Saeed’s Punk Nite puts on free theme parties with games and nostalgic playlists at Maggie’s Rumble Room

Walking through the yellow-tinted double doors of Maggie’s Rumble Room, you’re likely to see a multi-generational Des Moines clientele purchasing drinks and crowding around pool tables. At the far end of the room hangs a sheet with a shag carpet beneath. Atop the carpet sits a chair, a speaker and a microphone.

Before long I clock a man wearing what I’ve learned is his signature red fez adorned with a lightning bolt “N” atop his head. He is Saeed Tokhi, and every second Monday of the month over the last year he’s orchestrated a full-on takeover of this retro biker bar. With the help of his wife Jen, bar co-owner Maggie Senn and a rotating stable of sponsors, Tokhi hosts a series titled Saeed’s Punk Nite.

Each iteration sees the fez-wearing Tokhi hit play on a “traditional, proto, post and punk adjacent playlist” to accompany whatever themed activity the crew cooked up for that month. There was a Draw Your Own Black Sheep contest during the Minor Threat-themed “Banned in DC” night, and a Design Your Own Skateboard activity during the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater night, which consisted solely of songs from the game’s iconic soundtrack. Senn and the Maggie’s staff would brew up some on-theme food and drink specials.

“I believe punk is an attitude and not a genre,” says Tokhi. He describes the series as a mash-up of Nardwuar and interactive pub quiz nights, like those thrown by fellow DSM artist Ramona Muse Lambert.

Last month, Saeed’s Punk Nite celebrated its one-year anniversary with “Metal Mowing May,” which boasted lawn games and nü-metal tunes curated by a sponsor, C & M Mowing. That night, Little Village had the privilege of speaking with Tokhi about his Punk Nite, plans for the future and how he got Rob Sand to be his featured guest.

The following Q&A has been edited for length and clarity. 

How did Punk Nite start?

It’s a funny story; my friend was doing a Grateful Dead night in the basement of Val Air. As a joke, I said, “What about a Dead Kennedys night?” My buddy, who owns the bar, said, “Yes.” It didn’t end up being in that venue, but that’s how it started. Sort of like a foil to the Grateful Dead Night. 

How did you end up using Maggie’s Rumble Room as your venue?

I was without a venue. I came in here. I didn’t know her [Maggie Senn]. I just said, “I promised everyone this thing, and I don’t have a venue.” And she’s like, “Sure,” and told me I could do whatever I want. 

It was great that she said I can do whatever I want, but I wonder if that’s like the best thing for someone like me, who needs a lot of structure. But Maggie is great because she’s so flexible. We have meetings every month about what the feature cocktails and the feature pizza are going to be. She’s very hands-on. She’s very invested in Punk Nite. So that’s great when a venue is just as committed and motivated as the host. 

You do specialty menu items?

Yeah, for example, because it’s nü-metal for May, we’re going to do a play on the word corn and have an elote pizza, or maybe a Limp Biscuit and gravy pizza? It’s kind of funny and it’s cringey, but I’m all for not being a snob or a gatekeeper about something that should be fun. 

You said you didn’t know Maggie when you initially talked with her. How did you first find Maggie’s?

I’ve been to Maggie’s before and I would come to the restaurant that was here previously, called Sambetti’s. So I’ve been to both and thought of Maggie’s because I really think it’s our only punk-rock bar. I mean, right now they’re playing country music, but it’s because I’ve been pushing this forever. I really feel like punk rock is an attitude and not literally power chords, so when I was thinking of a venue, this was my number-one choice. I’m so lucky I got it. 

How has Punk Nite evolved since you started?

Originally, it was going to be just the Dead Kennedys night, and it was my friend Don, who was doing the Grateful Dead night, who told me, “Don’t just do one band. Do different regions and different eras. Then it’s always fresh.” So it evolved in that way, every single month it’s either punk or punk adjacent. I am curious about how I can evolve it into proto punk, and even in the fall, I’d like to do an alt-country night to push the boundaries as well. 

What’s your hope for the series and its future?

I think third spaces are really important, something people can go to that’s consistent, that they can rely on. That’s really important. I didn’t really know it was going to turn into a variety show with games and stuff. I thought it was going to be just listening to music and maybe some trivia questions. I guess I’m trying to evolve it into something really entertaining and engaging. I’m just as curious to find out how it’s going to evolve as well. 

What has been your favorite Punk Nite so far?

We had Rob Sand in November, the state auditor [and Democratic candidate for governor]. I thought that was unreal/surreal, and it was packed. It was probably 100 people in here and there was a lot of energy. People were really excited to see him, so that’s hard to top. I’m always trying to reach that again. 

How did you get Sand to come out?

I’m lucky enough I happen to know his sister. I did get his campaign contacts, so I reached out to them. I talked to one person and talked to a second, pitched the idea. She liked it. She thought Rob would be into it. It came down to Rob asking his sister, “Can I trust this guy? Is this something I should do?” and she gave me the OK, which is huge. 

Over the past year, do you feel you’ve expanded people’s knowledge of punk?

The interesting thing about Punk Nite is I don’t think our audience is these die-hard, jaded punk-rock people. I think they actually kind of hate this thing because I don’t take myself seriously and I don’t think of punk-rock as a religion, so I don’t think there’s anything I can do that’s sacrilegious. Ironically, I think that the demographic is people who are looking for an entertainment community or even having a pizza dinner with their family, with a good soundtrack. 

Do you see a lot of families?

There’s always at least one or two regulars that bring their kids and then, because kids are so entertaining, I’ll have them judge the activities. For last month, the sponsor was Piney Ridge Greenhouse. So, we gave everyone these miniature Dixie cups. We filled them with edible rocks, then we gave them pipe cleaners to make flowers. My friend’s son got to judge his favorites, so he’s always fun on the microphone. Just gold.  

This article was originally published in Little Village’s June 2026 issue.