HEARING LINCOLN: The Week Ahead in Music

By Andrew Norman

Serious competition for the crowd’s interest included goofy Arby's hats and Ramen noodle freebies.

Along with about a dozen other like-minded music community members, I was trying hard to get the attention of overwhelmed incoming freshman during Sunday's Big Red Welcome. For my part, I was hustling to sling handbills that offered a sort of 101 on Lincoln music — venues, bands, media to follow — near a stage set up at the foot of Memorial Stadium. Local bands Somasphere and Mitch Gettman, along with Minneapolis beatboxer Heatbox, offered a taste of something original to the thousands of new students.

And as I've found to be the case in general populations wherever I've lived, about one person in every dozen seemed genuinely interested in local music.

The rest might just have been mad they got shrimp-flavored noodles.

But for Lincoln's music community to thrive and grow, it needs new blood. So I hope that guy in the crooked baseball cap with the navigator glasses who told me he's dying to start a band does it. And I hope that girl who said she sometimes takes photos of local shows starts posting them online.

It was fitting that the bands performed so close to that most hallowed of Nebraska monuments. Because while for so long the expectation was that Lincolnites bleed Husker red, I believe the city's diverse music community is increasingly adding color to its vital fluid.

Each week in this space I'll do my best to offer evidence to support that statement. Looking ahead for the next seven days, here are my picks for quality music and community causes:

• Proponents for a 2 a.m. bar closing time in Lincoln say it's critical that supporters show up to the public comment period of today's City Council hearing. They're meeting at 2 p.m. at Red 9, 322 S. 9th St., and walking together to City Hall before the meeting starts at 3 p.m. The group's Facebook page listed almost 120 attendees Sunday night. Hopefully, half that many show up today.
• A collective groan welcomed news that UUVVWWZ is going on an indefinite hiatus as drummer Tom Ambroz leaves to work in Australia. Bummer. Catch their secret last show Tuesday night at Duffy's Tavern, 1412 O St.,at 9 p.m. Free.
• The Sheldon Museum of Art, 12th and R streets, is hosting an end-of-summer event outside on Tuesday, featuring music from DJ Romeo. Watch Omaha artist Jeff King tag a 17-foot graffiti piece, and don't huff the vapors if he lets you try it yourself. Free; 7 to 9 p.m.
• Weird Columbus, Ohio, duo Lollipop Factory plays Duffy's with Lincoln twosome Once a Pawn, which is supporting its driving Mission Accomplished album. St. Joseph News said of Lollipop Factory: "Channeling influences like Ziggy Stardust-era David Bowie, Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi and Jack White, Lollipop Factory combines heavy guitar riffs and drums with Freddie Mercury-esque vocals.” 9 p.m.; $5; 18+
• That same night, Clawfoot House, 1042 F St., hosts blues-surf-rock duo Boom Chick (not to be mistaken with the Lincoln record label). Lincoln songsmiths Manny Coon and Rock Rose open. COST, 9 p.m.
• The Tijuana Gigolos celebrate Tony Meza's birthday at home at The Zoo Bar, 136 N. 14^th St., all night on Thursday. The show begins with an hour of piano from Josh Hoyer of Son of 76 at 5 p.m.  The Gigolos will play a long set from about 6 to 9 p.m., followed by alt-country music from Mark Stuart and the Bastard Sons that would make Johnny Cash proud. $8; 21+
  
• Also on Thursday, Hoyer, Kris Lager and Stonebelly perform at Red 9, 322 S. 9th St., for a fundraiser called “Concertvation” to benefit the League of Conservation Voters' environmental initiatives. Starting at 7 p.m., it's $10 for fine local music and a great cause.
• Omaha-Lincoln band Little Black Stereo plays what they say will be their final show on Friday at The Zoo Bar. The show features an impressive lineup, including High Art (with The Show is the Rainbow's Darren Keen and UUVVWWZ's Jim Schroeder) and killer Lawrence band Cowboy Indian Bear. The noun-heavy Kansas band has been making a second home in Nebraska. At the Bourbon Theatre earlier this summer, they pulled off an incredible song with two bassists — something that doesn't often work well. 9 p.m.; $5; 21+
  
• Ember Schrag and Brian Day hand over the Clawfoot House to Bryan Klopping and Amy Gordon in another farewell show Friday evening. A fundraiser to send Schrag on tour, the show starts at 6 p.m. and includes a spaghetti feed, tarot card reading and four bands. $6; dinner only, $3
• Minneapolis rock band The High Crime plays Knickerbockers on Saturday, with rowdy Lincoln punk band Bandit Sound. 9 p.m.; $5; 18+
• The week ends on a strange note with the Rusty Munch Variety show at The Bourbon Theatre, 1415 O St. The anything-goes ridiculousness starts at 6 p.m. and costs $8 ADV, $10 DOS for 18+.

Leftovers:

Hoyer has taken back his mid-week Zoo Bar bookings. Set up a show for Tuesday through Thursday by emailing him at thesonof76@yahoo.com.

Originally from Imperial, Andrew Norman started going to local shows around 2002. He got more involved while serving as the music editor for alt-weeklies in Omaha. His favorite Lincoln show was an acoustic performance by Boycaught outside the old Box Awesome. Norman is the founder of Hear Nebraska, a nonprofit website that will launch this fall. For now, check out facebook.com/hearnebraska.org and twitter.com/hearnebraska.

Category: Hearing Lincoln

Comments

[kadillac man]

Don't forget The Glitch Mob will be playing for a packed house at the Bourbon Theatre on Wed. Aug. 25th.

[Dustin HLN]

VibeSquaD will be throwing down bass music with Denver band Gravity (gravityfunk.com) and local favs Bassthoven (bassthoven.com)this friday august 27th @ The Bourbon Theatre as well ;)

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=133915309981164

[Hearnebraska]

Thanks, guys. These shows are admittedly out of my musical wheelhouse, which I'm working to expand. I'll hit them up on HN's Facebook.