Kyle Munson, the former Des Moines Register columnist, once wrote that Byron’s is the “ Deadhead capital of Iowa,” a label Stuart embraces. Webster speculates a hunger for good live music exists because there is not an abundance of venues or bands in rural western Iowa. Brian Morelli/Little Village A Deadhead pilgrimage “This is my church.” Byron Stuart flashes a peace sign from the stage of his beloved live music venue, which has hosted thousands of shows since 1996. Each show is as unique as the energy created by the different mix of bands and audience members. On Sunday evenings, Stuart sits at the end bar stool to absorb the live performances. The people that show up are there to actually listen to the music, and that makes for really good performances.” “I think the bar has been able to have success as a music venue in this tiny conservative town because people travel from Des Moines, Minnesota, and other nearby markets to see the high-quality artists that Byron brings to the stage,” said Stacy Webster, a founding member of Winterland. Todd Snider, Canned Heat, Malcolm Holcombe, Kinky Friedman and Greg Brown are a few of the names who have stopped in. Bands started contacting him to play on their way through. When 112 Main Street came available, he and his brother went in on it together and opened Byron’s in 1996 with live music as a focal point.īyron’s reputation as a live music destination spread. When his father had a heart attack in 1978, Stuart returned home to work the farm, then the grain elevator, and then bars. Grateful Dead superfan Byron Stuart has dedicated his business to the band and its ethos, earning Byron’s the title “Deadhead Capitol of Iowa” from the Des Moines Register. He instantly fell in love with his favorite band, the Grateful Dead, after listening to their music reel to reel for hours. He recalled traveling to hear the Allman Brothers Band at Iowa City’s Field House not long after founding member, Duane Allman, died in a motorcycle crash. During his time in Ames, in the early 1970s, his love of live music grew. Stuart grew up in Pomeroy and studied telecommunication arts, speech, and drama at Iowa State University. “Hold on a second,” Stuart responds, hustling the length of the bar to greet us each with a hug. Do you mind if we sit at the bar and chat?” I’ve been messaging with you on Facebook about writing an article. It is the 71-year-old owner and chief employee, Byron Stuart. Brian Morelli/Little Village ‘This is my church’īehind the bar stands a man with a grey beard and glasses, denim overalls and a tie-dye T-shirt. They are strict about listening to the music here. Near the stage a sign implores, “Shut the Fuck Up, PLZ.” Grateful Dead music is not the prevailing sound at Byron’s, although Iowa’s wonderful Dead cover band, Winterland, plays periodically. Some are gifts from musicians who have played at Byron’s over the past 28 years.Īrtists - mainly blues, rock and folk - come from across the region and beyond to play Sunday evening shows in front of up to 80 people. Portraits of the Dead’s legendary guitarist and 1960s counterculture icon Jerry Garcia, Steal Your Face etchings, a Wave It High and Wide flag behind the bar, concert posters, colorful tapestries, and even tie-dye toilet seats. Mementos cover the walls, shelves, and ceiling. The wooden floor stretches to a small stage area in the back. A large round table with a custom tie-dye surface holds a half dozen middle aged men and women. Torn up sidewalk and fencing guard empty store fronts before reaching an old timey sign with “Byron’s” in green lettering and two dancing bears above the door.Ī few men are sitting at the bar. Modest homes dot the eight-square-block town surrounding a desolate business district. Coming from Iowa City, we decided to tack on the last hour to Pomeroy not knowing when we would next be this far west, about 100 miles east of Sioux City. My wife and I were visiting Perry for the BRR Ride (Bike Ride to Rippey) the first weekend of February.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |