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DAILY NEBRASKAN JAZZ IN JUNE
TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 2018
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THE DAILY NEBRASKAN VOL. CXVII, JAZZ IN JUNE
DAILY NEBRASKAN JAZZ IN JUNE
TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 2018
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Meet Harlem’s Mwenso and The Snakes THIS WEEK’S JAZZ IN JUNE HEADLINER
ERICA COURTNEY STAFF WRITER
O n Tuesday, June 19, Harlem, New York-based jazz band Mwenso and The Shakes, just days after finishing recording their first EP, kick off their nationwide tour at Jazz in June. Before they hit the stage, The Daily Nebraskan sat down with frontman and lead singer Michael Mwenso to talk about the tour, their music and how the mixture of cultures within the band shaped who they are today. PHOTO COURTESY OF MWENSO AND THE SNAKES The Daily Nebraskan: To start off, you’re the lead singer, correct? Michael Mwenso: Yeah. I’m the lead singer, and then there’s also another great singer that sings in the group. We’re all from different places around the world, and Vuyo Sotashe — he’s the other singer in the band, he’s from South Africa. I was born in West Africa, Sierra Leone. Some of the band was born in Jamaica, some of them were born in England, some of them were born in France. We say it’s almost like the United Nations. DN: On your website it lists out a bunch of different genres of music, so can you explain your style of music? MM: I would say it is a musical presentation that you hear and see that really should compile a good array of African and Afro-American roots music. So you’re gonna have funk, you’re going to have really deep-swinging jazz, you’re going to have blues. It’s really a show. Also, the group and how we present music and play it is really kind of a combination of all the music in one body of work. If someone comes to see us, there’s going to be a lot of things you can connect with because of the amount of music that we play. We don’t just play one style, we try to play all the styles in one. And it works sometimes. Sometimes it’s a little bit funny, but that’s really what we’re aiming
for, to try not to play just one style, but to deal with the many different styles of African and Afro-American folk music. DN: I know you said you’re from Sierra Leone, but what made you want to get into this and to form a band a band that plays African and Afro-American music? MM: I was born in Sierra Leone, Freetown, and then my mother, she got married and we moved to London, which is really where music came into my life. London was the place where I started to get deep into music, started studying and started to play trombone and piano at 11 or 12 years old. As that developed, my curiosity of the culture and the musicians developed, and because I wanted to learn more about the culture and the musicians is when I started going out to shows and gigs, and I started really studying and seeing as many of these artists as I could see live. When I was 12, 13 or 14 I got to see a lot of the great masters of the 20th century. I got to see B.B. King, Ray Charles, I got to see great jazz legends. So at that age, I was really trying to study, not only music as a musician, but really trying to study it as a whole thing. So it was through that type of study that they kind of developed in me this way of presenting this music, which is what The Shakes does. I was young, and I was meeting all these musicians that came from all these different styles of black music, and then I didn’t know I was fooling myself into how to be able to one day
actually present it to people in a way that would be natural. For me, meeting these musicians and hanging out backstage and talking to them. I think this is what really was inside of me, how you would want to one day play music that was able to reshape all these people. The blues musicians, the jazz musicians, the funk musicians, all these musicians I met. And not only black music, but I was also checking out European music, classical music. Also at that time, when I was 12, 13, 14 years old, I was very into musicals. DN: How many members are in The Shakes? MM: Well, The Shakes really comes out of a community. It’s really a community that formed through my work. The reason why I came to New York six years ago was because I was asked by a very incredible musician, Wynton Marsalis. He’s a great musician and ambassador for jazz, I’ve known him since I was young; and as I evolved and started to develop a name for myself in London through the work I was doing at a jazz club called Ronnie Scott’s where I was grabbing music and participating in jam sessions, and it developed this community which he saw and he asked me to come work at Jazz at Lincoln Center. I came there to work as a curator and to teach and perform, but for my work there, I started again to develop a community, and through that community, this is how The Shakes were formed.
