The Nadas

The Nadas are not a forgotten band from that "the" band explosion from 2000 that featured the likes of The Strokes, The Hives and The Vines. Sure, The Nadas existed back then, and their unique name would have lent itself nicely to that particular scene, but things took a different course for the Des Moines rock quintet. The band grew out of the Iowa college scene, working its way up to being the house band at a local bar and grill. The venerable college scene can bolster a band's career, much as it did for college/alternative music pioneers R.E.M. While those guys have gone on to reach astronomic success, people often don't want to take music recommendations from a 20-year-old frat boy who smokes clove cigarettes and wears flip-flops every day, though bands like The Nadas — equipped with their mellow, folk-inspired tones — permeate any college scene. While that scene gave them their start, The Nadas have grown up and moved past playing house parties for free beer — parlaying what started as a way to pass the time and have fun into a full-fledged career.