Des Moines Performing Arts is wrapping up its 2015-16 Spotlight Series this week with its presentation of “Vocalosity,” a new a cappella stage show from “Pitch Perfect” musical director Deke Sharon. The show combines many of the elements that make “Pitch Perfect” or “Glee” popular with the visceral interactivity of
Read More →A little more than a year ago, Dustin Smith started a new project. After having performed solo and having founded Dustin Smith & The Sunday Silos with his best friend Paige Harpin, Smith was ready for the next step in his sound. “The more I look back at The Sunday
Read More →Absolutes are not very common. Reality doesn’t often like to trade in them. However, if you were to walk into just about any music venue, practice room or recording studio around and say, “Jim Viner is the best drummer in Iowa,” you would find yourself on about as solid ground
Read More →Once one of the hardest-working, most popular bands in the city, The Poison Control Center, has been largely defunct for the past three years, as the band’s component members have become busier with other projects. The group pops up now and again at special events, but has not debuted any
Read More →In one of the better traditions of the year in Des Moines, the time has come for The Nadas’ annual Silent Night Christmas show and Toys for Tots benefit drive. Now in its 13th year, the show has evolved gradually from a full-blown, themed event, into something more personal and
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Posted December 09, 2015in Sound Circuit
Strong Like Bear and Electric Jury are two separate bands, but they seem to do some of their best, most dynamic work when they’re on the same page. The two acts have joined forces in the past to produce some highly experimental shows that highlight the prog nature of both
Read More →The Des Moines Music Coalition’s (DMMC) annual roots, blues and Americana celebration, Little BIG Fest, takes place this weekend. The past three years have seen the DMMC experiment with the festival’s makeup to make it a more enjoyable fan experience. This year, the festival makes a couple new changes. most
Read More →It has been a big year for Prettygirlhatemachine (PGHM). First, the Des Moines-based hip-hop trio released its album “Real is a Joke” back in April. It was also around that time that the group played its first Des Moines Music Coalition (DMMC) event, Gross Domestic Product, which they followed up
Read More →Far too often than any of us would like, Des Moines’ local music family is forced to look inward and help one of its own. However, to our city’s continual credit, every time the call is sounded, people step up and answer. If you have been to a live show
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Posted November 11, 2015in Sound Circuit
Des Moines native Dang Felton picked up his first instrument — the viola — at the age of 10. At 14, he taught himself how to play the guitar. From there, he was off and running. “I went from metal to reggae to jazz to blues — a little bit
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