Big in Iowa

Top 5 Big in Iowa Songs for Friday Nights

admin — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Many country-rock music lovers know ‘Big in Iowa’ was an outgrowth of a chance encounter between musicians, Bob Burns and Ken Glidewell in an Ohio bar. In case you wonder how a band formed in Ohio got Iowa in it’s name, the answer appears to lie a couple generations before the 1990s.

Bob Burns was the nephew of Rick Burns who had a group called Do’s & Don’ts which mainly played gigs in Iowa. Legend has it Rick Burns once turned down an offer from Jerry Lee Lewis and in the process told him the ‘Do’s & Don’t were big in Iowa’. Ironically in 1995 with the addition of Dusty Bryant on keyboard, Jimmy O’Keefe on drums and guitarist, Rick House, Big in Iowa formed in 1995.

The release of their album Twisted, in 1998 featuring Bob Burns singing ‘Is This Love?’ gained international fame via Blue Rose Records. Following Europe’s Wolfstock Festival, life called the them different directions. Bob Burns began working for Transportation Safety Administration in DC., while Rick House continued on the Cincinnatic music scene with his own band. Not too long after the release of ‘GeezilPete’ on CD, a motorcycle accident resulted in Ken Glidewell’s death.The information party rocks on: Perry first to RSVP for Iowa GOP’s largest annual fundraiser

Green Pop: Album Review

admin — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Green Pop was light-years ahead of what “Big in Iowa” had recorded in the past. It catapults the band into a different dimension. They now belong in the company of some top rock bands. In Europe the CD sold out in 2 weeks, and on tour the band sold out performances.

If you love rock and roll, then Green Pop is one you will love; it is a pure rock and roll album. It is not for the faint at heart, it is thrilling and meaty.The whole story can be found at http://kroq.radio.com/2011/09/19/psycho-mike-rocks-saint-rocke-with-his-band-murder-on-the-405/ It gives you rock in its most raw form. It is a far cry from the country rock band formed in the mid-90s.

The band has evolved to greatness, their first album was self-released, their second was reviewed and deemed better than the first and now Green Pop is putting them in the company of the rolling stones. Not bad for the two original members that met in a bar.

“Big in Iowa”, is a wonderful mixture of country and rock, the best of both worlds. Green Pop proves you do not have to be one or the other and that music is indeed universal and the best comes when you mix different styles and create your own.

4 Guys in a Trabi, Big in Iowa Live: Album Review

admin — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Listening to 4 Guys in a Trabi, Big in Iowa Live: Album Review, I was first reminded of Country, but I soon realized that it sounded a lot like rock music. The best description is that it is a mix blend. The lead singer, voice is way cool. The words are clearly spoken and the music has a sharp edge to it.

The band’s ability is awesome. It sounds like a mix of Rolling Stones, Aerosmith and Country. It is a dynamic mix of drums, guitar and singing, the makes the listener more. I was anxiously waiting for the next song. It kept me listening.

After all, I would say that it’s a great album all around to keep around and listening, I played it while I was making dinner for my family. It blends slow and hard rock. It was a great album for a party atmosphere, as I played it for my friends during a party and everyone asked who was on the speakers.

What I didn’t know, was that this band was started over 50 years ago.

At the end of the day, this album is a must buy for anyone looking for good music, with a bunch of talented musicians.

Fun Facts about BII

admin — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Forget using your HughesNet Woodward Iowa to scour the web for information on Big in Iowawe’ve got all your band info right here! If you’re looking for some interesting facts about the best band no one’s ever heard of, you’ve come to the right place. Here are a few of our favorites
The band’s best selling album Twisted was picked up in 1998 by Blue Rose Records and subsequently released in over 14 countries in Europe gaining them international recognition.
Some call Twisted the album that “The Rolling Stones and Van Morrison never made together” which the band feels is a great compliment.
Big in Iowa was actually based in Ohio.
Mike McGwire is on the drums and his nickname is the affectionate “Big Moose”
The band won the Cammy, Cincinnati’s version of the Grammys, for Roots Rock Band of the Year in 1997.
The group once headlined a performance in front of 5,000 people at the Wolfstock Music Festival.
There you have it – more than you ever thought you needed to know about Big in Iowa!

