The Reader 2-10-2011

feb. 10 - 16, 2011 VOL.17

official program inside

news 7

Killing a Dream

dish 16

Stirred, But Not Shaken

style 21

Republic of Indivduality

music 39 Large and Live

The

Soderbergh Experience

Filmmaker Steven Soderbergh to talk shop for Film Streams’ Feature III cover story by Leo Adam Biga ~ Page 12

OMAHA JOBS 2

Weird 50

MOjo 52

FUNNIES 53

51

Full-time

Full-time

WIRE-N-I.T. needs INDEPENDANT LOW VOLTAGE SUBCONTRACTOR Must have own working vehicle, insurance and valid drivers license. Experience a must. Call 402-546-9479 For more information go to OmahaJobs.com.

Assembly technician Claas Omaha Robbin. galdeano@claas.com Check out Omahajobs.com website for more details.

Good Fellas NIGHT CLUB Dancers 402.341.9030 Check out Omahajobs.com website for more details.

Data Support Systems Programmer position swelchert@datasupport. com For more information go to OmahaJobs.com.

Graphic Designer Work with creative team designing advertisements for our print publications such as The Reader, El Perico, Directorial Latino, Vision Latina, Today's Omaha Women and numerous other client print publications.

Check out OmahaJobs.com.

Sales Representative StaTE FARM INSURANCE Thad Hamilton Agency Thad.hamilton.1tv7@statefarm.com Check out Omahajobs.com website for more details.

Matheson Linweld Automation Specialist ljones@mathesongas.com Check out Omahajobs.com website for more details.

Premier Therapy Assoc. Receptionist and Patient Care Tech chris@ mypremiertherapy.com for more information go to OmahaJobs.com.

Volunteer & events MANAGER Fontenelle Nature Association jhuffman@fontenelle forest.org Check out Omaha jobs.com for more details.

Fantastic Beginnings Child CARE/PRESCHOO NOW ENROLLING ALL AGES 4102 South 13th Street Title XX Welcome www.fantasticbeg innings.com (402) 408-0395 JOB FAIR – APRIL 6, 2011 MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW! OmahaJobs.com will be hosting their first of five job fairs for 2011 on April 6th at CoCo Keys Resort from 10a.m. to 5p.m. FREE to the public. Many great companies have already signed up to do recruiting that day. Bring plenty of resumes and dress for success. Adults looking for employment, career change and education opportunites. Please plan to attend Omahajobs.com job fair.

Full-time

Full-time

Full-time

Full-time

Full-time

Full-time

Counsel In-house Counsel position will provide legal support to the organization on technology-related matters including the company’s Research & Development (R&D) function on Intellectual Property (IP) matters, with an emphasis on patent matters, including portfolio management, new filings and filing strategies, clearance and patentability evaluations. For more information, visit OmahaJobs. com.

Application Specialist Responsible for gathering business requirements and assess to be business processes, then design and build software solutions which meet the business requirements and enable targeted business processes for environmental management and compliance, general compliance, and internal audit functions. For more information, visit OmahaJobs.com.

COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST A multi-disciplined civil, structural, geotechnical and environmental engineering firm has an immediate opportunity for a talented full time Communications Specialist in our Lincoln or Omaha, NE office.

For more information, visit OmahaJobs.com.

Director of Performance IMPROVEMENT Oversee and monitor the implementation of the Performance Improvement program; Serve as the leader for Performance Improvement activities including the patient safety program; Review/revise the PI Program and assist in developing compliant policies & procedures; Communicate PI activities to the organization. For more information, visit OmahaJobs.com.

Graduate Assistant The Department of Health, Human Performance, and Sport is soliciting applications for graduate assistantships in Exercise Science and Sport Management to begin fall semester 2011. For more information, visit OmahaJobs.com.

Marketing Specialist Write and proof marketing material including direct mail pieces, advertisements, brochures, news releases, case studies, white papers and newsletters.

Help develop marketing campaigns, analyze data and qualify customer leads.

Develop e-mail lead generation campaigns and analyze results. Produce monthly e-newsletters for multiple target audiences. Coordinate tradeshows, customer events and lead generation efforts. For more information, visit OmahaJobs. com.

PHYSICAL THERAPY TECH Part time position with a variable schedule, hours ranging from 25-32 per week, Monday-Friday (typically no evenings or weekends). Specialized Physical Therapy is a busy outpatient physical therapy clinic. For more information, visit OmahaJobs.com.

Account rep respiratory Leading global healthcare products company that creates innovative medical solutions for better patient outcomes and delivers value through clinical leadership and excellence. We have 42,000 employees worldwide in more than 60 countries, and our products are sold in over 140 countries. For more information, visit OmahaJobs.com.

ACADEMIC PEDIATRIC ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEON fellowship-trained hand surgeons. The position involves patient care, teaching of residents and medical students, and research opportunities. For more information, visit OmahaJobs. com.

Ambitious? Creative? Outgoing?

Traveling Coding Specialist National company looking for qualified professionals to join our team. Excellent salary, benefits and paid time off. Reimbursement for continuing education and AHIMA dues. Laptop with encoder and coding references. Retirement plan with company contribution.

Full Medical, Dental and Life Insurance benefits.

Sign-on bonus and relocation assistance. For more information, visit Omaha Jobs.com.

Family Physician Department of Family Medicine is currently recruiting for two full-time academic faculty positions. Highly desired are faculty with clinical experience (one position to include OB experience) and a desire to further develop and share these skills. Candidates must be Board Certified.

Obstetrics is required. For more information, visit OmahaJobs.com.

Now Hiring!

Drop your resume and goals to work@thereader.com feb. 10 - 16, 2011

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Full Time Merchandiser position in Omaha, The position pays $14.90/hour and has benefits including health, dental, 401K and pension. For more information, visit OmahaJobs.com.

Local data entry/typists needed immediately. $400 PT - $800 FT weekly Flexible schedule, work from own PC. (800) 920-4851 (AAN CAN)

ASST. STORE DIRECTOR Manages, plans and leads the day to day activities of an individual retail store in conjunction with, or in absence of, the Store Director, ensuring profitable operation of all departments. Implements company merchandising and inventory programs. Schedules work loads; hires and trains store associates; and resolves all store associate relations issues. Has total responsibility for store operations when Store Director is absent. For more information, visit OmahaJobs.com.

Metro Area Cleaning Cleaners smhuckins@hotmail.com for more information go to Omahajobs.com.

omaha jobs

PHYSICIAN Midwest Gyn Oncology in Omaha, NE has a great opportunity to join a busy, established practice that is the largest provider of gyn oncology services in Nebraska and western Iowa.

For more information, visit OmahaJobs.com.

N & W Transfer Inc. Driver debrahobscheidt@ yahoo.com For more information go to OmahaJobs. com.

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Tip Top Tux Store Manager & Part time sales assoicate Sharon @tttux.com Check out Omahajobs.com website for more details.

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.

Graphic and Web Design Openings Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite, HTML, Expression Engine experience a PLUS. Work with creative team of Local Print and Digital Media. Varying M-F schedules. English and Spanish required.

2

Marketing Communications Account MANAGER Fullservice marketing communications and advertising agency, seeks an Account Manager for our Omaha office. For more information, visit Omaha Jobs.com.

Volunteer and events manager Revitalize and manage an effective volunteer program and execute special events to fulfill the goals of our business. Primary duties: Manage volunteer program including recruitment, training and communications. Coordinate six to eight public events and designated member events annually.

Work with Marketing Director to plan and implement annual exhibits. Work with-in FNA teams to set and attain organizational goals.

For more information, visit OmahaJobs.com.

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42 That Heavy Lovin’ Feeling ————————————————

The Soderbergh Experience:

Filmmaker Steven Soderbergh to talk shop for Film Streams’ Feature III ~ Page 12

hoodoo

43 OEA Awards and Sunday Roadhouse ————————————————

dish

16 Stirred, But Not Shaken 16 Crumbs: Food News ————————————————

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feb. 10 - 16, 2011

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feb. 10 - 16, 2011

| THE READER |

notableevents

Q Ethnic Potluck Dinner & Discussion: Thursday, Feb. 10, 6 p.m., West Hills Church, 3015 S. 82nd Ave. Omaha Table Talk hosts a dinner and discussion of hip-hop culture and its role in gender and race issues. omahatabletalk.com Q Leverage Lecture Series: Saturday, Feb. 12, 12 p.m., W. Dale Clark Library, 215 S. 15th St. A panel of community leaders explores the question: “Why are Omaha black businesses behind the curve?” omahapubliclibrary.org Q Science Café: Wednesday, Feb. 16, 7 p.m., The Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. UNMC doctor William Lydiatt answers the question: “Do Sex, Drugs, Rock and Roll Contribute to Head and Neck Cancer?” unmc.edu

Fremont state senator wants to remove in-state tuition for Nebraska’s undocumented high school graduates

M

by Andrew Norman

ore than a dozen opponents — including groups like Nebraska’s Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education, Building Bright Futures, the Nebraska Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, and the largest Hispanic Conservative group, Somos Republicans — testified Monday that the Legislature’s Education Committee should kill a bill to repeal the state’s Dream Act, a 2006 law that allows some undocumented immigrant students in-state college tuition.

But if the committee decides not to advance State Sen. Charlie Janssen’s bill — for the second-straight year — give credit to the death blow to attorney Shirley Mora James. The Nebraska Hispanic Bar Association President, Mora James tes- Charlie Janssen tified that numerous recent court cases, as well as documentation from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE), have shown providing in-state tuition to undocumented students is lawful — the crux of Janssen’s argument is that the bill violates federal law.

ICE issued a letter to the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office in 2008 that said offering instate tuition to undocumented immigrants was not considered a public benefit, and therefore did not violate federal immigration law. She said the Cali-

fornia Supreme Court ruled similarly in November.

A Jefferson County district judge dismissed a suit in December charging the legality of Nebraska’s law.

“What the legislature did in 2006 is legal,” Mora James said. “It was legal then. It’s legal now, and I believe that it will continue to be legal, unless the federal government passes a law that makes it illegal.”

James Milliken, president of the University of Nebraska, was not at the hearing, but presented a statement that said, when “increasing educational attainment is key to our ability to compete effectively in the knowledge-based innovation economy, repealing a state law that promotes this goal is counterproductive at best.”

Former State Sen. Dianna Schimek helped lead the successful effort to pass the law, which required three bills, an interim study and a vote to override Gov. Dave Heineman’s veto. The bill allows in-state college tuition rates to undocumented immigrants who graduate from Nebraska high schools after having lived in the state for at least three years, and who are pursuing or promise to pursue legal status. It affected fewer than 50 students in the University of Nebraska system last fall.

“It is difficult to understand why anyone would be against this law,” Schimek said at the hearing. “Tuition for out-of-state students is nearly triple what it is for students from Nebraska.

Most of the students affected by this bill come from families that struggle to support their children, let alone educate them.

“The bottom line is that we lose some of our best and brightest students if they cannot afford college.”

Janssen, who, in his first term, has quickly established himself as the lead Republican state senator attacking undocumented immigration, disagrees.

e d i t e d

a n d r e w

n o r m a n

City hopes Lincoln lobbyists will help save millions

“They went to college here before — they went after,” he said in an interview last week with The Reader. “… If they qualified for scholarships, they got them. And I find it hard to believe that those students wouldn’t remain. They’d probably remain here, illegally. They would probably gain financial assistance from these very organizations that are opposing every bill that I put forward to try to curb illegal immigration.”

Marshall Hill, executive director of Nebraska’s Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education, says undocumented immigrant students cannot receive federal or Nebraska need-based financial aid.

Janssen has also introduced a bill, LB 48, that would require police officers, when enforcing other laws, to question the immigration status of people they suspect are in the country illegally. It’s modeled after the 2009 Arizona law being challenged in federal court. Janssen concedes LB 48 isn’t likely to advance out of the judiciary committee.

Proponents of the bill included Susan Smith, Minutemen member and founder of the Nebraskans Advisory Group, a main supporter of the city of Fremont’s ordinance that would prevent undocumented immigrants from living or working in the city. That ordinance has been held up in court since last June. Two men, John Weigert and Jerry Hart, who were petitioners on that ordinance, also testified.

The state’s Dream Act is a “slap in the face to everybody that’s come here and done it the right way,” Hart said. “ … If there’s anything that anyone who comes here illegally deserves it’s to be deported.”

Dale Monsell of Nebraska Taxpayers for Freedom, the state’s Tea Party group, said undocumented students should hold their parents accountable.

“Illegal aliens are nationals of foreign countries,” he said. “Their education is the responsibility of those nations.”

Hill, who is responsible for promoting sound policies for Nebraska’s state and community colleges, sees a bigger picture. “I believe it boils down to simple human compassion,” he says. “You either get on the side of trying to make human progress, or you don’t.” ,

numberscruncher STRESS TEST: Nebraska’s rank among the least-stressed states at the end of 2010, according to the AP’s Economic Stress Index: 2nd Douglas County’s stress index, based on unemployment, foreclosure and bankruptcy rates: 6.31 The least-stressed county in Nebraska: Chase County (2.65) The most-stressed county in Nebraska: Dakota County (9.23) State average stress index: 5.38 Source: Public Policy Polling/Gallup

B y

upfront

Killing a Dream

topnews Sometimes you have to spend money to save money. At least, that’s the plan behind Mayor Jim Suttle’s new proposal. He wants to spend $73,000 for lobbyists to fight three proposed bills in the Nebraska Legislature that would restrict the city’s ability to levy occupation taxes at a cost of more than $100 million over the next seven years.

The City Council approved an amended version of the mayor’s contract with Lincoln lobbying firm O’Hara, Lindsay and Associates on Feb. 8 by a 4-3 vote. Councilmembers Jean Stothert, Franklin Thompson and Thomas Mulligan voted against the proposal.

The original contract was to run only for the remaining 18 weeks of the current legislative session, but the Council proposed a yearlong contract that it says would represent the city’s long-term interests.

“There certainly is the volume and the need for our interests to be represented,” Councilman Pete Festersen said.

The lobbyists will focus on three bills currently before the state legislature that could have a significant impact on the city’s current and future budgets.

Legislative Bill 383 proposes to eliminate state aid to cities, one of numerous cuts before the Legislature’s Revenue Committee aimed at closing the state’s estimated $1 billion budget gap over the next two years. City officials estimate Omaha receives nearly $3.3 million per year in state aid.

