A lot of artists are hitting the road in the late winter and early spring, which bodes well for the state of Nebraska music. To name a few: Twinsmith, Freakabout, Josh Hoyer and the Shadowboxers, Powerslop, Lighthouses, Oketo and, now, the hip-hop duo Both all have plans to (or have already started on) tour, and I’m sure there’s more.
We can boast a handful of bands playing Austin’s South by Southwest this year too, so far including Twinsmith and Both.
Here are the Both dates, announced yesterday:
Feb. 21 – Bottleneck w/Ebony Tusks, Lawrence
March 16 – Soundpony, Tulsa
March 17 – Rubber Gloves, Denton
March 18 – SXSW
March 19 – SXSW
March 20 – SXSW
March 21 – SXSW
Any other Nebraska bands headed to SXSW? Let us know and we’ll see you there.
* * *
Kearney pop-punk quartet This is Whispering released its four-track Greetings From… today. The band recorded the EP in Scotland, S.D. with Jeremy Schaeffer at All Poetic Audio.
Tracks play with the kind of angular pop-punk that makes up Thirst Things First’s bedrock, the retooling of early ‘00s era emo music. You can stream and purchase Greetings From… on This is Whispering’s Bandcamp.
* * *
Lincoln baroque pop quintet Producers of the Word just released a music video for “Give it Up for the Cops.” It’s a visual collage of police dashcam videos and other found footage, a performance at Duffy’s Tavern and the band channeling the song’s left-of-center energy.
The song comes from Precinct XYZ, the band’s 2014 full-length. Buy it here.
* * *
In case you missed it yesterday, we announced that we’ll be hosting the inaugural Hear Hear concert fundraiser on Saturday, March 28 with internationally-renowned pop-rock artist Matthew Sweet and Omaha’s The So-So Sailors. At Holland Center’s 1200 Club, the show promises to be a personal affair. The concert includes a silent auction of Hear Nebraska’s best concert photography.
Tickets are $45. VIP tickets, $100, include a signed print from the show as well as a meet-and-greet with Sweet. Buy tickets here and RSVP here.
* * *
A few more Tiny Desk competition videos are in. The deadline for the contest was yesterday and with thousands of entries, it’s anyone’s guess if any locals will make it to the Bob Boilen’s tiny desk. But still, it’s fun to have new videos from all these artists.
Kait Berreckman does her best to recreate the Tiny Desk atmosphere.
Lars and Mal play stripped down, letting the duo’s harmonies shine.
Las Musa Confusa, a new Lincoln singer-songwriter, plays a piano-driven track in her first bit of recorded music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzzVRJYKAPc&feature=youtu.be