PLAYLISTS: Happy New Year's - Iowa Style

Happy New Year, everyone! And at long last, Iowa Music Showcase presents a New Year's post.

We have a Spotify playlist featuring songs about years, starts, beginnings, and ends.- and, as always, from various artists and genres.

So sit back and let Iowa music bring in your new year!

YOUR OWN PRIVATE IOWA - Episode 11: Patrick Tape Fleming

It was such a treat getting to sit down with Patrick of Gloom Balloon and The Poison Control Center this week. From dissecting his songs, to some fasinating Iowa music history and stories of touring and the mysterious Bethany inspiration, Pat opens up on his musical career. He manages to provide some memorable and beautiful acoustic tunes as well!

This podcast is powered by ZenCast.fm All Recordings done in the Studio at [88.5 KURE Ames Alternative]

JAZZMAN JOE VIDEO - DMACC Chorus Ensemble with Simon Estes on Dec 8, 2017

From Jazzman Joe on the YouTube page: THE ANKENY CAMPUS OF DES MOINES AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE PRESENTED THEIR WINTER CHORAL ENSEMBLES CONCERT WITH GUEST SIMON ESTES..12/8/17. SIMON ESTES SINGS JUST PAST 32:00 MINUTE MARK."

YOUR OWN PRIVATE IOWA - Episode 10: H.D. Harmsen

I sit down with H.D. Harmsen this week. As a huge fan of his music, specifically his album Papoose, i was pretty stoked to have him in the studio! We got so engaged in conversation that we both realized he had only played one song an hour in! Listen to us talk about the Des Moines music scene when H.D. Started making music, writting a song for his daughter, Our mutual love for Lou Reed and so much more! It was so much fun getting to talk to and know H.D.

This podcast is powered by ZenCast.fm All Recordings done in the Studio at [88.5 KURE Ames Alternative]

It's Christmas! I got nothing!

It's Christmas! And I already put up all the podcasts and playlists for this year! So there's really nothing to do at this point.

If you want Christmassy stuff, here's a link to all the Christmassy stuff we have - http://iowamusicshowcase.blogspot.com/search/label/Christmas

JAZZMAN JOE VIDEOS: Sounds of the Season with Soprano Chelsea Smith at Our Lady's Immaculate Church in Ankeny, Iowa, on Dec 10, 2017

From Jazzman Joe's YouTube page: THE FIFTEENTH ANNUAL SOUNDS OF THE SEASON GALA AT OUR LADY'S IMMACULATE HEART CHURCH, ANKENY, IOWA, PRESENTED CHELSEA SMITH, SOPRANO, WITH HOLIDAY SONGS INCLUDING HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING, ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH, DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR, JINGLE BELLS, I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS, OH CHRISTMAS TREE, DECK THE HALLS, HAVE YOURSELF A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS, SILENT NIGHT, OH HOLY NIGHT, & JOY TO THE WORLD....

YOUR OWN PRIVATE IOWA - Episode 9: Courtney Krause

Courtney Krause comes in the studio this week, and compleatly blows me away with her music. Emotional, real singer-songwriter tunes that clearly have a strong impact on her and the audiance. We talk about this and so much more with in the show, making for an amazing conversation about her new album, recording in general and our passions for local music. Oh, and I almost forgot...9 is her lucky number!

This podcast is powered by ZenCast.fm All Recordings done in the Studio at [88.5 KURE Ames Alternative]

YOUR OWN PRIVATE IOWA - Episode 8: QuërVo

What an impressive show QuërVo put on in the studio this week! Electronic music is something I did not know much about going into this episode, and honestly soemthing I didnt know Jose did, I had only seen him drum in Mumford's and play guitar with I.B.AIBU. I was compleatly blown away by his set, and the fact that he explained everything to me and the listener was a great way to show the entire set off. He plays and makes some really cool electronic music, as well as playing songs from other projects like Dr. Murdock. Jose gets really passionate and into everything he talks about, making for one of my most interesting episodes yet!

