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1 month ago | 
iowapublicradio.org | Anthony Scanga
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has been awarding best score and original song Oscar Awards for about as long as the academy has existed. With the 97th awards ceremony happening March 2 we looked at score winners and nominees from the past and found many iconic scores that never won — and even more that were never nominated, but should have been. Here's our list of scores that should have, but didn't get, Academy Awards.
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Jan 16, 2025 | 
iowapublicradio.org | Anthony Scanga
Iowa can be a strange place for musicians. Historically, a lot of touring artists have skipped the state in favor of Minneapolis, Kansas City or, ultimately, Chicago. However, there’s a lot going on and a multitude of talented musicians creating music across all genres — right here in Iowa — that you deserve to know. With artists and venues scattered across Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Davenport, Cedar Falls and more, there really are endless musical offerings here in the state.
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Jan 8, 2025 | 
iowapublicradio.org | Anthony Scanga
Hayden Silas Anhedönia, better known by the stage moniker Ethel Cain, is not one to shy away from difficult subject matter in her music. In 2022 Ethel Cain released her debut album Preacher’s Daughter. The record was independently released and gained her a strong, almost cult-like fanbase (some fans are known to refer to her as Mother Cain), resulting in millions of followers on Instagram.
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Dec 16, 2024 | 
iowapublicradio.org | Cece Mitchell |Sean McClain |Lucius Pham |Anthony Scanga |Tony Dehner |Mark Simmet
In case you don’t have all your presents wrapped or haven't built your holiday playlist yet, don't stress. We’ve done the research for you. Here’s our (play)list of the top albums of 2024, perfect for you and the music lovers in your life! Recommended by Cece MitchellThe Last Dinner Party’s debut record Prelude to Ecstasyis a brilliantly crafted introduction to the British band’s unique brand of baroque pop.
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Nov 7, 2024 | 
iowapublicradio.org | Anthony Scanga
I was lucky enough to take photos of a Cure show in Seattle just a few years ago.
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Nov 6, 2024 | 
iowapublicradio.org | Anthony Scanga
Los Angeles-based musician Sabrina Mae Teitlbaum, better known as Blondshell, writes indie rock for our overstimulated, overly connected, uncertain times. We sat down with her on a very hot afternoon after her set at this year’s Hinterland festival, where we discussed her first time performing in Iowa, her love of the Talking Heads, and heard some humorous stories of her experience touring the globe.
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Oct 25, 2024 | 
iowapublicradio.org | Anthony Scanga
I’ve never surfed. I’ve never ridden a motorcycle. I’ve never slicked my hair back and felt like I was in Grease hanging out with John Travolta. But Nite Owls, the new record by JD McPherson and his fifth overall, made me think I could do all of the above. The guitars are reverberated to the max and reminiscent of “Wipeout” and the works of Dick Dale. The drums often fall into a classic surf rock sound as well.
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Sep 23, 2024 | 
iowapublicradio.org | Anthony Scanga
I found myself feeling like the passenger in a vagabond’s mobile home while listening to Something is Working Up Above My Head, the latest record from husband-wife duo Shovels & Rope. Each song plays like a sightseeing trip of the infrequently-visited parts of the United States. The parts you see when you stick to country roads and skip the interstate. The sights can be bizarre, thought provoking, beautiful and completely life changing.
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Sep 20, 2024 | 
revolvermag.com | Gregory Adams |Alessandro DeCaro |Anthony Scanga
There’s a familiar adage that a band has their entire life to write their first album and six months to write their second. The Des Moines, Iowa-based heavy-metal quintet Vended take this maxim deeply to heart. “That saying has been in my family forever!” drummer Simon Crahan exclaims from the driver’s seat of his truck on a sunny August afternoon. “It’s a big deal. Your first album is like having your first kid.
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Sep 19, 2024 | 
iowapublicradio.org | Anthony Scanga
Cage The Elephant brought a rip-roaring, flame-throwing set to Wells Fargo Arena. Front man Matt Shultz made performing with a broken foot look effortless and easy. Check out photos from the show below.
