The Reader 12/02/10

dec. 2 - 8, 2010 VOL.17

41

news 7

Putting Up a Fight

dish 18

Rebirth of Bagels

art 23

Art of Torture

the music issue

legendary recording studio producers Mike and AJ Mogis

plus: our annual list of the best local bands COVEr story - Page 13

music 29

Musical Identity Crisis

OMAHA JOBS 2

Weird 46

MOjo 48

FUNNIES 49

FULL-TIME

FULL-TIME

FULL-TIME

FULL-TIME

FULL-TIME

FULL-TIME

ANIMAL CLINIC SUBURBAN Veterinary Technician Omaha, Nebraska

TRICITY AUTO TRANSPORT Truck driver 402.462.9802 tricity@gtmc.net

TRUCK DRIVER Auto Transporter looking for a driver. Class A license required and good driving record.

Wage based on experienced.

For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

DIRECTOR OF SALES The ideal candidate must have a proven hospitality sales background, we demonstrated results in meeting individual and departmental sales goals (occupancy, ADR, and revenue).

For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

ACTUARY Contributes to the growth and financial soundness of the Society by assisting actuarial functions that support various Woodmen insurance products.

Compiles data with acceptable levels of accuracy and efficiency that is used in financial solutions. For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

MARKETING COORDINATOR Conduct research for specific project pursuits.

CRM Administration to include collecting and managing project and personnel information.

Support sales efforts of Principals and Business Development team.

For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

BILLER/CSR You will be responsible for handling multiple, complex telephone orders, computer entry, all aspects of accounts receivable and coordinating services among departments.

For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

PHARMACEUTICAL SALES REP We are seeking aggressive, results oriented individuals who will be able to drive branded prescription sales within a defined territory.

Your employment and compensation are directly linked to your ability to increase business within your assigned territory.

For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

a n i ma l c l i n i c s u b u @

Check out Omahajobs.com for more details.

qwestoffice.net

FULL-TIME

FULL-TIME

ENGLISH/HUMANITIES The Goodrich Scholarship Program, an academic department of the University of Nebraska at Omaha, has humanities (English) position for a tenure-track assistant professor, beginning 2011/2012 academic year.(See the program’s websitehttp://goodrich.unApply omaha.edu/). for the position at www.unomaha.edu Go to omahajobs.com for details.

SALES/MARKETING MANAGER Anytime Fitness Laura. binetti@anytimefitness.com

GALLUP INC. has openings in Omaha, NE for the following positions: System Application Developer-Java, Lead .Net Developer, Quality Assurance Developer, Lead System Application Developer, & Lead Systems Application Developers-OLAP. For further information on job requirements and applications, go to www. gallup.com/careers.

HUMBOLDT SPECIALTY Metal worker - Omaha Dmccarty@humboldtspecialty.com Check out O ma h a j o b s. c o m for more details.

ACTUARIAL ANALYST wanted for Blue Cross Blue Shield of NE in Omaha, NE. Degree/exams/internship req’d. Fax resume to HR at 402-343-3519.

MILLARD PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATIONS Janitor, 20 evening hrs/wk. g a s t e i ne r @ m p s o ma h a . org Check out Omahajobs.com for more details.

DANCERS & WAIT STAFF Good Fellas Dance Club 623 S. 16th St (corner of 16th & Jones) Omaha, NE 68102 Apply in person.

21 yrs and older.

OMAHA STORM CHASERS Front office assistant robc@ Papillion. o m a h a s t o r m c h a s e r s. c o m

check out Omahajobs.com for more details.

BILINGUAL DESIGNERS N E E D E D Freelance Part Time Openings. Graphic and Web Design. Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite. HTML Expression Engine experience a PLUS. Work with creative team of Local Print and Digital Media. Varying MF schedules. English and Spanish required. For more information email clayseaman@OmahaJobs.com.

GO TO OMAHAJOBS.COM

TODAY!

BLIND DAVE’S F/K/A WHY NOT? PT bartender djrpnc@ msn.com Check out Omahajobs.com for more details.

FLORIST DISTRIBUTING Flower handler 402330-0700 Ext. 202 mmontanye@fdionline.net HEARTLAND HEALTH THERAPY Biller/CS R 402-926-4900 jprice@hhtomaha.com

WEST ASSET MANAGEMENT Bilingual Recovery Specialist (Medical ACcount Collectors) 877-264-9989 Westassetmanagement.jobs (job req#424261) SEASONAL DRIVERS If you’ve got the drive, we’ve got the opportunity.

It’s extra cash and a chance to work with an industry leader. You will be supplied with a truck and everything you need to pick up and deliver our customers’ packages. For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

SR. COPYWRITER Concept, research and write copy for initiative and strategy-based projects, as well as various PR, Advertising, Training and Communication initiatives For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

COX COMMUNICATIONS Technical Support Representatives Apply at www.cox.com/coxcareer

REGIONAL SALES DIRECTOR We are looking for an energetic senior housing professional to bring a handson approach in leading a sales team to achieve census development goals.

The successful candidate will live in Iowa/Nebraska or be willing to relocate.

For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

REMOTE CODING CONSULTANT The successful candidate will be flexible, detail-oriented, have the ability to work independently, quality conscious and be able to adapt well to change. For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

SALES REPRESENTATIVE A distributor of natural stone slabs with its headquarters in Omaha is seeking an Inside/Outside Sales Representative with office and warehouse basic knowledge. For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

SEASONAL TEAM MEMBERS Deliver fast, fun and friendly service to store guests. Help keep the store brand experience consistent, positive and welcoming. Make a difference by responding quickly and responsively to guest and team member needs. For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR E N D O D O N T I C S Position responsibilities include instructing both postgraduate endodontic residents and undergraduate dental students, as well as conducting and publishing original research. For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR Criminal Justice Administration.

This position is responsible for serving as an effective educator, mentor and role model for students and adjunct faculty in the College of Professional Studies for the undergraduate program. For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

BARTENDER Part time evening bartender needed for small neighborhood bar in Millard. No experience necessary. For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

BILINGUAL RECOVERY SPECIALIST Use your competitive drive and excellent problem-solving skills to negotiate payments on medical bills over the phone. For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

Ambitious?

Creative?

Outgoing?

FLOWER HANDLER Duties include packing fresh flowers for shipment, processing flowers for storage in our coolers and quality control to ensure the best possible products are delivered to our customers.

For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

INSIDE SALESPERSON The primary responsibility of the Inside Sales Associate is to generate revenue by selling, managing, developing and growing existing and new clients. In addition, the Inside Sales Associate will maintain and organize the store showroom. For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

MANAGER Seeking individuals with sales and managerial experience, Microsoft office knowledge, excellent customer service skills. Must be a self starter and be able to initiate, organize and prioritize work. For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

Now Hiring!

Pioneer Publishing, a fast growing local media company with over 10 channels, both print and online, is seeking Marketing Solutions Experts for full-time, part-time and freelance positions.

Successful candidates must be ambitious, creative, outgoing, super helpful with a passion for solving problems and building relationships. If you have a background in sales, marketing or customer service, especially in the bar, restaurant, automotive or media industries, we want to talk to you! We need team members who are ready to meet new people, understand marketing needs, close the deal and deliver ongoing value. Spanish proficiency is a plus.

Drop your resume and goals to work@thereader.com

2

DEC. 2 - 8 , 2010

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omaha jobs

PHARMACEUTICAL SALES Representatives are responsible for coordinating samples and promotional and educational materials to maximize sales within company, regulatory, and ethical guidelines. For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PROGRAM FACULTY Teach courses in areas of expertise; establish and maintain clinical sites for student rotations; participate in skills instruction, clinical assessment, student admissions, and academic advising; participate in scholarly activity and in University service committees and activities.

For more information visit OmahaJobs.com

PHARMACEUTICAL SALES REPRESENTATIVE Ability to obtain information, resources, and support within BMS to maximize business opportunities and respond to customer needs.

For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

PRODUCT MARKETING MANAGER Develop product positioning and messaging that differentiates the products/services in the market.For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

2011 Job Fair Events Mark your calendars now!

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DEC. 2 - 8 , 2010

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DEC. 2 - 8 , 2010

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Letters to the Editor: letters@thereader.com

EDITORIAL

Publisher/Editor: John Heaston Content Director: Eric Stoakes, erics@threader.com Managing Editor: Sarah Wengert, sarahw@thereader.com Contributing News Editor: Andrew Norman, andrewn@thereader.com Copy Editor: Ed Howard Contributing Editors: Ryan Syrek, Tim McMahan, Lainey Seyler Senior Editorial Contributors: Leo Biga, Michael Braunstein, Warren Francke, B.J. Huchtemann, Michael Pryor, Jesse D. Stanek, Kyle Tonniges Editorial Contributors: Brian S. Allen, Chris Aponick, Avishay Artsy, Mike Babcock, Sarah Baker Hansen, Nicole Blauw, Wayne Brekke, Steve Brewer, Chalis Bristol, Jill Bruckner, Jeremy Buckley, Jesse Claeys, Paul Clark, Ben Coffman, Brent Crampton, Sally Deskins, Kyle Eustice, Jarrett Fontaine, Adam Froemming, Layne Gabriel, Phil Jarrett, Tessa Jeffers, Camille Kelly, Michael J. Krainak, Jason Krivanek, Casey Logan, Sarah Lorsung Tvrdik, Jasmine Maharisi, Sean McCarthy, Rob McLean, Neal Obermeyer, Adam Payson, Hal Senal, Justin Senkbile, Patricia Sindelar, Darian Stout, Carson Vaughan, Brandon Vogel, Brady Vredenburg, John Wenz, David Williams Photography Contributors: Neal Duffy, Bryce Bridges, Adam Brubaker, Justin Barnes, Fletch, Eric Francis, Dale Heise, Bill Sitzmann, Paparazzi by Appointment, Sean Welch, Marlon A. Wright

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new etc.

7 Top News 8-9 News Hound —=———————————————

heartland healing

12 Ten Traditional Therapies ———————————————

dec. 2 - 8 , 2010 VOL.17 n o . 4 1

lazy-i

cover story

30 Returns Next Week ————————————————

The Music Issue:

hoodoo

Legendary Recording Studio Prodcers Mike and AJ Mogis. Plus: Our Annual List of the Best Local Bands ~ Page 13

31 Lash Larue’s Toy Drive ————————————————

film

dish

41 Under the Influence 41 Cutting Room: Film News 42 Burn Noticed 42 Report Card: Film Grades ————————————————

18 Rebirth of Bagels 18 Crumbs: Food News ————————————————

eight days

20-21 This Week’s Top Events ————————————————

sports

art

23 Act of Torture 23 Mixed Media: Returns Next Week ————————————————

COVER PHOTO BY BRYCEBRIDGES.COM

P.O. Box 7360 Omaha, NE 68107 Phone 402.341.7323 Fax 402.341.6967 www.thereader.com OUR STAFF

this week

theater

24 Brightening the Blackness 24 Cold Cream: Theater News ————————————————

music

29 Musical Identity Crisis 29 Backbeat: Music News ————————————————

44 Happy Ending 44 The Jump: Sporting News ————————————————

news of the weird

46 Very Hairy Scary ————————————————

mojo

48 Planet Power Horoscopes ————————————————

funnies

49 Modern World, Red Meat, Dr. Mysterian ————————————————

PROMOTIONS

Promotions Director: Rita Staley, ritas@thereader.com Creative Director: Eric Stoakes, erics@thereader.com Style Events Coordinator: Jessica Hill, Niamh Murphy

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Steven Adams, Mike Bell, Paul Clark, Erin Crnkovich, Kelly Engquist The Reader is published every Thursday by Pioneer Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 7360, Omaha, NE 68107, 402.341.READ, Fax 402.341.6967. The Reader is free in the Omaha, Lincoln, Council Bluffs area. Domestic subscriptions area available for $35 a year. Opinions expressed herein are those of the writer(s) and may not reflect the opinion of The Reader, its management and employees or its advertisers. The Reader accepts unsolicited manuscripts. For more advertising rates contact sales@ thereader.com. To send comments to the editor, contact letters@thereader.com

PARTNERS Heartland Healing: Michael Braunstein, hh@thereader.com

Today’s Omaha Woman: Carrie Kentch, carriek@thereader.com

Woman TODAY’S OMAHA

Omahajobs.com: omahajobs@thereader.com

El Perico: elperico@abm-enterprises.com Directorio Latino: dlo@abm-enterprises.com

contents

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dec. 2 - 8 , 2010

5

bellows BEYOND REALISM: The Works of Kent Bellows 1970-2005

Celebrate the Holiday Lights Festival and help Shine the Light on Hunger.

Bring a canned food item for Food Bank for the Heartland.

ConAgra Foods Old Market Holiday Weekend

THROUGH JANUARY 16

IMAGE: Kent Bellows, Untitled Woman, 1999, pencil and charcoal on paper, Lent by Kathleen and Ross Bellinghiere

ConAgra Foods Ice Rink

Dickens in the Market

Friday, December 10–Friday, December 31 Sunday–Thursday, 1–10 pm Friday–Saturday, 1 pm–Midnight Christmas Eve & New Year’s Eve, 1–5 pm Closed Christmas ConAgra Foods Campus, 10th & Harney

Saturday, December 11, 10 am–4 pm

Visit www.holidaylightsfestival.org and our Facebook page!

Photographic image of work courtesy Pat Drickey/Stonehouse Publishing.

MAJOR SPONSOR:

CONTRIBUTING SPONSORS: Kathy and Ross Bellinghiere, Douglas County, Gilbert M. and Martha H. Hitchcock Foundation, and Jane and Hugh Hunt

SUPPORTING SPONSORS: Robert Geisler, Jane Potter and Dan Schafer, and Eve and Fred Simon

MEDIA SPONSOR:

www.joslyn.org | (402) 342-3300 | 2200 Dodge St. | Omaha, NE

Give a memorable gift that lasts 12 months Memberships just $35-$50

❆ Peaceful hikes ❆ Forest adventures ❆ Programs for all ages

6

Free parking will be available on the ConAgra Foods campus at 10th & Harney on Saturday and Sunday

DEC. 2 - 8 , 2010

| THE READER |

Fontenelle Forest Nature Center, Bellevue, NE Facility and trails Open daily 8am-5pm Neale Woods, Omaha Facility open seasonally, trails open year round www.fontenelleforest.org 402.731.3140

PRODUCED BY:

Mayor Jim Suttle and Downtown Omaha Inc. Foundation

PRESENTED BY:

Holiday Home Tour Saturday, December 11, 1–4 pm

Holiday Gallery Walk Sunday, December 12, 1–4 pm MEDIA SPONSORS :

notableevents

Q Sudanese referendum for independence: Thursday, Dec. 2, 7 p.m., Harper Center, 2500 California St. Local Sudanese leaders talk about issues facing the African nation. Creighton.edu Q 9500 Liberty screening: Friday, Dec. 3, 7 p.m., Metro Community College, 2909 Edward Babe Gomez Ave. Screening and discussion of immigration policy documentary. 889.8410 Q Diversity training for public servants: Tuesday, Dec. 7, 7 p.m., The Attic, 33rd and Harney.

UNMC Professor Chris Fisher offers insight on working with Omaha’s GLBT youth. 345.5423

by Brandon Vogel

H

e isn’t resigning — we know that much.

But whether or not Mayor Jim Suttle will actually face a recall election is still being decided in Douglas County courtrooms and counting rooms.

It appeared we would know on Dec. 4 if Suttle would face the second recall election in the city’s history. That’s the end of the mandatory 15-day period that the Douglas County Election Commission has to validate nearly 37,600 signatures submitted Nov. 19 by the Mayor Suttle Recall Committee.

The group would need 26,643 valid signatures from registered Omaha voters to force a special election early next year.

But that timeline is now in question. mayor jim suttle Suttle filed an injunction request with the Douglas County District Court on Nov. 24, asking for a 75-day window to comb through the nearly 3,000 petitions.

“The 15 days is wholly inadequate for the plaintiff to protect his rights as an elected official,” Suttle wrote in the court filing. District Judge Peter Bataillon is scheduled to hear the case Dec. 1.

Forward Omaha, an anti-recall group, has obtained its own copies of the petitions and has spent the past week poring over the documents looking

for inaccuracies. Noelle Obermeyer, co-treasurer for the group, says there’s plenty of cause for concern.

“We’re not being nit-picky, but we’re pulling out whole petitions that are questionable,” she says. “There is no way you wouldn’t want to question this.”

Mayor Suttle Recall Committee spokesperson Jeremy Aspen has repeatedly said the group complied with all city and state laws during the petition process, but Obermeyer says her group would consider further legal action if the injunction isn’t granted.

“Circulators had no problem telling our cameras that they were being paid by the signature,” Obermeyer says. The city prohibits paying petition circulators for each signature. “There are outright

and blatant irregularities, and we don’t know if the election commission has the ability to look at all this information.”

Omaha has been down this road before. About 35,000 people signed a petition that led to Mayor Mike Boyle being recalled in 1986. A 2008 attempt to recall Mayor Hal Daub failed when petitioners didn’t collect enough signatures to force a vote.

Since taking office in 2009, Suttle has been the target of three other recall inquiries. Leading

up to the 2010 budget hearings, the mayor said he wouldn’t “kick the can down the road,” arguing that his predecessors had ignored Omaha’s growing budget shortfall that stood at $4.7 million in August. To reduce it, Suttle approved a budget that included a $50 wheel tax increase for residents and commuters, a new 2.5 percent tax on restaurants and bar tabs, and, for the second-consecutive year, a property increase.

The tax hikes weren’t popular.

If this recall effort is successful, Omaha would become the first city of its size to remove two mayors from office.

Paul Landow, a political science professor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, doesn’t think that history makes Omaha particularly recall-happy. He says this recall effort reflects a national trend of American citizens’ dissatisfaction with politicians because of the floundering economy, high unemployment rates and two divisive foreign wars.

“The recall effort shows Omaha is no exception,” he says. “While the mayor’s personality may have played a role, the main issue is tax increases.

And the lesson is simple — adding new taxes and increasing those already on the books is a difficult sell in good times, but impossible in today’s economy.

“Omahans are fair-minded and reasonable, but they have limits, and those limits have apparently been reached.”

Suttle acknowledged that personality conflict in a Thanksgiving message posted to YouTube on Nov. 24. Sitting alongside his wife, Deb, Suttle says in the video, “Even though I’m a keep-your-nose-tothe-grindstone kind of guy, I will do a better job of letting you know how we have been providing city services that operate efficiently, how we are working to make you feel safer in your neighborhoods, and how we are improving economic development, finding those job opportunities for employment so our city can continue to be the best place for you and your family to live.”

With the video having been viewed only 450 times as of Nov. 30, the question is whether or not Omaha is still listening. ,

harper’sindex

numbers game:

3 Net domestic profits earned by U.S. corporations since the fourth quarter of 2008: $609 billion 3 Net decrease since then in the amount these companies spent on wages and benefits: -$171 billion 3 Average value of the 2009 salary and benefits paid to private-sector and federal workers, respectively: $61,050, $115,182

B y

a n d r e w

n o r m a n

Focusing on immigrant families already here

brandon vogel

As Omaha’s recall battle heats up, Mayor Suttle enters the fray

e d i t e d

upfront

Putting Up a Fight

topnews The creators of When We Stop Counting aren’t interested in a discussion on immigration law enforcement — the documentary is the real-life drama of six Latino students in Crete’s public schools, set against a backdrop of their lives as first-generation Americans or immigrants.

But it’s also about a school system faced with staggering population changes. In about a decade, Crete’s public schools have gone from almost no minorities to a 50 percent Latino student population. Co-filmmaker Elisabeth Reinkordt, video production and multimedia specialist at the Nebraska Department of Education, wants the documentary to re-frame the immigration debate by showing how Crete rose to the occasion.

“The more eyes that see it, the better” says Brent Meier, formerly of Lincoln community agency El Centro de Las Americas. He collaborated with Reinkordt on the project. They poured countless hours into assembling the grant-funded documentary, and while it elaborates on Crete’s successes, Meier says the students represent the film’s heart.

Each armed with a camera, the six students documented an entire school year through graduation day, which Meier and Reinkordt spliced together with commentary about Crete’s school system.

In the students’ raw footage, the filmmakers found a wealth of drama and challenges as these students shared their surprises and setbacks, and grew into capable filmmakers in their own right.

Reinkordt recalls one particular student’s experience at a border crossing into Mexico. On a family trip to visit his father, the young man’s mother was forced to bribe a Mexican border guard to secure passage for his younger sister, an American citizen.

The boy pulled out his camera and started taping, she says, narrating for the camera. This kind of corruption was one of the reasons his family wanted to get out of Mexico in the first place.

“What he’s experiencing on a personal level deals with a much broader issue,” Reinkordt says. It shows something not only about him, but about his realization that there’s power in telling these stories.

The documentary also showcases what Crete did to help these students become part of the school community. The school reached out to Farmland Foods, the meat supplier that drew Latino immigrants to Crete in the first place, to set up adult GED and English classes.

Ideally, the film will put a human face on a heavily politicized topic, Meier says: “We don’t need any more negative press on the immigration issue.”

When We Stop Counting airs at Lincoln’s Indigo Bridge bookstore, 701 P St. at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9.

— Laura Schreier

theysaidit they ben backs barack: “With many Americans suffering and not having jobs, wor-

ried about losing their jobs, we all have to share the sacrifice.” — Sen. Ben Nelson to Talking Points Memo on his support of President Barack Obama’s proposal to freeze federal pay until 2012. He said he supports extending tax cuts, but not unemployment benefits. Nelson’s net worth is between $8 million and more than $16.6 million, according to OpenSecrets.org.

news

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dec. 2 - 8 , 2010

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An environmental law center has some questions about TransCanada’s ability to respond to a pipeline rupture on the Great Plains.

A 60-page report released by Plains Justice, based in Billings, Mont., found the remote location of and lack of major commercial centers near the Canadian oil company’s proposed Keystone XL pipeline would make it difficult to respond to a spill.

Location didn’t hamper clean-up in recent oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico and Michigan’s Kalamazoo River. According to Plains Justice, the Kalamazoo spill in July required 175 heavy spill response trucks, 43 boats and 48 oil skimmers. But TransCanada’s emergency response plan would allow Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota each with one truck, two boats and two oil skimmers.

In Nebraska, the pipeline would cross the Niobrara and North Platte Rivers and run through the heart of the Ogallala Aquifer — the state’s largest source of drinking and irrigation water, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The U.S. State Department is expected to reach a decision on whether or not to approve the pipeline early next year.

Nelson won’t support immigration act

Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson is siding with Republicans colleagues, opposing legisla-

tion that would offer a path to citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants who enter college or military service.

Nelson told Politico on Nov. 22 that he would not vote to pass the DREAM Act, which has been introduced in the Senate since 2001. “I’m not going to support any act that I don’t think adds to jobs, or military or to the economy,� he said. The Senate failed to pass the act earlier this year, but Democrats hope to get the 60 votes needed to pass the bill during this winter’s lame duck session.

Nelson, who was criticized by Nebraska conservatives for providing the crucial 60th vote on health care reform earlier this year, has said he is considering a reelection bid in 2012. He’ll likely face state Attorney General Jon Bruning, a Republican.

Report: Nebraska immigration wait time third longest in the U.S.

The most recent report from Syracuse University’s TRAC Immigration project shows Nebraska immigrants wait longer for their day in court than immigrants in all but two other states.

The report shows the average wait time for an immigration hearing in Nebraska is 519 days — 13 percent higher than the national average of 456 days. Only California and Massachusetts have longer average wait times at 630 and 615 days, respectively.

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dec. 2 - 8 , 2010

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news

01&/ 4"563%":4 05)&3 )0634 #: "110*/5.&/5 #*3%)064&*/5&3*034 $0.

numberscruncher they UNDECIDED: Percentage of American voters who support letting the 2010 health care law stand: 51. Percentage of American voters who support repealing or changing the law: 44. Percentage of Democrats who support the law: 79. Percentage of Republicans who oppose the law: 74.

Source: Marist Institute for Public Opinion poll conducted between Nov 15-18

Amy Peck, an immigration attorney with Peck Law Firm, says two factors contribute to the long wait times. “The Omaha immigration court serves cases from both Iowa and Nebraska and the case load is very high,� she says. And it only has two full-time judges, plus a third who video-conferences part-time from Chicago.

The small number of judges, compared to the relatively high volume of cases, has resulted in a backlog for non-detained cases, she says.

Cases for would-be immigrants who are being held in jail move much faster — about 90-180 days, she says.

As of Sept. 27, 4,054 pending immigration cases were pending in the Omaha immigration court — including Iowa cases.

Seventy percent of those involved immigrants from Mexico or Guatemala.

Omaha soldiers headed to Afghanistan

Gov. Dave Heineman was on hand at Omaha Northwest High School on Nov. 28 as hundreds of local soldiers as said their farewells before deploying to Afghanistan.

The 402nd Military Police Battalion is sending 147 men and women to Fort Bliss, Texas, for a week of training before the group ships overseas to operate a detention facility near Kabul.

The Nebraska National Guard is also sending 90 soldiers from the Lincoln-based Second 135th General Air Support Battalion

to Iraq to aid in helicopter evacuation for sick and wounded personnel. Both groups departed Nov. 29.

GREAT HOLIDAY GIFT!

Man fumes over no-smoking policy

Employees at Buffalo Wild Wings near 76th and Dodge asked Earl Davis, 31, to go outside to smoke on Nov. 22. Davis didn’t just refuse — he raged, breaking tables, chairs and big-screen TVs before officers used a taser gun to get him under control, according to the Omaha Police Department.

Davis was charged with felony destruction of property, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.

Shooting Rounds

Branden Jackson, 24, survived after being shot Nov. 27 at 1843 N. 17th St. Police have made no arrests.

Joseph Walker, 58, survived after being shot Nov. 22 while inside a house at 4202 Kansas Ave. Police have made no arrests.

While responding to a disturbance call at 541 S. 24th St. on Nov. 22, police found Robert Singleton, 33, lying in an abandoned apartment suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Singleton told police that he had been shot on Nov. 19 while walking near 24th and Jones but didn’t call police because he was in possession of narcotics.

