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I got it into my head a few months ago that it would be a good idea to run the Hy-Vee Triathlon, and then play a rock show afterwards. And who were my Authentic Records label mates to disagree? Little did we know that our beloved Hawkeye State would be submerged beneath one of the…

My biceps and IT bands were burning just few hundred yards into the Hudson River. ‘Maybe it’s a good thing the Hy-Vee Tri swim was cancelled after all,’ I thought. Of course, I wouldn’t wish the horrible devastation recently wrought on The Hawkeye State on my worst enemy, let alone my mush beloved home state.…

Rare is the rehearsal when the band doesn’t spend as much time hanging out, drinking beers and talking for as long (or usually longer) than we do playing music. Which, at this point in my musical career, is alright by me. Thursday night, however, was one for the record books. Singer/songwriter/guitarist Chris Abad, bassist Tony…

The New York Times just confirmed some sad news: Tim Russert has died of a heart attack. You’ll recall that Chris and I visited Tim in his NBC offices in November, 2006 to interview him for our documentary, “Mister Rogers & Me.” We scored the interview courtesy of my uncle, with whom Tim had worked…

“Are you chewing gum?” Jason asked. “I might be,” Mike responded. And so it was that The Nadas began another New York City performance. Were Des Moines’ favorite sons on their home turf, the room would be spilling forth with fans. Last night, though, the founding duo, Mike Butterworth and Jason Walsmith, was performing an…