You Me & Iowa: Rock Done Right

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So much so that its words have spread west and landed smacked dab between you and me, but more notably, You Me & Iowa – a five-piece band that has brought out the slogan upon the Los Angeles music scene. Where, Eureka! Its liberties of possessing a wide music artillery of guitars, keyboards, drums and bass has led to a full-fledged musical assault.

Even though the band's performing days began in 2003, the early beginnings of the group, which is now comprised of Andrew Carroll (guitar, vocals), Tony Benedetti (drums), Tizoc Estrada (guitar), Ryan Julio (bass, vocals) and Ryan Ross (keyboards) go back even farther.

Carroll and Benedetti began performing together in several musical ventures in the Bay Area when they were 11-years-old. The two were melodically separated due to a certain little thing called college, but Benedetti returned to the fold in September 2003 in Los Angeles. This time, he wasn't greeted by Carroll alone, but by Estrada, Julio and then keyboardist Brian Boarini.

As if going through a massive array of cornhusks through a field, You Me & Iowa set forth in the gargantuan musical landscape of L.A. in a whirlwind. By fall of 2004, the band released its first independent EP. In keeping with the band's Americana sensibility, the aptly named Bigger Than Boston , sold its first 1,000 copies immediately as the band constantly played throughout California, Nevada and Arizona.

During their trek across the Wild West, the band played with peers including Mellowdrone, Midnight Movies and Monsters Are Waiting. All the hard work has led to winning results as the band was awarded the Best Alternative Rock Band at the 2005 L.A. Music Awards.

Their moniker may be catchy, but it's their music that is even more so. In their catalogue of songs, You Me & Iowa have shown a wide range of pop sounds while keeping a strong cohesiveness throughout.

Punk aggressions meld with soft pop melodies akin to that of Death Cab for Cutie on “The Greenback Ministers.” And as the loud and soft respites clash beautifully amongst Carroll's vocals, everything is anchored by Bendetti's drumming, a steady preciseness amongst the layer upon layer of music. The level of musical technicality is apparent and is in due part by the pedigree of the musicians most notably from Estrada who holds an MFA in guitar and Julio who is trained in operatic performance.

Pop quirkiness reigns over a track known only as “Working Title.” The dual guitars enhance Carroll's vocal, the delivery matching up with the peculiar percussion. Carroll's range is impressive as his ability to lay a perfect falsetto is matched with the emotive response to the song's chorus. The complexity again rears its head as a spaced out keyboard is lined with the prog-rockiness of the track.

The saloon churn of “The Good, The Bad, and The Beautiful” again displays the band's ability to craft intricate guitar hooks (and a bass solo to boot!), but here it gives off a cinematic quality that evokes the song's title. In due part by the addition of the trumpets, which sound akin to that of the illustrious soundtracks of the popular Spaghetti Westerns directed by Sergio Leone.

Though here the soap opera lies heavily in the song's chorus, as Carroll's voice like a pistol, fires rapidly, everything hitting on target.

You Me & Iowa has maintained its right to rock.

Bigger Than Boston is currently available. For more information, visit www.youmeandiowa.com.