March 19, 2024

Cadillac Jack's beat the winter blues with live music

BAXTER – It’s Friday night and you had a long week.

Instead of driving 20 minutes to Des Moines through high winds and icy roads, you may want to plop yourself on a bar stool at Cadillac Jack’s, order a whiskey and enjoy some good, live music performed by local artists.

“I think it is important for the community as a whole to have things to do, right here in our community,” said Joan Wade, co-owner of Cadillac Jack’s.

The Baxter bar, located at 106 N. Main St., features live music every Friday from 8 to 11 p.m.

“A lot of the (bands) play covers that everybody knows and all of a sudden, everybody is singing along or making requests,” Wade said. “There are some (bands) that really get into the crowd and interact with the crowd. It just makes it even more fun.”

During the chilly months of winter, the bar invites musicians to perform indoors to encourage residents to get out and socialize.

“In the winter time, January and February, everybody gets the winter blahs and the winter blues. I just think it is something fun to do,” Wade said.

The bands are typically from the Des Moines area, according to Wade. She said the musicians tend to play covers of popular country, rock and blues tunes.

“We get a couple of (bands) from out of state,” bartender Celeigh Meyer said. “Iowa, Des Moines, Newton — that’s the bulk of where these bands come from.”

Wade said she enjoys hosting these live performances because she gets to see the young talent the area has to offer.

“One of my favorite things is when we hire one of these young people to come in here and they just blow you away with just how talented they are. Everybody in here is like ‘Oh my gosh, I can’t believe he can sing like that, play guitar like that. It’s just crazy,’” Wade said. “There has been a few of those.”

Kevin “Acousti-Beast” Best performed at the bar Jan. 6. Joined by local musician, Darren Matthews, the duo played acoustic, rock-and-roll covers of artists, including The Who and the Rolling Stones.

“Darren and I played with each other for a couple of years,” Best said. “Now, we just go out there and have some fun.”

Wade said on occasion, some Baxter artists show off their musical talent at the Friday evening performances.

“We have one band from Baxter called the Clear Creek Outlaws,” she said. “We get a lot of Baxter people come to see them, specifically. They do a lot of early, rock-and-roll music, and they throw in some country.”

According to Wade, the bar has been offering live music for more than a year. She said that business has increased ever since the drinkery began inviting bands to perform.

“These musicians are putting their heart and soul into what they are doing, you can just tell. That’s what they do. That’s what they live for. That’s what drives them,” Wade said. “I think that’s awesome. I wish I could do that. I’m all about supporting these guys.”

For more information, find Cadillac Jack's on Facebook or call 641-227-3611.

Contact Anthony Victor Reyes at
areyes@newtondailynews.com