On a windy night in early October, over the rustle of dry corn cobs and the hush of crisp leaves, music flowed from a more-than-century-old octagonal barn near West Liberty.
Up in the dusty hay loft, a couple dozen concertgoers in sweaters warmed themselves with six-packs, mesmerized by the Portland-based indie band, Nurses. It was the kickoff for a series of six free shows across Iowa and Wisconson this month hosted by Daytrotter.com, a music Web site based in the Quad Cities that’s better known to New York hipsters than to the average Iowan.
The site, which is run by Davenport native and former journalist Sean Moeller, features free downloads with original write-ups and art of emerging bands. Moeller said Daytrotter averages 125,000 unique visitors and 2 million page views per month, reaching music fans in far-off places like Amsterdam.
“We can see where people are coming from to check out the site, and I’m always sort of disappointed that the home state isn’t all about it,” Moeller said. “It would be so great if the place I’ve lived my whole life was bonkers about (Daytrotter). I consider it an Iowa thing (despite the recording studio being in Rock Island). I’ve always sort of wanted Daytrotter to be this pride of Iowa.”
Moeller says he sometimes gets flak from people in the indie music scene who consider the Midwest flyover country, but he’s adamant that Daytrotter’s central location is crucial to what the site does.
On the farm where Moeller grew up, one field bordered Interstate 80.
“You’d see tour buses and you’d be like 'Is Elton John in there? I know he played Iowa City last night.’ ”
Moeller worked briefly as a newspaper journalist and a music magazine writer, which allowed him to develop relationships with publicists. Ultimately, Moeller saw that he could wrangle bands who were passing through Iowa to stop for a recording session in the Quad Cities (his friend had a studio) and build up grassroots support through the music site.
Some bands recognize Moeller’s enthusiasm and are happy to give away their songs if it means building a loyal fan base.
“Most blogs are looking to tear things up and (Daytrotter) always finds the good,” said Mike Cammarta, whose Philadelphia-based band Drink Up Buttercup made the West Liberty stop to play the barn between shows in Kentucky and Missouri. “Plus, once you do a Daytrotter session, you’re taken more seriously.”
In an effort to drum up support for Daytrotter in the Midwest, Moeller convinced some of the bands he’s connected with to play free shows, mostly in rural towns. The first tour, in July, drew 200 people a night to places like the Mooney Hollow Saloon Barn near Bellevue, Ia.
Moeller chose barns as venues not so much to riff the tradition of hootenannies or because of the sound the settings offer, but to connect bands to places in America that they might only see through the window of a bus.
“I just really thought it would enhance the experience and that’s about it,” Moeller says. “I love living in Iowa and I’m proud of here. I think it’s a great place and barns are pretty quintessential to Iowa so, why not?”
For Cedar Rapids music blogger (playbsides.com) Mike Roeder, Daytrotter hosting a show in a barn in his native town was something truly special. “It’s been a little sublime because when I grew up there, there was nothing cool,” he said.
Roeder said he’s heard that the summer show sparked an interest in booking new bands outside of the typical cover groups in Bellevue, and a stop was set there for the second tour, which culminates in a show Tuesday night at the Simpson barn, 6169 Northglenn Dr. in Johnston.
Back in the Octagonal Barn, at the kickoff show, the vibe was authentic, with bands sitting through each other’s sets. But it was a less-than-typical tour stop experience. There were tables of merchandise and someone working a sound board, but fans also checked out century-old farm equipment between acts and bands were greeted with surprises they don’t normally run across when assembling a drum kit.
“We found dead bats when we were setting up,” said Farzad Houshiarnejad, of Drink Up Buttercup.
Despite the dust and occasional deceased critter, the barn acoustics served the bands and their listeners well. Notes wafted up to the rafters of the oddly shaped ceiling and down through the open barn doors. A lead singer and keyboardist sat like many of the fans, cross-legged on the floor.
The old boards almost hummed with the sound waves and the moon rose through the dark Midwest sky to hover in a window just behind the band.
What: Daytrotter Barn Show
When: Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday
Where: The Simpson Barn, 6169 Northglenn Drive, Johnston
Cost: Free
