Father John Misty returns to Iowa tonight on October 1st at the Val Air Ballroom in Des Moines for the first time since performing at 80/35 festival in 2022, a show I was not only at, but also vaguely remember.
Last week, Chicago’s emo sweethearts Your Arms Are My Cocoon returned to Iowa City (again!), this time in the basement of someone’s house.
Iowa punks BOOTCAMP record release show exemplified the huge impact that even small music communities can bring.
Amidst 2025’s exciting alternative rock scene, Irish trio NewDad released their second studio album on September 19, Altar. Expanding on punk and soft rock elements from their first studio album Madra, the band also pulls from shoegaze with the explosive, distorted guitars and airy vocals that build the new record’s atmosphere.
Bluff Street, a new band from Cedar Falls is bringing their heartfelt indie rock and to Iowa City, only at the James this Saturday.
Iona Zajac made her way across the pond from Glasgow with The Pogues to celebrate the 40th anniversary of their record “Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash”. We discussed touring with this historic band, the best music coming out of Ireland, and her debut album “Bang” releasing this November.
Every band, especially a singer-songwriter, should be able to produce a sense of prestige and conviction while on stage. Mason Jennings’s performance Saturday, October 5th at The Englert succeeded in both of these aspects, as he sailed through a menagerie of melodic, guitar and piano based tracks. He quickly jumped into his set, with the crowd anxiously awaiting his presence. Within the first few songs, Jennings built a lot of respect from the crowd. He spoke of his family with gratitude, the kind only seen when someone has really taken the time to appreciate his surroundings. This sense of kindness … Continued