DN: What is it like being part of a group that has so many cultural backgrounds? How does it impact your music? MM: It forms our music a lot because it means we play a lot. Also, keep in mind we live in Harlem, and some of us live in the same house, some of us live in the same building, some of us live in the same area, but we’re all very close, and we congregate and whatnot together. Again, this has formed this other deeper way we’ve been able to perform. But also, what has formed us is that everyone comes from different places, and through all these different experiences everyone has creates a very original sound. DN: Do you have a new record out right now? MM: We just recorded very recently, and as of now we’re just kind of mixing, and over-dubbing and stuff, and by September we will release our first singles as an EP. DN: What are you looking forward to when you release those singles? MM: Well, for me, I’m excited because it’s about time. I’m also SEE THE SNAKES: PAGE 5
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DAILY NEBRASKAN JAZZ IN JUNE
TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 2018
Latino Lives festival celebrates underrepresented Nebraska Musicians and artists ERICA COURTNEY STAFF WRITER
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rowing up in Lincoln, Aramara Quintos Tapia said she was tired of the lack of diversity within her schools. It wasn’t until her senior year at Lincoln High that she made a Latino friend. After attending Queerfest, a 2017 benefit show held to recognize queer artists in Lincoln, and noticing the amount of support it got from the public, Quintos Tapia said she thought it was time for the Latino community to feel the same. “I was tired of not seeing diversity in the DIY scene, especially the lack of any Latino representation,” Quintos Tapia said. “I was tired of waiting for something like that to happen, so I decided to do it myself.” On Friday, June 22, Quintos Tapia will be hosting the second Latino Lives festival at The Bourbon Theatre, following a February fundraiser held at The Bay. Focused on Latino artists and musicians in Nebraska, Quintos Tapia said she wanted to showcase the talent that non-white artists have in different genres of music. The festival will feature 11 different Latino artists — including Quintos Tapia’s band Histrionic — with genres as broad as rap, punk, hardcore and indie. One of those 11 artists is Heladio Perez Pesina, the drummer of Lincoln rock band Threesome Egos. After hearing about Latino Lives from Quintos Tapia, Perez Pesina said he was excited because of the event’s free admission. “It’s a celebration, pure and simple, of some of the Latinx art Lincoln has to offer, no strings attached,” Perez Pesina said. Like Quintos Tapia, Perez Pesina said he believes a festival like Latino Lives was needed in Lincoln. Not necessarily because there isn’t room for it in the Lincoln music scene, but because Latino inclusion hasn’t been celebrated enough. “I don’t believe that there isn’t room for a thriving Latino art community in Lincoln,” Perez Pesina said. “I do think however, that the scene that does exist hasn’t fully made its way into public awareness. Because of that, I believe Latino Lives is important. It allows an otherwise underground art form room to grow.”
ARTWORK COURTESY OF LATINO LIVES
It’s not just the music scene, however, where a lack of Latino representation exists. At the festival, Quintos Tapia said she plans on showcasing artwork from Latino artists in The Bourbon’s Rye Room. Artist Justice Rodriguez said she never felt like she had
much of community when she lived in Ogallala. But once she started attending Lincoln High, Rodriguez said she started to feel a sense of community. “I went a long time not paying attention to lack of representation here,” Rodriguez said. “It’s really tragic that I never expected to see any, but seeing creative groups at
SEE LATINO FESTIVAL: PAGE 6
DAILY NEBRASKAN JAZZ IN JUNE
TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 2018 THE SNAKES: FROM PAGE 3 very excited because people really don’t know what we sound like. People know what we sound like, but people have not yet heard in a way that is out there for people to reach. So I’m very glad now that we will have something that people will be able to hear. DN: Since you guys are getting ready to release some new music, what is your process and where do you draw your inspiration from when writing new songs? MM: It starts with me, I’ll have a melody or a theme or something that’s in my head. Musically, I’ll record it and work it out a little bit on a piano, and then sing it to myself. Then I take it to our pianist, and he’ll start working on it and say, ‘Okay, this is what the chord is here, and not this chord,’ and then we give it to the band. From all the music we love, that’s where we draw our inspiration. We draw inspiration from all the music we love. Also, our own experiences within that. DN: Out of your original music, and out of the songs you cover, which tend to be crowd favorites? MM: Well, it’s interesting. Our own music, people like it, and also we have a way of rearranging old music too, which is hip. We are very lucky. We do both quite well. Re-imagining old material, and creating new material. DN: When some artists perform live, they tend to evolve their songs and change them up a little bit. Do you guys do that with your music? MM: We do that a lot because it’s always changing because we all are kind of students of jazz music. Being students of jazz, we deal with a lot of improvisation, creating, so all the songs evolve through time. Through time, they get better, it gets tiring, it gets even more wild, so that’s what we hope for, to kind of have an adjustable form concurrently, which is always great consistently when you’re on the road night after night. That’s
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the beauty of being on the road, is that the music gets better every night because every night you’re consistently playing the same material, and the material gets better. That’s what I really look forward to, is being on the road and consistently having the ability to improve. DN: When it comes to performing your music, what is your favorite part about being up on stage? MM: The people. You know, being able to give and submit to people, and give them something to remember. To think. To inspire, because our message is very strong. I like seeing the people’s reaction. I know our message is true and pure, and I love seeing people receive it well, and people being spiritually impacted by it. DN: What is your message? MM: Our message is that you should trust yourselves, that you should have faith in yourself, that you should live your life, help others and bring a better understanding of love to the world. That’s our spiritual message. Our musical message is that we are here as guardians and protectors of the music that was given to us, and we are here, presenting it in a way that’s new, and unique, but still bowing our heads to our musical ancestors. That’s our musical message. DN: Where do you see Mwenso and The Shakes heading in the next few years? MM: I see us making a bigger impact in the world. I see us reaching more people, I see us having more ability and power to be able to make people hear differently and also to inform people more about the music and to create better and deeper listeners and a better musical world for people to live in.