No charges had been filed, and Singleton was expected to survive. ­— Brandon Vogel

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booked

gibson ~ emg ~ dimarzio ~ zildian crate ~ epiphone red bear ~ hamer

n Lincolnites in need of some gift-giving ideas may want to consider swinging by the Bennett Martin Library at 14th and N, Wednesday at noon for Lunch at the Library. Held in the 4th Floor Auditorium, you’ll get to enjoy free coffee from The Mill and check out “Great Books to Give as Gifts.” The BYOL (Bring Your Own Lunch) event is sponsored by the Nebraska Literary Heritage Association. For more information, contact 441.8516 or heritage@lincolnlibraries.org. n This Sunday, Dec. 5, the UNO chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America brings Santa Paws to The Bookworm at 87th and Pacific. Readers and animal lovers are encouraged to bring their furry friends and get their picture taken with Santa. The event runs from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Photos are $15, with all proceeds going to Hearts United for Animals (hua.org), a no-kill animal shelter, sanctuary and animal welfare organization dedicated to the relief of suffering. New pet supplies will also be accepted as donations.

Monday, Dec. 6, at 6 p.m. the I Should Have Read That in School classics discussion group will discuss Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery. n Think your Tweets are hot stuff? Thirty-nine-thousand-plus people apparently do, as that’s how many the publishing blog GalleyCat estimates are on Sponsored Tweets, a program that allows you to make money from your 140-character bon mots of disposable wisdom.

If you can’t think of anything brilliant to say, turn the Tweeting reins over to Khloe Kardashian, who, for a mere $2,941.25 per Tweet, will light up the Internet with insight (Kim’s available, but didn’t list her price). If you have deeper pockets and/or can’t get enough of the incredibly grating and painfully unfunny staple of those VH1 countdown shows, Michael Ian Black, go ahead and give him $5,882.50 for a Tweet or two. Don’t believe me? Go to sponsoredtweets.com to learn more.

— Kyle Tonniges Comments? Questions? Want more? Check out our Booked blog online at thereader.com. Or email us at booked@thereader.com.

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heartland healing

merican medicine kills hundreds of thousands each year. That’s not an exaggeration. Recently it was reported that hospitals kill 15,000 Americans each month. The report wasn’t from some radical fringe health reporter. No, it comes from the United States Department of Health and Human Services, those with a vested interest in keeping the status quo and not rocking the boat. They’re going to be conservative with their estimates. Additionally, the data included only those on Medicare, a fraction of patients. It excludes the vast majority of hospitalizations, so the number of those killed in hospitals is likely much, much higher.

A very reliable source places the number of persons killed by American medicine at just under one million per year. But even if we used the conservative figure released by HHS, (15,000/month) that’s the equivalent of 60 jumbo jet crashes every month killing all on board. How long would we let an industry operate that crashed two jumbo jets full of people every day? But that is a conservative estimate of the number of people killed in hospitals. Would you willingly get on a jumbo jet with those odds? Think you might look for an alternative? So here are 10 alternatives to Western medicine that are available.

You may have heard of them, but it’s time to learn more.

Acupuncture: Time-tested by five thousand years of successfully addressing nearly every health condition imaginable, this minimally invasive branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine is powerful and remarkable medicine.

With Licensed Acupuncturist or L.Ac. after the name, it means, among other things, that the practitioner is licensed by the state of Nebraska, has passed a national board exam and attended an approved college of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Acupuncture is a safe, cost-effective alternative to conventional American medicine.

Chiropractic: Doctors of Chiropractic paid their dues. For decades, the field was scorned as quackery by the conventional medical establishment. But the fact is, it’s now accepted and used by a huge number of people with effective results. It’s not just for back pain, either.

Nutrition: Probably the single-most influential activity affecting our health is what we eat. Michael Pollan sums it up: “Eat food, not too much, mostly plants.” The key is choosing real food and that can be defined as stuff made by Nature and not man. Processed food is not real food. Learn the difference. Example: the so-called “meat” in nearly all industrial hamburger laced with ammonia and “pink slime” bears little resemblance to a burger made with meat from a pasture-raised, grass fed, antibiotic and chemical-free steer.

Massage: Even a recent advertisement for a drug company mentions the “healing power of touch.” Massage therapy, quite deservedly, has come into its own in recent

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years. Perhaps the most accessible and accepted form of therapy, its wide range of modalities gives it a tremendous variety of specializations. I was impressed by one recent study at UCLA finding that even a single massage treatment improves immune system function. Cancer patients have found relief from edema and pain. Regular massage therapy will lower stress levels and has been found helpful in lowering blood pressure without drugs.

Herbal therapies: Herbal remedies are also very accessible and very effective. A good resource to learn more is Dr. James Duke’s The Green Pharmacy. A respected former USDA botanical expert, his work is an excellent and wellinformed guide. Local herbalist Nicholas Schnell is also available. Herbs are far safer than pharmaceutical drugs but can be potent. Be informed.

Hypnosis: Well known as a therapeutic approach for behavior modification like smoking cessation, et cetera, hypnosis uses the power of the subconscious to effect change. It is also recognized as beneficial in a number of challenging situations related to health and can be a natural stress reliever. (Full disclosure: The author graduated from the Hypnotism Training Institute of Los Angeles and was certified by the Hypnotism Examining Council of California but is not accepting new clients.)

Meditation: Many valid forms of meditation have well-researched health benefits. Transcendental Meditation and the Silva Method are two formal training methods with millions of practitioners worldwide. The Nebraska Zen Center in Omaha has regular classes.

Naturopathy: Prior to the increased influence of drugs and pharmaceutical companies in the early 20th century, naturopathy was a prevalent form of medical practice.

Many states recognize it on a par with conventional medicine. The main difference is that naturopathy seeks natural ways of healing rather than surgery and drugs.

Ayurveda: At least 5,000 years old, this medical practice has its roots in ancient India. It wisely bases the various healing tenets on the understanding of energy as part of life.

Using nutrition, herbs and various treatments, the holistic body is balanced toward health. Two Western-trained MDs associated with ayurvedic methods include Deepak Chopra and cardiologist Dean Ornish. It’s not as easy to find an ayurvedic physician as it is to find, say, a naturopath. The vibrant community in Fairfield, Iowa — specifically a medical spa named The Raj — is a good place to seek a reference.

Homeopathy: Perhaps the most misunderstood of all alternatives to Western medicine, the modality founded by Samuel Hahnemann, M.D. makes use of what Hahnemann called the “law of similars.” Despite its controversial theories, homeopathy has many advocates due to its perceived effectiveness.

All of the above alternatives to conventional medicine — and many others — share a commonality: they do not use drugs or surgery to assist an outcome. Finally, if one does find oneself in a hospital, take heart. The same healing power of the mind and body that is recognized by the alternative therapies is active there as well.

Be well. ,

by Michael Braunstein examines various alternative forms of healing. It is provided as a source of information, not as medical advice. It is not an endorsement of any particular therapy, either by the writer or The Reader. Access past columns at HeartlandHealing.com

Discussing past, present and future with Mike and AJ Mogis

by Tim McMahan

mike (left) and aj mogis

Brothers in Amps

brycebridges.com

H

ow important is the work of Mike and AJ Mogis? The brothers have been involved with every significant indie music recording produced in Nebraska for the past 20 years. It’s that simple.

Along with Saddle Creek Records (which they were involved in creating), their studio work is a common denominator that runs through the entire story of Nebraska’s rise as an internationally known hub for indie music in the early 2000s. Glance at the liner notes for recordings released by Saddle Creek’s crown jewel triumvirate — Bright Eyes, Cursive and The Faint — and you’ll find one or both of the Mogis brothers’ names. From WhoopAss to Dead Space to Presto to ARC, their studios have been at the center of a conversation that goes beyond Saddle Creek to out-of-state national bands that are now their bread and butter.

During a 90-minute interview in the control room of ARC’s Studio A, the Brothers Mogis talk about the past, present and future, in a world where technology is making recording studios obsolete.

Their story begins in North Platte, Nebraska, where at ages 2 (Mike) and 4 (AJ) the brothers moved after their father purchased a Chevy dealership. In the basement of their family home they began tinkering with recording equipment as an offshoot of being in bands in high school.

“Mike and I had this band called Inside I,” AJ recalls.

“It was kind of a Rastafarian thing,” Mike adds.

“Which the band didn’t sound anything like,” AJ interjects. “It was a Bad Brains thing, but we recorded at Studio Q in Lincoln, and seeing that process opened our eyes that it was something we could do. In addition to that, we got American Musical Supply catalogs in the mail that sold home recording kits. We were like, ‘Hey, we could do this. This could be really fun,’ and we just pooled our money and bought an 8-track set-up and started recording ourselves.”

The earliest recording in the All Music Guide that lists the Mogis brothers is Fun Chicken, released on Dan Schlissel’s Ismist label in 1994. It’s not something either recommends you seek out. “(Fun Chicken) was like a high school Mr. Bungle sort of joke band,” Mike says. “It was recorded in ’92 or ’93. Prior to that we had been recording stuff on cassette decks using a RadioShack mixer. Then I got a four-track by working at the car dealership when I was 15 or 16.

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Then we bought the 8-track reel-to-reel that the epic Fun Chicken was dialed in on.”

That 8-track recorder, which the brothers still have and use, became the centerpiece of WhoopAss, their first recording studio, located in the basement of their parents’ North Platte home. In addition to that Fun Chicken debut, the Mogis Brothers recorded the first single by Opium Taylor at WhoopAss — a band that included Mike Mogis, Matt Focht, Pat Noecker and Chris Heine. “Recordings done to eight tracks January 1994 in North Platte, NE. Engineered by AJ Mogis. Mixed by Opium Taylor and AJ Mogis at WhoopAss,” read the liner notes for “Sun Foil” b/w “Living,” released on Lincoln’s Caulfield Records.

“Oli Blaha of Polecat named the studio,” Mike says.

“We brought the band out to record, and he said, ‘You sure opened up a can of WhoopAss,’ or something like that. When they needed to put a credit on their cassette tape, someone called the studio ‘WhoopAss.’ The name stuck.” Polecat, which will reunite for a show at Slowdown Dec. 23, also included Boz Hicks and singer-guitarist Ted Stevens. Another North Platte recording was Superglue, a band that included Ben Armstrong and Mike Elsener, who would go on to form Head of Femur, and Ben McMann.

Raw and reckless, each of those early recordings was a learning experience for the brothers. “We never learned how to record aside from just doing it,” Mike says. “We never went to (recording) school.”

But it was a school that drew them from North Platte to Lincoln, where they attended the University of Nebraska and met most of the characters who would become part of Saddle Creek Records, including label chief Robb Nansel, Ted Stevens and Tim Kasher. Lincoln also was where the brothers’ next band, Lullaby for the Working Class, formed.

“Lullaby was a project that we did just for fun,” Mike says. “Ted (Stevens) played me some songs and said, ‘I want to do something different, acoustic.’”

“Everyone was very much ‘punk rock’ back then,” AJ says.

“Emo as well,” says Mike. “The idea was, ‘This would be a fun little experiment, making acoustic indie rock.’ We recorded four songs in ’94, right after Ted moved out of the dorms into his apartment. (The tracks) didn’t see the light of day for a couple of years. We didn’t make it a real band until a few folks had heard it and gave us some encouragement.”

By then, WhoopAss had moved to a different basement, in Lincoln. And while the brothers had gained regional attention recording bands like Giant’s Chair, Boy’s Life, Christie Front Drive, Sideshow and The Get Up Kids, Lullaby for the Working Class was the first band that garnered international attention with the 1996 release of Blanket Warm on Bar/None Records.

“I don’t think about that time much anymore,” Mike says. “It was very formative, though. It instilled a good work ethic. Before the Internet, if you wanted to

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get a gig, you had to call and send a f***ing tape. You didn’t email; there were no cell phones. I was sending out Lullaby cassettes to get a gig in Iowa City. You really had to work at shit. I sound like an old-timer. I guess I am, I’m 36. This plays into the ever-changing landscape of music, especially independent music, which is everything now.”

By 1998, WhoopAss Studio changed its name to Dead Space. “It was the transition to a ‘real studio,’” AJ says. “It was where we had a real console and Pro Tools, but everything was still in the basement. That didn’t last very long, because we moved to the 19th and O location and renamed it Presto.”

It was the summer of 2000. “We had bought a 2inch machine that we couldn’t get into our house,” Mike says. “So we ended up storing it in Omaha at Studio B, and did some recordings up there and went back and forth. It was such a pain in the ass. I remember going on a Bright Eyes tour and coming back and seeing a For Rent sign in a window in town that I knew used to be a studio that was being built by a guy with the lofty goal of making it the best in the Midwest.”

But because of personal and financial issues, that guy never finished the studio, and had to give up the building. “We moved in there amicably and bought some gear from him and said we’d finish it for him,” Mike says.

And that’s exactly what they did. Located on the very edge of downtown Lincoln, Presto was just a stone’s throw from the Foxy Lady strip joint on O St., a non-descript white building that went unmarked except for an ornate “Open” sign and the address in the front-door window. It was where I first met the Mogis Brothers in 2001 while they were recording Austin band The Gloria Record.

“It was probably our most creative time,” Mike says.

“There were a lot of things to learn,” AJ adds.

“I still feel like I learn something and get slightly better at what I do, that hasn’t stopped,” Mike adds, “but back then, it was more exponential growth. It was exciting.”

“I also remember being really busy because we were the only studio in Lincoln at the time,” AJ says. “Studio Q had closed, and the whole basement studio thing hadn’t taken off the way it is now.”

From the late ’90s through early 2000s, the Mogis Brothers produced some of the most important recordings in the Saddle Creek catalog. AJ recorded The Faint’s Blank-Wave Arcade in ’99 while Mike is credited for 2001’s Danse Macabre. Both Mike and AJ worked on Cursive’s breakthrough album, 1999’s Domestica. How well the two worked together depends on who you talk to, although neither can remember arguing in the studio … at least not very much.

“Me, personally, I would not argue, but I’d say what I was thinking,” Mike says. “We would work together on Lullaby records and earlier records like Commander Venus, where AJ was the engineer, and I was just helping and learning. In our professional adult lives, I don’t view us as being argumentative.

The only times I can recall is Lullaby, where I could sometimes be, not stubborn, but assertive.”

AJ says he didn’t remember any conflicts between the two of them. “There were times when you would get mad at the band, The Faint or something, and I would come in and smooth the waters,” Mike says. “I had the ambassador role. Domestica was one of the first ones I tried to do by myself. The Bright Eyes stuff I did myself as well. Bright Eyes was my learning curve tool, from Letting Off the Happiness, that’s how I learned how to record.”

Mike would go on to record all of the Bright Eyes albums, eventually becoming a permanent member of the band with 2007’s Cassadaga. Through the years, there has been speculation as to Mike’s role in creating those early records. While there’s no question that Oberst wrote all the songs, just how much influence did Mogis have on the final product? Was he The Great Oz pulling

the strings behind the curtain, especially considering that Oberst’s musicianship was questionable back then?

“He jokes about having the best right hand in the business — all he can do is strum a guitar,” Mike says.

“But back then he couldn’t even really do that. He was really shaky. Now he’s a very solid musician and plays a lot of keyboards and is really good at it. Back then he gave me a lot of leeway.”

AJ remembers finding musicians to fill in the blanks. “There was always people saying, ‘Hey, we need a clarinet on this thing,’ and we’d find someone who knew how to play clarinet.”

“Those Bright Eyes recordings and Lullaby as well are the reason why I learned a lot of instruments,” Mike says. “I thought ‘I’d like to hear banjo here,’ and I’d go find one. Same with mandolin and pedal steel guitar, which I still never learned, but know how to play. Same with recording — there’s intuition to almost everything aside from physics. Music is very intuitive, every step of the process, if you have the ability.”

Early in the Presto years AJ’s role at the studio changed. “I bowed out at the point where I needed to focus on my electrical engineering degree,” he says.

“So basically I took over managing the day-to-day recording opportunities,” Mike says. “After that I did three or four Cursive records in a row, and he did the newest one, so it still switches up. It’s not like there’s one exclusive person, it’s just during the period where everybody was getting attention, I was doing all the recording.”

The rise of Saddle Creek’s status came as a surprise to some, but not the Mogis brothers.

“I wasn’t surprised at all,” Mike says. “I liked that music, and at that time it was some of the best stuff people were putting out. The Faint were cutting edge.

Cursive had a great blend of good songwriting and storytelling, powerful rock grooves. With Bright Eyes, the songs that Conor was writing rivaled music anyone was making at that point in time. All of that was happening

in Nebraska — three totally different sounds in the same group of friends and scene — the power rock of Cursive, the dance rock of The Faint and the, whatever, sorry emo folk, poor whiney kid … I’m just kidding, but with Bright Eyes, those three sounds getting national attention, I wasn’t surprised, and I wasn’t being biased.”

It was during the height of the Saddle Creek hype that Mike Mogis considered moving to Los Angeles. “I had an offer,” he says. “A guy was willing to relocate me out there and set up a studio, but it didn’t pan out because it cost so much money.”

Instead, in 2006 Mike built ARC Studio — which stands for Another Recording Company. The complex, located on the edge of Fairacres, includes Mogis’ family residence, a house for visiting bands and the studio facility. It was Mike’s wife, Jessica, who found the compound online.

“She forwarded me the listing and thought it would be perfect,” Mike says. “It was listed for $1.2 million, well beyond what it was worth. I gave them what I considered to be a complete lowball offer and they took it, and then lowered it a little bit more after the home inspection, and they took that, too. They just wanted the f*** out.”

To pay for it, Mike got a loan from Saddle Creek Records (which he’s already paid back) and another through a bank. “There’s no reason I should have gotten the loan I got for this place,” he says. “I haven’t paid it (all) off obviously, but I make my mortgage payment and I plan on doing it until I pay it off. I don’t have that much money because pretty much everything I make goes to the mortgage.”

It was money well spent. Go to anotherrecordingcompany.com — the studio’s website — for the full equipment rundown of both Studio A and Studio B, which is essentially a replica of Studio A but smaller and without Control Room A’s crown jewel — a Neve 8048 console that was custom built by Rupert Neve for George Martin — yes, that George Martin.

Mike said he put a “feeler out” for a Neve board with 1081 modules “because they’re the best Neve EQs

Home, Sweet Studio: Home recordings are more sophisticated than ever

M

ajor changes in the music business over the past 20 years should be readily apparent to even the most casual observer. The physical record store is becoming an anomaly; a cute antiquated shop with rows of CDs. People are buying music more and more in a digital format, downloading songs from the comfort of home. Not only do bands have less need for record label machinations with the influx of a plethora of do-it-yourself resources, many are choosing to forgo the sometimes expensive and time consuming process of booking time at professional studios. They are choosing to record at home or at the home of a friend.

With myriad recording computer programs available, running the gamut from fairly cheap to damn expensive, and from easy to use to somewhat complicated, home studios have popped up in basements, spare rooms and attics across the metro area and the country. Instead of a band holing up in a fancy studio for a week and recording the whole time with a professional engineer and producer, home studios allow musicians to work at a much slower, organic pace;

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and to work around the always-present scheduling conflicts. And whereas 10 years ago you could tell a homemade release from it’s large studio brethren, those differences are fast disappearing as technology keeps getting better, easier to use and more accessible.

Whether it’s using Pro Tools HD in a large basement studio or Logic Express on a laptop in a spare, cramped room, many are choosing to record at home.

“Nowadays it just seems like it’s easy to work on a computer instead of spending the money to go into a studio,” says Dan McCarthy, who recorded two McCarthy Trenching records from the comfort of home.

McCarthy, who doesn’t like recording on computers, chose to work with a borrowed 8-track tape machine and whatever microphones he could muster.

“I like the process of recording at home, plus my piano is at home,” he says. “It’s nice, you can do it on your own time and have different friends come in and contribute. But there should also always be a value on having really sweet sounding shit, which is a good reason to go in and work with a professional. You’re not

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going to make Sgt. Pepper’s at home. Then again, what do I know, maybe you can.”

While McCarthy prefers a bit of an older recording set up, and the process and resulting sound fits well within his McCarthy Trenching projects, many home recorders aim for a more digital approach. They use a variety of computer programs and fancy mixing consoles.

Local musician Tom Barrett, who plays in both Blue Rosa and Dim Light, went to an Audio Engineering program in Seattle and when it came time to make a home studio he wanted more of a professional setup. After spending six months converting his basement into a full-on studio (complete with a control room, main room and an isolation booth) and investing roughly $100,000 on equipment over a couple of years, he and friend/musician/carpenter/engineer Chris Smith started Sleepy House Audio Productions (sleepyhouse.org). The pair has done radio spots as well as recording bands including both of Barrett’s bands and Her Flyaway Manner.

“If you have a lot of backing, a lot of money, then it would be nice to go into a big studio like ARC

and have somebody do everything for you,” Barrett says. “But doing it at home is just more economical for most people; it’s a comfortable setting. When I’ve been in studios in the past, every hour costs a lot of money. So you’re thinking ‘Yeah I’ll take that cut let’s move on.’ At home you can spend more time and not be rushed. I can add as many instruments and layers as I like and really get the sound I’m going for.”

So, whether one chooses to take a more rustic approach like McCarthy or a more involved, high-tech approach like Sleepy House, home recording is fast becoming a more reliable and quality way of recording music. Nowadays, just because a record is home recorded doesn’t mean it’s low-fi or of a lesser sonic quality. As the differences between high-priced studios and home studios become less and less apparent, look for home recording to become a trend that sticks around and alters the landscape of how records are made. ­— Jesse D. Stanek

ever made, which would rival the best EQs ever made,” he said. “The company I bought most of our gear from had bought a guy’s personal studio in Santa Barbara, including one of 13 boards commissioned by George Martin. There’s nothing special about it, but it was made for him for Air Studios in Lyndhurst. I have two pictures of him at the board. The layout is the same, but it’s been refurbished. There are only a few in the world like it with its center section. There’s one at Capitol Studios, and that’s one of the elite studios in the world. This facility has the goods to compete with anybody.”

The business comes mostly through word of mouth and on the strength of Mike’s reputation as a producer.

“I don’t really advertise,” Mike says. “I don’t even list it as a commercial studio. It’s in my backyard. I have a family. I don’t want people just rolling up to my house with ‘I heard there’s a studio here.’

“It’s not even really profitable,” he adds. “I’m not running a recording studio to make money. I’m trying to keep it maintained, really. I like to break even, and that’s what we do. The insurance, the property tax, all of that shit is expensive. I have a studio because I play in a band. That’s essentially why we started recording music, and my main interest is trying to keep making myself interested in music.”

Still, Mike says the key to keeping the studio afloat is having two recording rooms. Mike primarily uses Studio A, while AJ, who no longer is a part owner in the studio since Mike bought out his share of the business, books Studio B as a freelance producer, though anyone can book either room if it’s available.

“We’ve lowered the rates to make it more affordable for bands,” Mike says. “It’s been fairly slow, but a few projects a month that come in pays the bills.”

The guesthouse for visiting bands is an obvious attraction. “I like local music, but getting out-of-town bands is really the key to our success,” Mike says, “not recording local bands.”

Bands like Jenny and Johnny, who recorded their debut album at ARC this past February. Despite being on Warner Bros., Jenny Lewis paid for the sessions herself. In the case of Philadelphia band Man Man, who recently wrapped up recording at ARC, the band’s label, Anti Records, paid for the sessions. While AJ’s current project in Studio B, Des Moines band Envy Corps, is paying its own way.

“Now more than ever, bands are not looking for major labels to support art, they want to do it themselves so they can have a more autonomous role over their careers,” Mike says.

“At the end of the day, bands who pay as they go own the recordings,” AJ adds, “With most major-label deals, you don’t own the record.”

“Bands just want to find some place to get their music recorded cheap, and then they can license it to a label,” Mike says.

That’s part of what’s driving the move to home studios. Suddenly anyone with a laptop and a few hundred

dollars in software can make a respectable recording if they know what they’re doing. Ironically, it was the initial shift to digital recording technology that allowed the Mogis Brothers to get started.

“I wouldn’t be sitting here in my own recording studio if wasn’t for the technology,” Mike says.

“The ’80s were the glory days of recording studios.

To open a studio in ’80s you needed $200,000 to buy the DASH Digital Recorder and the board and all that stuff. But in the ’90s ADATs and D88s were undermining the big recording studios, and that’s how we got into it, and that’s exactly how these kids are doing it now. We had to invest 10 grand into some recorders and a Mackie Board. You still had to buy the compressors, the board, the recorder, now all of those devices are in your laptop. And I don’t see it as a bad thing.”

“It’s been going on for a while, the democratization of the technology and the ability to make records,” AJ says.

“To some degree, it’s made records a little sub par, even starting in the ’90s,” Mike added. “If you go back to the stuff in the ’60s and ’70s, the musicianship and the tones, you can’t beat that stuff. Technology’s been a blessing and curse.”

But just how good are home recordings? “I remember reading a thread on a discussion board about what was needed for a good home studio,” AJ says.

“One guy said, ‘I was just working with Marc Riboud with an SM57(microphone) and an MBox (Pro Tools personal studio), and it was amazing.”

“If you have talent, you can f***ing open up your iPhone and make a good recording,” Mike says. “It depends on who’s doing it. You can make a great recording at home.”

But doesn’t that threaten studios like ARC? Not at all, they say. “There is a certain set of skills that an engineer or producer brings to the table,” Mike says.

“There’s no ‘Mike Mogis plug-in’ that can get that pedalsteel sound or drum sound or guitar sound. As long as I can maintain a level of quality with the work that I do and push myself to make as good a record as I can, I feel like it’s going to be OK.” A bigger threat to traditional studios, AJ says, is the breakdown of the economy of the music business in general. “There aren’t budgets the way there used to be,” he says. “There’s just less revenue for recording, whether it’s due to the record labels not selling as many albums or the fact that they’re tied to these major corporations that are losing money in other ways.”

The iPod generation doesn’t appreciate the quality difference between a home recording and a studio recording anyway, Mike says. He pointed to the new Maroon Five album, recorded in a studio, and the most recent Vampire Weekend album that was recorded in a home studio. They are equally popular.

“Fundamentally, I think people just want good songs and want to be moved by something, and you can do that outside of a studio,” Mike says, adding that Si-

the music issue

mon Joyner’s early low-fi albums “are still in my memory as classic records.”

“If the song is awesome and the performance is awesome, the recording quality doesn’t matter because people will love it,” AJ adds.

“And it’ll be around forever,” Mike says. “That’s what I try to focus on, and I find myself sometimes frustrated because to me it’s not about technology, it’s about trying to get music to mean something and be relevant to me, and hopefully other people.”