Twisted: Album Review

admin — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Big In Iowa is a country rock band that was first formed in the mid 90′s after a chance meeting in a Ohio bar between founding members Bob Burns and Ken Glidewell. After Bob and Ken began writing songs together, they added 3 other members to the band, Rick House, on lead guitar, Dusty Bryant on keyboards, and Jimmy O’Keefe on drums. Big In Iowa has a rockin sound that has been compared to such rock legends as Neil Young and The Rolling Stones, amongst others, and on their new album, Twisted, Big In Iowa is totally proving why they garner such comparisons.

On their new album, Twisted, Big In Iowa is being compared to another rock legend, Van Morrison. Despite being compared to many other rock bands and artists, Big In Iowa has its own sound that is raw and emotional, as showcased on the album, Twisted. The album opens up with the song “Is This Love?” which is sung with such soul and emotion by Bob Burns that when you hear it, you will understand why this album is being compared to the sweet sounds of Van Morrison. The song “Justine (The Acid Queen) has a ragged sound that can be compared to the early sounds of the Band, and when you hear this amazing song, you will wonder why you haven’t been a fan of Big In Iowa all along.

If you want to be exposed to a band that has a rocking country rock sound that is sure to make you feel the emotions that you expect from good music, then you should check out the album Twisted, by Big In Iowa. This album is sure to not only make them big in Iowa, but make them big around the world.

Today’s Cincy Scene

admin — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The band “Big in Iowa” is making today’s Clincy Scene, with its three current albums, Green Pop, 4 Guys in a Trabi and of course Twisted. The group formed in 1995, and still going strong while creating a buzz among music contemporizes and music lovers. There is something for everyone in these three albums, which appear to have a heavy influence of greats like Van Morrison, Keith Richards and the incredible Rolling Stones. With these musical works reflecting rock, country and soul, you can see a seasoned group of musicians’ bringing a lot of talent to the table. The chemistry and new collaboration of the group talent may be the core of the great success, that has been produced in these new successful albums.

This group can grab the audience and hold their interest and attention with their strong vocal, instrumental performance and catchy style. Big in Iowa is gradually making their way back onto the music scene in a big way, with their strong mix of songs from Country to Rock. They are musicians that has found a way, to close generation gaps in their audience. You might find the audience filled with fans, with age groups ranging from the 20′s and all the way up to the 50′s and over. This band knows how to bring out the rock, country and even funk in their music

Bands Similar to Big In Iowa

admin — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The American country rock band Big in Iowa started out in the mid-90s with two members of the group meeting in a bar that was located in Hamilton, OH. These two members were Bob Burns and Ken Glidewell. They liked each other immediately and when the bands they were performing with broke up they joined together to write music. The songwriting sessions became Big in Iowa’s first lineup. The two musicians proceeded to fill in the group with Rick House as lead player, Dusty Bryant on keyboards and Jamie O’Keefe as their drummer. As a fan I wanted one of their songs for my ringtone and was able to download it from ringtone, http://www.last.fm/music/BigInIowa.Big in Iowa has been compared to several big rock legends such as Neil Young, The Rolling Stones and John Fogerty. The band’s first album was self-released in 1996 and received attention from several labels. The band’s second album was considered a major improvement to the first and with their increasing reputation as a skilled live band; Big in Iowa was well on their way. Their style of music is similar to current band Jayhawks with the classic quality of Buffalo Springfield. Lyrics to their songs can be found at song lyrics, http://www.lyrics.com/biginiowa