Legislative Bill 165 would eliminate the city’s right to apply an occupation tax to cell phone users.

The tax currently brings $16.25 million per year for the city. Under the proposed bill, the tax would be decreased by 1 percent each year for the next six years, before being totally eliminated in 2018.

But the most hotly contested bill could be LB 81, a law that would repeal the city’s wheel tax on commuters who work in Omaha but live outside the city.

The bill was given preliminary approval this week, with a provision for the city to continue to collect the tax from residents living within three miles of the city. The bill could cost Omaha $2.8 million dollars in 2011 and more than $3 million in 2013, according to the city.

In total, the city says it could lose an estimated $102 million through 2017 if all three bills pass.

— Brandon Vogel

theysaidit they “We could have to go to a property tax, which is what we’re trying to stay away from.”— Mayor Jim Suttle to KETV on sources of funding for Omaha if a bill cutting state aid to cities passes in the Nebraska Legislature. The city estimates it could lose $22 million in revenue.

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FEB. 10 - 16, 2011

| THE READER |

news

Less than a week after a setting a Mar. 15 trial date for the controversial Fremont law punishing employers and landlords who hire or rent to undocumented immigrants, U.S. District Judge Laurie Smith Camp has postponed the trial. A new date will be set after Camp meets with attorneys later this month.

Passed by voters last June, the Fremont City Council suspended the ordinance in late July after the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund filed suit, saying the ordinance violated state law. The groups have since combined the two lawsuits.

In November, Smith Camp asked the Nebraska Supreme Court to decide whether the case was a federal or state decision. The state Supreme Court declined to rule, and on Jan. 25, Smith Camp elected to keep the trial in federal court.

Residency requirements shut down drug counseling program A new state law requiring legal proof of residence to receive public benefits has forced the Latino Center of the Midlands to shut down its substance abuse counseling program.

The program was a primary resource for Spanish-speaking people in Omaha who were court ordered to seek drug and alcohol counseling. Up until this year, the Latino Center was able to use taxpayer funds to subsidize its counseling.

With public funds no longer available for cases involving undocumented immigrants, the Latino Center closed the program on Jan. 31.

The Latino Center estimates it served more than 300 clients seeking substance abuse counseling each year.

Two arrested in truck stop meth drop A suspicious exchange west of Omaha at the Sapp Brothers truck stop off Interstate 80 on Feb. 3 led U.S. Department of Homeland Security investigators to 12 pounds of methamphetamine and two arrests.

Omaha man Erik Lopez-Aceves was stopped late Feb. 3 by Omaha police for a traffic violation. Officers found 11 packages of methamphetamine in the vehicle. One day later, California truck driver Ruben Robles was stopped outside Crete, Neb. A search of his vehicle turned up $28,000 in cash.

Both men will face federal drug that could carry a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Report: More diversity needed for Nebraska’s Latino workforce A new study released Jan. 28 by the Office of Latino/Latin American Studies (OLLAS) at the University of Nebraska at Omaha shows that the majority of Latino immigrants in the state worked in construction and manufacturing jobs in 2009.

The OLLAS study found 63 percent of Latino immigrants worked in construction or manufacturing, compared to 49 percent of all immigrants and only 20 percent of domesticborn Nebraskans.

The report also showed 69 percent of adult Latino immigrants in Nebraska lacked a high school degree, and 31 percent lacked health insurance. Unemployment among foreign-born

murderink they Quincy Coleman, 25, was shot and killed at 3421 N. 21st St. on Feb. 1.

Police have made no arrests.

2011 HOMICIDES: 5 (THERE WERE 2 HOMICDES AT THIS TIME LAST YEAR)

Latinos was 8.2 percent in 2009, also higher than the overall state average of 6 percent.

The complete “Nebraska’s Foreign Born and Hispanic/Latino Population” report is available online at unomaha.edu/ollas.

state average at this time last year. Among Midwestern states only Illinois had a higher average price at $3.26 per gallon.

The national average for gallon of gas is $3.11.

State art program faces cuts

MCC delivers 10,000 books by bus

A bill introduced by Omaha State Sen. Gwen Howard would put a 10-year moratorium on Nebraska’s One Percent for Arts program that was created in 1978, which provides funding for artwork for Nebraska state buildings, state colleges and the University of Nebraska system. The state faces a projected $986 million budget deficit over two years.

“I am concerned that this action, ostensibly brought forth to help trim the state budget, is misleading,” Nebraska artist Kristin Pluhacek wrote in an open letter to Howard and Appropriations Committee Chair Lavon Heidemann. “The One Percent for Art program is applied only for state structures that the legislature votes to newly construct or extensively renovate, actions which would not be undertaken during a fiscal crisis.”

There are currently 528 existing artworks in the program’s collection at 63 sites across Nebraska. LB497 is set to go before the Appropriations Committee on Monday.

Metropolitan Community College and Metro transit will distribute more than 10,000 free books to three Omaha locations on Feb. 11 and 12 as part of the Books by the Busload program, aimed at promoting literacy throughout the city.

Community members are invited to browse and select books on parked buses at three locations: the Urban League of Nebraska, 3040 Lake St.; Westroads Mall, 10000 California St.; and the Salvation Army Kroc Center, 2825 Y St.

Nebraska gas prices among the highest in Midwest

Shooting Rounds

Nebraska drivers pay more for gasoline than motorists in any of their neighboring states, according to the latest numbers from AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report. As of Feb. 8, the average price for a gallon of gas in Nebraska was $3.21, the 13th highest price in the nation and 55 cents higher than the

Young Professionals Summit March 3

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If you’re interested in contributing to business and the community, join us and get inspired.

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OPS schedules budget forums Faced with a potential $22 million budget shortfall due to cuts in state and federal funds, Omaha Public Schools have scheduled four community forums to discuss the budget for the upcoming school year.

Dates and locations include: Feb. 22, Omaha North High; Feb. 24, Omaha Burke High; Feb. 26, Teacher Administration Center; and March 3, Omaha South High.

Creighton University College of Business HDR, Inc. TD AMERITRADE

Joel Sheehy, 21, survived after shooting himself in the face at his apartment at 818 N. 95th Plaza on Feb. 2. Police believe the shooting was accidental. Sheehy, a student at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, is the son of Nebraska Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy.

— Brandon Vogel

news

| THE READER |

feb. 10 - 16, 2011

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Sip the finest margarita Taste guacamole made fresh at your table Savor fresh seafood and steaks with authentic sauces

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Send your geekiest childhood photos to The Reader for a chance to win dinner for two and tickets the Omaha Community Playhouse’s production of The 25th Annual

Putnam County Spelling Bee.

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FEB. 10 - 16, 2011

| THE READER |

offensive coordinator Shawn Watson. No news on that yet but the rumors are flying.

■ Fun fact: The email address listed for running backs coach Tim Beck on the University of Nebraska website is triggins@ huskers.com. Somebody’s a “Friday Night Lights” fan.

■ Football’s not over, it’s just moving indoors. The Omaha Beef are hosting their annual fan fest Thursday Feb. 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Fox and Hound on 120th and Dodge. Meet the players and coaches, eat some wings and talk about your losing Super Bowl bets or whatever you need to get ready for the team’s first exhibition game Feb. 20 at the Civic Auditorium.

The Beef kick off their regular season Feb. 26 in Chicago.

■ Want to sing the national anthem at an Omaha Storm Chasers game this summer? The team is holding auditions on Saturday Feb. 12 at Oak View Mall starting at 10 a.m. For more information or to download a registration form visit OmahaStormChasers.com.

— Brandon Vogel

THEJUMP

TasTe The GourmeT side of mexican cuisine

■ All is fair in love and recruiting. If Bob Devaney didn’t say that he should have. The Irish Orator of Stadium Street — that name hasn’t quite caught on like I had hoped — would’ve delivered it with a wink and a laugh, charming the pens right out of reporters’ hands.

That’s not really Bo Pelini’s approach. On Feb. 2 Pelini signed his best recruiting class to date, a fact that should have been big news given Nebraska’s inert end to the 2010 season. Instead, the typically gruff Pelini press conference focused on the bigger news leaked from Indiana’s head coach Kevin Wilson.

Wilson let slip that defensive backs coach Corey Raymond had left the Hoosiers to take the same position at Nebraska.

Most Husker fans didn’t know that job was open and SHAWN WATSON Pelini offered some non-denial denials but a day later the coach confirmed that Marvin Sanders was leaving for “personal reasons.”

Interesting timing considering at least one high school star signed on specifically to play for Sanders.

Is it fair to hold off on staff changes until after recruits have signed on to play? Seems kind of shady, but so does the entire recruiting process.

Middle-aged men shouldn’t care this much about the decisions of high schoolers, right?

Turns out we don’t care about that as much as we care about the rumored departure of embattled

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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Heart Health Month, Scurvy and Vitamin C

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ngland once ruled the world. Really! Sailing the greatest naval force ever assembled at the time, our friends the Brits sent their armadas far and wide, girdling the globe and extending their empire.

On the open sea for months at a time, thousands of miles from land, those traveling tars existed on a steady diet of salt pork and biscuits, foods that kept for months in barrels and boxes — sort of like Slim Jims and Pop Tarts only healthier. But scurvy soon boarded ship.

Scurvy has been described throughout history. Even the ancient Egyptians recorded the symptoms. Amazingly, however, its specific cause remained a mystery for centuries, though fresh foods were found to remedy it.

Around 1800, Dr. James Lind discovered that scurvy was the result of vitamin C deficiency. Of course, he didn’t know it was vitamin C that was missing; the vitamin had yet to be isolated. However, he did realize that sailors who drank limejuice or ate limes did not develop the disease. As a matter of fact, any fruit or vegetable rich in the vitamin could cure the condition. Royal decree thence demanded that all ships in the British Navy must carry limejuice. Centuries later we still call our friends from the U.K. “limeys.”

During February, the month when Big Pharma and Big Medicine are pushing their products to prevent heart disease, it’s important to remember that diet and lifestyle, not drugs and doctors, have the greatest impact on your heart health.

Crack attack. Vitamin C, known also as ascorbate, is an essential nutrient. Absent, things deteriorate rapidly. Scurvy is a sure sign of vitamin C deficiency and a very unpleasant way to die. Without vitamin C, the very ability of the body to hold itself together is lost. Ascorbate is necessary to maintain the connective element in the body known as collagen. Collagen is the sort of “glue” that holds things together, and gives our body elasticity. When collagen synthesis suffers due to ascorbate deficiency, the body gets brittle. One part greatly affected is the cardiovascular system, including the blood vessels.

With scurvy, blood vessels stiffen and develop cracks in the vessel wall. At first they may be minor, subclinical.

Soon the vessels begin to leak and eventually the victim bleeds to death as his body falls apart. An early symptom is bleeding from the eyes. As one might well imagine, before death occurs some pretty gruesome symptoms develop.

Heart disease, man’s modern plague, is characterized by arteries blocked by scaly, calcified plaque; like those hard calcium deposits seen inside plumbing or around faucets. Of course, if a surface is smooth, it’s easier to scrape the scaly buildup off the faucet or pipe.

Now imagine the inside of an artery with tiny cracks in it. What better place would there be for plaque to attack? Those tiny cracks in artery walls could easily come from subclinical symptoms of scurvy.

Heartland Healing

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Scurvy is considered rare in developed countries like the United States. What that really means though, is that scurvy is rarely detected. Once again, absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.

We know for certain now that inflammation plays a role in heart disease, perhaps the most important role.

Where does this inflammation come from? How hard is it to imagine that a tiny crack in an artery wall due to a very slight case of scurvy is at the bottom of it?

Wild animals don’t have heart attacks. Humans are one of only four known mammals on the planet that do not produce ascorbate in the body.

The others are gorillas, guinea pigs and fruit bats. All three of those are voracious vegetable eaters, scarfing large amounts of food rich in vitamin C because instinctively they know they need it to remain healthy.

Like them, to get enough vitamin C, we have to ingest it from fruits and vegetables in our diet. With the standard American diet (SAD) sorely lacking in both those in any real amount, it’s likely that most of us are vitamin C deficient. Few of us show the dramatic symptoms of scurvy, but many of us likely have the subclinical version.

Everyone knows vitamin C is crucial to health. But not everyone agrees on how much is necessary. The United States government’s daily recommended intake or DRI is 75 to 90 milligrams. Animals producing ascorbate naturally do so in much higher amounts. For example, a 150-pound goat produces 13 grams daily.

Adjusting for weight and size a human should be ingesting far more than 90 milligrams.

The link between vitamin C and heart health is not news. Two-time Nobel Prize winner Dr. Linus Pauling championed vitamin C in the 1960s. He continued to lecture and write on ascorbate and heart health until his death at age 93 in 1994. He believed that ascorbate deficiency was the essential cause of modern heart disease. His research has been relatively ignored by the conventional medical community, even with those two Nobels on his mantel. Pauling and his fellow researchers recommended six to 18 grams of ascorbate daily, several times what the government suggests. Ask yourself. Who do you think is right?

At a time when many pharmaceutical drugs, including the cholesterol-lowering statins, are suspected of actually causing heart disease, our best heart-healthy medicine may be a simple vitamin. Even though there is no better way to get vitamins than from a diet rich in vegetables and fruits, supplemental vitamin C seems to do the job. I know one physician who took 20 grams a day just to see if there were any side effects. He reported only that too much vitamin C could cause loose bowels temporarily. Some proponents suggest taking as much ascorbate as one can tolerate up to that diarrhea threshold then backing off a gram.

More vitamin C information is at PaulingTherapy.com.

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

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feb. 3 - 9, 2011

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The

Soderbergh Experience

Filmmaker Steven Soderbergh to talk shop for Film Streams’ Feature III

by Leo Adam Biga

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teven Soderbergh may not generate the snobby, effete buzz of some name directors, yet he’s arguably the most prolific and accomplished American filmmaker of the past 20 years. As special guest for the Feb. 20 Film Streams Feature Event III, An Evening with Steven Soderbergh, he headlines Omaha’s mustsee cinema event of 2011.

Skeptics must concede he has the juice to qualify as an elite director. There are the awards (the Palm d’Or from Cannes and the Oscar), the glowing reviews, the productive collaborations with mega-stars (George Clooney) and the clout or charisma to get both commercial (Erin Brockovich) and fringe (Che) works produced.

