Viva Ted

Viva Montesa is the best rock n roll duo in the city. OK, I’m pretty sure its the ONLY rock duo in the city, but the point is that the band is damn good. Anytime it plays a gig, it’s worth checking out, but when Viva Montesa takes to the

Travelin’ Man finds home in DM

To quote the great musical philosopher Hedwig Schmidt: “My home is the road; the road, my home.” It’s a motto that Dan Tedesco knows better than most. The Chicago native has been touring — in one form or another — for most of his life, but the years 2012 and

Peace Love and Teamwork

From a talent standpoint, it can be easy to envy Peace Love & Stuff. Bassist Jacob Doll and drummer Joe McGuire provide as solid a rhythm section as you’ll find in the capital city, and they’re backing two of the area’s most irrepressible talents in guitar magician Dylan Boyle and

Improving the product

The Des Moines Music Coalition has often preached the concept of inclusion and unity — helping to promote music of all styles and genres. Then it has often turned around and continued to promote the same acts that it promoted the year before. But this year could be different. Yes,

An anecdote with New Member Charles

New Member Charles occupies a unique space in local music. Local bands are usually either the work of serious, talented musicians trying to make some money doing what they love, or they’re a bunch of guys who wouldn’t know a barre chord from a hole in the ground and are

Horn rock

Patrick Tape Fleming has his hand in a lot of projects. In addition to playing guitar for the biggest rock band to ever come out of Des Moines, The Poison Control Center, Fleming plays in a number of smaller local acts, including alt-country act Dillweed. Probably his most controversial, least

Here comes Jury

Just 21 years old, Max Jury has a world-weary air about him. He’s too genuine to come off as jaded, yet when he does things like refer to his former college classmates as “those kids” (as in “I’ve seen how great these kids are at music”), you don’t think of

Well, it’s that time of year again. Lazerfest announced its 2014 lineup, and the results have certainly had people talking. Headlining the event this summer are Queens of the Stone Age and The Offspring. Joining them for the May 11 event are Skillet, Theory of a Deadman, Machine Head, The Pretty