100’s

The talent: Ken Kemper (bass guitar, banjo); Tim Looney (drums); Vern McShane (pedal steel guitar); Dave Pedersen (lead vocals); Pete Raine (guitar, mandolin); Jeff Schmidt (rhythm guitar, harmonica)

The sound: Homegrown music

Let’s say you started pulling experienced musicians together for a band. (Or in this case, these guys kept running into each other.) And then let’s say that they play a wide variety of music — rock, country, jazz and everything in between. Then let’s have these guys work up songs from Uncle Tupelo, Alejandro Escovedo, Green On Red, The Band, Buck Owens, Johnny Cash, Ryan Adams, Jack Ingram, Old Crow Medicine Show, Bob Dylan and The Volebeats. Name the band The 100’s, for no particular reason, other than it sounds good. Then try to describe the music: Americana, or roots, or gravel road or alternative country.

They did eventually get into the studio, wrote 23 original songs and recorded two CDs. Catch them live in Waubeek, Stone City, Iowa City, Marion, Springville, Monticello, Dubuque and West Branch.

“Summer festival shows are especially fun,” says Pete. “The Springville Fun Days shows have been a blast. We opened for Nashville artists Little Big Town one year, and Bo Ramsey the next. We’ve played at the Iowa Arts Fest, and pretty much all of the summer festival shows on the big outdoor stages. And, of course, Memorial Day in Waubeek.”