The biggest event in Lincoln music starts tonight in Lincoln Calling, and through the excitement of pouring over the vast schedule and the anticipation of sights yet unseen and sounds yet unheard, I can’t help but think of what the festival means.
It’s a showcase for bands that pour everything into their art. It’s a chance for fans to see and hear something different, not just in one weekend, but on the same stage in one night. It’s a celebration of the music scene’s strength. It’s not that such a robust musical environment wouldn’t exist without Lincoln Calling; it’s the barometer, reminding us for the last 12 years that the scene can support nearly 100 acts on myriad stages, both common and atypical. The annual pronouncement, the flexing of its muscle.
Think about what it means that such an event exists in this town, all the way down to the buildings in which it takes place, the city blocks walked to soak it in, and it becomes clear. Without the supportive infrastructure of hardworking artists, club owners, show organizers and fans, not only would Lincoln Calling be impossible, but the scene would be unrecognizable from its current state.
Every year, I salivate over which billings are most diverse. As we’ve noted, the KZUM showcase Thursday night at Zoo Bar seems to be the most so, with bluegrass and post-rock and soul for six hours under one roof. But the more I think about it, those themed billings (whether intentional or not) help draw more folks to the party. The whole event is a kind of gift, from hip-hop lineup to country stage to everything in between.
So, when you go out this week — even if for a night — pay the favor back by pushing some of your own boundaries. See your favorite band, but then hop across the way for an act you’ve never heard of before. Take a buddy up on their recommendation. Try to hit as many bands as you can. Remember to hydrate — it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Tip your bartenders.
And most of all, enjoy yourself and the people around you. You’ll be in great company, surrounded by a smart Lincoln audience that values art and culture. Don’t forget it, not even for a second.
What you need to know:
- It’s worth it to arrive early. There are some heavy hitters in early time slots, including Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal at Zoo Bar Wednesday and McCarthy Trenching at Duffy’s Friday. And any of the Tower Square performances, which provide an excellent opportunity to enjoy the crisp fall weather.
- If you stay late and plan to catch any of the Friday or Saturday headliners — Halfwit, Universe Contest, the reunited Head of Femur — tradition says they will be packed. Head there early.
- All access passes are on sale today for $30. Note on the schedule below that some events — like the Red Elvises show at Zoo Bar Friday or brunch Sunday — carry separate cover charges.
- Single night tickets are $10 on Wednesday and Thursday, $15 on Friday and Saturday; Tower Square performances are free, and tonight’s Duffy’s Tavern concert is by suggested donation
- RSVP here. The updated schedule is below. Be careful, it’s easy to get lost in it. Make a plan and go nuts. We’ll see you there.
Tuesday, Sept. 29
Bourbon Theatre
7 pm – Homegrown Film Festival – $3, all ages
9 pm – Lincoln Call-medians at the Bourbon
featuring Audrey Farnham, Brad Stewart, Grant Parsons, Annie Hildebrand, James Lindsay, Joshua Vossler, Will Dougherty, Andrew Hanus and Jimmy Putnam
$5, 18+
Duffy’s Tavern
11 pm – Buffalo Rodeo
12 am – Thirst Things First
donations appreciated for bands, 21+
Zoo Bar
9 pm – DJ Relic w/ Andy Butler and What the Fuss, 21+
Wednesday, Sept. 30
Bodega’s Alley
9 pm – Bassthoven w/ JMNM; no cover, 21+
Duffy’s Tavern
9 pm – Shark Week
10 pm – MC TEACH & Trev Taylor
11 pm – BOTH
12 pm – The Palmer Squares/The Rapper Chicks
1 am – Psalm One
$7, 21+
Knickerbockers
9 pm – The Gov’t
10 pm – Clementine
11 pm – The Inner Party
12 am – Bandit Sound
$6, 18+
Tower Square
6 pm – The Wildwoods
7 pm – CJ Mills
no cover, all ages
Zoo Bar
(early show)
6 pm – Josh Hoyer and Soul Colossal
$6, 21+
(late show)
8:30 pm – The Bottle Tops
9:30 pm – Jack Hotel
10:30 pm – Joshua Powell and the Great Tain Robbery
11:30 pm – The Mezcal Brothers
Thursday, Oct. 1
Bodega’s Alley
9 pm – ridgelines
10 pm – Teetah
11 pm – $pencelove
12:30 pm – Inflect
no cover, 21+
Bourbon Theatre
9 pm – Edison
10 pm – Gerardo Meza Band
11 pm – Communist Daughter
12 am – Walk By Sea
$5, 21+
Duffy’s Tavern
9:30 pm – The Dancing Dead
10:30 pm – Vamos
11:30 pm – PONYSHOW
12:30 am – Red Cities
