courtesy photo

words by Chance Solem-Pfeifer

There are 10 people staying in the motel in Jeremy Holan’s head. Each one is more confused, downtrodden and guilty than the last.

But set to music — haunting rock, country western spoken word and barroom balladeering — they become almost attractive. Not for emulation’s sake, but for observation.

The 10 voices that articulate the new full-length from Omaha’s Travelling Mercies are the kind of people whose harrowing road stories you’d listen to out of dark fascination. And apparently people are fascinated with Travelling Mercies, enough to contribute more than $4,000 to the new concept record via Kickstarter.

Travelling Mercies’ Holan, John Klemmensen (drums), Vern Fergesen (bass), Colin Charles Duckworth III (lead guitar) and Edward Spencer (harp) will release their second full-length album Saturday night at The Waiting Room. Saturday’s concert also marks the release of a new album from Omaha’s The Decatures.

Listen here for in-depth examination of Motel from HN’s managing editor Michael Todd and staff writer Chance Solem-Pfeifer. There’s talk of No Country For Old Men, singing in dialect and why artists who write concept records shouldn’t be afraid of those two words:

Chance Solem-Pfeifer is Hear Nebraska’s staff writer. Listen to the podcast, and you’ll know how sorry I am about Josh Brolin. Reach Chance at chancesp@hearnebraska.org.