ATTN: Haunted Basement
Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 3:17 pm
Sorry if this is long winded and wordy as shit, but this seems to be the best place to post this so the right people see it (instead of having to send numerous e-mails, etc.)
Lemme say "what's up" first...
....I'm Nick. 29 years old. I recently (within the last year or so) moved back to the Des Moines area by way of Chicago (where I had lived the previous 4+ years). I currently live in Ankeny. This messagboard seems pretty rad. It is good to see that there is an uderground/DIY scene alive and well in Central Iowa. That isn't quite how it used to be when I was growing up here.
Anyway....I caught wind of this board through Cam of Records Of The Damned/Cedar Falls. He said he is friends with Joe from The Haunted Basement. The Haunted Basement...by the way...is the epitome of what I wish DSM had back when I younger. As you guys obviously know, DIY/Punkhouses are a great way to support the scene and allow smaller local/touring bands a place to play. A lot of times (especially in a mid-sizde city like DSM) it is hard to get a show if you are a smaller band unless you know a larger local act that will play the show with you (ie....places like The Mews, Hairy Marys *RIP*, H.O.B...whatever).
I just recently found out about The Haunted Basement, by way of the Psyched To Die/Deep Sleep show, and was happy to see DSM had a place like this. So many other mid-sized Midwestern cities (Cincy, Indy, Twin Cities, Madison, KC, Lawrence, Lincoln, Omaha, Columbus, Milwaukee, Carbondale, etc.) have really good underground music scenes, simply for the fact that there are a lot of places for smaller bands to play, like house shows. So needless to say, I was stoked to find out about The Haunted Basement and also see they were booking some killer touring bands (Psyched To Die/Deep Sleep).
Now I know the scene in Iowa has traditionally been more Metal/Hardcore/Thrash....than Punk Rock, but I hope you guys can keep an open mind and give this some thought.
Let me preface this by saying that I have some friends in punk bands that are planning on touring in the coming months. They want to play Des Moines, but didn't know where or how to book a show there and asked if I could hlep. Me...having just recently moved back and not having many connections anymore, said I'd try my best, but couldn't garuntee anything.
The bands in question were Banner Pilot (from Minneapolis) and Rational Anthem (from Sarasota, FL). I know this was probably a dick thing of me to suggest, having never met any of the guys who run or set up shows at the Haunted Basement, but I suggested that those bands just send you guys e-mails and try to set up a show. So if you got some random show requests by those bands...that was probably by my direction...and I'm sorry that probably wasn't the best course of action.
Anyhow...both of the bands are really fucking good and full of really good dudes. They aren't just some crappy, no-name bands in the punk community either. Banner Pilot is on Go-Kart & Kiss of Death Records and consist of members of Off With Their Heads, Dear Landlord, Ex-Rivethead and have a Dillinger Four-influence midwest punk sound crossed with The Lawrence Arms and Jawbreaker. They are good friends with Dillinger Four as well.
Rational Anthem are an up and coming punk band...that ring more true to their Florida roots and have that sort of Gainsville/No Idea Records punk sound to them. They have current and upcoming releases on Traffic Street Records...which is run by Sam North (a cool mofo who may have been the one who e-mailed you guys about a show).
Like I said...I know the scene in DSM is small, and though I've never been to a show there, the Haunted Basement seems to be more geared for the metal/hardcore fans, it would be really great if you guys would consider having a few touring punk bands play if the dates are open and work with your guy's schedule.
I know you guys do have some history with Quick Fix...who happen to be friends with Banner Pilot...and if these shows can happen, I would like to get them on the bill for both as well.
I have a huge appreciation for any type of underground/DIY scene and I would understand if you guys are trying to keep the shows at the Haunted Basement geared a certain way..but it would be really awesome if you guys would consider booking these bands to play.
Talk it over and let me know your thoughts.
I will upload some Banner Pilot and Rational Anthem tunes to YouSendIt and post them in this thread in a bit so you guys can hear what they sound like, other than their MySpace songs.