He did one early game-changing film (sex, lies, and videotape) and he’s followed with some prestige mature projects (Traffic). True, naysayers point out, but he can’t claim a seminal work like The Godfather or Taxi Driver as his own.

What he does possess is a supple technique he applies to a broad canvas of genres he crosses and bends with equal amounts of restraint and respect and reinvention. He’s not even 50, and his oeuvre may ultimately contain more standthe-test-of-time credits than any of his flashier contemporaries or senior counterparts.

Yes, but is he an auteur? That may be among the things novelist and Studio 360 host Kurt Andersen explores with Soderbergh during their on-stage interview-clip program at the Holland Performing Arts Center.

For now, Andersen ventures while it’s hard to instantly identify a Soderbergh film the way one can a Scorsese or Allen or Tarantino or Coen Brothers film, “he is an incredibly ambitious artist, and that’s an interesting combination.”

Count Andersen an admirer.

“He’s done television as well as feature films, he produces (Syriana, Michael Clayton) as well as directs, he does documentaries, he does these big kind of pure entertainment features as well as these very strange little features, and all of that range continues,” he says. “It’s not as though he

did these little movies and then graduated to payday movies. That he continues to be as diverse at age 48 as when he was 25 or 30 is really singular.

“When you look at the body of work and career there’s nobody of his generation who comes close I think in having all of that, as well as the half-dozen or whatever master works you can argue about and point to.”

Before the auteur theory messed with cinephiles’ conceptions of where ultimate film author-

| THE READER |

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ship lies, name-above-the-title directors were rare.

Today, even hacks are accorded that once-privileged status. Soderbergh is anything but a hack.

Indeed, Andersen calls him “the anti-hack.”

Alexander Payne, who approached Soderbergh to headline the Film Streams fundraiser and will introduce the program, said: “I count Steven as a friend and colleague, and I have tremendous respect for his career and his purity — and certainly for his work ethic. He

admires the directors of classical Hollywood who honed craft through continuous work, and he has miraculously enabled himself to equal their prodigious output. Some hit, some miss, but craft sharpens and roves. And he supports other filmmakers without question.”

A great filmmaker doesn’t have to also be a screenwriter like Payne. John Ford and Alfred Hitchcock produced great art with recurring personal themes and motifs without scripting a word. Soderbergh has writing credits on a third of his features.

Neither is a clearly defined style a prerequisite for a great director. Witness John Huston and Elia Kazan, whose subtle styles changed from film to film in service of story while their own preoccupations shone through. Soderbergh is in their chameleon tradition.

The fertile mid-1960s through 1970s era saw personal filmmaking flower in and out of Hollywood with Cassavetes, Scorsese, Coppola, Ashby, Altman and others. In the 1980s, this trend retreated in the face of mega pics, sequels and special effects.

Soderbergh is a bridge figure who helped usher in the independent film movement with his 1989 debut feature sex, lies, and videotape. A searching period followed that film’s breakout success. Since the mid-’90s he’s evolved as a director of high gloss studio projects, including the Oceans series, that win critical and industry praise and also make money.

Andersen says Soderbergh shook things up around the same time the Coens, Tarantino, Gus Van Sant and Spike Lee emerged as a brash new guard. He also wonders how sex, lies, videotape plays to 2011 eyes that are inured by YouTube, Web cams and reality TV. When the film was released, voyeurism was not the ubiquitous leisure activity it is now.

He noted Soderbergh’s choice of revolutionary Che Guevara as the subject of a four-hourplus, two-part film in Spanish. “Why do you do that? It’s almost a different thing than a conventional feature film. At what point in the process did he decide this needs to be this epic thing?” He plans to ask Soderbergh that very question.

Andersen’s also fascinated by Soderbergh’s take on the foment of that time.

“I’ve just written a novel, much of which is set in the ‘60s, and about politics. I’m eager to talk to him about how we’re maybe now just getting far

enough away from the ‘60s, with all their power and electricity and iconic resonance, where we can make interesting art about them and talk about them in ways that are not quite so hot and bothered.”

Film Streams director Rachel Jacobson says she appreciates Soderbergh’s “transparent awareness of the commercial pressures that compromise the art of film” by his jumping back and forth between the two extremes of feature filmmaking.

“He’s also interested in challenging traditional distribution channels,” she says. “Both Bubble and The Girlfriend Experience were released On-Demand and on Blu-Ray the same day and date they were released theatrically.

His visit is such a terrific match for us as an art house theater dealing with these issues from the other end.”

Film Streams Feature Events I and II guests, Laura Dern and Debra Winger, respectively, discussed acting and offered anecdotes about projects and collaborators. Alexander Payne, who directed Dern in his first feature Citizen Ruth and admired the commitment Winger made to her roles, conducted soft interviews with the stars. This time, with a director in the spotlight and a veteran journalist asking penetrating questions, a different dynamic steven soderbergh is in the offing. Both Payne and Andersen serve on the art cinema’s advisory board.

“Having had two terrific actors at past Features, I feel like the acclaimed director’s visit is a terrific way to mix things up,” says Jacobson.

“Everyone has seen a Soderbergh film but not everyone pays attention to the director. It’s really important to our mission of promoting film as art that people think about the artist with the vision behind the work, the decisions that go into every shot, and the talent it takes to create a good movie.”

The balancing act of Soderbergh, who bemoans the unwieldy, antiquated system for getting films made and released, intrigues Andersen. He says he’s eager to ask “how he convinced and persuaded the money guys to let him do what he wanted to do” in that limbo period following sex, when the perceived failures of Kafka, King of the Hill, Underneath and the TV series Fallen Angels seemed to signal a fall to irrelevance.

Then came five films that made Soderbergh not only relevant again but gave him cachet: Out of Sight, The Limey, Erin Brockovich, Traffic and Ocean’s Eleven. From then until now Soderbergh’s moved from obscure projects like Solar-

coverstory

is and The Good German to star-vehicles like The Informant and the forthcoming Haywire.

As Andersen says, “there’s talent and luck and then there’s the personality-temperament things that allow you to make that Hollywood ATM machine cough up the money.” Andersen’s curious to know how artists like Soderbergh “actually manage to have other people pay for the courage” of their “private, quirky convictions.”

Even when Soderbergh has played it “safe” with forays into genre themes and variations, whether the caper buddy pic (Oceans) or the romantic suspense flick (Out of Sight) or the revenge story (The Limey) or the underdogagainst-all-odds chestnut (Brockovich), he’s made the conventions his own.

“He’s broad enough in his vision of interesting material that he can take something that’s been seen a thousand times and make it a memorable thing,” says Andersen.

The Good German finds Soderbergh taking the duplicity and intrigue and look of Casablanca or The Third Man and at once remaining true to it and tweaking it.

His black and white milieu and mis en scene boast mystique with a modern edge.

“You see him setting up a particular kind of obstacle course for himself. He’s doing not just a modern version of a film noir,” says Andersen, “but he’s actually trying to do it in a virtual simulation way — to try and figure out how movies were made then in ways that we don’t now, and yet trying to make it work as a film that comes out in 2006.”

Andersen admits being a sucker for spy stories and says Soderbergh’s riffs with the wellworn form made it a must-see for him.

“That’s interesting in a personal way for me,” says Andersen. “I’m fascinated by the intelligence agencies. In this new novel of mine the serious research I had to do was about how the intelligence business works, so I actually was thinking about The Good German. I rewatched that film in anticipation of talking to Soderbergh.”

Traffic is another example of an overused, often cliched subject — illegal drug trafficking — that in the hands of an imaginative filmmaker becomes a kind of elegiac opus about human greed and frailty told in overlapping storylines.

“A really interesting film,” says Andersen.

“It’s the kind of movie that in description could be such a hack work thing. If in a blind tastecontinued on page 14 y

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| THE READER |

feb. 10 - 16, 2011

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coverstory

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“There’s so many like big tent pole movies that get made just because the deal was made,” y continued from page 14 he says. “He’s one who clearly takes seriously test that film was simply described to you, the fact that somebody’s going to pay 10 bucks you’d think, yeah, maybe, but you’d expect and spend two hours of their life, and so I betit to be mediocre. But again with this kind of ter try to entertain them. He kind of gives genre material he more than necessary. brings both this When any artist overinteresting, comdelivers in what they’re plicated structure strictly required to do, — TV-like in a way it makes for a great artbecause of course ist and for a career that it’s an adaptation really lasts. of a television se“You never get ries — and turns the sense he’s phonthis pulp material ing it in, in any sense, into something so which isn’t to say it much better. Into always works. I mean, a work of art.” he has lesser movies Andersen says and greater movies, The Informant but he’s always trying. portrays business His work never goes management’s off the rails. There’s STEVEN SODERBERGH “moral ambigualways a sense of rigor ity” and “murkiabout it.” , ness” in a way “that fiction and film seldom do. It’s so un-pigeonholable. Is it a comedy? Tickets for the 6:30 p.m. concert hall interview Is it a drama? What is it?” He likes too the im- are $35 and available by calling 933-0259 or visprovisational and enigmatic qualities of The iting filmstreams.org. A post-party and private Girlfriend Experience. reception cost extra.

| THE READER |

feb. 10 - 16, 2011

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Stirred, But Not Shaken

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feb. 10 - 16, 2011

The Side Door’s quest for perfection

C

by Kyle Tonniges

onsider the humble Daquiri, a drink that calls for just three ingredients: sugar, rum and lime juice. What should be a refreshing, simple drink that perfectly tempers the sweet burn of white rum with the zing of fresh lime is consistently turned into a dayglo concoction that has more in common with a sugary Slurpee than something an adult would drink.

The folks at The Side Door would like to change that.

For the past three months the small, elegantly appointed lounge tucked away next to the Family Dollar at 3530 Leavenworth St. has quietly been making some of the best, most authentic cocktails in town.

Yes, The Side Door also serves beer and wine, but not a lot. There are just five beers on tap and a handful of wines. They don’t even carry Budweiser products.

“We asked our customers what they wanted and they said they preferred Miller High Life,” head bartender Tyler Fox says. “So we carry Miller products.”

The emphasis here is on serving the proper cocktail, most of which run around $7. Considering the quality of the ingredients — you won’t see any jugs of Skol vodka or Passport Scotch here — it’s a great deal. “We want an opportunity to give our customers something good,” Fox says, with a wall of exotic (for Omaha) liqueurs like the Italian aperitif Cynar, the delicate Crème De Violette and maraschino liqueur (a far cry from the syrupy neon stuff cherries bob in) lining the shelves behind him.

And they deliver. Whether it’s a cocktail with a long list of expensive and hard-to-find ingredients or a classic like a Margarita or Manhattan, this is the place to belly up and enjoy cocktails as they were intended.

Fox’s take on the simple Negroni — traditionally made with equal parts sweet vermouth, gin and the bitter orange Italian aperitif Campari — ups the gin ratio, taking the edge off the bitter Campari to make the drink more attractive to American palates.

Then there’s the Aviation, a seductive combination of gin, fresh lemon juice, maraschino liqueur and the hardto-find Crème de Violette liqueur. Often written off as too medicinal or astringent, the Crème de Violette in the Aviation gives the drink a lavender color and a slight floral note that’ll give you a greater respect for gin.

Winter’s a terrific time for a Manhattan, a combination of bourbon, sweet vermouth and bitters. Here, the cocktail’s smoky sweetness gets an added boost from a

| THE READER |

dish

flamed orange peel added just before serving. While that may sound like Tom Cruise Cocktail-esque showmanship, the flamed peel really does add something to the drink — the slightly toasted orange flavor that really brings the drink’s ingredients together.

It’s important to note that “something good” doesn’t mean “something overpriced and served with a dollop of disdain.” Tyler and the other bartenders I interacted with were happy to help, offering suggestions and frequently quizzing patrons on what they’re in the mood for.

There’s no signature drink at The Side Door. Fox and the staff would rather serve you the right drink at the right time than insisting you try a drink you’re not wild about.

“Tell me what you like,” Tyler said when asked about the ordering process. The bar does have a small menu of suggestions for cocktails, but those are just a jumping-off point. “What time of day is it? Are you going out to dinner or coming back from dinner?”

Ask him a question — why are you using that gin?

What’s the deal with bitters? Why are some drinks shaken and others stirred? What you’ll get in return is an enthusiastic and informative answer free of contempt.

Taylor and his cohorts are there to help and are eager to do so.

The desire to educate extends beyond the bar as well.

Each month, Dan Crowell, a manager at Sterling Distributing and spirits columnist at Food & Spirits magazine, hosts a Libation Association event at the bar. Each month he and Fox highlight a particular spirit, explaining its significance, characteristics and variations in addition to serving several cocktails featuring the liqueur of choice.

The bar’s inclusive qualities were apparent on each visit. With a playlist ranging from Big Boi to Frank Black, goofy retro movies like “Hercules and the Masked Rider” playing atop the bar and an ever-changing array of local bands, it’s never the same night twice. It’s not uncommon to be sipping a Manhattan next to a dude with a Mohawk while a couple of Baby Boomers unwind from their day at the table next to you.

That’s by design. Owner Steve Jamrozy used reclaimed wood from the Orpheum Theater for the lounge’s smooth, weathered wood floor. Large, colorful paintings line the walls instead of neon beer signs and Husker memorabilia. Salvaged doors serve as paneling, with coat hooks tucked underneath.

If this passion for perfection sounds familiar, it should.

Jamrozy and his wife Kathleen have been behind some of the city’s best dining spots for decades. Their resume reads like a list of culinary destinations: The Flatiron, Espana and the sorely-missed Bomba Dia. “I’m a father to all these children, but I’m especially fond of the Side Door,” Jamrozy said. After just one visit you will be too. , adam brubaker

84th Street Café Serving delicious cost-conscious food.

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

n O Dining, located on the edge of the Old Market at 10th and Farnam, will not only be returning sushi to their menu, they’ll be upping the presentation as well. Over the next few weeks, the restaurant will install a kaiten sushi bar, a rotating conveyor belt that allows customers to pluck whatever sushi dish catches their eye as it slowly moves past them. The plates are colorcoded, so when it’s time to pay your server simply tallies the number of each color and presents you with the bill. Look for it in mid- to late March. n One of the most buzzed-about books this year is Gabrielle Hamilton’s Bones, Blood and Butter, a memoir that fellow chef Antony Bourdain, among others, have been proclaiming to be one of the best, if not the best, chef memoirs put to page.

