xBk Live

Jamison got our band sounding GREAT! Seriously great venue. BANDS, come play here! Easy parking and load in. Thanks xBK! Love, Lost Stars.

It’s a great small venue for up and coming artists! Everything was punctual and the place was pretty clean. We saw Phoneboy and Inoha, it was an all-ages show and everyone was respectful of the younger people in the crowd! I was really impressed! We really had a great time!

Fantastic venue! Love that it's small enough for people to be really immersed in the show.

Listened to Covenhoven. Single Guitarist who also played harmonica and keyboard. The venue is very small but cozy and perfect for this type of performance. It felt like you were in someone’s living room. It was very enjoyable and I’d come back for another performance. So cool to have a place like this in Des Moines.

Cool place, good drinks. Sound was very good. Good place to watch a show. Very clean. Wait staff was awesome. Looks like they have a show pretty much every night. I will be coming back.

The space is very open, but intimate. Very ADA friendly, lots of seating options if you need it. Incredibly good sound/acoustics in there, even when the bands are rocking loud, every word was clear. Bathrooms are super clean. Bathrooms are just stalls/urinals, and sinks are in a shared area, so the bathroom isn't clogged with people doing makeup, talking, etc. I didn't personally drink, but bar looked nice, and, at least, at this concert, they had free water. Pricing looked reasonable, and menu looked inventive. I believe also a NA menu. Door staff was friendly and courteous, and checked IDs as needed/appropriate. I'm going to preface this with this: I have epileptic episodes/seizures and I knew this going into the Durry/Gully Boys show on 10/07. None of what transpired during the Durry set was anyone's fault but my own, but I'm trying to branch out and try new things and Durry is one of my favorite bands. I did have an episode due to flashing lights. BUT. I still wouldn't have changed anything. I got to meet Durry's manager, Daniel, and also Madison (sorry if I mis-spelled the name), the manager that night. They took amazing care of me, made sure I was okay, and even hooked me up with a free shirt for Durry because I couldn't stay for the full set (but they did offer to let me stay in the green room to hear out the entire thing!). Madison was literally hip to hip with me to make sure I didn't fall or anything. Also, I won't name names since I didn't get their permission, but someone from out of state who came to see them also stayed with me the whole time until my partner arrived to get me. They all escorted me out a side entrance in the end. What an incredible group of people. I had an amazing time, regardless of the circumstances and that's not something I can normally say when I have an episode like this. I knew my safety was a priority to them and I really appreciate it, truly. They are amazing people, and this is an amazing venue that we're incredibly lucky to have in Des Moines.

An amazing venue. Great staff all around. Fantastic sound. They book incredible acts. Such an intimate space. Youll feel like you've found a secret club. Bartenders are kind. Bathrooms are clean. Nice side porch for fresh air. A beautiful space in the Drake neighborhood.

Nice little venue, very good sound system for the concert I attended. Only had one drink but it was pretty good.

I had never been to XBK before. We were greeted at the door to have our tickets scanned. The show was all ages, so we were "banded." Two bartenders were working hard. We waited for 1 person to get served ahead of us. I would not consider that a "wait." The stage is only a foot or so off the the ground. So not sure the view fro. The back. We We were upfront. The sound was great. Did not realize it was on the loud side till we went outside. We had a great time. The venue seemed very clean, even the restroom area. I think the common sink area out the stall rooms helps the flow of people. We can't wait to go back.

Color me impressed!!!! We finally made it to XBK Live and it is now a favorite venue. The vibe is very chill and intimate. The acoustics are great and the staff is terrifiic. XBK will be a new haunt for us!

A great spot to go for good music and a good time. My buddies and I went here for the first time to catch Ashes to Amber (Indie Rock Artist) and loved everything. Tickets prices were beyond fair and the space is great. A smaller cozy venue but that's what I love in a setting like this. A great balcony and bar too. The bathrooms were very clean. All around amazing venue and will be coming again.

Fabulous venue! So glad I stumbled across it, little over a year ago. Also great shows. Great creativity & art. Definitely a positive for the community.

Perhaps the best small venue in town. I can't think of one I liked more, and I'll definitely be back for more!

I'm from the Cedar Rapids area and came into town with a friend of mine for a band that was playing tonight. It was our first time at XBK Live and not only was the band great but we loved our time at the venue. I'm not sure what the bartenders name was but she had short blonde hair probably in her early mid 20s and super friendly. When I came up to the bar and ordered a drink and paid, the bartender had signed "Thank you" to me and I noticed she was doing it to other people at the bar as well. I asked if she knew Sign Language and she said she was trying to learn and wanted to use it more and I told her how awesome this is! (My hearing isn't good so I use sign language with people when possible and read lips) It's nice to see people use signs even if it's a simple "Thank You." It made me so incredibly happy to see someone wanting to be so inclusive towards others and I will definitely be coming back in the future.

I discovered this intimate venue the other night when we went to an album release. I did not know this place existed. It was a beautiful night out. They had a door person come out early and check IDs to help speed up the process at the door. The doors opened, we walked in, paid and had a seat right away. The bar was full bar and they were quick to get us what we wanted or needed. The venue for music sounded great. It was plenty loud and there was even a short video that looked and sounded great. You can sit up in the balcony or on the floor. You can stand and dance or hang out at the bar Regardless it was a great location and a fun experience.

Wow this place is super legit.. a fantastic modern music venue! I got lucky enough to play here the other night, so this is from a musician point of view, and as a spectator of the show. I have toured in every continental state in the US besides Maine, so I have seen a lot of music venues in my day! XBK is top notch! The layout is really cool. The wave in the bar gives the room character and psychologically makes the crowd moved closer to the stage... which as a performer is fantastic. They have tables for sitting and listening. They have a balcony that is multiple levels, so you can sit and enjoy music upstairs as well! The sound and lighting are fantastic elements that take the venue to the next level! Probably the best most modern lighting of any music venue in Iowa. The capacity is around 250 but even if there is 40 people there it feels like a good crowd and intimate! The staff was super nice, Tom and Anna at the bar kept the drinks flowing. Madison Ray was the door guy and greeter for the evening and did a really nice job making sure everyone feels welcome! Brandon the sound engineer did a great job and even troubleshooted some stuff during soundcheck to make the show better! And Oscar did a great job on the lighting making the mood just right! They have a great modern restrooms and sinks for washing hands outside the rest rooms so that should keep the bathroom lines from getting long! They also have a nice dedicated space for the artist to sell merch, and they even have some bins of records for sale.. I'm so excited Des Moines has another fantastic music venue for people to play, watch, listen, and get inspired! And lucky for the kids... This one is ALL AGES!

Quality Music Venue that has Alot Going on! Still New in terms of People Getting the word That Great Acts are Playing and Going to Play this Relaxed, Modern Edged, Well Oiled Machine for getting Music in your Head. The Show that I Caught played Seamlessly Smooth ~ just like the Acts Guitar Riffs... Bar was Pouring Livations and the croud was Warming up all to finish out with an Impromptu Jimmy Hendrix and Stevy Ray Wailing of your Ears and making your Lyrical Hearts Swing... Super Space with Lots of Party Potentiel, they are doing it Awesome soo check thier site for upcoming Shows and I'll see you there!!!

This is a really awesome intimate venue. There is a small balcony with 8 tables seating 4 each. A few more tables on the mail floor near the stage. It has Brick walls with an old wood roof. The roof kind of stops the echo off all surfaces so the sound is pretty decent. Small but diverse bar options with limited liquor selection, white and red wine, and one beer of each style (I.e., IPA, red, Ruthie, etc). Definitely worth checking out another band here. Photo is the view from the balcony.

We went here several weeks ago and we had a wonderful time. Enjoyed the sound effects and stage lighting.