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That’s certainly what he’s finding with his current project — the next Bright Eyes album that Mike says has sprawled out over several months. “I’m supposed to be finishing one of the last songs today,” he says.

After the Bright Eyes album is released next year, Mike will be on the road touring with Bright Eyes for year and a half. “We’re going to take breaks, and I hope to do little things during those breaks, but it’s hard to plan,” he says. “When I get back, I hope I still have a job.” ,

Finding Their Sound: Local studios thrive despite the DIY recording boom

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wo of Omaha’s better-known studios don’t feel endangered by the rise of desktop computer do-it-yourself home studios in the Omaha area.

Owners of both Ware House Productions and Rainbow Music Recording Studio say the demand for their expertise remains high and they don’t see any computer program replacing real, professional studio spaces any time soon.

Nils Erickson, who’s owned Rainbow since 1976, says his business is down from a decade ago, but it has ticked up from the recession-spurred low of a few years ago.

“I’d say it’s picking up a little bit,” he says.

His studio generates business from rock bands, rap acts and piano recital recordings.

“We pretty much do everything,” Erickson says.

Rainbow is also in sound, lighting and equipment repair, diversifying itself beyond just a recording studio.

The studio space, which Erickson says measures a couple thousand square feet, has a main room, a vocal isolation room and a control room, plus a $40,000 ProTools production rig.

The rise in home recording reminds Erickson of the rush to four-track tape recorders in the 1960s.

There’s a perception that a program like Apple’s GarageBand can create the quality of a real in-studio recording, he says. Erickson thinks of it more as an introductory tool, giving people a taste of recording.

“We get them when they realize there’s a reason you need a world class studio,” he says.

Rainbow comes stacked with equipment that would be hard to plug into the computer and press record with, such as a seven-foot Baldwin concert grand piano and a 1966 Hammond B-3 organ.

Tom Ware, owner and chief engineer of Ware House Productions, reports his business is still strong. He credits that to a business that does more than rock bands, recording voiceovers, radio commercials and various other sound recordings.

Ware House’s ability to be diverse has kept it going for 17 years. The Omaha market isn’t big enough to just have one specialty, Ware says.

“If I dealt with bands all day long, that would wear on me pretty quickly,” he says.

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Ware says he sees cycles in how many musicians come through the door, but whether it’s a band or his own compositions, Ware says he’s always working on music.

The big studios also are able to couple expanded instrument selection with the acoustically treated conditions in the recording room. That highlights the stark differences the differences between a cramped basement recording spot and a roomy studio, Erickson says.

“There’s some things that can’t be captured at home,” Erickson says.

Mike Kronschnabel is offering a middle ground between a bigger, professional studio and the homespun session. Since 2006, he’s run Moose Lodge Recording Studio in his house, doing band recording and voice over sessions for clients in a 400-square-foot space.

The former producer of the regional music television show “Trout Tunes,” which aired from 1991 to 1997, Kronschnabel basically adapted that experience into production work.

He says there’s room for all sorts of studios, including a lower-cost one like his, so that people can get a high-quality recording without busting the budget. Technology has helped equalize the playing field, though he says having a good sounding room is still half the battle.

“It has definitely moved away from being all done in high-end level,” he says.

Ware says he realizes the decreasing costs of computers continues to put simple, computer studio recording in more peoples’ grasps, but ultimately any acoustic instruments are going to suffer when recorded in less than ideal conditions, such as in a basement with a low-hung ceiling.

It’s all about how sound travels and bounces about in a space. If the room is bad, it’s hard to fix it.

“You can’t cheat on the laws of physics,” Ware says.

Ware says he doesn’t think changing technology or new studios will endanger his business.

“We run our own race here,” Ware says. “This is the sort of business where you find your own niche and do your own thing.”

| THE READER |

— Chris Aponick

dec. 2 - 8 , 2010

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the music issue

Talking Mountain

Players: Jason Meyer (V,VI), Bradley Turk (G,B,V), Daniel Lehmann (B,G,K,V) Recordings: Old Gold, Ancient Jamz EP (2008), The Nature of Magic and the Magic of Nature (2010) Why You Care: If ever there was a local band that would cause the kids in your basement to erupt into an epic dance party, Talking Mountain is it.

Masterminded by Jason Meyer, a sort of musical mad scientist usually residing behind a microphone and a drum machine, the group is more than the sum of its upbeat, poppy tunes and he process of compiling our fifth annual lists of the area’s Top 20 Bands and the up- color-coordinated outfits (and sometimes monster and-coming Next 10 felt a little different masks). An ever-evolving live set adds a synchrothis year. In a local musical landscape that’s seen nized light show, fog machine and even LCD-screen an abundance of breakups, stalled ensembles and sunglasses donned by band members to the mix. splintered side projects, it was tougher to make de- Who else in town brings it like that? No. One. To cisions. But there is still considerable talent among support their debut LP, Talking Mountain spent a good deal of 2010 piled in its van emus, as our lists (in no parbarking on a seemingly endless numticular order) reveal. Per- Instrument guide: A-accordian, B-bass, BJ-banjo, CL-cello, C-clariber of weekend shows throughout the haps we’re spoiled by past net, D-drums, G-guitar, H-harmonica, Midwest. success, our diamond K-keys, LT-laptop, M-mandolin, PCheck Out: Music videos for “I’m shoes fitting a little too percussion, S-saxophone, SG-steel Kind of Leaves” and “Screaming into tight for us to appreciate guitar, T-trumpet, TP-tap dancing, Uukulele, V-vocals, VI-various instruthe Witches Cauldron” at youtube. what the local scene has ments, VL-violin com/tlkngmntn going for it. In the spirit — Will Silvey Simons of appreciation, our Top 20 reflects the acts we feel made the biggest impact and the best noise this year; and the Next 10 is a registry of local bands you Southpaw Bluegrass Band can expect to hear more from in 2011. Are we right Players: David Fleming (G,V), Steve Hoiberg on track? Dead wrong? Did we forget your favorite (BJ), Hal Cottrell (M,V), Josh local band? We welcome both praise and reproach Krohn (VL,V), Chris Hunke (B) Recordings: Southpaw Bluegrass Band (2008), at backbeat@thereader.com.

— Sarah Wengert, Managing Editor Place Back Home (2010) Why You Care: Omaha isn’t exactly known as a bluegrass town, but that doesn’t mean one of the city’s best ensembles can’t be fast-pickin’, whiskey drinkin’ madmen. Yep, Southpaw Bluegrass Band mightily fills the void of an otherwise bleak “Nebraska-grass” scene, even going as far as helping organize the first annual Applegrass Little Brazil Players: Landon Hedges (V, G), Greg Edds (G), Bluegrass Festival at Ditmar’s Apple Orchard outside Council Bluffs earlier this year. AccordDanny Maxwell (B), Oliver Morgan (D) Recordings: You and Me (2005), Tighten the Noose ing to guitarist/vocalist David Fleming, the festival was a success and everyone involved hopes (2007), Son (2009) Why You Care: A spry Omaha four-piece that man- to expand next year. Making something out of ages to stay lighthearted while singing about some nothing, now that’s entrepreneurship. Fleming heavy stuff, Little Brazil has churned out three solid also says the group plans to release both a live full-lengths. Founder Landon Hedges left equally album and a disc of Southpaw originals next rocking Desaparecidos in 2002 to venture on his own year, in addition to trips to Alaska, Nashville and came up with this vibrant group. OEAA-nomi- and elsewhere. nated and Conor-approved, their sound is awash in Check Out: Podcast from NPR’s “River City sunny, anthemic guitars layered under lyrics that Folk” broadcast at southpawbluegrassband.com — Will Silvey Simons Hedges croons with blameless sincerity.

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TOP 20

Check Out: “Separated” on myspace.com/littlebrazil — Jarrett Fontaine

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dec. 2 - 8 , 2010

| THE READER |

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Matt Cox Band

Players: Matt Cox (G,V,H), Ben Zinn (G), Seth Ondracek (B), Nick Semrad (K), Andrew Tyler (D) Recordings: Stick Your Neck Out (2006), Folker’s Travels (2007), My Last Dollar (2009).

Why You Care: With songs full of rich imagery, imagination and a grasp of songwriting craft beyond his years, Matt Cox leads one of the area’s best bands. This team of crack players can really take spine-tingling flight, giving a joyous new dimension to Cox’s fine tunes, which range from folk and Americana to country-blues. Cox’s distinctive voice is full of grit and heart, steeped in back roads and bar rooms. Cox is a must-hear artist for those interested in Nebraska’s roots scene. His music takes the traditions of real American music on down the road while honoring influences from artists like John Prine, Neil Young and Townes Van Zandt.

Check Out: “River Song” and “Riches to Rags” at myspace.com/crookedroadblues — B.J. Huchtemann

Brad Hoshaw & the Seven Deadlies

Players: Brad Hoshaw (V), Matt Whipkey (G,H), Craig Balderston (B,V), J. Scott Gaeta (D,V) Recordings: Brad Hoshaw & the Seven Deadlies (2009) Why You Care: A singer-songwriter who’s as cool and laid-back playing solo shows as he is with his band, Hoshaw was named Artist of the Year by the 2010 OEA Awards. With a beard you could get lost in, Hoshaw and company play bittersweet Americana folk tunes that would make Johnny Cash proud. The band’s built up a solid regional audience and shared the stage with national acts such as Black Francis of the Pixies, Cursive and Pete Yorn.

Check Out: “Another Man” and “Tik Tok” (amazing Ke$ha acoustic cover, just trust us) at myspace. com/bradhoshaw — Jarrett Fontaine

Darren Keen

Players: Darren Keen (V,VI), Josh Miller (K), Saber Blazek (B), Mark Hinrichs (D) Recordings: Radboyz Only!!! (2005), Gymnasia (2007), Wet Fist (2009), Slumberparty Record (2009), Big Smaller Presents: GOOD SPEAKERS (2010) Why You Care: Prolific musical journeyman Darren Keen seems to be everywhere these days, most notably in The Show Is The Rainbow, known for encouraging audience interaction while rocking faces off. Keen plays shows at a frenzied pace, and is always willing to shake up his sound, as seen with his new Aphex Twin-esque “Bad Speler” moniker.

His style varies from the eclectic renderings of The Show Is The Rainbow, to his laptop-improvised electronic sets, to his solo album, which features what Keen calls his “nice” music.

Check Out: “Who He Says He Is” and “Made of Cardboard” on myspace.com/theshowistherainbow

— Jarrett Fontaine

Son of 76 & The Watchmen

Players: Joshua Hoyer (V/S/K), Werner Althaus (G), Justin G. Jones (D), Brian Morrow (B), Nick Semrad (K), Luke Sticka (G) Recordings: Shake & Howl (2006), Imaginary Man (2008), Letters from Shangri-La (2010). “Take Me To New Orleans” appears on the 2009 national compilation Love Song To New Orleans; TheMusicLibrary.org Why You Care: Bandleader Joshua Hoyer is the Son of 76. He creates a remarkable, vibey, contemporary R&B sound rooted in influences from Morphine to Dr. John to old-school New Orleans blues.

The accomplished players are stellar individually and create the throbbing rhythms of saxophone, keys and dueling guitars that are the sonic heartbeat of Son of 76 and the Watchmen. At the band’s core, Hoyer’s rich, baritone vocals are soul personified. This powerful group can make you boogie but isn’t afraid to present lyrics that confront social conditions or darker, introspective songs about characters on the fringes of life. Hoyer’s depth as a songwriter continues to be evidenced with new songs like “Starkweather Son.” Hoyer is an occasional Reader contributor.

Check Out: “Take Me to New Orleans” and “Starkweather Son” at myspace.com/sonof76 — B.J. Huchtemann

Brent Crampton

Players: Brent Crampton (DJ) Recordings: Download free mixtapes at http:// brentcrampton.typepad.com/ Why You Care: Crampton (a Reader contributor) has done more for the Omaha DJ scene than any two people together. He masterminds loom events alongside collaborators, plays a wide variety of local venues and has the musical knowledge and taste to expertly mix a plethora of sounds and styles into a grooving bombast of sound that keeps the dance floor bumping all night. His motto is “Mixing Life/Bringing People Together/Connecting Thru Music/Releasing in Dance” and that is exactly why he’s such an integral part of the local music world.

His expertise behind the turntable has brought him gigs countrywide and beyond, including a recent spot at the Mi Casa Holiday showcase in Mexico.

Check Out: Video of Crampton at http://video. omaha.com/video/local/jobs/bcrampton/ — Jesse D. Stanek

Capgun Coup

Players: Sam Martin (V, G), Greg Elsasser (K,V), Jesse Machelvy (G,V), Sean Pratt (B,V), Eric Ohlson (D,V) Recordings: Brought To You By Nebraskafish (2007), Maudlin (2009) Why You Care: Steadily gaining momentum over the past few years in Omaha’s tight indie rock circle, Capgun Coup quickly secured a loyal fan base and Team Love Records’ ears perked up. It’s latest record, Maudlin, is a brilliant example of Dylan-

esque scribbles and delivers a modern take on ’70s rock. Recorded in one room in the now infamous Hotel Frank, Maudlin is as DIY as it gets. Playing shows here and there with groups like Cursive and Neon Indian, Capgun Coup is currently penning its next release. Stay tuned.

Check Out: “Sitting on the Sidewalk” and “Bad Bands” at team-love.com/home/artists/capgun-coup — Kyle Eustice

Conor Oberst

Players: Conor Oberst (G,V,K) Recordings: Conor Oberst (2008), Outer South (2009), recordings w/ Bright Eyes, Mystic Valley Band, Monsters of Folk and more.

Why You Care: Honestly, you know why you care.

Oberst’s heart-on-sleeve songwriting put him at the forefront of the local music explosion and he’s been featured in damn near every national (and plenty of international) music publication, even being even dubbed “the next Dylan” by Rolling Stone magazine. Known best for his groundbreaking work with Bright Eyes, Oberst also made lasting music with Desaparecidos, Monsters of Folk and recently with his Mystic Valley Band. He organized the Fremont-aimed Concert For Equality in Benson this year, which was arguably the most relevant local concert of the last 10 years and featured a reunited Desaparecidos, among a host of other notables. His piercing songwriting keeps evolving and his most recent work with MVB has a fresh Bob Dylan and The Band feel.

Check Out: “Slowly (Oh So Slowly)” and “Danny Callahan” at myspace.com/conoroberst — Jesse D. Stanek

Landing On The Moon

Players: Matthew Carroll (G), Eric Harris (B), John Klemmensen (G, V, T), Megan Morgan (K, V), Oliver Morgan (D, V) Recordings: We Make History Now (2010) Why You Care: LOTM has, up until recently, quietly served as one of Omaha’s great bands nobody really knows about. But with the release of an excellent record this year, a national tour and a well-deserved side stage spot at this year’s MAHA Festival that’s quickly changing. The five-piece plays an edgy-pop with harder undercurrents mixing with lush arrangements and great vocals on the parts of both Morgans and Klemmensen. The record is an excellent sampling of the LOTM sound. If things fall into place this band is easily capable of taking things to the next level and gaining a notable national following.

Check Out: “She Wants” and “Time Is Gone” at myspace.com/landingonthemoon — Jesse D. Stanek

Satchel Grande

Players: Chris Klemmensen (V,P,K,VI), Bob Rasgorshek (B,VI), Adam Johnsen (G,K,P,VI), Andy Kammerer (K, V, P, VI), Ben Zinn (G,P,K,VI), Matt

McLarney (T,K,V,P), Andrew Tyler (D,P,VI), James Cuato (S,P,VI), Willie Karpf (S,P,VI) Recordings: Plus One (2006), Dial M for Mustache (2009) Why You Care: The gentlemen of Satchel have long since established themselves as Omaha’s premier good time, funk, and party band. With shades and pimp mustaches, this nine-piece doesn’t just take the stage, they own it. Keys, percussion, deep bass, clapping, fiery guitar work and sing-along lyrics make a Satchel show one to remember. The sounds owes a nod to both George Clinton and Steely Dan, yet Satchel manages to not only wear its influences on its sleeve but to also take those influences and turn them into something unique. As far as promoting booty-shaking goes, Satchel is the undisputed local king.

Check Out: “Shake It Like It’s Overload” and “Hand, Foot and Mouth” at myspace.com/satchelgrande — Jesse D. Stanek

Cursive

Players: Tim Kasher (V,G), Ted Stevens (G,V), Matt Maginn (B), Patrick Newbery (VI,K) Recordings: Such Blinding Stars for Starving Eyes (1997), The Storms of Early Summer: Semantics of Song (1998), Domestica (2000), The Ugly Organ (2003), Happy Hollow (2006), Mama, I’m Swollen (2009), “Discovering America” single (2010).

Why We Care: They may not have released an album this year, but the boys in Cursive have kept busy, releasing “Discovering America” in March, with all profits from the single benefiting the Denver-based American Indian College Fund. The band also joined Bright Eyes, Desaparecidos and a slew of other superstars at the Concert for Equality in Benson, July 31. Cursive will close 2010 performing its classic opus Domestica in its entirety at Subterranean in Chicago, marking the 10th anniversary of the album’s release.

Check Out: “The Martyr” and “A Gentleman Caller” at cursivearmy.com — Tim McMahan

The Faint

Players: Joel Petersen (B), Clark Baechle (D), Dapose (G), Jacob Thiele (K), Todd Fink (V) Recordings: Media (1998), Blank-Wave Arcade (1999), Blank-Wave Arcade Remixes (2000), Danse Macabre (2001), Danse Macabre Remixes (2003), Wet From Birth (2004), Fasciinatiion (2008) Why You Care: Simply put, The Faint puts on the most dynamic live concert experience of any local band. Its infectious brand of dance-punk is not only a singular sound on the local scene but The Faint are doing something unique in terms of music the world over. After starting its own record label, blank.wav records, and rehabbing a midtown building into band headquarters/Enamel Studio, the band’s been laying low while a few members work on a new project called Depressed Buttons. While The Faint hasn’t been playing a lot of shows of late, the band’s performance at this summer’s MAHA Festival was a

highlight and proved the band can own a large outdoor stage every bit as well as they do smaller inside venues.

Check Out: “Machine In The Ghost” and “Dropkick The Punks” at myspace.com/thefaint — Jesse D. Stanek

Digital Leather

Players: Shawn Foree (V,G,K), Jeff Lambelet (D), John Vredenburg (B), Annie Dilocker (K), Austin Ulmer (G) Recordings: Monologue (2006), Hard At Work (2007), Sorcerer (2008), Warm Brother (2009) Why You Care: Arizona native Shawn Foree has settled into Nebraska and his Omaha-based lineup appears rock solid. Steady touring and positive press for Warm Brother kept Digital Leather in demand both in the U.S. and abroad. The band just returned from an extensive European trek. Foree and his crew are now biding their time until the right deal comes along for their supposedly finished follow-up to 2009’s Warm Brother, which was released on the big-time indie Fat Possum. His speed-freaked live band twists his synth punk into snarled garagebred menace, but it’s still unknown if the forthcoming record will spew the same venom.

Check Out: “Not Now” and Urinals cover “Hologram” at myspace.com/digitalleather — Chris Aponick

Noah’s Ark Was A Spaceship

Players: Andrew Gustafson (V,G), John Svatos (G,V), Ricky Black (B), Rob Webster (D) Recordings: My Name Is What Is Your Name (2008) Why You Care: Noah’s Ark Was A Spaceship is on the cusp of releasing its first full-length on Slumber Party Records, and that’s not the only thing that has the trajectory of Noah’s Ark pointed upwards.

The band is quickly expanding its touring reach, preparing to trek out in the spring with fellow locals Yuppies. The fuzzy ode to that nebulous era betwixt college rock and alternative/grunge explosion is pop-smart, anthemic but just ripped up enough to show the genuine heart underneath. Despite not having any wide releases to add fuel to the press clipping fire, the band is stacking up blog mentions and alt.weekly recommendations, including one from St. Louis’ revered Riverfront Times.

Check Out: “Wish You Weren’t Here” and “AdultSized Skeletal” at myspace.com/noahsarkwasaspaceship — Chris Aponick

The Mynabirds

Players: Laura Burhenn (K,V) Recordings: What We Lose In The Fire We Gain In The Flood (2010) Why You Care: The Mynabirds is the most exciting and promising addition to Saddle Creek’s stalwart stable of bands. Following the split of D.C. based duo Georgie James, songbird Laura Burhenn headed to the hills of Oregon and recorded what would become The Mynabirds debut record. A pleasant

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and engaging mix of soul, country and R&B, the record proved to be one of this year’s most complete releases. Burhenn since took her show on the road with a rotating cast of backing musicians and the live experience proved every bit as danceable as the record. Burhenn fills out her band with a revolving cast of players that’s included Dan McCarthy, John Kotchian, Pearl Lovejoy Boyd and Ben Brodin.

Check Out: “LA Rain” and “Numbers Don’t Lie” at myspace.com/themynabirds — Jesse D. Stanek

Simon Joyner

Players: Simon Joyner (G,V) Recordings: Umbilical Chords (1992), Iffy (1993), Room Temperature (1993), The Cowardly Traveler Pays His Toll (1994), Heaven’s Gate (1995), Songs For The New Year (1997), Yesterday, Tomorrow and In Between (1998), The Lousy Dance (1999), Hotel Lives (2001), Here Comes The Balloons 1992-1999 (2002), Lost With The Lights On (2004), Beautiful Losers: Singles and Compilation Tracks (2006), Skeleton Blues (2006), Out Into The Snow (2009) Why You Care: That Joyner crafts exquisite songs is beyond dispute, that he carves ragged and often beautiful images and stories with his songs is a given. Joyner is the patriarch of the indie-songwriting scene in Omaha, his records have influenced the sound and style of writing that made Omaha a hotbed of original songwriting. Along with the 14 recordings listed above Joyner has released countless singles and limited edition pressings, including this year’s Spiritual Rags limited edition vinyl, which he recorded when in residence at The Bemis. In recent years, Joyner’s punk-folk has given way to a more reflective country-folk sound that adds a classic texture to his impeccable songwriting.

Check Out: “The Only Living Boy in Omaha” and “Out Into The Snow” at myspace.com/simonjoyner.

— Jesse D. Stanek

Matt Whipkey

Players: Matt Whipkey (G,V), Scott “Zip” Zimmerman (D), Travis Sing (B) Recordings: Instant Heart (2009) Why You Care: Whipkey has been a major player in the Omaha/Lincoln music scene since his days in the late ’90s fronting roots rock band Anonymous American. Since then the singer-songwriter went on to play in a host of projects including current bands The Whipkey Three and Brad Hoshaw & The Seven Deadlies (where he plays an inspired sideman electric guitar). His solo work is also of note. His solo release, Instant Heart, is a solid record that featured stylish packaging and caught many local critics attention in 2009. Whipkey counts Springsteen and Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy as major influences but doesn’t blatantly rip either off, choosing to instead incorporate their styles into his own.

Check Out: “26” and “Here With Me (Home Come December)” at mattwhipkey.com — Jesse D. Stanek

| THE READER |

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dec. 2 - 8 , 2010

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Rebirth of Bagels

Anthony’s Steakhouse/The Ozone Club For more than 38 years, Anthony’s has been known for its steaks, using premium black angus beef aged on premises.

Anthony’s is dedicated to bringing customers a truly special dining event every visit.

7220 F St. • 331.7575 anthonyssteakhouse.com Bailey’s Best breakfast in town. “King of Eggs Benedict.”

1 block south of 120th & Pacific • 932-5577 absolutelyfresh.com Attic Bar & Grill Great food and great drinks with live music.

3231 Harney St. • 932.5387 atticbarandgrill.com Blue Planet Natural Grill Healthy People. Healthy Planet.

6307 Center St. • 218.4555 blueplanetnaturalgrill.com Cascio’s Steakhouse Established 1946, 63 years of selling great steaks.

1620 S. 10th St. • 345-8313 casciossteakhouse.com Dundee Dell Omaha’s Finest Neighborhood Restaurant & Pub 5007 Underwood Ave. • 553.9501 dundeedell.com Hector’s Boasting the only Baja-style Mexican cuisine in the city, Hector’s serves fresh food with panache from Baja California and northwest Mexico.

Two Locations: 1201 S. 157th St. • 884.2272 3007 S. 83rd Plz. • 391.2923 hectorsomaha.com La Casa Pizzeria Fine Italian Dining Since 1953. Located on historic Leavenworth street in midtown Omaha, La Casa has the freshest pizza in town.

4432 Leavenworth St. • 556.6464 lacasapizzaria.net La Mesa An authentic Mexican experience, from mouthwatering enchiladas to fabulous fajitas. Top it off with one of La Mesa’s famous margaritas. Voted # 1 Mexican Restaurant seven years in a row.

Locations: 156th and Q • 763.2555 110th & Maple • 496-1101 Ft. Crook Rd. and 370 (Bellevue) • 733.8754 84th and Tara Plaza (Papillion) • 593.0983 Lake Manawa Exit (Council Bluffs) • 712.256.2762 la-mesa.com Matsu Sushi Downtown’s Original Sushi Restaurant 1009 Farnam St. • 346-3988 matsusushi.wordpress.com

Shucks Fish House & Oyster Bar Great Seafood. Great Prices.

Southwest corner of 168th & Center 1218 S 119 St. • 827.4376 absolutelyfresh.com Ted & Wally’s Premium Ice Cream Voted best ice cream in Omaha!

1120 Jackson St. • 341.5827

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dec. 2 - 8 , 2010

Much missed Bagel Bin reopens Dec. 1

the owners for a firm re-launch. Regular customers called or emailed, some stopping by to gauge progress and kibitz. Members of the Monday Breakfast Bunch, who’ve met there for years, peeked in, reserving their spots for when the joint’s up and running again.

by Leo Adam Biga “We love seeing them as they come up here,” Sue says. “It’s great to know they’re all around. If we’re in Coming soon.

The words on the hand-printed sign affixed to the any other big city and we had this fire I don’t think anyglass doors of the rebuilt Bagel Bin, at 1215 S. 119th St., body would have been that upset. People would have seem benign enough. But behind the hopeful words is just moved on. But Omaha’s such a wonderful place. the bittersweet story of a family-owned kosher bakery People are very caring here.”

Her customers’ devotion, she says, “makes that went up in flames Jan. 7.

The three-alarm blaze left a total loss of the be- me cry.”