Though the book won’t be released until next month, Hamilton’s already doing press for it.

Publishers Weekly, she was asked about a comment she had made about being disappointed when she overhears diners talking about her food at her restaurant, Prune: “I sort of feel like I failed [when that happens]. It’s a little heartbreaking,” she says.

“I don’t get to go out very often, so when I do, it’s not how I want to spend my spare time, talking about where this freaking arugula came from. I’m interested in it for five minutes and then I want a full night of ‘What’s going on with you?’ or ‘Can I tell you what’s going on with me?’ What are people avoiding talking about if they’re getting so into the food? I don’t understand people’s obsession; I don’t know what we’re seeking.”

— Kyle Tonniges

n Believe it or not, spring will return and things will start growing again. Now is the time to start looking for a community-supported agriculture group.

Tomato Tomato, an indoor farmer’s market near 156th and Center, is having its yearly sign-up for the general public on March 1. Many other local farms start signups at this time of year as well. n Chef Paul Kulik of The Boiler Room has been invited to serve a dinner at the James Beard House in New York City on March 30. Patrons purchase tickets to dine at the house as a fundraiser for the James Beard Foundation, named for the renowned American chef and food writer. Being invited to be a guest chef is an incredible honor. Visit TheBoilerRoomRestaurant.com.

— Lainey Seyler

crumbs

dish

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

The Side Door Lounge, 3530 Leavenworth St., is open Tues.-Sat 7 p.m.-2 a.m.. with an occasional Sunday or Monday show, including this Sunday’s 5 p.m. Sunday Roadhouse concert featuring Jeffrey Foucault and Mark Erelli (see Hoodoo Blues on page 43 for details). Call 5043444 for more info.

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8 days

Feb. 16

Fancy Party Comedy

The Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. 9 p.m., FREE, waitingroomlounge.com

After all the gloomy weather, we deserve a good laugh, and Fancy Party Comedy is here to save us from the winter blahs — and you can’t beat the price. Self-appointed celebrity Ian Terry plays host for the band of misfits including Kevin Grace, Richard Reese, Nick Allen, Zach Peterson and Matt Kouba. Of course, Fancy Party Comedy would be a tragedy without the greatest comedian in the world, and this month Scott Muilenburg gives his take on the infamous Banana Pants. So turn off Comedy Central (it’s just going to be reruns, anyway), get out of the house and settle in with a cocktail for some of the best comedians Omaha has to offer.

— Layne Gabriel

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t h e r e a d e r ’ s ente r tainment picks

FRIDAY11

feb . 1 0 - 1 6 , 2 0 1 1

david cassidy

Feb 11-13

David Cassidy w/ the Omaha Symphony

Holland Performing Arts Center 1200 Douglas St. Fri.-Sat. 8 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m., $15-$80 omahasymphony.org While some of us will be dreading the idea of Singles Awareness Day, others will be celebrating a weekend of love with one of the biggest heartthrobs of the 1970s. Known best as Keith Partridge of the Partridge Family, David Cassidy has enjoyed a long career as one of pop music’s golden boys and one of its longest running acts. He returns to Omaha backed by the Omaha Symphony to spread the love — no doubt including his hit single “I Think I Love You,” the best-selling record of 1971 that seems like it’s been on every love soundtrack since its release. Celebrate love with the sounds of yesteryear or as a great gift for the parents this Valentine’s Day weekend.

— Chalis Bristol

February 11 and 16

Omaha Vipers Indoor Soccer

Feb. 11 vs. Chicago at 7:05 p.m.

Feb. 16 vs. Milwaukee at 7:05 p.m.

Omaha Civic Auditorium, 1804 Capitol Ave. Tickets $9-$22, omahavipers.com Omaha’s had some cold winter days but they’re being heated up on the indoor soccer field by star forward Carlos “Chile” Farias. The explosive Offensive Player of the Month has helped the Vipers, Omaha’s new indoor soccer squad, stay in the MISL playoff race with a record of 6-7. Catch the action and see if Omaha can make a late-season playoff charge as the Vipers host upcoming games against Chicago (on Friday) and Milwaukee (Wednesday) at the Civic Auditorium.

— Jarrett Fontaine

| THE READER |

picks

MONDAY14 Feb. 14

Bright Eyes Listening Party for The People’s Key The Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. 8 p.m., FREE, 21+, theslowdown.com

We all know the storied past of Omaha native and indie rock poster child Conor Oberst.

This Monday, The Slowdown invites us in for a sneak-peek at a piece of his future, as they are holding a listening party for Bright Eyes’ seventh studio album, The People’s Key. The record is set for official release the following day, Feb. 15, and to celebrate the occasion the north downtown rock club will play The

People’s Key twice in its entirety — at 9 p.m. and again at 10:30 p.m. — while giving you the chance to buy the album ($10 for a CD and $18 for an LP) a day earlier than anyone else in the rest of the whole wide world. On that note, Bright Eyes is currently in Europe and recently announced a North American spring tour; while there was no Omaha date listed on the initial line-up, one was announced Tuesday.

That should come as no surprise, either; be it album pre-sales for locals or from-out-of-nowhere concerts at places like Westfair (where this summer’s now-official June 4 concert will take place), one of the things we definitely know about Oberst’s past is that he’s not one to forget his roots. As for the immediate future, well, happy listening on Monday.

— Sean Brennan

t h e

r e a d e r ’ s

Feb. 14

The Toasters w/ the Bishops and the Abstracts

The Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. 8 p.m., $10 ADV/$14 DOS waitingroomlounge.com, 884.5353 The jumpy guitar. The horn section. Rhythms from the islands, or some South Beach approximation. It’s the sound of your youth, of days spent skanking to ska. And The Toasters have been doing it since before it was cool. For 30 years, the New York City-based seven-piece have been playing the punk infused ska game — putting them in that prestigious wave with The Specials and The English Beat. Sure, 30-plus members may have come and gone, but it’s the brand that soliders on.

— John Wenz

e n t e rta i n m e n t Through Mar. 6

9

RNG Gallery, 1915 Leavenworth St. (Dixie Quick’s entrance) Reception Feb. 12, 7-10 p.m., Gallery hours: Tue.-Fri. 11 a.m.-2p.m. and 5 p.m.-9p.m.; Sat.-Sun. 9 a.m.-2p.m., FREE, dixiequicks.com, 346.3549 In 9, a rag doll awakens in the post-apocalyptic future and holds the key to humanity’s salvation.

OK, no, that’s the 2009 film produced by Tim Burton. Does RNG’s 9 hold such a key? Take a look at the varied work of the artists exhibiting:

p i c k s

f e b .

tattoo illustrator Jeff Carnal, painter/ceramicist Valerie Eich, figurative/abstract painter Mario Gallegos, haunting-fantastical drawer William Holland, photographer Vivian Kvam, abstract painter Shawnequa Linder, figurative drawer Tafadzwa Ndoda and newcomer exhibiting artists Fredy Rincon and Donald Thayer. Though maybe they shouldn’t be so-pigeonholed; the seemingly juxtaposition group show, curated by artist Mike Giron, is united by the “diversity of the mediums, styles and thought processes,” wrote RNG Owner Rob Gilmer on the gallery’s website. “Nine people, nine talents, nine expressions unveiled. Come and celebrate their art.” Perhaps this is the key?

— Sally Deskins

martin sexton

WEDNESDAY16 Feb. 16

Martin Sexton

The Holland 1200 Club, 1200 Douglas St. 7:30 p.m., $30, omahaperformingarts.org Part folk junkie, part road poet and part rocker. Martin Sexton finds a way to connect with even the most casual listeners through his acoustic guitar, with songs hinting at deeper truths, and a voice that covers more ground than a Land Rover. He might even remind one of Bruce Springsteen, in a sense, and his album Wonder Bar actually featured The Boss’s original keyboardist David Sancious. Sexton’s latest studio recording Sugarcoating continues on the same path he began in 1996 with his debut Black Sheep. Sexton’s sound bleeds Americana, never straying far from what made his fan base fall in love with him in the first place: soulful live performances and expressively versatile singing that blends folk, soul and occasionally gospel.

— James Derrick Schott

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Feb. 11-12

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16 ,

2 011

UNO Hockey vs. Wisconsin

Qwest Center Omaha, 455 N. 10th St. 7:37 p.m. Fri., 7:07 p.m. Sat. $19-$22, 280.5297, omahasteam.com

As the Mavericks continue their historic first season in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, only a handful of hurdles remain as UNO jockeys for a postseason playoff run, including this weekend’s opponent, No. 7-ranked Wisconsin. The Badgers roll into Omaha fresh off a sweep of lowly Michigan Tech, while Omaha completed a comeback for the ages Saturday night (three goals in the final period) to sweep St. Cloud State. Captain Joey Martin leads the Mavs with 29 points, while teammate Matt Ambroz checks in with 27, as they help churn an offense that ranks third in the conference. Sophomore backstop John Faulkner has an NCAA-leading six shutouts on the season, including last Friday’s 3-0 whitewashing of the Huskies. This weekend’s games could pack them to the rafters, as the program is pushing to “sell out Wisconsin” virally through SellOutWisconsin.com. With just eight regular-season games left before the conference playoffs start, UNO needs a strong showing against the Badgers to earn their second-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament, or the “big skate,” if you will.

— Adam Froemming

Saturday, Feb. 12

Ardent! ... Love, Lust, Obsession and Passion Studio 319, Hot Shops Studio 1301 Nicholas St. 7 p.m., Free, hotshopsartcenter.com 342.6452

Some people boo-hoo-hoo Valentine’s Day. Others use it to express love in its many forms. Ardent! seeks to meet the worlds of the literary and visual, tackling LGBTQ issues along the way. So, be it love, lust, male, female, genderqueer, queer — whatever — curator G. Thompson Higgins just wants you to feel the love, whether through visual work or local writers sharing their poetry and prose.

— John Wenz

picks

| THE READER |

feb. 10 - 16, 2011

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| THE READER |

n It’ll be a busy weekend at the Bookworm, located at 87th and Pacific.

On Saturday, Feb. 12, author David Philip Mullins will sign copies of his book, Greetings from Below at 1 pm.

Winner of the McCarthy Prize for short fiction, Mullins’ debut has been praised for its raw confessional style.

On Sunday, book discussion group Books and Bagels will meet to discuss Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris, the bestselling author of Chocolat.

Set in the same town as Chocolat, Five Quarters mixes intrigue with food. The group meets at 11 am.

Later that day, environmental educator and artist Bruce Hopkins will sign When Foxes Wore Red Vests, a collection of essays and poems, at 1 p.m. n If you haven’t been to Hot Shops Art Center at 13th and Nicholas in a while (or even if you have), swing by the funky artist collective Saturday to check out the “ARDENT!” show at 7 p.m. will feature an exhibition of photographs from G Thompson Higgins’s portfolio and readings from local writers on themes of love, lust, obsession and passion. Writers interested in participating should email admin@gthompsonhiggins.com. n If you happen to be in Lincoln on Valentine’s Day, check out Poetry at the Moon at Crescent Moon Coffee, 140 N. 8th St, No. 10 in the lower level. Things kicks off at 7 p.m. For more information, go to CrescentMoonCoffee.com. n Those holding their breath for an official record of bestselling eBook titles can now exhale. The New York Times Best Seller Lists for eBooks goes online February 11 and will begin appearing in print with the Sunday, Feb. 13 edition. James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge’s Tick Tock will be No. 1 for fiction and Laura Hillenbrand’s Unbroken tops the nonfiction list.

booked

Republic of Individuality

culture

Republic of Couture serves customers far beyond the ‘Jersey Shore’

By Sarah Lorsung Tvrdik

R

epublic of Couture is more than a stone’s throw away from the “Jersey Shore.” In spite of those who would pigeonhole Midtown Crossing’s brand new boutique as an Ed Hardyfilled, urban club-goer’s fantasy, ROC is stocked with an unexpected variety of upscale brands and goods. Along with clothing, shoes and accessories for men, women and children, ROC carries a full selection of items such as candles, fragrances, books, watches, jewelry and more.

From simple beginnings in a Michigan shopping mall, Founder Gastón Garcia watched his company grow from a single kiosk into a national retail chain. With a mission to cre-

Victor Quiroz

Deco Silva

Freddie Moojen

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DALE HEISE

ASSISTED BY JESSICA STENSRUD, DERRICK SCHOTT AND JUDITH RODRIGUEZ fashions by the republic of couture • STYLING BY Andrea Scheer and Ali Babe

Josh Miller

ate “a shopping experience unlike any other,” the store sets out to serve a diverse crowd with anything from T-shirts to customized goods.

“ROC is not only a price-conscious fashion destination for today’s young and trendy crowd, but also an excellent source of personalized service for a more mature, sophisticated customer,” Garcia says. By stocking only three to eight pieces of any given piece of clothing, Garcia sets out to offer shoppers “a sense of individuality in a world where cookie-cutter fashion is hard to avoid.”

With more than 10,000 square feet of space on their side, ROC appears less like a boutique and more like a miniature department store. Upon entering the Omaha location, the customer walks into the designer area, which carries brands featured in stores such as Neiman Marcus or Saks Fifth Avenue. Singer Gwen Stefani’s critically praised line, L.A.M.B., Free People and Arnold Zimberg, a designer for a popular denim line called 7 for All Mankind, are all featured in the designer area.

lifestyle

—Kyle Tonniges Comments? Questions? Want more? Email us at booked@ thereader.com

When asked about upcoming designer additions to the store, Dina Brichok, VP of Buying and Visuals for the chain, rattled off a list of brands that would make many fashion forward Omahan’s weak in the knees. “We have Diesel coming in shortly,” Brichok says, “as well as Christian Dior, House of Harlow 1960 [Nicole Richie’s vintage inspired jewelry line], Carrera, Ray-Ban and both Hudson and Joe’s Jeans.” Brichok also mentioned that they would be getting in a full line of Puma, Steve

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lifestyle y continued from page 21

Madden and Creative Recreation shoes, giving Omaha’s current footwear Mecca, Von Maur, some much needed competition.

