Fun Facts: State Flower: Wild Rose, State Song: “Song of Iowa,” State Colors: Red, White, and Blue
Home of: Slipknot, Ashton Kutcher, Leslie and the Lys, Cloris Leachman, The Everly Brothers
The Venues:
Iowa’s capital city of Des Moines boasts some eclectic live music venues. Both the House of Bricks and Vaudeville Mews feature rock, punk, hip hop and Americana acts to the delight of the music going public.
Davenport’s River Music Experience is more than a venue: It is a non-profit organization helping to build the Quad city music scene through live music and educational opportunities. The onsite museum hosts permanent exhibits detailing the history of American music and the role the Mississippi river played in spreading it, as well as rotating exhibits of rock memorabilia and concert photography. The center also provides music lessons, classes on audio engineering and two live performance spaces: Mojo’s Coffee House gives local talent a place to strut their stuff while regional and national artists like Tea Leaf Green and G. Love & Special Sauce take the stage at the Redstone Room. Catch Ourstage artist Daphne Willis & Co. at The Redstone Room April 17th!
The Music:
Radio Moscow – Just like their psychedelic, bluesy, garage rock sound, the story of Radio Moscow’s discovery is a throwback to another time. Vocalist and lead guitarist Parker Griggs handed a demo to Black Keys guitarist Dan Auerbach after a Black Keys show. Parker was surprised later to get a call from Auerbach, who not only liked the demos, but wanted to try to get the band signed to Alive/BOMP! records. Auerbach succeeded, and the band released their debut album, produced by Auerbach, on Alive/BOMP! in 2007. The band is currently touring Europe in support of their 2009 release Brain Cycles.
Patrick Bloom – Americana artist Patrick Bloom may not be originally from Iowa, but he has adopted the state as his own and it shows. His OurStage profile states, “…There is something about his songs that resembles the Iowa landscape he’s claimed for himself.” Patrick’s lyrics truly paint a picture of everyday American life.
The Dig Angees – The Dig Angees busted onto the Iowa scene in 2005 and immediately began getting noticed for their upbeat, frantic and often surf-influenced rock sound. They finished 3rd out of 3,200 bands in the nationwide 2008 LG Rally For Music Battle of the Bands competition and have played both years (2008 and 2009) of Iowa’s 80/35 Music festival along side artists like Public Enemy, Broken Social Scene and Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks. If you dig their sound, keep your eyes peeled. The band’s Facebook page promises, “… Something very interesting and tantalizing is in the mix right now for all of you.”
BackDrop – That Backdrop’s pop/rock sound has captured the attention of over 91,000 fans on MySpace should come as no surprise considering their debut EP was recorded and produced by Chuck Macak of Electrowerks Music Production, a company who’s worked with the princess of pop Britney Spears. Fresh off a January Hot Topic in store acoustic tour, the band is hard at work on a new EP and will spend 2010 touring the Midwest.
Check out these acts and other great Iowa artists in the playlist below! Who are your favorite OurStage Iowans? Where do you like to see music in Iowa? Let us know in the comments!
