

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

BandCamp:
https://foxholesdsm.bandcamp.com/

To download the podcast (right click and hit "Save as..."):
https://archive.org/download/IowaMusicShowcaseEpisode35/Iowa%20Music%20Showcase%20-%20Episode%2035_.mp3

Labels: 2010s, 2014, Ben Barndollar, Craig Bowers, Des Moines, Des Moines area, Ep 035, Foxholes (band),Halloween, Halloween 2016, Indie Rock, Jessica Villegas, Kyle Folvag, Minotaur (song), shoegaze, Trevor Halt

IMSC Ep 35 - Song 5: "Ghost Arm" by Holy White Hounds

"Holy White Hounds is an apt name for the quartet’s endearing but feral alt-rock. The moniker also conjures the band’s origins as small town underdogs who are rising to earn national prominence. When pressed on the significance of the handle, lead vocalist and guitarist Brenton Dean states: 'We're dirty but we're not unclean. We're mangy, but you'd still let us sleep in your bed.'

"For young kids with guitars, prodigious musical gifts, and aspirations of being professional musicians, the distance culturally and opportunity wise between a town like Des Moines, Iowa and New York or Los Angeles can make dreams feels unattainable. But for the proud sons of the Hawkeye State in Holy White Hounds, it’s their dedication to music and the alt-rock quartet’s ultra catchy tuneage that’s bridging the divide...

“We are a band that comes from the basement who has worked real hard to gradually make our way up the staircase,” says Brenton. In addition to Brenton, on vocals/guitar, Holy White Hounds is comprised of Ambrose Lupercal /bass, James Manson / guitar, and Seth Luloff / drums...

"Thinking back on a decade of friendship between Ambrose and Brenton, the sacrifices to make music that’s vital, and how the quartet has become a family and a seasoned touring entity, Brenton says: 'When I find myself somewhere in Missouri at three in the morning at a Wendy’s, I look around and realize there’s no place I would rather be. I’m with my best friends, doing something I’m proud of. All the hard work and long drives are worth it.' Ambrose adds: 'The biggest thing I’ve learned is that if you’re challenging yourself emotionally and artistically, you can put your head down at night feeling fulfilled.'"
- from their home page

"The four-piece band plays hard, but in the last few years it has also become more intensely focused on its music. The group occupies a unique niche among the sea of indie and hard rock bands filled with 20-somethings in Des Moines: Holy White Hounds is just rock and roll. There’s no pretense, no attempts to fit some subcategory. Think early Foo Fighters or Queens of the Stone Age. They’re not trying to be a band that everyone would love, but they’re not instantly turning away certain listeners with labels, either...

“'That’s our preference, because that’s how our music is meant to be taken in,' Dean said. 'We want people close enough that they can hear the music from our instruments, not the amps. We have so many people coming back that I feel like I’m making friends with a lot of our fans. We’re not regionally big, but I like the feeling of playing a sold-out show to your friends. I take it as a compliment to be able to hold someone’s attention over so many repeats shows.'”
- from a Des Moines Register article by Joe Lawler

"Like a tornado spinning out of the heartland of the country, the Holy White Hounds are on the move. Hailing from Des Moines, Iowa, a city best thought of by outsiders for agriculture and presidential politics, DM (as locals like to call it) actually has a burgeoning music scene.

"Holy White Hounds have a sound all their own. The names 'Beck' and 'Queens of the Stone Age' are often invoked to try to paint a picture of their sound, but they are best experienced firsthand, either by seeing them live or listening to their recordings...

"What isn’t hard to say is that the Holy White Hounds are a young band making a name for themselves regionally. Now, with a promising debut album that’s just been unwrapped, there’s a good chance the rest of the nation will soon find out cutting edge indie bands are not exclusive to cities such as New York, Seattle and Los Angeles. Some even grow in places you’d least expect it."
- from a Screamer magazine article by Richard Rosenthal

Lineup:
Brenton Dean - vocals, guitars
Ambrose Lupercal - bass
James Manson - guitars
Seth Luloff - drums

Home page:
http://www.holywhitehounds.com/

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

ReverbNation:
https://www.reverbnation.com/holywhitehounds

To download the podcast (right click and hit "Save as..."):
https://archive.org/download/IowaMusicShowcaseEpisode35/Iowa%20Music%20Showcase%20-%20Episode%2035_.mp3

Labels: 2010s, 2016, Ambrose Lupercal, Brenton Dean, Des Moines, Des Moines area, Ep 035, Ghost Arm (song), Halloween, Halloween 2016, Halloween music, Holy White Hounds (band), James Manson, rock music,Seth Luloff

