Website for Iowa music of ALL and ANY genres. Showing the wonderful and diverse music our state offers!
We feature music podcasts, interview podcasts, videos, among other media, to present to you what is happening and has happened in the Iowa Music Scene.
To submit a song or website, app, playlist, etc, send audiofile or link to iowamusicshowcase@gmail.com!
Lock N Load was a Sioux City live talk show podcast that ran from Jul 2013 to Jan 2017. As the show progressed, music started playing a bigger role in it. Iowa Music Showcase will feature some of their shows and excerpts that have a strong component of Iowa music or nearby neighbors, like this one featuring Dustin Conaway from Allen, Nebraska, a stone's throw away from Sioux City.
Local Country music Artist Dustin Conaway came in studio with us to talk about his first album coming and and also to debut and play live on our show. This is the clip from the episode which is titled "Dustin Vs. Zombies".
We have featured both country music and folk music on this podcast before. But to be frank and honest, I have huge backlog of submissions. And by combining them, I can get a bunch finally out of you people, so you can hear them instead of just me!
So mosey on up to the porch, grab a rocking chair, lean back, lift up your poop-kickin boots up, and pull down your cowboy hat, and have a listen to these fine Iowa artists bringing some of that western flavour!
Original painting by Monique Booker
Stretched and trimmed to make into a square
Today, we present to you four playlists - from YouTube, SoundCloud, Bandcamp, and Spotify - featuring artists who will be appearing at the Uncertainty Festival in Ames, IA, from Thurs, Apr 19, to Sat, Apr 21. For more information, you can go to http://www.novalabs.info/uncertainty-festival-2018/.
It's a fairly eclectic collection of blues, electronic music, folk music, indie music, among other genres. So have a listen, and if it sounds good, drop by Ames and check out the bands live!
"It’s just the second year for the Uncertainty Festival, but the music event has already grown to a three-day affair rather than two. The downtown Ames music fest will be held Thursday, April 19, through Saturday, April 21, and will include four showcases of talent, two of which will offer free admission.
"With a hint of a science theme, the Uncertainty Festival will have three parts: Particle, Wave and Light...
This episode, we just continue presenting some of the different and various artists that you can find on the Des Moines record label, Sump Pump Records.
Sump Pump Records NOT only produces their own records, but distributes a shit ton of Iowa music that you can find on their web page right here - http://sumppumprecords.com/promoted-1/
And in case, you didn't read the little history we presented last episode, here's how they describe themselves on their "About us" page on their website:
"SUMP PUMP RECORDS WAS FOUNDED IN 1998 BY DAN HUTCHISON, BRIAN WIKSELL AND BILL HEARD. WE RELEASED A VINYL 7" EP FOR WHY MAKE CLOCKS IN 1998 AND A FULL-LENGTH CD FOR CHAD O'NEALL IN 2000...THEN WE GOT PREOCCUPIED WITH OUR BANDS.
"NOW, IT'S A 5 WAY PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN DAN, BRIAN, WILL TARBOX, CHUCK HOFFMAN & TOM REELITZ RELEASING RECORDS WITH A DIY APPROACH, BY OURSELVES AND OTHER BANDS WE LOVE."
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]
On week two of the show, Iowa legend and front man for Mumfords's Nate Logsdon comes on the show! We talk alot about Flavor Basket, and Nate covers many of his songs as well as playing some originals. We also talk about Maximum Ames Music Festival (held Sept. 21-24), how Nate got into music, and the creation of Mumfords.
This podcast is powered by ZenCast.fm All Recordings done in the Studio at [88.5 KURE Ames Alternative]
Sorry this is so late. Family matters kept me from working on my side project, this website.
This week is, I hope, the first of numerous playlists featuring acts from the Iowa Stock music festival going down this Labor Day weekend.
If you haven't heard, for 4 days, in St Charles, you will be able to check all Iowa music acts from various genres on various stages. You can check out all the details here - https://iowastock.com/
Well, I tried to present a MySpace playlist, but it caused me nothing but problems and headaches. So I went back to a source that I knew would work - SoundCloud.
This is the third random playlist we've made on SoundCloud. The random sampler picked quite the variety - hip-hop, alternative, country, rock, and even some Arabic music and a parody!
Damn, I am started to feel like the kiss of death. By the time I get to a number of websites and such, it seems they have already died! Or maybe it's because I'm an old man and can't keep up with the cool happenings and going-ons of the youths!
I don't know, but here is a recently died website and show that featured a lot of bands from the Sioux City area as well as other parts of western Iowa and from Nebraska and South Dakota too!
