Radio Moscow

Radio Moscow makes a heavy and rocking brand of psychedelic blues that is reminiscent of Jimi Hendrix: hard, driving and with lots of shredding on the guitar. The band got a huge boost when they were signed to Alive Records, the label operated by the Black Keys. In fact, Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys even co-wrote some of the songs on Radio Moscow's most recent record, “Brain Cycles”. Originally formed in Story City, Radio Moscow relocated to Northern California last year and has continued their relentless touring of America and Europe.

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Poison Control Center, The

Sounds like: Pavement

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Atombender

Atombender is a group of seven friends from the Ames area who came together because of their love of music. They have a hard-hitting style but also get crowds dancing with catchy melodies, which may come from the horn section and keyboards. The guys in Atombender put as much energy, joy and passion they possibly can into their music and hope to evoke those same feelings in the crowd.

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Longshadowmen

Isaac Norman will take you on a trip with his sometimes-satirical, always dynamic storytelling. At home on the road, old hardwood floors, and all the spaces in between, he's met an eclectic array of characters, and brings them alive with song and word and a little growl. Expect to get caught up in his well-crafted modern folk stories.

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Trouble No More

Trouble No More got its start in July of 2007. Based out of Ames Iowa, the band is made up of five members who have been playing for a combined time of over 100 years. Playing a broad spectrum of blues, Trouble No More feels right at home performing the smooth, cool sounds of jazzy Blues to the fast paced road house sounds that we all know and love. The band’s goals include becoming a mainstay at live music events frequented by aficionados of American roots music, and recording a full length CD of original songs within the next two years. Trouble No More strives to produce a tight, quality musical program that makes a joyful connection with audiences through authenticity, creativity, vibrant chemistry among band members, and overall positive energy.

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Go Easy, The

A blues/funk/jam band from the Des Moines/Ames area that has plenty of originals and also covers music from the 70's to now.

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So Much Fun

So Much Fun is like “a dance party on Mars.” Their music is drenched in space-out synthesizers, loaded with super-quick drum beats and anchored in strong and catchy melodies. Their live show is an intense and energetic experience and is just as insane as it is club-friendly. Their recent album “Mookraker” is a good representation of both their psychedelia and their pop.

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Christopher the Conquered

Band leader and songwriter Chris Ford brings a wild theatrical energy to the stage as he leads the band and the audience through catchy, horn-laced soul numbers. The band is known for exciting live shows that feel spontaneous and joyful.

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Nuclear Rodeo

Nuclear Rodeo is a pop group from Ames. They have a fun, easygoing and catchy sound, and they like playing tricks on each other. They released a full-length album called "Somethin' Bad's Happenin'".

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The Envy Corps

The Envy Corps has been making music for a decade, releasing numerous albums of catchy, danceable, synthy rock songs. They have toured the US and England extensively and are currently working on recording a new album. Originally based out of Ames, the band now mostly resides in Des Moines where they help operate a recording studio. They have grown to be one of the most widely-known and well-loved bands from Iowa.

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Wire Frames, The

The Wire Frames is a band based out of Ames, IA headed by Curtis Weigel.

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Workshy, The

The Workshy is a five-piece band from Ames that is getting known for its incredibly energetic live shows and lively musicianship. Their variety of influences, ranging from jazz, funk, bluegrass and blues as well as many others, combines to create an infectious blend of sounds. They have been asked to share the stage with such bands as Great American Taxi, Radio Moscow, Euforquestra, Family Groove Company, Flood Plane and Jambang. Starting to play around Ames in 2008, they have been growing ever since and have started to form a following around the Iowa music scene.

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Unknown Component

Unknown Component is the musical project of Keith Lynch based out of Ames, Iowa. To date, the project consists of seven self-released independent albums, and two unreleased albums, volumes I and II. All of which were written, and recorded by Lynch. The most recently released album, titled

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Shades

A collection of musicians, hailing from distinct genres. A love of music brought us together. Let our music bring you to us. We are Shades. So are you. Shades is an alternative rock band from Des Moines, IA. The group found itself falling into place and into rhythm early in 2009 with a mission to write original music which conveys the same tangible sense of emotion the artists felt when creating it. Shades is loud, sometimes soft, sometimes digital and sometimes trapped in the analog. We do not discriminate against acoustics or synths - it's all legit if it works to make you feel something.

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Jordan Mayland and the Thermal Detonators

Jordan is an always-active musician in Ames. The Thermal Detonators is a solo project to give an outlet for some of his lovely, low-key songs. Light instrumentation, layered vocals, memorable melodies and eloquent lyrics characterize the stripped-down sound of this project.

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Jason Sturges

often a few beats off the path, my compositions are an amalgamation of all i find desirable in music. taking standard theory that might be applied to any classic, infusing jazz, and wrapping the result around funk rhythms, i end up with a flux of fusion as my moniker. i believe in a depth that is not an invitation of complexity, but rather a metaphysical interpretation achievable to any listener. through a spread of tones and rhythms, a melody is kindled. as you listen, you will find what you expect even if you're surprised by what you find. creating a scene here on the wire is a small pocket of my works.

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Sam Pattison

I am a solo musician who plays all over Ames and some of her surrounding cities. I play in bars and cafes but my favorite place to play is out on the street. Keep an eye out for me and if you find me I will play you a song :D

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Leslie and the Ly's

Leslie Hall first achieved underground notoriety for her campy/glamorous website devoted to gem sweaters. Building on the success of her website, Leslie developed a comical hip hop act that has since grown into a homegrown Internet sensation. The band draws large crowds all over the country with a live show that features costumes and characters, skits and gags. But the real reason people come to her shows is to dance to the irresistible beats (which Leslie writes on the program Garage Band). The band's unique and notable live performance has made it one of Ames' most successful professional bands.

