I saw a bunch of great local bands this weekend. On Friday, Thunder Power (now sans exclamation points) had their CD release show at Slowdown with Honeybee, These United States, and Midwest Dilemma. It was the first time I’ve seen Midwest Dilemma and they sounded really good and full (they should sound full with that many members) and I’m always excited to see Honeybee live. Thunder Power sounded great too and the EP Love Yourself looks and sounds awesome.
On Saturday there was a benefit show at The Waiting Room for the Peace Center, which amongst other support, offers free counseling for soldiers with PTSD. Bands that played included: Bear Country, Simon Joyner, Bill Hoover, McCarthy Trenching, Outlaw Con Bandana, Orenda Fink and Baby Walrus (pictured above).
It was the first time I’ve seen Outlaw Con Bandana, and they were really, really good. I’ve heard good things about them, and they did not disappoint. I haven’t seen Baby Walrus in what feels like forever, and it was way too long, because this band is SO good. They played a few new songs which were really promising and is a sign of more good music to come from them, and the old stuff reminded me how good their album was. I guess I’ll have to take Lykke Li out of my CD player. It was bound to happen some time.
Friday night Thunder Power!!!, Flowers Forever and Baby Walrus played at the Bemis. What an awesome line-up. For those of you who read this who aren’t in Omaha (which is probably most of you), please check these bands out. They all make really great and different music. You can buy the Flowers Forever album at Team Love, and the Baby Walrus one here , and you can listen to Thunder Power here. The show was to celebrate the releases of the Baby Walrus and Flowers Forever albums and also a fundraiser for Kianna from Tilly and the Wall’s bulldog Foot Foot who needs ear surgery. The Bemis is a great place for shows — it’s a basement art gallery and the shows are usually in this small room off the gallery. So it’s basically a warm, sweaty, sometimes smelly place with no stage and very little light.
Thunder Power!!! played a great set and sounded really good. Flowers Forever played their album in order. Derek was his usual energetic self, and the crowd was really into it — a lot of dancing. Baby Walrus closed with another amazing set. I’m always really impressed with how good they sound live, especially since their songs have unusual arrangements and layers and stuff.
Dan McCarthy, Spring Gun and Thunder Power!!! at Slowdown was awesome. The sound is really great in there and as a result, the bands all sounded great, especially TP (photo below). Kacynna’s voice was amazing on those crisp speakers.
Saw Billy the Kid at Film Streams and really liked it, also enjoyed the Q & A afterwards. I felt nostalgic for 466 nights and Q & As and felt like I should’ve been sitting on the floor in the front taking photos. That would’ve been weird though. I decided that I would make a list of all the guests we had so that I could remember them in my old age or tell my grandkids. I always plan to do this with concerts too (for the same reasons). I will add both of these lists to my non-New Years resolution list. But yeah, the movie was a funny, interesting, moving portrait of this kid, Billy. It’s surprising that the director, Jennifer Venditti, was able to establish trust and a sense of rapport with him in only 5 days (she went back and shot 3 more days. If you don’t feel like doing the math, that’s 8 shooting days)…although after watching the film and getting a better sense of Billy, it’s not all that surprising – though it is a testament to her personality as well. I have a lot more I could say about this film (and maybe will), but for now (since this is a quick recap and it’s 2:14 am) I will just say: go see it if you can.
Recently got back from seeing Baby Walrus at The Waiting Room. It seemed like a shorter set than usual, but it was still fun and they sounded great. I really like the record, but it’s even better live. I still have What Plastic Box in my head. Here’s the end of it live:
I would like to go to The Waiting Room tomorrow night to see Orenda Fink, Jake Bellows, Joe Knapp, Stefanie Drootin, Dan McCarthy and more, but probably won’t because I haven’t planned anything for class on Monday and that would be another late night and I have get sleep for my long work day on Monday. I’m just not as hardcore as I once was, I guess. I’m getting old.
And last, but not least, I am in the process of re-watching Me And You And Everyone We Know. It’s been too long since I’ve seen it last, and it’s been fun and inspiring to watch it despite the fact that I keep falling asleep…which has nothing to do with the movie itself and everything to do with the fact that I start it at around 3 am after taking Tylenol PM (a recent bad habit I am aiming to break). I’m hoping to make it through another 20 minutes tonight. Later.
I have been very busy as of lately, so I haven’t had a lot of time to post. I did go to a great show this past Saturday night though and I feel the need to promote some music that you may not have heard. The show was held at the Bemis Underground, the basement of the contemporary arts museum the Bemis Center. The Bemis also has a great artist in residency program here in Omaha. You live and work there and they provide one of their brick lofts, large gallery workspace and some materials. They support artists from all different mediums including music. Some of the past residents include Tilly & the Wall, Orenda Fink, and Gillian Welch. David Matysiak from Coyote Bones is currently there.
Anyway, the show included music from Alessi, Thunder Power!!! and Baby Walrus — all really great musical acts. If you haven’t heard any of these musicians/bands, you should check them out when you get a chance. Alessi is from England, but was here in Omaha for a spell recording, and Thunder Power!!! and Baby Walrus are Omaha-based.
And here is a link to CoCo Art, where you can download some songs from some other Omaha bands that are making some interesting music.
There is a lot of great music coming out of Omaha right now.
Other than listening to music, I have been busy with teaching, writing and shooting. More details to come in the near future.
