Flanked by guitarist Jesse Cotton (left) and her husband and band manager Luke Sires (right), Tama County native Katie Sires, center, of the Waterloo-based Katie and the Honky Tonks laughs while standing in the kitchen of Traer Ripley UCC’s The Parsonage on Wednesday, June 25, ahead of her performance that evening as part of the music venue’s summer 2025 lineup. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

TRAER – It may not be a honky-tonky dancehall, but on Wednesday, June 25, Traer Ripley United Church of Christ’s The Parsonage pulled out all the steps — root beer floats included — to welcome Tama County native Katie (née Wedmore) Sires of Katie and the Honky Tonks (KTHT) as part of the music venue’s 2025 summer lineup.

Following a bevy of talented open mic acts including the Waterloo-based string band Jam Busters, singer-songwriter Sires along with guitarist Jesse Cotton performed to a densely-packed house all but one song from their debut, 11-track album “Ain’t No Shame” which officially dropped two days later on June 27.

Those lucky enough to have snagged a seat inside The Parsonage’s Great Room — the concert was moved inside due to excessive heat — experienced roughly 45-minutes of Sires and Cotton rolling out original song after original song of classic country music that would be right at home on the Grand Ole Opry stage some 50-60 years ago. Much of the inspiration for the album came from a residency Sires and her former bandmates (KTHT recently underwent a complete roster shakeup) held for much of 2024 at the historic DanceMor Ballroom in Swisher.

“So, Swisher, Iowa, there’s a 120-year-old ballroom there and we wrote this song about it,” Sires said while introducing “Dancehall,” the fourth song on the new record.

“Basically every time we played there, no one came,” she added dryly but with a glint in her eye, drawing hearty laughter from the audience including her husband and band manager Luke Sires, a North Tama Class of 2002 alum. “Since no one was there we had plenty of time to write a bunch of songs. So that’s how, basically, this whole album was written.”

Singer-songwriter Katie Sires (left) and guitarist Jesse Cotton (right) of Katie and the Honky Tonks perform from their debut album “Ain’t No Shame” on June 25 at The Parsonage in Traer. The album officially dropped two days later. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

If no one truly did show up to the band’s performances in Swisher, it is a darn shame because Sires’ voice is so rich and so nuanced, nothing short of the word “symphony” seems appropriate as a descriptor. And while the new album does a good job showcasing her arousing vocals, hearing Sires perform live is a must for those who have not yet had the privilege.

“Well, I may be a lady, but I can sure as hell sing a country song. Like the women who came before me singing about the men who done ’em wrong,” she sang while performing her album’s sixth track, “Women of Country Music.”

Several ‘women who came before’ instantly come to mind while listening to Sires including Emmylou Harris, Patsy Cline, and even, at times, the distinctive June Carter Cash. Sires’ clear mezzo-soprano is laced with a honey twang that can both soar and also scrape deep.

The song continues, “I was born and raised on my traditional small-town roots. I’m real proud of my Midwestern ways and all the scuff marks on my boots. I’m more than a pretty face, yeah, I got me a song to sing. So look out, boys, make way for your Honky Tonk Queen.”

With her curly red hair and retro western outfits, Sires’ look is certainly part of the ‘Honky Tonk Queen’ package, but she makes clear through her songwriting she hasn’t forgotten where she hails from. The penultimate song she and Cotton – both members of the Gladbrook-Reinbeck Class of 2004 – performed Wednesday night, “Honky Tonk in IOWA,” stood as an earworm anthem for her state while also making the case that honky-tonk deserves to be a bigger part of the music scene here.

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

“All the good old boys at the local dive have seemed to all gone away. Sitting at the bar, drinking PBR is how they seem to spend their days. With all of the empty stages, just waiting for a band to come and play,” the song begins before moving to the chorus where Sires belts with easy confidence, “So tell me where can I find a honky tonk in Iowa?”

One of the best performances of the night was perhaps Sires and Cotton’s rendition of the album’s third track, “Slow Down Honey,” a wailing, twangy, two-step ballad in which Sires more than proves her vocal talents. Cotton was also given the chance to shine during several instrumental breaks.

Two nights after The Parsonage sneak peek, KTHT held an official album release party while performing at the Cedar Basin Music Festival in Cedar Falls.

“Blood, sweat [and] tears went into this record,” Sires wrote on social media, announcing the album drop. “Well, maybe not blood but a lot of tears and a helluva lot of sweat for sure! Truly a dream come true!”

She went on to thank those who helped bring the album to life including her husband Luke (who also plays drums for KTHT), family, friends, and fans, before shouting out her newest bandmates – Cotton, previously a member of the Gladbrook-based band Hideaway Honey, and Johnny Love – proclaiming, “Both are fire and bring the passion!”

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Much like Sires herself who, with the debut of “Ain’t No Shame,” has cemented her status as a solid, soaring member of The Women of Country Music.

Vinyl copies of “Ain’t No Shame” are available for purchase at Reinbeck’s The Dig Inn where Katie and the Honky Tonks will be performing on Thursday, July 17, beginning at 6 p.m. The album can also be purchased online by visiting https://katieandthehonkytonks.bandcamp.com.

For more information on The Parsonage which is located at 513 Fourth Street in Traer, contact Jim Coppoc at 515-708-4343 or jimatripley@gmail.com, or refer to the venue’s Facebook page.

Remaining summer concerts at The Parsonage include Uncle Chuck on July 9, Birdy Young on Aug. 13, Robert Maharry of Catfish Murphy on Sept. 10, Madison Kolbet on Oct. 8, and Robert Yeltman on Nov. 12. Every show is pay-what-you-can; open mic leads off at 6:30 p.m. All ages and levels of experience are welcome.

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER