FocusV3I19

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VOLUME 3 ISSUE 19 | MAY 8 - MAY 14 | 2019 ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT, HEALTH, PERSONAL FINANCE, & MUSIC NEWSWEEKLY

The Record Company

LOCAL CatBeret

SPORTS Baseball

STREAM Sade

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FOCUS ON THIS WEEK!

MAY 14 | 2019

LY 19 | MAY 8 MUSIC NEWSWEEK VOLUME 3 ISSUE NAL FINANCE, & ENT, HEALTH, PERSO FREE ARTS, ENTERTAINM

YOUR

4 SPORTS

LIVE

y The Record Compan

LOCAL

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FAMILY

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COUNCIL BLUFFS

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EVENTS

Baseball

STREAM

Sade

CatBeret

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THE ARTS

ON TEN

THIS WEEKS FEATURE

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THE SHOPS AT COUNTRYSIDE VILLAGE

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SEE WHAT’S NEW IN BENSON

17 THE STREAM Getting to Know the OG Smooth Operator: Sade By Jesse D. Stanek

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HEALTH

Hearing loss is topic of May 14 Omaha Science Cafe By Focus Omaha May is Mental Health Awareness Month By Focus Omaha

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SPORTS

Creighton Bluejays, Nebraska Huskers & Omaha Mavericks Baseball By Focus Omaha

21 LOCAL CatBeret – Omaha Riot Grrrl Power By Andy Roberts

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LIVE

The Record Company – Yes, They’re A Rock’n’roll Band By Andy Roberts

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FINANCE

The Future of Social Security and Medicare: Here’s What Trustees Are Projecting

By Michael Herek Sponsored By Blue Capitol Wealth

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FOCUS WAS OUT, WHERE WERE YOU?

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HAPPY HOUR

We gathered up some of the BEST Happy Hour spots in and around the Omaha metro

Focus is your FREE Arts, Entertainment, Health, Personal Finance, & Music Newsweekly.

We’ve brought all of these elements together for the first time, all in one weekly format. Our goal is to provide you, the customer, with the best possible publication to suit all of your needs.

Focus 7914 W Dodge Rd. # 413 Omaha, NE 68114 (402) 208-6545 focusomaha@gmail.com www.focusomaha.com

Friday, May 10 | 6p Power Colors Opening Reception Curated by Amanda Smith and Angela Zonunpari Generator Space, 1804 Vinton St. Red for power, yellow for happy, blue for competence; Power Colors, curated by Amanda Smith and Angela Zonunpari, examines the associative influence of color and its links to history, identity, and authority. Using a wide range of production skills, the four artists in the exhibition articulate and reconstitute fragmented experiences of place, personhood, and politics in vivid color.

ate logos and artworks for their album covers and posters. A donation of $5 is suggested -------------------------------------------------------Saturday, May 11 Omaha Children’s Business Fair 10:30a-12:30p KANEKO, 1111 Jones St., Omaha Inspire the mindset of a builder in your child through the Omaha Acton Children’s Business Fair, presented by Econic!

The event is FREE for YAP members (Please SIGN-IN (top right-hand of webpage) on the Joslyn website to receive your membership discount) and only $30 per ticket (or $50 for two tickets) for non-YAP members.

Space is capped at 140 people this year. Art Crawl historically sells out and registration is required, so register today!

Learn about the architectural elements and hear stories about Omaha’s first millionaires.

This is your chance to see Joslyn Castle Unlocked!

------------------------------------------------------Monday, May 13 12:30p-2:30p Healing Arts Sessions-Omaha Ponca Tribe, 2602 J St, Omaha Come spend your Monday afternoons with us for a creative outlet, and self-care all in one.

Sarah Rowe, visual and performance artist from Omaha, will be sharing her time and talents with us Mondays starting April 15th through September.

Must be 21 or older to attend.

-------------------------------------------------------Saturday, May 11 Joslyn Castle: Unlocked 5:30p-9p Joslyn Castle, 3902 Davenport St, Omaha Marsha Mack (Denver, CO) and Nicole A limited number of guests will get to go beMaloof (Bronx, NY) use the color yellow hind the scenes and tour all four levels of the These workshops will allow for a public as a lynchpin in their investigations of how home! Browse personal items and furnishings showcase in September for those wishing to Event Activities: cultural identity is shaped by language, social 9:00 - Participant Check-In, Participant Sneak of George and Sarah Joslyn on the first floor participate. More information will be shared customs, and economic systems. For Maloof, Peek Shopping & Judging of Booths before dinner begins. that investigation begins with a simple 10:30 - 12:30 Public Marketplace question: What color is a banana? Mack’s Enjoy dinner in the famous music room then 12:30 - 1:00 Awards Ceremony approach is equally pointed, creating objects, join us for a walking tour of the entire Castle. images, and installation that reframe the ex- Our youth are capable of far more than we perience of her Vietnamese heritage through can imagine. When we can inspire them the lens of a tourist. Amy Jarding’s (Sioux through stories of entrepreneurs who have Falls, SD) intuitive use of color in her figone before, emphasize the journey of growth ber-based work serves as lively counterpoint over the result itself, and give them opporto these research driven practices, while tunity to learn through real-world, hands Amanda Smith’s (Omaha, NE) highly personal on experiences, these young heroes will be sense of color, space, and vision recall “past inspired to discover their most precious gifts lives” through the process of revisiting old and a calling that will change the world. paintings and reworking them as quilts; new ------------------------------------------------------objects, steeped in cultural tradition, that become carefully constructed retrospective heirlooms.

------------------------------------------------------Friday, May 10 | 6p-11p Steve Pelish: An Exploratory Survey of Trans Erudite, Le Ventre: A Collaborative Space by The Dopest Art, 1226 S. 20th St. Hugo’s art Galleries will kick off the 2019 pop-up show season, May 10th. Steve Pelish Saturday, May 11 is a student and conceptual artist operating 2019 YAP Art Crawl 5p-11p out of Omaha, Nebraska. Pelish is currently Blatt Beer & Table - North Downtown working towards his BASA at University of 610 N 12th St Nebraska at Omaha with a focus in drawing. Experience the diversity of art in Omaha and He won a gold medal for his portfolio at the meet new people at the Fifteenth Annual Nebraska State Visual Arts Competition and Young Art Patrons Art Crawl! Check in and won second place at the Bellevue University hop on the bus at 5:00 pm at Blatt Beer & Senior Print Making competition in 2009.

Table Downtown, parking lot to the west of Pelish attended the Kent Bellows Studio building. The crawl will visit Bancroft Street Mentorship program in 2008 and 2009, Market, Kent Bellows Studio, and Artists’ displaying in the accompanying group shows Cooperative Gallery. Each gallery will have in the same years. These formative times food, beer, wine and ART! allowed for a great deal of experimentation and paved the way for the multitude of meJoin us for the after party at the Blatt Beer & diums employed to create his work. In 2017, Table Rooftop, downtown Pelish began working with musicians to cre-

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Kids develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy, and then open for customers at our one-day marketplace on May 11 at KANEKO, located in the Old Market in downtown Omaha.

Focus | May 8 - May 14 | Volume 3 Issue 19

to those attending classes, as it becomes available.

------------------------------------------------------Through June 15 Alison O’Daniel’s Heavy Air and Lui Shtini’s Tempos, Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, 724 S. 12th St. Alison O’Daniel is a visual artist working across the mediums of film, performance, sculpture, and installation. Structured as a call-and-response between these mediums, she creates cinema, performances, sound-dampening textiles, sculptures and large-scale installations that intend to visualize what it means to not have complete access to sound. Through collaborations with composers and musicians as well as the experiences of deaf and hard of hearing friends regarding sound, O’Daniel’s work aims at building a visual, aural, and haptic vocabulary as a means of storytelling. www. bemiscenter.org ------------------------------------------------------Through June 23 American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith Durham Museum, 801 S 10th St Omaha American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith, explores America’s bold experiment in a government “of, by, and for the people.”

Featuring engaging multimedia experiences, immersive design, and artifacts from the Smithsonian and state historical organizations, it demonstrate that democracy relies on our active participation.

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Wednesday, May 8th @ 2p-4p FREE Compassion Fatigue and Self-Care Caring for Self While Helping Others Project Harmony, 11949 Q St, Omaha, NE 68137 What is Compassion Fatigue? Who does it affect?

Why should you care? How do you deal with it?

This workshop will answer these questions and build skills in the participant to identify, consider, and manage symptoms of compassion fatigue.

Participants learn in an experiential environment that provides opportunity for reflection and analysis on their own symptoms of compassion fatigue through use of self-assessments and group discussion. At the conclusion of the session, participants will be provided with a self-care activity that provides the opportunity to relax and recharge.

You will be able to define the 3 elements of professional quality of life Identify characteristics that contribute to or provide resilience from compassion fatigue Create a self-care plan for implementation following the training. https://projectharmony.com/train-

ing/course-catalog/compassion-fatigue-and-self-care/

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--------------------------------------------------Saturday, May 11th, 2019 @ 7am – 2pm 16th Annual Wear Yellow Ride, Run & Walk Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum Wear Yellow Nebraska will be hosting the 16th Annual Wear Yellow Ride, Fun Run & Walk on Saturday, May 11, 2019 at the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum, Ashland, Nebraska.

Your participation is making a difference. 100% of our proceeds support Wear Yellow Nebraska’s cancer fighting and cancer patient assistance programs. This event specifically supports the Wear Yellow Cab Ride Program.

Riders are encouraged to stick around after the ride for breakfast by the Pancake Man, our legendary raffle, and dozen of door prizes. Each paid registration will be granted free access to the museum following the event. If you have hungry family or friends who did not ride or run, they can purchase a breakfast from the Pancake Man for $5 each. https://www.supportwyn.org/16 ---------------------------------------------------

Focus | May 8 - May 14 | Volume 3 Issue 19

Saturday, May 11th, 2019 @ 7am – 10:00 am Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 Live Forward Run-Walk to Remember Skutt Catholic High School ,3131 S. 156th St. The 8th Annual Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 Live Forward Run-Walk to Remember honors loved ones who died in traffic incidents. Many families and community organizations for teams to honor these loved ones. Others sign up to run solo.

--------------------------------------------------Saturday, May 11th, 2019 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 am Benson Spring Cleanup 2019 www.omahahomeforboys.org Bring your junk to the Benson Spring Cleanup at the Omaha Home for Boys on Saturday, May 11 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. We will have recycling options including metal, electronics, bicycles, items in good condition to donate and more!!!

Things we cannot accept include: tires, appliancThe run-walk has three goals: es, railroad ties, concrete, medical waste, bricks, 1. To bring together family and friends of loved dead animals, chemicals, paint, yard waste and ones who have died in traffic incidents to remem- contractor debris. Yard waste vouchers will be ber and celebrate the life and love they shared, and available onsite. continue to share, with all touched by their lives.

2. To raise funds to support the mission of Keep Bring your gloves and a smile, as you will be Kids Alive Drive 25®, which includes our “Live expected to help upload your items and join in Forward!” initiative that supports families in creat- making our neighborhood a little bit cleaner. ing legacies in honor of loved ones who have died --------------------------------------------------in traffic incidents.

3. To educate us all on behaviors we need to pracWHAT’S YOUR FOCUS? tice as motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists in order to keep ourselves and others safe on and along Family events continued onto the bottom half of page 7. roadways.

EVENTS WEDNESDAY, MAY 8 Bike Night Quaker Steak and Lube, 5p -----------------------------------------------------Wuddadub Wednesday Cube Ultra Lounge, 9p THURSDAY, MAY 9 Music Bingo, 3rd Base Bar & Grill, 8p -----------------------------------------------------Classic Car Cruise In Quaker Steak and Lube, 5p

150th Kickoff Celebration!

Union Pacific Museum, 5:30p -----------------------------------------------------Pat O & The Show, Amerisports Bar, 8:30p SATURDAY, MAY 11 Wine Tasting, Squirrel Cage Jail, 2p -----------------------------------------------------7 Day Stretch , Amerisports Bar, 8:30p -----------------------------------------------------Knights & Daze, Whiskey Roadhouse, 9p -------------------------------------------------------SUNDAY, MAY 12 Sunday Funday, Rodeo Saloon, 12p

FRIDAY, MAY 10 River Riot 2019 - Halestorm, In This Moment, I Prevail, Sevendust, Through Fire, Palaye Royale, Beasto Blanco, and The Impulsive Westphair Amphitheater, 1p -----------------------------------------------------Family events continued from page 6.

Saturday, May 11 @ 2p We’re the Girls of Omaha O’Leaver’s Pub, 1322 S. Saddle Creek Rd. The Omaha Girls Rock’s Advocacy Committee presents: We’re the Girls of Omaha, a first annual spring benefit concert!

JOIN US: May 11th from 2:00PM-8:00PM at the Oleaver’s outdoor patio for a day filled with good music, people, and fun.

DETAILS: ~all ages + family-friendly ~$10 suggested donation at door ~an incredible line-up that features OGR summer program alumni and other local femme musicians (see below for full line-up) ~super rad raffle items (stay tuned for announcements on what you could win!)

LINE-UP: ~Flora and Grace ~Virginia Kathryn ~CatBeret ~Bathtub Maria ~Annie Dee ~Enjoli & Timeless ~Jocelyn Music ~emcee: local radio personality, spoken word artist, and motivational speaker Felicia Webster

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WEDNESDAY MAY 8

THURSDAY MAY 9

Daddy Mac & the Flak Bogies Bar and Grill, 6:30p -----------------------------------------------

Happy Hippie Hour with Carrie Jean The Down Under Lounge, 3p ----------------------------------------------Dr. Webb Music The Down Under Lounge, 4:20p ----------------------------------------------Live402 HH w/JohnCarl Denkovich LIV Lounge, 5:30p --------------------------------------------The Brits Ozone Lounge, 6:30p --------------------------------------------Enjoli & Timeless- R&B Soul The Jewell, 6:30p --------------------------------------------Heidi Burson Band Growler USA, 7p --------------------------------------------Acoustic Open Mic Night The New Frontier Bar, 7p ----------------------------------------------Bike Night w/ The Angry Minnows Therapy Bar & Grill, 7p ----------------------------------------------Whiskey Wednesday The Sociable Inn, 7p --------------------------------------------Backin’ the Browns Benefit The Waiting room, 7p --------------------------------------------Ro Hempel Solo The Omaha Lounge, 7:30p --------------------------------------------The Standby Lookout Lounge, 8p --------------------------------------------Dirty Heads Sokol Auditorium and Underground, 8p --------------------------------------------Peelander-Z | Me Like Bees Slowdown, 8p --------------------------------------------Pub Quiz Trivioke Bogies Bar & Grill, 8p --------------------------------------------Comedy Open Mic Barley Street Tavern, 9p --------------------------------------------Dandu w/ Doom Lagoon & Matt Hackett Trio Reverb Lounge, 9p --------------------------------------------Karaoke The Brokedown Palace, 10p

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Chris O’Leary Band w/ Vertigo Chrome Lounge, 5p --------------------------------------------Orphan Jon Live at B. Bar, 5:30p --------------------------------------------Steve Lovett Jazz, A Louisiana Kitchen, 6p --------------------------------------------Clean Shave Kickoff!

