L.A. Witch, Bien Fang and Super Ghost at Vega
We start news today with last night’s photo coverage.
HN contributor Lindsey Yoneda went to Vega last night, snapping photos of L.A. Witch, Lincoln garage rock trio Bien Fang and Omaha quartet Super Ghost. The LA trio released 7-inch Drive Your Car in February, and is currently touring across the U.S. and Canada.
See Yoneda’s photos below:
L.A. Witch
Bien Fang
Super Ghost
Photos by Lindsey Yoneda
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Cross Record, Simon Joyner & the Ghosts, Those Far Out Arrows at O’Leaver’s
HN contributor Andy Lachance went to O’Leaver’s to catch Austin, Texas indie rock duo Cross Record. The band is currently on tour in support of its latest LP Wabi-Sabi, out on Badabing Records. Stereogum recently published an interview/single debut as part of its “Band To Watch” series. Read it here. Omaha’s Those Far Out Arrows opened the show and Simon Joyner & the Ghosts closed it.
See Lachance’s photos here:
Those Far Out Arrows
Cross Record
Simon Joyner & the Ghosts
Photos by Andy Lachance
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Nebraska.Tv highlights philanthropic Hastings soap company
A Hastings couple is using its budding soap business for global good.
Pacha Soap was highlighted this week in Nebraska.Tv’s series on young entrepreneurs. The company seeks to “implement sustainable solutions to the poverty cycle, to promote health and well-being around the world, and to provide quality products for our customers,” through a buy-one, give-one model, according to the website.
“For every bar we sell we give a bar of soap away, but we do that through empowering soap makers in developing nations to produce a bar of soap that is then distributed to a network of schools in that area so children can wash their hands on a consistent basis,” co-founder Andrew Vrbas told Nebraska.Tv.
Our hook? The series uses Nebraska music in its video stories. This one includes Pleasure Adaptor’s “Everything Has Been Erased.”
Watch the interview and read the full story here.
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Concert Round-Up: Weekend Edition
There’s a ton to get to in live music and events this weekend. As we go through some highlights, check the full schedule at our statewide calendar here. If you don’t see your show or one you plan to attend, leave it in the comments or add it yourself here.
Friday
The Thermals, Summer Cannibals at Slowdown – Portland punk rockers The Thermals spin to Omaha on tour in support of its seventh studio album We Disappear (Saddle Creek). Our podcast team reviewed the record a few weeks ago. Listen in here. It plays its label’s home turf with Summer Cannibals, who also releases an album, Full Of It, later this month. Tickets are $12, RSVP here.
Bernardus, Evan Bartels & the Stoney Lonesomes, The WIldwoods in the Railyard – Lincoln folk/pop band Bernardus releases its debut, self-titled EP at a concert on the Railyard stage. Wednesday, HN premiered “Sleepy Eyed Thoughts,” which you can read about here (via HN intern Gabriella Parsons) and listen to below. RSVP to the all-ages show here.
Edem Soul Music’s “I Am Bodi” at Carver Bank – The Omaha soul singer hosts “I Am Bodi,” an event designed to promote positive body image and encourage self-awareness. Performers include Omaha dancer Daniel Freely, Flamenco Guitarist Samar Saad, Hand percussionist and flutist Jason Horacek from the Omaha band Djem, and African drum player and dancer Destiney Carodine from African Culture Connections. Entry is by $5 donation, with free African food at 6:30 p.m. and the show from 7-9 p.m. Find more info here.
Turbine Flats 7th Annual Crawfish Boil – Bud Heavy & the High Lifes and Patrick Bradley play the annual feed. In addition to 300-plus pounds of crawfish, potatoes and corn, there will be a homebrew contest. No admission is charged, but Turbine Flats asks that attendees to consider donating to its nonprofit MakeShift which you can do here. The event runs 5-8 p.m. RSVP here.
Academy of Rock benefit at Night Owl – the South 13th Street venue hosts a benefit for Academy of Rock goes through operational changes. Alexia Bazan, After Arizona, Jake Kloefkorn, Sam Stacy and an Academy of Rock student will perform. The $2 cover charge benefits the program, and additional donations will be accepted. RSVP here.
Saturday
HN Workshops: DIY Merch — Screenprinting: We’re hosting screen printing workshops with The Union for Contemporary Art (2417 Burdette St, Omaha) and Screen Ink. (1827 O St, Lincoln) on May 7th. Both workshops run in sessions, Omaha’s at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. and Lincoln’s at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Space is available but limited, so RSVP here.
Kait Berreckman, Ojai, Sas & the Final Arrangement at Reverb Lounge – Berreckman and band are gearing up for the summer release of her new album Battle Scenes. Saturday’s show will feature the premiere of the album’s first single, “Control,” and its accompanying video. Interested parties can pre-order Battle Scenes starting tomorrow. The $35 package includes a signed copy of Battle Scenes on transparent orange vinyl, a digital download (and two tracks immediately) and a copy of Berreckman’s first album, Conservation. RSVP to the show here.
Sunday
Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Whitney at Vega – the part-Portland, part-Auckland indie rock band released Multi-Love (JagJaguwar), its third LP, last year to a chorus of praise, some calling it songwriter Ruban Nielson’s most accomplished work. The album’s title-track was called “Best New Music” by Pitchfork and “Can’t Keep Checking My Phone” is a cool, moody groove. In the middle of an international tour, it comes to the Railyard with Chicago “real band for real people” Whitney. RSVP here.