Who we are

My favorite venue to photograph in is…Any outdoor venue. When you can incorporate elements of nature into the photo, you can get a whole new feel. Plus, any natural light is a bonus.

The favorite shot I have gotten during a show is…Little Big Town. Kimberly Roads. Back lighting [creating a silhouette] on her locks of beautiful blonde. It was fab! 

Most animated musician I have photographed is…Tommy Emmanual. Showmanship is a big deal to me. He’s got it nailed. Almost as if his facial expression changes with the tones of his guitar.

My favorite part of a show to photograph is….That ONE song [every band has] where you can tell they are just totally in the moment. Grooving together. Their favorite off of the set list. You can always tell what one it is. They come alive.

If I could personally photograph any artist or band (dead or alive), it would be…Lynyrd Skynyrd. What’s not to love about these southern rock hippies. Plus, they always have classic hats.

                                                                                                                                                                      Casey Austen – Photographer

The best venue to see a live show (one local, one anywhere) is….In Des Moines, that’s pretty tough. We have some great venues around town, but I think I’d have to go with the Gas Lamp (the old Blues on Grand) I know it’s new, but it’s such a cool space and I love the attitude of that bar. Outside of Des Moines, the best place I have seen a concert is at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago. Amazing place!

Best show I’ve seen in the last year is…..Mumford and Sons. It was absolutely mind blowing. Words just can’t do it justice.

If I could have 5 minutes with any artist or band (dead or alive), it would be….David Bowie. And all of his personas (including Jareth, straight Labyrinth style)

One thing I could like to see in the DSM music scene is…..I’d LOVE to start seeing people care. We have so much raw talent right here in good ol’ DSM. However, it’s so hard for that talent to get shown when there is just a lack of interest around town. I always hear people complain about how we have “no music scene”; yet where are all these people at the shows? There are just so many crazy talented bands and musicians all over Des Moines, and I just hate to see them struggle because of a lack of fan base. We aren’t lacking talent, people, we are lacking interest! And that is what makes it so dang hard. You want a scene, you gotta pull your own weight, thrown down 5$ to get into a show, so that the venues will keep wanting to have live music! Let’s show our musicians some TLC

My favorite website to get music news is…NPR, baby.