Thanks for the consideration....and really fucking sorry for being so wordy.
-Nick
Lemme say "what's up" first...
....I'm Nick. 29 years old. I recently (within the last year or so) moved back to the Des Moines area by way of Chicago (where I had lived the previous 4+ years). I currently live in Ankeny. This messagboard seems pretty rad. It is good to see that there is an uderground/DIY scene alive and well in Central Iowa. That isn't quite how it used to be when I was growing up here.
Anyway....I caught wind of this board through Cam of Records Of The Damned/Cedar Falls. He said he is friends with Joe from The Haunted Basement. The Haunted Basement...by the way...is the epitome of what I wish DSM had back when I younger. As you guys obviously know, DIY/Punkhouses are a great way to support the scene and allow smaller local/touring bands a place to play. A lot of times (especially in a mid-sizde city like DSM) it is hard to get a show if you are a smaller band unless you know a larger local act that will play the show with you (ie....places like The Mews, Hairy Marys *RIP*, H.O.B...whatever).
I just recently found out about The Haunted Basement, by way of the Psyched To Die/Deep Sleep show, and was happy to see DSM had a place like this. So many other mid-sized Midwestern cities (Cincy, Indy, Twin Cities, Madison, KC, Lawrence, Lincoln, Omaha, Columbus, Milwaukee, Carbondale, etc.) have really good underground music scenes, simply for the fact that there are a lot of places for smaller bands to play, like house shows. So needless to say, I was stoked to find out about The Haunted Basement and also see they were booking some killer touring bands (Psyched To Die/Deep Sleep).
Now I know the scene in Iowa has traditionally been more Metal/Hardcore/Thrash....than Punk Rock, but I hope you guys can keep an open mind and give this some thought.
Let me preface this by saying that I have some friends in punk bands that are planning on touring in the coming months. They want to play Des Moines, but didn't know where or how to book a show there and asked if I could hlep. Me...having just recently moved back and not having many connections anymore, said I'd try my best, but couldn't garuntee anything.
The bands in question were Banner Pilot (from Minneapolis) and Rational Anthem (from Sarasota, FL). I know this was probably a dick thing of me to suggest, having never met any of the guys who run or set up shows at the Haunted Basement, but I suggested that those bands just send you guys e-mails and try to set up a show. So if you got some random show requests by those bands...that was probably by my direction...and I'm sorry that probably wasn't the best course of action.
Anyhow...both of the bands are really fucking good and full of really good dudes. They aren't just some crappy, no-name bands in the punk community either. Banner Pilot is on Go-Kart & Kiss of Death Records and consist of members of Off With Their Heads, Dear Landlord, Ex-Rivethead and have a Dillinger Four-influence midwest punk sound crossed with The Lawrence Arms and Jawbreaker. They are good friends with Dillinger Four as well.
Rational Anthem are an up and coming punk band...that ring more true to their Florida roots and have that sort of Gainsville/No Idea Records punk sound to them. They have current and upcoming releases on Traffic Street Records...which is run by Sam North (a cool mofo who may have been the one who e-mailed you guys about a show).
Like I said...I know the scene in DSM is small, and though I've never been to a show there, the Haunted Basement seems to be more geared for the metal/hardcore fans, it would be really great if you guys would consider having a few touring punk bands play if the dates are open and work with your guy's schedule.
I know you guys do have some history with Quick Fix...who happen to be friends with Banner Pilot...and if these shows can happen, I would like to get them on the bill for both as well.
I have a huge appreciation for any type of underground/DIY scene and I would understand if you guys are trying to keep the shows at the Haunted Basement geared a certain way..but it would be really awesome if you guys would consider booking these bands to play.
Talk it over and let me know your thoughts.
I will upload some Banner Pilot and Rational Anthem tunes to YouSendIt and post them in this thread in a bit so you guys can hear what they sound like, other than their MySpace songs.
Thanks for the consideration....and really fucking sorry for being so wordy.
-Nick
