2018: Live Music in Des Moines
Oct. 31st, 2018 07:51 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bedsitter23Besides Matthew Sweet, I caught some local music this year.
Pianopalooza -This is a dueling piano dup of Tony Bohenkamp and Jerry Lorenson. Both are local musicians who are lifelong friends. Bohenkamp was a longtime member of the Nadas. Every town has a band that 'should have been huge' and in Des Moines (and Ames), it's the Nadas. Formed in 1993, they sound like every band formed that year. 25 years later, they are going strong from neo-grunge and Three Doors Down-style rock, to following their Saint Hootie into folk-fused country. They are extremely popular around here, and I am not a fan.
Bohenkamp plays solo but also takes Pianopalooza on the road. It's an evergreen idea that he will likely be able to sell for decades to come- fine for frat parties and nursing homes. To be fair, Pianopalooza are a lot of fun. They are good at what they do. Marrying an authentic friendship with experienced on-stage presence. They play a lot of the favorites but challenge the crowd to make requests. "Paradise City. Yeah, we'll play it. But you do know it is going to sound different with no guitars and just pianos".
Totally fun. They play around here constantly, and I caught them at a free show for all ages. This was really cool.
Zachary Freedom- You know I don't make it to bars anymore, and even when i did, the nondescript singer hardly registers. That said, although I was there for brews, i was impressed with the troubadour. His music fell a lot towards the more known songs of Dylan and Van Morrison. His website describes him as Christian, Blues, Folk, Funk, R&B, Country and he does weddings, so the guy's a worker. But, can't hold that against him. He has a talent that could take him far.
Pianopalooza -This is a dueling piano dup of Tony Bohenkamp and Jerry Lorenson. Both are local musicians who are lifelong friends. Bohenkamp was a longtime member of the Nadas. Every town has a band that 'should have been huge' and in Des Moines (and Ames), it's the Nadas. Formed in 1993, they sound like every band formed that year. 25 years later, they are going strong from neo-grunge and Three Doors Down-style rock, to following their Saint Hootie into folk-fused country. They are extremely popular around here, and I am not a fan.
Bohenkamp plays solo but also takes Pianopalooza on the road. It's an evergreen idea that he will likely be able to sell for decades to come- fine for frat parties and nursing homes. To be fair, Pianopalooza are a lot of fun. They are good at what they do. Marrying an authentic friendship with experienced on-stage presence. They play a lot of the favorites but challenge the crowd to make requests. "Paradise City. Yeah, we'll play it. But you do know it is going to sound different with no guitars and just pianos".
Totally fun. They play around here constantly, and I caught them at a free show for all ages. This was really cool.
Zachary Freedom- You know I don't make it to bars anymore, and even when i did, the nondescript singer hardly registers. That said, although I was there for brews, i was impressed with the troubadour. His music fell a lot towards the more known songs of Dylan and Van Morrison. His website describes him as Christian, Blues, Folk, Funk, R&B, Country and he does weddings, so the guy's a worker. But, can't hold that against him. He has a talent that could take him far.
