OEAA’s Summer Showcase moves to Blackstone, schedule out now
More than 40 bands, artists and comedians will take over Omaha’s Blackstone District on August 11 for Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards’ annual Summer Showcase.
In its twelfth year, the Showcase’s music lineup features top local musicians such as J. Crum and Andrea von Kampen and visual artists Justin “Pensive” Gilbreath, Dana Oltman and Jason Smith.
This year marks a new direction for the Showcase, moving from Benson to the Blackstone District and incorporating comedy and visual art for the first time. With the location change, spurred in part by high demand for venues in Benson, OEAA’s Melissa Kucirek says she hopes to reach a new audience. And, in past years, the showcase has featured comedians as emcees and has hosted pop-up exhibits before, but with this year’s full-fledged commitment to both mediums, Kucirek says she feels there will an improvement in fans’ artistic experience.
“We’re excited about performing arts, visual arts, and music collaborating in the same space,” Kucirek says.
2018’s Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards will be held Feb. 18 at Omaha Design Center, and public nominations for the awards ceremony close Aug. 31.
Check out OEAA’s Summer Showcase schedule and lineup below.
Almost Music, 3925 Farnam Street.
8:00 p.m. – 8:35 p.m. | Citizen’s Band
8:50 p.m. – 9:15 p.m. | Welcome To Florence
Corkscrew Wine & Cheese, 3908 Farnam Street.
8:00 p.m. – 8:35 p.m. | 24 Hour Cardlock
8:50 p.m. – 9:15 p.m. | Jay Markel Pratt
9:30 p.m. – 10:05 p.m. | Daisy Distraction
10:20 p.m. – 10:55 p.m. | Stonebelly
11:10 p.m. – 11:45 p.m. | Andrea Von Kampen
12:00 a.m. – 12:35 a.m. | The Boner Killerz
Mula, 3932 Farnam Street.
9:30 p.m. – 10:05 p.m. | Pflames
10:20 p.m. – 10:55 p.m. | Axcess
11:10 p.m. – 11:45 p.m. | Mark Patrick
12:00 a.m. – 12:35 a.m. | J. Crum
12:50 a.m. – 1:25 a.m. | Jus.B
Scriptown Brewery, 3922 Farnam Street.
8:00 p.m. – 8:35 p.m. | The Shineys
8:50 p.m. – 9:15 p.m. | Steve Lovett
9:30 p.m. – 10:05 p.m. | Not Funny
10:20 p.m. – 10:55 p.m. | Virginia Kathryn
11:10 p.m. – 11:45 p.m. | Township & Range
12:00 a.m. – 12:35 a.m. | Pony Creek
12:50 a.m. –1:35 a.m. | B. Baldwin Band
Sullivan’s Bar, 3929 Farnam Street.
8:00 p.m. – 8:35 p.m. | Side Talk
8:50 p.m. – 9:15 p.m. | Mindflight
9:30 p.m. – 10:05 p.m. | Bathtub Maria
10:20 p.m. – 10:55 p.m. | Clear The Day
11:10 p.m. – 11:45 p.m. | Big Canvas (comedy)
12:00 a.m. – 12:35 a.m. | The Wood Notes
12:50 a.m. – 1:25 a.m. | Middle Folk
The Blackstone Meatball, 3910 Farnam Street.
9:30 p.m. – 10:05 p.m. | The Weisenheimers (comedy)
10:30 p.m. – 10:55 p.m. | Low Long Signal
11:10 p.m. – 11:45 p.m. | Faded
12:00 a.m. – 12:35 a.m. | The Toppings
12:50 a.m. – 1:25 a.m. | Spirit Fox
The Pella at Blackstone, 303 S 41st Street.
8:00 p.m. – 8:35 p.m. | Satellite Junction
8:50 p.m. – 9:15 p.m. | Skyloft
9:30 p.m. – 10:05 p.m. | Louder Than Love
10:20 p.m. – 10:55 p.m. | Dominique Morgan & The Experience
11:10 p.m. – 11:45 p.m. | Anonymous Henchmen
12:00 a.m. – 12:35 a.m. | Naked Plywood
12:50 a.m. – 1:25 a.m. | Like Noise But Louder
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Thirst Things First adds to sci-fi saga with new EP
It’s been three years since Thirst Things First released their last EP promoting drinking oil. But on July 21, TTF returned with their third EP, J.O.R.D. DON’T PLAY, on which they add to Thirst Things First’s fictional saga of the dangers of sand and the benefits of drinking oil while also making some in-your-face hard rock.
