Reflections On Primitive Action by Mr. Softheart In a musical landscape littered with algorithm-choked playlists and brand-safe radio edits, Mr. Softheart comes forward in a defiant whisper. Their latest EP, Reflections On Primitive Action, spins a glittering web of discontent, yearning and sleazy dramatics on this six-track stunner. It’s the hottest release of the summer […]
Mr. Softheart
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Review: The music was choice at Mr. Softheart’s last xBk show, though one band wouldn’t stop blowing smoke
Is it defiance or stupidity that makes something stand out as a rebellious act? Regardless of what you believe, one thing is for certain: that was the most cigarettes I have ever seen smoked within the walls of xBk. On May 14 at 7 p.m., xBk welcomed Des Moines locals Mr. Softheart, alongside supporting acts […]
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The Mr. Softheart show happened like this
Two valued team members from Principal Financial Group were delivered here to the LiFT — by the divine means of Court Ave, or maybe, Fong’s — and found themselves next to me. There was nowhere else to go. The place was packed on Aug. 1 to welcome Mr. Softheart (the band, not man) into the […]
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Photo Gallery: Scenes from the 80/35 Music Festival, featuring Killer Mike, OK Go and more
The 80/35 Music Festival covered Des Moines’ Water Works Park in confetti on the first of two great (and hot!) nights of performances from national, international and Iowa acts alike. The first day of the festival — Friday, July 12 — saw tDreamer Isioma, Halfloves and Jim Swim take the stage, among others. As the […]
Posted inAlbum Reviews
Album Review: Mr. Softheart — ‘Magdalene in Crisis’
Magdalene In Crisis by Mr. Softheart Somewhere in the search engine results for “magnolia,” there is one of many paintings titled exactly that. It’s just a JPG of the original by Martin Johnson Heade, but thanks to the click-to-zoom functionality on slam.org, you can get close enough to see the wrinkles in the white paint. […]
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The Iowa talent at the heart of Mission Creek Festival
“Community is explicitly listed in the Mission Creek Festival tagline — ‘Music. Lit. Community.’ — which you won’t find with most other prominent music and arts festivals,” said Elly Hofmaier, marketing and programming coordinator for the Englert Theatre, which produces the festival. The Englert’s senior programming manager and festival director Brian Johannesen added, “Mission Creek […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment, Statewide
Track and video premiere: Mr. Softheart, ‘Surface Tension’
It’s all part of the act for Mr. Softheart. That’s because this local three-piece has no regard for the basic building blocks of rock bands. At one of their shows, you’re sure to spy the image of Bambi on a deltoid muscle or the late ’80s linebacker-inspired cut of a Jockey crop top. But what […]
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Album Review: Mr. Softheart (formerly Hex Girls) — “Caravaggio”/“Flower of Tomorrow”
“I suppose the new direction is another pandemic story,” Nick Fisher offers as the impetus for the recent pivot of the band formerly known as Hex Girls. “I had begun writing lyrics to songs that seemed to lend themselves to a new project: The themes were darker, perhaps more complex. Personal grief, as well as […]