IMSC Ep 35 - Song 6: "Zombie Love" by LoveHunter

"LoveHunter is a radio-friendly, retro-influenced hard rock band based out of Waterloo, Iowa.We love to support other bands and pursue our goals of being the nerdiest band in the world.We play in style of Kiss, Poison, Whitesnake, Def Leppard."
- from their Artist Trove website

Lineup:
Zachary Daniels: Vocals/Drums
Collin Hoffman: Guitar/Keyboards/Vocals
Mark Ritchie: Bass/Harmonica/Vocals
David Bowers: Guitar/Vocals

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

BandCamp:
https://lovehunter.bandcamp.com

Artist Trove:
http://www.artisttrove.com/artist/969087039803065/LoveHunter

To download the podcast (right click and hit "Save as..."):
https://archive.org/download/IowaMusicShowcaseEpisode35/Iowa%20Music%20Showcase%20-%20Episode%2035_.mp3

Labels: 2010s, 2016, Collin Hoffman. Mark Ritchie, David Bowers, Ep 035, Halloween, Halloween 2016, hard rock, LoveHunter (band), rock music, Waterloo, Waterloo/Cedar Falls area, Zachary Daniels, Zombie Love (song)

Ep 35 - Song 7: "Raise the Dead" by Raw Mojo

"Raw Mojo is a power rock trio with dueling harmonizing female and male vocals, velcro ripping guitars, deep thumping bass, and powerful primal drums. The band plays a wide variety of rock music, from power ballads, to sexy romps, to all out punk rock. This threesome has been together since 2006 and plays mostly original material but will throw in occasional cover songs as crowd pleasers...

"Imagine what happens when you mix elements of rock, blues, punk, grunge, and a touch of shoegaze together in a meat grinder. What you end up with is Raw Mojo. Sure, it sounds tasty...but wait until you hear it!

"Hailing from the Midwest, Raw Mojo's music comes straight from their gut - or as they like to call it, “the basement.” Unlike some bands, Raw Mojo is never afraid to embrace and flaunt their influences. The weird thing is that the band probably shouldn't work when you take each member's individual traits, tastes, and influences. But yet somehow, everything falls into place to create much more than just a sum of its parts. This is a group that writes and plays what they feel: no guidelines, no certain genres need to be met, just pure music. With Raw Mojo it's always music first, bullshit second.

"Raw Mojo is like a family. They stick tight together and support their fans as much as their fans support them. What this family of Mojomongers provides is music for the young at heart (though probably not your grandparents' music). Mainly, the band has a “take what you will from us” punk like attitude as well as that 'let's leave the stage in burning embers' feeling once they have rawked it. It's this kind of attitude that has many listeners saying, 'I want to hear that again!' song after song. If the band has one bad habit, it’s to leave the stage leaving the audience wanting more.r rock trio with dueling harmonizing female and male vocals, velcro ripping guitars, deep thumping bass, and powerful primal drums. The band plays a wide variety of rock music, from power ballads, to sexy romps, to all out punk rock. This threesome has been together since 2006 and plays mostly original material but will throw in occasional cover songs as crowd pleasers..."
- from their Facebook page

"Mojo is defined as many things. The one definition that I thought fit this piece was one I found on Urban Dictionary. Their definition of Mojo is 'The word originally means a charm or a spell. But now it’s more commonly said meaning sex appeal or talent.' That definition is exactly how I would describe the band Raw Mojo. Their music is charming, full of sex appeal and talent. When I listen to their new album Brickbat Theory, it’s like listening to a movie soundtrack. There are so many different genres of music captured on this album, the only way to explain them are to simply say ‘They are Raw Mojo.’"
- from a review by Kris Axe on Word Krapht

Lineup:
Nikki Lee - Bass
Dan Bee - Vocals/Guitar
Adam Clayton - Drums/Vocals

By J. Ellis of Ovation Photography
http://j-ellisphotography.com/
http://www.ovationphotography.com/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/rawmojoband/

BandCamp:

https://rawmojo.bandcamp.com/

ReverbNation:

https://www.reverbnation.com/rawmojo

To download the podcast (right click and hit "Save as..."):
https://archive.org/download/IowaMusicShowcaseEpisode35/Iowa%20Music%20Showcase%20-%20Episode%2035_.mp3

Labels: 2010s, 2013, Adam Clayton, Dan Bee, Ep 035, grunge, Halloween, Halloween 2016, Halloween music,Iowa City, Iowa City area, Nikki Lee, psychobilly, Raise the Dead (song), Raw Mojo (band), rockabilly