Sound Notes Pick o’ the Week

Let’s kick things off this week with Vaudeville Mews. This Thursday, Feb. 28, Mews plays host to the Iowa City Song Project Show. The Iowa City Song Project — an album commissioned by Iowa City’s Englert Theater in 2012 — features tracks from such homegrown talent as Bo Ramsey and Greg Brown. The Mews show brings some of the Project’s musicians together for one night, including Poison Control Center, Christopher the Conquered, Mumfords, Alex Brody and Brooks Strause. The show starts at 8 p.m. and is $7 at the door.           

On Friday, March 1, Gas Lamp has Holy White Hounds performing at 9 p.m. That one’s $5 at the door.                

Also on March 1, House of Bricks has two shows to tempt you. On the early slate, House of Decay, Apathy Syndrome and Hallowed Hystera play an all-ages show starting at 5 p.m. for $5 at the door. Then on the late side, Hold for Swank, Thee Annunaki and Tyrannosaurus Flex kick things off at 9:30 p.m. Also $5.                

The Sound Notes Pick o’ the Week is for a good cause on Saturday, March 2, as the Val Air Ballroom hosts the Bottoms Up Blues Bash. Presented by the Central Iowa Blues Society and www.DavidsFight.org, the Bash marks the start of colon cancer awareness month and will feature performances by The Bel Airs out of Columbia, Mo., and Des Moines’ own Matt Woods and the Thunderbolts. Show starts at 7 p.m., and tickets are $20 in advance, available at the Val Air box office or at www.valairballroom.com, or $25 day of show.                

Sunday, March 3, head on down to El Bait Shop and check out Jason Walsmith, performing from 8 – 11 p.m. No cover.                

Wooly’s is the place to be on Monday, March 4, as the venue brings The Dirty Heads to town with its “Tour Odyssey,” featuring Shiny Toy Guns. The all-ages show kicks off at 7 p.m. with Midi Matilda and Oh No Fiasco opening. Tickets are $23 in advance through Ticketfly, or $25 day of show.                

It’s back to the Mews on Tuesday, March 5, for two shows. First up is an all-ages show featuring Keith Harkin, the best thing to come out of Derry, Northern Ireland, since “The Secret of Roan Inish.” The Irish acoustic pop-folk singer takes the stage at 6:30 p.m., and the show is $20.                

Then in the evening, get your indie rock on with Desert Noises the Provo, Utah, four-piece plays Des Moines along with The Host Country and Ryan’s Tigers and Bears. That one gets under way starting at 10 p.m. and is $7 at the door.              

On Wednesday, March 6, the Val Air Ballroom goes a cappella, with Pentatonix. The Arlington, Texas, quintet will be in town for a show starting at 7 p.m. Tickets to that one are $25 in advance through www.valairballroom.com, or $30 day of show.               

Also on Wednesday, March 6, go Underground and check out The Snacks. They’re easily one of the top two or three musical comedy duos in the city, and they’ll prove it, starting at 9 p.m. Mahalo. CV