By Michael Swanger michael@dmcityview.com

Before Rob Gordon, the compulsive list-making record store owner portrayed by John Cusack in the movie "High Fidelity" brought them into the mainstream, mix tapes had been a part of the underground music world for years - so long they're still called "tapes" though they are recorded on CDs. From music junkies and wannabe hipsters, to amateur DJs and underground bands, mix tapes have long been an outlet for those who believe it necessary to share their personal musical tastes with loved ones and friends.

Two Des Moines musicians, however, want to impress more than their friends with the release of their free "515 mix tape" in January. Guitarists Adam Haug (Oh! possum) and Micah Sturdevant (Fisted Glory) have created "Under the MICroscope: Volume One," a compilation of tunes by 25 local bands, with one purpose in mind - to promote Des Moines music to a larger audience.
"People might be surprised by how many musicians are doing amazing things here," the 24-year-old Haug says. "We want to get the word out."

In less than a month, Haug and Sturdevant accumulated several electronic audio files from artists representing an array of genres like hip-hop, metal, ska and electronica. Those who made the final cut include House of Commons, DJ Purify, Paul Moses, Gai Den, Dyrekt, Skin of Earth, Chriffism, The Mutts and This Dialogue.

"We wanted this to connect with as many people as possible, so we didn't limit it to one style of music," Haug says. "Each one of them has their own unique sound and we hope this brings them new fans."

Artists who live and perform in the Des Moines area were asked to submit an original composition, recorded live or in a studio. Those who were selected will be provided a master copy of the album for them to distribute free of charge. The CD will not include cover art or liner notes to keep its production costs down, allowing bands to simply burn their own copies and give them away at shows or through their Web sites. Haug says the DIY approach eliminates financial barriers for the bands and fans by making every step of the process free of charge.

"We wanted to do this so there was no money involved and no hassles," he says. "We want people to know the tape is not for sale and that we encourage them to burn their own copies and distribute them. We feel like it's going to be a cool thing for bands to promote themselves and the scene."

To market the mix tape, Haug and Sturdevant plan to host a CD release show Jan. 21 at the Vaudeville Mews. They have also launched a Web site, www.myspace.com/underthemic, which includes the tape's track listing, lyrics, band bios and photos. And if the first CD is a success, the duo hopes to release another one in a few months, adding they have considered making a DVD of live performances for their next release.

"We're just two dudes who love music and it's our way of giving back to the community," Haug says. "We would really like to see people in Des Moines come together and get out of their boxes of what they're into and try other styles of music."

M-Shop announces spring lineup

The folks at the Maintenance Shop in Ames last week released their spring lineup, which kicks off Jan. 13 with a performance by Them vs. Them, comprised of members of Oh My God and The Grommits. Other noteworthy shows include rising Iowa roots artist William Elliot Whitmore (Jan. 21), Squirrel Nut Zippers founder and hardcore Delta bluesman Jimbo Mathus (Feb. 8), alt-rock singer-songwriter Andrew Bird (Feb. 16), Texas contemporary bluegrass trio The Greencards (Feb. 24) and slowcore rockers Low (April 4). Tickets for most shows are on sale now at the main desk in Memorial Union on the campus of Iowa State University or by calling (515) 294-8349. Stay tuned for updates as we receive them. The following is a lineup of confirmed shows as of press time, including students and public advance ticket prices:
Jan. 13 - Them vs. Them, 9 p.m., $6-$8
Jan. 14 - Chris Mills and the New Miserable Bastards, 9 p.m., $6-$8
Jan. 21 - William Elliot Whitmore, 9 p.m., $8-$10
Jan. 25 - The Life and Times, 8 p.m., $6-$8
Jan. 26 - Lil' Ed and the Blues Imperials, 9 p.m., $11-$14
Jan. 27 - Willy Porter, 8 p.m., $14-$17
Jan. 28 - Charlemagne, 9 p.m., $6-$8
Jan. 31 - Feist, 8 p.m., $12-$15
Feb. 8 - Jimbo Mathus, 8 p.m., $8-$10
Feb. 11 - Eric Hutchinson, 9 p.m., $8-$10
Feb. 16 - Andrew Bird, 8 p.m., $12-$15
Feb. 23 - Ellis Paul, 8 p.m., $7-$11
Feb. 24 - The Greencards, 8 p.m., $12-$15
Feb. 27 - Shannon Curfman, 8 p.m., $12-$15
April 4 - Low, 8 p.m., $15-$18

Scene notes

Funkmaster Cracker, the one-man rhythm section of Matt Grundstad, plays the Des Moines Art Center's Arts After Hours family event Jan. 6 from 5 to 9 p.m. Admission is $5. Call 271-0338... Sam Summers of First Fleet Concerts has lined up two noteworthy shows at the House of Bricks next spring. On March 2, Armor For Sleep, Boys Night Out, Chiodus and Action Reaction will perform at 6 p.m. Tickets are $10. And on March 16 the "X-Box 360 Tour," with performances by Hellogoodbye, Panic! At the Disco, Acceptance and The Academy Is... swings through for an all-ages show at 6 p.m. Advance tickets, $15, are available through IowaTix.com... The Walnut Tap, Des Moines' alt-country honky-tonk, is looking for a house band that can play country and rockabilly covers. Call 262-1218... Moes Haven, a quirky New Hampshire-based acoustic folk-rock duo, plans to release 365 albums in 2006. That's right, an album a day. Singer-songwriters Matt Farley and Tom Scalzo, who already have 10 records and nearly 1,000 tunes under their belt, are no strangers at taking on such giant tasks. Three years ago, they recorded a 24-disc set in 24 hours. Though the duo has about 30 albums banked for 2006, they're still pressed with writing about 330 more, each approximately 30 minutes in length, a fact not lost on Farley. "This project will result in some of the worst songs ever recorded, but almost by accident we're bound to come up with some tunes that stand up there with our best work," he says. Admittedly, if most of the bad tracks are half as fun to as those found on their previous albums, like "The Entertainment Profession is Ruining Our Relationship," "Gord's Gold is All I Have in Life," "We May Never Meet Again (So Give me a Tracheotomy)," "I Wanna Meet Scarlett Johansson in a Coffeeshop at Three" and "'Domestic Bliss is Nothing Compared to a Night in the Red Light District,' Thought the Sailor," it might be worth it. See for yourself at www.moeshaven.com. CV

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