THANK YOU TO THE JAZZ IN JUNE ADVISORY BOARD MARTHA FLORENCE, Program Committee Chair Director of Community Engagement, NET Television BILL STEPHAN, Advisory Board Chair Executive Director, Lied Center SPENCER MUNSON, Jazz in June Coordinator NATALIE STROUD Director of Business Services, Lied Center PAUL HAAR Professor, Glenn Korff School of Music TODD OGDEN Downtown Lincoln Association
RANDY HAWTHORNE Executive Director & Publisher, Nonprofit Hub RACHEL O’DONNELL Lincoln Chamber of Commerce MIKE ECHTERNACHT MEEM Legal Services, LLC TYLER REYNOLDS Woods Bros Realty & CBS Home Real Estate EMILY BASS Transcriber, Nebraska Legislature DON’T MISS OUR UPCOMING JAZZ IN JUNE SHOWS FEATURING... JUNE 12
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JUNE 19 Mwenso and the Shakes JUNE 26 Huntertones
DAILY NEBRASKAN JAZZ IN JUNE
Juice in June!
TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 2018 LATINO FESTIVAL: FROM PAGE 4
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ARTWORK COURTESY OF LATINO LIVES
all completely blew my mind when I got to Lincoln High. I had art teachers that wanted me to do something important and classes that made some really cool concepts come together.”
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After moving to Lincoln, Rodriguez said the large Latino community was something her family had to get used to. But Rodriguez said she still feels like something is missing. “But it isn’t enough progress if there are those voices missing,” Rodriguez said. “Hopefully that can be established, then the default doesn’t have it be, ‘I don’t see myself represented, but at least it’s something.’”
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important to recognize them and to say that we’re doing a good job, as well as everyone else.” Though the festival is currently centered around Latinos in Nebraska, Quintos Tapia said one day she would like to expand the festival and include musicians and artists from other cultural backgrounds. “I hope once Latino Lives gains enough attraction in a couple of years — because I want to make this an annual thing — I would like to make this a three-day festival where it’s different minorities,” Quintos Tapia said. “I would really like to expand and have individuals from each community as a part of Latino Lives.”
Latinos are a very prevalent demographic in our community and they work very hard. They’re not only here, but in every place in the United States there’s always going to be a big Latino population.
For Quintos Tapia, that is exactly what Latino Lives is all about. Just like the name suggests, Quintos Tapia said she wanted to make other Lincoln citizens aware that there are Latinos around them, and, like everyone else, they are working hard and are proud to be who they are.
“Latinos are a very prevalent demographic in our community and they work very hard. They’re not only here, but in every place in the United States there’s always going to be a big Latino population,” Quintos Tapia said. “It’s very
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But before she makes any more plans to expand, Quintos Tapia said she would like to make this festival a place for people to have fun, to enjoy themselves and to show their talent.
“If you don’t see representation in your own community, it’s really hard to feel welcomed and feel like you can get things started and be involved, so I just wanted to provide a platform for other people,” Quintos Tapia said. “I just want this to be an event that people can have fun with and feel just really good because I’ve had my best moments of my life at shows, and I want to create those moments for other people.”
DAILY NEBRASKAN JAZZ IN JUNE
TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 2018
‘QUEER EYE’ SEASON TWO ups the emotion and stays sincere JOHN REEL STAFF WRITER
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or the LGBT community, June is recognized as pride month. It’s a 30-day, rainbow-infested celebration of those queered by society, loaded with parades, festivals and rainbow cotton candy. But the ultimate purpose for the month is to serve as a memorial to those who fought and lost their lives to promote equality for the community in 1969, when deadly riots broke out between the NYPD and a mob of gay men, drag queens, trans people and lesbian women in and within the proximity of New York’s famous gay club, the Stonewall Inn. Today, the gay community has come far in achieving that equality, which has been aided by media exposure and visibility. Recently, “Call Me by Your Name,” and “Love, Simon,” two movies exploring the experiences of gay men, received rave reviews from both critics and fans alike. Netflix, too, has thankfully hopped on the pride bandwagon by releasing another season of their addicting new reality series “Queer Eye” on June 15. For those unfamiliar with the Netflix show, “Queer Eye” is a remake of “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,” which premiered on Bravo in 2003. The concept of the show is for five gay men, aka “The Fab Five,” to give straight men total makeovers. I say total makeovers because, while fashion and beauty are key components to the process, cooking, lifestyle and interior design are also included. These tasks are taught or completed by five different coaches specializing in these vocations. Jonathan Van Ness handles grooming and skincare, Antoni Porowski teaches food skills and elevated recipes, Tan France serves as a stylist, Karamo Brown helps introduce makeover subjects — or “heroes” — to healthy lifestyle activities and Bobby Berk redesigns entire living spaces, giving the show a home makeover element. The major twist to the show is that it takes place entirely in Georgia, a deep southern, and largely Republican state, not well-known for its acceptance of the LGBT community. In this season of “Queer Eye,” The Fab Five are back to work in the Peach State to help a broader range of people, including a trans man and a church-going woman with a gay son. This season’s emphasis on diversity made the show more than just a remake of the original Bravo show. Last season, while still an emotional binge-watch, was a bit expected — straight, cisgendered men getting makeovers. That changed this season, and now the show feels like it’s got its own identity behind it.
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I was hooked by season one of “Queer Eye” and roped back in as soon as I saw the “new episodes” icon the day after the new season was released. Part of that pull I feel to the show comes from its raw, real emotions and the emotions it evokes in me. That’s a hard thing to come by in reality television or makeover shows, but “Queer Eye” is different. Especially in this new season, you get the sense that the coaches really got to know the “heroes” and spent a lot of time creating a bond with each other. That led to numerous tear-jerking moments for the coaches, but also for me.