J.O.R.D. DON’T PLAY, named after Thirst Things First’s Joint Operative Robotic Drummer, aka drummer Jordy Elfers, is the first TTF release since 2014’s E-Energy. The EP was initially set to drop in early 2016, but as explained by frontman Mikey Elfers — speaking as TTF administrator BOOT:\\ — TTF does not follow the rules of time or space. Instead, he says TTF only exists on a plane of “creating real art and consuming oil.”
But behind the peculiarity of the TTF saga on J.O.R.D. DON’T PLAY lies a five-track record of pop-infused synth-punk that makes healthy use of JARSH, aka Josh Miller, and his electronic bleep-bloops, which sound like they were pulled straight from the soundtrack to a futuristic level of a Crash Bandicoot video game. Thick power chords dominate each track with the help of the anthemic lead guitar harmonies that control the second half of the title track while Scot Adams’ mix places Elfers’ punchy, dance-floor-ready drums up against the guitars.
And at the same time, frontman Mikey Elfers manages to build earworm melodies around his love of oil and tales of space travel. J.O.R.D. takes listeners on an intergalactic ride to the future on “Warp Speed”; “Use in Select” propagandizes humanity’s need to consume oil; and “Let’s Do This” tells the story of falling in love with a computerized significant other in a pop rock rager that would have fit on the radio with bands like Metro Station and Cobra Starship. And then it all ends with an honest cover of Korn’s “Got The Life.”
Give J.O.R.D. DON’T PLAY a listen here, and check out “Let’s Do This” below.
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Turner Park Night Market features E Rawq, Jagaja, The Dilla Kids, Kethro
Turner Park will be packed again on Friday night when its free Night Market returns for the second time this summer. The event — the second of four featuring music booked by Hear Nebraska — stations a Vendor Village, of more than 30 local merchants, in tents lining the park’s green space on a sidewalk in the center of Midtown Crossing, selling anything from sundresses to terrariums.
The night opens at 6 p.m. with performances by E Rawq, JAGAJA, The Dilla Kids and Kethro. Along with music, the Night Market will hold a small food festival, and at 9 p.m., instructor Lora McCarville will host a moonlight yoga session. Best of all, the event is dog friendly.
RSVP to Friday’s Night Market here.
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Photo coverage: Oketo, Lovejoy, The Grand Poobah, Other Sides at Milk Run
Kicking off our weekend photo coverage, HN contributor Lindsey Yoneda went to Milk Run Friday night as indie rock band Oketo made its Nebraska return alongside Chicago psych rock band Lovejoy and locals The Grand Poobah and Other Sides. Oketo released its sophomore EP I Am Here You Are Now in February 2016 before moving to Olympia shortly thereafter. Friday was the first in a string of shows the band will play while it’s back home, including Aug 12 at Reverb Lounge and Aug 25 at 1867 Bar.
See Yoneda’s photos below.
Oketo
Lovejoy
The Grand Poobah
Other Sides
Photos by Lindsey Yoneda
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Photo coverage: CJ Mills, All Young Girls Are Machine Guns, Jack Hotel at The Bourbon
HN intern Emma Petersen went to The Bourbon Friday night to catch CJ Mills, All Young Girls Are Machine Guns and Jack Hotel. See her photos below:
CJ Mills
All Young Girls Are Machine Guns
Jack Hotel
photos by Emma Petersen
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Photo coverage: Paul McCartney at CenturyLink
Rounding out our coverage, HN contributor Harrison Martin caught Sir Paul McCartney at Omaha’s CenturyLink Center and snapped a few photos:
Photos by Harrison Martin
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Concert Round-Up
Well, it’s Monday again, but how about substituting that caffeine to get you going with a show. Check out our show picks below, or head over to our events page for a more comprehensive list of concerts. If you don’t see one of your shows there, add it to the page with the contribute feature here.
Monday
The Coathangers with Residuels and Crease at Milk Run – Atlanta’s The Coathangers are back in Omaha tonight with a new EP, Parasite, in tow. The band has toured constantly since the April 2016 release of Nosebleed Weekend, and they’ll be joined by Philadelphia punk band Residuels and Omaha riot grrrl band Crease. 9 p.m. $10. All ages. RSVP here.
Tuesday
AFI and Circa Survive with Citizen at Sokol Auditorium – Three punk and post-hardcore bands stop through Papillion Tuesday night when AFI, Circa Survive and Citizen hit the Sokol stage. AFI and Circa Survive both have new records out, AFI and The Amulet, respectively, and Citizen’s got a new record, As You Please, on the way. 6:30 p.m. $35. RSVP here (note: This show was originally supposed to be held at Sumtur Amphitheater).