After spending the better part of last summer working at record labels, Nebraska ex-pat Jordan Hiebner has started one of his own.
Independent label We’re Trying Records launches today. The announcement includes the signing of two Nebraska bands — Lincoln’s I Forgot To Love My Father and Omaha’s Super Ghost, the latter of which releases new single “Railroad Spikes” today.
“Neither I nor the bands are financially stable enough to go it alone, so the hope is that our resources together can make it work,” says Hiebner, a former HN marketing intern and programming assistant.
Hiebner, who now lives just outside of Austin, Texas, says doing marketing work for Make Believe, Sower and Silver Street records gave him the itch to assemble his own. He’s had some help, with Omaha designer Cody Fenske running graphics for his website. But the weight has fallen largely on Hiebner’s shoulders.
“For the most part, it’s been me googling stuff to figure it out,” Hiebner says.
Super Ghost frontman Jake Newbold says the hands-on, “Do-It-Together” mentality attracted the band to We’re Trying. With their visions for label-band relations aligned, the signing made sense.
“We get to keep working on our music as if we were independent but we get the special aid of having professional help on future stuff,” Newbold says.
I Forgot To Love My Father will join Super Ghost on the fledgling label. The project of JP Davis (another former intern) has blossomed from acoustic act to full band since Davis released a split cassette with Lotus Leaves in Dec. 2014 on Fantastic Cassettes. He plans to record a new single and subsequent EP with We’re Trying.
“I’ve grown up in and around DIY music scenes,” Davis says. “One thing I’ve always loved about it is collaboration. ‘Doing it together’ warrants room for collaboration.”
Super Ghost joins We’re Trying with a new single, “Railroad Spikes,” in tow, recorded in early August with Omaha producer Cody Bailey. It also plans to release an EP in October, recorded at Travis Ahrenholtz’s (Anniversaire) Fremont Studio.
“Someone was being shitty and I basically kicked them out of my life,” Newbold says of the song. “Then that shitty part caught up with them and they got themselves into some bad situations. I feel like it is just as much my fault as it is theirs because I should have told them or helped them change in some way.”
Listen below to Super Ghost’s new single “Railroad Spikes.”
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The University of Nebraska-Omaha’s School of Music has announced the calendar for its 2015-2016 Petite Musique concert series, which features an April residency with critically acclaimed Amernet String Quartet.
The chamber music concert series begins Wednesday, Sept. 9 with Omaha Symphony’s John Klinghammer and Christi Zuniga performing selections from Saint Saen, Spohr and Messager on clarinet and piano. The concert starts at 7:30 p.m. in the Strauss Performing Arts Center Recital Hall, and is $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and free for seniors. RSVP here.
Other notable dates include an Oct. 8 poetry reading by Nebraska poet laureate Ted Kooser, and Broadway star Kimilee Bryant giving her concert performance “Broadway and Beyond” on Nov. 13.
UNO’s Petite Musique series culminates in the April 8-10 chamber clinic, taught by the Amernet String Quartet. The quartet’s residency includes a few master classes and multiple public and private performances throughout the community. See the full schedule below, and visit music.unomaha.edu/petitemusique for more details.
2015-2016 Petite Musique Concert Series
Wednesday, Sept. 9 – Omaha Symphony members John Kilnghammer and Christi Zuniga
Thursday, Oct. 8 – Nebraska Poet Laureate Ted Kooser performs selections from ‘Postcards,’ set to music by composer Anthony Donofrio and performed by I the Siren.
Friday, Nov. 13 – Broadway star and vocal performer Kimilee Bryant performs “Broadway and Beyond”
Wednesday, Jan. 27 – UNO School of Music Faculty Performance
Wednesday, March 2 – ‘low flutes’ specialist Peter Sheridan performs
Wednesday, March 30 – Atlas Percussion
April 8-10 – UNO’s Chamber Clinic featuring Amernet String Quartet (full schedule here)
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Tonight, Montreal-based electro-pop act Homeshake plays Sweatshop Gallery with fellow Canadian touring partners Sheer Agony and local support from Lineman’s Rodeo and Little Ripple. Homeshake is the project of Mac DeMarco guitarist Peter Sager. His album, Midnight Snack, is due out Sept. 18 on Sinderlyn Records. RSVP to the 9 p.m. show here.
Over at The Waiting Room, Shane Henderson, formerly of Philadelphia pop-punk band Valencia, will play that band’s 2008 LP We All Need A Reason To Believe in its entirety. The band’s Columbia Records debut was cut in the wake Henderson’s girlfriend’s death in a tragic car accident in 2007. At its peak, Valencia was playing packed dates with the likes of Fall Out Boy. Alli and I and The Sharp Young Men join tonight’s billing. RSVP to the 9 p.m. show here.
As always, head to our statewide calendar at hearnebraska.org/events for a fuller listing of shows. If you do not see your show or one you plan to attend, email us at news@hearnebraska.org, or add it yourself. And keep those song submissions, story ideas and news tips coming.