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The emotions, while more present, also seemed more powerful. There were a few times in season two when coaches would break down altogether. I’m not saying that the shedding of tears made the show better by any means, but it did make the people in the show seem more authentic and open, and therefore, easier to connect with. It’s refreshing to see and counter to the majority of reality television’s fabricated and superficial nature. Another key improvement made this season was the inclusion of more momentous life events. “Queer Eye” season two features a marriage proposal, a cross-country move, a gay man going back to church after a period of estrangement and a student coming clean to his mother about not graduating from college. For me, this gave the show more spice than last season, but also more sincerity. There are bigger stakes and real challenges, but again, it’s all authentic. The things that happen in the show are really going to affect someone. When I wasn’t sobbing, I was watching with unflinching attention, hoping everything would work out. If you like makeover shows or reality television, this show is right up your alley. If you’re the type of person who likes to see good things happen to people in a warm supportive environment, then this show is also perfect for you. Maybe you want to find some expert tips on how to improve your own life. Whatever your reason and whoever you are, “Queer Eye” has something great to offer everyone, and this season makes that even more true.
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DAILY NEBRASKAN JAZZ IN JUNE
TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 2018
NEW “RHYTHM CLUB” OFFERS NEW WAYS TO EXPERIENCE JAZZ IN JUNE JOHN GRINVALDS STAFF WRITER
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embers of Jazz in June’s brand new “Rhythm Club” take pride in supporting Lincoln’s cherished summer jazz festival, according to “Champion Level” members Beth and Dean Dumler. For the Dumlers, $500 to support a culturally significant event is the least they can do.
JAKE STAHLNECKER STAFF WRITER
“[Jazz in June is] a place where you can be 2 years old or 100 years old and feel very welcome,” Beth said. “It brings in so many people, and it benefits so many people. I want it to last.” Additionally, their contribution comes with a variety of perks from free VIP seating at all performances to special name recognition to an invitation for an exclusive artist meet and greet. Membership in the “Rhythm Club” is tax-deductible and comes in various levels of perks. Those willing to give $100 are at the “Patron Level” and receive some benefits, though not as much as the aforementioned “Champion Level,” whose members give $500. The benefits become greater in extent as members climb up the ladder of contribution, with $2,500 granting club members unlimited access to Jazz in June events, among others. And for those wealthy and generous
My dad was a big jazz fan, and it’s kind of a thing I can do to carry on his legacy. I grew up with jazz, and I’ve loved it all my life.
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Dean and Beth Dumler sit for a portrait in the Sheldon Museum of Art on June 16, 2018, in Lincoln, Nebraska. The two are part of Jazz in June’s member program. PHOTO BY MIA EVERDING SEE NEW MEMBER PROGRAM: PAGE 12
DAILY NEBRASKAN JAZZ IN JUNE
TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 2018
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Kanye West, Kid Cudi achieve greatness in “Kids See Ghosts” LUKE MULLIN STAFF WRITER
and the release of self-titled album “ye,” the summer of Kanye West continued on June 8 with its best installment yet. A week after “ye” dropped, West teamed up with longtime friend and collaborator Kid Cudi. The two first met in 2006 and began to work together in 2009, as West helped produce Cudi’s debut album, “Man on the Moon: The End of Day.” Meanwhile, Cudi co-wrote Yeezy songs such as “Heartless” and “Gorgeous.” It was as part of West’s GOOD Music label that Cudi enjoyed his most success artistically and commercially, releasing both “Man on the Moon” albums to critical acclaim. After leaving the label in 2013, though, Cudi’s next three projects (“Satellite Flight: The Journey to Mother Moon,” “Speedin’ Bullet 2 Heaven” and “Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin’”) failed to reach the heights of his previous work. When West announced in April that he and Cudi were teaming up once again, many fans were excited at the prospect of Cudi returning to his roots, combined with West’s typically stellar production. In the duo’s first self-titled album under the name Kids See Ghosts, West and Cudi combined to create a truly masterful, albeit short, album. Following West’s recent seven-track formula, the album clocks in at 23 minutes but offers plenty for fans to enjoy. The album combines classic hip-hop elements, psychedelic influences and rock to form a powerful, meaningful musical experience where both artists speak about their pasts and offer an uplifting message for the future. The third song on the album is “4th Dimension,” which has the trademark fingerprints of a classic West song, as it opens up with a verse from Lou Prima’s 1936 Christmas song “What Will Santa Claus Say.” West uses the sample to liken himself to Santa, gifting fans with a new album. He also remixes the chorus from Prima’s song into the chorus for “4th Dimension,” which combines with a classic hip-hop beat to provide tremendous backing for the song.