Wandering deep into the store, the customer comes across a more moderately priced selection of clothing, heavy on Mauricio Curiel the denim. Customers can’t go wrong with jeans starting at $58 and can find anything from raw to heavily distressed and embellished designs. ROC also carries the ever so popular denim leggings for women starting at $42. Denim lines include AG, True Religion, Rock Revival, Cult of Individuality and NEO. Surrounding the cash wrap, customers can shop a wide selection of men’s jewelry and accessories. Indeed, ROC does carry at least one line popular with the Jersey Shore crowd, Rebel Spirit, but they’re the first to proudly point this out.

At the boutique’s bend, customers (or their children) can take a break and play “Halo” in the lounge area while listening to a wide variety of tunes coming from the nearby DJ booth. This area of the store features a hodgepodge of accessories, home items, books, jewelry, fragrances and undergarments as well as a small selection of children’s clothing. Notable pieces include Storm and D&G Dolce and Gabbana watches,

Spanx (need I say more, ladies?) and Soy Naturals candles that double as lotion after burning.

The backside of the store faces the grassy, center court of Midtown Crossing and features a wide selection of T-shirts and athletic wear. Casual wear lines include celebrity favorites such as True Love False Idols and Local Celebrity. In addition, ROC carries the line of former Creighton University basketball player Kyle Korver, who currently plays for the NBA’s Chicago Bulls.

Finally, one of the humorous yet useful elements at the rear of the store is located in the spacious dressing room and is the playfully named “the booty cam.”

Shoppers need not strain their necks checking out their backside in a new pair of jeans when they can simply stand in front of a camera while facing a flat screen with a zoomed-in view. Overall, ROC appears genuine in their desire to provide their customers with a unique and enjoyable shopping experience.

Fans of the boutique and skeptics alike should make it a point to attend ROC’s Grand Opening celebration on the evening of Friday, Feb. 25. With the help of Omaha Nightlife, attendees can shop, eat and watch a fashion show featuring the models of Omaha’s own 89 Talent Management. , Republic of Couture is located at Omaha’s Midtown Crossing, 220 South 31st Avenue, Suite 3103. For more information call 933.7555 or go to rocintheweb.com.

Aaron Polak

Aurenei “Chico” Parisotto

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| THE READER |

Eduardo “Lalo” Suarez Ibrahim Kante

Chris Brunt

lifestyle

Tijani Ayegbusi

RYAN JUNGE

JOSE BONTTI

FABIO RIBEIRO

m Finn

By W illia

and R ache

l Sheink in

Feb. 18–March 27, 2011 intended for mature audiences

www.omahaplayhouse.org 6915 Cass Street | (402) 553-0800 | (888) 782-4338 Orchestra Sponsor:

Media Sponsor:

Whitmore Charitable Trust

lifestyle

Yellowbook

| THE READER |

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feb. 10 - 16, 2011

| THE READER |

official program

i g h t O N e n n l y O a midwestern town

Transformed Sunday, February 13th 6:30 PM Harrah’s Convention Center – Tickets $20 –

Tickets on sale NOW at: www.harrahscouncilbluffs.com

Post-show party at Stir Live & Loud featuring OEAA nominated DJ showcase!

Model dresses provided by:

Featuring Live Performances by:

• Best Singer/Songwriter and Best Jazz/Easy Listening nominee All Young Girls Are Machine Guns

• Best Performance By A Young Actress nominee, Ashton Taylor accompanied by Luke Thurman

• Best Slam Poet nominee, Felicia Webster

• Best Jazz/Easy Listening nominee, Steve Raybine • Best Rock nominees, The Filter Kings

Program Schedule Pre-Show Reception, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.

Performances by Omaha Modern Dance Collective and the African Culture Connection

Harrah’s, JLofts, WOWT and The Reader Present The 5th Annual Omaha Entertainment & Arts Awards, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Brought to you in part by Hancock & Dana, She-La and many other fine sponsors Live television taping starts now KFAB’s Tom Becka, emcee

feb. 10 - 16, 2011

Awards Best New Media Artist, Best Musical Direction, Achievement in Scenic Design, Achievement in Sound Design, Achievement in Lighting Design, Best Local Dance Production, Best Supporting Actor in a Play, Best 2-D Artist, Best Solo Show, Best Group Show, Best 3-D Artist, Performance by Young Actor Performance: All Young Girls Are Machine Guns (Best Adult-Alternative/Singer-Songwriter, Best New Artist and Best Jazz/Easy Listening Nominee) Lifetime Achievement Award in Visual Arts

Presenters: John Knicely and Tracy Madden, Anne Meysenburg & Mike Krainak, Les Bruning & Todd Simon, Dave Wingert & David Williams, Marq Manner & Tim Clark, Betsye Paragas & Susan ClementToberer, Wayne Brekke & Dr. Sanguinary, Janet Farber & Jack Becker, Elaine Jabenis & Jerry Onik, Matt & Ben

2

Performance: Ashton Taylor (Best Performance by a Young Actor or Actress Nominee) accompanied by Luke Furman

Awards Best Supporting Actress in a Play, Best Supporting Actor in a Musical. Best Supporting Actress in a Musical, Best Actor in a Musical Performance: Steve Raybine (Best Jazz/Easy Listening Nominee)

| THE READER |

oeaa program

Awards Best Adult Alternative/Singer-Songwriter, Best Rock, Best Hard Rock/Punk/Metal, Best Actress in a Musical, Best Actor in a Play, Best Gospel, Best R & B/Soul/Funk, Best Jazz/Easy Listening, Best DJ/Electronic, Best Ethnic, Best Cover Band, Best Actress in a Play, Best Choreographer, Best Director of a Play, Best Director of a Musical Performance: Felicia Webster (Best Spoken Word Nominee) Awards Best Roots/Folk/Country/Americana/Bluegrass, Best Blues, Best Spoken Word, Best Featured Dancer, Best Musical, Best Comedy, Best Performance for a Young Audience, Best Premier of Original Local Script, Best Emerging Visual Artist, Best Indie/Alternative, Best Hip Hop/Rap Performance: Filter Kings (2009’s Best Roots/Americana/Country/Bluegrass award winner and repeating nominee) Awards Album of the Year, Best New Artist, Best Visual Artist, Best Dramatic Play, Artist of the Year

Post-Show Reception, 8:30 p.m. until ???

Nominee DJ Showcase at Stir Live & Loud EVERYONE IS WELCOME! Please follow our website, oea-awards.com, for full production credits and the broadcast schedule for this year’s awards show.

Thank you to all of our nominees, sponsors, presenters and production team!

PERFORMING ARTS nominees Best Director of a Play Susan Baer Collins, Intimate Apparel, Omaha Community Playhouse Past winner for best director of a musical and also an award-winning actress, Baer Collins came to the Playhouse with the Nebraska Theater Caravan, and opened the season with this story of an African-American seamstress and her lingerie clients.

Todd Brooks, The Little Dog Laughed, SNAP! Productions Long active both on and off stage, Brooks most recently reprised his Liberace character in Christmas with the Crawfords. Brooks guided this comedy about a gay male movie star whose female agent tries to keep him quietly closeted.

Susan Clement-Toberer, Seascape, Blue Barn She took charge of the Blue Barn from its founders and directed this Edward Albee drama, which finds a married couple on the beach confronted by two inquisitive green lizards who crawl from the sea and challenge the perspective of the human pair.

Susan Clement-Toberer, The Crucible Omaha Community Playhouse See above. Guest-directing at the Playhouse, she tackled Arthur Miller’s prize-winning treatment of the Salem witch trials.

Jerry Onik, When All the World Goes White, Circle Theater He has done it all on this stage and elsewhere, especially at the Brigit, acting, directing and set designing. He directed Doug Marr’s award-winning play about a couple caught in a blizzard on their way to a family’s holiday gathering.

Best Director of a Musical Carl Beck, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Omaha Community Playhouse First an actor with the Nebraska Theater Caravan, Beck joined the Playhouse as a director and rose to become its artistic director. He transformed a so-so musical about young women finding their way in the big city into a comedic delight.

Carl Beck, Company, Playhouse See above. His work with this Stephen Sondheim groundbreaking musical won nominations for several cast members.

Susan Baer Collins, South Pacific, Playhouse See best director of play. She combined a guest star and metro talent in reviving the Rodgers and Hammerstein favorite.

Daena Schweiger, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Broadstreet Theatre Active primarily as a director for SNAP!/Shelterbelt, she occasionally appears out front in serious dramas such as Proof or as the tough-talking Baby Jane in a holiday spoof.

Her challenge with this musical was to keep rehearsals from dissolving into helpless laughter.

Todd Uhrmacher, A Chorus Line, Ralston Community Theatre Employed by Ralston High School, Uhrmacher has found time from directing there to steering summer musicals for the community group, including this Broadway hit that explores the psyches of dancers and their relationships with the show’s director.

Best Actor in a Play

Best Actress in a Play

Dan Chevalier, Shakespeare in Hollywood, Omaha Community Playhouse After playing such roles as one of the frequently abused children of Joan Crawford, he found himself in a choice comedic opportunity as the Bard’s Puck magically transported to 1930s Hollywood on the main stage of the Playhouse.

Denise Chapman, Intimate Apparel, Omaha Community Playhouse An MFA graduate of Roosevelt University, she’s the daughter of WOWT sportscaster John Chapman. She played Esther, the seamstress, who creates lingerie to make her clients more appealing to men.

Cullen Chollett, When All the World Goes White, Circle Theatre A ConAgra employee by day, Chollett has been a frequent contributor to this company. He plays the husband, stranded in a blizzard with his wife as they drive to a Thanksgiving get-together, and reach new insights in the isolation of the white-out.

Amy Kunz, The Crucible, Omaha Community Playhouse Few women have played more classic roles than this actress who started at UNO. She has ranged from Blanche Dubois in Streetcar Named Desire to the title role in Medea, and here played a good wife accused of witchcraft.

Bill Hutson, Shakespeare in Hollywood, Playhouse A professor on the Creighton University drama faculty, this winner of many acting awards was once employed as a staff actor by the Playhouse. Here, he played the Bard’s king of the fairies transported to consort with 20th century filmmakers in Tinseltown.

Connie Lee, The Little Dog Laughed, SNAP! Productions This wide-ranging talent has performed high drama at Brigit and the Playhouse, danced in Stepping Out and recently became the Ghost of Christmas Past in A Christmas Carol. For her nominated role in The Little Dog Laughed, she played the take-charge press agent preserving her gay client’s career.

The chair of Dramatic Arts at UNO, he directs both university and Nebraska Shakespeare Festival productions. He created a modern version of the classic by Aristophanes, which commented on societal issues in a treatment that provided universal bridges from the ancient to the contemporary world.

Scott Kurz, The Crucible, Playhouse Most often seen as the leading man for the Brigit Saint Brigit company in classic Irish and Shakespearean roles, he recently performed one of the title roles in its the Odd Couple.

Kurz played John Proctor, who joins his wife as a victim of the Salem witch hysteria.

Laura Leininger, Anna Christie, Brigit Saint Brigit Theatre A graduate of both Connecticut College and its National Theater Institute, Leininger is a frequent contributor to classics presented by the BSB, and she played the title role in Eugene O’Neill’s story of a young woman sent by her seafaring father to a Midwest farm, then driven by poverty to prostitution.

The Tulip, Kevin Lawler, Blue Barn Theatre One of the Barn’s co-founders, Lawler has acted there and most recently toured as Scrooge with the Playhouse’s A Christmas Carol. His innovative, non-traditional play dealt with love and loss, featuring a character whose invention led to material success but took him far from home.

Aaron Zavitz, Shining City, Brigit Saint Brigit Theatre A wedding videographer, his acting career started at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and continued with the Blue Barn and Brigit, most recently as a co-star with Kurz in The Odd Couple. He was Ian, a priest turned therapist.

Laura Marr, When All the World Goes White, Circle Theatre A teacher at Liberty Elementary School, she was a professional actor in a children’s theater, and also co-founded the Circle Theater with her husband. She was the wife lost in a blizzard whiteout with her husband as they drove to a family gathering.

Best Actor in a Musical

Best Actress in a Musical

A Christmas Spirit, Doug and Laura Marr, Circle Theatre Co-founders of the theater, Doug is a prolific playwright while Laura more often acts on its stage. They co-wrote this Christmas ghost story involving Arthur Conan Doyle, who wonders if the spirit haunting him might be his more noble creation, Sherlock Holmes, or the archvillain Moriarty.

Todd Brooks, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, BroadStreet Theatre See other nominations. He plays Norbert the toll collector who strays from his agoraphobic wife with a stripper.

Angela Jenson-Frey, South Pacific, Omaha Community Playhouse Another former professional with the Nebraska Theater Caravan, she has played many musical leads on the Playhouse and other metro stages. She was Nurse Nellie Forbush, who can’t quite wash that man right out of her hair.

Acrobat, Eric Salonis, Reannin Theatre Group A regular acting in Brigit Saint Brigit productions of classics, Salonis dedicated this play and the group formed for its Shelterbelt presentation to a departed friend. It deals with grief, loss, forgiveness and healing after a suicide.

Jill Anderson, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Playhouse Known also for her performance and recordings of Irish ballads, Jill has been an Equity actor on stage here and in the East and landed roles in About Schmidt and other films.

She starred in this musical’s title role.

Time Laughs, Susann Suprenant, Shelterbelt Theatre An administrator and professor at Metropolitan Community College, much of her theater activity has involved that school and The Witching Hour performances at the Blue Barn. The experimental forms explored in this play told of connecting to a new home quite alien from the writer’s roots.

Seth Fox, Company, Omaha Community Playhouse A singer turned actor, he has been honored for lead roles in most of the Playhouse musicals in recent years, from Ragtime to Zombie Prom. Fox was Bobby, whose birthday finds him unwed and pondering the relationships of his married friends.

Seth Fox, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Playhouse See above. He played the love interest for Millie, the title character.

Leander Phelps, Ain’t Misbehavin’, John Beasley Theatre He’s the shorter, heftier half of the male pair that brought Fats Waller’s music to gritty life with such down-and-dirty songs as “Viper’s Drag,” and he helps the audience believe “It’s 4 a.m. and everybody’s here but the police.”

Chris Thackery, Oklahoma, Papillion/LaVista Community Theatre Employed by a food packaging firm, Thackery returned to community theater after taking a decade-long break for more time with his two children. He played the villainous Jud in the summer production.