She and Joel felt Omaha’s embrace when they loved business the Brezack family opened in 1978. made a leap of faith It meant starting from in 1977 to relocate scratch, and a touchhere from Long Isstone neighborhood land, New York. She place being out of says “the communicommission. ty kind of came toOwnerSueBrezack, gether” for them, a whose late husband Joel young Jewish couple started the Bin, says she who invested everyand her family were thing in the startinundated with expresup. It’s remained a sions of concern. There staple in the Jewish was a lot of “Anything community, though we can do for you? We from left: david, sue and scott Brezack most customers are hope you’re coming Christian. back.”

Why Omaha? Sue did part of her growing up here The decision to rebuild was easy for her and sons David and Scott, who’ve run the business with her when her father was hired as chief programmer at Strategic Air Command. After she moved to New York she since Joel’s death in 2004 “We realize we’re kind of an icon in this area. Ev- and Joel, a Brooklyn native, married and started their family. On vacations, Joel fell in love with the city’s erybody meets here,” she says.

For the past several weeks the reopening was been quiet and slow pace, except he couldn’t find a decent pushed back by pending city inspector approvals and bagel. That deficit, he figured, could be his gain. He learned the bagel biz inside-out before moving Sue and contractor delays.

“It’s been a long year,” she says. “It puts us into a the family to the Midwest to become bagel evangelists/ stress mode because you think you’re going to open on entrepreneurs. They had the territory to themselves, a date and then somebody throws a monkey wrench before competition arrived, but as David says, “We’re in. Something has to be done, then it has to be ordered still here.”

“We found our niche here,” adds Sue. and installed. Then you need to get the permit.”

The couple’s three sons were enlisted from the “Everything’s done. We have enough supplies we start. When Joel died David and Scott were already could open today,” David said two weeks ago.

“We keep telling everybody, it’s not us,” says Sue. helping run things. Their brother Glenn is in construction and he finished out the rich new interior at the “The codes are crazy.”

Rather than risk disappointing people again, she remade Bin. The spiffy new digs had some worried the homey old charm will be no more, but David insists, says, “We’re not going to commit to any dates.”

Then the Brezacks finally received the good news “nothing’s changed.”

Feelings run deep, say the Brezacks, because it’s of a go-ahead Monday, Nov. 30, and at press time were an old-school place where repeat customers are known slated to reopen Wednesday, Dec. 1.

In the meantime the rabid fan base, evidenced by by name and preference. As soon as they pull in the a Rebuild Bagel Bin Facebook page numbering hun- parking lot their favorite bagel’s toasted and coffee’s dreds of friends with comments of support, pressed poured. Regulars love being pampered almost as much

| THE READER |

adam brubaker

84th Street Café Serving delicious cost-conscious food.

8013 S. 83rd Ave. • 597-5003 www.facebook.com/84thstcafe

dish

n Fans of Daily Grub will be sad to hear it is moving to a new location yet to be determined.

Owner Elle Lien sent an email to friends and family announcing the city’s plans to overhaul some plumbing near the restaurant’s current location at 20th and Pierce this coming spring.

Lien is seeking alternative venues. Daily Grub was the Readers’ Choice 2010 winner for best new restaurant. Visit dailygrubomaha.com for more information.

— Lainey Seyler

crumbs

dish

grubmatters

The doors are slated to open soon at The Grey Plume at Midtown Crossing. It will be open for dinner only, starting Friday, Dec. 10 and will start serving the lunch crowd Monday, Dec. 13. Owned by local chef Clayton Chapman and Chicago-native Michael Howe, it will focus on contemporary American fare with food sourced locally and seasonally. For more information, visit thegreyplume.com.

— Lainey Seyler

n Though you’ve probably never been to Immokalee, Florida, you’ve almost certainly enjoyed its produce. Immokalee is the home to a $600 million tomato industry that’s been under fire for the treatment of the men and women who harvest all those tomatoes.

Earlier this month the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange reached an agreement to incorporate a penny-perpound increase in wages for tomato pickers, a strict code of conduct, a cooperative complaint resolution system, a participatory health and safety program, and a worker-to-worker education process that will have a positive impact on 90 percent of Florida’s tomato workers.

“This is a watershed moment in the history of Florida agriculture,” says Lucas Benitez of the CIW. “With this agreement, the Florida tomato industry — workers and growers alike — is coming together in partnership to turn the page on the conflict and stagnation of the past and instead forge a new and stronger industry.”

“Make no mistake, there is still much to be done,” continues Benitez. “This is the beginning, not the end, of a very long journey. But with this agreement, the pieces are now in place for us to get to work on making the Florida tomato industry a model of social accountability for the 21st century.”

Another penny per pound may not sound like much, but it translates into a 70 percent increase in wages for pickers, whose pay will rise from $50 per day to $70 per day. That’s still not great, but like Benitez says, it’s a step in the right direction. For more information, go to ciw-online.org.

— Kyle Tonniges Comments? Questions? Want more? Check out our Booked blog online at thereader.com. Or email us at booked@thereader.com.

as exchanging good-natured barbs with the owners and counter staff.

“The people are just great, they really are,” says Sue. With the city’s final approval clenched, there was just one matter of business left to tackle before reopening. “We need our oven lit by the rabbi,” says Sue. , Bagel Bin will reopen for business Wednesday, Dec. 1. Store hours are Sun. 5 a.m.-2 p.m., Mon. 5:30 a.m.-1 p.m. and Tues.-Sat. 5:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Call 334.2744 or visit bagelbin.com.

| THE READER |

DEC. 2 - 8 , 2010

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8 days Dec. 3-Jan. 2

Artists’ Cooperative Gallery Holiday Show

Artists’ Cooperative Gallery 405 S. 11th St. Receptions Fri., Dec. 3, 5:30-8:30 p.m. and Sun., Dec. 5, 1:30-4:30 p.m.

342.9617, artistsco-opgallery.com

With several months to consider the theme “Quarters Only”, members of the Artists’ Cooperative Gallery came up with original ideas highlighted by established artists such as Marcia Joffe-Bouska and her “drawn and quartered” mixed media pieces, Thomas Hamilton’s ceramic coin banks and inspiring depictions of the four seasons by Meis Ellington. Many other artists’ work will be on display with their twist on the word “quarter.”

If you haven’t been to the gallery in a while, this year’s holiday show is a great way to reacquaint yourself before the it celebrates its 35th anniversary this Jan. 8, featuring past members and notable regional artists at their Red Carpet show celebrating glamour and glitz.

— James Derrick Schott

t h e r e a de r ’ s entertainment picks

FRIDAY3

Dec. 3-4

Dec. 3-5

Through March 13

Omaha Community Playhouse Board Room, 6915 Cass St. Dec. 3, 5-9 p.m.; Dec. 4, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., FREE, 960.4255, glassharmony.com

Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. Fri.-Sat. 8 p.m, Sat.-Sun. 2 p.m., $25-$65.

345.0606, omahaperformingarts.org

Glass Harmony Winter Art Show

UNMC Ice Rink

42nd St. between Emile St. and Dewey Ave. Tues.-Fri. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 4-8 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Sun. noon-8 p.m. $5 admission and skate rental; seasonal memberships $30/person, $60/family, 559.0697, unmc.edu/skate Strip away the glitzy, shopaholic glam of the Christmas rush and what you’re left with is a season full of family, friends and boring office parties. So why not find a loved one, hold hands and ice skate under the falling snowflakes this winter? Or just don some blades and go by your lonesome if that’s your thing.

Either way, UNMC’s outdoor rink is open to the public. The ice is fresh, the parking free and the rink also features music and concessions this year.

— Jarrett Fontaine

Dec. 3

Rock-n-Racquets

Qwest Center, 455 N. 10th St. 7 p.m., $28-$88, rocknracquets.com I know the draw here is supposed to be Andy Roddick and Pete Sampras, but all I really want to see is Warren Buffet return a rocket serve. The Oracle of Omaha was a late addition to the Rockn-Racquets card along with former Nebraska basketball and NBA player Eric Piatkowski and 2010 U.S. Open Junior Champion and Lincoln native Jack Sock. The local celebs will take on Roddick, Sampras and Grand Slam doubles champions Mike and Bob Bryan whose band will also perform at the event. Don’t think seeing Buffet in his tennis whites is just a curiosity, it’s also for charity. Two dollars from each ticket sold will go to benefit ConAgra’s “Shine the Light on Hunger” program.

— Brandon Vogel

Earlier this year, Corey Broman’s Glass Harmony Gallery closed in the Old Market, but his artistry is still strong, as he focuses on placing his work in galleries nationwide. The Omaha native gives locals the opportunity to catch his hand-blown ornaments, vases, centerpieces, bowls, vessels and urns this weekend. Broman’s work, named Glass Harmony for the “delicacy, fragility and uniqueness of every piece, creating a subconscious sound for him that resembles music,” fuses his influences from his learning at Crystal Forge at Hot Shops, Hastings College and the glassblowing masters in Italy.

— Sally Deskins

ANDY RODDICK

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dec . 2 - 8 , 2 0 1 0

| THE READER |

picks

The Nutcracker

It must be that time of year again — the snow starts falling, the roads get a whole lot sloppier and The Nutcracker rolls into town. This year, the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet held auditions in the Omaha area and selected more than 120 local dancers to join the massive ensemble. The worldrenowned Aspen Santa Fe Ballet is one of the largest danceonly troupes in the country and brings its stellar reputation to the Orpheum stage.

The two-act libretto is adapted from the story “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” by E.T.A. Hoffman with the original score composed by Tchaikovsky.

Initially unsuccessful, The Nutcracker increased in popularity during the mid-20th century. It’s now performed by myriad ballet companies from across the United States, primarily during Christmas time. While each company interprets the story its own way, the classic tale remains intact. Catch the breathtaking visuals and incomparable score when The Nutcracker makes a stop in Omaha this holiday season.

— Kyle Eustice

t h e

r e a d e r ’ s

SATURDAY4

e n t e r ta i n m e n t

HOLIDAY MARKET

p i c k s

d e c .

Dec. 4-5

Holiday Market

Aksarben Village, 67th and Center Sat. 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

FREE, omahaholidaymarket.com The downtown Omaha Farmers Market has been an Omaha Saturday morning tradition since 1994. Last summer OFM added another outlet Sundays at Aksarben Village, where they now kick off this new, colder-month tradition inspired by traditional German Christmas markets. This event trades perfectly ripe, juicy summer tomatoes and ice-cold, fresh-squeezed lemonade for more wintry pleasures. Think hot cocoa and mulled wine, hearty baked goods, jams, jellies and traditional German fare from Wheatfield’s, with “smells of cinnamon and spice and the joyful sounds of caroling” stimulating your senses. Much of the space will host arts and crafts vendors selling jewelry, candles, photography, glassworks, pottery and other

8 ,

2 0 1 0

Mind and Body

Lash LaRue Toy Drive Benefit w/ All Young Girls Are Machine Guns, Vago, Noah’s Ark Was a Spaceship

This marks the seventh year for local rockabilly guitar slinger Lash LaRue’s Annual Toy Drive for Lakota children on the Pine Ridge reservation. It brings toys and a glimmer of holiday hope to kids on the reservation, where many families subsist in poverty. This year’s Waiting Room gig is one of a record number of Toy Drive shows in Omaha. A new event has been added in Lincoln at the Zoo Bar. The third annual CD compilation of tracks donated by local artists is hot off the press, with a free CD listening party at The Waiting Room Wednesday, Dec. 1, at 7 p.m. An acoustic show will be held Dec. 2 at Slowdown, featuring Matt Cox, Kyle Harvey, Korey Anderson and others. Cash donations will also go toward keeping the reservation clinic heated and providing heat for the elderly. .

— B.J. Huchtemann

-

Dec. 3-23

Dec. 4

Waiting Room, 6212 Maple St., 9 p.m. $10 or a new, unwrapped toy of equal value all ages, lashlaruetoydrive.com

2

wares. Many usual food vendors from the warmer season will be present too, including Eric’s Enchiladas, no doubt with his trademark tasty samples.

— Sarah Wengert

Dec. 4-5

10th Annual Hot Shops Art Center Holiday Open House

Hot Shops Art Center, 1301 Nicholas St. Sat. noon-8 p.m. and Sun. noon-5 p.m., FREE 342.6452, hotshopsartcenter.com/info/openhouse An up close and personal insider’s glimpse at the creative process is on tap when resident artists at the Hot Shops open their studios to the public over two days.

It’s a breaking-the-wall kind of experience that anyone, from collectors to casual appreciators, should find interesting. The sheer range of work on display covers the art gamut. Art demonstrations will be going on in several studios. Each of the venue’s several art galleries will host live acoustic music and other events. Hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be available in individual artist studios. Gourmet style coffee and soup will be served on the first floor.

— Leo Adam Biga

SUNDAY5 Dec.5

F*** Me, I’m Omaha Famous

The Max, 1417 Jackson St, 4 p.m.- 2 a.m., $5 before 10 p.m. $10 after 10 p.m., themaxomaha.com Brought to you by Ultimate Downhill Machines, F*** Me I’m Omaha Famous boasts an all-day dance affair where the local DJ family comes together to show the rest of the world this Midwest city can compete

with the major leagues in electronic music. Occurring once a season with a new roundup of DJs each time, this Omaha Famous features the usual suspects like Brent Crampton and Masaris, but some new faces like Swampp Cat, playing everything from deep house to dub-step. The Max, known for its closeddoor DJ policy, has accepted Omaha Famous into its family and once again hosts this event.

— Chalis Bristol

TUESDAY7 Dec. 7

Shaping Our Digital World: You Have the Power

The Rose Theater, 2001 Farnam St. 5 p.m., FREE, omahaevent@commonsense.org MTV News correspondent Sway begins every broadcast with his catchphrase, “What up world, this is Sway.” He first said “What up!” to the world at the beginning of the millennium. Back then only a small segment of the population could themselves realistically say “What up!” to the world and expect the world to hear.

Times have changed. As the Internet has evolved it’s become possible for people of all ages to have their voices heard, their faces seen and their every thought tweeted. But with great power comes great responsibility, and that’s the purpose of this panel discussion, moderated by the aforementioned Sway. This is an opportunity for teens and adults to talk about a range of topics including privacy, online reputation and cyber bullying. The whole world may not be listening, but if everyone listens to one another in this case, this event is sure to be a success.

— Paul Clark

picks

New BLK Gallery, 1213 Jones St. Reception Dec. 3, 6-10 p.m., FREE Special event: Drink’N’Draw, Dec. 16, 8-10 p.m., $5 suggested donation Gallery hours: Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat.-Sun. by appt.

871.1333, thenewblk.com Twelve luminary Omaha artists of divergent material, background and perspective explore the relationship of the body and mind providing an atypically exhilarating sensory experience. From Mike Loftus, known for his viciously dark, humorous paintings, to Leslie Iwai’s transformative, conceptual installations, to Wanda Ewing’s figurative pin-up parody prints, each artist offers a different interpretation on the unyielding, yet rarely regarded, mind-body connection. Other celebrated artistry includes Eric Berner’s sculpture, Catherine Ferguson’s drawings, Larry Ferguson’s photography, Diane Lounsberry-William’s painting, Matthew Jones’ painting, Joey Lynch’s screenprinting, Christina Narwicz’s painting and Josh Powell’s mixed media. “Since all the styles are so different and eclectic, the show will introduce viewers to different kinds of work — i.e. if you tend to go to someone like Scott Blake’s shows, you may be unfamiliar with Matthew Jones’ work.

So this is a good way to experience work by a group of artists who would not necessarily exhibit together,” says co-curator Kim Carpenter (she’s partnered with cocurator Shane Bainbridge of the New BLK). A drawing event Dec. 16 tops off the body-mind interaction, welcoming artists of all levels to work from professional nude models.

— Sally Deskins

| THE READER |

dec. 2 - 8 , 2010

21

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402.342.2885

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| THE READER |

bigbrainomaha.com

Act of Torture Extraordinary Rendition holds audience captive at Bemis Underground opening

by Michael J. Krainak

C

The exhibit’s official purpose is “to encourage discourse,” but opening night, Nov. 19, this truly extraordinary show accomplished much more. It was clear that mixed media artist Guthrie and performance artist Hayko, in collaboration with nine other area artists, writers and instructors, as well as the omahaliveartdivision theater troupe, wanted to see how much their audience would tolerate U.S.-sanctioned practices in the name of national security.

Extraordinary Rendition accomplished this with a makeover of the Underground the likes of which this ex-

are for a syllogism? You know, that exercise in deductive reasoning that attempts to reach a valid conclusion based upon a EXTRAORDINARY RENDITION given major and minor premise, such as: n All methods of torture are illegal. n Waterboarding is a method of torture. n Therefore waterboarding is illegal.

If you doubt either premise, check the definition of torture according to the Geneva Convention as well as the UN Convention against Torture, both of which banned this inhumane treatment and which the United States ratified in 1988.

Now try another: n Kidnapping terrorist suspects and transferring them to other countries that tolerate torture is a violation of human rights. n The United States has a record of the above since at least post-9/11, including CIA-sanctioned torture. n Therefore, the U.S. is guilty of human rights violations.

After some legal gobbledygook and political maneuvering, President George W. Bush declared an executive order permitting this “torture by proxy” and by all appearances, President Obama did the same in 2009. How is this possible on the world stage? By claiming our national security is more important than global human rights and justice.

And by sugarcoating “torture by proxy” with yet another euphemism, extraordinary rendition, the public is distanced and the dirty deed is rationalized as just another means to justify the end. As George W. first defended it in 2005 and perimental alt venue hasn’t seen since, arguably, its heythen revealed in his recent memoirs that he would day in 2006 with the Rob Gilmer curated Dream House on Rye and Nuclear Dichotomies, a collaboration of brothers do so again, if it “saved lives.”

In peacetime or any other idealistic state, tor- Tim and Ken Guthrie. Along with Underground managture and extraordinary rendition may foster little er Brigitte McQueen and staff Joel “M!ghty” Damon and debate, but in an era of full body scans and enhanced Matt Lowe, among others, the artists have transformed pat downs, the above doesn’t seem as cut and dried. the venue into a multi-media experience that is at once Two area artists, Tim Guthrie and Doug Hayko, are enlightening and disquieting.

Guthrie and Hayko divided the Underground into counting on such equivocation in their new installation aptly named Extraordinary Rendition, on display three distinct spaces: a gallery featuring Guthrie’s large, close-up portraits of prisoners in pain during torture; in the Bemis Underground through Dec. 17.

culture a hidden surveillance room where “operatives” gather data and watch a bank of monitors displaying live images of viewers throughout the installation; and a climactic Interrogation Room wherein Hayko and fellow travelers gave a convincing portrayal of 20 questions by torture.

Viewers who missed the opening performance will be treated to the video but it is unlikely to do the original justice, the opening was that unsettling.

In addition, the audience was searched and ID’d entering the installation while other members of the acting group served as security throughout the venue and were as inscrutable as the proverbial palace guard.

If that weren’t ominous enough, high key lighting on the portraits and white clinical walls clashed dramatically with shadowy corners and dimply lit, narrow passageways creating a “low” ceiling and oppressive mise en scene.

At least two didactic materials were available, a handy “Official U.S. Booklet on Extraordinary Rendition” and a satiric pamphlet on the benefits of the above, both provided with exceptional graphic design here and throughout the show by Justin Kemerling and research from Carol Zuegner, a Creighton journalism professor. Also of note were labels for the drawings by Reader contributor Sarah Baker Hansen that poked fun at curatorial lingo even as they included key revelations of Guthrie’s art.

Viewers were also entertained by three diverse videos: kinetic sculptor Jamie Burmeister offered his highly effective interactive Patriotism which embedded audience silhouettes into a montage of instructional video; Guthrie created a jarring digital animation of Air Force One circling closer and closer to Omaha’s First National Bank tower, complete with sound effects and visible on two sides; multi-media artist Nolan Tredway’s wonderfully perverse digital animation, Cautious Belly, Casus Belli, an animal fable of bunny revenge on a hapless wolf that parodies the cycle of revenge and violence, another theme of this exhibit.

Tredway’s video takes place in the appropriately facetious Kiddy Room for families who prefer their children get their daily dose of violence in animation and video games. Artist and Chef Jesse Anderson sweetened the deal with her bunny-headed truffle pops and Burmeister provided even more pleasant distraction with a score or more of his signature Vermin little people sculptures strategically placed throughout the venue as if to remind viewers how tiny we are in any institutional or corporate scheme of things.

art

Yet as effective as all of the above was as prelude to the show’s main attraction, nothing quite prepared the opening night audience for what waited in the installation’s torture chamber. The Interrogation Room, as well as the Surveillance Room, was the spot-on collaboration of Andi and Lance Olsen and Peter Cales, who along with Guthrie and Hayko created a believable environment complete with an uncomfortable chair, clinical white walls, a sink and long hose, and an array of torture devices including forceps with barbed wire, chain and fish hooks.

The prisoner or High Value Detainee (Erik Vollstram) sat bound and blindfolded in what can only be described as an industrial diaper throughout the 3-4 hour ordeal. During a climactic 30-minute plus “interrogation” conducted by Hayko and his assistants (Vincent Carlson-Brown and Greg Jaxies), the “bloodied” victim appeared not to answer questions spoken, tellingly, in gibberish. Yet he suffered and not in silence as Hayko and company went after him with forceps, a drill and fists, repeatedly striking him in an oozing wound in his midsection, eventually throwing him to the floor and then reviving him just shy of passing out.

To call the performance convincing would be an understatement. Audience members later said they didn’t know whether to rush to the victim’s aid or just rush away. There was no clapping, only an audible gasp or two as viewers seemed frozen, awestruck perhaps either by the acting or what it portrayed, perhaps both.

Some walked away early, unconvinced, unable to watch further or maybe disapproving of what they were witnessing on a personal or political level.

Until the performance, the exhibit’s tone was incongruous as viewers moved socially and noisily from the gallery with wine in hand into the nether regions.

In the Surveillance Room, the mood was respectful and quieter as the audience witnessed monitoring, decoding and redacting in a precise, matter-of-fact manner. Once in the Interrogation Room with the prisoner, talking virtually ceased as cell phones and cameras recorded the proceedings.

Just what sort of lasting impression this exhibit will have is yet to be determined. Extraordinary rendition and torture are a fact. Syllogistic arguments seldom win over political expediency and self-interest. Neither do art exhibits, even exceptional ones like this. Hayko and Guthrie will be satisfied just to have this show entered as testimony in the court of public opinion. , Extraordinary Rendition continues through Dec. 17 at the Bemis Underground, 724 S. 12th St. For details, visit extraordinaryrenditionart.com.

| THE READER |

dec. 2 - 8 , 2010

23

theater Actors and imagination light up Blue Barn’s Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol

by Warren Francke

“T

Scrooge, Marley and the Bogle in peering upward into the darkness where the invisible ghost is a palpable presence in our mind’s eye.

So, after all is said about other virtues, the imagination is really the thing, along with the language. In writing reviews, the biggest challenge is supporting either praise or criticism with illustrative examples, and I won’t pretend to capture all the charms of Mula’s mix of dialogue and narration.

But one of its pleasures comes from the Bogle’s banter with an angry Marley, finding himself dead and confronted at the counting house by

he play’s the thing,” Will Shakespeare wrote. And that’s true of Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol at the Blue Barn’s Downtown Space.

But Nils Haaland’s portrayal of Marley makes the most of Tom Mula’s brilliant script, and there’s no drop-off in the performances by Alan Brincks as the Bogle, Doug Blackburn as Scrooge and Scott Working as everyone from the record keeper to Bob Cratchit and Marley’s drunken father.

You could almost argue that lighting’s the thing, especially when wed with the talent directed by Kevin Lawler. When Marley morphs into the Ghost of Christmas Present, Haaland’s face, the narration says, becomes as big as the sun, and lighting designer Bill Van Deest helps the actor transform his previously pruny face to one that beams like the sun.

It’s all about imagination, and that’s what distinguishes it from the wonderful Omaha Community Playhouse presenjacob marley’s Christmas carol tation of A Christmas Carol by the two Charlies, Dickens and adaptor Jones. the weight of his sins. The Bogle, an underworld The Playhouse version is rich in color, costumes creature assigned to guide and perhaps redeem him, jollies him along, often addressing him as and music as it brings the London streets to life.

The Blue Barn play is richest in its use of lan- “old pudding,” “old thing,” “old crumb-pot” and guage to transport us. The Playhouse used to fill “old crumpet.”

When the now-defunct Stages of Omaha prethe stage with a huge hooded Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, its long wooden arm pointing to- sented this play several years ago, the Bogle was ward the grave. Then it went to an awesome fiber presented as a little imp. Women have also played the role. Brincks looks more like a swashbuckling optics ghost of ethereal eeriness.

At the Barn, we hear that “the Shadow raises leading man. Not as peculiar as the earlier Bogle, its arm and points a bony figure,” and we join he’s as convincing in his generally good-natured

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dec. 2 - 8 , 2010

| THE READER |

theater

guidance of Marley, who must redeem the heartless Scrooge to win a “transfer” from Hell.

The story begins in darkness with the four players lined up, holding candles which are lighted, one by another. They open with narration and end with narration. If I had a figgy pudding, I’d offer it as a prize if you can guess the familiar closing line.

Throughout, Mula includes lines from Dickens’ original story, lines familiar to anyone of us Omahans who’ve seen the Playhouse version umpteen times. Certainly lines familiar to Haaland and Lawler, both of whom have played Scrooge in touring companies, and to Blackburn who has been Marley on the Playhouse stage.

We know that Marley “wore the chains he forged in life,” and that Cratchit wants the whole day tomorrow “if it’s quite convenient,” and that Scrooge considers it both inconvenient and unfair.

We knew about Scrooge’s early years but we didn’t know about Marley’s unfortunate childhood. In short, Mula melds the familiar with the unfamiliar, gaining the advantage of our familiarity and adding a new and unique perspective.

He doubles, even triples, the redemptive power of the play. We await not only the unlikely redemption of Scrooge, but the salvation of Marley and the surprising bonus for the Bogle. Minus the great stagecraft of the Playhouse, we still experience the heart of the matter on a dark stage with a desk and little else.

Well, a great lot if you add the actors. Haaland and Brincks are well supported by Blackburn’s nasty then repentant Scrooge and Working’s vivid and varied portrayals. An impressive musical score also brightens the blackness. , Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol runs through Dec. 18, Thurs.-Sat. 7:30 p.m. and Sun. 6 p.m. by the Blue Barn Theatre in the Downtown Space, 416 S. 11th St. Tickets are $25/$20 students. Call 345.1576 or visit bluebarn.org.

coldcream

Brightening the Blackness

n Only one of the three local plays with “Christmas Carol” in the title can be described as dizzy and possibly hilarious.