The album’s fourth track, “Free,” is an extension of the “ye” track “Ghost Town,” on which Cudi was also featured. Consistent with the message from “Ghost Town,” this track continues to encourage people to stop listening to hurtful criticism. Both West and Cudi have the same verse, singing, “I don’t feel pain anymore/Guess what, babe? I am free/Yeah, nothin’ hurts me anymore/Guess what, babe? I am free.” While the lyrics on “Free” aren’t many, the drums and vocal performance from Cudi are strong enough to keep the song afloat. Although nearly every track touches on the ideas of past struggles and positive attitudes, no song conveys the message better than “Reborn.” While the beat provides a solid backing, the true sound of the song comes from Cudi, whose humming provides a slowly delightful melody. West addresses his recent controversies once again, saying, “I was off the meds, I was called insane/What a awesome thing, engulfed in shame,” once again owning his bipolarity, just as he did on “ye.” For the most part, though, it is a tremendous vocal performance from Cudi that makes the song tick. His chorus of, “I’m so—I’m so reborn, I’m movin’ forward/Keep movin’ forward, keep movin’ forward/Ain’t no stress on me Lord, I’m movin’ forward,” demonstrates the delightful attitude of the song. His verse also details his past with drug addiction and depression, but Cudi once again stresses the importance of having a forward-thinking attitude. The positive message conveyed on the song and the outstanding performance from Cudi make this the best track on the album. Next up is the title track, “Kids See Ghosts,” which genuinely gives off a spooky feeling, due to the pitter-patter background sound. The song touches on the supernatural and religion, essentially saying that kids see ghosts, while adults refuse to acknowledge that as a possibility. This track is capped by a devastatingly strong one-minute verse from West where he hardly pauses his flow to take a breath. West speaks about having difficulty holding up his Christian faith, saying, “Got a Bible by my bed, oh yes, I’m very Christian/Constantly repentin’, ‘cause, yes, I never listen.”
Finally, the album concludes with “Cudi Montage,” with the track’s sound centering around a guitar sample from Kurt Cobain. West uses the song to decry the perpetuation of violence and encourages others to help break the cycle and overcome their feelings of hatred and revenge, perhaps with the help of God. West’s line “Everybody want world peace/’Til your niece get shot in the domepiece,” shows how personal tragedies can turn people to violence, before Kanye and Cudi close out the album with a soulful chorus, as he calls out to God to show the way for him. Once again, Cudi’s humming is unconventional, but helps contribute to the song’s powerful mood.
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Although nearly every track touches on the ideas of past struggles and positive attitudes, no song conveys the message better than “Reborn”
West and Cudi went over five years without working on a project together, but they picked up right where they left off with “Kids See Ghosts.” The influence of West helped produce a vocal performance from Cudi more indicative of his “Man on the Moon” projects than his recent work, and West’s production values were stellar as usual. The themes of positivity and moving forward in life are echoed throughout the album, which masterfully brings the styles of West and Cudi together.
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Following production duties on Pusha T’s “DAYTONA”
10 DAILY NEBRASKAN JAZZ IN JUNE
TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 2018
The Daily Nebraskan culture section’s summer album picks
FILE ART BY WILL FLEIG
During the school year, it can be tricky to find time to actually sit down and listen to music, and unless you’re one of the gifted few who can simultaneously study and absorb music, most students’ music consumption is passive. Summer is a whole different ballgame, though, when obligations are few aside from jobs and internships, leaving hours upon hours to test out album after album. The Daily Nebraskan’s staff has taken advantage of its newfound time; here’s what they’ve been listening to. PARQUET COURTS - WIDE AWAKE! Before this year, Brooklyn quartet Parquet Courts had six LP’s of avant-post-punk under their belt, often diving more and more deeply into the raw, garage and new wave-influenced niche they had carved for themselves. While standout records like 2016’s “Human Performance” and 2014’s “Sunbathing Animal” comfortably found their places in that niche, in retrospect, they built into somewhat one-note
releases — at least compared to the band’s latest, “Wide Awake!” The record, released May 18, eclipses post-punk with Parquet Courts’s most varied set of tracks yet. “Before the Water Gets Too High” touches on R&B-infused elevator jazz, “Back to Earth” turns to ambience and mourning strings, and the title track takes Talking Heads new wave to contort it into unkempt dance-punk. Modern political observations run throughout as well, with frontman A. Savage condemning war, the one percent and American apathy. And though such takes aren’t anything novel, the lyrics offer perspectives that demand contemplation. by Sam Crisler OSO OSO - THE YUNAHON MIXTAPE While this record was originally released in early 2017, the impending reissue of it by noted indie label Triple Crown Records got me to listen to “the yunahon mixtape” for the
DAILY NEBRASKAN JAZZ IN JUNE
TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 2018