Jonathon Wilhoft, Moby Dick! The Musical, Iowa Western Community College Wilhoft plays serious dramatic roles in such dramas as The Man from Nebraska at Blue Barn, and his musical leads range from Sweeney Todd to this burlesque treatment where he was both Captain Ahab and the headmistress of a girls’ school.

Mary Carrick, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, BroadStreet Theatre A past president of the Theatre Arts Guild, she founded the company to provide more musical roles for women, produced the summer production and played the toll collector’s agoraphobic wife.

Best Dramatic Play

Norma Houser, Ain’t Misbehavin’, John Beasley Theatre A seasoned talent with extensive credits, she joined five vocalists and a pianist in performing Fats Waller songs. In the World War II ditty, “When the Nylons Bloom Again,” she pulls one of the scarce sheer stockings from her cleavage.

The Crucible, Omaha Community Playhouse See directing and acting nominations. This production combined the talents of the Blue Barn and Brigit Saint Brigit companies with the support of the Playhouse staff.

Melanie Walters, A Chorus Line, Ralston Community Theatre Education and outreach director for the Playhouse, she has played musical leads at Stages of Omaha and other venues.

For Ralston, she reprised the role of Cassie, which she performed earlier at the Chanticleer Community Theater.

Premier of Original Local Script The Birds, D. Scott Glasser, University of Nebraska at Omaha

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Angels in America, Perestroika, SNAP! Productions This company offered both parts of Tony Kushner’s prize-winning epic. The sweeping drama focuses on the AIDS epidemic, tolerance and characters ranging from Mormons to a dying attorney Roy Cohn.

Seascape, Blue Barn Theatre See directing nomination.

Shining City, Brigit Saint Brigit Theatre Each season this company presents an Irish play either by such long-established playwrights as Sean O’Casey or one of the new breed, such as Conor McPherson, who wrote this drama. A priest turned therapist in modern Dublin counsels a man who is being visited by the ghost of his late wife.

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Katie F-S This poet and playwright is a member of the Epicene Furies, an Omaha troupe of performance artists, in which she arranged the script for the Obama project entitled “Conspiring Texts.” She has been to the National Poetry Slam on teams from Omaha, Des Moines, and Denver.

Marissa GillGill is also a member of the Epicene Furies. A singer/songwriter, she won the Healing Arts Poetry Slam in April.

y continued from page 3 When All the World Goes White, Circle Theatre See directing and other nominations for the Doug Marr play about a couple caught in a blizzard.

Best Comedic Play The Little Dog Laughed, SNAP! Productions See directing and acting nominations.

Much Ado About Nothing, Nebraska Shakespeare Festival Directed by Cindy Melby Phaneuf of the UNO drama faculty, the comedy was paired with King Lear in last summer’s Shakespeare on the Green. This tale of misunderstanding features Beatrice, Benedict, Hero and the comic constable Dogberry.

Same Time, Next Year, Omaha Community Playhouse Judith Hart directed Connie Lee and Ben Birkholtz in the story of a couple, both married to others, who rendezvous each year to reignite their long-term romance and share the changes in their lives.

Shakespeare in Hollywood, Playhouse See acting nominations for more on this play directed by Carl Beck.

She Stoops to Conquer, Brigit Saint Brigit Theatre Directed by Cathy M.W. Kurz, Oliver Goldsmith’s comedy of manners featured young Delaney Kunz as Kate Hardcastle, the title character who wins her way to romance and reforms Tony Lumpkin, the prankster given to aggravating Kate’s stuffy father.

Best Musical Ain’t Misbehavin’, John Beasley Theatre See acting nominations.

Company, Omaha Community Playhouse See directing and acting nominations.

South Pacific, Playhouse See directing and acting nominations.

The Great American Trailer Park Musical, BroadStreet Theatre See directing and acting nominations.

Thoroughly Modern Millie, Playhouse See directing and acting nominations.

Best Slam Poet Felicia Webster Originally from Philadelphia, Webster is known for infusing spoken word poetry, beat box vibes and jazz vocals and storytelling in her performance art. She runs open mic poetry in the Old Market and now participates in poetry events through the Love’s Jazz and Arts center.

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Matt Mason Mason is a Nebraska poet who has published a full-length book of poetry and two anthologies. His topics range from religion to themes of the Midwest and life in the Great Planes. Mason is a poetry activist in the Omaha area, overseeing Poetry Menu, a website that lists poetry events in Nebraska. He’s been referred to as the “Godfather” of Omaha slam poetry.

Sara Lizh Doble Doble will be representing Nebraska at the Individual World Poetry Slam Championships in the Carolinas. In March of 2009, she will be representing Nebraska at the Women of the World Poetry Slam in Detroit. Doble, also a member of the Epicene Furies, has represented Omaha and Des Moines at the Omaha Poetry Slam, as well as coaching an Omaha team.

Best Supporting Actor in a Play Roderick Cotton, Angels in America, Perestroika, SNAP! Productions An accomplished dancer, he has recently been touring with a musical company. He played Belize, a nurse who cares for the ailing Roy Cohn.

Josh Doucette, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Creighton University The Bluejay drama major has performed in several campus productions. Here he played one of Shakespeare’s nobles, who vow to abstain from love and devote themselves to lofty pursuits — until the ladies bring them to their senses.

Eric Grant-Leanna, A Hat Full of Rain, Brigit Saint Brigit Theatre Joining this company from Dana College and performing many recent roles, he was cast as the enabling brother of the lead character whose wartime experiences have left him addicted to drugs.

Scott Kurz, Anna Christie, Brigit See other nominations for both Kurz and the play. He’s the rough sailor who feels betrayed when he learns of the soiled past of the title woman he loves.

Michal Simpson, Angels in America, Perestroika, SNAP! Productions See the play’s other nominations. He has directed and starred in musical and dramatic plays at many local venues. He plays Roy Cohn, the vicious attorney who is dying of AIDS.

Best Supporting Actor in a Musical Nick Albrecht, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, BroadStreet Theatre See other nominations. A Dana College grad in his first community role, he played Duke, the marker-sniffing boyfriend who causes his stripper sweetheart to flee into the arms of a married man.

Ben Beck, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Omaha Community Playhouse The son of directors Carl Beck and Susan Baer Collins, he attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He played a Chinese servant who rebels at his role in a white slavery ring.

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Ryan Eberhardt, Company, Playhouse A sales associate at Borsheims, he appears frequently at the Playhouse and other venues. He played Paul, the beleaguered bridegroom whose betrothed sings, “Not Getting Married Today.”

Jim McKain, South Pacific, Playhouse A past winner of acting awards, McKain has directed elsewhere, but is seen most often in both dramatic and musical roles at the Playhouse, this time taking the role of Luther Billis, the wheelerdealer Seabee who connives to visit Bali Hai.

Best Supporting Actress in a Play Krystal Kelly, Let It Bleed, University of Nebraska at Omaha An undergraduate theater major at UNO, she played the wife of a man dealing with gang violence in this one-act segment of the New Ways/New Works program.

Kirsten Kluver, Angels in America, Perestroika, SNAP! Productions See others. She appears in multiple roles, but most significantly as the title Angel.

Jennifer McGill, Doubt, a Parable, Brigit Saint Brigit Theatre A Beloit College grad who works for Legal Aid of Nebraska, she’s Sister James, the younger colleague of the judgmental nun and the priest suspected of an improper relationship with a student altar boy.

Theresa Sindelar, Shakespeare in Hollywood, Omaha Community Playhouse A cake decorator by day, she has interpreted wide-ranging comedic roles from Mae West to Ben Affleck, mostly at the Playhouse. Here she played the producer’s girlfriend aiming for film stardom.

Ashley Spessard, The Crucible, Playhouse She studied drama at Creighton before tackling the role of the young woman, angry at her rejection by a married man, whose false claims spark the Salem witch-hunt.

Best Supporting Actress in a Musical Susan Baer Collins, Company, Omaha Community Playhouse See her directing nomination and others for the production. She played Joanna, the bitter mature woman who sings, “Ladies Who Lunch.”

Cathy Buresh Hirsch, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, BroadStreet Theatre Recently playing Mrs. Cratchit in A Christmas Carol, she kept rehearsals in stitches with her portrayal of Pickles, a neighbor who sings “The Other Side of the Tracks.”

Angela Jenson-Frey, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Playhouse See lead actress nomination. In this musical, she’s the innocent country girl sold into white slavery by her Chinese landlady.

Kim Jubenville, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Playhouse Often cast in comedic roles in such Playhouse productions as The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife, she plays the aforementioned landlady who provides rooms to unwitting newcomers and then ships them off to their ruin.

Judy Radcliffe, South Pacific, Playhouse From Mrs. Hannigan in Annie to the folksy friend of singer Patsy Cline, she is a popular performer on the main stage of the Playhouse.

She became Bloody Mary, the Tonkinese mama who sings “Happy Talk” and “Bali Hai.”

Achievement in Scenic Design Robbie Jones, Much Ado About Nothing, University of Nebraska at Omaha See best comedic play nomination. The technical director on the UNO drama faculty, he set the Shakespearean players in the university’s versatile black box theater.

Liz Kendall, Great American Trailer Park Musical, BroadStreet Theatre From Council Bluffs, she has acted in such shows as Five Women Wearing the Same Dress. She designed two trailers in a setting of car parts and lattice work, with an interior view of one trailer.

Jim Othuse, South Pacific, Omaha Community Playhouse He arrived with director Charles Jones in the mid-’70s and continues creating award-winning designs for plays and musicals, such as the hilltop plantation and sandy beaches of this World War II story.

Paul Pape, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Creighton University The designer, a UNO grad who has also done scenic work there, creates unique designs, including wedding cake toppers, for a living. For the Shakespearean comedy, he fashioned a hedge maze that both concealed and revealed players.

Achievement in Lighting Design Ernie Gubbels, The Little Dog Laughed, SNAP! Productions See the play’s other nominations. For years, he has worked backstage, most frequently for the Chanticleer Community Theater and for SNAP!/Shelterbelt shows.

Jim Othuse, South Pacific, Omaha Community Playhouse See above.

Bill Van Deest, The Crucible, Playhouse See other nominations. A Creighton University drama faculty member, he often provides their scenic and lighting designs, but finds time to lend his expertise to other theaters such as the Blue Barn and Playhouse.

Ted Wier, A Chorus Line, Ralston Community Theatre See the musical’s other nominations. He serves on the staff at Millard South High School, and provides technical support and design for their productions.

Carol Wisner, Seascape, Blue Barn See the play’s other nominations. The wife of fellow nominee Van Deest, she is props master for Opera Omaha, and does lighting for the Nebraska Shakespeare Festival.

Achievement in Sound Design Tim Burkhart/John Gibilisco, South Pacific, Omaha Community Playhouse See the musical’s other nominations. Burkhart, who designed sound for the first Playhouse version of this musical in 1988, shared credits with the theater’s longtime, oft-honored designer Gibilisco.

John Gibilisco, The Crucible, Omaha Community Playhouse See above and the play’s other nominations.

Dave Podendorf, Angels in America, Perestroika, SNAP! Productions See play’s other nominations. Another backstage contributor whose talents benefit Chanticleer, SNAP!/ Shelterbelt and others.

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y continued from page 4 Daena Schweiger, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, BroadStreet Theater See her directing nomination.

Marty Magnuson, Seascape, Blue Barn Theatre See play’s other nominations. Better known as a versatile artist, he has also designed posters for this theater and created online graphic characters.

Achievement in Costume Design Lindsay Pape, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Creighton University See the play’s other nominations. Part of a husbandwife pair of theater designers, she is employed on the Creighton drama staff.

Georgeann Regan, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Omaha Community Playhouse See the musical’s other nominations. A Creighton grad, she heads the Playhouse’s costume department. Her costumes ranged from flapper outfits to a Chinese coolie look.

Lynne Ridge, Shakespeare in Hollywood, Playhouse See the play’s other nominations. She is a longtime member of the theater’s costume staff. Her costume designs ranged from 1930s Hollywood to the Elizabethan origins of two key players.

Nancy Ross, A Christmas Spirit, Circle Theatre See original play nomination. The mother of co-author Laura Marr, she serves on the SNAP! board. She dressed the cast in attire fitting its setting in the England of author A. Conan Doyle.

Charleen Willoughby, She Stoops to Conquer, Brigit Saint Brigit Theatre A graduate of the University of Nebraska at Omaha dramatic arts program, she now teaches there. Her work for Brigit has included acting as well as the costume creations for this period piece set primarily on an English estate.

Best Choreographer Michele Garrity, A Chorus Line, Ralston Community Theatre See its musical nomination. She works as an accountant at the Playhouse, and has appeared often as a dancer. Her choreography is central to this most dance-oriented musical.

Roxanne Nielsen, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Omaha Community Playhouse See the musical’s other nominations. She was employed as the Playhouse choreographer and education director, but now does freelance choreography and teaches dancing.

citta was seen by few on the night of June’s extreme wind storm. It accompanied the opening of an art installation at the Bemis. The title refers to new beginnings.

Nebraska Belly Dance Spectacular, Diva Soma Bringing exotic moves of various traditions to the Midwest.

Spared from the Storm, The Moving Company Directed by Josie Metal-Corbin, the UNO group interpreted an exhibition of paintings at Joslyn Museum that were saved from Hurricane Katrina. Several choreographers contributed.

Swan Lake, Omaha Dance Project Directed by Sara Mau, with music by Tchaikovsky, the first two acts with dancers from many Midwestern states were performed at the Omaha Community Playhouse. Joey Dabbs played Prince Siegfried with Emma Pavkovic as the White Swan.

Best Featured Dancer Kathy Bass, U.S. Tour, Omaha Modern Dance Collective Active both in modern dance and arts administration, she was one of five featured dancers in the OMDC annual concert event at Creighton’s Lied Center.

Deb Massey, A Chorus Line, Ralston Community Theatre See other nominations. A pre-school teacher and choreographer, she played Sheila, the cynical maturing dancer who joins in singing “At the Ballet.”

Amy Patzer, Acrobat, Reannin Theatre Group See original play nomination. An Iowa Western Community College student, she played The Dancer, a mysterious presence representing the main character’s subconscious as he coped with a friend’s suicide.

Emma Pavkovic, Swan Lake, Omaha Dance Project After training at the Omaha Academy of Ballet, she currently attends New York University. She played the White Swan in the Project’s production of the ballet classic.