Two Fine Irishmen, 6p --------------------------------------------Big Wade and Black Swan Theory Ozone Lounge, 6:30p --------------------------------------------Stephen Martin Trio Feat. Mitch Towne & Brian Steever The Jewell, 6:30p --------------------------------------------Bike Night w/ Mercury Girl Dr. Jacks Drinkery, 7p ----------------------------------------------Acoustic Open Mic Night The New Frontier Bar, 7p ----------------------------------------------Skretta Etc., Vino Mas, 7p ----------------------------------------------Michael Malone Omaha Funny Bone, 7:30p ----------------------------------------------Men On Boats Omaha Playhouse, 7:30p ----------------------------------------------Trivia, The Sociable Inn, 7:30p -----------------------------------------The Science Project Barley Street Tavern, 8p ----------------------------------------------Black Magic Flower, Power w/ Gallivant, Saints Of Lust & WWTS Lookout Lounge, 8p --------------------------------------------Thursday Night Trivia, Nifty Bar, 8p --------------------------------------------Magick K Acoustic Harney Street Tavern, 9p -----------------------------------------------

FRIDAY MAY 10 Acoustic Happy Hour The Down Under Lounge, 5p

----------------------------------------------Spike Nelson and The Nelson Brothers Jazz, A Louisiana Kitchen, 6p ---------------------------------------------

Focus | May 8 - May 14 | Volume 3 Issue 19

The Stephen Martin Trio w/ Marcus Lewis, The Jewell, 6:30p --------------------------------------------Skuddur Rock Therapy Session!

Therapy Bar & Grill, 7p ----------------------------------------------Ascent Tour Stop #1 Wired Pub & Grill, 7p ---------------------------------------------

Lupines O’Leavers Pub, 10p ​--------------------------------------------Bad Habit at the After Party Ralston Arena, 10:30p --------------------------------------------Cards Of Destiny The Backline, 11p

SATURDAY MAY 11

Florence Parade and Swampboy Blues Band --------------------------------------------The New Frontier Bar, 10a Michael Malone ​--------------------------------------------Omaha Funny Bone, 7:30p/9:30p Opening Day --------------------------------------------Horsemen Park, 11a Mindspill2: Full Flavor Edition --------------------------------------------Dr Jack’s Drinkery, 8p Poker Run Spring Party --------------------------------------------Therapy Bar & Grill, 11a Black Magic Flower Power w/ Gallivant, ​--------------------------------------------Saints of Lust & WWTS Bikini Car Wash Lookout Lounge, 8p Twin Peaks Restaurants, 12p ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Feel Good Fridays Featuring Gary Hoey w/ Tim Budig Band Tyi Hakeem, The Omaha Lounge, 8:30p Chrome Lounge, 5p --------------------------------------------​--------------------------------------------Sebastian Lane’s Barley Street Blues Us and Them Jam, Barley Street, 9p The Down Under Lounge, 5:30p --------------------------------------------​--------------------------------------------Bob Fields and Swing Time Summer Sounds ft Skuddur Copacabana Lounge, 9p Kozee Lounge, 6p ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Bike Night with Swampboy Blues Band- Barley Street Pipers Society Dr. Jack’s Drinkery, 9p The Barley Street Tavern, 7p --------------------------------------------​--------------------------------------------DJ Ivan Alfarez Luke Combs Parliament Pub Downtown, 9p CHI Health Center, 7p --------------------------------------------​--------------------------------------------Blue Moon Ghetto w/Pony Creek, Brad Flippin Whiskey Hoshaw & Joshua Cole Stinson Park, 7p The Waiting Room, 9p ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Big Canvas Jacked The Backline Comedy Theatre, 7p Two Fine Irishmen, 9p ​----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Michael Malone Karaoke, Winchester Bar & Grill, 9p Omaha Funny Bone, 7:30p/9:30p ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Party at The Chrome The Prince Experience Chrome Lounge, 9:15p The Slowdown, 7:30p --------------------------------------------​--------------------------------------------Seamus Kelleher Sniper 66, System Restore, Bad Ideas, Dubliner Pub, 9:30p Cordial Spew, & Shidiots --------------------------------------------Lookout Lounge, 8p Doom Lagoon, Whole Milk & Supper --------------------------------------------The Down Under Lounge, 9:30p Thornetta Davis Fri 7:30 PM · Holland Center

Front Porch Therapy Therapy Bar & Grill, 8p ​--------------------------------------------Terry Parker Quartet The Omaha Lounge, 8:30p ​--------------------------------------------palindroSeff , Bar 415, 9p --------------------------------------------The Jazzy Truth Copacabana Lounge, 9p --------------------------------------------KoZee Karaoke KoZee Lounge, 9p ​--------------------------------------------Dominique Morgan “The Pisces Experience” Reverb Lounge, 9p ​--------------------------------------------The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band The Waiting room, 9p ​--------------------------------------------Power Hour The Backline Comedy Theatre, 9p ​--------------------------------------------Sebastian Lane Band Harney Street Tavern, 9p ​--------------------------------------------Lemon Fresh Day’s last performance Two Fine Irishmen, 9p ​--------------------------------------------Peace, Love, Etc., Growler USA, 9p --------------------------------------------Angry Minnows Havana Garage, 9p ​--------------------------------------------Mojito Brothers Rathskeller Bier Haus, 9p ​--------------------------------------------Ragged Company Barley Street Tavern, 9p ​--------------------------------------------DJ Sweetlife The Cove Lounge and grille, 9p ​--------------------------------------------Lemon Fresh Day Two Fine Irishmen, 9p ​--------------------------------------------Tough Old Bird w/Jeremy Mercy, Angeline Kay & Randall Gruber The Down Under Lounge,9:30p

SUNDAY MAY 5 Mother’s Day Brunch Crescent Moon Alehouse, 11a ​--------------------------------------------Mothers Day Brunch The Jewell, 11:30a ​--------------------------------------------Men On Boats Omaha Playhouse, 2p ​--------------------------------------------Chad Lee The Surfside, 5p ​--------------------------------------------Marinas Gaming Guild The Down Under Lounge, 5p ​--------------------------------------------Sweet Tea Music on Mothers Day JAZZ, A Louisiana Kitchen, 6p ​--------------------------------------------I MOM SO HARD Holland Center Omaha, 8p ​--------------------------------------------The Lemonheads The Waiting room, 8p ​--------------------------------------------DU Free Booze Bingo The Down Under Lounge, 8p ​--------------------------------------------Sunday Funday Karaoke The Down Under Lounge, 10p ​

MONDAY MAY 13 Happy Hour!

The Down Under Lounge, 3p --------------------------------------------Too-Hot 4 Earth Double Feature The Down Under Lounge, 3p ​--------------------------------------------Ozone Big Band Ozone Lounge, 6p ​--------------------------------------------Early Karaoke Forte Music Hall, 7p --------------------------------------------BINGO at Southwest ​ Infusion Brewing Company, 7p --------------------------------------------Poker Night Therapy Bar & Grill, 7p --------------------------------------------Michelle Eva Bleu feat. B. Baldwin The Omaha Lounge, 7:30p ​--------------------------------------------Elle King w/ Barns Courtney Sokol Auditorium and Underground, 8p ​--------------------------------------------Dave Losso O’Leavers Pub, 8p ​--------------------------------------------Open Mic, Barley Street Tavern, 9p --------------------------------------------DJ Howie’s Karaoke Grant St. Bar, 9p ---------------------------------------------

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WEDNESDAY MAY 8

Dirty Heads | The Hip Abduction SOKOL AUDITORIUM

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SATURDAY MAY 11

Luke Combs: Beer Never Broke My Heart Tour w/ special guest LANCO CHI HEALTH CENTER

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FRIDAY MAY 10

River Riot 2019 WESTFAIR

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SATURDAY MAY 11

The Prince Experience SLOWDOWN

Focus | May 8 - May 14 | Volume 3 Issue 19

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FRIDAY MAY 10

Thornetta Davis HOLLAND CENTER

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SUNDAY MAY 12

The Lemonheads WAITING ROOM

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FRIDAY MAY 10

Blue Moon Ghetto WAITING ROOM

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MONDAY MAY 13

Elle King : Shake the Spirit Tour w/ Barns Courtney SOKOL AUDITORIUM

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FRIDAY MAY 10

Hairball RALSTON ARENA

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TUESDAY MAY 14

Cher: Here We Go Again Tour CHI HEALTH CENTER

Events continued from page 9

Open Mic and Molly’s Molly’s Pub, 9p --------------------------------------------Poker Night Therapy Bar & Grill, 7p --------------------------------------------Open Jam With Jason Figueroa The Down Under, 9p --------------------------------------------Down Under Sunday Night Karaoke The Down Under, 10p

TUESDAY MAY 7 Open Jam w/ Tony Romero Therapy Bar & Grill, 6p --------------------------------------------John Worsham Ozone Lounge, 6:30p --------------------------------------------Hate breed- 25th Anv. Tour Sokol Auditorium, 6:30p --------------------------------------------Open Jam hosted by Scott Moyer Barley Street Tavern, 7p --------------------------------------------Trivia, Goldeez, 7p --------------------------------------------Dylan Doyle Band Growler USA, 7p --------------------------------------------Omaha Science Cafe Slowdown, 7p --------------------------------------------Cher, CHI Health Center, 7:30p --------------------------------------------Open Mic Jam Brokedown Palace, 8p --------------------------------------------Trivia, The Down Under, 8p --------------------------------------------Karaoke, Forte Music Hall, 9p ------------------------------------------ Open Mic (standup) The Backline, 9p --------------------------------------------Dylan’s Duets Tuesday Karaoke The Down Under Lounge, 10p

Focus | May 8 - May 14 | Volume 3 Issue 19 11

By Eric Cano & Focus Omaha Are we in a housing bubble that is going to burst soon? Many people may think so because of the fast increases in home prices, but let’s analyze the last bubble burst to see what caused it and if there are any common signs right now.

Many blame the soaring prices of the early 2000’s was sub-prime lending. This allowed people with less than stellar credit to qualify for loans, people with great credit to buy much more than they normally would qualify for, and to top it off most of these loans were Adjustable Rate Mortgages.

Adjustable rates programs would give you a very low interest for a short period of time, say 2-7 years, then would become variable.

There was even a program called Payment Option Loans, which offered really low payments, lower than what an interest only loan would be to attract more buyers.

Since your payment was lower than the interest you owed, each month that interest you didn’t pay would be added to your balance, so you would end up owing more each month instead of less. People without great credit saw this as an opportunity time to improve their credit to qualify for a fixed rate program later. People with great credit had a program called the No Doc loan, meaning that if your credit was good enough, you did not have to prove your income and could borrow a lot more than if you did have to prove your income.

The theory was that if you had great credit, you had proved you were responsible enough to find a way to make that large house payment. So why did this cause prices

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As a result, prices decreased. Now there to go up? Housing prices are affected by the was too much inventory. That was due to foreclosures, individuals who were behind basics of economics, supply and demand.

Since populations grow, there typically will in payments and wanted to sell before their be more buyers than sellers which provides credit got ruined, new homes leftover from bankrupt builders, and a shortage of buyers a steady appreciation in price. With the introduction of these programs, there were because the remaining banks tightened their lending guidelines. more buyers in the market than sellers, which meant buyers were competing for a So, those that wanted to sell were in limited quantity of houses. competition with too many foreclosures Builders then built many houses in versus too few buyers resulting in falling speculation that they were going to get prices. Some were even including living sold. This was the new normal and many room furniture, cars, and whatever else real estate related jobs were doing great. they could so they could sell their homes.

However, foreclosures started to increase.

People with adjustable rates were given House prices fell so low that people who skyrocketing payments they could not could qualify for a house would buy a bigger afford. nicer home than they had for less money, then let their more expensive house go into When enough foreclosures happened, foreclosure because they could not sell it lending guidelines became super tight, due to the fact they owed more it than it mortgage companies went out of business, was worth. and so did many banks. There were many people that were days away from closing A statistic was offered in 2009 stating that on their homes only to have the closing at the rate homes were selling, with no new canceled because of new guidelines or their houses coming up for sale, it would have mortgage company going bankrupt. taken nine months to sell what was on the market. Still, there was no sign of a shortage With a shortage of buyers, builders went of upcoming homes for sale. out of business due to too many homes in inventory, and construction workers by not Eventually the supply and demand getting paid for work they completed. stabilized in early 2010. Investors saw it first and were buying up properties at Many companies that benefited in the real low prices. Banks slightly loosened their estate industry shut down. Not only were guidelines and buyers started to come back. agents affected by falling income, but bank employees, construction workers, truck The supply and demand has reversed itself drivers who hauled construction materials again and most houses under $225,000 felt the squeeze, and others. have multiple offers and 20 offers on one house is common now. With all those

Focus | May 8 - May 14 | Volume 3 Issue 19

buying, only the best offer wins. The majority of those are selling for more than they are asking. Sometimes it’s not the one who offers the most that wins. The seller has to like the closing date you offer, the type of loan you have, and the personal property you ask for.

Many buyers are no longer doing home inspections. Instead they pay for their own home warranties and some are even paying the seller side of closing costs on top of their closing costs. Some are writing letters to the seller in which they try to win over the seller’s heart.

Is this going to slow down?

We have very few foreclosures right now and jobs are steady so there is no clear sign there will be tighter lending guidelines.

Rates have been slowly rising, but it’s not affecting the demand. As far as inventory, builders now say they cannot build the cheaper homes and be profitable. Building materials and labor costs have increased so most new homes will be more expensive, therefore there’s no sign of a substantial increase in inventory.

I would say for the moment prices will continue to increase for the foreseeable future and may not decrease for many years. Until there is something substantial that changes the supply and demand scales, this will be our new normal.

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Focus | May 8 - May 14 | Volume 3 Issue 19

Getting to Know the OG Smooth Operator: Sade

By Jesse D. Stanek Let your mind drift back to the times of Miami Vice (no, the TV show, not the movie).

It was a time when men weren’t afraid to wear white suits with pink tee-shirts, every home had some form of neon lighting and cigarette boats were the preferred method of transport for interesting people on the go.

Lying in bed, listening to Sweet 98 FM, Hot Scott dropping the dedications, with a cheap red boombox delivering the hits of the day . . . Then out of nowhere, the smoothest voice you’ve ever heard comes through the speakers, like clean linen in a soft breeze, “coast to coast, LA to Chicago,” . . . Sade’s “Smooth Operator” was like nothing else on the radio, then or now. The song can still fill the brain with visions of pink flamingos and steamy nights under palm trees, her voice calmly soaring up and down the scale, her cadence and delivery an unrivaled level of sultry sweet, an exotic voice on familiar airwaves, a transcendent listen every time she sings.

on the rise. Hugely popular at the time of its release, the album is not so much a relic of the 1980s and it’s synth-heavy pop crooning as it is a testament to the band’s and singer’s timeless artistic vision. During “Smooth Operator” Sade sings “moves in space, with minimal waste,” the line not only describing the song’s shifty protagonist but also serving as an apt description of the band’s playing: efficient and beautiful, straight-to-the-point but not overly concerned with how long it takes to get there.

While 1985’s “Promise” and 1992’s “Love Deluxe” featured memorable singles like “The Sweetest Taboo” and “No Ordinary Love” and found the band embarking on massively successful world tours, it would be 8 years later in 2000 that Sade released the masterpiece “Lovers Rock.” The album earned the Grammy for “Best Pop Vocal Album,” however that award and distinction are a disservice to the smooth-soul-brilliance of “Lovers.”

While the record finds Sade tipping more Sade serves as the name for both the band towards the popular forms of the day (lead and the female vocalist. Born in Nigeria in single “By Your Side” incorporates strummed 1959, Helen Folasade Adu was given the guitar), her smoky, sensual and sexy flourishnickname Sade (a shortened version of her es are in full force, the resulting mood one of middle name) shortly before her parents split and she accompanied her mother to the post-day-at-the-beach, soundtracking that strange dusk between bright, sunny sandcasLondon area at the age of 4. Both fashion and music became powerful vehicles in Adu’s tles and the forlornly beautiful and encompassing mass of darkness as the Sun dips life. After a short foray into the London below the horizon, slowly burning down into modeling world, Sade began her path as a brilliant oranges and purples as the waxing vocalist filling in for a friend’s funk band. moon ascends. And then you and Crockett Her sophisticated sound has never been have to go chase bad guys on a cigarette easy to pigeon-hole, pulling from jazz, funk, r&b and Afro-Cuban influences, she and her boat. But I digress. “Lovers” is an all-time favorite record for me, solid from beginning band have always existed outside of music’s to end. The title song finds Adu and her band comfort zone, offering a strangely beautiful composing one of the finest songs of the past mélange of sonic tapestries.

20 years. The stunningly gorgeous opener In 1984 the band broke through to the World “By Your Side” is one of the most endearing with the release of “Diamond Life,” a stunlove songs you’ll ever hear, honest joyous in ning debut record with the singles “Smooth the face of some vague misfortune.

Operator” and “Your Love is King.” Sade and The next year and a half found Sade the band would win The Grammy that year embarking on yet another massive World for “Best New Artist” and begin a career tour, performing a brilliant setlist with a consisting of infrequent releases, opting to perfect mix of older favorites and songs from create albums as works of art as opposed to “Lovers.” The band is incredibly tight and the pre-packaged unit-moving commodities focused, a slight funk just under the surface, much of popular music had become. “Diagrooves that stroll down the sidewalk, never mond” still stands the test of time, serving running or getting too rambunctious, steady as a fully-realized glimpse of a unique voice

and soulful. The live record taken from this tour “Lovers Live” is hands down the best live recording you’ll find of this dynamic act.

Sade’s voice not having lost an iota of her otherworldly charm, classics like “Smooth Operator” and “The Sweetest Taboo” getting a treatment that treads lightly on the original’s winning formula but adds enough new flourish to be a completely different animal.

“Lovers”’ cuts “By Your Side” and “Somebody Already Broke My Heart” find the playing sophisticated and nuanced, players who know the tunes as well as their own blood type yet still find the movement and give-and-take of the pieces exhilarating.

“Soldier of Love” is the band’s most recent offering. Released in 2010, the band had been on hiatus post-World tours for “Lovers.” They hadn’t seen each other in well over 7 years but they found the magic and added to it. The production is the most polished yet, touches of reggae and electronica can be found but the overall feel is pure Sade, tempered yet moody, seductive and simple.

It’s a great record with more depth and flavored nuance than most the band’s work, well worth a listen. It’s been nine years since we’ve heard anything from Sade, if last year’s single “The Big Unknown” is any indication,

we should be due another great record any day now.

Records to Stream/Download: Sade: “Diamond Life” Sade: “Lovers Rock” Sade: “Lovers Live” Sade: “Solider of Love” Focus On The Stream/Getting to Know is a weekly column by contributing writer Jesse Stanek. Each week the column will introduce (or in the case of many artists reintroduce) the reader to a different band or artist and tell you why they’re worth checking out. The column will recommend albums by the artist/band to stream or download.

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Hearing loss is topic of May 14 Omaha Science Cafe

By Focus Omaha UNMC neurotologist, Jonathan Hatch,M.D., is featured speaker

Jonathan Hatch, M.D., assistant professor and neurotologist, in the department of otolaryngology – head and neck surgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, will discuss surgical options for hearing loss at the May 14 Omaha Science Café at 7 p.m. at the Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. Dr. Hatch received his medical degree from Creighton University School of Medicine where he was a member of Alpha Omega Alpha. He completed his residency in otolaryngology at UNMC. Dr. Hatch went on to complete a fellowship in neurotology/skull base surgery at the Medical University of South Carolina.

Dr. Hatch’s research interests include: • • • •

Cochlear implant outcomes and quality of life metrics; Imaging of the temporal bone; Vestibular disorders such as Meniere’s disease; and Skull base disorders

In his time away from work, Dr. Hatch enjoys snowboarding, obstacle racing, and mountain biking. He is originally from Heber City, Utah This café is in partnership with the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts.

Science Cafés involve a face-to-face conversation with a scientist about current science topics. They are open to everyone (21 and older) and take place in casual settings like pubs and coffeehouses. Each meeting is organized around an interesting topic of conversation. A scientist gives a brief presentation followed by a Q-and-A period.

MHA Kicks Off Mental Health Month, Focusing on 4Mind4Body Theme

Alexandria, VA –– Mental Health America (MHA) is proud to have started May is Mental Health Month in 1949, and since then has led the observance by reaching millions of people through the media, local events and online mental health screenings. Over the past seventy years, it has become the most widely recognized mental health awareness effort in the world.

Every year, MHA develops a toolkit for Mental Health Month around a particular theme. This year, MHA has chosen to expand on its 2018 4Mind4Body Mental Health Month theme with a variety of new tools and materials specifically designed for people living with chronic conditions and the people who care for them.

MHA’s 4Mind4Body theme proved tremendously popular last year, with more than 16,000 organizations downloading our health and wellness toolkit and making it part of their own Mental Health Month messaging.

Pizza will be provided for the first 50 people. This year MHA has expanded on them For more information about Science Cafes, go with a set of new resources that are best characterized as essential parts of everyone’s to www.unmc.edu/sciencecafe. recovery toolkit.

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As part of our 4Mind4Body theme, the 2019 Mental Health Month toolkit (available at www.mentalhealthamerica.net/may) explores the topics of spirituality, animal companionship (including pets and support animals), humor, work-life balance, and recreation and social connections as ways to boost mental health and general wellness.

“When we talk about health, we have to focus on both physical health and mental health,” says Paul Gionfriddo, MHA president and CEO. “It’s important to see the whole person - and make use of the tools and resources that benefit minds and bodies together.”

Mental health is essential to everyone’s overall health and well-being, and mental illnesses are common and treatable. A

healthy lifestyle can help to prevent the onset or worsening of mental health conditions, as well as chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. It can also help people recover from these conditions.