first time. Oh boy, I was missing out during 2017. While it first came out in the winter, “the yunahon mixtape” is one of those perfect summer records. “the cool” is exactly the type of fast-paced opener whose killer chorus deserves to be sung out loud rolling down the highway with the windows open. The rest of the album is just as good, with the sunny “reindeer games” and the slick intensity of “slopes (the sneaker song)” being more favorites of mine. This record is breezy and catchy, perfect for the dog days of summer. With all the great indie-emo that has come out in the past few years, it was somewhat easy to overlook Oso Oso and “the yunahon mixtape.” Don’t make the same mistake I did. by Ben Buchnat 5 SECONDS OF SUMMER - YOUNGBLOOD For a majority of the summer, I have been listening to albums released months ago, but lately I have been straying from my staples for a new love. 5 Seconds of Summer, the Australian pop rock/pop-punk band, was my jam back in 2014 with multiple concert tickets to prove it. After touring in support of their second album, “Sounds Good Feels Good,” in 2016, they ended up going on a hiatus, which often ends in bands breaking up. So, imagine my surprise when 5SOS started releasing new music in 2018, three years since their last album release. With time came a changed sound — one that was recognizable, but more mature. “Youngblood,” which dropped on June 15, has a calmer sound with a more focused theme lacing in between songs, along with lyrics that are hard not to yell at the top of your lungs. Whether you were a fan back when “She Looks So Perfect” came out or have never even heard of the band, 5 Seconds of Summer is back and definitely worth a listen. by Sabrina Broderick JIMMY EAT WORLD - BLEED AMERICAN I’ve been listening to a lot of different music this summer, so it’s hard to pick just one album. However, there is one that has stood out above all the rest. That standout is Jimmy Eat World’s 2001 album “Bleed American.” While I had listened to the album before this summer, I hadn’t fallen in love with it until now. Track after track, this album has something great to offer. It’s a perfect summer album, with energetic rock songs like the titular “Bleed American” and “Sweetness,” while also packing some more reserved and emotional songs such as “Hear You Me” and the closing track “My Sundown.” The deluxe version of the album even includes an acoustic version of their hit “The Middle,” which I would argue is better than the original. There are tunes that will get stuck in your head for hours on end, and it features excellent lyrics that will reward multiple listens. Though this summer is far from over, I can
already tell that “Bleed American” is going to be the album that defines it for me. by Kyle Kruse TYLER CHILDERS - PURGATORY If you are working long hot days this summer, this album will speak to the pain you’re going through. Ex-carpenter turned singer-songwriter Tyler Childers captures the beauty and struggle of blue collar existence in his second album “Purgatory.” In “Swear to God” and “Whitehouse Road,” Childers talks about his struggle to pay rent and reckless party-filled nights. In “Universal Sound” and “Feathered Indians,” Childers tells two intricate, small-town love stories, and in “Born Again” and “Purgatory,” he questions his gospel roots and makes light of his impoverished upbringing. I have been working as a landscaper this summer, and when I finish a 10-hour day in the hot sun, I don’t want to listen to music about designer clothes and uncontrolled hedonism. I want to hear real everyday stories I can relate to. Relatability is what makes “Purgatory” a special album for me. If you’re living paycheck-to-paycheck and doing your best to survive, you will relate to this album too. by Jake Stahlnecker
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TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 2018 NEW MEMBER PROGRAM: FROM PAGE 8
RHYTHM CLUB MEMBERS “The Shape of Jazz To Come” - Champion Level - $500 Aimee Poor • Beth Kimmerling & Dean Dumler John and Laurie Tavlin • Lisa & Mick Hale •
Bob & Marilyn Wagner
Nine Szczerbowske & Zyggi Monia Jane Griffin and Francesco Ciotti
• •
John Horn
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Though they don’t have a long history of attending Jazz in June, having only recently come to Lincoln in 2016, Mick said they were immediately swept up by its spirit.
But to the Dumlers, their gift of $500 was never about special seating or name recognition; it is about upholding Lincoln’s history, similar to how Beth said her embrace of jazz is carrying on her late father’s memory.
“It has the feel of a neighborhood celebration, yet the buzz and excitement of a big time show,” he said in an email.
“My dad was a big jazz fan, and it’s kind of a thing I can do to carry on his legacy,” she said. “I grew up with jazz, and I’ve loved it all my life.”
“Maiden Voyage” - Patron Level - $100 Jon Hinrich & Donna Woods
enough to endow Jazz in June with $2 million, the bonuses are nearly endless: all previous perks plus permanent naming rights and endowment recognition.
Ralph Ebers
Tami & Ashton Lambie
JOIN THE JAZZ IN JUNE RHYTHM CLUB
and help bring the greatest Jazz musicians in the world to Nebraska!
As a community arts organization, we rely on private support for as much as 90% of our annual revenue. Member dollars allow Jazz in June to keep the creative spirit of the music alive through a wide range of performances and programs that promote education, encourage intercultural exchange and support the local economy. For more info stop by the Jazz in June booth on the west steps of the Sheldon or visit jazzinjune.com.
To Dean, the membership program gives community members a chance to be part of something important to them and will help secure Jazz in June’s future for years to come, provided enough members join. “Since Jazz in June is free, a lot of people assume it’s thriving,” he said, “but it does need support. This gives people a chance to support something that benefits us all.” But the Dumlers are not the only enthusiastic members of the fledgling club. Lincoln community members Mick and Lisa Hale also recently became members.
That’s why after only attending one performance last year, Mick said he and Lisa were eager to support the entire festival. “Jazz and blues music are a very important part of our history and so many legends of the music world have looked to the jazz and blues communities for inspiration,” Mick said. “All music tells a story, but the story jazz tells is uniquely American. Jazz in June provides an opportunity for the entire community to come together and share in a cultural experience.”