Best Musical Direction Jim Boggess, Company, Omaha Community Playhouse See the musical’s other nominations. He is the staff music director for the Playhouse, and came here as a member of the Nebraska Theater Caravan. An occasional actor in Playhouse productions, he regularly plays keyboard while conducting from the orchestra pit.

Jim Boggess, South Pacific, Playhouse See above and other nominations.

visual arts nominees Best Emerging Artist

Rebecca Herskovitz, The Things I Cannot Say, bemisUNDERGROUND “This artist doesn’t shy away from the duplicity of eroticism: the desire to express one’s self sexually in art while being vulnerable and exposed to public scrutiny and perception. This was daring and provocative work.” — Michael J. Krainak, The Reader Josh Powell Mountain of Sex, RNG Gallery, and Destroy Rebuild Repeat, Found Spaces “What better way to climax a hot, steamy week in July than with a Mountain of Sex, the one night-only art exhibit at RNG Gallery?” — Shout Tana Quincy, SODZO, bemisUNDERGROUND SODZO, whose “20 small paintings of body tissue and tendon were an unexpected understatement of an intense personal nature.” — Michael J. Krainak, The Reader Dana Rose American ByProduct, RNG Gallery “A worthy mixed media catalogue of her talent … her best work is on the horizon.” — Michael J. Krainak, The Reader Adrianne Watson, The Tales She Would Tell, bemisUNDERGROUND “Two entirely different experiences: living in the Philippines during World War II and growing up in rural Nebraska. The result is a disarming yet sincere effort to gain familial understanding across the generational divide.” — Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts

Best 2-D Artist

Claudia Alvarez, Corn Eaters, RNG Gallery Also nominated for Best 3-D artist and Best Solo Show, her work may be found in the collection of the Sheldon Museum of Art and has been featured in such publications as New American Paintings.

Robert Gilmer, ‘Till Death Do Us Part/A Book About Death, RNG Gallery Most often recognized for his photography, Gilmer is also the founder of the RNG Gallery and a co-owner of Dixie Quicks.

Kim Reid-Kuhn, Mute, RNG Gallery With bold colors in abstract compositions, it’s no wonder that the artist is a hit with the kids — she also has a decade of experience teaching art to children.

Patrick Roddy, Company, Playhouse See other nominations. Oft-honored for his own dancing and choreography, he has contributed those talents to many metro theater companies.

Jim Boggess, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Playhouse See above and other nominations.

Patrick Roddy, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, BroadStreet Theatre See above and other nominations.

Jerry Gray, Hello, Dolly, B&D Productions Retired after teaching vocal music at Thomas Jefferson High School in Council Bluffs, he directs music for the Omaha Press Club Shows, the annual Madrigal Feast and all the B&D summer musicals.

Josh Powell, Mountain of Sex, RNG Gallery and Destroy Rebuild Repeat, Found Spaces As testimony to the power of his work, Powell is also nominated for what is the most flattering of combinations: Best Emerging Artist and Best Visual Artist, both in the same year.

Keefer Peterson, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, BroadStreet Theater See the musical’s other nominations. He earned many such credits with the Stages of Omaha, and recently directed and played keyboard for the Baby D show, Christmas at the Purple Peacock.

Bart Vargas, SUPERNOVA, Anderson O’Brien Fine Art The 2007 Best Emerging Artist winner is also nominated as Best Visual Artist for work that incorporates found materials in bold statements about sustainability.

Kathryn Zukaitis, Hello, Dolly, B&D Productions One of three sisters who performed as the Little Bo Peep toy in the Playhouse’s A Christmas Carol, Zukaitis is now a Yale University grad student in theology and literature.

Best Local Dance Production Nascitta, Omaha Modern Dance Collective A dance collaboration between the OMDC and the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s The Moving Company, Nas-

Watie White, Slippery Humanist Values, Jackson Artworks Work by the painter and printmaker who was the 2002 recipient of the Stanley G. Wolpoff Award from American University is held in private collections all over the world.

Best 3-D Artist

Claudia Alvarez, Corn Eaters, RNG Gallery Also nominated for Best 2-D Artist and Best Solo Show, her sculptural work has been featured in such publications as New American Paintings and Cermaics Monthly.

Mary Day, Scaffolding, Fred Simon Gallery Also nominated for Best Solo Show, Day’s sculptures and drawings comment on the co-existence of simultaneous realities.

Leslie Iwai Holding My Horses Florence Mill Art Loft The conceptual artist is also nominated for two other awards this year; Best New Media Artist and Best Visual Artist.

Renee Ledesma, The Color That it Paints Me, Pulp The 2008 award-winner in this category, Ledesma is also nominated for Best Solo Show.

Matthew Shrader, Fire and Water, Anderson O’Brien Fine Art Shrader’s blown glass exhibit enjoyed a successful fall run at Anderson O’Brien.

Therman Statom, New Work, RNG Gallery Statom is also nominated for both Best Solo Show and Best Visual Artist.

Best New Media Artist

Jamie Burmeister, Cli•mac•ter•ic, PUSH Gallery His pedal-powered interactive installation (“toot-toot, went the handlebar-mounted horn”) was a multimedia sensation.

Tim Guthrie, Flow, Metro Community College Gallery, and Cli•mac•ter•ic, PUSH Gallery A commentary on BP and the Deep Horizon disaster, Flow presented pixilated news video images in becoming an allegory for how messages may be shrouded.

Leslie Iwai, Holding My Horses, Florence Mill Art Loft “A virtual work in progress that became more interesting as the show continued with her center stage creating and inviting the viewer to relate to her personal struggle, whether to stay put or move forward with her life and career.” — Michael J. Krainak, The Reader

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Renee Ledesma, The Color That it Paints Me, Pulp Reneé Ledesma, a painter, sculptor and musician, draws inspiration from her love of folk art and all things hand made as well as her Mexican heritage.

Michael Scheef, Great Jewish Athletes, Jewish Community Center Gallery His illustrated art book, “1,000 Wrestlers,” was seen in the Academy Award-nominated film, “The Wrestler.”

Therman Statom, New Work, RNG Gallery “Statom’s glass sculpture and mini-installation project is an austere detached point-of-view that reflects back on the viewer.” — Michael J. Krainak, The Reader

y continued from page 5 Alex Myers, Of Youth and Dreams in The Evening of Life, bemisUNDERGROUND “K’nex motors whirred in motion and the toy soldiers of youth stood glued, ready for battle, throwing shadows on the Bemis’ bare white walls: the grim cycle of war and death.” — Jordy Clements, Omaha.net Therman Statom, New Work, RNG Gallery The internationally renowned glass artist is also nominated for both Best Solo Show and Best Visual Artist.

Bart Vargas, SUPERNOVA, Anderson O’Brien Fine Art “Vargas’ 200-plus works proved that he could combine intelligent, conceptual themes within a colorful palette and complex abstract design.” — Michael J. Krainak, The Reader Watie White, Slippery Humanist Values, Jackson Artworks “The satiric and social commentary in Slippery Humanist Values challenges viewers to reexamine a cultural ethos in a constant state of flux.” — Michael J. Krainak, The Reader

Best Visual Artist

Best Group Show

Labor/Labour, Hot Shops Gallery Omaha artists Mike Scheef, Derek Courtney, Kim Reid Kuhn and Joel Holm displayed alongside dozens of local and national artists.

Omaha Print Guild Last Exhibition, Hot Shops Gallery Sadly, the word “last” in the title of this show was meant to be taken very, very literally.

Out of the Woods, Hot Shops Gallery “If there was one thing proved by Out of the Woods … it is that wood sculpture can be more than craft or hobby for its artists. — Michael J. Krainak, The Reader Panoptic, Creighton University Lied Education Center for the Arts Mentors of the Kent Bellows studio programs featured screen-prints, mixed-media works, digital art, watercolors, acrylic paintings and more.

Women Who Weld, Bancroft Street Gallery The success of last year’s show has propelled plans for an April 8-9, 2011 sequel to Women Who Weld.

Best Solo Show Claudia Alvarez, Corn Eaters, RNG Gallery A selection of new watercolors, oil paintings and a ceramic installation that Michael J. Krainak of The Reader boldly stated was “one of the year’s strongest exhibits.”

Mary Day, Scaffolding, Fred Simon Gallery “Her scope is broader as her elegant and graceful orbital scaffolds are her cosmic response to the chaos that surrounds us.” — Michael J. Krainak, The Reader

Mary Day Day has exhibited extensively in the Midwest across the nation and is actively engaged in the arts community as an educator, advocate and volunteer. Her works may be found in several public and private collections.

Larry Ferguson Larry Ferguson is an internationally known photographer whose work has been exhibited in galleries and museums throughout the world and published in 50 periodicals and books.

Leslie Iwai The creator of the controversial and nomadic Sounding Stones, Iwai’s transformative conceptual works are grounded physically and emotionally in the commonality of shared experiences.

Josh Powell Showing some serious chops on this year’s ballot, Powell is also nominated as Best Emerging Artist, not to mention Best 2-D Artist.

Therman Statom His works can be found in many major museum collections, including the Musee des Arts Decoratifs (Paris), the Toledo Museum of Art, the High Museum of Art (Atlanta) and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Bart Vargas The 2007 Best Emerging Artist winner is also nominated as Best Visual Artist for work that incorporates found materials in bold statements about sustainability.

music nominees Best Adult Alternative/Singer-Songwriter All Young Girls Are Machine Guns Step aside, Don Ho, the recent release of the band’s debut effort, Secret Attic Recordings (Slo-Fi Records), signals that the ukulele has regained its allure.

Brad Hoshaw The raconteur and his Seven Deadlies snagged three trophies last year and the voice that is part gravel, part grist and all grace returns for more.

Daniel Christian This BMI recording artist has also earned a pair of National Country Music Festival awards with roots-rock tunes that you can’t get out of your head.

Manny Coon Ever heard of Archer, Nebraska (pop. 199)? Back when the population was a more robust 200, folksy plans were laid that would later result in the October 2010 release of Ashes from Bridges.

Dan McCarthy “A man is only a man,” as the lyrics go. Unless, of course, that man happens to be Dan McCarthy of Team Love artists McCarthy Trenching.

Best Alternative/Indie Daniel Christian Also nominated for Best Adult Alternative/Singer-Songwriter, this BMI recording artist owns a pair of National Country Music Festival awards.

Honey & Darling Peaches & Herb. Martin & Lewis. Garfunkel & Oates.

Thank you just the same, but we’ll stick with our Honey & Darling, if it’s all right with you.

Little Brazil Figure it out. It’s an awards show. This two-time OEAA winner is on the ballot. Let us know when something unusual happens, like the sun rising in the west.

Machete Archive Whether lilting and lyrical (but usually sans lyrics) or a frenzy of jingle-jangle-jingles, these high energy prog-rockers cast a mesmerizing spell.

Thunder Power Their single, “Take a Hike,” was recently named to the No. 9 spot of the Best of Mercedes-Benz Mixed Tape series.

Google away, dear reader, Goolge away.

Best Blues Matt Cox No, no, no … not Earl May Garden Centers. What’s that other great product to come out of Shenandoah, Iowa? The one that won last year’s award?

Blue House Their horn-powered, butt-shaking blues garnered them the 2010 Best in Omaha nod from the award series sponsored

by Omaha Magazine.

Kris Lager Band This much-traveled roots-revivalist quartet has logged over a thousand gigs in the last half decade. A three-time OEAA winner, they now vie to regain the crown.

Levy William The Lincoln-based band in the pork pie hats plays both kinds of music — blues and soul.

Lil’ Slim Another Lincoln-based favorite at the Zoo Bar and other haunts, their plus-sized sounds, oddly enough, may be called neither Lil’ nor Slim.

Best Roots/Americana/Country/Bluegrass Allendales Take the Rolling Stones, Tom Petty, Wilco, Son Volt, The Band, Social Distortion, and Steve Earle … toss in a blender … puree … voilà!

Filter Kings The reigning champs in this category, the Filter Kings are known for their honky-tonk, rockabilly-influenced sounds.

Matt Cox 2009’s Best Blues winner is nominated in that category again this time around.

Platte River Rain The OEAA board is in discussion to form a new award category, just so we can see how Ashley Rayne Boe does in balloting for Best Band Member Name.

Southpaw Bluegrass Band What if they had gone with the originally suggested name of “The Bluegrass Communists” when forming in 2003? Would they have found a place on Glenn Beck’s chalkboard by now?

Best Hard Rock/Punk/Metal Desire to Destroy Selections from their EP, The Second Rule, suggest that these thrashers will have you “Scream for More” even as you succumb to “The Burning” feeling.

Emphatic Word is that the Atlantic Records artists’ as yet unnamed album is set to launch next month. After the winter we’ve had, let’s hope they call it “Thaw.”

The Matador New members and new directions propelled the group that calls itself “the hardest working Southern-influenced metal extravaganza on the face of the planet.”

Life of a Scarecrow With an LP planned for the summer, this Lincoln-based quartet is trying to corner the market on the genre known as “loud.”

Paria Say it ain’t so! The 2009 winner in this category is on “indefinite hiatus?” Let’s hope this is some well-crafted, Joaquin Phoenix-like hoax!

Best DJ Brent Crampton Crampton, a three-time OEAA winner, is perhaps best known for Loom, the nomadic event where “Weaving the Social Fabric through Dance” is the thing.

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y continued from page 6 Lucas Krance From the urban to the urbane, this South High product is a favorite at the LiT Lounge.

Kobrakyle A frequent GUNK guest at The Waiting Room, Kobrakyle took home the hardware in this category at last year’s awards ceremony. $pencelove A leading Lincoln-based DJ, $pencelove tore it up at Gunk’s Murray Xmas! Night at The Waiting Room.

W.E.R.D. From October’s Goth Ball 2010 to a more recent sighting in an experimental effort with a resurrected Jazzwholes, W.E.R.D had been the word on the streets of late.

Best Ethnic Ellis Island The winner in this category at the inaugural OEAAs in 2006, the duo has been twice nominated as “Best Duo in a Festival” by the Irish Music Association.

Less Talk More Polka Formed in 2007 by UNL college students, this Lincolnbased troupe’s Czech-tinged orchestrations have made them wildly oom-pah-pah-popular.

Marcos y Sabor From Jazz on the Green to the South Omaha Arts Institute, Marcos y Sabor offer hip-shaking Latin beats.

