The Critical Hour

The Critical Hour is a high energy rock band that appeals to a wide variety of music fans. Displaying sophisticated musicianship and catchy hooks, The Critical Hour never fails to impress an audience. With influences such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Incubus, 311, and No Doubt, the band’s groove-oriented original music often inspires singing and dancing. The original music of The Critical Hour expresses emotions and situations that are easy for a listener to relate to, and many listeners develop a very personal connection to one or more of the songs.

The Critical Hour began in 2002 with drummer Joe Quinn and guitarist Matt Logan. For the first two years, the band took many different forms, finally settling in 2004 as a trio with bassist Ben Lindell. In 2005, the band recorded an EP length album of all original material. For the next few years, The Critical Hour played dozens of shows in the Des Moines and Iowa City areas. Some highlights include shows at the Val Air Ballroom, Drake Stadium, The Union Bar in Iowa City, Iowa City Riverfest in 2006 and then returning to headline the festival in 2007, and many more. Fans of The Critical Hour pack venues time and time again, proving themselves to be some of the most loyal fans on the local scene. The group is actively pursuing opportunities to share their music and they look forward to recording a full length album in the near future.

During the summer of 2007, bassist Ben Lindell departed for China, where he will be teaching English for 11 months. Filling in for him during his hiatus is Iowa City’s Nic Coffman, an experienced bass man who is already adding his own flavor to The Critical Hour sound. Fueled by friendship, a love of music, and wonderful fans, The Critical Hour shows no signs of letting up.