Not that the Blue Barn show featuring Marley (see review elsewhere on Jacob this page) isn’t full of droll humor and much more, and not that the famous Omaha Community Playhouse version isn’t a more heartwarming and uplifting display of stagecraft.

But for sheer nuttiness it’s hard to beat the Circle Theater play with the out-of-breath title: The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild presents “A Christmas Carol.” It opens Thursday, Dec. 2, in the lower level of Central Presbyterian Church at 55th and Leavenworth.

With apologies to the talented women in the previous cast, my most vivid memory of the play involves Jerry Onik in an oafish outfit that threatened to send me rolling on the floor. He’s replaced this time by David Sindelar, who’s likely to add his own brand of daffiness.

The Farndale femmes are Sherry Fletcher, Natasha Kirk, Rose Glock and, as always, Laura Marr who co-founded the theater with director/ husband Doug Marr. And of course there’s an ugly Christmas sweater contest.

It runs through Sunday, Dec. 19, when there’s a 2 p.m. matinee. Thurs.-Sat. performances start with dinner at 7 p.m., curtain time at 8 p.m. Tickets are $23 with dinner, $13 for show only. n Sorry if you missed some of the finest acting of the season in the headiest new play, but The Vertical Hour closed Sunday after a two-weekend run. Ask anyone who caught the SkullDuggery Theatre production in its temporary home at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

It is must-see drama any time Paul Boesing tackles a meaty role and his brilliant portrayal of an English doctor (any further description would detract from the complexity of the character) must be ranked with his title role in Da for Brigit Saint Brigit. And LeAnn Tipler holds her own as the Yale professor exchanging insights, both geopolitical and personal, with the doctor who happens to be her fiancé’s father.

Theater fans owe Andrew McGreevy a deep bow for bringing David Hare’s provocative play to Omaha, despite losing his lease on his latest SkullDuggery space. Thanks also to director Cindy Melby Phaneuf for a fascinating evening of theater.

McGreevy has cancelled Trainspotting and made other changes in his theater’s busy schedule. He’ll be back at Pizza Shoppe Collective in January with a Neil LaBute script.

— Warren Francke Cold Cream looks at theater in the metro area. Email information to coldcream@thereader.com.

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dec. 2 - 8 , 2010

25

art

OpeningS

THE 815, 815 O. St., Suite 1, Lincoln, 261.4905, the815.org.

NEW WORK: Gonca Yengin, opens Dec. 3.

ANDERSON O’BRIEN FINE ART OLD MARKET, 1108 Jackson St., 884.0911, aobfineart.com. OPEN HOUSE: Group Show, opens Dec. 3-5, reception Dec. 3, 6 p.m.

ART FRIENDS GIFT GALLERY, 14738 Grover St. UNIQUE GIFTS: Local artists, through Dec. ARTISTS’ COOPERATIVE GALLERY, 405 S. 11th St., artistscoopgallery.com. CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAY SEASON: All member show, through Dec. 26, reception Dec. 3, 5:30 p.m., Dec. 5, 1:30 p.m.

BENSON GRIND, 6107 Maple St., octopusesgarden.org. NEW WORK: Paula Phillip, through Dec. BLACK MARKET, 1033 O St., Lincoln, 475.1033. LIVE FASHION SHOW: Sustainable fashion by Erica White, opens Dec. 3, 6 p.m.

BLUE POMEGRANATE GALLERY, 6570 Maple St., 502.9901, bluepom.com. PHOTOS OF ORNAMENTS: Sandra Gerber, Heidi Riha and Anne Nye, opens Dec. 3, 5 p.m.

CATHEDRAL CULTURAL CENTER, 3900 Webster St., 551.4888, cathedralartsproject.org. NEW WORK: Regional Latino artists, opens Dec. 5-Feb. 4.

DRIFT STATION GALLERY, 1745 N St., Lincoln, driftstation.org.

CTRL/ALT/ESC: TECHNOLOGY AND THE LANDSCAPE: Opens Dec. 3-17, reception Dec. 3, 6 p.m.

DUFFY’S, 1412 O St., Lincoln, 474.3543, duffyslincoln.com.

ANNUAL ORNAMENT/ART AUCTION: Opens Dec. 5, 7 p.m.

DUNDEE GALLERY, 4916 Underwood Ave., 505.8333, dundeegallery.com. HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE: Opens Dec. 3.

ELDER GALLERY, 51st and Huntington, Nebraska Wesleyan University, nebrwesleyan.edu. BRIDGE 2010B: Juried exhibit featuring work by Nebraska high school students, through Dec. 17, reception Dec. 6, 2 p.m.

GALLERY 9, 124 S 9th St., Lincoln, 477.2822, gallerynine.com.

ALL MEMBER HOLIDAY SHOW: Through Dec. GRAND MANSE GALLERY, 129 N. 10th St., Lincoln, grandmanse.com. BLUE CAT: David Christiansen, opens Dec. 3-Jan. 21, reception Dec. 3, 6 p.m.

HEART OF GOLD JEWELERS, 2634 N. 48th St., Lincoln, 325.0465. NEW WORK: Group show, opens Dec. 3, 6 p.m.

HOT SHOPS ARTS CENTER, 1301 Nicholas St., 342.6452, hotshopsartcenter.com. HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE: Resident Artists, opens Dec. 4-5. RECOLLECTIONS AND REFLECTIONS: NEBRASKA WOMEN’S CAUCUS FOR ART: Group show, opens Dec. 4-29. BEST OF THE BEST 2010: Juried photography show, opens Dec. 4-29.

JOSLYN ART MUSEUM, 2200 Dodge St., 342.3300, joslyn.org.

CURATOR LECTURE: Molly S. Hutton presents lecture on Kent Bellows, opens Dec. 2, 6:30 p.m.

KIMMEL HARDING NELSON CENTER FOR THE ARTS, 801 3rd Corso, Nebraska City, 874.9600, khncenterforthearts.org. OPEN STUDIO: Opens Dec. 2, 6:30 p.m.

THE LICHEN, 2810 N. 48th St., Lincoln, thelichen.com. 0 < ART < 100: Group show, all art priced below $100, opens Dec. 3, 6 p.m.

LUX CENTER FOR THE ARTS, 48th and Baldwin, Lincoln, 434.2787, luxcenter.org. GARDEN: Susan Stark, opens Dec. 3, 5 p.m. WINTERFEST: Opens Dec. 3, 5 p.m.

MODERN ARTS MIDWEST, 800 P St., Lincoln, 477.2828, modernartsmidwest.com. RED NOT: 8th Anniversary celebration, Opens Dec. 3-31, reception Dec. 3, 6:30 p.m.

MUSEUM OF NEBRASKA ART (MONA), 2401 Central Ave., Kearney, 308.865.8559, monet.unk.edu/mona. A GREATER SPECTRUM: African American artists of Nebraska, 1912-2010.

THE NEW BLK, 1213 Jones St., 403.5619, thenewblk.com.

MIND AND BODY: Opens Dec. 3-23, reception Dec. 3, 6 p.m.

NOMAD LOUNGE GALLERY, 1013 Jones St., 884.1231, nomadlounge.com. REPURPOSED: Matt Jones, opens Dec. 3, 7 p.m.

NOYES GALLERY, 119 S. 9th St., Lincoln, 486.3866, noyesartgallery.com. FOCUS GALLERY: Group show. MAIN GALLERY: Mike Fluent, Janna Harsch and Marin Hacker. GOLD ROOM: Marla Blush and Julia Noyes. All shows open Dec. 3.

OLD MARKET ARTISTS, 1034 Howard St., Lower Level of Old Market Passageway, oldmarketartists.com. GROUP SHOW: All member show, opens Dec. 3, 6 p.m.

26

dec. 2 - 8 , 2010

OMAHA CLAY WORKS, 1114 Jones St., omahaclayworks.com, 346.0560. OPEN HOUSE: Opens Dec. 3-5.

PARALLAX SPACE, 1745 N St., Lincoln, parallaxspace.com.

TWEEN: Anne and Michael Burton, opens Dec. 3-Jan. 31, reception Dec. 3, 7 p.m.

PASSAGEWAY GALLERY, 417 South 11th St, passagewaygallery.com. THROUGH THE KEYHOLE: Group show, opens Dec. 3, 6 p.m.

SHELDON ART GALLERY, 12th and R, UNL, Lincoln, sheldonartgallery.org. A WINTER GEM: Opens Dec. 3-31, 5 p.m.

SILVER OF OZ, 6115 Maple St., 558.1307, silverofoz.com. HOLIDAY PARTY: Group show, opens Dec. 3.

UNL HILLESTAD TEXTILES GALLERY, 35th and Holdrege, 2nd Floor, Home Economics Bldg., Lincoln. textilegallery.unl.edu. ENVIORNMENTAL PROTECTION GARMENTS, BECAUSE TOMORROW NEVER KNOWS: New work by Erica White, opens Dec. 6-22, reception Dec. 10, 5 p.m.

UNL ROTUNDA GALLERY, Nebraska Union, 1400 R St., Lincoln, 472.8279. OF FLYING & FALLING: Stephanie Tompsett & Kryn Connelly, opens Dec. 6-17.

ONGOING

A TO Z PRINTING, 8320 Cody Dr., Lincoln, 477.0815, atozprint. com. COMMUNITY OPEN STUDIO: Group Show, through Dec. ANDERSON O’BRIEN FINE ART COUNTRYSIDE VILLAGE, 8724 Pacific St., 390.0717, aobfineart.com. NEW WORKS EXHIBITION: Group show featuring regional artists, through Dec. 31.

BEMIS UNDERGROUND, 724 S. 12th St., 341.7130, bemiscenter.org. EXTRAORDINARY RENDITION: Group show, through Dec. 17.

BURKHOLDER PROJECT, 719 P St., Lincoln, 477.3305, burkholderproject.com. CELEBRATE THE SEASON: Group show. NEW WORK: Max Miller. Both shows through Dec. 23.

DURHAM WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM, 801 S. 10th St., 444.5071, durhammuseum.org. 100 YARDS OF GLORY: Omaha’s football history, through Jan. 2, 2011. DIG IT! THE SECRETS OF SOIL: Through Dec. 26. ETHNIC HOLIDAY TREES EXHIBIT: Through Jan. 2.

EISENTRAGER-HOWARD GALLERY, Richards Hall, Stadium Drive and T, Lincoln, 472.5025, unl.edu/art/facilities_eisentragerhoward.shtml. EX LIBRIS HOKES ARCHIVES: Beauvais Lyons.

OUR PRINTED WORLD/COLLECTION AND RESPONSES: Group show. Both shows through Dec. 3.

FRED SIMON GALLERY, Burlington Building, 1004 Farnam St., nebraskaartscouncil.org. NAC IAF VISUAL ARTS SHOW: Group show, through Feb. 25.

GOVERNOR’S RESIDENCE EXHIBITION, 1425 H St., Lincoln, nebraskaartscouncil.org. NEW WORK: Sue Thelen, through Jan. 3.

HAYDON CENTER, 335 N. 8th St., Lincoln, 475.5421, haydonartcenter.org. SMALL TREASURES: Juried artist member exhibition, through Dec. 24.

HILLMER ART GALLERY, College of St. Mary, 7000 Mercy Rd., 399.2400, csm.edu. UNO PRINT COLLECTION: Group show, through Dec. 18.

INTERNATIONAL QUILT STUDY CENTER AND MUSEUM, 1523 N. 33rd St., Lincoln, 472.7232, quiltstudy.org. CHILDHOOD TREASURES: Doll quilts from the Ghormley Collection, through Dec. 12. MARSEILLE: WHITE CORDED QUILTING: Through May 8.

JOSLYN ART MUSEUM, 2200 Dodge St., 342.3300, joslyn.org.

BEYOND REALISM: THE WORKS OF KENT BELLOWS 19702005: Through Jan. 16. SEASONS OF JOY: Currier and Ives Holiday Prints from the ConAgra Collection, through Jan. 23.

GOLDEN KITE, GOLDEN DREAMS: The SCBWI Awards, through Jan. 16.

KANEKO, 1111 Jones St., 341.3800, thekaneko.org. FREE. FOLDED SQUARE ALPHABETS & NUMERICALS: Sculpture exhibit by Fletcher Benton, through Feb. KRUGER COLLECTION, UNL Architecture Hall, 10th and R, Lincoln, 472.3560, krugercollection.unl.edu. THINK GREEN: Interior/green design and miniatures, through Mar. 18, 2011.

LA CASA’S PIZZARIA, 4432 Leaveworth St., omahaartistsinc. com. 2010 FALL ART SHOW: Group show, through Jan. 3.

LAURITZEN GARDENS, 100 Bancroft St., 346.4002, omahabotanicalgardens.org. HOLIDAY POINSETTIA SHOW: Through Jan. 9.

MUSEUM OF NEBRASKA ART (MONA), 2401 Central Ave., Kearney, 308.865.8559, monet.unk.edu/mona. POSTMASTER INTERACTIVE GALLERY: Group show, through Jan. 10, 2011. THE

| THE READER |

art/theater listings

check event listings online!

ANIMAL KINGDOM: Through Jun. 5, 2011. MCKENNEY AND HALL’S HISTORY OF THE INDIAN TRIBES OF NORTH AMERICA: Lithographs, through Dec. 5. SATURDAY EVENING POST: Holiday images, through Jan. 10. NEBRASKA NOW: Renee A. Ledesma, oepns Through Jan. 2.

OMAHA’S CHILDREN’S MUSEUM, 500 S. 20th St., 342.6163. ocm.org. BIG BACKYARD: Through Apr. 10.

SHELDON ART GALLERY, 12th and R, UNL, Lincoln, sheldonartgallery.org. BETTER HALF, BETTER TWELFTH: Women artists in the collection, through Apr. 1, 2011. ORLAN & MIND OVER MATTER: Through Jan. 30. NEW MATERIAL WORD: RETHREADING TECHNOLOGY: Through Jan. 2.

STRATEGIC AIR & SPACE MUSEUM, 28210 W. Park Highway, Ashland, 944.3100, strategicairandspace.com. ANAKIN SKYWALKER’S PODRACE: Through Jan. 2. THE SECRET LIFE OF HOWARD HUGHES: Through Jan. 2.

UNO ART GALLERY, Weber Fine Arts Bldg., 6001 Dodge St., 554.2796. BFA THESIS AND BA IN STUDIO ARTS: Group show, through Dec. 17.

UNO CRISS GALLERY, 6001 Dodge St., 554.2640, library.unomaha.edu. A SENATOR’S WALLS: Photographs and artifacts from the offices of Senator Chuck Hagel, through Dec. 19.

WORKSPACE GALLERY, Sawmill Building, 440 N. 8th St., Lincoln, sites.google.com/site/workspacegallery. EARTH CUTS: Jonathon Wells, through Jan. 5.

Through Dec. 4, 7:30 p.m., $5/previews, $15, $10/seniors, $5/students.

NUTCRACKER DELIGHTS, Bellevue Little Theatre, 203 West Mission Ave., 291.1554, bellevuelittletheatre.com.

Opens Dec. 4, 2 p.m. & 7 pm., Dec. 4, 2 p.m. & 6 p.m., $10.

PETER PAN, Rose Theater, 2001 Farnam St., 345.4849, rosetheater.org. Through Dec. 19, Thu.-Fri., 7 p.m., Sat.Sun., 2 p.m., $16. Based on the classic story.

SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN, TADA Theatre, 701 P St., Lincoln, 402.438.8232, tadatheatre.info. Through Dec. 12, Thu.-Sat., 7:30 p.m., Sun., 2 p.m., $18, $15/matinee.

VALLEY OF THE DOLLS, SNAP! Productions, 3225 California St., 341.2757, snapproductions.com. Through Dec. 12, Thu.-Sat., 8 p.m., Sun., 6 p.m., $20.

poetry/comedy thursday 2

BENJAMIN VOGT, Indigo Bridge Books, 701 P St., Lincoln, indigobridgebooks.com, 7 p.m. Poetry reading.

PROVOKE, Benson Grind, 6107 Maple St., 7-9 p.m. Hosted by Jack Hubbell, this open mic weighs a perfect balance of truth versus BS. Should you choose to swear in or only bear witness, poetry will be served. (1st Thurs.)

JAMES JOHANN, Funny Bone, Village Pointe, 17305 Davenport St., funnnyboneomaha.com, 493.8036, 7:30 p.m.

fridAY 3

NO NAME READING SERIES, SUR tango bar et cafe, 1228 P St., Lincoln, 4 p.m., 472.0666, FREE, run by UNL graduate students in the English department. (every other Fri.) JAMES JOHANN, Funny Bone, Village Pointe, 17305 Davenport St., funnnyboneomaha.com, 493.8036, 7:30 p.m., 9:45 p.m.

saturday 4

theater

JAMES JOHANN, Funny Bone, Village Pointe, 17305 Davenport St., funnnyboneomaha.com, 493.8036, 7 p.m, 9:30 p.m.

21 & OVER: MAURITIUS, Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St., 553.0800, omahaplayhouse.com. Opens Dec. 6, 7:30 p.m., FREE. A CHRISTMAS CAROL, Nebraska Wesleyan, McDonald Theatre, 51st and Huntington, 465.2185. Opens Dec. 2-4, 9-11, 7:30 p.m., Dec. 4-5, 11-12, 2 p.m., $10, $7.50/seniors, $5/students.

THE FARNDALE AVENUE HOUSING ESTATE TOWSWOMEN’S GUILD PRESENTS “A CHRISTMAS CAROL”, Circle Theatre, 55th and Leavenworth, 553.4715, dlmarr@cox. net. Opens Dec. 2-19, Thu.-Sat., 7 p.m., $13, $23/dinner and show.

FOR COLORED GIRLS, John Beasley Theater, 3010 R St., Omaha, johnbeasleytheater.org. Opens Dec. 3-19, Thu.Sat., 7:30 p.m., Sun., 3 p.m., $27, $22/students.

MUSICAL THEATRE SHOWCASE, Lied Education Center for the Arts, Creighton University, 24th & Cass St., creighton.edu. Opens Dec. 4, 7 p.m., FREE. THE NUTCRACKER, Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St., 345.0606, omahaperformingarts.org, rosetheater.org.

Opens Dec. 3-5, $25-$85. Featuring the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet.

YESTERDAY AND TODAY, Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St., 553.0800, omahaplayhouse.com, opens Dec. 3-31, Wed.-Sat., 7:30 p.m., Sun., 2 p.m. $38.

JOY JOHNSON, The Bookworm, 87th and Pacific, 392.2877, bookwormomaha.com, 1 p.m.

POETRY NIGHT, 357 Club, 2404 Ames Ave., 6 p.m., poetry, prose, real-to-life, skits and interpretive dance. (Every Sun.) JAMES JOHANN, Funny Bone, Village Pointe, 17305 Davenport St., funnnyboneomaha.com, 493.8036, 7 p.m.

opening

ongoing

A CHRISTMAS CAROL, Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St., 553.0800, omahaplayhouse.com. Through Dec. 23, Wed.-Sat., 7:30 p.m., Sun., 2 p.m., 6:30 p.m., $35, $24/students.

JACOB MARLEY’S CHRISTMAS CAROL, Blue Barn at The Downtown Space, 614 S. 11th St., 345.1576, bluebarn. org. Through Dec. 18, Thu.-Sat., 7:30 p.m., Sun., 6 p.m., $25, $20/students & seniors.

THE MISANTHROPE, University Theatre, Temple Bldg., 12th and R, Lincoln, 472.4747, unl.edu/theatrearts.

Through Dec. 4, 7:30 p.m., $16, $14/seniors, $10/students.

NOISES OFF, University of Nebraska Omaha Theatre, Weber Fine Arts Building, 6001 Dodge St., 554.2796.

sunday 5

monday 6

DUFFY’S COMEDY WORKSHOP, 1412 O St., Lincoln, 474.3543, myspace.com/duffystavern, 9 p.m. (every Mon.) POETRY AT THE MOON, Crescent Moon Coffee, SE Corner of 8th & P St., Lower Level, Lincoln, crescentmoon@inebraska. com, 7 p.m. Open mic and featured readers. (every Mon.)

tuesday 7

88 IMPROV, PS Collective, 6056 Maple St., 556.9090, pscollective.com, 8 p.m., $5. Passionate improv troupe.

SHOOT YOUR MOUTH OFF, The Hideout, 320 S. 72nd St., 9 p.m. sign-up, 9:30 start, 504.4434, myspace.com/shootyourmouthoff, spoken word, comedy, and chaos (every Tues.)

Wednesday 8

ACOUSTIC OPEN MIC FOR MUSICIANS & POETS, Meadowlark Coffee & Espresso, 1624 S. St., Lincoln, 8 p.m., 477.2007. Hosted by Spencer. (every Wed.) FANCY PARTY COMEDY, The Waiting Room, 6212 Maple St., 884.5353, waitingroomlounge.com, 9 p.m., FREE. MIDWEST POETRY VIBE, KENO Kings/Royal Crown Lounge, 6553 Ames Ave., 9 p.m., poetry, R&B, Neosoul music, live performances, concert DVD and food and drink. (Every Wed.) NAKED WORDS, Soul Desires Bookstore, 1026 Jackson St., 6 p.m., prairie.sky@gmail.com, open mic hosted by Heidi Hermanson. (First Wed.) PEOPLE’S FILM FESTIVAL: A CRUDE AWAKENING - THE OIL CRASH, McFoster’s Natural Kind Cafe, 38th and Farnam, 7 p.m., FREE. An informative examination of a vitally important subject.

WEDNESDAY WORDS, Nebraska Arts Council, Historic Burlington Place Bldg, 1004 Farnam St., Lower Level, Omaha, 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m., Features award-winning writers. (2nd Wed.)

New ownership, same great store The Best in Men’s and Women’s Vintage Clothing Costume Rentals available for Your Wild 50’s, 60’s, 70’s or 80’s parties.

Gifts • Apparel • Silver Rings • Pipes Novelties • Hemp Jewelry • Tapestries

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Great food & drinks for freekin’ decades!

5007 Underwood • Tel: 402-553-9501 E-mail:dundeedell@dundeedell.com Open seven days a week 11:00 am - 1:00 am

| THE READER |

dec. 2 - 8 , 2010

27

coverstory

y continued from page 17

The So-So Sailors

Box Elders

Players: Clayton McIntyre (V,B), Jeremiah McIntyre (G,V), Dave Goldberg (D, VI) Recordings: Alice and Friends (2009) Why You Care: Alice is still one of the most vibrant local records to be released in recent memory. The trio’s take on retro garage rock is authentic yet not contrived, dirty yet clean in all the right ways and the short, catchy tunes and memorably simple hooks make the songs pop. As part of the Memphis based Goner Records stable, The Box Elders have made a name for themselves on the national front this year with a relentless touring schedule. And while the record is superbly solid, it’s the high-energy live show that really sets this band apart. Whether it’s Goldberg pulling double duty on organ and drums or Clayton stepping to the mic clad in an alligator codpiece, Box Elders put on a show to remember.

Check Out: “Hole In My Head” and “Tiny Sioux” at myspace.com/boxelders — Jesse D. Stanek

NEXT 10 Conduits

Players: J.J. Idt (G), Nate Mickish (G), Mike Overfield (B,K), Roger L. Lewis (D), Jenna Morrison (V) Recordings: None released as of yet Why You Care: Emerging this year as a next-level success story, this supergroup of local heroes plays epic masterpieces, tonal ambient journeys into dark yet familiar worlds decorated in ’90s shoe-gaze, lowhum dream-noise. Look for their debut EP in the very near future.

— Tim McMahan

All Young Girls Are Machine Guns

Players: Rebecca Lowry (U, V), Travis Sing (B), Scott “Zip” Zimmerman (D) Recordings: The Secret Attic Recordings (2010) Why You Care: Lowry crafts innovative tunes on her ukulele and performs with the passion and grace of someone who loves what they do and simply wants to share herself with the audience.

Check Out: “Before We Know (Live)” at myspace. com/aygamg.

— Jesse D. Stanek

Conchance

Players: Conchance AKA Daddy Woozbucks (V) Recordings: Food For Thought (2009) Why You Care: With opening slots for Mac Lethal and Qwel of Typical Cats, Conchance is generating some heat in the local hip-hop scene.

Check Out: “Hipster Bitches” and “How Ancient Can You Get” at myspace.com/conchanceallcity — Kyle Eustice

28

dec. 2 - 8 , 2010

Players: Chris Machmuller (K,V), Alex McManus (G,V), Dan Kemp (D), Dan McCarthy (K), Brendan Greene-Walsh (B,V) Recordings: None released as of yet Why You Care: You know every one of these players from other projects, but this band sets itself apart with memorable melodies and passionate playing.

Expect some recordings soon.

Check Out: “This Girl” and “Young Hearts” at myspace.com/thesososailors — Jesse Stanek

Honey & Darling

the music issue

Players: Sara Bertuldo (V,G,B), Matt Carroll (V,G,D), Robert Little (B,D) Recordings: What Became of What I Love EP (2009) Why You Care: Two fresh faces (Bertuldo, Carroll) team up with an established scene vet (Little) to punch out dreamier-than-dreamy power pop tunes that coalesce into gaze-at-your-Chucks epiphanies.

Check Out: “Little Coat” and “Summer of Love” at myspace.com/honeyanddarling — Will Silvey Simons

Baby Tears

Players: Todd Stup (V,G), Ethan Jones(V,B), Jeff Shadoan (D,V) Recordings: Baby Tears EP (2010), Hot Lettuce cassette (2010) Why You Care: Because rock music isn’t supposed to be safe. Baby Tears is all about extremity of noise and expression. It’s music made for small batch consumption by guys who remember what its like to starve for something different.

Check Out: DoomTownRecords.com or bbbabytears. blogspot.com for more information.

— Chris Aponick

Once A Pawn

Players: Catherine Balta (D, V), Eric Scrivens (G) Recordings: Do You Feel Like This? (2008), Mission Accomplished (2010) Why You Care: While the Lincoln two-piece defies easy description, they manage to rock with a simple and engaging grace carried by a heavier edge and conscious lyrics.

Check Out: “As You Wish” and “Say Uncle” at myspace.com/onceapawnmusic — Jesse D. Stanek

Dim Light

Players: Cooper Moon (V,G), Boz Hicks (D), Tom Barrett (B) Recordings: None released as of yet.