For those dealing with a chronic health condition and the people who care for them, it can be especially important to focus on mental health. When dealing with dueling diagnoses, focusing on both the physical and mental health concerns can be daunting – but critically important in achieving overall wellness. Humor, spirituality, recreation, animal companionship, and work-life balance are important for everyone, but may be of special importance to people also living with chronic health conditions and those who care for them.

Concluded Gionfriddo, “Living a healthy lifestyle may not be easy but can be achieved by gradually making small changes and building on those successes. Finding the balance between work and play, the ups and downs of life, physical health and mental health, can help you on the path towards focusing both 4Mind4Body.”

You can learn more about Mental Health Month and download MHA’s 2019 toolkit by going to www.mentalhealthamerica.net/may.

MHA’s Mental Health Month 2019 toolkit is supported by contributions from Janssen Neuroscience Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson and Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.

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Creighton Bluejays

Nebraska Huskers

Bluejays vs. Mavericks

It was a difficult three-game series for the Huskers, but they managed a win in Game Three to salvage a less than stellar outing.

By Focus Omaha

Eight of the Bluejays nine hits were of the extra base variety in Creighton’s 6-2 win over Omaha on Tuesday at Werner Park.

The game got off to a fast start as CU junior Will Robertson launched a two-run home run in the top of the first for his ninth of the season. The Bluejays added two more in the second as junior Jason Allbery doubled and sophomore Garrett Gilbert smoked a ball out to left field to make it 4-0. The Mavericks got on the board in the fourth inning with a solo home run to right off Creighton starter Dylan Tebrake.

By Focus Omaha

In the first game on Saturday, Nebraska trailed 4-0 after eight innings, but an attempted comeback in the top of the ninth fell short 4-2.

In Game Two the Huskers were held to three total hits. Things started off right in the first as Aaron Palensky hit a leadoff single before No 2 hitter Cam Chick’s single. After a foulout, a sacrifice fly scored Palensky from third base. Chick stole second but was left stranded. That was about it for Nebraska scoring by Trailing 3-1 in the first, the Creighton Baseball Nebraska until Joe Acker’s RBI double scored Chick who had drawn a two-out walk., The team settled to hold Georgetown scoreless Huskers lost 10-2. the rest of the way. The Bluejays plated one run in the fifth, another in the seventh and Nebraska came out in Game Three deterput up four in the ninth for the 7-3 victory on Friday. The Bluejays got on the board first mined to salvage at least one win in the series and managed to do that with a 6-4 outcome in in the opening frame as junior Jake Holton the finale. Senior right-hander Reece Eddins reached second on an error, then raced in went six innings and allowed one run, while to score on an RBI single from junior Will recording six strikeouts and walked only one Robertson. batter. Robbie Palkert threw two innings Lightning and rain forced the suspension of before Colby Gomes tossed the final inning the second game of Friday’s doubleheader. to pick up his team-high ninth save of the When play resumed on Saturday the Bluejays season. were at bat in the top of the sixth inning with a 9-0 lead. CU bats picked up right where Nebraska is back home to face Arizona they left off the previous day and the club Statein a three-game weekend series before completed the 14-2 win. Jordan Hovey had 5 completing the Big Ten regular season at RBIs for the Jays. home next weekend against Michigan in what shapes up as a crucial three-game series.A Friday’s weather made Saturday the doubleheader and Creighton jumped out early with a five-run frame in the third to complete the sweep with a 7-4 win Saturday evening. Saturday’s games were not allowed to start until mid-afternoon as the Hoyas were in finals.

Creighton is 29-10 overall and leads the Big East at 9-3. The Jays have the week off for final exams with a three-game set with St. John’s set to start Friday.

Sun, May 12 // 1:05 PM CT vs. Arizona State Hawks Field at Haymarket Park Thu, May 16 // 6:35 PM CT vs. Michigan Hawks Field at Haymarket Park Fri, May 17 // 6:35 PM CT vs. Michigan Hawks Field at Haymarket Park Sat, May 18 // 2:05 PM CT vs. Michigan Hawks Field at Haymarket Park Wed, May 22 - Sun, May 26 Big Ten Tournament Omaha, Neb. (TD Ameritrade Park)

Omaha Mavericks

By Focus Omaha

Omaha baseball outlasted North Dakota State in the series opener, 3-2, Friday evening on the road. The Mavericks scored their game-winner on a bases-loaded walk in the top of the ninth.

NEBRASKA BASEBALL SCHEDULE Fri, May 10 // 6:35 PM CT vs. Arizona State Hawks Field at Haymarket Park Sat, May 11 // 2:05 PM CT vs. Arizona State Hawks Field at Haymarket Park

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Payton Kinney / Photo by Omavs.com

Payton Kinney / Photo by Omavs.com

Payton Kinney pitched 7.1 innings with six strikeouts, two earned runs allowed, two hits and three walks allowed but Cal Hehnke (3-1) earned the win, working the final 1.2 innings and striking out three. Thomas DeBonville had a 3-for-4 performance at the plate with a solo homer.

Saturday’s score was the same only with NDSU coming out on top. Omaha had its chances with two runners on base and just one out in the ninth, but the Bison turned a double play and closed out the game for the win.

The Mavs (26-16-1, 18-6 Summit League) dropped the series finale in a Sunday afternoon heartbreaker. It was the second week in a row for Omaha to lose the third game of the weekend series in 13 innings, this time by a 2-1 score as NDSU came up with a walk-off single to right. It only adds to their frustration to note the Mavs left 13 runners on base.

Omaha is back on the diamond Wednesday for a game at Minnesota followed by a weekend series at Western Illinois.

FOCUS OMAHA

CatBeret– Omaha Riot Grrrl Power

By Andy Roberts

It’s wild and it’s feral – just like a wild cat.

The ladies of CatBeret state their music is the cat’s meow and music to the ears of alley cats worldwide. Call it female grunge-punk and you’ll be close.

But make no mistake – the Omaha-based CatBeret is scratching its way into the local music scene.

The band is Michaela Cobain on bass and vocals, Nikki Sweigard on guitar and vocals, with singer-drummer Anna Schmidt. You can hear them this weekend at the “We’re the Girls of Omaha” fundraiser for Omaha Girls Rock.

Cobain said she is not related to Curt Cobain but grew up a huge Nirvana fan. The size and sound of CatBeret reflect that.

“I just wanted to start an all-girls three-piece band,” she said. So, she called Swigard about joining her and they networked – much via Facebook – and heard from several drummers including Schmidt who won the job. They started practicing and writing songs in 2017.

It’s not their first band: Cobain and Sweigard were in a band called 3rd and Delaware– the name coming from the location where Rosanne’s show was staged. Cobain was later in The Clocks - Sweigard was in Minutes to Miles between bands. Schmidt was in The Boner Killerz …

“Keeping it simple” worked for the three-piece and things just fell into place. Cobain was able to try her husband’s bass and picked up that instrument after previously playing guitar.

The band’s name has multiple sources. To a degree it came from their collective love of cats and wearing the name like a hat is a kind of a “state of mind” so it sort of just came out.

They feel it speaks to their Riot Grrrl power and serves as a pun on cabaret with its drama and image.

and writes collectively with any member potentially bringing an idea and then working out the songs together.

“Overall, I would call it a collective songwriting experience,” Cobain explained.

can rock as well as guys.”

For more on CatBeret: www.facebook.com/CatBeret402/

Their sets are all original material, other than a cover of No Doubt’s “Just a Girl.”

They have played with touring acts like When Particles Collide, Dentist and are set to perform with Wish Sister in June.

CatBeret has some live tracks on Facebook but they have yet to record any originals, due to their busy lives that are keeping recording off their collective plates for now.

