L. Kent Wolgamott: Hefty dose of rock sound makes its way to Lincoln
It’s rock ’n’ roll season in Eastern Nebraska.
We’re talking the real thing here —not self-serious indie rock, shredding metal, singer/songwriter sensitivity or arena posturing.
No, this is the fun stuff that screams out of sweaty, formerly smoke-filled clubs.
Dismissed as “retro” by misguided hipsters, ignored by those who think that popularity has something to do with quality and too scary for the “American Idol” crowd, real rock ’n’ roll is the American musical heartbeat — the coolest sound in the world.
A prototype for what I’m talking about is The Boss Martians, who return to Duffy’s Tavern Wednesday night.
I’d intended to dial up chief Martian Evan Foster and get the scoop about what’s up with the Seattle quartet. But the Boss Martians were in transit from Europe earlier this week.
So I did the next best thing and headed to the band’s MySpace page to hear some of the tracks from “Pressure in the S.O.D.O.,” its forthcoming new album.
No surprise there. There’s nothing in the tracks that is a huge departure from the big-beat, killer hooks, hard-charging sound that the Boss Martians have made their own. But they do get an endorsement of sorts from one of the true rock ’n’ roll masters with the appearance of Iggy Pop on “Mars is for Martians,” a song he co-wrote with the Martians.
The Boss Martians have been coming to Duffy’s for several years and nearly melted down at one of the last July Jamm festivals — nothing like an outdoor show over concrete in the 105-degree heat. They’ve never put on a bad show in Lincoln — or anywhere else that I’ve seen them.
So that makes Wednesday’s a must-see show.
Next weekend, there are a pair of Omaha shows that are worth spending $3.50 a gallon for gas to drive the 60 miles to see them.
The BellRays blew the doors off Duffy’s a few years ago with their award-winning live rock ’n’ soul show.
They’ll be at Slowdown next Friday, pushing “Hard, Sweet and Sticky!,” a record that will be released Tuesday. Their eighth album is the first record in which the band went into the studio first rather than working the songs out on tour, then recording them.
The result isn’t a great departure from the Stax-meets-garage sound that has made The BellRays a rock ’n’ roll standout. There is more diversity in the themes and feel of the disc, but I’m sure that music will fit well with the rest of their catalog live.
And there’s no better singer on the planet than BellRays’ frontwoman Lisa Kekaula, a Grammy winner for her contributions to Basement Jaxx and one of the most energetic, powerful, soulful singers I’ve ever heard.
May 17, The Von Bondies will be at the Waiting Room in Omaha.
One of the bands to come out of the fertile Detroit scene that spawned The White Stripes and the Dirtbombs, The Von Bondies were part of the major label rock ’n’ roll scare a few years ago. Now they’re back in the independent world with a four-song EP, “We Are Kamikazes,” available via MySpace and at their shows.
They’ll also be showcasing songs from their third studio album, “Love, Hate and Then There’s You.”
I’ll have more about the BellRays and Von Bondies next Friday, but I wanted to put out a heads-up today.
Chris Gaffney tribute
at Zoo Bar
Speaking of next weekend, the Zoo Bar will hold a tribute show to the late, great Chris Gaffney on May 18.
The singer of the Hacienda Brothers, “Gaff” passed away last month from liver cancer and will be greatly missed, especially in Lincoln where a strong attachment developed between the soulful singer and the Zoo audience. In fact, when a similar show was held in Omaha last month, most of those in the small crowd made the drive up from Lincoln.
Details of the May 18 show haven’t been set yet. But I do know the proceeds of it will go to Gaffney’s family to help defray medical expenses. Again, much more next week.
Reach L. Kent Wolgamott at 473-7244 or kwolgamott@journalstar.com.
We’re talking the real thing here —not self-serious indie rock, shredding metal, singer/songwriter sensitivity or arena posturing.
No, this is the fun stuff that screams out of sweaty, formerly smoke-filled clubs.
Dismissed as “retro” by misguided hipsters, ignored by those who think that popularity has something to do with quality and too scary for the “American Idol” crowd, real rock ’n’ roll is the American musical heartbeat — the coolest sound in the world.
A prototype for what I’m talking about is The Boss Martians, who return to Duffy’s Tavern Wednesday night.
I’d intended to dial up chief Martian Evan Foster and get the scoop about what’s up with the Seattle quartet. But the Boss Martians were in transit from Europe earlier this week.
So I did the next best thing and headed to the band’s MySpace page to hear some of the tracks from “Pressure in the S.O.D.O.,” its forthcoming new album.
No surprise there. There’s nothing in the tracks that is a huge departure from the big-beat, killer hooks, hard-charging sound that the Boss Martians have made their own. But they do get an endorsement of sorts from one of the true rock ’n’ roll masters with the appearance of Iggy Pop on “Mars is for Martians,” a song he co-wrote with the Martians.
The Boss Martians have been coming to Duffy’s for several years and nearly melted down at one of the last July Jamm festivals — nothing like an outdoor show over concrete in the 105-degree heat. They’ve never put on a bad show in Lincoln — or anywhere else that I’ve seen them.
So that makes Wednesday’s a must-see show.
Next weekend, there are a pair of Omaha shows that are worth spending $3.50 a gallon for gas to drive the 60 miles to see them.
The BellRays blew the doors off Duffy’s a few years ago with their award-winning live rock ’n’ soul show.
They’ll be at Slowdown next Friday, pushing “Hard, Sweet and Sticky!,” a record that will be released Tuesday. Their eighth album is the first record in which the band went into the studio first rather than working the songs out on tour, then recording them.
The result isn’t a great departure from the Stax-meets-garage sound that has made The BellRays a rock ’n’ roll standout. There is more diversity in the themes and feel of the disc, but I’m sure that music will fit well with the rest of their catalog live.
And there’s no better singer on the planet than BellRays’ frontwoman Lisa Kekaula, a Grammy winner for her contributions to Basement Jaxx and one of the most energetic, powerful, soulful singers I’ve ever heard.
May 17, The Von Bondies will be at the Waiting Room in Omaha.
One of the bands to come out of the fertile Detroit scene that spawned The White Stripes and the Dirtbombs, The Von Bondies were part of the major label rock ’n’ roll scare a few years ago. Now they’re back in the independent world with a four-song EP, “We Are Kamikazes,” available via MySpace and at their shows.
They’ll also be showcasing songs from their third studio album, “Love, Hate and Then There’s You.”
I’ll have more about the BellRays and Von Bondies next Friday, but I wanted to put out a heads-up today.
Chris Gaffney tribute
at Zoo Bar
Speaking of next weekend, the Zoo Bar will hold a tribute show to the late, great Chris Gaffney on May 18.
The singer of the Hacienda Brothers, “Gaff” passed away last month from liver cancer and will be greatly missed, especially in Lincoln where a strong attachment developed between the soulful singer and the Zoo audience. In fact, when a similar show was held in Omaha last month, most of those in the small crowd made the drive up from Lincoln.
Details of the May 18 show haven’t been set yet. But I do know the proceeds of it will go to Gaffney’s family to help defray medical expenses. Again, much more next week.
Reach L. Kent Wolgamott at 473-7244 or kwolgamott@journalstar.com.
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