By Chad Taylor
soundcheck@dmcityview.com

I just got back from a vacation in Seattle where, ironically, I got to watch Ames’ very own Parlours play a set. The show at Seattle institution The Crocodile was part of the band’s recently-completed west coast tour that included stops in Colorado, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona and Colorado, all leading up to the band’s CD-release party this past week at Wooly’s. Small world, indeed.

Denver’s Coles Whalen comes back to town on Sept. 6 at People’s. The show starts at 9 p.m., and tickets are $10 at the door.

Also on Sept. 6, Gas Lamp hosts its “Open Jam,” featuring the Scott Long Band. That show kicks off at 9 p.m. as well and is free.

On Friday, Sept. 7, check out the Des Moines Art Center’s “First Friday” series. This month the series features the incomparable Tina Haase Findlay and Bella Soul. The show starts at 5 p.m., and while you’re there, you can enjoy the cash bar and the Art Center’s top-notch collection of… well, art. Admission is free to Art Center Members, $5 for the proles.

House of Bricks has a couple of shows on Sept. 7 as well. At 5 p.m., check out Shatter and 4onthefloor for $5, and then Shatter, Dark Mirror and In Troubled Times at 9:30 p.m. for the same price.

The Sound Notes Pick o’ the Week is at Wooly’s on Saturday, Sept. 8. The Viva Montesa CD-release party kicks off at 9 p.m. and also features The Austin Taft Soundtrack and Resurrection Mary; $5 gets you in, and CDs will naturally be for sale also.

Also on Sept. 8, House of Bricks has an all-ages show, starting at 5 p.m. The lineup includes As For You, Screaming for Silence, No Good Deed and Soundstill; $5 at the door.

The Mills Street Band plays at Two Saints Winery in St. Charles on Sunday, Sept. 9, at 1 p.m. It’s free to get in, and there’s wine for sale by the bottle or by the glass.

Also on Sept. 9, Los Angeles rock outfit Attaloss will play the Vaudeville Mews at 5 p.m. The all-ages show is $10 at the door and will also feature Hollowpoint, Twenty 2 Salute and Kick.

Also at Vaudeville Mews is Detroit hardcore group Negative Approach. That all-ages show is on Monday, Sept. 10 and starts at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 at the door, and Knuckled Down also performs.

Get your fill of both hip-hop and Jewish auteur-related puns at Wooly’s on Tuesday, Sept. 11 when New York City’s Hoodie Allen comes to play. Tickets for the 7 p.m. show are $17.50 in advance and $20 at the door. Advance tickets are available through ticketfly.com. G-Eazy also performs.

Finally, on Wednesday, Sept. 12, it’s time for another installment of Nitefall on the River at the Simon Estes Amphitheater. This week, Umphrey’s McGee takes the stage, starting at 8 p.m. Tickets for that event range from $20-$25 and are available through ticketfly.com. Mahalo. CV