“It’s all for fun, really,” Cobain said. “I wouldn’t say we’re taking ourselves too seriously.”

With that in mind, CatBeret does seem to be on a mission with the goal to: “Bring our raw feminist energy . . . and prove that girls

In addition, CatBeret wears cat ears on stage during their shows: “We decided to do that at one of our first shows and it stuck.”

CatBeret has a focus on original material

Catting around at Oleavers/ Photo taken by AJ Baumann

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The Record Company– Yes, They’re A Rock’n’roll Band

By Andy Roberts

They’ve been on the road for about as long as they can recall and it won’t stop soon.

Grammy nominated rockers The Record Company are bound for Omaha and a June 11 gig at The Waiting Room.

They’ve played festivals, opened for Bob Seger, hit Red Rocks and Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. Singer-guitarist Chris Vos wouldn’t want it any other way.

“From the beginning of my life I had no choice but to play,” he recalled. Vos was around 12 years old when he got his first guitar. Before that the baseball bat he’d been given was used more as a pretend microphone than for bagging singles.

Speaking from Los Angeles during a rare tour break, the Wisconsin native shared his love of music that he takes on the road with bandmates Alex Stiff on vocals, guitars and bass, and drummer Marc Cazorla who adds some vocals and keyboards. The past few months – most of the past year – have been spent touring in support of their Concord album All of this Life – which debuted in the top 5 on multiple Billboard charts. The tour behind the album has taken the three-piece around the United States, Canada and Europe.

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And to think, it all started on a farm in rural Wisconsin.

“I just was obsessed with it from the first moment I remember,” Vos recalled. He’s the kind of rocker who thinks it’s redundant to call something blues-rock. That just has to be part of the formula.

“We’re a rock ‘n’ roll band that cares about the roll,” Vos stated. The Record Company is as the end of the cycle of touring for All of this Life and has recorded some tracks with the great T-Bone Burnett. More is expected to come of their work together, Vos emphasized.

The Rolling Stones are probably Vos’s favorite band and a blues and gospel element is present, but he said the band loves lots of music from the 1960s, including Jimi Hendrix and The Grateful Dead – but also you will hear some Iggy and the Stooges plus current acts like Lucas Nelson and the Promise of the Real and Marcus King.

At a time when rock bands sometimes seem like an endangered species, Vos and The Record Company know exactly what they are. He won’t call them saviors, but: “I can tell you when I’m with my band and my band is in a room, it seems pretty much alive.”

He added: “I feel it’s important not to get distracted by what’s trendy.

“As musicians I think the best thing to focus on is ‘Are we making the best music we can and is it us?’”

They will take their opportunities for exposure when they can find them.

An unexpected break came when the band was jamming around and did a cover of the O’Jays classic “Love Train.” Coors beer picked it up for a commercial and the resulting dollars helped The Record

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Company hit the road – “gas for the van,” as he said.

The Record Company also has received exposure through tracks that were played on TV’s “Suits,” a “CSI” episode or two and other shows. It may not be the way you dream of it, but it helps.

“It’s just one little piece of the business,” Vos pointed out.

For now they continue to go about it the hard way – on the road, night after night. That road will bring them to Omaha where Vos said the show will include songs from both of The Record Company’s albums. Fans best be ready to rock.

“We try to make for a good time,” Vos emphasized of the show. “Leave your worries at the door.

“All I know is I play in a rock ‘n’ roll band.”

For more on The Record Company: http://therecordcompany.net/ www.facebook.com/therecordcompany www.instagram.com/therecordcompany

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The Future of Social Security and Medicare: Here’s What Trustees Are Projecting

By Michael Herek Most Americans will eventually receive Social Security and Medicare benefits. Each year, the Trustees of the Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds release lengthy reports to Congress that assess the health of these important programs. The newest reports, released on April 22, 2019, discuss the current financial condition and ongoing financial challenges that both programs face, and project a Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2020.

What are the Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds?

Social Security: The Social Security program consists of two parts. Retired workers, their families, and survivors of workers receive monthly benefits under the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) program; disabled workers and their families receive monthly benefits under the Disability Insurance (DI) program. The combined programs are referred to as OASDI. Each program has a financial account (a trust fund) that holds the Social Security payroll taxes that are collected to pay Social Security benefits. Other income (reimbursements from the General Fund of the U.S. Treasury and income tax revenue from benefit taxation) is also deposited in these accounts. Money that is not needed in the current year to pay benefits and administrative costs is invested (by law) in special Treasury bonds that are guaranteed by the U.S. government and earn interest. As a result, the Social Security Trust Funds have built up reserves that can be used to cover benefit obligations if payroll tax income is insufficient to pay full benefits.

Note that the Trustees provide certain projections based on the combined OASI and DI (OASDI) Trust Funds. However, these projections are theoretical, because the trusts are separate, and generally one program’s

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the DI Trust Fund is depleted, payroll tax ed in 2026, the same year as projected in revenue alone would be sufficient to pay 91% last year’s report. Once the HI Trust Fund of scheduled benefits. is depleted, tax and premium income would still cover 89% of estimated program costs, Based on the “intermediate” assumptions in declining to 78% by 2043 and then gradually this year’s report, the Social Security Admin- increasing to 83% by 2092. The Trustees note istration is projecting that the cost-of-living that long-range projections of Medicare costs adjustment (COLA), announced in the fall of are highly uncertain.

2019, will be 1.8%. This COLA would apply to benefits starting in January 2020.

Why are Social Security and MediHighlights of Medicare Trustees Report

Annual costs for the Medicare program exceeded tax income each year from 2008 to 2015. There were fund surpluses in 2016 and 2017. In 2018, expenditures exceedtaxes and reserves cannot be used to fund ed income, and this year’s report projects the other program. that costs will exceed income by increasing amounts (excluding interest income). The Medicare: There are two Medicare trust report notes that in 2007, assets represented funds. The Hospital Insurance (HI) Trust Fund 150% of expenditures, but by the beginning helps pay for hospital care (Medicare Part A of 2019, the ratio of trust fund assets to costs). The Supplementary Medical Insurance expenditures had fallen to 66%.

(SMI) Trust Fund comprises two separate ac- The HI Trust Fund is projected to be depletcounts, one covering Medicare Part B (which helps pay for physician and outpatient costs) and one covering Medicare Part D (which helps cover the prescription drug benefit).

Highlights of Social Security Trustees Report

Social Security’s total cost is projected to exceed its total income (including interest) in 2020 and remain higher for the next 75 years. The U.S. Treasury will need to withdraw from trust fund reserves to help pay benefits. The Trustees project that the combined trust fund reserves (OASDI) will be depleted in 2035, one year later than projected in last year’s report, unless Congress acts.

Once the combined trust fund reserves are depleted, payroll tax revenue alone should still be sufficient to pay about 80% of scheduled benefits for 2035, with the percentage falling gradually to 75% by 2093.

The OASI Trust Fund, when considered separately, is projected to be depleted in 2034.

Payroll tax revenue alone would then be sufficient to pay 77% of scheduled benefits.

These figures are unchanged from last year’s report.

The DI Trust Fund is expected to be depleted in 2052, 20 years later than projected in last year’s report. The significant depletion date change reflects the fact that both benefit applications and the total number of disabled workers currently receiving benefits have been declining over the past few years. Once

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care facing financial challenges?

Social Security and Medicare are funded primarily through the collection of payroll taxes. Because of demographic and economic factors, including higher retirement rates and lower birth rates, there will be fewer workers per beneficiary over the long term, worsening the strain on the trust funds.

continued on page 25

What is being done to address these challenges?