Why You Care: Cooper Moon is finally working with a cohesive trio to tease out the creaking, bleary, bleak vision inside his head, as he melds together broken-down country and folk with claustrophobic

| THE READER |

cover story

shoe-gaze and throbbing post-punk. It’s hard to imagine these played anywhere but in the dead of night in a pitch-black nothingness.

Check Out: “Long Cold Way Down” and “For You” at myspace.com/dimlightforever — Chris Aponick

Platte River Rain

Players: Ashley Rayne Boe (V,G), George Prescott (G,BJ,V), Ed “Willie Nilly” Spencer (V,H), David

Downing (CL), Mike Nabity (B), Pat Kelly (B,G,V), Daniel Dean “Bueno” Leonard (D,P) Recordings: Barefoot on Concrete (2009), new CD in progress.

Why You Care: An ever-evolving ensemble of musicians helps Ashley Rayne Boe and George Prescott bring to life some of the most sparkling, heartfelt and often magical roots-pop songs in town. The band is currently working on a second disc.

Check Out: “Colors” and “Hungry Hippos” at myspace.com/platteriverrain — B.J. Huchtemann

Yuppies

Players: Noah Sterba (V,G), Jack Begley (V,K,G), Kevin Donahue (D), Jeff Sedrel (B) Recordings: I’ve Been Touched single (2010) Why You Care: Yuppies has twisted its trashy lo-fi pop into an angular, sharper garage-slop odyssey, now sounding at times like The Fall and more and more, like something entirely its own.

The band is at the forefront of a crop of other similar-minded bands in town, including Cheap Smokes and the Prairies.

Check Out: “What Myth Are You Listening To” and “Getting Out” at myspace.com/yuppiesband — Chris Aponick

In Memory: It’s True!

I

’ve probably told you the story about the first time I heard Adam Hawkins play. It was in the basement at an after-hours party in midtown Omaha. I’d seen his ungraceful entrance to the party — somehow slipping and falling up the uphill driveway — and so I was perhaps even more impressed when he strummed an acoustic guitar and intoned striking lyrics to a soon-to-be rapt crowd in the small subterranean space.

When Hawkins united with local standouts Kyle Harvey, Andrew Bailie, Karl Houfek and Matt Arbeiter under Hawkins’ moniker It’s True!, I knew it was going to be magic, and I said as much to anyone who would listen.

Sure enough, they quickly became everyone’s new favorite band. They reliably killed it onstage. They put out a fantastic self-titled record. They stormed SXSW, even making NPR’s “Austin 100” list. They impressed the mixed horde at MAHA. And then, it’s true! just as swiftly as it all came together, entropy thrashed it apart, callously breaking the hearts of many an Omaha music-lover.

An early November Facebook status on the band’s page stated It’s True! was beginning work on a new album. (Yes, like many a heartbroken ex we still check your Facebook page.) But while future incarnations of the band may swell to great heights, for now we mourn this just-passed moment in time.

In recent years the too-soon breakup has become too common amongst local bands, but we never expected it to be you, It’s True! We really thought you would “make it,” in every sense of the term. You belong on the list this year, fellas, but instead we celebrate the memory of every time we had one of your emotive tracks stuck in our head; for every time someone tapped us on the shoulder at one of your blistering live shows, having already fallen under your spell, and asked, “Who are these guys?”

— Sarah Wengert

music

The many styles of Quartetto Gelato

by Patricia Sindelar

Q

off from the symphony to tour with Quartetto Gelato. Eventually I had to make a decision, and I decided to go full-hearted into Quartetto Gelato, and I never looked back.”

De Soto admitted that changing musical styles and instruments as rapidly as Quartetto Gelato requires was a little overwhelming at first.

“At the beginning, it was a little confusing.

One day I felt like a singer, one day I felt like a violinist. It was a musical identity crisis. Overall it became who I am, and that’s the way the group is now.”

Since those first shows, a lot has changed

uartetto Gelato would like to change your mind about chamber music.

The Canada-based foursome doesn’t just regurgitate the same sonatas and arias that are standard for every classical musician.

Quartetto Gelato makes classical music a performance piece.

The repertoire includes everything from opera and classical, to folk and gypsy songs, and Neapolitan quartetto gelato standards, all done with a passionate flare.

Group founder Peter de Soto said he got Quartetto Gelato together out of a desire to play more eclectic music.

“I started the group about 18 years ago,” he says by phone. “We got together four friends who wanted to play music for our own enjoyment. We also had other professional music jobs — I played for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. I also came from a background called strolling, which is one person who plays around tables, and he takes requests and plays pieces from peoples’ pasts.

You have to know a very large repertoire … When we put Quartetto Gelato together, we wanted to include all of our ulterior interests. We ended up coming up with this very bizarre combination.”

That “bizarre combination” included each member of the quartet play- for Quartetto Gelato — most notably, the lineing more than one instrument, de Soto singing in up. De Soto’s wife and fellow founding memhis operatic tenor and a repertoire that can only ber, Cynthia Steljes, died of a rare form of lung be described as eclectic — and lightning-quick cancer in 2006. Other members have come and changes between all of those aspects in one show. gone — about nine total — but the current rosResponse was overwhelming. ter may be the best yet.

“We ended up getting 70 concerts in the first Accordion player Alexander Sevastian is a season,” de Soto says. ”I had to ask for some time four-time world champion player, cellist Eliza-

beth McLellan is a dancer and a double bass player, and oboist Colin Maier plays a dozen instruments in addition to being an acrobat.

Everyone’s abilities become part of the show, along with some witty rapport between musicians and audience.

“We exploit each member’s talents to the nth degree,” de Soto says with a laugh.

Despite myriad on-stage activities, Quartetto Gelato doesn’t need sheet music to put on a show.

“Our group is not a real classical group. We don’t use music on stage, it’s always by memory.

It’s almost like a classical band. The whole show is very, very rehearsed, and we think it’s very well thought out. It’s more of a theatrical production — what you’ll see on stage.

The banter in between songs is so important, and the way we talk to the audience, the audience will feel a personal relationship with Quartetto Gelato.”

The foursome will perform a night of holiday music, but don’t think that just because a Quartetto Gelato show has a theme that it will be boring.

“We’ll be moving between pop and sacred and secular songs. We’ll be doing favorites like ‘O Holy Night’ and ‘Ave Maria,’ and also doing things like ‘White Christmas’ and ‘Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire.’

With any Quartetto Gelato show, not only a Christmas show, we’ll be doing what we do best: eclecticism.” , Quartetto Gelato, performs Friday, Dec. 3, at 8 p.m., at the Holland Center, 1200 Douglas St. Tickets are $19-$49, and available via 345.0606 or online omahaperformingarts.org.

music

backbeat

Musical Identity Crisis

n In the absence of an Omaha-Lincoln light-rail (don’t get me started … ) it takes a lot for me to make the trek to Titletown, even for the best of events. But if you travel I-80 southwest just once this year it should be this Friday, Dec. 3, for the Hear Nebraska Benefit at Bourbon Theatre featuring Orion Walsh, Shaun Sparks and the Wounded Animals, and Bandit Sound. Hear Nebraska bills itself as a “homegrown, nonprofit media that cultivates the state’s vibrant, fertile music community,” and is all about promoting Nebraska music, offering resources to bands and fans and intending to buoy regional artists and small businesses. The idea is, since we’re blessed with such a rad and eclectic scene, let’s celebrate it and make certain the other 49 states and beyond listen up to the sounds of “the good life.”

Hear Nebraska has functioned via Facebook (facebook.com/#!/hearnebraska), Twitter and Tumblr since June, but now it’s time to put the .org in this organization, which requires some much-needed funds to be raised. HearNebraska. org will connect fans, bands, venues, promoters and others, allowing them to create profiles and events, blog and to share media, opinions, tips and more.

The 9 p.m. benefit show follows Lincoln’s First Friday Art Walk, welcomes ages 18-and-up and suggests a $5 donation. But that doesn’t mean you can’t give more to this fine cause that stands to repay you in spades and tunes for years to come.

(Full disclosure: The main man behind the Hear Nebraska curtain is Reader news editor and former managing editor, Andrew Norman.)

n Thursday, Dec. 2, at España in Benson, loom promotes NextAid’s 4th Annual World AIDS Day campaign, with all proceeds going directly to NextAid’s operations. The party is one of a baker’s dozen worldwide. As much of NextAid’s work is done in Africa, this loom will be dedicated to the continent. Co-creator (and Reader contributor) Brent Crampton writes on Facebook, “I invited Omaha’s top African DJ to join us, Deejay Maestro. He played a set at this year’s Joslyn loom and wowed us with not only his track selections, but his sincerity. From the old school of Fela Kuti & Babatunde to the Nigerian new school, soukouss, coupe decalle and South African house, we’ll cover a wide range of music from, and inspired by Africa.” The party starts at 9 p.m., but if you can’t find your dancing shoes that night and still want to donate, visit nextaid.org/wad2010.

— Sarah Wengert Backbeat takes you behind the scenes of the local music scene.

Send tips, comments and questions to backbeat@thereader.com.

| THE READER |

dec. 2 - 8 , 2010

29

2234 South 13th Street Omaha, NE 68108 346 - 9802 www.sokolundground.com

Thu 12/2/2010

fri 12/3/2010

sAT 12/4/2010

sun 12/5/2010

Thur 12/9/2010

sAT 12/11/2010

%*#5' %1; 9 $#%-5'#6 )11&$;' 2.7) +0 56'4'1 2#+06 6*' %1#56.+0' 5705'65 61 52'#- 1( 5'8'0 %#4 2+.'72 9 691 6+/'5 )10' 9#-+0) 6*' 0'+)*$145 ;'#45 ]#7&+614+7/_ 9 '/2*#6+% #.6'40#6+8' 24'55 24'5'065 6*' %*4+56/#5 2#)'#06 ]#7&+614+7/_ ('#674+0) (#/+.; (14%' (+8' #0& (14'8'4 6*' 5+%-'56 -+&5 9 52'%+#. )7'565 5'%10&*#0& 5'4'0#&' +0641&7%+0) 5*14.+0'5 '0& ,'((4'' 56#4 9 &'8 #0& +6 $1;5 /+&9'56 '.+6' %10%'465 9#4 %.16*+0) #4' 2417& 61 24'5'06 019 6*#6Âľ5 9*#6 + %#.. # /'6#. %*4+56/#5 *'#&.+0'& $; +..75+10 1( )#+# (14/'4.; -0190 #5 5*#66'42411( 9 #)#+056 6*' #46+(+%+#. #6 6*' .'(6 *#0& 1( )1& 4+8-+6 572'4+14

AdvAnce TickeTs noT AvAilAble AT venue

30

Chicago Symphony Orchestra â&#x20AC;˘ Mondays 8 PM Live at the Concertgebouw â&#x20AC;˘ Tuesdays 8 PM Modern Classics â&#x20AC;˘ Fridays 6pm Midnight Special â&#x20AC;˘ Fridays Midnight Classical Guitar Alive â&#x20AC;˘ Sundays 10 AM Composer Spotlight â&#x20AC;˘ Sundays 11 AM Going Beyond Words â&#x20AC;˘ Sundays Noon From The Top â&#x20AC;˘ Sundays 5 PM New York Philharmonic â&#x20AC;˘ Sundays 6 PM

dec. 2 - 8 , 2010

| THE READER |

We depend on your support!

Call 554-5866 or go to WWW.KVNO.ORG and donate to KVNO today Listener Supported Community Classical Radio

WWW.KVNO.ORG

r o o t s ,

a m e r i c a n a

a n d

Holiday Hope: annual toy drive kicks into high gear

L

ash LaRueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Toy Drive for the children on the Pine Ridge reservation kicks off in earnest this week. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re reading this Wednesday, Dec. 1, head over to The Waiting Room at 7 p.m. for the free CD listening party. Christmas for Pine Ridge: Vol. III Live at The Waiting Room will be spinning on the sound system and available for sale.

Many of the 15 local musicians who donated original tracks to the disc will be on hand. The disc was recorded and engineered by Jim Homan from Screen Door Studio. It will be available for sale at the events and at Garage Guitar at 50th and Dodge.

Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the line-up of Toy Drive shows. Admission to most events is $10 or a new, unwrapped toy of equal value. Cash lash larue and friend donations will also go toward keeping the reservation clinic heated and providing propane heat for the elderly.

Thursday, Dec. 2, the acoustic show that started LaRueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Toy Drive efforts happens at Slowdown at 9 p.m. Dustin Clayton, Korey Anderson, Kyle Harvey and Matt Cox perform.

Saturday, Dec. 4, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the rock show at The Waiting Room with All Young Girls Are Machine Guns, Vago and Noahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ark Was a Spaceship.

Sunday, Dec. 5, there are two big shows, one at The New Lift Lounge and the other at Lincolnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Zoo Bar. The New Lift Lounge event begins at 2 p.m. with 112 North Duck. Brad Cordle Band plays at about 3:30 p.m. and headliner Coco Montoya goes on at about 5:30 p.m. Alligator Records artist Montoya is one of the biggest guitar stars on the national bluesrock scene. Please note, there is a $15 cover charge for this show, but toy donations will also be accepted.

The Zoo Bar joins the Toy Drive this year with a Sunday, Dec. 5 show. Beginning at 6 p.m. catch Really Rottens, followed by Son of 76 & The Watchmen (7 p.m.), The Amalgamators (8 p.m.), Lash LaRue (9 p.m.), Lilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Slim Blues Band (10 p.m.) and Machete Archive (11 p.m.).

Find details on all the events at lashlaruetoydrive. com. Sunday, Dec. 12, 9 a.m. till noon, LaRue, yours truly and some special guests will join Rick Galusha for an always memorable Toy Drive edition of his P.S. Blues show on 89.7 The River.

hoodoo

m o r e

B y

B . J .

h u c h t e m a n n

Music Issue Each year The Readerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s music journalists meet to decide on the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Top 20â&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Next 15â&#x20AC;? bands lists youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find featured in this issue. There is discussion, give and take and generally a consensus. As the writer who covers the roots-Americana-blues genres, sometimes I face an uphill battle trying to educate my fellow writers about bands Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m enthused about, though I know there are also groups out there that other writers like that I havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t heard.

I am happy that this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Top 20â&#x20AC;? list includes both the Matt Cox Band and Son of 76 & The Watchmen, two of the top roots bands with two of the best songwriters in the metro. I realized as I walked away from the meeting that another band that belongs on that list in my mind is the Kris Lager Band. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been working as a fourpiece this year and hit the road for several lengthy tours to expand their fan base. At home, they pack local clubs with audience members of all ages. Their highenergy original music is more and more indie rock than blues, but they still get pigeonholed in the blues category.

Check krislagerband.com for more info and to find out when the band is playing near you. Mixed in with a month of touring in nearby states, the band has an acoustic gig at Havana Garage cigar bar in the Old Market Thursday, Dec. 16, after 9 p.m. The group rounds out the year with a New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eve show at Lincolnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Zoo Bar.

Property: Harrah's Council Bluffs Project: Air Supply - 11/11 Job#: 47077.1 8:09 AM Show: 10/26/10 Ship: 11/4/10 Insert: 11/11/1 Vendor: Omaha Reader dMax: Trim: 4.9" x 7.47" Live: 4.625" x 7.22 VO: ~ x ~ Bleed: none Artist: Michelle Rev: 1 Desc.: Omaha Reader 4.9â&#x20AC;? x 7.47â&#x20AC;? Ad Final Mats: PDF File

b l u e s ,

Hot Notes Son of 76 & The Watchmen, led by occasional Reader contributor Joshua Hoyer, gigs at Lincolnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Zoo Bar Thursday, Dec. 2, after 9 p.m. Matt Cox Band plays McKennaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Friday, Dec. 3, and heats up the Zoo Barâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 6 p.m. blues show Wednesday, Dec. 8.

Blues-rock guitar star Coco Montoya plays at Lincolnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Zoo Bar Monday, Dec. 6, at 6 p.m.

The Thursday 5:30 p.m. blues shows at The New Lift Lounge present Trampled Under Foot from K.C. Thursday, Dec. 2. Thursday, Dec. 9, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a special showcase of New Orleans R&B with the Joe Krown Trio featuring three iconic players: Krown on Hammond B-3, the legendary Walter â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wolfmanâ&#x20AC;?

Washington on vocals and guitar and Russell Batiste Jr. on drums. The trio took home the 2009 Big Easy Award in the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Best Rhythm & Blues Bandâ&#x20AC;? category.

Both Thursdays, catch free blues dance lessons by Merinda and Frank from the Omaha Jitterbugs during the break. ,

Hoodoo is a weekly column focusing on blues, roots, Americana and occasional other music styles with an emphasis on live music performances. Hoodoo columnist B.J. Huchtemann is a Reader senior contributing writer and veteran music journalist who has covered the local music scene for nearly 20 years.

$ECEMBER s PM Tickets on sale online at harrahslive.frontgatetickets.com OR BY PHONE AT 3(/7

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| THE READER |

11/3/10 dec. 2 - 8 , 2010

31

9:18 AM

Great Gift Ideas

office co-worker, boss and more! www.jamesarthurvineyards.com (402) 783-5255.

Let James Arthur Vineyards put together a beautiful gift basket for any occasion. James Arthur Wine makes a great holiday gift for anyone on your list! www.jamesarthurvineyards.com (402) 783-5255.

Customize the label on your bottles of James Arthur Vineyard wine. Corporate, wedding, or holiday greetings make James Arthur wine a great holiday gift. www.jamesarthurvineyards. com (402) 7835255.

Nebraskaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest winery offers the best selection of your favorite local wine. James Arthur Wine makes a great gift for a party hostess,

Decorate your table this holiday season with unique wine glass decorations from James Arthur Vineyards. www.jamesarthurvineyards.com (402) 783-5255.

The perfect gift for the Husker fan in your life!

Visit James Arthur Vineyards for a large selection of unique gifts. www.jamesarthurvineyards.com (402) 783-5255.

32

dec. 2 - 8 , 2010

| THE READER |

gift guide

The Fruit Infusion Pitcher creates refreshing natural-fruit drinks. Fill the 2.5 quart pitcher with water, iced tea or other liquids, slice up a handful of lemons, limes, berries or other fruits. Insert the fruit into the infusion rod, which screws tight, and enjoy!

Category One Rockbrook Village 10922 Prairie Brook Rd. 390-9684 www.categoryonegifts.com Made in the USA, Tervis Tumblers are a double-walled insulated tumbler that keeps hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold for hours.

All Tervis Tumblers come with a life-time guarantee and they are dish-washer and microwave safe. Get yours today a Category One Gifts & Gourmet!

Category One Rockbrook Village 10922 Prairie Brook Rd. 390-9684 www.categoryonegifts.com

Designer Beads & Charms is your own local full-service bead store located at 120th & Blondo in Omaha, Nebraska. We invite you to stop in and design your own custom jewelry piece from our wide variety of genuine gem stones and unique beads. Our friendly and helpful sales staff will be happy to assist you in finding the right beads and materials for your individual project. Located at 1806 N. 120th St., Omaha, Ne 68154. (402) 3153400. www.designerbeadsandcharms.com

Books make wonderful gifts for all ages. Find these titles and more and The Bookworm, located in Countryside Village.

Dewey Little Brown $16.99 Dewey learns what it takes to be the best library cat of all.

Roots & Wings is a locally owned specialty boutique for young women who dare to be different. Full of fun fashions you won’t find anywhere else in Omaha, Roots & Wings serves confident women who aren’t afraid to express their individuality. Here’s a few fun gifts sure to please holiday fashionistas. You can’t go wrong with the leopard coat from Tulle Original Clothing, or this comfy sweater from Free People. even more TOMS shoes (One for One™) make a perfect holiday gift with philanthropy in mind. With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. Check out these items and more at Roots & Wings at its new location in Countryside Village (8712 Pacific St.). (402) 504-4700.

Cupcakes and cakes make tasty gifts. Here are some great choices that are available at Jones Bros. Cupcakes, located in Aksarben Village (2121 S. 67th St., www.jonesbroscupcakes.com). enjoy these cupcake flavors: VANILLA - Madagascar bourbon vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream frosting.

ReD VeLVeT - Classic red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting.

BLACK & WHITe - Valrhona chocolate cake with vanilla buttercream with godiva white chocolate liqueur CHOCOLATe - French valrhona chocolate cake with callebaut chocolate frosting.

LeMON - Lemon cake with lemon curd infused buttercream CINNAMON & SUGAR - Spiced buttermilk cake with a cinnamon and sugar topping

eARTH Grand Central $27.99 An intellectual voyage through time to figure out exactly how and why everything got so irretrievably messed up.

And don’t forget about hese delicious cakes to choose from: ReD VeLVeT - Classic red velvet cake with layers of cream cheese frosting CeLeBRATION - White cake with layers of raspberry and lemon curd topped with amaretto meringue.

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8712 pacific street, 68114. omaha

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Rockbrook Village

10922 Prairie Brook Road 390-9684 www.categor yonegifts.com

gift guide

| THE READER |

DeC. 2 - 8 , 2010

33

www.oldmarket.com

Give your loved ones the gift of pampering this holiday season. From gift baskets to spa packages, Sirens at the Loft offers a unique salon & spa experience right in the heart of the Old Market. www.sirensatl.com (402) 933-9333

The Artists’ Cooperative Gallery is a non-profit, tax-exempt gallery, located in Omaha’s historic Old Market area.

We strive for personal artistic growth and professionalism in presentation. The co-op is an artist run gallery. We offer the unique opportunity for you to actually meet the creator of the art, because the person at the desk is one of the artists. www.artistsco-opgallery.com (402) 342-9617

Great Gift Ideas

Artists’ Cooperative Gallery connecting local art & worldly wanderers since 1975

405 S. 11th Street in Omaha’s Old Market 402.342.9617

www.artistsco-opgallery.com

Open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.Tuesday through Thursday (open until 10 p.m. Thursdays Dec. 2, 9,16 and 23) 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday noon to 6 p.m. Sunday

34

dec. 2 - 8 , 2010

| THE READER |

gift guide

Colorful glass artwork by local artists. “Elegance with a sense of Whimsy”. The White Crane Gallery features works by local and regional artists. Located in the Lower Passageway.

(402) 346-1066

Handmade Cornhusk Dolls from local Dundee artist make great gifts for the Husker fan in your life. Old Market Sundries offers Heartland Apparel, Nebraska-made Gifts, and Husker Items. www. oldmarketsundries.com (402) 345-8198

Cibola of Omaha invites you to “come discover your treasure”… embrace the best of the Southwest in Jewelry and Indian Art. Feel free to visit their location in Omaha at the Old Market . You’ll find legendary Native American designs along with contemporary Southwest designer jewelry pieces in gold and silver. www.cibolasouthwest.com 402-342-1200 Who wouldn’t want a gift certificate to Zio’s for Christmas?? Omaha’s original Handstretched New York Style Pizza. Serving Omaha and the surrounding area for 25 years and now with 3 locations Midtown, Downtown & West Omaha. Recipient of more than 25 best pizza awards!! www.ziospizzeria.com (402)3442222

This delightful Old Market Co-op Gallery offers original fine art in different media by local artists. At the Passageway Gallery you will find original works in: Oil, Acrylic, Watercolor, Pastel, Pencil, Scratchboard, Photography, Stained Glass, Sculpture, Pottery, Cast Paper, Copper Sculpture, and more. www.passagewaygallery.com (402) 341-1910

Unearth Exhilaration! At Urbane Salon and Day Spa we carry the full Aveda line of products for all your hair, body and skin care needs. Our Holiday Gift Sets are pre-arranged for easy holiday shopping. Try our “Unearth Exhilaration” set featuring Aveda’s full size Rosemary Mint Shampoo, Conditioner and Rosemary Mint Body Lotion. Gift sets can also be customized to create your own special gift. 1007 Farman on The Mall (402) 934-2909 $35 set

The Old Market’s Original Candy Shop, Since 1977. Every day we sell fresh fudge made with real cream and butter made in our own kitchen. www.oldmarketcandy.com (402) 341-7151

www.oldmarket.com A gift basket of product and gift card for a color and cut is the perfect gift for anyone on your list! Fringes Salon & Spa invites everyone to experience EDGEWORTHY™ — it will make you laugh and sometimes cry. We’re edgy, yet worthy and will always invite you to go beyond the fringe. www.fringessalon. com (402) 345-0404

The Old Market Artists Gallery (OMA) consists of thirteen professional local area artists. The gallery features a diverse collection of work, including original paintings, photography, collage and folk art, fine woodworking, functional ceramics, sculpture, fused glass and jewelry.

The gallery is located in the lower level of the Passageway across the hall from Trini’s Restaurant. www.oldmarketartists.com (402) 346-6569 Happy Holiday’s - Give the gift of HEALTH $50 value 1/2 price personal training session with world champion LAURA BINETTI. 24 Hour co-ed fitness center, training, thousands of locations. Anytime Fitness 1027 Jones Street Old Market Lofts www.anytimefitness.com (402) 991.2333

Moksha specializes in Indian Jewelry, Marble Art, Paintings, Wooden Icons, Tunics/Kurtis, Designer Bags & Purses, Silk & Pashmina Stoles and Scarves, Handicrafts, Silk & Wool Rugs, Cushion Covers and Incense Sticks and Candles. Located in the Lower Passageway.

(402) 871-0920

The Casbah is an oasis in Omaha, Nebraska that invites you to take a trip on the Mediterranean basin through its artifacts. The Casbah is located in the Lower Passageway. www.thecasbahomaha.com (402) 504-4777

Soul Desires is a full service bookstore specializing in books for your spiritual journey from the world’s major religious traditions. Soul Desires hospitality provides a quiet environment in which to relax and meet friends while you enjoy a cappuccino, coffee, tea, or soft drink. www.soul-desires.com (402) 898-7600

Largest selection of Jim Shore holiday crafts in Omaha. 25 Years of Celebrating Christmas in the Old Market!! Throughout the year, we carry decorative items that will become traditions for your enjoyment of this most joyous holiday. www.otannenbaum.com (402) 345-9627

Trocadéro is a lifestyle and accessories emporium located in the heart of Omaha’s Old Market historic district.

Trocadero’s shelves and tables are filled with an edited array of designer handbags, shoes and jewelry as well as gifts for the home, bridal or baby shower. www.shoptrocadero. com (402) 934-8389

The Souq offers a truly eclectic array of goods.

Contemporary, soft dressing and ethnic inspired clothing, accessories galore, fun and fabulous jewelry, home decor and gift items from the elegant to the absurd.

