He is single-handedly bringing rock `n’ roll back to Ames.

Jim Schloemer, junior in architecture, had the idea last semester to set up a series of rock shows featuring 21 bands – a diverse mix of local rock bands from Ames and some of the best rock bands in and around the Midwest. After months of planning, his set of rock shows titled Saturdays Rock begins this Saturday at Boheme.

Some of the local bands performing are 38th parallel, Index Case, and dead by Wednesday, as well as top regional bands such as oh my god., Remover, National Fire Theory and Mandown.

“This is a great compilation of literally some of the best rock bands the Midwest has to offer,” Schloemer said.

Schloemer, also the singer/guitarist for dead by Wednesday cites Pat Fleming and Aaron Hefley from Bi-Fi Records as part of the reason he decided to do these shows.

“I saw what a huge impact those two are making, and I wanted to help further the cause,” he said.

But Schloemer’s main reason for setting up these shows is simple.

“I have a lot of friends in a lot of really good rock bands, and I just thought it would be cool to have them all play at one place and give Ames the opportunity to hear that there is good music in Iowa and the Midwest,” he said.

He compiled a list of a dozen bands that he knew he could get to play the shows, and was originally planning for a total of 15 bands. But breakups of bands such as Clever and Dichotomatic left him searching for more bands to fit the bill. He then began searching music sites such as Mp3.com and Yahoo! for regional rock bands in cities such as Minneapolis and Kansas City, Mo.

“The response was overwhelming,” Schloemer said. “It was a domino effect. The more bands I talked to, the more bands I was able to get in contact with because of their connections. I have more interest right now than I can accommodate.”

Schloemer said that he picked the Boheme for several different reasons.

“People’s doesn’t have a lot of variety among the acts that they are willing to book, and the M-Shop has such pressure for national acts that even though Eric [Yarwood] is doing all he can, it is hard to get local bands any more than opening slots,” he explained.

He added that the Boheme has had a strong focus recently on local music, and that it would be “a great little club to do it in.”

Justin Means, who books for the Boheme, said that he and Schloemer had been talking and both agreed that there weren’t many places that bands could play at in Ames. After deciding that the Boheme would be the venue, he then left Schloemer in charge of finding the bands to play the shows, he said.

“I just kind of let Jim go ahead and run with it,” he said.

Means said that he was amazed by the number of bands interested in doing shows in Ames.

“I haven’t even touched the amount of bands that want to play,” he said.

Schloemer said that students will be impressed with each band performing at the Saturdays Rock series, adding that there isn’t a mediocre act in the lineup.

“People will come to this and will be blown away by the talent walking through Ames,” he said.

Schloemer and Means have both expressed interest in making these series of shows a regular occurrence in Ames. Schloemer said that he already has numerous bands willing to play the next show, and has plans to possibly set up a series of shows in his hometown of Davenport this summer.

He wants students to realize that there are good bands in Ames and that they aren’t limited to big cities such as Minneapolis or Chicago.

“More and more I am realizing the incredible talent we have here in the Midwest,” Schloemer said, “and I am honored to have the opportunity to have them here.”

The first of the Saturdays Rock series will be this Saturday, March 24. The doors open at the Boheme at 1 p.m., admission is $7 for seven bands.