xBk Live

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!

BJ Barham has got it going on. Whether with his band, Ameriican Aquarium, or out on a solo tour, he takes command of the stage and captivates the crowd. Last night, his show at XBK Live was as intimate as a backyard family gathering and as entertaining as anything you could hope for. As a songwriter, BJ has become a master of his craft. I drove from Omaha, Nebraska, to see the show, and it was well worth the trip. A great venue and a stellar performance.

First time at xBk tonight - how has this place been here for five years and I've only now discovered it? Fantastic venue! We saw Wishbone Ash here tonight and out of the probably half-dozen times I have seen them live, this was by far the best show. This venue is intimate and warm. I really felt connected to the band being so close. The sound was great. The atmosphere was great. All the staff were wonderful! Can't say enough good things about this place. Can't wait to go back soon!

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.

Best music venue in the Des Moines metro area. Great performers touring the country come to xBk. Sit eight feet from the stage, meet and maybe share a table with band members. Great sound and lighting attract local music, so xBk is worth following to enjoy music with your friends and meet more.

xBk is our favorite music venue in Des Moines now. We love coming to shows here - the sound is great, people who work here are very friendly, and the vibe here is always fantastic. Restrooms are very easy, as is getting drinks from the bar. Bar prices are fair especially for a live music venue. One very nice touch here is they keep a cooler of water out so you can help yourself. Just an all around great place - we don’t hesitate to come for any show here that we are half interested in, just because of the venue.

I saw Post Sex Nachos here with some friends at it was a really cool venue! The upstairs section seemed nice if you wanted to sit down or not be in the crowd. It was a very good show a very good venue, definitely reccomend it!

This venue is amazing! Staff is always quick and friendly. Lucky to have a venue like this in DSM :).

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.