(402) 342-2972

Hello East. Meet America. Blue Sushi gives traditional sushi an American attitude. Do you like your sashimi, nigiri and maki straight up?

No problem. Want something a little different? We’ll entertain your palate with something unexpected, such as yamagobo or sea salt. Whatever your tastes, get ready for one innovative meal at Blue Sushi. www.bluesushisakegrill.com (402) 408-5566

Great Gift Ideas gift guide

| THE READER |

dec. 2 - 8 , 2010

35

THE HOLIDAYS

ARE Gourmet meats and imported cheeses, wines and festive liquors, handmade artisan breads, unique specialty grocery items and candy, meat, cheese, vegetable and fruit trays. Order hors’ devours, smoked salmon, or baked goods. Call Wohlner’s today 551-6875.

Cantina Laredo serves authentic Mexican dishes in a sophisticated atmosphere. They offer daily fish specials, grilled chicken and steaks complimented by signature sauces such as chipotle-wine with Portobello mushrooms or sautéed artichoke hearts and roasted red bell peppers.

402-345-6000. www.cantinalaredo.com

Providing high-level service that makes everyone feel good about themselves and want to come back. Everyone is a special client, not just another person that walks through the door. The salon reflects everything about the Midtown area. It is for everyone from the college student, to the working class, to the executive, to the lucky ones who get to retire in the area. It has the modern flair with the essential classic feel. Anyone and everyone will feel comfortable in the chair.

Our services make a wonderful holiday gift!

Ask about our gift cards.

Call today! 402-933-8988 www.trusalonomaha.com

A vibrant restaurant where the cuisine, atmosphere and energy are second-to-none. Crave delivers on one simple thing: Fresh and innovative cuisine along with an impeccable wine selection brought to life in a chic, casual and vibrant atmosphere. The menu evokes the tastes of the new American palate and a grand sushi bar extends the dining experience appealing to both traditional sushi lovers and adventurous epicureans alike.

402-345-9999 http://ne.craveamerica.com/omaha.php

36

DEC. 2 - 8 , 2010

Fashion Cleaner opened its doors to Omaha in the early 1940s and has been Omaha’s favorite dry cleaner ever since. Voted Omaha’s best dry cleaner for five consecutive years, their staff is dedicated to providing you with exceptional customer service, superior cleaning and finishing and meticulous attention to detail. At Fashion Cleaners, they care about the environment and the community. That’s why they use environmentally-friendly practices in all their processes.

- Know a bride that just got married or has her gown in her closet? Give her a gift that she can remember for a lifetime with Wedding Gown Preservation.

- How about a shirt a day for year? You can even sign them up for FREE home delivery!!

402-916-1987 www.fashioncleaners.com

Give the gift of health this year and plan to start 2011 off healthy and fit!

Prairie Life Fitness is about making your life easier and helping you get the results you want! Let us help your family get fit with free swim lessons and fun activities for the kids while providing the personal attention you need to achieve your weightloss goals.

A membership to Prairie Life Fitness is the best gift you can give for the health of you and your family. Don’t wait. Call today!

402-916-5000 www.prairielife.com

Book your Holiday Events Now! Effortless entertaining by LOFT 610!

LOFT 610’s staff of world-class chefs and event specialists are absolutely dedicated to making your Holiday Event unforgettable.

Ask for Jill Steinheider or Ben Ackland to get started 402-885-6800 OmahaCatering@Loft610.com Seated Dinners * On-Site Receptions * Off-Site Catering

| THE READER |

gift guide

HERE!

www.midtowncrossing.com

| THE READER |

dec. 2 - 8 , 2010

37

live music calendar

SEND CALENDAR INFORMATION — including addresses, dates, times, costs and phone numbers — to The Reader’s calendar editor. Mail to or drop off information at P.O. Box 7360 Omaha, NE 68107; email to listings@thereader.com; fax to (402) 341.6967.

Deadline is 5 p.m. the Thursday prior to issue date.

thursday 2

BLACK 7, KATZE EMY, (DJ) 9 p.m., 415, FREE. SHOELESS REVOLUTION W/ SFS, BLUE MARTIAN TRIBE,

(rock/jam) 8 p.m., Bourbon, $10/adv, $12/dos.

OPEN JAM, 9 p.m., Chrome Lounge.

SHITHOOK, (karaoke) 9 p.m., Duffy’s, FREE. UN CUT, (cover) 9 p.m., Firewater Grille, FREE. LOOM WEAVES WORLD AIDS DAY, (DJ) 9 p.m., Espana.

NASHVILLE REJECT, (cover/country) 9 p.m., The Grove,

FREE. NOVAK & HAAR, (jazz) 6 p.m., Jazz Louisiana Kitchen.

SO SICK KLICK, (hip-hop) 9 p.m., Knickerbockers.

TRACY SKRETTA, (acoustic) 9 p.m., Myth, FREE. TRAMPLED UNDER FOOT, (blues) 5:30 p.m., New Lift

Lounge, $10.

MICHAEL FITZSIMMONS AND FRIENDS, (percussion) 7

p.m., OM Center, $10.

TODD CAMPBELL, (jazz) 6:30 p.m., Ozone, FREE. ATOMOTA, CAPSLOCK FRIDAY, CONFLICT BETWEEN,

LIGHT THE FUSE, (rock) 8 p.m., Pizza Shoppe

Collective, $5.

SWAMPJAM, (blues) 8 p.m., Pour House, FREE. THE DUBIOUS BROTHERS AND SISTER RED, (cover) 9

p.m., red9, $5.

DAVE POLSON AND THE DAVE POLSON ORCHESTRA,

(funk/jazz) 9:30 p.m., Side Door, FREE.

)FBETUSPOH 3PDL .BmB )PSTFTIPF *EPM $ISPNF 6OJPO .PPO +VJDF

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'PSL JO UIF 3PBE )PSTFTIPF *EPM

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LASH LARUE TOY DRIVE ACOUSTIC NIGHT W/ DUSTIN

CLAYTON, KYLE HARVEY, MATT COS, KOREY

ANDERSON, (acoustic) 9 p.m., Slowdown, $10.

CHASE COY, BACKSEAT GOODBYE, PLUG IN STEREO,

PAINT THE COASTLINE, SUNSETS TO SPEAK OF,

(rock) 6:30 p.m., Sokol Underground, $12.

JR HOSS, (acoustic) 9 p.m., Two Fine Irishmen, FREE. DREDG, ANIMALS AS LEADERS, THE END IN RED, (rock)

8 p.m., Waiting Room, $15.

JACKYL, DMC, (rock) 8 p.m., Whiskey Roadhouse, $25.

PIANO HAPPY HOUR, 5 p.m., Zoo Bar, FREE. SON OF 76 AND THE WATCHMEN, (rock) 9:30 p.m., Zoo

Bar, $4.

FRIDAY 3

$IBE -FF #BOE

THE JAZZ EXPLOSION, (jazz) 7 p.m., 1020, FREE. GREG K, QC, OZ, (DJ) 9 p.m., 415, $5.

CAPTAIN OBVIOUS, (cover) 9 p.m., Arena, FREE. DEATH OF A TAXPAYER, DOUG FRANCIS, (rock) 9 p.m.,

Barley St. Tavern, $5.

)PSTFTIPF *EPM

READER RECOMMENDS

FOLLOW US

Must be 21 years or older to gamble. Know When to Stop Before You Start®. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-BETS-OFF(Iowa) or 1-800-522-4700(National). ©2010 Harrah's License Company, LLC.

38

dec. 2 - 8 , 2010

A HEAR NEBRASKA BENEFIT W/ SHAUN SPARKS & THE

WOUNDED ANIMALS, BANDIT SOUND, ORION

WALSH, (rock) 9 p.m., Bourbon, $5.

BRENDAN RILEY, SEAN CONWAY, (singer-songwriter)

Brazen Head.

PERSONICS, (cover) 9:30 p.m., Brewsky’s Park Drive.

MONSTERS IN THE BASEMENT, (rock) 9 p.m., Chrome.

BEARKAT, HONEYBEE, THE SLEEPOVER, (rock) 7 p.m.,

Clawfoot House, $5.f JR HOSS, (acoustic) 5 p.m., Cunninghams, FREE. HI FI HANGOVER, (cover) 10 p.m., Del Mare, FREE. JITTERBUGS’ NIGHT OUT, (jazz/dixieland) 9 p.m., Eagles

Lodge, $10.

ACOUSTIC GROOVE, (rock) 9 p.m., Firewater Grille, FREE. NASHVILLE REJECT, (cover) 9 p.m., The Grove, FREE. MATT WALLACE, (acoustic) Havana Garage.

QUARTETTO GELATO, (classical) 8 p.m., Holland Center,

$19-$49.

NIGHT SHAKERS TRIO, (jazz) 7 p.m., Jazz.

| THE READER |

music listings

A SUMMER BETTER THAN YOURS, SHERIDAN BREAK

DOWN, TOPPER GO!, VICTORY LAP, (pop/punk) 6

p.m., Knickerbockers.

DJ LUCAS, 9 p.m., LiT Lounge.

LEMON FRESH DAY, (cover) 9:30 p.m., Loose Moose.

READER RECOMMENDS MATT COX BAND, (blues) 9 p.m., McKenna’s, FREE. PEACE OF SHIT, (rock) 9:30 p.m., O’Leaver’s, $5.

CONSPIRACY THEORY, (cover) 9 p.m., Ozone, FREE. CACTUS HILL, (cover) 9 p.m., red9, $5.

MOONJUICE, (cover) 9 p.m., Shamrock’s, FREE. THE END IN RED, VOODOO METHOD, WE BE LIONS,

CANNONISTA, (rock) 9 p.m., Slowdown, $7.

SEVEN CAR PILEUP, TWO TIMES GONE, WAKING THE

NEIGHBORS, (rock) 7 p.m., Sokol Underground, $8.

SIN, CURSED BY MIDNIGHT, THE STYLES, (rock) 9 p.m.,

Stir Live, $5.

LAVA ROCKETS, (cover) 9:30 p.m., Two Fine Irishmen,

FREE. ROGER CREAGER, (country) 9 p.m., Uncle Ron’s, $10.

VINYL HAZE, GLOVER, SHOE DOG, RISE FROM RUIN,

(rock/funk) 9 p.m., Waiting Room, FREE. HEADSTRONG, (cover) 9 p.m., Whiskey Roadhouse, FREE. FIRST FRIDAY DANCE PARTY W/ ANIMATO, 2 BLACK

CATS, $PENCELOVE, (DJ) 9 p.m., Zoo Bar, $5.

SATURDAY 4

MISHA, SASHA, (DJ) 9 p.m., 415, $5.

CAPTAIN OBVIOUS, (cover) 9 p.m., Arena, FREE. 24 HOUR CARDLOCK, (rock) 9 p.m., Barley St. Tavern, $5.

TOKYO POLICE CLUB, TIE THESE HANDS, DIRTY TALKER,

(rock) 11 p.m., Bourbon, $14/adv, $16/dos.

BEST INTENTIONS, (rock) 9 p.m., Chrome.

MOON JUICE, (cover) 10 p.m., Del Mare, FREE. HOLIDAY CONCERT SERIES, (seasonal) Durham, $7.

RIVER CITY MIXED CHORUS PRESENTS THE CHRISTMAS

STAR!, (choral) 7 p.m., First Lutheran Church, $10.

DEREK VENTURA, (cover) 7:30 p.m., Gorat’s FREE. ELIZABETHAN FEAST W/ CHAMBER SINGERS, RECORDER

CONSORT, HERALD TRUMPETS, THEATRE PLAYERS,

(classical) 6 p.m., Smith-Curtis Building, $17.

READER RECOMMENDS MATT WALLACE, (acoustic) Havana Garage.

NIGHT FOR THE KIDS W/ THE FREEDOM COMPANY,

FARMDOG, ERIC SAYRE, JOHN KNOBBE, MICHELLE

DAUGHTERY, (various) 7 p.m., Hideout Lounge, $5.

R&B ZONE TRIO, (jazz) 7 p.m., Jazz Louisiana Kitchen.

PRETTY THINGS PEEPSHOW, (burlesque) 9 p.m.,

Knickerbockers, $8/adv, $10/dos.

DJ LUCAS, 9 p.m., LiT Lounge.

THE CONFIDENTIALS, (cover) 9:30 p.m., Loose Moose,

FREE. TAXI DRIVER, (cover) 9 p.m., Ozone, FREE. JEREMY HANSHAW, AJ CHAMBERS, ANDREA DRODDY,

(singer-songwriter) 7:30 p.m., Pizza Shoppe Collective,

$5.

GROOVE PUPPET, (cover) 9 p.m., red9, $5.

LOOM, (DJ) Sake Bombers Lounge.

10 YEARS, EMPHATIC, (rock) 8 p.m., Sokol Auditorium, $9.

MIDWEST DILEMMA, (rock/folk) 9 p.m., Stir Live, $5.

TEACHER & PUPIL W/ CONDUCTOR THOMAS WILKINS,

(symphony) 7 p.m., Strauss PA Center, $30.

ON THE FRITZ, (cover) 9:30 p.m., Two Fine Irishmen, FREE. SWITCHBAK, (country) 9 p.m., Uncle Ron’s, FREE.

READER RECOMMENDS 8TH ANNUAL LASH LARUE TOY DRIVE W/ NOAH’S ARK

WAS A SPACESHIP, VAGO, ALL YOUNG GIRLS ARE

MACHINE GUNS, (rock/folk) 9 p.m., Waiting Room,

$10 or unwrapped toy of equal value.

ROCK MAFIA, (cover) 9 p.m., Whiskey Roadhouse, FREE. TIJUANA GIGOLOS, (blues/rock) 9 p.m., Zoo Bar.

SUNDAY 5

HIP-HOP WITH RAPPERS, 9 p.m., 415, FREE. ’80S NIGHT W/ OL’ MOANIN’ CORPSE, (DJ) 8 p.m.,

Bricktop, FREE. OMNIA ARMS, LIFE OF A SCARECROW, MUSTACHE,

(rock) 9 p.m., Duffy’s.

HOLIDAY CONCERT SERIES, (seasonal) Durham Museum,

$7.

RIVER CITY MIXED CHORUS PRESENTS THE CHRISTMAS

STAR!, (choral) 4 p.m., First Lutheran Church, $10.

HOLIDAY PARTY CIGAR & LIQUOR TASTING W/ RAY

WILLIAMS, (acoustic) Havana Garage, $55.

READER RECOMMENDS F*** ME, I’M OMAHA FAMOUS W/ MR. DEEDLES, NU,

PALINDROSEFF, SARKA, SHIF D, SWAMPP CAT,

TUCK, UDM, WREKAFEKT, BASSTHOVEN, BAD

SPELER, BRENT CRAMPTON, CARLITO, EMY S, E

BROWN, JAMES EHRMAN, MACID, MASARIS, (DJ) 4

p.m., The Max, $5/before 10 p.m, $10/after 10 p.m.

THE JUDDS: THE LAST ENCORE, (country) 7:30 p.m., Mid-

America Center, $38-$68.

TOY DRIVE FOR THE CHILDREN OF THE PINE RIDGE RESERVATION W/ COCO MONTOYA, (blues) 4 p.m., New Lift

Lounge, $15.

SYMPHONIC BAND CONCERT, 3 p.m., O’Donnell

Auditorium, FREE. THE NEBRASKA BRASS, (brass) 3 p.m., Rockbrook

Methodist.

LAURA MEYER, THE SEEN, KELSEY NORD, (rock/singer-

songwriter) 8 p.m., Slowdown, $7.

THE CHRISTMAS PAGEANT W/ FAMILY FORCE FIVE,

FOREVER THE SICKEST KIDS, SECONHAND

SERENADE, (rock/punk/metal) 7 p.m., Sokol

Auditorium, $18.50.

GORILLA PRODUCTIONS BATTLE OF THE BANDS, (rock) 4

p.m., Waiting Room, $8/adv, $10/dos CHRISTMAS FOR PINE RIDGE FUNDRAISER W/ REALLY

ROTTENS, SON OF 76 AND THE WATCHMEN, THE

AMALGAMATORS, LASH LARUE, LIL SLIM BLUES

BAND, MACHETE ARCHIVE, (various) 6 p.m., Zoo Bar,

$10.

MONDAY 6

SOUP AND SONG W/ KYLE & ANDY, (variety singer-songwriter) 8 p.m., Barley St. Tavern, FREE. COUGH, SOUP OF THE DAMNED, FERAL HANDS, (metal/ drone) 9 p.m., Bourbon, $6, $8/under 21.

READER RECOMMENDS OMAHA BIG BAND, (jazz) 6:30 p.m., Ozone, FREE. COCO MONTOYA, (blues) 6 p.m., Zoo Bar, $15/adv, $18/ dos.

Z-JAM OPEN STAGE, 9 p.m., Zoo Bar, $3.

TUESDAY 7

READER RECOMMENDS VIC NASTY, (DJ) 9 p.m., 415, FREE. FREE ENERGY, POWERFUL SCIENCE, LA CONCHA

CONCHINA, (rock) 8 p.m., Bourbon, $5, $7/under 21.

NICK THE QUICK, (DJ) 10 p.m., Duffy’s.

GARY DARLING, (acoustic) 9 p.m., Firewater Grille, FREE. TIM KOEHN ACOUSTIC JAM, (acoustic/blues) 7 p.m.,

Louis, FREE. THE INVASION OF RALEIGH SCIENCE W/ JOP2MUS, THE

CAMP, HELIX TROY, MR. GUEL, NATE O., SPARC

D.J. JOEY COLLEGE, (hip-hop/DJ) 10:30 p.m., Louis,

FREE. TOUCH OF CLASS JAZZ CHOIR, WOMEN’S CHOIR, MEN’S

GLEE, 7:30 p.m., O’Donnell Auditorium, FREE. JR HOSS, (acoustic) 6:30 p.m., Ozone, FREE. CHRIS SAUB, (acoustic) 8 p.m., The Phoenix, FREE. JAZZOCRACY, (jazz) 6 p.m., Zoo Bar, FREE. TROUBADOUR TUESDAY W/ CORY KIBLER, ASH SHARP,

SOUTH OF LINCOLN, NATALIE ILLEANA, (singer songwriter) 9:30 p.m., Zoo Bar, $4.

Wednesday 8

TALI-BANG, LUCAS KRANCE, (DJ) 9 p.m., 415, FREE.

0

TURFMEN, (celtic) 7 p.m., Brazen Head.

GROUP SAX, (jazz) 7:30 p.m., Brewskyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jazz Underground,

$5, $4/students.

CREIGHTON JAZZ ENSEMBLE, 7:30 p.m., Creighton Lied

Center, FREE w/ canned food donation.

PASTEL PISTOL, SAT IN WHAT, CARROT CARROT, (indie/

rock) 9 p.m., Duffyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.

STEVE LOVETT, (blues) 6 p.m., Jazz Louisiana Kitchen.

JOHNNY RAY GOMEZ, (oldies) 6:30 p.m., Ozone, FREE.

The Toy Drive for Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is back!

Since 2003, Omaha musician Larry Dunn has organized a toy drive for the children of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.

READER RECOMMENDS THE QUEERS, KEPI GHOULIE, THE RIPTIDES, EASTERN

TURKISH, THE SHIDIOTS, (punk) 8 p.m., Slowdown,

$10/adv, $13/dos.

MATT COX BAND, (blues) 6 p.m., Zoo Bar, $6.

SOL DEL LLANO, (latin) 9:30 p.m., Zoo Bar, $5.

Sin

AND

Cursed by Moonlight AND

The Styles

VENUES Ameristar Casino, 2200 River Rd., Council Bluffs, ameristar.com Arena Bar & Grill, 3809 N. 90th St., 571.2310, arenaomaha.com BarFly, 707 N. 114th St., 504.4811 Barley Street Tavern, 2735 N. 62nd St., 554.5834, barleystreet.com Bourbon Theatre, 1415 O St., Lincoln, 730.5695 Downtown Blues, 1512 Howard St., 345.0180 Duffyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tavern, 1412 O St., Lincoln, 474.3453, myspace.com/duffystavern The Hideout, 302 S. 72nd St. Knickerbockerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, 901 O St., Lincoln, 476.6865, knickerbockers.net LIV Lounge, 2279 S. 67th St., 884.5410, livlounge.com Louis Bar and Grill, 5702 NW Radial Hwy., 551.5993 McKennaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Blues, Booze & BBQ, 7425 Pacific St., 393.7427, mckennasbbq.com New Lift Lounge, 4737 S. 96th St., 339.7170 Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Leaverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pub, 1322 S. Saddle Creek Rd., 556.1238, myspace.com/oleaverspub Ozone Lounge at Anthonyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Steakhouse, 72nd and F, 331.7575, ozoneclubomaha.com.

Pizza Shoppe Collective, 6056 Maple St., 556.9090, pscollective.com Qwest, 455 N. 10th St., qwestcenteromaha. com Side Door, 3530 Leavenworth St., 504.3444.

Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St., 345.7569, theslowdown.com Sokol Hall, 2234 S. 13th St., 346.9802, sokolundergound.com The Sydney, 5918 Maple St., 932.9262, thesydneybenson.com Stir, 1 Harrahs Blvd., Council Bluffs, harrahs. com Venue 162, 162 W. Broadway, Council Bluffs, 712.256.7768, myspace.com/venue162 Waiting Room, 6212 Maple St., 884.5353, waitingroomlounge.com Whiskey Roadhouse, Horseshoe Casino, 2701 32nd Ave., Council Bluffs, whiskeyroadhouse.com Zoo Bar, 136 N.14th St., Lincoln, zoobar.com

UPCOMING SHOWS

8TH ANNUAL LASH LARUE TOY DRIVE

w/ Noahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ark Was a Spaceship, Vago & All Young Girls Are Machine Guns

SPOtlIGHt SHOW

Midwest Dilemma

DJ Ryan Swan

Televised UFC Fights

saTuRday, 12/04/10 9:00PM @ The WaiTing RooM

FREE SHOW

Gunshot Itch

ThuRsday, 12/02/10 8:00PM @ The WaiTing RooM

FRiday, 12/03/10 9:00PM @ The WaiTing RooM

w/ Animals As Leaders & The End In Red

w/ Glover, Shoe Dog & Rise From Ruin

VINYL HAZE

GORILLA PRODUCTIONS

saTuRday, 12/08/10 9:00PM @ The WaiTing RooM

Monday, 12/09/10 8:00PM @ The WaiTing RooM

FRiday, 12/10/10 9:00PM @ The WaiTing RooM

DREDG

FANCY PARTY COMEDY

BRAD HOSHAW & THE SEVEN DEADLIES

sunday, 12/05/10 9:00PM @ The WaiTing RooM

FUNK TREK

w/ The Big Deep

Pink Floyd

AND

Metallica Tribute Bands FREE SHOW

$5 CASH COVER ON ALL SHOWS DOORS AT 7PM

| SHOWS AT 9PM

=MRON_VO KXN K\^S]^] ]_LTOM^ ^Y MRKXQO 7_]^ LO Y\ YVNO\ ^Y QKWLVO 5XYa AROX >Y =^YZ ,OPY\O CY_ =^K\^ Â&#x17D; 1KWLVSXQ :\YLVOW) -KVV Ă " Ă ,/>=900 3X 3YaK Y\ Ă " Ă Ă ! Â&#x160; 2K\\KRu] 6SMOX]O -YWZKXc 66-

saTuRday, 12/11/10 9:00PM @ The WaiTing RooM

HOT BUTTERED RUM ACOUSTIC TRIO

Monday, 12/13/10 8:00PM @ The WaiTing RooM

BRYAN GREENBERG

w/ Matt Cox

Tuesday, 12/14/10 8:45PM @ The WaiTing RooM

HOMELESS FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Blankets Not Blizzards CD Release Party

12/15/10 EMMET OTTERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S JUG-BAND CHRISTMAS 12/16/10 SOMASpHERE 12/17/10 THE NADAS 12/18/10 ClEvER 12/20/10 SATURN MOTH 12/21/10 WASTEOID 12/22/10 GUNKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S MURRAY XMAS! 12/23/10 SlOWDOWN vIRGINIA 12/23/10 SATCHEl GRANDE 12/25/10 BANJO lOCO

12/29/10 MOUSETRAp 12/31/10 SECRET WEApON NEW YEARS! 1/01/10 COWBOY MOUTH 1/08/10 BROKEN CROWN 1/29/10 REBElUTION 2/12/10 BEST COAST 2/13/10 UMpHREYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S MCGEE 2/19/10 DEERHOOF 2/24/10 TApES â&#x20AC;&#x2122;N TApES 4/30/10 MOGWAI

More Information and Tickets Available at

WWW.ONEPERCENTPRODUCTIONS.COM

music listings

| THE READER |

dec. 2 - 8 , 2010

39

THE STUNNING FINALE! “INDISPUTABLY TERRIFIC. NOOMI RAPACE IS HOT STUFF.” Peter Travers, ROLLING STONE

“THE FINEST FILM IN THE TRILOGY.” Richard Corliss, TIME

STIEG LARSSON’S

Read the Alfred A. Knopf Book

www.millenniumfilmtrilogy.com N OFRIDAY, W SHO WING STARTS NOVEMBER 19TH FILM STREAMS AT THE RUTH SOKOLOF THEATER 1340 Webster Street, Omaha (402) 933-0259

Visit www.millenniumfilmtrilogy.com to enter the Visit Stieg Larsson’s Sweden Sweepstakes!

THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE NOW AVAILABLE on DVD, Blu-ray and VOD

STARTS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3RD AT THEATRES EVERYWHERE NO PASSES ACCEPTED

2.25” X 5.35" THUR 11/18 OMAHA THE READER

40

dec. 2 - 8 , 2010

| THE READER |

RELATIVITY MEDIA OMAHA READER

1/4 PG (4.7") X 5.35"

tvtalk

“Tabatha’s Salon Takeover” (Mondays, 9 p.m., Bravo). Beginning its third season, “Tabatha’s Salon Takeover”

is TV’s scariest reality series. American hair salon owners are startled when intimidating Brit Tabatha Coffey suddenly shows up in black leather, thigh-high stiletto boots and related dominatrix wear. Tabatha stares daggers at the owners through her slits-for-eyes. She points out problems at the salons as the staff – and viewers – cringe in fear. In the season premiere, Tabatha storms into Mia Bella outside San Francisco, calling it “the filthiest salon I’ve ever seen.” Within a week, she has scared the slovenly employees straight, to the point where they start cleaning out the back-room refrigerator without even being asked. Better that than having your head bitten off.

