Iowa Music Showcase Songs: 2017-08-27

Saturday, September 2, 2017

PLAYLISTS: New Iowa Music on Bandcamp 1

This is our first of many playlists featuring new releases from Iowa music from BandCamp.

This time around we feature indie pop, alternative folk rock, synth pop, and drony noise music!

More IMSC posts featuring New Iowa Music on BandCamp playlists:
http://iowamusicshowcase.blogspot.com/search/label/New%20Iowa%20Music%20on%20BandCamp

More IMSC posts featuring playlists:
http://iowamusicshowcase.blogspot.com/search/label/playlists

More IMSC posts featuring new music:
http://iowamusicshowcase.blogspot.com/search/label/new%20music

More IMSC posts featuring BandCamp:
http://iowamusicshowcase.blogspot.com/search/label/Bandcamp

One year ago...
Other Sources: Four Recent Iowa Compilation Albums -
http://iowamusicshowcase.blogspot.com/2016/09/other-sources-four-recent-iowa.html

Two years ago...
Episode 15 - Iowa Metal and Hard Rock -
http://iowamusicshowcase.blogspot.com/2015/09/episode-15-iowa-metal-and-hard-rock.htmll

Other IMSC websites and links:
Feed:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/IowaMusicShowcase
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Iowa-Music-Showcase/364796883703114
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/iamusicshowcase
Instagram:
https://instagram.com/iowamusicshowcase

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

EPISODE 50: Nepotism

Sorry! I have been helping the missus get the house ready to sell and get ourselves ready to move, so that why this is so late! Sorry again!

I was trying to decide what to do for my 50th episode for a while. I thought about doing my favorites, but I've played most of them already.

Then I saw that Brian Compos, for the Pants Off Podcast's 100th episode, had Brian Campos as the guest! I thought if he can get away with being so narcissistic, I could get away with being self-centered and playing a bunch of people I know.

So this episode features music acts that have either a friend of mine, a family member, or a family member of a friend.

Well, all except one. It has a member who has the same name as an old high school friend of mine. And I only found out last week that it wasn't his band!

So, yes, this episode once again proves it doesn't matter what you know or if you're talented. Long as you have connections, you too - after 49 episodes and almost 3 years - could appear in one of my podcasts!

To download this podcast, right click on the link below and hit "Save as...":
https://archive.org/download/IowaMusicShowcaseEpisode50/Iowa%20Music%20Showcase%20-%20Episode%2050_.mp3

Cover by Dan OlderMusicGeek using BitStrips

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

IMSC Ep 50 - Song 1: "Tip of My Tongue" by Hold for Swank

Photo by Dani Reed
https://danireedphoto.com/
https://www.facebook.com/DaniReedPhotography/

>

"Like Weezer but poppier. Like NOFX but funnier. Like the Beatles but cuter."
- from their Twitter page

"Influences including Weezer, Blink-182, Green Day, and even prog-rockers Rush and radio gods Huey Lewis and the News find their way into Hold For Swank’s songwriting. Humor - sometimes oddly specific - weaves among power chords and the occasional fist-pumping breakdown to create an urgent sound that’s both modern and nostalgic - a little ‘90s, a little right now.

"Learn to love again... or for the first time. Contradictions and all..."
- from their Facebook page

"Our story begins nearly 15 years ago, when Eric's moping around the campus of Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa, caught Max's attention. 'What's got you down, friend?' Max inquired. 'I need a bassist,' Eric replied. 'I play bass!' Max exclaimed. And the rest is history. History that shall be recounted right here in this next sentence.

Four drummers, three studios, two albums and one unfinished trilogy..."
- from their GoFundMe page

"Remember when you were young and breaking up with your significant other and having a fling was a rite of summer? Maybe you're trying to forget. Iowa rock group Hold For Swank hasn't, which is why their breezy tunes of young love (and lust) sugar-coated with digestible pop melodies might be the perfect soundtrack for adventurous young lovers - or gruff old hopeless romantics."
- from their CDBaby page

"...the band continues its love affair with the sounds of Alkaline Trio and Blink 182. It’s an album out of time, which gives it the benefit of not sounding like anything else happening right now.

"The songs on “The Stuff” are fun, fast and just angsty enough to dredge up high school memories (even if they are performed by 30 somethings)... for the most part it’s reflections on relationships, friendships and breakups. Is it groundbreaking? No, but it fits in with the sound Hold for Swank has established for itself over the last dozen years."
- from a review by Joe Lawler in Cityview

Lineup:
Eric Nelson - Vocals/Guitar
Max Kenkel - Bass/Vocals
Jason Wacha - Guitar/Vocals
Eric Haughey - Drums/Percussion

IMSC Ep 50 - Song 2: "Body Drive" by Dharma Street Groove

"Dharma Street Groove is a techno-house studio band, drawing inspiration from retro funk, dance, Motown, and R&B. This sound comes from the heart of the Des Moines, Iowa music scene and is the culmination of work through gothic, alternative, and rave bands since the mid-1980's with a love for the timeless urban groove."
- from their ReverbNation page

"DSG is a studio project of Keane Douglas Wren & an outgrowth of years different musical explorations to arrive at this particular Electronica House Dance style."
- from their Twitter page

"Dharma Street Groove is a techno-house dance-oriented studio band from the heart of the Des Moines, Iowa music scene. This is the culmination its songwriter Keane D. Wren, work through gothic, alternative, and rave bands since the mid-1980's to arrive at this current sound."
- from their Push Power Promo page

Lineup:
Keane Douglas Wren and friends

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

BandCamp:
https://dharmastreetgroove.bandcamp.com/

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

To download this podcast, right click on the link below and hit "Save as...":
https://archive.org/download/IowaMusicShowcaseEpisode50/Iowa%20Music%20Showcase%20-%20Episode%2050_.mp3

Labels: 2010s, 2017, Body Drive (song), dance music, Des Moines, Des Moines area, Dharma Street Groove (band), dub music, electro pop, electronic music, Ep 050, house music, Keane Douglas Wren, Latin music,Nepotism, techno

IMSC Ep 50 - Extra 1: My stepson playing piano in his school jazz combo and percussion in his middle school band

The first video is exactly what the title says - my stepson playing piano with his middle school's jazz combo.

The picture used, though, is actually him playing at Noce with his Simpson College Jazz Camp group.

The next two video are him playing percussion with his middle school band.

And the last is him performing in his class's vocal performance.

Labels: 2010s, 2016, Des Moines area, Ep 050, jazz, my stepson, Nepotism, school bands, swing (genre),symphonies, Waukee, Waukee Middle School jazz combo (band), Waukee South Middle School 7th Grade Band

IMSC Ep 50 - Song 3: "Mona Lisa Overdrive" by Head Candy (plus the video of their unreleased song, "Thunderbolt Raft")

"A straight-up rock band with touches of 80s alternative via The Smithereens and Replacements with enough pop to cross over..."
- from the website of the Dig Me Out podcast

"...an incredible Iowa quartet that traded in medium-loud, complex guitar rocka la Television or Dumptruck. Almost psychedelic in its shifting textures and lyrical imagery, but always melodic...

"Iowa has long been a fertile breeding ground for driving pop bands. With guitarists Mike Sangster and Doug Roberson coming from two such bands, the Hollowmen and the Dangtrippers respectively, Head Candy is poised to carry on the tradition. Sangster's vocals oscillate between an uneasy tension and a mellow smoothness in much the same way that Head Candy's songs reflect both a world-weary callousness and a vulnerable sweetness...

"(The album's) uncomplicated production gives it an even mesh, comprised of grinding guitars and fuzzy vocals vibrating over a firm rhythm section. Every sound falls neatly into place without being jelled into a sticky gloss, creating a steadfast sound throughout...

"Why it went unnoticed, is beyond the knowledge of God or even Captain Beefheart."
- from a review by Rainy Day Sponge on the Matt Lostintyme website

"Head Candy won a battle of the bands which gave them a record deal with Link Records distributed by Hollywood/Elektra/Warner. This band had Doug Roberson & Jim Viner from Iowa City, Iowa, who are the current guitarist and drummer, respectively, for The Diplomats of Solid Sound as well as Mike Sangster who came from the Des Moines-based band The Hollowmen who had a couple of records out in the late 80’s. Dubuque, Iowa native JIm Vallet, whose current project is entitled Track a Tiger (Chicago), rounded out the line-up on bass. This band was praised for its use of layered guitars and unique tunings. The resulting album Starcaster (released 1991) is an album still considered to be one of the better efforts of this period and area. At the time there was a lot of speculation that Iowa City was going to blow up like another Athens or Seattle given the shear number of bands the area had to offer. Head Candy also had a video shown on MTV’s 120 Minutes." - written by Last.fm user fortheear and tidfeloy for Head Candy's Last.fm page

"Dave (Kendall of MTV's '120 Minutes" rambled on about the Red Hot Chili Peppers and tinkled the floor with golden rushes of urine before changing topics to a new and upcoming band. The band he was speaking of was called Head Candy, a veritable “supergroup” of Iowa scenesters who missed alternative notoriety by that much.

