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| Bands |
 Death Ships
Five years out of Iowa City’s collegiate confines, Death Ships remain one of the town’s perennial acts -- even if the band has traveled to Austin’s South by Southwest Festival, among other places. The group’s 2006 album, “Seeds of Devastation,” seeps gently, as folk-pop songs like “Symmetrical Smiles” and “Story Never Gets Old” gleam like commercial jingles punctuated with wry lyrics. Created by lead singer and guitarist Dan Maloney, the band’s ambitious runaround treks through the Midwest (with repeated stops at its Iowa City home base) have piqued the attention of music publications such as PopMatters and Newcity Chicago.
 The Envy Corps
Despite its origins in Ames, Iowa, Iowa City’s rival campus town, The Envy Corps unites these two communities together in a home-state cheering section for what might be Iowa’s next claim to fame. The group opened for The Killers throughout 2006, garnering attention from The Killers’ U.K. label, Vertigo, to which it signed in the fall of 2006. With a surprisingly well-conceived brit-pop sound for a band hailing from the Midwest farmlands, The Envy Corps launched its music over to the U.K. in 2007, touring England seven times. The group’s EP became Vertigo’s best-selling in history, and The Envy Corps even took part in the historical BBC Recording Sessions. The band releases its first full-length, “Dwell,” in the U.K. this April.
 Euforquestra
Jammers, unite! Euforquestra, perhaps Iowa City’s most eclectic band, tags itself as “worldbeat music from middle America.” And these seven men create just that. Educated in Cuba, the four-year-old band promises to attempt everything at least once. As a result, the group fuses many global styles. “Afro-Caribbean-Barnyard-Funk” is the best Euforquestra can do to describe its music. Often spotted at music festivals throughout the Midwest and out West, you can be sure that a show by this band will be explosive -- one that will leave you in high spirits, dancing the night away.
 Skursula
Once a glimmering female duo, now plus one male, Iowa City-based Skursula entered in the classical music vein with cellos, violins and accordions, but has transformed its orchestral sound into original, experimental pop. The band began in August 2006 with Skye Carrasco on violin and Ursula Dial on cello (hence the name), and has yet to look back with the addition of Harland Muir on keyboards and accordion. Although the trio has crossed over from traditional music into pop, folk and hip-hip, Skursula remains tied to its classical roots and plays regularly at various local venues such as The Picador and The Mill.
 The Diplomats of Solid Sound
At first, the eight-person The Diplomats of Solid Sound was strictly instrumental — but after the band's first 7-inch single "Bullfrog Boogaloo" hit the scene in 2001, followed by its three full-length albums, all that changed when a trio of ladies took to the stage, aka The Diplomettes, in 2006. Since then, the group has gone on tour stateside and through France, Spain and Italy and released “The Diplomats of Solid Sound Featuring The Diplomettes” on Italian funk/soul/groove label Record Kicks in March 2008. Playing a wide range of soul sounds, the octet has shared the stage with the likes of Wilco and soul/funk singer Sharon Jones.
 Public Property
Over soothing jazz alto, up-stroked reggae guitar and a sexy, yet driven, female rap, one common denominator unites these forces: this sound is populist. Comparable to Marley's "Three Little Birds" and a less acid-induced Phish jam, Public Property is renowned for its live shows and was named one of the hardest touring bands by Jambase.com. The band recently secured a spot at Wakarusa music festival, adding reputable musical talent to its repertoire. -- Daily Iowan Arts Staff
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This section's contents are produced entirely by student journalists, brought to Billboard.com by UWIRE, the leading provider of student-generated content. UWIRE aims to identify and promote the brightest young content creators and deliver their work to a larger audience via professional media partners such as Billboard.com. Visit UWIRE.com to learn more. |
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- Iowa City, Iowa
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This town profile was produced entirely by student journalists from The Daily Iowan, the leading news source for the University of Iowa community. You can learn more about the individual student contributors by visiting their profiles on UWIRE.com:
Text: The Daily Iowan Arts Staff
Photo: The Daily Iowan Staff
Video: John Rigby
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