— Dean Robbins

A potent mix of Love and Other Drugs

by Justin Senkbile

A

steadily hold a paintbrush. She projects the image of an unshakable woman, as she sardonically laughs off the cruelty of her disease and what she sees as the inevitability of suffering alone. But that’s mostly an act, and underneath it she’s as fragile as anyone. Maggie is not as complex or fully realized a character for Hathaway as Kym from 2008’s Rachel Getting Married, but her performance is certainly of the same caliber.

At first, Jamie and Maggie simply try to relieve their respective feelings of emptiness through incessant sex, but Jamie soon discovers affection for her beyond the bedroom. And Mag-

s its title states, love is just one of many brain-altering ingredients present in director Edward Zwick’s Love and Other Drugs. The film is set in the world of pharmaceutical sales in the mid-’90s, so besides a little pot and plenty of beer, we’re also among Prozac, Zoloft and the debut of Viagra.

Jamie Randall (Jake Gyllenhaal) has never cared about much, so nothing much has ever really been expected of him. Love and other drugs The only things he could honestly admit to being good at are getting laid and selling stereos. He’s one of those conscience-free charmers, loudly ambling through a happy, if empty, life. Jamie ambitiously pursues sex and money, not in some quest for power or personal justification, but simply because nothing else interests him.

So his new job as a Pfizer sales rep, which uses both his seduction skills and lack of moral stamina, fits him perfectly. And as for the task of selling the company’s newest product, Viagra, this life-sized Ken doll was practically born for it.

Maggie Murdock (Anne Hathaway) is an artist, or at least she used to be, before her early onset Parkinson’s took away the ability to

Film Streams at the Ruth Sokolof Theater 14th & Mike Fahey Street (formerly Webster Street) More info & showtimes 402.933.0259 · filmstreams.org Facebook & Twitter: /filmstreams

gie, although she violently fights against it, falls for him as well.

This is a love story that skillfully obscures the fact that it’s a tragedy, which results in a striking, melancholic trace left in our minds. Our lovers are happy when the film ends, but the future looms over them darkly. Maggie’s disease will undoubtedly worsen, and we can presume her fits of rage will increase as well. Jamie, although he’s found a bit of humanity in himself through Maggie, hasn’t really learned a thing. He’s sort of like a younger, not-yet-bitter Ryan Bingham (from last year’s Up in the Air).

This is also a perfect example of how much a movie can depend on the presence of an actor, or in this case, actors. Whenever the pace lulls, the tone too abruptly changes, or things tip too far into sappiness, Gyllenhaal and Hathaway always seem able to salvage the scene.

After all, at heart this is still a romantic comedy. Not much is remarkable on its own, but when communicated through these two actors, it becomes insightful and poignant. Love and Other Drugs is a surprisingly effective movie, and it’s almost entirely fueled

by Gyllenhaal’s charm and Hathaway’s smile. ,

GRADE: B-

film B y

r y a n

s y r e k

n Lindsay Lohan has fallen so far she can no longer effectively be counted on to appear as a porn star, a role for which I assumed she had been training for a decade now. Malin Ackerman (Watchmen) is landing in the deep throat of Linda Lovelace, replacing Lohan in Inferno. If “jumping the shark” refers to sitcoms embarrassing themselves past their prime, can “failing at porn star” be the new slogan for a bigscreen flameout? n I now like Mark Wahlberg. He may appear to be a humorless over-muscled jagoff, but I love impressions of him talking to animals and at a press junket for The Fighter he confirmed he would NOT star in The Crow and made fun of The Happening. After admitting the movie was crap, he expounded with “F***ing trees, man. The plants? F*** it. You can’t blame me for wanting to play a science teacher.

At least I wasn’t playing a cop or a crook.”

Well played, Funky Bunch. Well played. n News that morons are re-re-remaking Buffy the Vampire Slayer into a movie without the help of creator Joss Whedon will not result in widespread violent riots or organized displays of anger. It will, however, totally ruin the mood at several Dungeons and Dragons games and Internet forums. Thanks for lameness, Warner Brothers. n The director of the awesome animated sequence in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, Ben Hibon, is going to direct a dark reworking of Peter Pan called Pan in which Pan is a villain hunted by a police captain named Hook. Because what the story of an ageless flying boy who kidnaps young girls using “magic dust” needed was to be slightly creepier.

cuttingroom

Under the Influence

e d i t e d

— Ryan Syrek Cutting Room provides breaking local and national movie news … complete with added sarcasm. Send any relevant information to film@thereader.com. Check out Ryan on the radio on CD 105.9 (Fridays at around 7:30 a.m.), on his blog at thereader.com/film/ C19 and on Twitter (twitter.com/thereaderfilm).

This Week The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest First-Run (R) Directed by Daniel Alfredson Through Thursday, December 16

Great Directors: Chaplin Double Feature!

The Kid 1921 with The Idle Class 1921 Friday, December 3 - Sunday, December 5

Great Directors: Chaplin

A King in New York 1958 Monday, December 6 - Thursday, December 9

Student Night at the Ruth Sokolof Theater

Monday, December 6: All shows FREE for full-time students with school ID!

Film Club Screening: Chaplin’s A KING IN NEW YORK, Monday, December 6, 4pm, with a post-show discussion. Open to all, FREE for full-time students.

film

Coming Soon:

Carlos

First-Run (NR) Directed by Olivier Assayas One week only! December 10-16 The complete version - regular ticket price includes all three parts. More info and advance tickets at filmstreams.org.

Coming Soon:

Black Swan First-Run (R) Directed by Darren Aronofsky Starts Friday, December 17

| THE READER |

dec. 2 - 8 , 2010

41

film m o v i e

r e v i e w s ,

c o m m e n t a r y

a n d

Burn Noticed: Fair Game reminds us how Plame met flames

by Ryan Syrek

F

YOU AND A GUEST ARE INVITED TO A SPECIAL SCREENING OF

BE ONE OF THE FIRST 50 PEOPLE TO VISIT WWW.THEREADER.COM BEGINNING THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2 FOR YOUR CHANCE TO RECEIVE A COMPLIMENTARY PASS FOR TWO.*

orget Congressional censure and domestic or international courts of law, the Bush administration will apparently burn for their sins beneath the withering lights of largely ignored, star-driven movies. Score one for justice! If we can’t expect the guy who directed Swingers (Doug Liman) to preserve our democracy, who will stand as the last defender of this once great republic?

As Matt Damon’s Green Zone before it, Fair fair game Game has a longer memory than the fickle American public more apt to grab pitchfork and torch over “Dancing with the Stars” results than over a false march to global war based on doctored information. With the former president on a book tour finally addressing tough issues like how it felt when Kanye hurt his feelings, it only feels right to consider the other side … and that means finding Sean Penn.

Penn plays Joe Wilson, a former ambassador appointed by the Clinton administration whose wife, Valerie Plame (Naomi Watts), was a covert C.I.A agent. In 2002, the C.I.A. asked Plame if her husband, who had spent ample time in the region, would be willing to travel to Niger to help assess a claim that Iraq had tried to purchase a mind-boggling, Dick Cheney-exciting amount of nuclear material. Wilson quickly and thoroughly determined these claims were as fictional as bipartisanship and submitted his findings.

Meanwhile, Plame was moved to the head of a unit investigating Iraq’s weapons programs.

Despite her repeated findings that concluded

reportcard Due Date Nothing new is born in this, other than the creation of a Galifianakis-overexposure countdown clock.

COLUMBIA PICTURES PRESENTS A GRACIE FILMS PRODUCTION A FILM BY JAMES L. BROOKS “HOW DO YOU KNOW” KATHRYN HAHN

EXECUTIVE ALDRIC LA’AULI PORTER SUPERVISIONMUSICBY NICK ANGEL MUSICBY HANS ZIMMER PRODUCERS JOHN D. SCHOFIELD RICHARD SAKAI JAMES L. BROOKS PAULA WEINSTEIN LAURENCE MARK JULIE ANSELL WRIDIRECTEDTTEN ANDBY JAMES L. BROOKS

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dec. 2 - 8 , 2010 Film: How Do You Know

| THE READER |

film

C-

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest D Kicking out quick adaptations is like kicking a hornet’s nest; eventually, you get stung.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 BLet’s not say the magic is fading, let’s say it is time for the final abracadabra.

m o r e

e d i t e d

b y

r y a n

s y r e k

there were no such programs, Chief-of-Staff and head douchebag Scooter Libby (David Andrews) refused to yield, only passing along intelligence that supported the administration’s predetermined conclusion. When Bush risked a pants fire by lying in the State of the Union about the Nigerian nuke purchase, Wilson went on the attack.

Pegged into a hole by “truth” and “facts,” Libby and Karl Rove (Adam Le Fevre) decided to change the story by leaking Plame’s covert status to the media, blowing her cover, likely killing dozens of people she had worked with and reducing her and Wilson’s life to a smoking crater.

Shock and awe wasn’t just a foreign export, as Fair Game weaves its way through the smoldering ruins that used to be the life of a dedicated public servant.

Culled from books by both Plame and Wilson, the screenwriting team of Jez and John Butterworth can’t be considered non-partisan. But facts are facts, and when strung together with emotional torment as demonstrated by best-tear-producer Watts and best-ownerof-rage Penn, the result is righteous indignation brewing in all those willing to listen.

Liman manages to keep the film paced like an action film … without any action, complete with tightly shot and bleached footage. Even with Penn playing Wilson as kind of an ass and Watts gettin’ her grimace on for two hours, things feel modestly thrilling at times and rarely plainly didactic.

Although never outright fun and not full of the gnashing, thrashing performances that raise Oscar’s eye, Fair Game is another addition to the time capsule of increasingly forgotten Bush administration issues. Here’s hoping whoever digs it up one day knows what to do with it all. ,

GRADE: BMegamind Even in animated form, Will Ferrell walks the line of

B-

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DEC. 2 - 8 , 2010

43

Happy Ending?

Huskers face fitting Big 12 finale against Sooners

by Mike Babcock

C

ody Green has heard it before. All quarterbacks hear it.

“I’m open. Throw me the ball.”

In this case, however, he’s the one making the request.

“He’s always harping on me in practice to throw it to him,” Rex Burkhead says with a smile.

“I don’t know; I haven’t got the whole trust factor with him yet.”

Burkhead was addressing reporters following Nebraska’s 45-17 victory against Colorado on the day after Thanksgiving. With the victory, the Huskers earned a return trip to Saturday night’s Big 12 championship game against Oklahoma at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

And yes, playing the Sooners is a fitting way to finish membership in the Big 12.

So anyway, Burkhead had thrown two passes against Colorado, both complete and both for touchdowns. The sophomore from Plano, Texas, is a running back. But when he lines up in the Wildcat formation, he becomes a rex burkhead quarterback of sorts, taking the shotgun snap and either handing off or faking a handoff, keeping the ball and running.

The first time in the Wildcat against Colorado, he kept for 13 yards. Before the day was done, he had carried 18 more times (not all in the Wildcat) for 101 yards and a touchdown.

By now, Nebraska fans know Burkhead can run with the ball. He’s the team’s third-leading rusher, behind running back Roy Helu, Jr. and

44

dec. 2 - 8 , 2010

quarterback Taylor Martinez. What they might not have known until the Colorado game, however, is that Burkhead also is a threat to pass the ball.

Actually, considering how knowledgeable Husker fans are, Burkhead’s passing prowess might not have been a surprise to some. After all, he played a little quarterback in high school. Plus, offensive coordinator Shawn Watson says he could throw out of the Wildcat, and throw well.

“All week long in practice, I’d kind of sit back and laugh to myself because he’s got great touch,” Watson says. “He’s just got a real feel

for football.

“Whatever you ask him to do he just goes all in and goes to work.”

Burkhead was asked to prepare to pass if need be against Colorado as the Huskers turned to the Wildcat to help compensate for the absence of Martinez, who was sidelined by injury — turf toe and a high-ankle sprain. Green, of course, stepped in for Martinez.

| THE READER |

sports

“We’re not a one-dimensional Wildcat offense,” says Watson. Given Burkhead’s versatility “there’s no telling how far we can go with it. We’ll just keep scratching away and being creative and putting him and others in the position to create little plays that, I think, can really catch defenses off-guard.”

The plays Burkhead produced from the Wildcat weren’t exactly “little.” His first touchdown pass covered 26 yards to wide receiver Brandon Kinnie, and his second, though covering only 4 yards to tight end Kyler Reed, showed what Watson called his “great (football) instincts.”

The play was designed to be a pass to Ben Cotton, the other tight end. But Cotton was covered, so Burkhead ad-libbed and “just made a heck of a play,” coach Bo Pelini says.

Burkhead began by running to his right, but when he saw Cotton had been “taken away” by the defense, he ran back to his left and lobbed the ball to an open Reed.

“I was thinking about tucking and running,” says Burkhead. “But the run really didn’t look like it was going to be there, so I just decided to reverse field and, I guess, try to make a play out of it.”

Green also had two touchdown passes, among 10 completions in 13 attempts without an interception. But quarterbacks throw touchdown passes; running backs don’t.

“Those two (Burkhead) touchdown passes, I kind of had to look at him: ‘Hey, slow down a little bit. I’m the one that’s supposed to be throwing (them),’” Green says. “But we practice that every week, and finally we got to do it during the game. And it worked.”

The Wildcat can create substitution problems for the defense because the quarterback remains in the game, splitting out as a receiver.

But that’s not apparent until the team breaks the huddle.

So Green lined up at wideout at times during the Colorado game.

At some point, he might even have a chance to catch a pass.

“Hopefully, in the future there is,” says Green. “I kind of always nudge Rex whenever he goes out there: ‘Hey, come on now, look out there.’ But we’ll see.

“I’m always open, always, no matter what.” ,

It had to end this way didn’t it? The last stop on the Huskers farewell tour of the Big 12 — a trip that’s gotten uglier and more contentious with each passing week — is Arlington, Texas where they’ll face old Big 8 foe Oklahoma with a conference title on the line. No one in Nebraska would have asked for any other ending.

Injuries, rumors, conspiracy theories, apologies, emails and PR black eyes haven’t made for a fun few weeks for Nebraska fans, but a little nostalgia seems like just the remedy. Even at its most lopsided, the OU-NU rivalry was always about respect and that’s something most Nebraska fans haven’t been doling out or receiving much of lately.

This is a significant turning point in Bo Pelini’s career. For all he’s achieved in his three seasons at Nebraska — two North division titles, two bowl victories and a defense that’s the envy of any program in the country — Husker fans are still waiting for him to take home some meaningful hardware.

This is a chance for Nebraska to go from improving to arriving. Win and they head to a resurgent Big 10 ready to join the nation’s elite.

Lose and there’s no ignoring the fact that the Huskers left the Big 12 without winning a conference title in over a decade. Don’t think the Huskers’ old conference rivals won’t delight in bringing it up, either.

It’s been a long time since Nebraska’s faced such a program-defining game as this; but Pelini is at his best when he can trumpet the “us against the world” mentality and he’ll certainly have that with fans from Ames to Austin hoping the Sooners can carry the flag for the rest of the conference.

thejump

sports

n Something old, something new, something red and something blue. That’s the best way to describe this state’s two entries in the NCAA Women’s Volleyball tournament getting underway Thursday.

Nebraska locked up a Big 12 title and number two overall seed last week. The Huskers host Sacred Heart Dec. 2, the seventh straight year Nebraska has hosted the first two tournament rounds.

Meanwhile, Creighton will be making their first ever NCAA tournament appearance, picking up an at large bid after losing the Missouri Valley Conference championship to Northern Iowa last Saturday. The Bluejays face a significantly more difficult road, taking on Iowa State in Minneapolis Dec. 3.

— Brandon Vogel The Jump takes you behind the local headlines. Email jump@thereader.com and look for daily updates at twitter.com/brandonlvogel.

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| THE READER |

weird news

newsoftheweird

t h e w o r l d g o n e f r e a k y b y c h u c k s h e p h e r d w i t h i l l u s t r at i o n s b y to m b r i s c o e

Very hairy scary: what a navel idea

The Continuing Crisis

from Italy’s Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

Motti said a clinic employee surreptitiously gave him the fat following Berlusconi’s treatment in 2004, but the clinic denies any involvement.

— Investigative journalism website ProPublica.org, curious about the workers being hired in the mortgage industry’s massive, rushed re-examination of home loans previously foreclosed upon but which may have been processed illegally, began scouring classified ads in October and November. Result: Though most employers “preferred” college graduates with credit-industry experience, it was clear from the entry-level wages offered that many were accepted only with high school educations, with at least some barely familiar with the concept of mortgages. One staffing agency, offering $10-$12 an hour, sought a “Supervisor of Foreclosure Department,” but that position, also, required only a high school diploma.

Fathers of the Year: (1) Real Father: In September, a judge in Kent County, Mich., finally ordered Howard Veal, 44, to prison to serve at least two years for failure to pay child support. He is more than $500,000 behind in payments to 14 mothers for the 23 children he has fathered. Authorities suspect there are even more. (2) Fake Father: French officials arrested a 54-year-old immigrant in September on suspicion of welfare fraud. They recently noticed the man applying for government benefits for 55 children by 55 different mothers.

He may have fathered none at all.

— Swiss artist Gianni Motti displayed (through November) a bar of soap at Zurich’s Migros Museum of Contemporary Art, claiming it was made from fat that had been liposuctioned

Life Imitates 100 Sci-Fi Movies: At a conference in Vancouver in October, University of California, San Francisco researcher Charles Chiu disclosed that a never-before-detected virus that partially wiped out a monkey colony in a lab in Davis, Calif., recently appeared to have “jumped” from its species onto a human scientist at the facility.

However, Chiu and his research team said there is “no cause for alarm at this time.”

— Smooth Reaction: In November, after her fourth-grade son was allegedly slapped by his teacher at a Kansas City, Mo., elementary school (son, black; teacher, white), Lisa Henry Bowen submitted a 40-page list of reparations she expects from President Obama and two dozen

L

ibrarian Graham Barker, 45, of Perth, Australia, casually revealed to a reporter in October that his hobby of 26 years — harvesting his own navel lint daily, just before he showers — has now won acclaim in the Guinness Book of World Records. His three-jar collection (a fourth is in progress) has been sold to a local museum. His pastime, he told London’s Daily Mail in October, “costs nothing and takes almost no time or effort so there is no compelling reason to stop.”

Barker, who also collects McDonald’s tray liners, said he once did a “navel lint survey,” and “a handful of respondents” “confessed” to the hobby.

“One guy might have persisted, but he got married, and his wife ordered him to stop.”

Yikes!

COPYRIGHT 2010 CHUCK SHEPHERD. Visit Chuck Shepherd daily at NewsoftheWeird.blogspot.com or NewsoftheWeird.com. Send Weird News to WeirdNewsTips@yahoo.com or P.O. Box 18737, Tampa, FL 33679.

Illustrations by Tom Briscoe (smallworldcomics.com).

other officials. Included in the many demands: $1.25 million in cash, $13,500 in Wal-Mart gift cards, free college education, Disney World vacations, private tennis lessons, an African safari, her mortgage paid off, home remodeling, nine years of free medical and dental coverage, and a nine-year “consulting contract” with the school district at $15,000 a month. Anticipating criticism that she had gone too far, she added that opponents can “kiss my entire black ass!!!!!! I haven’t begun to go far enough!!!!!!!”

— Centuries ago, women who devoted themselves to the Hindu goddess Devadasi were priestesses from upper castes, but over time, the temples began to use “Devadasis” merely as prostitutes to raise money, according to a new British documentary by Sarah Harris, who was interviewed in September by London’s The Independent. As before, girls are offered to the temples by their parents by age 3 and perform chores, but nowadays, at puberty, the temple begins to cash in on them. India made this practice illegal in 1988, but it endures, largely because the “Devadasis” (now, almost exclusively from lower castes) have, as career alternatives, only farm labor and latrine-cleaning.

— Incoming University of Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley told reporters in September of encountering one unexpected problem: staph infections caused by “the worst shower discipline of any team I’ve ever been around.” He said he had recently run a clinic on “application of soap to the rag” and “making sure you hit all your body.”

Least Competent Criminals Judgment-Challenged: (1) Tommy Riser of Blaine, Wash., had a rough Sept. 13. After a bout of drinking, he crashed a truck into a utility pole, and a few minutes later, crashed his wife’s car into a guardrail trying to drive away. Later, he retrieved his personal tow truck and drove it back to the scene, intending to tow the two crashed vehicles home. However, a sheriff ’s deputy was on hand and, noting that Riser was still tipsy, charged him with three separate DUIs. (2) Theodore Davenport Jr., 53, who was wanted for robbing the same PNC Bank branch in Harrisburg, Pa., twice in the previous month, was arrested in November when he approached a teller at that bank to inquire about the balance in his own account.

A News of the Weird Classic (February 1992)

Bedford, Pa., district judge Charles O. Guyer was charged in August (1991) with improperly favoring a defendant in his courtroom. Police said Guyer privately offered a lenient sentence to a 21-year-old man on the condition that the man would allow Guyer to shampoo his hair.

The defendant reported the offer to authorities, and two undercover police officers, claiming to be friends of the defendant, allowed Guyer to wash their hair to gather evidence.

Guyer went on to resign in May 1992 after apologizing for his conduct and agreeing to forfeit his pension benefits. ,

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| THE READER |

dec. 2 - 8 , 2010

47

planetpower w ee k l y

T

h oroscopes

he New Moon in gregarious Sagittarius will really light up the seasonal festivities. There are three Fire signs in the Zodiac. The first, Aries represents the fiery Solar/Martian victory over Winter’s cold. Leo represents basking in Summertime’s afternoon glow. And the “fire” of Sagittarius represents the warmth of human contact and gathering together to survive our coldest season — as if we needed a reason. Let’s get cozy as our cheeks turn rosy? Use this week to create a happy end to Fall, you all. Peace and Love Shall Conquer All. There are no mistakes.

— MOJOPOPlanetPower.com i SAGITTARIUS (11.23-12.21) Keep your third eye on the first, brightest “star” in the sky. That’s Jupiter, your ruler, high in the sky at Sunset (in Pisces, sign of dreams) until we enter the sign of the unexpected (Aquarius, Jan. 22) and Jupiter enters Aries, the sign of new starts. What can you possibly dream until then? How BIG can you dream/think/ be? Our dreams spark our schemes here on Earth, where we find what our dreams are worth. Enjoy yourself, those things you’ve achieved and your friends and family.

You’ve got this month of fun, followed by a month (Capricorn) of paying the bills for your thrills and then unexpectedly (that means don’t blab about it!) you put your head down and charge LARGE into something new, fiery, exciting and fresh. j CAPRICORN (12.22-1.20) You woke up Dec. 1 with a dream message from your Mentor. Thursday, Dec. 2, the importance of beauty, balance and design helps define your dream. Even you pragmatic saturnine non-dreamers can learn, if you’ll just listen … but to what, if not your dreams? You have two more years to create the harmony you seek in your life, in how you get by, in how you define your art, your reputation and your relationship(s). k AQUARIUS (1.21-2.19) Hang loose until the New Moon in Sagittarius Dec. 5 at Sunset. Your esoteric ruler, the planet Uranus, moves direct at 26 degrees Pisces. Meanwhile, Mercury’s conjunct Pluto in Capricorn. Somebody’s talking for you and taking care of the money on the side/behind the scenes. It’ll be a beautiful day for you. Let’s see who shows up for lunch? This culminates everything you’ve thought about or tried since the Fourth of “Jewel lied.” l PISCES (2.20-3.20) Ancient truth is available for those of you most psychically in tune with the Hunab Ku, the center of our Milky Way Galaxy (at 26 degrees Sagittarius) and the GOD of the Mayans. Neptune is harmonious with Mars conjunct the Hunab Ku. Read Carl Johan Calleman, Jose Arguelles, Mysteries of the Mexican Pyramids by Peter Tompkins. Then let’s watch APOCALYPTO followed by The Fountain to get

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dec. 2 - 8 , 2010

| THE READER |

planet power

b y

mo j opo

in the mood to speak/listen to that culture, and to ascertain the ancient truth in order to know where we truly stand come Dec. 23, 2012. a ARIES (3.21-4.20) Read Pisces. You’ve got one more week to party, then it’s time to hunker down until mid January to perfect your projects. Then it’ll be time to expect the unexpected. Your 9th House is lit up. Travel, the fruit of generosity, goodwill toward others and feasting fill your cup. Drink deep. Until then (Jan. 8), party on! b TAURUS (4.21-5.20) Your short respite is over, Rover. You’re back in the doghouse. What kind of Cosmic roommate have you been? You’ll again see yourself through the eyes of others, sisters, brothers, mothers, lovers amidst beaucoup Vou Dou hexes from your hoodooing exes. Venus (now direct) conjuncts where it was mid September (1 degree Scorpio) and transits your opposite sign Scorpio until Jan. 4-6. Hang in with a low profile until you find a way to partner up and let them drink from your lovin’ cup. Lend them what power you can muster. Find the love and use it to grow into the required wisdom to stay warm in cold weather. That’ll guarantee you a drink at any bar in the Cosmos. c GEMINI (5.21-6.21)My God! Get as much together as you can this week! More next week! Read Cancer for a clue and low profile as a rule. d CANCER (6.22-7.22) The New Moon in Sagittarius is Sunday before lunch. You’ll love to eat a bunch at brunch, then either work out or start early on your workweek (6th House concerns), until next we speak. Make sure communications are succinct as possible this week before they turn to drivel as Mercury moves retrograde in your opposite sign Friday, Dec. 10, amidst the drivel. Are you ready to publish, compose, travel and unravel life’s mysteries? e LEO (7.23-8.22) Sunday is your day! The planet Uranus moves direct in your theoretical 8th House of other people’s money during the New Moon in lucky, ducky, funky Sagittarius. Unexpected holiday money’s lookin’ for you, BooBoo. It’s too early for Santa Claus, but you’d better be good anyway. They’ll be dressed in electric light blue with something “good” for you to say or do. You’re back in your element. Let the good times Roll! Time for you to Rock! f VIRGO (8.23-9.22) Get it together this week before next we speak. The coming confusion stems from your children, art and pursuit of pleasure, then sneaks in through the back door of your life at a party.

Get ready this week and help it happen by partying as hearty as possible without pissing anybody off. g LIBRA (9.23-10.22) Money for art. Make it beautiful and you can balance your account. Your pay is defined by how fine your design. ,

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