Never in my wildest dreams have I imagined someone flashing her pasties at the iconic strike of a G note. Morticia Midwest started the night with a bang (or flash if you prefer) to the tune of “Welcome to the Black Parade” by My Chemical Romance. Morticia Midwest and her husband, Johnny Bravado, created the […]
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Posted inArts & Entertainment
As xBk expands, Tobi Parks is doubling down on her mission to uplift local talent
When Tobi Parks opened a 250-capacity music venue in Des Moines’ Drake neighborhood in 2019, she was enacting her plan B. “I think it always goes back to this idea: I was a musician [and] when I first started it was always like, yeah, you can be a musician but always have a plan B, […]
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Midwest rapper Nur-D uses his powers for good, drawing wisdom from Fred Hampton, D&D and body positivity
After spending the past five years leveling up in Minneapolis, Matt Allen is rolling for initiative. “The Rolling Initiative Tour is my first ever me-headlining, like, I’m-the-guy tour,” said Allen, a hip-hop artist hailing from Minnesota who performs as Nur-D, a month before his debut tour kicked off. Back in 2019, Allen toured with fellow […]
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Abbie Sawyer celebrates debut solo release at xBk Live
Editors’ Pick: Abbie Sawyer w/Annalibera, D. Smith, xBk Live, Saturday, April 23 at 5 p.m., $15-18 Des Moines musician Abbie Sawyer is celebrating the release of her first solo album this weekend with a top-notch lineup of support. Love is a Flood, recorded at Golden Bear Records in Des Moines, dropped earlier this month. Sawyer’s […]