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JAZZ IN JUNE CREATES MEMORIES AS A COMMUNITY STAPLE
ELIZABETH REMBERT STAFF WRITER
F
J.J., Laura and Liana Opfer, Lincoln citizens. PHOTO BY MIA EVERDING
or 27 years, Jazz in June has been more than a music festival. It’s brought together food vendors, musicians and music-lovers for a cultural experience unique to Lincoln. The Daily Nebraskan asked attendees of Jazz in June why they come to the festival.
don’t even remember when it started. I look forward to being outside, just enjoying the music,” Sheila Thompson, his wife, added.
“We’ve been coming many, many years. We’re old folks,” Paul Thompson said.
“I’ve been coming for the past 11 years,” Emi Baldridge, an incoming UNL freshman from York said.
“We’ve been coming together ever since it started, we
Her family has turned the festival into a family affair,
Sheila and Paul Thompson, Lincoln.
SEE POPQUOTES: PAGE 14
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POPQUOTES: FROM PAGE 13
making the 45 minute trip year after year. Kate Erwin and Baldridge have enjoyed seeing the UNL campus the summer before they enroll for their freshman year.
it brings the community together, it gets everyone outside and learning together about jazz.” Aimee Poor, Lincoln.
Emi Baldridge and Kate Erwin, York. “To hang out with my parents and my kids. It’s family time. Getting to listen to music, share music together, kids love dancing,” Laura Opfer said. She was there with her two daughters J.J., Liana and her husband Matt Opfer. Opfer’s parents, Don and Cindy Uhrmacher had brought a table with a full potluck for their family to enjoy throughout the festival. “This is something we’ve shared for a long time,” Cindy said. “It’s our tradition.”
Earl Smith and Victoria Hilton have been coming to Jazz in June for as long as it’s been around. Smith said he inherited his love of jazz from his father. His love for jazz led him to the concerts on the Sheldon lawn, where he and Hilton meet “Jazz in June friends” that they see only on Tuesday nights during Jazz. “This is the reason for summer,” Hilton said. “Look around you, there’s people from every walk of life. All here for the fabulous music.”
Laura, Matt, J.J., Liana Opfer and Don and Cindy Uhrmacher, Lincoln. Aimee Poor has enjoyed Jazz in June for the past 10 years, but has been attending consistently for the last couple of years, since her son-in-law Spence Munson became the director of the event. “He’s doing a really excellent job,” Poor said. “This event is important because
Paul and Sheila Thompson, Lincoln citizens. PHOTO BY MIA EVERDING
Nebraska football uses summer to gain commitments for upcoming class CHRISTIAN HORN STAFF WRITER
athlete and the No. 4 prospect from Nebraska, while Rivals has Snodgrass as the No. 53 athlete and the No. 3 prospect from Nebraska.
The 2019 recruiting cycle is in full swing for Nebraska football,
ETHAN PIPER Ethan Piper, a defensive tackle from Norfolk Catholic High School in Norfolk, Nebraska, committed to the Huskers three months ago on March 5.
as the Huskers have already gained four commitments in the month of June. The Huskers’ 2019 class currently sits at nine players, good for the No. 31 class nationally and the No. 9 class in the Big Ten according to 247Sports. Here’s a rundown of the nine members of Nebraska’s 2019 recruiting class.
GARRETT NELSON Garrett Nelson, a weak-side defensive end from Scottsbluff, Nebraska, was the first of the eight to commit to Nebraska. He committed on June 24, 2017 under former coach Mike Riley and remained loyal to the Huskers during the coaching change in the offseason.
Herbie Husker poses for a photo with a fan during the Spring Game on Saturday, April 21, 2018, at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska. PHOTO BY JULIAN TIRTADJAJA
Piper chose Nebraska over offers from Iowa, Ohio and South Dakota State. The 6-foot-4, 275-pound Piper is listed as a 3-star recruit on ESPN, 247Sports and Rivals. 247Sports lists Piper as the No. 83 defensive tackle and the No. 5 prospect from Nebraska, while Rivals does not have a positional rank for Piper and lists him as the No. 5 prospect from Nebraska.
Nelson also had offers from South Dakota and South Dakota State.
THOMAS GRAYSON Thomas Grayson, a running back from Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, committed to the Huskers on April 9.
The 6-foot-3, 235-pound Nelson is listed as a 3-star recruit, the No. 43 weak side defensive end and the No. 3 prospect from Nebraska by 247Sports. ESPN lists Nelson as a 3-star recruit, and Rivals lists Nelson as a 3-star recruit, the No. 30 weak side defensive end and the top prospect in Nebraska.
Grayson picked Nebraska over offers from Arkansas State, Colorado, Eastern Michigan, Syracuse, Tennessee, Texas Tech and Tulsa. He also had interest from Oklahoma and Oklahoma State but never received an offer from either school.
GARRETT SNODGRASS Garrett Snodgrass, an athlete from York, Nebraska, also committed to the Huskers under the previous coaching staff. Snodgrass committed on Nov. 24, the day before Riley was fired.
ESPN lists the 5-foot-11, 190-pound Grayson as a 3-star recruit, the No. 56 running back nationally and the No. 8 prospect from Oklahoma. 247Sports lists Grayson as a 3-star recruit and the No. 13 prospect from Oklahoma, while Rivals lists Grayson as a 2-star recruit and does not have a positional or state rank for him.
