Miles Nielson present the Rusted Hearts

Somewhere between a bar and the recording studio, Miles Nielsen’s stirs up his own pop rock brand.

Pop rock arrangements and sunny melodies tucked between a long lost country folk steel guitar floating through speakers around crashing drums, bouncing bass lines and smooth as butter keys.

Nielsen performs Friday at Gabe’s in Iowa City.

After. 13 years playing bars, clubs and theaters, Nielsen has played and performed as vocalist and lead guitarist in many midwestern bands from past to present, Harmony Riley, HMS, and most recently, as a member in the Appleton, Wis., via Rockford, Ill., ensemble, Cory Chisel & The Wandering Sons — as well as his own band when time permits as “Miles Nielsen & The Rusted Hearts.”

Aside from opening for acts such as Medeski, Martin & Wood, to Cake, to Moe, he also co-owns a recording studio in Rockford, FUSE, that has served as the recording home to Cory Chisel & The Wandering Sons. He has worked with many artists such as Augie Meyers, Lonnie Brooks, Gabriel Reed, Cheap Trick, and The Good Year Pimps. From writing and performing his own tunes to recording and performing on other artists songs, Miles Nielsen continues to help carry out that very rare rock n’ roll torch.

Most recently, “Undefeated,“ was nominated for an Oscar for Best Documentary. Nielsen scored the documentary, which is making the film festival circuit and will be in theatrical release in early 2012.