It’s a rainy and cold winter night in Des Moines, but inside xBk, the mood is warm. Regulars shrug off raincoats and squeeze around small tables wedged between the bar and the low stage. It’s Monday night, which means Monday Night Live, a weekly, free showcase for local musicians at the 250-capacity venue in the Drake neighborhood.
xBk is known for its eclectic calendar that welcomes local talent. In January alone, the independent venue hosted an improv jam and a poetry open mic alongside local acts. On this night, Des Moines-based singer-songwriter Adam Bruce sits alongside a few fellow musicians, debuting a song he’d finished writing in the past week.
The evening has a ritual calm, softly punctuated by applause. But as Bruce warms up the room, just around the corner, a similarly sized venue has wound down — for good…