I’m sure this has happened to everyone, but have you ever put something off to last minute, because you’re unfortunately lazy, and then last minute shows up, but you’re too busy helping some lady with a pair of shoes she eventually doesn’t buy? And you’re angry and hungry and you’re only stuck there because some old guy who’s in a pissing contest with your supervisor called in sick, so you had to cover his job and yours? Then you had to stop at the store so your wife could have a Pepsi? Now you’re a half an hour past last minute, so you have to throw together a post likely full off typpos and probably the same adjectives over and over because your brain is moving too quick to think of anything different? Yeah, its an age old problem that is currently happening. But there are three great shows tonight that I wanted to point out, so here’s a truncated post. Get out and see some music.

First would be the acclaimed Generationals playing Vadueville Mews at 6pm. They are the type of band that shows up every once in a while and wows everyone. Opening for them are the wonderfully kooky Brass Bed from Louisiana. They are actually pretty well respected among a lot of people in this town. So much that they actually consider this a second hometown. So, with Brass Bed playing a rare hometown show and the incredible Generationals, this is pretty much can’t miss.

The late show is the awesome Noah’s Ark Was a Spaceship out of Omaha. They are loud and talented. Hints of Dino Jr. and like, but also a bit of a punk mentality, they are powerful and wonderful. If that wasn’t enough, opening the show are two of Des Moines’ best in the terrifc prog-meets-metal-meets hard rock Fetal Pig and the always lovely Love Songs For Lonely Monsters. This one will be loud. Wear ear plugs. Trust me.

Over at the Gas Lamp, The thumping punk of The Atom Age is set to take the stage at 8pm. Gas Lamp gets a lot of acts like this, and they are all very good, but there is something special about Atom Age. Head here for details.

May 8, 2013
Categories: Uncategorized . . Author: Dave Murphy . Comments: Leave a Comment

This is where I have been the last few weeks. This is my son, Quinn Kristopher Murphy, born on April 26. He was born a mack track like 9 lbs 4oz and is now already up to 10 lbs. He’s a hoss and I already have visions of him starting at fullback for Notre Dame (and look that name; Notre Dame is where he belongs) and maybe parlaying that into a WrestleMania appearance, or at minimum, being able to bench press slightly more than the bar, unlike his old man. To be fair, that’s how big his waif-ish mother was when she was born, so it’s not likely.

He is a pretty quiet baby, overall, but when he gets mad, look the fuck out. There have been several times where I could say things like “this is the literally the angriest he’s ever been,” because it is true. But also, there have been times where he smiled that baby smile of his and suddenly you knew he was as content as he will ever be. No world to weigh him down, no negative stimuli to distract him. Just unadulterated bliss. It is the beauty of being ten days old. You have so much to learn and so much to experience, and yet there are real legit unimpeachable firsts. As you age, you say things like “I have never seen something so awesome (or so terrible or whatever) in my whole life” but there is literally no way to prove that. There may have been a time you got pinched by your hyperactive sister when you were ten days old where you were the angriest you will ever be. Or maybe the first time you felt a fleece puppy dog, you had never been or will never be happier than you are that that moment. It is why children can be so awesome, they have no idea how little life will start to get to them if they let it.

So, I have decided to take this time to behave slightly infantile. I had planned on coming back and recapping all the things I missed, and there have been a lot, but instead I will look directly towards the future. I am going to pretend like today is the first day I have ever written anything (and I’m sure some of you reading this will take that as gospel. Shut up, I’m rusty) and this is the first day I have ever experienced the joy of music and art. While this means I don’t get to talk about cool things I may have missed, it also means I will no longer dwell. I hope to treat all things in the future with the enthusiasm of someone experiencing things for the first time. A future that will have more firsts and, most importantly, more things I will treat with the joy and/or pain of firsts. So hooray for fresh starts and renewed enthusiasms! I will see you all tomorrow with a preview of a show for which I have never been more excited.

May 7, 2013
Categories: Uncategorized . . Author: Dave Murphy . Comments: Leave a Comment

Dammit. There were totally three things I meant to talk about both here and at Des Moines is Not Boring and I blew it. So lets do one more quickie post.

-Tonight at Beechwood Lounge is a free show featuring Diamonds For Eyes, Wrestling With Wolves, Strong Like Bear and Dan Mariska. This is a great show, especially for free. Diamonds For Eyes also released their 2011 album The Era Of Our Ways, so you should check that out, too.

-Gas Lamp also has a cool show on Monday April 15. Good For You plays a 21+ show, and you should check that out. Good For You features Greg Ginn of Black Flag and Mike Vallely, who you may know best as a pro skater. Should be a blast.

-Also there is a cool art festival held in Monmouth, IA called Seldom Seen. It features art of all kinds, music, film lit and more. This year’s event is June 28 and 29 and features the band PHOX, but also blog favorites like Trouble Lights and Alexis Stevens. They have also launched a PledgeMusic page you should check out and maybe throw some money towards. More info right here.

April 12, 2013
Categories: Uncategorized . . Author: Dave Murphy . Comments: Leave a Comment

There are two incredible shows tonight, so you have your work cut out for you, Des Moines.

First, Clutch w/ Orange Goblin, Lionize and Scorpion Child play Wooly’s. Clutch was the first in a long line of bands I fell in love with out of nowhere. Back when you could get a dozen CD’s for a penny from a magazine ad (yes youngsters, this was a thing that happened) I purchased an album called The Elephant Riders because I thought that was a funny thing to title an album, and I had only 11 CD’s picked out and needed to fill my order. I actually put it in right away when the package arrived, and was blown away. Here we are 15+ years later and I still listen to it regularly, along with a whole lot more of what Clutch has released. I also have it on good authority that Orange Goblin is incredible.

The second big show tonight is B. Dolan, Toki Wright, Mike Mictlan and prettygirlhatemachine at Vaudeville Mews. I spoke of the incredible Toki Wright last time he was in town. Now he brings with him Mike Mictlan from Doomtree and B. Dolan, who is a lyrical genius and world renowned poet/MC. For real, watch that video I posted and check it out. These three are among the smartest, most gifted and most thoughtful talents in the world. They are joined by Des Moines’ own prettygirlhatemachine, a pretty awesome group in their own right. This show may sneak by a few people, but do your best to get to it.

Hit the jump for some housekeeping type stuff and a few links to some other pieces I have been working on:

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April 11, 2013
Categories: Uncategorized . . Author: Dave Murphy . Comments: 1 Comment