"Before the Lock N’ Load Show aired live musical performances by local musicians on its Internet radio program, it was a sports talk show...
"It was a disaster, according to Foster. The interview didn’t go well and there were unwanted moments of silence – a rough start but the show must go on...
"The show has since found its niche with mixing comedic banter with fun segments like “Craigslist Missed Connections” and “Love and Lust Advice” while also including special guest appearances from local bands looking to promote their music. Episode 39 featured Johnny V and Big Earl from the blues rock band Premium Draft, who also performed live on air. The show brought in more than 1,200 viewers/listeners.
"MUTUAL PARTNERSHIP
"But 'back in the day,' the show was struggling to find background music to fill intermissions. Mainstream music was out of the question for obvious copyright reasons, so Foster and Lock N' Load producer Brandon Sorgdrager reached out to local artists to fill that empty portion of the online broadcast.
“'In return, we would do interviews with them,' said Sorgdrager. 'We were looking for a couple guests to come on and join us and it kind of went into the music and that went really well for us.'
"After a while, more musicians showed up on the Lock N’ Load Show, which is now becoming a promotional stop for local bands. The interviews are fairly relaxed and time is not a big factor.
“'It’s a half hour to an hour of them getting to talk about their stuff,' said Sordrager. 'It gives the audience a chance to get to know the artists.'
'Guests talk about their bands while their music gets played on the show during breaks. Foster said the show strives for an “equal opportunity” perspective when it comes to music genres featured on Lock N’ Load.
“'With the different artists, we like bringing in different genres,' he said. 'We have something for everyone. We’re not just hip hop or rock or country.'
"LOCAL MUSIC, WORLDWIDE AUDIENCE
"Clemons does not consider himself a rapper, per se. He condemns lyrics with violence and drug use, so instead he writes about his experiences. Clemons makes semi-regular appearances on the Internet radio show either as a guest promoting his new songs or just another guy to talk. He said he’s grateful for Lock N’ Load.
“'It means a lot knowing that we have someone that’s here in town able to push the music as well as they have,' said Clemons. ''They get it mainstream and give it to other listeners and viewers. This is the best way for everybody to share what they love doing.'
"Thanks to Lock N’ Load, Clemons was able to share his music video for the song 'Iowa Anthem,' a shout out to Sioux City. The video has received more than 3,500 views on YouTube and has maintained more than 80 likes.
"Dusty Ferris, bassist for local pop metal band Left Astray, said the Lock N' Load show is a 'blessing' for Sioux City musicians.
"'Local artists really don't have a voice anymore,' said Ferris. 'These guys are working with local artists so they can become regional, too.'
'Foster said he sets up a page for artists that appear on the show. He includes the links to bands’ and musicians’ social media and music (ReverbNation, Bandcamp) sites.
“'People worldwide can find them, read all about them, listen to their music and know how to get their music,' said Foster. 'It’s bringing the local music that we have here in Siouxland and making it worldwide.'
'The relationships the creators of the Lock N’ Load show made while supporting the Sioux City music scene have grown over time, according to Sorgdrager.
“'The artists have a need for us and we have a need for them,' he said.
'Foster describes it as a “mutual partnership” and never expected the success the show has gotten.
"Completely Covered" was an interesting little project started by Chad Taylor, former music critic of "Cityview", when he was managing editor of the now defunct Des Moines music website, Band Bombshell.
"Almost exactly two years ago, in January of 2015, I came up with an ambitious idea.
"I was, at the time, the Managing Editor for a site called Band Bombshell...
"...I came to Erika with what I still feel is the best idea I've ever come up with: gather together 10 local acts, give them all a single, well-known song, and have them cover it. The idea of 10 different points of view on the same song intrigued the hell out of me, and everyone I pitched the initial idea to was just as excited. Erika loved it, we got Nova Labs' resident genius Bryon Dudley on board to help with the production side, and we were off and running. Eventually, we wound up doing a second edition, with new acts and a different song.
"The bands almost universally hated the songs they were given; seven acts would wind up not turning anything in at all. Both editions were plagued by recording delays due to scheduling conflicts, and ultimately traffic remained flat, so the songs themselves were almost completely ignored.
"The idea in and of itself wasn't a new one. As soon as the first song was ever written, the first cover song probably followed closely behind...
"There were, however, a couple of things that made "Completely Covered" unique. Firstly, most cover song projects give the bands involved at least a certain modicum of choice... But for "Completely Covered" what intrigued me was... how a bunch of different minds and talents would choose to look at exactly the same material. It was meant to come off less like a tribute CD, and more as an examination of perspectives.
