I was sitting outside of Ulysses S. Grant High School in Los Angeles in 1995 with Joey Garibaldi (now vocalist/bassist for bluegrass-punk band Old Man Markley) conducting an interview for our school newspaper on the local "valley" band music scene. Garibaldi at the time was in a ska/punk band alongside best friend Johnny Carey (OMM's guitarist/vocalist). As we sat curbside, skipping class I'm sure, discussing band influences of Swinging Utters, 7 Seconds and Youth Brigade, I knew then these guys were bound to make something fantastic of themselves. If you would have asked us where we'd be 15 years later, though, I don't think we'd have said Duffy's Tavern in Lincoln.

Fast forward to today, a punk band or two later, after grabbing a couple members from Angel City Outcasts, adding an exceptional female fiddler and part time mandolin player (Katie Weed), a wife (Annie Carey) playing a sweet autoharp (as well plays a mean nose flute on the side), a banjo player who picks faster then your seasoned fantasy football player (John Rosen), a washboard ringer (Ryan Markley) and a new drummer (Jeff Fuller), and you have Old Man Markley. 

Signed this past year to Fat Wreck Chords, OMM has played bills nationwide and internationally with bands like Bad Religion, NOFX, Against Me!, Flogging Molly, Screeching Weasel, Bouncing Souls, The Devil Makes Three and Youth Brigade (the band which Garibaldi and Carey just finished wrapping up three years playing with/supporting). How's that for living out your childhood dream and achieving what you set out to do?

The crowd at Duffy's Sunday, Sept. 24, welcomed Old Man Markley with open arms and foot stompin', swing-your-partner-'round sing-a-longs thanks to MF RUCKUS (Littleton, Colo.) and Lincoln's The Killigans starting the night. OMM continued the party by playing hits like their single "For Better For Worse," "Do Me Like You Do" (a go-getter duet between husband and wife), and Youth Brigade's old-school punk classic "We're In." Carey gave the crowd a chance to catch their breath a bit with reflecting  tracks "Song Songs" and "Guts N" Teeth." However, no one rests for long at an OMM show, especially when they bust out their newest single "Party Shack," which pretty much sums up a live OMM experience. The track was just released as a 7-inch Sept. 20, with a One Man Army cover on the B-side.

Catching up over their new merch line, Carey said, "This is really just the beginning … it's crazy."

When you add "Don't Fuck with Her" shotgun screen-printed panties, and OMM beer pitchers to your merchandise booth, you know not only you're going places, but you've been there as well.

Shannon Claire is a Hear Nebraska contributor and will sink with california when it falls into the sea. You can reach her at s.claire.c@gmail.com