There are a million bands out there, Rocket To Des Moines are one of them. Musically, they are not interested in reinventing the wheel, just giving it another crank and proving once more that the simplest elements make for the finest songwriting. Then handing it a tray and having it serve you a drink. Rooted as much in the High Lonesome sounds of the Kentucky woods and hills as in the pivotal alternative bands of more recent pedigree (some key influences in this vein include: Pixies, Shudder to Think, The Smiths, (early) REM, Janes Addiction, Jeff Buckley; not to mention the ever venerable Johnny Cash). Their sound is acoustic, ballad-driven but amplified, all keyed-up and a little unsettled, still stewing over the last heartbreak but getting over it. This is good drinking music, folks. Good music to say to yourself, fuck it and just drop it all and let loose to. Imagine the Pixies, miniature, weeping, in one of those glass snow globes on a table at Jeff Buckley's wake. There are raucous full-frontal assaults of pure delicious hedonism and release followed by more restrained moments in which Colonel B. Voxx's haunting vocals drift over the hushed and precise rhythmic underpinning laid down by Jeff Polk (drums), and Steve Katsikas (keyboards), skillfully evoking classic themes of fragile relationships and unhappy endings, wistfully, but without a trace of self-indulgence.
Rocket To Des Moines got their start in mid-2005 after Voxx's sister, (who is married to Jeffs fiancés brother), passed a demo along to Jeff featuring original material Voxx had written and recorded a few months earlier with studio musicians. Soon afterward, Voxx moved to Louisville from Bowling Green and the two began working up original material. After practicing and gigging as a two-piece for several months, the band began auditioning bassists. Lord Phil Smith stepped in from Lansing, MI. on bass from November of 2005 to August of 2006, recording a full-length (soon to be released) cd with the band. Phil left the band in August of 06 for a job in Tennessee.
Originally starting out under the band name Lifter, then changing it to Damn Ramblers, the band played several shows around the Louisville area. In August of 06, the decision was made to change band names again, this time to Rocket To Des Moines. The reason being that the band had moved away from the Alt-Country sound they had initially started out with into more of an Indie/Alternative Rock sound. The name Damn Ramblers sounded a bit too country or southern rock. The name needed to reflect where the band is today. Rocket To Des Moines just seemed odd enough of a name to stick. Former bassist Lord Phil Smith summed up the band name perfectly when he first heard it: "Rocket To Des Moines? So we're going really fast to the middle of nowhere?"
The Line-Up:
Singer, guitarist, and primary songwriter Colonel B. Voxx, the rambling rouge from Bowling Green, KY., is a recovering anesthesiologist. Reflecting on his former life, Voxx confesses he may have put himself under a few too many times. In one fleeting vision, he met Cash on the other side, Johnny was ready to go, man. But not me, its spooky over there. B. Voxx hails from Western Kentucky and has performed solo throughout the region and showcased in Nashville TN.
Jeff Polk, a reformed punk rocker from Louisville, KY. who plays drums like The Thing chasing a feather. Prior to joining the band, Jeff thought he had found the perfect cure for his ADHD in a stint as a sherpa in the Himalayan Mountains. This was until his addiction to pizza, cookies and beer caused him to start packing the weight on. After being physically unable to make the long hikes anymore, he discovered another cure for his ADHD, the drums, and has been playing ever since. Right now, hes playing. When you sleep, he is playing. When he sleeps, he is still playing. When you piss, dont worry, hes not watching you - because hes busy playing drums. Even when he is not playing, his body is twitching in a rhythmic fashion. Oddly enough though, he is a terrible dancer.
Steve Katsikas, one of our latest additions, jumped on board in September of 2006. Hailing from Miami, FL., Steve most recently worked with the Miami Prog Rock band Little Atlas . Master of the keys, Steve is bringing a whole new style and sound to these songs! Not much more is known about Steve at the moment, so his portion of the bio will be updated later.
Rocket To Des Moines currently have over 30 original songs (and counting), as well as a few cover songs, totaling over two hours of material in all. Fall of 2006 will see the release of the full-length debut cd. In the meantime, the band is busy scheduling and playing shows around the Louisville area, as well as surrounding areas.
In short, Rocket To Des Moines are tending the bar, and we know you're thirsty!