"But more importantly, of course, it was local. Musical projects that try to incorporate a large number of Des Moines-area musicians are few and far between. There's the occasional local music festival.. Juice has been producing their terrific "Side Sessions" video series since August, and it really highlights what kind of fun, creative things you can do with local music in Des Moines when you've got a little money to throw at your ideas.
"But Band Bombshell had no cash, and one really can not heap enough praise on Bryon Dudley and Nova Labs for his willingness to hop into the project with both feet, and do all of the recording and mastering for nothing more than the fun of the project, a banner ad and a hearty thank you. The series also stands as a credit to the musicians who took part. When I pitched the idea to them all, they were given the basic premise, but were not told what song they were going to be working on until after everyone had said yes. It was a bit of a gamble for everyone involved and one that required more than a little adventurous spirit. It was incredibly fun to watch it all come together."
- from the Culture Myth post, Covering a Local Music Retrospective, Day 2
"The concept was simple: to see how different people, with different tastes and influences, would approach the same material. How much different would a song sound, if it were tackled by a metal act as opposed to a country one? The idea was intended to both challenge the artists artistically and creatively, while simultaneously showcasing the wealth of talent within our state's borders. Plus, it just sounded fun as hell.
"And so, at the beginning of the new year, these are the ground rules we gave our 10 participants:
"The song may have been written by a different artist, but it's yours now. Own it. Don't like the chorus? Change it. Hate that one verse? Drop it. Change the perspective, add to it, strip it down, make it your own.
You've got 30 days to re-imagine, write, rehearse and record your cover.
Don't tell anyone.
With those scant instructions, we turned everyone loose. On the back end, the absolutely amazing Bryon Dudley at Nova Labs in Ames generously offered his studio and his time to help bands get their tracks recorded and mixed, and it really can't be overstated: this project would not have happened without him.
"For the first round, our song choice was a controversial one. It's by an artist who's polarizing on just about every front. Not all of the lyrics are appreciated by everyone, and people have found the subject matter offensive. So why did we choose it? We wanted to see what people would do with a song they didn't necessarily like."
- from the Band Bombshell post, COMPLETELY COVERED: 10 BANDS, 1 SONG
"Our song of choice, Kanye West's "Gold Digger", was not the most popular of choices. Kanye isn't the most popular of artists among the bands we tapped, and "Gold Digger" is far from his best song, so covering it—and making it into something entertaining—required a little more effort on the part our bands. Not everybody was up to it, and three of our bands dropped out, with varying degrees of grace."
- from the Band Bombshell post, COMPLETELY COVERED: THE STORY THUS FAR
Chad has written a post of each version in the first series on this Culture Myth website. You can read them here...
Yes. that's right, I am once again abusing my power to promote my live show!
Why?
Because any money that I make from this show is going back into this website!
So come out and support this website and Iowa music! And please with all your friends, family, co-workers! Send this to your enemies just to annoy them!
Expand your musical horizons!
Discover new music!
Explore the wide diversity of music Des Moines and Iowa have to offer you!
For two years, the Iowa Music Showcase website and podcast has been a source to discover all kinds of Iowa music. Now Iowa Music Showcase and Lefty's Live Music present a live show!
Ten different acts of ten very different styles, displaying the wonderful variety and eclectic nature of the Des Moines and Iowa music scenes!
Late show ---
Danny Grause (country) - 12:30am
Foxholes (indie/shoegazer) - 11:45pm
The Paige Harpin Group (jazz/RnB/soul) - 11:00pm
Hallowed Hysteria (heavy metal) - 10:15
Des Moines Chamber Ensemble (classical) - 9:30pm
Early show ---
prettygirlhatemachine (rap/hip hop) - 8:00pm
The Dick Danger Band (funk) - 7:15pm
Java Jews (klezmer/Jewish folk) - 6:30pm
Patresa Hartman (singer/songwriter/folk) - 5:45pm
JC//jp (experimental/electronic) - 5:00 pm
We have ten different acts from ten different genres. And you can hear them all here, representing the wide, diverse, eclectic sound that makes up the Des Moines and Iowa music scenes.
We have classical music, jazz, folk, metal, country, indie, funk, and electronic music on this ticket! And you get a preview of them all right here!
For two years now, we have been providing with all kinds of Iowa music, as well as showing other places where you can find even more Iowa music! And, trust me, we will continue to do that!
But now we have added to our arsenal! Iowa Music Showcase is happy and proud to announce a live show!
Feb 4, 5pm, at Lefty's Live Music in Des Moines, we will present nine very different acts of nine very different styles to show the diversity of music that Des Moines and Iowa has to offer you!