"Headed by Mike Sangster, the Iowa City quartet made pleasing and catchy music that seemed a bit too tame for those big bad grunge years. They may have been the Hawkeye state’s last hope for rock infiltration before a bunch of dudes from Des Moines put on some masks and screamed about their discontent on the second stage of Ozzfest.

"Head Candy landed a record deal with Link Records out of Boston who score about a three album boutique deal with Hollywood Records. Don't bother looking for the label...Either one of them...They're not around anymore.This may have made them Iowa first modern day rock band with a major label deal back when having a major label deal was a big thing.

"What the deal provided them was enough cash ‘n clout to have Andy Wallace, the same dude that mixed Nirvana’s Nevermind, man the knobs for their debut album Starcaster. It’s a really good album, and you can probably find it at a used record store outside of the Hawkeye state for next to nothing."
- from a review by Todd Totale on the Glam Rocket website

Lineup:
Mike Sangster - Vocals, Guitar
Doug Roberson – Guitar, Vocals
Jim Viner – Drums
Jim Vallet – Bass

Underground Archives:
http://underground-archives.com/content/head-candy

To download this podcast, right click on the link below and hit "Save as...":
https://archive.org/download/IowaMusicShowcaseEpisode50/Iowa%20Music%20Showcase%20-%20Episode%2050_.mp3

Labels: 1990s, 1991, alternative rock, Doug Roberson, Ep 050, Head Candy (band), Iowa City, Iowa City area,Jim Vallet, Jim Viner, Mike Sangster, Mona Lisa Overdrive (song), Nepotism, Thunderbolt Raft (song)

IMSC Ep 50 - Song 4: "Waterside" by The Winfield Middle School Varsity Marching Band

"Its not actually a marching band! The head dude in that group loves to troll...

"Winfield died but reformed... as Faux-Shon and The Gamma Rays!"
- from a private FB message to me

IMSC Ep 50 - Extra 2: My daughter in her high school marching band

"Consistently receives awards for excellence in performance"
- from their Facebook page

Johnston Iowa's Facebook page for school bands:
https://www.facebook.com/JohnstonBands/

Labels: 2010s, 2013, 2014, Des Moines area, Ep 050, high school bands, Johnston, Johnston High School Marching Dragons (band), Johnston High School Varsity Marching Band, marching bands, Nepotism

IMSC Ep 50 - Song 5: "Loretta" by Exit

"Drenched in the early 90's Midwest noise rock of Ritual Device, the Cows, and Big Black stood Indianola Iowa's Exit. A duo bent on destroying every band in its path and the hapless venues that booked them. The guitar and vocals of Dave Wren stood atop the pounding drum machine and bass/noise of Scott Nydegger... While the band remained somewhat in obscurity, there is no doubt they were every bit as wild, if not more so, as their peers."
- from the BandCamp page for their album, "Inane"

Lineup:
Dave Wren - guitar, vocal
Scott Nydegger - bass, program

Exit on Discogs:
https://www.discogs.com/artist/1346445-Exit-16

Dave Wren's current project Moultrigger:
https://moulttrigger.bandcamp.com/

Scott Nydegger's Discogs page:
https://www.discogs.com/artist/673366-Scott-Nydegger?filter_anv=0&type=Credits&page=2

To download this podcast, right click on the link below and hit "Save as...":
https://archive.org/download/IowaMusicShowcaseEpisode50/Iowa%20Music%20Showcase%20-%20Episode%2050_.mp3

Labels: 1990s, 1994, Dave Wren, Des Moines area, electronic music, electronic rock, Ep 050, Exit (band),garage rock, Indianola, industrial music, Loretta (song), Nepotism, Scott Nydegger

IMSC Ep 50 - Song 6: "Ember Mountain" by David Goes to Boarding School

"We're just a couple of dudes that got together to play some music. We had this idea to just make a band that's a mashup of other genres and have fun just doing what we like to do."
- from their ReverbNation page

"Fuck your genres!...

"Forged in the deepest depths of Mordor, we were brought to this planet in order to SHREEEEDDDDDDD...

"Nobel Peace Prize for Most Faces Melted"
- from their Facebook page

Lineup:
Ian Fredregill - Guitar, Sampler, Vocals
Alan Larison - Bass, Backup Vocals
Fred Wahl - Drums

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

BandCamp:
https://davidgoestoboardingschool.bandcamp.com/

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

To download this podcast, right click on the link below and hit "Save as...":
https://archive.org/download/IowaMusicShowcaseEpisode50/Iowa%20Music%20Showcase%20-%20Episode%2050_.mp3

Labels: 2010s, 2013, Alan Larison, David Goes to Boarding School (band), Des Moines, Des Moines area,Ember Mountain (song), Ep 050, experimental, experimental rock, Fred Wahl, Ian Fredregill, Nepotism, post hardcore