On Nov. 20, The Maytags played at DG’s Tap House with support from Jordan Mayland and The Thermal Detonators along with Secret Freedom.

To my disappointment, I missed all of Secret Freedom’s set. Their self-titled album is one of the best to come out of Ames this year and offers a modern take on the rock and soul of the ’60s and ’70s. I have not gotten the chance to see them live yet, but it is definitely on my to-do list. 

Of the three or four shows I have attended at DG’s this month, this one had the best attendance by a long shot. Nearly all the tables were full, as were many seats around the bar. Several small groups milled around on the floor while Jordan Mayland and The Thermal Detonators set up their gear onstage.

The band began their set with a short instrumental before launching into a more straight-ahead rock track. For a band that had not played a show for almost a year, they were remarkably tight from the outset. Practically every part was perfect, from Mayland’s to Claire Kruesel’s bells and backing vocals. 

The band played tracks with elements of honkytonk, see the song “North Carolina,” old-timey waltz elements and guitar solos that sounded like they were played by Brian May from Queen, like a “A Dark Gift,” and a little bit of everything in between.  

Such a broad range of sounds might imply a lack of cohesiveness, but the band’s set flowed very nicely from one song to the next. They played a mix of previously released songs as well as an ample amount of new material from an album they will record in December.

They closed their set with my favorite Thermal Detonators track, “Lie Detector.” Though the live performance lacked some of the dynamics of the studio version, it was a fantastic rendition in its own right. Krusel’s bells and Paul Hertz’s trombone, both absent on the album version, were fantastic additions to an already great track.

After a short break, The Maytags launched into their set without so much as an introduction by frontman Dustin Smith. Though Smith has made the rounds as a solo artist for quite some time, The Maytags are relatively new to the Iowa music scene. Much like Secret Freedom and Jordan Mayland and The Thermal Detonators, they offer a fresh take on classic sounds. 

If the other two bands on the bill did retro rock and soul well, The Maytags perfected it.

The melodic trumpet and saxophone parts sounded much bigger than what one would expect from a two-man horn section. The rhythm section was tight and provided just the right amount of groove to dance to. Smith’s guitar work, though not overly flashy, blended well into the mix. 

While the instrumentation was certainly enjoyable, the vocals were certainly the highlight of The Maytag’s performance. Smith’s voice is perfectly suited for soul, with just the right amount rasp — think Ray LaMontagne. His crooning was  complemented by the call-and-response backing vocals of the horn section. 

They played a selection of songs from their forthcoming extended play, Nova, which is due out Dec. 12. Each track was close to a work of perfection.

“Anthem,” the final song of the night, stood head and shoulders above the rest. With its hummable horn licks, funky bass line and fantastic vocals, the song perfectly encapsulated all that is great about The Maytags. It’s easy to imagine the Jackson Five performing the song on “American Bandstand.” 

While the music was certainly good, watching and listening to the crowd was almost better. Loud cheers erupted after — and sometimes during — each song of the set. Though a scant 10 or so people were on the dance floor, they looked to be having the time of their lives.

Perhaps the best testament to the timelessness of The Maytag’s music came courtesy of an older gentleman, who must have been in his late 60s, weaving in and out of dancers 40 years his junior. He looked to be having a great time while a band of youngsters did soul as well, if not better than, the Motown greats of his youth. 

I have never seen The Temptations live, but I have seen The Maytags. That is close enough for me.

4.5/5