About the 80/35 Bands

Written by Greater Des Moines Music Coalition

Tuesday, 15 April 2008 01:31

The Flaming Lips – http://www.flaminglips.com
For the best part of the last 20 years, The Flaming Lips have been renowned for their live shows. The innovative band has that special ‘something’ that others simply can’t emulate. From lead singer Wayne Coyne rolling around on the floor while playing his guitar in 1983, through various insane experiments with fire and fireworks in the later 1980s, to today’s mixture of confetti, mirror balls, and men in rabbit suits performing before a giant video screen. The upward progression The Flaming Lips continue to bring to the table in their music and live shows consistently garners new fans. The Oklahoma City-based three-piece create music that’s been deemed “deliciously weird,” earning them three Grammy Awards and international critical acclaim.

The Roots – http://www.theroots.com
Named one of the “twenty greatest live acts in the world” by Rolling Stone, The Roots have paved the way for live hip-hop. The Philadelphia group flawlessly combines rap with jazz, funk, and live instrumentation, earning them a Grammy in 1999, countless fans and critical acclaim. The Roots will release their 10th album, Rising Down on April 29 on Def Jam Records.

Yonder Mountain String Band – http://www.yondermountain.com
Yonder Mountain String Band has developed a strong following among bluegrass and jam band fans. JamBase says, “With little radio support, Yonder Mountain has become one of the fastest rising touring bands in the country, its fanbase having ballooned over the past five years through steady gigging and high-profile festival sets, all of which are full of improv and none of which feature the same set list.” Yonder Mountain releases their fifth volume in their series of live albums, Mountain Tracks, on April 15.

Girl Talk – http://www.girl-talk.net
Gregg Gillis (aka Girl Talk) has become an international star over the last year through his sample based remixes in which he uses at least a dozen elements of a dozen songs to create a new song. Girl Talk has earned praises from Rolling Stone, Newsweek, Spin, Pitchfork, XLR8R, and hundreds more. It is nearly impossible to document all the press, sold out shows, remix offers, and ecstatic support that Girl Talk's music has generated over the last year.

Drive-By Truckers – http://www.drivebytruckers.com
Based in Athens, Georgia, Drive-By Truckers’ music is unique due to “three-axe-attack” or three guitars as well as bass and drums. Lyrics often revolve around drifters and criminals trying to survive in economically depressed small towns. Drive-By Truckers have garnered many fans across the country with their signature alt-country and rock ‘n roll tunes.

Radio Moscow – http://www.myspace.com/radiomoscow
Radio Moscow fuses a garage-y sound channeled through the blues with experimental breakdowns, unpredictable tempo changes, crazy rave-ups and fuzzed out psychedelic guitar work. The trio from Ames, Iowa, landed Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys to produce their self-titled debut album, released in February of 2007 for ALIVE/BOMP records. The album has critics buzzing after rave reviews in Spin, Modern Fix, and Pop Matters. Radio Moscow recently completed a tour in Europe and performed at SXSW.

Poison Control Center – http://www.myspace.com/thepcc
The Poison Control Center has been hanging from chandeliers and doing somersaults around the country for the last six years. Releasing numerous EPs and singles, garnering national press for their explosive live shows, been featured on NPR, played the CMJ festival twice, opened for their idols, headlined festivals, and even had Max Weinberg sit in on drums for a show. They are floored to be the newest part of the Afternoon Records family. The Poison Control Center's debut full-length album, A Collage of Impressions was released in the fall of 2007. The Poison Control Center's songs continue being spastic psych-pop vignettes that fill minds with images and ideas, as their live shows usually end with a massive pig-pile of band members and spectators.

The Vandon Arms – http://www.thevandonarms.com
The Vandon Arms began in late 2005 when Aaron Buzbee (a.k.a. 'Buz') and Clint Meek decided to form a band based off of the simple idea of playing music they loved with their good friends. Their unique sound was a pleasant surprise to many in their hometown of Des Moines, Iowa, pulling their sound from punk music as well as traditional Irish music. The Vandon Arms released an EP in 2007 entitled Losers and Boosers.

Public Property – http://www.publicprop.com
Rated on JamBase as one of the hardest touring bands in 2007, Iowa City’s Public Property kicked off 2008 with a tour to Hawaii and is now gearing up for spring, summer, and fall tours of the mainland U.S. Their much-anticipated fourth studio album will be released later this year. The Beat Magazine said, "Public Property has a sound that is full-tilt reggae even though they don’t try to sing in fake patois and write original material that actually sounds original. Lots of syncopated rhythm breaks, bursts of pure groove and passionate musical interludes flesh out songs written by various band members.”

Mr. Baber’s Neighbors: The Solar String Band – http://www.baberhood.com
From the flatlands of the Midwest comes a band of urban hillbillies who joined the bluegrass revolution and set out to bring the mountain sounds to those seeking a respite from the daily grind. The Solar String Band was established in the living room of Mr. Baber’s Neighbor with the intentions of nothing more than a good time. With the release of their self-titled album, Mr. Baber’s Neighbors: Solar String Band offers their own interpretation of the bluegrass experience.

Last Updated on Friday, 17 October 2008 12:42

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