This podcast is powered by ZenCast.fm All Recordings done in the Studio at [88.5 KURE Ames Alternative]

PLAYLISTS: Iowa Holiday Music on Various Websites

Ho ho ho! Although we presented now with NINE different podcast episodes of Iowa Holiday music, we still have plenty of other music for you.

So we present playlists from SoundCloud, YouTube, Spotify, and BandCamp!


Some we have presented in the previous year, but all have been updated with new music I've found. If you know of any I miss, then let me know iowamusicshowcase@gmail.com.

You should also check out "A Conquered Christmas" featuring Christopher the Conquered and various central Iowa and Iowa in general music acts!

2015 - http://iowapublicradio.org/post/hear-conquered-christmas-studio-one-live-set

2016 - http://iowapublicradio.org/post/hear-conquered-christmas-2016-studio-one-live-set

So have yourself a corny Christmas! (Get it, cus Iowa grows corn?)

FESTER RAGE VIDEOS: A Testament of Youth (ATOY) at The Vaudeville Mews in Des Moines on August 31, 2007

Okay, this is the first in a new monthly series we will have on Iowa Music Showcase.

Fester Rage was an amateur videographer who from August, 2007, to September, 2015, recorded various live shows here in Des Moines, both from local acts and national. On this website, we will be only featuring the Iowa artists. But you can watch all his videos on his YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/unclefesterrage.

The first show he recorded was actually a reunion show from a popular 80s Des Moines punk band, A Testament of Youth, or ATOY as they were commonly called.

"Formed in 1981 by Factory Records aficionados Paul Standard and Dave Edwards, A Testament of Youth or ATOY (pronounced AE-TOI) were Iowa's first Post-Punk band. ATOY were Paul and Dave's response to the bland Styx and Journey-inspired rock that was prevalent throughout the midwest during the late 70s and early 80s. Looking to do something darker and more arty, guitarist Paul and producer Dave set out to forge a new midwest sound. Brad Roth, who was then singing in and playing bass for the power-pop trio The Blue Cruisers was recruited as a front man. With the addition of newcomers Mark Penner on bass and Lonnie Urich on drums, ATOY was set to play the now legendary 1981 2 day Iowa punk/new wave festival, Music For No-Man's Land. A surprise hit at the festival, ATOY contributed two songs to the 'Music For No-Man's Land' release, Roth's Television-inspired "Chemical Boys" and Standard's epic dirge "Requiem for a Priest". ATOY were soon playing gigs throughout Iowa. Due to differences in vision, Dave Edwards soon left the group. ATOY's music at the time was thin, brittle and experimental using rhythm machines, tape loops and incorporating short-wave radio broadcasts into their live shows. Brad's onstage antics were legendary, often getting the group banned from some of the more mainstream rock clubs. Paul decided to return to college late in 1981, leaving the band looking for a new guitarist. Greg Owen, who had played with Brad Roth previously in the Blue Cruisers joined in early 1982. Owen brought a tough, shredding guitar style to ATOY which propelled their sound into a more aggressive stance. Penner and Urich similarly toughened up their sound and Roth's wild stage persona evolved into a dadaist Iggy Pop. Brad's lyrics began to take a darkly poetic turn and led to him being called 'the Baudelaire of the heartland'. Over the next year and a half, the band began touring around the midwest to ever increasing crowds. During that period, many of ATOY's most popular songs, such as 'Stickmen', 'Creeps with Forks' and 'Cut and Restored' were written. The group gained in popularity and the now defuct nightclub So's Your Mothers, opened another venue, Mother's Underground, to regularly showcase ATOY and other Iowa underground bands. The volatile mix of personalities in the band began to take it's toll and in the Spring of 1983 ATOY decided to call it quits. Their final show was recorded and release on CD many years later. A videotape of that last show called "The Final Plunge" was aired on Des Moines TV... In 2005 ATOY were asked to do a reunion show. The success of that show surprised them as much as their fans. This led to the band resuming playing again. The volatile mix of personalities did lead to a couple of false starts, but ATOY is officially back together, writing new material and playing to new fans as well as old. Since ATOY never really sounded like anyone else, the band's music doesn't sound dated to new fans. New material has been written as well as a number of Buick McSnake songs being reworked into ATOY's sound...and then after a dozen or so gigs it all came crashing down. The volatile chemistry of the band once again blew up. As a longtime fan of the band remarked 'If everyone were mature and responsible, it wouldn't be ATOY. You guys have broken up for good before. Hopefully you'll do it again.' Here's to hoping that it'll happen again."
- from their Underground Archives entry

Iowa Music NEEDS Net Neutrality - and So Does Iowa Music Showcase!