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Keepers of the Carpet

Keepers of the Carpet is a long-running band that started in northwest Iowa in the late 1990s and has been based out of Ames since 2001. They are a lively, energetic rock band with a knack for vocal harmonies and super-catchy hooks. The band has gone through different lineups over the years, but they have always specialized in a fun '90s rock sound anchored in strong songwriting.

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BreezeWay, The

The BreezeWay is a rock band currently based in Ames, Iowa. Keep it rockin'!

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Jerkles, The

The Jerkles are a krautrock/noise/jazz group.

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Thoughts of Crossing

Thoughts of Crossing consists of Tom, John, and Pat Hummer and their long time friend Mike Bal. They have been writing and performing their own music for over 8 years now, and are currently working on a new album. Their music is influenced by a variety of musicians and styles some of which include 311, Tool, Incubus, Radiohead, NIN, Beck, and Thrice.

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Strong Like Bear

Singer-songwriters Jordan Mull and Bryon Dudley have played together in various bands for over a decade, but Strong Like Bear is the distilled, acoustic song-focused project that really displays their strengths. Percussionist Rachel

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The Most Handsome Duo in the World

This acoustic duo lends its considerable guitar chops to blues standards and original songs. Their live show is energetic and intimate, making them a good fit for coffee shops and house concerts. Their ability to play a long set also makes them accessible to bars in town.

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Junk Poet

This long-running local metal band incorporates blues and garage rock influences into its heavy, hard-hitting sound. The band has established a solid local following through its many years of making music, which makes this band a good choice for bars and clubs in town.

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People With Heads

A wild and funny psychobilly band that finds a hard-driving rhythm and holds onto it relentlessly. They have a distinct, absurdist songwriting style, as seen in their songs

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Eric Henderson

Adult contemporary indie music. From Robbin Ford and James Taylor to Jason Mraz and Jack Johnson with a little John Mayer seasoning. 2010 CD "Word Play" http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/erichenderson2 2008 CD :Simple City: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/erichenderson My site: http://www.erichenderson.com Production Lab: http://www.bumblefunk.com All Things Indie: http://www.griffle.com

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Unwavery

Sound track for a puppet-starved America.

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Ladysoal

Ladysoal is an energetic band from Ames that is a vocal explosion from start to finish. The band is built around the voice and intense physical presence of singer and guitarist Sharika Sawer. Backing her up is lead guitarist Mike Meiers, who also played in the late Ames band The Neverends. During live shows, they are often accompanied by a rotating cast of musicians on bass, drums and backup vocals. Ladysoal has an upcoming EP and, as in their live show, the vocals are front and center. Sharika is truly a soul singer and her voice is loaded with emotions that range from tender to agressive. In the song "Sunshine" she lets her voice dance around the lovely melody, finding new trills and falls for each line. For the EP's final song (and my personal favorite) "Mommie," Sharika's voice is in aggressive mode: she brings a full-throated, growling and intense vocal performance through the whole song. Mike's guitar playing is well-suited to Sharika's voice. On "Poison" he lays down a gentle counter-melody in the background and it adds a nice flow to the song. Especially on the more rocking numbers, Mike adds a psychedelic blues-y flavor to the songs. The EP has a lot of dynamic range, from a chill slow jam like "Low" to the fierce rocking of "Mommie." You have to see this band like, too. The vocal intensity on display in the recordings is matched by the physical intensity of Sharika's performance.

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Mumford's

Mumford's began as a solo project in the summer of 2008 and has expanded into a wild freak-folk storyteller dance band with horns. The songs always have a strong emphasis on storytelling and character development and use a variety of voices and instrumentation to bring across very specific characters and circumstances. Mumford's is also a very visual performance act featuring unpredictable, joyous dancing, warm invitations for audience participation and positive vibes throughout (even when the songs get kind of, um, twisted). We don't stress, we just love to play and entertain. We will show you a good time! We treat every show as a SHOW. We'll play anywhere, for anyone. Don Mumford is the spirit of music and this is his band.

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You Are Home

You Are Home's albums have been described as "extremely mind-bending & creative-to-the-bone" (Jimmy Rae, skope), "the manic energy of one man trapped alone in a studio and playing for his life" (Wildy, wildy's world), and as having a "wide open musical palette" (Michael Swanger, cityview). This sense of musical experimentation has come into fruition with You Are Home's latest opus, Funzzz. You Are Home was formed in 2003 in Ames, Iowa as an entirely different band, focused on live performance. As the music became increasingly complex, composer/musician Matthew Dake began to heavily utilize the studio as an instrument itself, forsaking live performance entirely. This process began with You Are Home's 2008 self-titled debut album, which, despite working from a strict post-rock palette, features hints of the studio wizardry to come. 2009's Phoneyhome was a critically acclaimed yet commercially overlooked foray into studio experimentation. Phoneyhome is a transitional work, tying up the loose ends of the debut and providing the roots for creative growth in a studio-based format. This newfound sense of freedom in the studio context laid the groundwork for Funzzz. Described as a loose concept album about "having a good time," Funzzz features previously unheard tendencies towards the avant-garde and underground psychedelic music of the late 60's and 70's. Featuring a large cross-section of prominent Ames musicians with Dake at the core and providing a wholly unique perspective within the Iowa music scene, Funzzz is a kaleidoscopic tour de force.

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