A Look Back at Big in Iowa The Album

www.biginiowa.com — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

In 1996, Big in Iowa put their sound on display for all to hear, releasing their self-titled debut album, Big in Iowa. Re-released in 1999, once the band had a little more traction thanks to their second CD, Twisted, Big in Iowa serves as a snapshot of an upstart band with defining characteristics of drive, talent and energy. Unhindered by the cutthroat music industry that disillusions so many artists later in their careers, you can hear the excitement on each and every track, seemingly bursting at the seems to take their music to a wider audience. No, Big in Iowa is not Big in Iowa’s most polished production, nor is it their defining sound, but it is an integral part of the band’s identity and history. Flawed like any new group’s debut album, yes, but Big in Iowa is a collection of songs full of heart, an announcement to the world, “hey, we are here and we have something to say” better yet, something to sing about. Only fitting, the first song on the album is entitled “Start My Life,” but little did the original band members realize exactly how much their lives would change over the course of the next few years. Though not a particularly smooth track list from start to finish, what the album does to is proudly display a wide variety of sounds, all of which come across as both capable and confident, indicating bigger (pardon the pun) and brighter things in the band’s future, as we would see come to fruition with their collective maturation. Here’s a look at the track list from the group’s first distributed recording, though first only released locally throughout Cincinnati/North Kentucky, some songs you may remember, some of which you may have forgotten about:Track Song Title1.Start My Life 2.Soul Searching 3.South of Soho 4.Engine 5.Happy Song 6.Big Daddy 7.Mother Nature 8.Nothing to Gain 9.Cindy 10.Mr. Becky 11.Guppy

Inside Geezil Pete

www.biginiowa.com — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 16:34:32 +0000

Through 14 tracks, the new look Big in Iowa true tries their best to add a fresh spin to the traditional band’s sound. While the nostalgia is certainly there and the general content will certainly bring back memories of the original line-up, Geezil Pete offers up a musical styling all of its own. What is a Geezil? According to Urban Dictionary, it’s “a smart and honest member of a small New England working class town.” The appropriately named disc offers a look inside small town living, documenting a hard working lifestyle with a flair for the weekend. Adding a fresh twang to the more rock-centric tunes of albums like Twisted and Green Pop, Geezil Pete takes you on a trip past the city limits to the rural Ohio-Kentucky border. Though not definitively a country album, the CD evokes a charmingly southern sensibility. Long time Big in Iowa fans will appreciate the ingenuity of the new set of tracks, clearly not trying to imitate former band members rather playing to the strengths of Big in Iowa’s current roster. Enjoy this track by track listing of the last Big in Iowa release, available for purchase online. Title1. Headache2. This Old House3. Cows Come Home4. Another Day5. All I Can Do6. Motorcycle Song7. Black Hearted Woman8. Hamiltucky Honky Tonk Hero9. The Zoo10. Beautiful Women Foolish Men11. If These Walls Could Talk12. Monkey Bidness13. Every Time I Fall In Love14. Cheap Drunk

Where are they now?

www.biginiowa.com — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 12:35:21 +0000

Formed in 1995, rising to prominence during the late 90′s, particularly in the Cincinnati area, Big in Iowa enjoyed not only local success but tours across Europe, surprisingly popular across the pond. Unfortunately, shortly after their return from the second Eurotrip, guitarist Rick House decided to leave the band to pursue more time with his family, and the sound was never quite the same. The band’s name would carry on comprised of mostly new membership over the next few years, but never recapture the same magic that propelled the group to early success. Here’s a look at where the original members are now, almost a full decade after the first fracture.

Bob Burns (lead vocals, acoustic guitar) Today Burns calls Washington, DC home, far from Ohio and Iowa, working for the Transportation Security Administration. Now a family man, he dedicates more time to his wife, kids and career than the music scene, but has been rumored to be working on a solo album, though no specifics are currently known.

Rick House (guitar, slide, mandolin, vocals) House is still involved in music, still playing for his Cincinnati fans with the self-titled Rick House Party Band. The band has yet to amass the same following as he enjoyed during his time with Big in Iowa, but it can be tough to catch lighting in a bottle twice as it’s not easy for even talented musicians to find a uniquely inspirational chemistry.

Jeff Wilson (drums, vocals) Wilson joined House for a while as part of the Rick House Party Band, and remains active in the Cincy music arena.

Ken Glidewell (bass guitar, vocals) Glidewell was the last remaining member of Big in Iowa, keeping the band together as long as possible as various disputes and other interests sent original members their separate ways. Sources say the original band would eventually patch things up but their days of playing together as Big in Iowa were over. Glidewell kept the band’s banner and replaced the original members with new talent, even releasing a new CD titled “Geezil Pete.” Sadly, Glidewell passed away in 2008 as the result of a tragic motorcycle accident.