Currently, not much, but both reports urge Congress to address the financial challenges facing these programs soon, so that solutions will be less drastic and may be implemented gradually, lessening the impact on the public. Combining some of these solutions may also lessen the impact of any one solution.

Some Social Security reform proposals on the table are:

-Raising the current Social Security payroll tax rate. According to this year’s report, an immediate and permanent payroll tax increase of 2.7 percentage points to 15.1% would be necessary to address the longrange revenue shortfall (3.65 percentage points to 16.05% if the increase started in 2035).

-Reducing future benefits. According to this year’s report, to address the long-term revenue shortfall, scheduled benefits would have to be immediately and permanently reduced by about 17% for all current and future beneficiaries, or by about 20% if reductions were applied only to those who initially become eligible for benefits in 2019 or later.

-Changing the benefit formula that is used to calculate benefits.

-Calculating the annual cost-of-living adjustment for benefits differently.

You can view a combined summary of the 2019 Social Security and Medicare Trustees Reports and a full copy of the Social Security report at ssa.gov. You can find the full Medicare report at cms.gov.

-Raising or eliminating the ceiling on wages currently subject to Social Security payroll taxes ($132,900 in 2019).

-Raising the full retirement age beyond the currently scheduled age of 67 (for anyone born in 1960 or later).

WWW.FOCUSOMAHA.COM

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Mark “Spanky” Warren Remembered

By Andy Roberts

He was just 65 when he passed, but Mark “Spanky” Warren’s son, Mark Jr., said it best.

“He lived 130 years.”

Spanky, who with his trumpet was part of the local music scene for decades, passed away as a result of complications from multiple breathing disorders on April 24th.

Born in Waterloo, Iowa, Spanky moved to Omaha with his family while still in high school. He graduated from Burke High but still performed with this Waterloo East High School band in national competition. The family arranged with the band instructor to drop him off in Omaha on their way home, and old newspaper clippings recall how his mother, Betty, provide the band with more than 200 pounds of hamburgers, baked beans and soft drinks.

Many readers will have recent memories of him as the Keno writer at Tiger Tom’s, where a memorial was held for him on Saturday, May 4.

“I always enjoyed playing with him.,” Putjenter recalled. “I always enjoyed seeing him.”

By the time he left Burke, Spanky already was playing in bands. He was a member of The Mighty Jail Breakers, Knucklehead, Slip N’ Slide, and one of the first horn players in Nebraska Music Hall of Famers Blue House.

Joe Putjenter, leader of Blue House, recalled how Spanky and friends started showing up and sitting in on their horns.

“He was one of the original Rent to Own Horns,” Putjenter said. “He was really a good player . . . He’d always lay down something real soulful.”

Blue House likely would be a much different band had Spanky not shown up.

Local music vet Bucky McCann used to sit in with Spanky in a couple bands and first met him in the early 1970s.

“We jammed together plenty of times,” he recalled. “He was funny, he loved to have fun . . . and the chicks dug him.”

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BARRETT’S BARLEYCORN 4322 Leavenworth St. M-F 4P-6P $2.25 Domestic Bottles $3.00 Well Drinks BROKEDOWN PALACE 8805 Maple St. Happy Hour 12P-6P $4 28 oz Domestic Frozen Mugs $5 28 oz Nebraska Brewing Cardinal Pale Ale Frozen Mug

NOSH WINE LOUNGE 1006 Dodge St. Everyday 4P- 6P Reverse HH 10P -12A $3 domestic beers and wells, $2 off Glasses of Wine, $4 House Wine PADDY’S McGOWN’S PUB & GRILL 4503 Center St. Happy Hour Specials from 3-6pm

CADDYSHACK 2076 N 117th Ave & 7007 S 181st St M-F 2P-6P $1 Off Beer, Wine & Wells TUES- HAPPY HOUR All Day

PITCH PIZZERIA 5021 Underwood Ave. 17808 Burke M-F 3P-6P $5 off any appetizer $5 off any pizza

COHEN & KELLY’S LOUNGE 13075 W Center Rd M-F 4:30P - 6:30P Drink Specials

OMAHA TAP HOUSE 1401 Farnam St. & 579 N 155th Plz M-F 3P - 6P & ALL DAY SUNDAY $1 Off All TapBeers $4 Svedka, $4 Windsor, $4 Sauza Silver, $4 Cruzan Rum

DUBLINER PUB 1205 Harney St. Nightly Drink Specials & Happy Hour 1P - 7P Everyday !! $1.00 off Pints and Bottles GETAWAY LOUNGE 4745 S 96th St M-F 2P - 6P $2 Busch Lite Bottles $2.25 Busch Lite Tall Boys $3 Fireballs $3 Apple Pie Shots JERRY’S BAR 6301 Military Ave Happy Hour Prices ALL Day EVERYDAY! JULIO’S 123rd & Center M-F 3P – 6P & FRI & SAT AFTER 9M $1 off all Tap Beer, $3 House Margaritas, $8 Pitchers of Bud Light & Miller Light, $2 Tacos & $8 Nachos KOZEE LOUNGE 5813 N 60th St. Daily Drink Specials!

LEAVENWORTH BAR 4556 Leavenworth St. M-F 12P-7P LOOKOUT LOUNGE 320 S 72nd St. EVERY DAY 4-7, MIDNIGHT - 2 AM $2 PBR, $2.50 Domestic Bottles , $3 Wells, $3 Fireball MALONEY’S IRISH PUB 1830 N 72nd St. M-F 3P-7P $1.00 off any beer

RAILCAR MODERN AMERICAN KITCHEN 1814 N 144th St. M-F 3:30-6:30P $4 Well Drinks $3 Off Signature Cocktails

THERAPY BAR & GRILL 5059 S 108th St Monday-Friday 3-6pm $.50 cents off Bottles, Drafts, & Wells THE SOCIABLE INN 4917 S 136TH ST M-F 2P-7P $2.50 Pints, $2.50 Domestic Bottles TIGER TOM’S 7103 Military Ave M-F 4P-6P $12 Domestic Buckets TIMBER WOOD FIRE BISTRO 8702 Pacific St – Countryside Village M-F Patio Only 11A-7P M-SAT 2P- 6:30P & SUN 2P-10P $2 Off Local and Craft Drafts, $2.50 Tier 1 Import and Domestics, $3 Tier 2 Import and Domestics, $3 Off Signature Cocktails, $4 Well Drinks, $2 Off Glass of Wine, $1 Off Tap Wine. & Select Gourmet Food

RATHSKELLER BIER GARDEN 4524 Farnam St. Monday to Saturday – 3P to 6P | 10P-Close Sunday – All Day BOSO – Buy one second one for $.25 SCRIPTOWN 3922 Farnam M-F 4P - 6P $1 Off Beers & $1 Off Well Drinks SMITTY’S GARAGE 7610 Dodge St. Everyday 3P - 6P & 9P - CLOSE $2.50 Domestics THURSDAYS $1 OFF Local Beer Draws THE BULL & THE BEAR LOUNGE 11341 Davenport St M, T, W 2P - 6P SUN 12P - 2A THE CASUAL PINT 8718 Countryside Plaza M, W, TH 4P-6P TUES All Day $1 Off All Draft Beers.

Friday – 1/2 Price Growler Refills Sunday – Ladies Day. $1 Off All Pints for Ladies from 1P–8P THE DOWN UNDER 3530 Leavenworth St. MON-SAT 3P-7P SUNDAY-All Day

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Focus | May 8 - May 14 | Volume 3 Issue 19

Focus | May 8 - May 14 | Volume 3 Issue 19 31