If you haven't been paying attention - or missed all the posts I've been putting up on social media - we are about to lose net neutrality, the rule that says all information and sites on the net have to be treated equally.

Without net neutrality, some sites could be paid to load and play faster than other sites.

And that means, those of us without any money, like most Iowa music acts and this website, would be stuck in the slow lane.

It also means that schools, small businesses, activist groups, and other groups with little funds who have trouble connecting and reaching the masses and other sites.

The only winners out of this would be internet providers, large businesses that could afford the fast lane, and people with money who can afford to spend it on a faster internet. The rest of us would have to take what we could get.

IOWA MUSIC SHOWCASE PODCAST - Episode 58: Happy Hawkeye Holidays 2017, Part 3 of 3 - Scrooge

Ho ho ho! We bring the last of this year's Holidays episodes.

And as in previous years, this episode features some situations and language that some of you may not want to hear. So you have been warned.

The rest of you I hope enjoy this last collection of festive musical frivolities.

And be back next week as we present a whole bunch of playlists featuring Iowa's own songs of the season!


IMSC posts featuring the holidays:
http://iowamusicshowcase.blogspot.com/search/label/holidays

To download the podcast, right click on the link below and hit "Save as...":
https://archive.org/download/IowaMusicShowcaseEpisode58/Iowa%20Music%20Showcase%20-%20Episode%2058_.mp3

Art by John Leech
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Leech_(caricaturist)

JAZZMAN JOE VIDEOS - Soya Vista Jazz Orchestra With Gina Gedler at Noce on November 18, 2017

"Hi! I'm Gina Gedler and I am a regular to the Des Moines entertainment scene and have been performing for many years.

"I was born in Newton, Iowa and my family moved to Arizona shortly after I was born. Ever since I was a little girl, I always loved to sing and act up! (My mom and dad always said that I entered this world screaming! Come to think of it, that may have been my first singing debut!) Because I had no opportunity for lessons; I grew up listening to records, watching old movies, teaching myself the different styles of music, and the ins and outs of singing and acting.

"In Arizona I became very involved, during my academic years, in Drama and Music.

"I returned to Des Moines, Iowa during the spring break of my Junior year of High School. That was tough! But I immediately became involved in the music and drama department to meet new people. And that I did! After meeting the love of my life Mike, in my senior year of High School, we married a year after graduating High School and within our first 5 years of marriage we were blessed with our wonderful son, Brandon!

"In Des Moines I have been heavily involved in music and stage. With hard work I have had the privilege and honor of appearing in numerous musicals on stage and many various professional acts throughout the state and outside of the state as well.

"For the past several years, I have been enjoying singing in Des Moines as well as outside of the metro area, with my small combo of musicians, for company parties/celebrations and in various restaurant and lounge venues. I am also the lead vocalist with the Ballyhoo Foxtrot Combo and the Soya Vista Jazz Orchestra as well as a guest lead vocalist for several other local bands.

"I am a singer as well as an entertainer. I pride myself on truly enjoying and delivering what I am singing. I am very versatile with my music styling and offerings. I think a combination of those things is what helps make me unique. One minute I could be singing a standard, or something soft and jazzy, and then break into an upbeat number from the 70's! You just never know what will happen. I love the excitement and emotion that comes from producing all kinds music.

"Helping people smile, laugh, and feel through music is what I LOVE!