Snodgrass had offers from South Dakota and South Dakota State, as well as interest from other FBS schools such as Iowa State and Notre Dame. 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals all list the 6-foot-3, 205-pound Snodgrass as a 3-star recruit. 247Sports lists Snodgrass as the No. 60
RAHMIR JOHNSON Rahmir Johnson, a running back from Bergen Catholic High School in Oradell, New Jersey, committed to Nebraska on May 5. SEE RECRUITING: PAGE 15
DAILY NEBRASKAN JAZZ IN JUNE
TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 2018 RECRUITING: FROM PAGE 14 Johnson picked Nebraska over offers from 14 other schools, including Boston College, West Virginia, Rutgers, Pittsburgh, Ole Miss, North Carolina and Kentucky. ESPN, 247Sports and Rivals all list the 5-foot-10, 173-pound Johnson as a 4-star recruit. Rivals does not have a positional rank for Johnson but lists him as the No. 5 prospect from New Jersey. ESPN lists Johnson as the No. 27 running back nationally and No. 8 prospect from New Jersey, while 247Sports has Johnson as the No. 25 overall running back and No. 6 prospect from New Jersey. DESMOND BLAND On June 1, the Huskers picked up a commitment from junior college transfer Desmond Bland. Bland, an offensive tackle, had seven offers as part of the 2016 recruiting cycle but didn’t qualify academically and went to Arizona Western Community College in Yuma, Arizona out of high school. Bland chose the Huskers over offers from Arizona, Louisville, Iowa State, Missouri and Memphis. 247Sports lists Bland as a 3-star recruit, while Rivals lists him as a 4-star recruit. LUKE MCCAFFREY Luke McCaffrey, an athlete from Valor Christian High School in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, committed to Nebraska on June 4. McCaffrey is the son of longtime NFL wide receiver Ed McCaffrey and the younger brother of Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey chose the Huskers over multiple offers, including ones from UCLA, Ole Miss, Ohio State and Michigan. McCaffrey is listed as a 3-star recruit by Rivals and a 4-star recruit by 247Sports and ESPN. ESPN lists McCaffrey as the top prospect from Colorado and ranks him No. 149 on the ESPN 300. 247Sports lists McCaffrey as the No. 262 prospect nation-
ally, the No. 18 athlete and the top prospect from Colorado. JACKSON HANNAH Jackson Hannah, an outside linebacker from Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville, Tennessee, committed to Nebraska on June 6. Hannah chose the Huskers over offers from 18 schools, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, LSU, Oregon and Wisconsin. ESPN and 247Sports list the 6-foot-3, 220-pound Hannah as a 3-star recruit, while Rivals has him as a 4-star recruit. 247Sports ranks Hannah as the No. 23 outside linebacker nationally and the No. 17 prospect from Tennessee. Rivals lists Hannah as an inside linebacker and ranks him ninth at that position and the No. 7 prospect in Tennessee. RONALD THOMPKINS Ronald Thompkins, a running back from Grayson High School in Loganville, Georgia, committed to Nebraska on June 15. Thompkins picked Nebraska over 19 other offers, including ones from Alabama, LSU and Penn State. Thompkins visited LSU on April 6 and Penn State on April 20. Rivals lists the 5-foot-11, 195 pound Thompkins as a 3-star recruit and the No. 61 prospect in Georgia, while ESPN and 247Sports list him as a 4-star recruit. In addition, 247Sports lists Thompkins as the No. 27 prospect from Georgia and the No. 274 prospect nationally. In addition to the nine members of the 2019 recruiting class, Nebraska also received a commitment from junior college transfer Will Jackson at cornerback on June 5. Jackson graduated from Mesa Community College in May and will be able to join the Huskers for the 2018 season, according to the Omaha WorldHerald’s Sam McKewon. The Huskers also picked up a June 1 commitment from defensive tackle Vaha Vainuku, a graduate transfer from Utah.
2018 MARKET VENDORS The Squeegee Bee Lincoln Summer Business Internship Henna Gesserit Manila Bay The Parthenon Mir Jewelry Heoya Golden Kernel Kettlecorn The Root Beer Guy HF Crave Going Nuts Lincoln City Libraries Citzens for Climate Lobby Francie & Finch Bookshop UNL Dairy Store Abendmusik Advocacy Partnership Asian Community & Culture Center Bridges to Hope CASA for Lancaster County Center for Immigration Assistance Made It Myself Shaved Ice Daffodil Gourmet Catering FlyDogz Rolling Fire Pizza Nothing Bundt Cakes Child Guidance Center Civic Nebraska Clinic with a Heart Clyde Malone Community Center
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TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 2018
COLLEGE OF DENTISTRY
YOU’RE INVITED! College of Dentistry Open House Friday, June 22, 2018, 1-5 p.m. 40th & Holdrege Streets, UNL’s East Campus • Meet our dental team • Tour the clinics • Learn about our services
• Make an appointment • Enter drawing for prizes • Enjoy light refreshments
Free visitor parking available
Complete dental care for all ages!
402.472.1333