Hairdos turn into Chimney Rock-shaped faux hawks, and beer spills trace the Platte River's path on the hardwood floor here at HN headquarters. Just a few blocks south of the state Capitol Building, we're so geeky for the good life state that gravity gets it. 

 

But we want the rest of the country to understand why Nebraska culture is so great, too. Angie and I are hitting the road as part of the Love Drunk crew (including Django G-S, Andrew Roger and Daniel Muller) to shoot live music videos featuring 16 bands in 13 cities, in 7 states in 15 days. Tour goals include: producing high-quality videos to run as content on this website; honing our production crafts; networking with great bands from here to Boston and back; and spreading the word about why national artists should make Nebraska a natural tour stop. 

 

We want to leave each of these bands with a sort of Nebraska care package as a reminder, and we need your help filling it with cool stuff. What would you want poor bastards who live outside the state to know about Nebraska's music/arts and people? Maybe it's your band's CD or venue's stickers, a homemade mixtape, photo print or other piece of art. Perhaps it's a DIY guide to playing in the state, or a list of links to your favorite Nebraska bands. Maybe you're way craftier than these ideas allow. Be creative. But whatever you'd like to donate, please try to get it to us in multiples of 15, and include a note that explains what you're including. Mail or drop off your goods by next Thursday, April 28 to HN HQ: 1345 F St., Lincoln, NE 68508. In Omaha, you can drop off your stuff at Homer's downtown — tell them it's a donation to Hear Nebraska.

 

And while I'm all palms up, I should mention that we're still graciously accepting band merch to use as giveaways and rewards for donating to Hear Nebraska. Dozens of bands have already sent us CDs, T-shirts, Koozies, setlists, and other fine items. We very much appreciate all the support. And we promise to use your merch wisely, aiming to expose your band to new fans in the process.

 

One way we're using this merch is to thank contributors of $25 or more. These fine Hear Nebraskans receive stickers, postcards and an assorted mix of awesome goods that we hope make them as geeky for the good life as we are. To make a tax-deductible donation of any amount, click here.

 

Here's the Love Drunk tour schedule:

 

 

***

Billy Yost and Tyler Zee from Chicago's The Kickback spoke with Hear Nebraska at this year's SXSW Music Festival in Austin about their new lineup (no Yoko), uncomfortable sleeping arrangements and guerrilla booking. It was a windy day, but it didn't stop some young descendants of Native American tribes from enjoying the festival in celebratory garb (bikini tops included). A native South Dakotan, Yost pulled a classic Yost and executed an impromptu interview mid-interview. Watch.

 

Listen to The Kicback here.

 

*Photo courtesy Larry Myhre, Flickr Creative Commons

 

Andrew Norman is the editor/co-founder of Hear Nebraska. He wants you to listen to Paul Baribeau, because the Michigander plays some of the best stripped-down folk-punk you'll find anywhere. Send hate mail and lover letters to andrewn@hearnebraska.org.