"It makes my heart feel good!"
- from Gina Gedler's home page

"The SOYA VISTA JAZZ ORCHESTRA is an eight-piece ensemble that specializes in the swinging, lounge-inspired jazz of the 1950s and 1960s. The band's repertoire features songs popularized by such artists as Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Billie Holiday, Henry Mancini, and Antonio Carlos Jobim. The music is smooth, sophisticated, and hip. Just the thing to appeal to the Jet Set."
- from the Soya Vista Jazz Orchestra home page

From Jazzman Joe's YouTube page: THE SOYA VISTA ORCHESTRA WITH GINA GEDLER PERFORMED @DESMOINES PREMIER NIGHTSPOT ,NOCE JAZZ CABARET THIS EVENING. LED BY JOHN BENOIT, TROMBONE ,THE MUSICIANS INCLUDED,DAVE SHARP, TENOR SX & FLUTE,JIM ROMAINE,BARATONE & ALTO SX;JIM BOVINETTE,TRUMPET & PFLUGEL HORN;JAMIE PAULSEN,PIANO,DAVE ALTMEIER,STICK BASS AND DREW ON DRUMS. GINA EXCELLED ON VOCALS.

YOUR OWN PRIVATE IOWA - Episode 7: Foxholes

This week Foxholes came on the show, and what a great experience I had getting to know and talk to the band! We were all over the place as far as topics go, from the bands origins, to shows they had been at, to getting paid $300 bucks for a gig, using paint for dinosaur music videos, jamming with Nels Cline, and so much more! This interview was a real treat and they played a fantastic stripped down set with tunes that normally don't get played on stage.

This podcast is powered by ZenCast.fm All Recordings done in the Studio at [88.5 KURE Ames Alternative]

IOWA MUSIC SHOWCASE PODCAST - Episode 57: Happy Hawkeye Holidays 2017, Part 2 of 3 - The Snowman

Ho ho ho! Welcome back to our second collection of holiday tunes for you.

Last week, we presented you with some of our fair state's more laidback holiday fair. But this week, instead of resting, we bring some tunes that are, at least, a little more feisty than the last batch. You have to wait until next week to get some with a little bite.

But these should cheer up any holiday doldrums you may have.

So Happy Holidays and enjoy!


More IMSC posts related to the holidays:
http://iowamusicshowcase.blogspot.com/search/label/holidays

To download the podcast, right click on the link below and hit "Save as...":
https://archive.org/download/IowaMusicShowcaseEpisode57/Iowa%20Music%20Showcase%20-%20Episode%2057_.mp3

YOUR OWN PRIVATE IOWA - Episode 6: Jon Marko (Correa)

Week Six Jon Marko, a singer songwritter from Ames joins me in the studio! He plays a Sufjan Stevens cover and belts out a couple originals as well! Listen to us talk about growing up in Puerto Rico, picking up music because of a girl, and his other projects and new album about to come out!

All Recordings done in the Studio at [88.5 KURE Ames Alternative]

JAZZMAN JOE VIDEOS: Home for the Holidays with Max Wellman and Tina Findlay Haase at The Bridge in Johnston on December 20, 2015

For this installment, we present a holiday show featuring Max Wellman and Tina Findlay Haase.

"Whether it is at Chicago’s stunning Drake Hotel or the historic Hoyt Sherman Place Theater, vocalist Max Wellman is enticing music lovers throughout the region. With a sound evoking the likes of Sinatra & Connick, Wellman’s recordings & performances promise that the Great American Songbook is alive & well for a new generation of listeners.

When Wellman teams up with his jazz trio or his Big Band, it’s an opportunity to witness his talent on a grand scale. Concerts like his annual ‘Home for the Holidays’ have become a cherished treasure throughout the region."
- from Max Wellman's Facebook page

"Tina Haase Findlay and Brandon Findlay are bella soul. As a modular group, the duo expands with members of their diverse musical family, including international award-winning bassist Scot Sutherland and reknowned artist-educator Dr. Damani Phillips, among more than two dozen local and regional artists who regularly join on stage and in studio.

"As a duo, trio, quintet, or sextet, bella soul is built from a loving devotion to the kaleidoscope of sounds and styles that have naturally raised from the American deltas and heartlands they call home. And as they prepare a new collection of original work, Genesis of the Exodus, the Findlay's and their family are enjoying the blessings of lives filled with great friends, great art, and great love."
- from the Diva and the Deacons Facebook page