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 31 - Song 8: "Betsy" (live and acoustic) by Ladysoal

"Ladysoal’s roots spring from the unlikely town of Ames, Iowa. Proving success comes to those who chase after it with all abandon, the band has enjoyed acclaim from fans and critics alike, from Iowa to Denmark and everywhere in between. Aside from a live show schedule that never quits, Ladysoal independently released their first EP, “I am Here,” along with music videos for the singles 'Sunshine' and 'That Girl.'

"Ladysoal delivers an eclectic sound, riddled with traces of each member’s sonic past. Whether on stage or in the studio, they never fail to bring all they’ve got. To witness Ladysoal live is to join them on a musical journey, indulging the senses with only one command: dance! Their energy is infectious - transferring from stage to crowd and back again, keeping fans moving like the pistons of a well-oiled engine.

"More than mere entertainment, Ladysoal uses their chosen medium to deliver positive messages, notably of tolerance and understanding towards and within the LGBT community. This advocacy is not for show, but rather reflects the true character of each member of the band. By choosing to do more with their fame than simply attain wealth, Ladysoal stands as ambassadors of hope for those whose voices cannot be heard."
- from their ReverbNation page

"The story of Ladysoal is complex with a simple idea. From a very young age Sharika knew she wanted to be a performer -- she played any and every instrument her parents would put in front of her. She eventually realized her passion was playing the guitar and singing, so she moved to Los Angeles, California to pursue her dreams. After 3 years she was performing as a background singer in California for Chione (a london based group), Angie Stone, and other artists on MIG records, a Los Angeles based record label. From there, Sharika decided she was tired of standing in the background and was ready to start her own project and moved back to Iowa where she eventually met Mike Meier.

"Mike Meier went to school at Colo-Nesco High School in Iowa. Before going into hish school Mike got his first guitar as a birthday gift from his parents. From there it sat around for about 5 months before Mike really tried to learn how to play. Once Mike was in high school he began doing such things as playing with his youth group worship band. He then started his first band with some friend from church. This was very short lived due to the other members of the band moving out of town. Mike then started playing the guitar with his high school chorus class. After high school Mike began looking for people who really wanted to play music. Mike spent most of his time jamming with any body who would play with him. After a year of living away from his parents, he started a band called The Never End.

"The Never End played some small shows periodically. This was around the same time that Mike first met Sharika. Their first encounter was by chance, where Mike was playing music at his apartment with a friend and Sharika stopped in. It was this meeting that sparked a new found interest in Mike and Sharika playing together. After only a few jam sessions, Sharika asked Mike to fill in for her guitar player that was unable to make it to one of her shows. Mike did so, and has been a part of Ladysoal since then.

"Ladysoal's permanent members consist of just these two, but they consistently bring in new members in order to create a fresh, new sound with every song they write. This makes their sound hard to pin down to any one genre. But with Sharika's soulful voice and Mike's pop-rock guitar riffs, this group continues awing listeners every day. With the current self-released "Ladysoal EP" they are currently label shopping with the idea of releasing a full length album, in the near future."
- from their OurStage profile

"No one in Ames sings quite like Sharika. She brings a raw, no-holds barred, full-throated vocal power that is uncompromising. She also has the soul singer’s instinct for finding blue notes and playing with the melodies, as on “Low” and “Insecure”. Sharika’s presence during live shows emphasizes the fierceness of her voice and her persona.

'And then there’s the band. The drummer James Doxon (who is also my close friend and musical collaborator) and the bassist Mallory Crain lay down a tight groove that really propels the songs. There’s a reason Sharika dances so hard during Ladysoal shows: her band makes an irresistible beat.

"The ensemble is filled out by Mike Meier, whose guitar licks brilliantly echo the heartache in the vocals and whose solid blues riffs provide the band with a crunchy rock sound. Mike’s playing really reverberates with Sharika’s style; she calls him 'the twinkle.'"
- from a Nate Logsdon review in Ames Progressive

Lineup:
Sharika Sawer - vocals
Mike Meier - guitar
Mallory Crain - bass
James Doxon - drums

BandCamp:
https://ladysoal.bandcamp.com/

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

Labels: 2010s, 2011, Ames, Ames area, Betsy (song), Ep 031, James Doxon, Ladysoal (band), Mallory Crain,Sharika Sawer. Mike Meier, soul (genre), soul music, Soul Rnb and Funk, soul rock

IMSC Ep 11 - Song 2: "Fleshlike Material" by Mumford's

"I’ve only ever heard them do this song a handful of times live, but I love it. There’s a lot going on in the song musically, and the lyrics are heartbreaking and funny all at once, which is such a weird feeling. And that apocalyptic ending..."
- Bryon Dudley for this podcast

"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

Lineup:

Nate Logsdon - vocals, guitar, piano, horns
James Doxon - percussion, vocals
Kate Kennedy - alto sax, clarinet, accordion, vocals, more 
Kai Tanaka - lead guitar
Chris Lyng- bass
Donny Peterson - tenor sax
Paul Hertz - bass trombone
Brian "Wild Man" Stout - tuba, trombone, cornet
Erich Sneller - alto sax
Dave Atchison - aux percussion
Little Ruckus - vocals, human body
J Parry - percussion, art
Lesbian Poetry - trumpet, vocals
Jens Hoifeldt - trumpet
Patrick "Patch" Jasper - alto sax
Jose - drums
Dylan Boyle - guitar

Home page:
http://mumfordsmusic.com/

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

Bandcamp:
https://mumfordsmusic.bandcamp.com/