Wonderful Things in Nebraska Music

Dear Human Beings,

A beautiful thing has been happening lately in Nebraska and Lincoln more specifically. A beautiful community is proudly starting to show it’s face and it’s contagious like a cold. It’s a cold I’ve been waiting to catch so I can sneeze it all over everyone’s faces and cough it into their aural inputs.

I find myself paying closer attention to the Facebook events, frequenting the local venue websites, walking downtown simply to see who is playing at what venue. I notice myself reposting random events and links, not because of how it will further my reputation or better my music, but because I think it’s important for people to know about all of the talent Lincoln and Omaha (and other areas) have to offer, and not just in the realm of music performance. Great minds are coming together to work to build something beautiful… something that will foster more creativity and greater community.

The folks over at http://www.hearnebraska.org/ have been producing columns and blogs and have been reaching out to musicians, venues, artists and showgoers alike to give everyone a voice. User blogs allow the average music appreciator to contribute in any capacity that they want. The event calendar gives a place for everyone to find out what shows are coming up. The comprehensive list of venues and musicians allows artists to easily connect with similar performers to set up a show. The columns work together to form a cohesive unit of daily-updated, unique information on the artists that Nebraska music supporters have come to love… i.e. aperture needle: the column that uncovers the stories behind the tattoos adorned by local artists.

All of it is selfless. Nobody is making money here. There’s no personal incentive aside from he desire to foster greater love of local music, a dream of creating an image, a brand for Nebraska that goes beyond cornfields and cows and Pioneer Seed corn hats.

Django G-S at Love Drunk Studio (http://lovedrunkstudio.com/ or http://www.vimeo.com/lovedrunk) is a prime example of someone who cares about music. Talented musician (Down with the Ship, Midwest Dilemma) and all around good guy, he and his crew shoot live, single-take music videos of Nebraska bands at no cost to the bands (somebody buy this guy a meal), all because he believes in the art itself, because he loves the feeling that comes after the product is finished (I imagine that’s why he does it, at least). It’s a beautiful tool for promoting upcoming shows/events and helping to spread the word and the message that Nebraska music is here and it’s beautiful. (to contact him, go to info@lovedrunkstudio.com)

So.. Andrew Norman, Angie Norman, Django G-S and his team, all of the folks at Hear Nebraska, Jeremy “Douglas-Dub” Wardlaw, Jeremy Buckley, Josh Hoyer, House Show House Owners, Radio Hosts, Patrons, Venue Owners, Musicians, Artists, Bartenders, DJ’s, others that I left out but obviously care about… this is for you..

As Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald would say.. Keep the fire..

If you don’t care about music.. start. Go to a show, start a blog, start a band, buy a local artist’s album, listen to local radio shows, repost links. Maybe the next time you go visit your cousin in California you won’t be asked if they have the internet yet in your home state.