$5, 21+
Knickerbockers
9 pm – BloodRail
10 pm – The Matador
11 pm – Beaver Damage
12 am – A Different Breed
$5, 18+
Tower Square
6 pm – Walk By Sea
7 pm – I Forgot to Love My Father
no cover, all ages
Zoo Bar – KZUM Showcase
(early show)
6 pm – Cryin’ Heart
7 pm – All Young Girls Are Machine Guns
8 pm – Tijuana Gigolos
$5, 21+
(late show)
9 pm – Mesonjixx
10 pm – Bud Heavy and the High Lifes
11 pm – Once A Pawn
12 am – Better Friend
$5, 21+
Friday, Oct. 2
Bodega’s Alley
9 pm – Linear Symmetry
10:45 pm – 3 Son Green
12:30 am – The Midland Trio
$5, 21+
Bourbon Theatre
9 pm – The Renfields
10 pm – Oquoa
11 pm – Twinsmith
12 am – Head of Femur
$10, 18+
The Cask
9:30 pm – Alli and I
11 pm – Ro Hempel
no cover, 21+
Duffy’s Tavern
(early show)
6 pm Bloodhound (Kyle Henderson of Desert Noises solo)
7 pm McCarthy Trenching
8 pm Emily Bass Band
$5, 21+
9:30 pm – Domestica
10:30 pm – See Through Dresses
11:30 pm – Bummer
12:30 am – Halfwit
$5, 21+
Knickerbockers
9 pm – Gordon
10 pm – Hyborian
11 pm – Desir Decir
12 am – Powers
$5, 18+
Single Barrel
9 pm – Belles and Whistles
10 pm – Matt Cox Band
11 pm – Dylan Bloom Band
$5, 21+
White Rabbit
5 pm – Emily Bass
no cover, 21+
Zoo Bar
(early show)
6 pm – Red Elvises
21+ (NOTE: NOT INCLUDED WITH ALL ACCESS PASS)
(late show)
9 pm – Laughing Falcon
10 pm – Rock Paper Dynamite
11 pm – American Pinup
12 am – FREAKABOUT
$6, 21+
Saturday, Oct. 3
Bodega’s Alley
9:30 pm – A Ferocious Jungle Cat
11 pm – Pure Brown
12:45 am – Life is Cool
$5, 21+
Bourbon Theatre
9 pm – Sleep Sinatra
10 pm – The Undisco Kids
11 pm – Motion Trap
12 am – AZP
$5, 18+
The Cask
9:30 pm – Martini Tiny w/ Hana Zara and Jack Rodenberg; no cover, 21+
Duffy’s Tavern
8 pm – Jay Kutchma
9 pm – The Heather Berney Band
10 pm – blét
11 pm – Mike Semrad
12 am – The Allendales
1 am – Desert Noises
Knickerbockers
9 pm – This Machine Kills Vibes
10 pm – Scruffy and the Janitors
11 pm – Westside Proletariat
12 am – Night Push
Single Barrel
9:30 pm – Lazerwolfe
White Rabbit
9 pm – Luke Polipnick w/ Max Stehr; no cover, 21+
Zoo Bar
(early show)
6 pm – Maria Muldaur
$15 adv, $20 dos, 21+
NOTE: NOT INCLUDED WITH ALL ACCESS PASS
9 pm – Tie These Hands
10 pm – Ghost Foot
11 pm – Cupcake
12 am – Universe Contest
$6, 21+
Sunday, Oct. 4
Tavern on the Square
12 pm – Brunch on the Square featuring Alison Hill Catering and Aaron Weaver with Amu Manu + White Rabbit
with music provided by Polar Bear, $pencelove and Dr. Zhivago
$10 per person includes a drink ticket and food, 21+
NOTE: NOT INCLUDED WITH ALL ACCESS PASS
Duffy’s Tavern
9 pm – Omni Arms
10 pm – Glo Worm
11 pm – State Disco
12 am – Powerful Science
$5, 21+
Zoo Bar
8 pm – Zoolarious featuring Ross Brockley, Brad Stewart, Audrey Farnham, Jordan Kleine, Grant Parsons, Drew Bohlke, Chris Hinkle, Corey Brewer and Ariel Sinha
$5, 18+
* * *
English singer/songwriter David Bowie’s influential career was marked by constant reinvention and musical innovation, amassing a strong cult following and garnering popular success in the process. Icky Blossoms has joined a handful of national acts in paying tribute to “The Thin White Duke” in a forthcoming compilation album.
The Omaha electro-indie band leant its efforts to Bowie’s UK number-one single “Ashes to Ashes” for A Salute to the Thin White Duke. The tribute album, which releases October 2, features covers of other hit Bowie songs from Rogue Wave, Dum Dum Girls, Electric Six and many more.
On the list of likely Icky Blossoms covers, David Bowie had to be near the top. The band has made the track their own here, grafting its electronic watermark onto the space-funk number.
Hear Icky Blossoms’ reinterpretation of “Ashes to Ashes” below. Pre-order the compilation here.
* * *
Lincoln Calling isn’t the only game in shows tonight, and it won’t be all week. Make sure to check back here and our statewide events calendar for everything else in shows.
Tonight, Omaha hip-hop duo Both plays their final headlining gig of the year before packing it in to work on new material. They will be joined at The Waiting Room by Hologram Kizzie (Psalm One, who was featured on their BOTHSUCKS EP) and The Palmer Squares, and will perform the new EP in its entirety. Tickets are $10, RSVP here.
Over at O’Leaver’s, catch The Subtropics, The Renderers and new Omaha band Vegetable Deluxe for just $5. The Renderers hail from Christchurch, New Zealand, where they’ve enjoyed a 25-plus year career. The band has released records on Flying Nun, Ajax, Siltbreeze and just released Rocket Into Nothing this month on Ba Da Bing records. RSVP to the show here.