Equal parts sweat and excitement hang thick in the air after a full day of performances at the 80/35 music fest. It’s July 8, 2023, and it’s Greg Wheeler and the Poly Mall Cops’ festival afterparty at The LiFt in Des Moines.
The Lift
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 […]
Des Moines artist Brittany Brooke Crow rips and rearranges self-portraits to explore form and vulnerability
For her new new exhibition, artist Brittany Brooke Crow turned her camera on herself, tearing photos printed on Hahnemühle Pearl paper and rearranging the pieces. Test Stripping — on display through May 5 at The LiFT bar in Des Moines’ Court Avenue District — depicts Crow’s battles with her fear of intimacy and vulnerability by […]
Coolzey announces tour with Joe Jack Talcum ahead of album release party
Legendary punk guitarist Joe Jack Talcum of the Dead Milkmen is headed back out on the road — and he’s bringing one of Iowa’s own along with him.

