photo of Matt Whipkey by Chloe Ekberg
[Editor's note: This Saturday, Hear Nebraska hosts Take Cover Omaha at The Waiting Room, starting at 9 p.m. Take Cover features Nebraska musicians covering songs by other Nebraskans. To preview, performers will share their takes on the songs they're covering.]
Nebraska has produced some stone-cold killer songs, just classics. The task of picking one has proved more than a little daunting.
Over the years, I have tackled a few on a regular basis, be it on stage or off (Simon Joyner, Kyle Harvey, Sarah Benck, The Velvet Argyle, Energy Guide). When selecting the tune for the Take Cover show, I wanted a personal connection to it. Music is unique because it is so personal; we genuinely feel an identity with the artists we love. A benefit of being a musician and actively participating in the music community is forming close relationships with some of those artists. If you’re lucky, you may just be around when one of those classics is being created.
photo of Mike Friedman by Bridget McQuillan
Mike Friedman is more than one of my musical heroes: a one-time bandmate, often-time studio collaborator, and twice roommate. When I first heard him play guitar in Dietze Music in May 2001, it was a revelation of sorts. I knew this style existed, I had worn the grooves out on these licks, but my then 20-year-old ears never heard anyone nail the Robbie Robertson “Goin' to Acapulco” guitar lick in person.
That afternoon, I did as like any cocky kid would do: I asked him to join my band (The Movies). After a rehearsal the next day and a gig the day after that, he agreed to come on board. For the next year and a half, it felt like we could take on the world. And like all bands, we broke up.
Luckily, Mike and I have remained friends over the years. I enjoy nothing more than watching him strangle such twisted beauty out of the neck of his Les Paul Custom. Along with being a guitar genius of sorts, Mike Friedman has written some amazingly gentle and moving acoustic songs.
Years back when we were roommates, both working on our various tunes, one could stand in the hallway and hear the music coming from both sides. Many times, I would set my guitar down, quietly step into the hallway, and listen. There is nothing quite like hearing a song being created, especially ones as good as Mike Friedman’s.
Those moments of musical eavesdropping, to this day, stand as some of my favorite Omaha performances.
photo of Matt Whipkey by Chloe Ekberg
Take Cover Omaha at The Waiting Room
Saturday, Jan. 18 at 9 p.m. // $7 cover
Lineup includes:
Ted Stevens (Cursive, Ted Stevens Unknown Project)
Simon Joyner
Landon Hedges (Desaparecidos, Little Brazil)
Matt Whipkey (The Whipkey Three)
Darren Keen (Touch People)
Dan McCarthy (McCarthy Trenching)
Sara Bertuldo (Millions of Boys, See Through Dresses)
Ian Aeillo (Eli Mardock, Ted Stevens Unknown Project)
Becky Lowry (All Young Girls Are Machine Guns)
Vic Padios (The Brigadiers)
John Klemmensen (John Klemmensen and the Party)
Rachel Tomlinson Dick (Hers, Manic Pixie Dream Girls)
Max Holmquist (Oquoa)
Dan Scheuerman (Deleted Scenes)
John Larsen