Around the Horn
I swore that I wouldn’t write anything about the MAHA Music Festival until next year, but the organization has already made two announcements. No they are not band announcements, but they have announced the date the festival will be held as Saturday Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012. They have also announced that they will be keeping it next year at Stinson Park at Aksarben Village. This is a fantastic decision as people overwhelmingly enjoyed the Stinson Park experience last year, and from working behind the scenes myself I can say that the venue allows for the event to run very smoothly.
If you are a fan of rock documentaries or the Replacements you may want to mark down Nov. 30 on your calendar. The Slowdown has announced that ”Color Me Obsessed: A Film About The Replacements” will be playing on their very large screen on that night. If that is not enough, the movies’ director Gorman Berchard will be in attendance to take part in a question and answer session about the film. Also on this night there will be live music covering the Replacements. Those bands have yet to be listed. According to the film’s press release Color Me Obsessed is, “Told through the eyes of fans, friends, and contemporaries, the film breaks from the traditional music documentary format of music and performances.” Advance tickets are $7, and can be purchased through Etix.com.
It doesn’t feel like it right now as there are many big club shows happening this week and next, but we are heading into what is typically a slower time of the year for nationally touring bands hitting the Midwest. This year doesn’t look as desolate as it has in years past, but the focus in the coming months is very much on local bands and it is the prime opportunity for these bands to step it up. Many bands and artists smartly head into the studio in the winter, or at least into writing mode. Many use the upcoming holidays to have showcase shows during a time when former Omaha residents return to town. Either way the next four months feel a lot different than the past six and usually find some interesting lineups happening around town. Things remain pretty normal this coming week, and here is some of what is happening.
On Thursday Nov. 3, popular underground hip-hop artist Murs will be playing at the Waiting Room Lounge with multiple touring hip-hop artists also on the bill. Friday Nov. 4 will find popular indie act Manchester Orchestra back in the area when they play with the Deer Hunter and White Denim at the Bourbon Theater in Lincoln. Friday Nov. 4 at the Slowdown is touring Led Zeppelin tribute act ZoSo. Pure rock music fans will enjoy a somewhat rare show from Omaha band Back When at the Waiting Room on Saturday Nov. 5. Also on the bill is an eclectic lineup that includes MAHA 2011 performers Landing on the Moon and Machete Archive along with the always fun-to-watch Lightning Bug. A favorite amongst Omaha indie fans, David Bazan formerly of Pedro the Lion, will be at the Waiting Room on Sunday Nov. 6. Also on Nov. 6 at the Slowdown is legendary Irish classic rock band Thin Lizzy. Sure, original vocalist Phil Lynott passed away many years ago, but three original members still play with the band along with The Almighty vocalist Ricky Warwick and musicians that have done time in Def Leppard, Dio, Whitesnake, and Blue Murder.
MarQ Manner has been involved with music in Omaha his entire adult life – from managing and booking bands to a 15-year run as manager at Homer’s Records to writing a local music column for the past 11 years. Currently, Marq is the Music Nominating Chair for the Omaha Arts & Entertainment Awards.