Max Freund/ Hoopla - Adam Beck sings during his three-hour set at Cedar River Landing.

Adam Beck held off for one hour before playing “Don’t Stop Beliving.”

Even though Journey’s inspirational ballad may be an oft-played song, his rendition was met with raised hands, and gleeful squeals.

The 38-year-old father of three took the stage at Cedar River Landing, Thursday night, to perform a marathon session of rock and pop hits.

“With the kids at home, this has kind of become a paycheck, which is bad to say as an artist,” says Beck, who plays an average three of shows a week around Iowa. “I am venturing a little more into writing, but as far as my gigs go, I try to do a little bit of everything to keep people pleased.”

While Beck’s set was a cornucopia of classics, he did more than replay great music, he added his own flare.

Beck leans heavily on his vocals – his guitar often seems like an afterthought. When he took liberties with songs, either accentuating a note or at times changing octaves completely, the soulful power of his voice captured the audience’s attention and held it.

Beck’s commanding vocals allow him to perform with a minimalistic approach; one he feels can use to accentuate a song’s true beauty.“A well written song can be performed with just a singer and guitar,” says Beck, referring the absence of back-up instruments at his performances. “In fact that is how most great songs are first written, with a guy and his guitar.”

Max Freund/ Hoopla - Adam Beck plays a harmonica solo during his performance at Cedar River Landing, Thursday.

While Beck has played all across the tri-state area for years with just his guitar, he finds himself returning frequently to Cedar River Landing.

“What I love about this place, it is the neighborhood bar, but you are not treated like it is the neighborhood bar,” says Beck. “Everyone is cool. The staff is awesome. The crowds that come here, I mean, you heard them, they love music, they came here for that.”

That’s the vibe Lori Lee Glenn’s, the day manager and booking agent, is going for.

“We do our best, we go out of our way to get to know people, and try to make everyone feel welcome,” she says.

Cedar River Landing will be celebrating its third anniversary in December. The bar is a converted warehouse, and was opened following the Floods of 2008, which decimated the Fifth Avenue area where the bar stands now.

Much of the surrounding area has yet to bounce all the way back, but Glenn is confident events like the Cedar River Landing’s outdoor and indoor concert series will help.

“I think we are getting known for our live music here. I book the bands, and I used to have to call them, but they are calling me now,” she says. “And I try to change it up, we have country, rock, we are having a techno DJ coming on Saturday, which is a bit out of the ordinary for us, but I am excited.”

For all the variety of music that Cedar River Landing offers, Glenn says the most important part is that audience shows their support, regardless of genre.

“Cedar Rapids has so much talent, and just to keep coming out and supporting is awesome. There are bars that cut things out, cut karaoke out, and I am glad we are continuing to do it,” she says. “It is hard sometimes having to pay bands, but I think anyone who comes out and supports live music is awesome.”

- Max Freund