Omaha Guitar Trio Sometimes defying description, the genre-bending trio formed at the University of Nebraska at Omaha plays a staggering array of jazz-classical-R&B selections.

Son del Llano Breezy Havana nights are evoked in a nod to ‘50s and ‘60s rhythms with Son del Llano’s original compositions and Latin favorites.

Best Gospel Daniel Christian Making something of a strange bedfellows combination, this versatile BMI recording artist is also nominated in the category of Alternative/Indie.

Heidi Joy Now a Floridian, this two-time OEAA winner returns to Omaha for frequent gigs, including her ever-popular “Home for the Holidays” concert series.

Mike Geiler When not being nominated for awards, Geiler is the director of worship and music at West Hills Church.

Salem Baptist Church Voices of Victory With its rich traditions and national notice, it’s no wonder that the Salem Baptist Church Voices of Victory choir is a two-time OEAA winner.

Best Hip-Hop/Rap ASO Pronounce it so it rhymes with “say so,” ASO also rhymes with a special blend that is a fusion of hip-hop and electro.

Conchance Just who is the passionate “Olivia of Omaha?” Ask 2009’s HipHop/Rap winner and you’ll get a most lyrical of answers.

The 2008 winner in this category wails, rocks, croons, shakes and howls in funky, danceable music delivered with accomplished musicianship.

Jamazz The widely-traveled Jamazz, formerly with Angels With Dirty Faces and the winner of this category in 2008, launched his solo career with 2003’s Lazy Fishin’.

Best Rock

Mars Black This Brooklyn-born Team Love recording artist, the first rapper signed to the label, has toured with the likes of Bright Eyes and The Faint.

MC Gringo Sometimes, an online bio says it all: “I ain’t trying to break barriers, I’m just trying to make myself an exception to them. I ain’t trying to be your favorite rapper, I’m trying to be my favorite rapper.”

Best Jazz/Easy Listening All Young Girls Are Machine Guns Also nominated in the Adult Alternative/Singer-Songwriter category, their debut effort, Secret Attic Recordings, was recently released on Slo-Fi Records.

Luigi, Inc. All hail Luigi Waites. The legendary jazzman and threetime OEAA winner who shared a stage with the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Dizzy Gillespie, departed this world on April 6, 2010. He was 82 years old.

Mary Carrick and Todd Brooks Carrick founded the BroadStreet Theatre Company and Brooks, a popular musical director, is her frequent collaborator on the cabaret circuit.

Matt Amandus From the soulful to the sublime, Amandus’ piano sings in solo and collaborative efforts wherever great jazz is heard.

Steve Raybine From gigs with Dave Brubeck to the stage of the Montreux Jazz Festival to the studios of countless Hollywood moviemakers, Raybine is a virtuoso of the highest order.

Best Soul/R&B

Cursive From an appearance on “The Late Show with David Letterman” to touring with The Cure, these Saddle Creek recording artists are among the godfathers of “The Omaha Sound.”

Filter Kings Last year’s winners as the Best Folk/Roots/Americana/ Bluegrass band, the crossover appeal of the Filter Kings finds them in a new category this year.

Landing On The Moon Also nominated for Album of the Year, the Young Love Records band toured throughout the summer and played the 2010 MAHA Music Festival.

Witness Tree The millennia-spanning Witness Tree is entering it’s 20th year, a fact that speaks volumes in the revolving door world of rock ‘n’ roll.

Voodoo Method Enjoying a breakout year, Voodoo Method got the call to open for Dirty Little Rabbits, a project of Clown from Slipknot. They later were the OEAA Summer Showcase people’s choice to win a spot on the MAHA Music festival stage.

Best Cover Band Acoustic Groove The 2006 winners in this category, Acoustic Groove is a party-crowd favorite that will be found rocking at The Brazen Head and The Firewater Grille this spring.

Hi-Fi Hangover Few bands garner an OEAA nomination in the same year they were formed. Meet Hi-Fi Hangover, the out-of-nowhere hit that has bucked the odds.

Ten Club Ten Club is the best Pearl Jam tribute band in Nebraska. Hey, wait a sec! Ten Club is the only Pearl Jam … oh, never mind.

The 9’s Having shared a stage with such acts as Ziggy Marley and the Average White Band, The 9’s funk fusions make them one of the area’s most perennial, crowd-pleasing favorites.

Secret Weapon The Reader’s Brady Vredenburg summed it up best: “Glammy without the Tawny Kitaen, arena without the soccer mom, and classic without a doubt.”

Lucas Kellison Lincoln-based Lucas Kellison, also the owner of that city’s Sadson Music Group, has played with the likes of Boyz II Men and Herbie Hancock.

Velvet Crush You name it, they cover it. No, they crush it. Velvet Crush can be enjoyed venues all over town.

Lymphnode Maniacs Funk and jazz may be the foundations for this group of music majors, but forays into rock and rap add additional energy to the band’s sounds.

All Young Girls Are Machine Guns Nominated in both Adult Alternative/Singer-Songwriter and Jazz/Easy Listening, All Young Girls Are Machine Guns may be the “it” band of 2010.

Satchel Grande This nine-piece ensemble and The Reader’s sponsored band for this year’s SXSW Music Festival in Austin is a three-time OEAA winner and cranks out the funk at a frenetic pace.

Dial ‘M’ For Moustache is their latest release.

Conduits This band’s July debut performance featured a talented amalgam of artists from Eagle Seagull, Kite Pilot, The Golden Age, The Good Life, Our Fox and Son, Ambulance.

Son Of 76 & The Watchmen

Best New Artist

Hello from Ghost Valley With distinct echoes of the ‘90s, the driving beat of Hello from Ghost Valley is brought to you by former members of Civicminded, Paria and Sleep Said the Monster.

oeaa program

High Art High Art is a new project from The Show Is the Rainbow’s Darren Keen, an effort he described to the Lazy-I’s Tim McMahan as “Post Elfman experimental Japanese punk.”

The Matador The Matador is waving its cape at a pair of nominations.

They are also nominated in Hard Rock/Punk/Metal.

Album of the Year

It’s True, It’s True They announced they were breaking up. Then they weren’t breaking up. Then we heard that they were re-constituted and planning a new release. Please say it’s true, It’s True!

Jes Winter, Treat The Bad Good Now pursuing a solo career, the catchy hooks of Treat the Bad Good catapulted Winter to an OEAA nomination.

Kyle Harvey, Nightmares (of you and me by the sea) Haunting lyrics, brooding guitar … classic Kyle Harvey.

Landing On The Moon, We Make History From PopMatters.com … “October” rolls by as gently and prettily as a harvest moon, while “Where Have We Gone?” dials up some bona fide pathos.

Mynabirds, What We Lose In The Fire We Gain In The Flood The Saddle Creek solo debut from Laura Burhenn, with a little help from and members of Bright Eyes, These United States and Azure Ray. “Soulful and introspective,” says Paste magazine.

Artist(s) of the Year Daniel Christian This BMI recording artist is also nominated in two other categories this year: Adult Alternative/Singer-Songwriter and Gospel.

Matt Cox The artist is also nominated in two other categories this year: Blues and Roots/Americana/Country/Bluegrass.

It’s True It’s True is also nominated for Album of the Year.

Landing On The Moon This band is also nominated in two other categories this year, Best Rock and Best Album.

Noah’s Ark Was A Spaceship Hanga-Fang, the group’s first full-length offering, will be released by Slumber Party Records on Feb. 22, 2011.

| THE READER |

feb. 10 - 16, 2011

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art ‘Science Fairs’ Bemis Underground exhibits continue alt vibe of skepticism and experimentation

F

by Michael J. Krainak

Queen, an innovator of her own who hopes to soon open an arts center devoted primarily to elementary students, not unlike the Kent Bellows Studio and Center for Visual Art that serves high schoolers; and Powell carries on with the do-it-yourself tradition so popular in metropolitan areas all over America.

It’s called evolution. Creative minds think alike and one good idea begets another and so on until the community not only survives but improves because it learns how to adapt and reinvent itself. Science Fair was to the Bemis Underground as the Containers of Art was to Art Basel Miami Beach. Each fed the other, nurturing and inspiring, mentors showing the way while making room for the next generation.

Perhaps the biggest connection Adkins, Hoyt and Crane enjoy to Science Fair as well as each other is their stylistic variations on naïve, new media and site-specific art. Yet, though each demonstrates certain juvenile or outsider tendencies, the choice is deliberate, not indigenous, and the result, at least for

or those who enjoyed Science Fair, an alternative art DIY featuring 100 artists who displayed their wares at Urban Storage, the alt vibe continues across the street in the Bemis Underground with its current three-person solo exhibit.

The Underground show, which continues through Feb.26, highlights the quirky, eclectic work of Kenneth Adkins, Victoria Hoyt and Dan Crane, which in the aggregate is largely a more mature and focused “science fair” in a venue where it can be argued that Omaha emerging art first became credible in the 21st art by victoria hoyt century.

Sculptor-painter Adkins offers New Works on Paper; Hoyt, an MFA candidate at UNL, becomes more contemporary with her miniature narratives in The Problems of Getting Together; and installation artist Crane welcomes you into his mondo bizzaro Dadz House.

Too big for any of the units in Urban Storage, these three shows nevertheless enjoy a visionary and visual link to Science Fair that is more than coincidental.

The connections are several.

Science Fair was originally the art-in-a-can brainchild of one, is work quite sophisticated in form. entrepreneurs Josh Powell and Joel Damon, who have Moving counter-clockwise in what appears a history of hit-and-run, one-nighters that exhibit lo- to be a rather festive environment thanks largely cal emerging and pre-emerging artists, who otherwise to Crane’s colorful, sprawling installation looming wuld not get the opportunity, in unlikely places. ahead, you first encounter Adkins’ startlingly deThis is the similar mission that jumpstarted the ceptive array of 13 ink and pencil drawings and colUnderground six years ago by Bemis Director Mark lages on torn tablet paper with an occasional dab or Masuoka and BU’s first curator, Jeremy Stern. It’s smear of color. Adkins shares a certain socio-politialso one that both Powell and Damon appreciated cal theme with Hoyt and Crane but his tone is more as artists, as their own art over time found its way abrasive and his POV more obscure. into this venue. Not satisfied with that, they asked His show statement claims that “the artist comthe logical questions: Where will the next generation municates the depth of his emotions” in his two- and come from? What sort of event will it take to make it three-person scenarios. But, if his work is personal it happen? Where will they go next to show? is couched in juvenile, scribbled and scrambled imThen a curious thing happened. The dynamic agery that resemble a child’s sketchbook hastily and duo split up, sort of: Damon replaced Brigitte Mc- dramatically drawn. It’s as if a person, however old,

had been asked by a psychologist to express in pictures what one couldn’t describe in words. Only the titles, some evasive, others deliberately blunt, more than hint at a feeling or concept that belies the naïve and crude images.

Nice try, You Stupid, Fat C*** and Let’s Share/ You’re Going to Burn may get your attention with their inflammatory titles, but you will struggle a bit with their representations. On the other hand, the scatological and violent scenarios in You Bet and Let’s Do Lines respectively, speak for themselves. Either way, Adkins’ art effectively acts out bad social behavior that ironically risks further alienation with his audience.

Adkins attempts to connect with the viewer in two interesting ways. First, in the majority of drawings, all his childlike figures face the audience to see if one is watching, showing off, desperate for attention. Second, a certain flopsy, mopsy figure, part victim, part perpetrator appears in much of the work art by kenneth adkins

as if it’s the artist’s alter ego. Most effectively in I’m Going to Choke You Now, a clever, familiar psychodrama where a child takes out his aggression on a dog, which then turns on his master or a favorite toy.

Hoyt also explores a particular social dynamic in The Problems of Getting Together with her inkjet tableaux featuring painted beans and marshmallows in a dollhouse setting. Eschewing her earlier myth and folk, ethereal paintings, her new narratives are more contemporary, sophisticated and complex.

There is still an element of fantasy, but it is measured by a droll sense of humor and a bit of slapstick.

Big Boy Stones, Just like on TV and Not What She Hoped For may remind some of the low-brow settings and satire of Saturday Night Live’s crude animation series Mr. Bill, but Hoyt’s images are polished and formal.

art

For example, despite the simplicity of both figures and the mise en scene, Hoyt has carefully staged and composed each scene in a cinematic manner that makes each appear as a cell animation still.

Careful attention to expressionistic angles and lighting and asymmetrical balance, as in Are You Vegan? and Just Like on TV gives the image a 3-D quality and the viewer a seat at the table.

Thematically, as with Adkins, Hoyt is a bit vague, but unlike the former her POV isn’t strident.

She has something to say about the human condition in Still, where two black beans watch the film To Kill a Mockingbird, but the effect is often more ironic than satiric, such is the overall detachment and emotional distance.

Not so with Crane’s overt Dadz House, a crowd favorite on opening night as the audience milled about his wall installation, Symmetricali and kinetic Wiggle Box featuring a lot of insinuating sausages. The exhibit’s impact may leave little to the imagination, but the intended sensual overload speaks volumes about personal past and present selfindulgences.

Viewing Crane’s altar piece to junk food and pop culture is a rite of initiation and questionable maturation. If we are what we eat and worship, then we live in a “nirvana” created by corporate logos, advertising and professional sports while filling up on a communion of Coke, Pepsi, McDonalds and Old Milwaukee. And then there is the altar’s most blatant comment that we are in lockstep with a mainstream lifestyle built on propaganda and false gods: its centerpiece, a large Swastika made of Kraft macaroni and cheese boxes.

Overall, the entire Underground exhibit, as well as Powell’s DIY effort, is the sort of “science fair” President Obama spoke of in his State of the Union address; an experiment in skepticism and provocation more in empathy with Middle East revolution than Super Bowls. , The exhibit featuring the works of Kenneth Adkins, Dan Crane and Victoria Hoyt continues through Feb. 26 at the Bemis Underground, 724 S. 12th St. Call 341-7130 or visit bemiscenter.org for more details.

| THE READER |

feb. 10 - 16, 2011

33

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FEB. 10 - 16, 2011

| THE READER |

operaomaha.org SPONSORED BY

3 hours with a figure model, drinks, contests, and good company.

Bring your art supplies and prepare to be blown away!

21 and up for more information, check out our Facebook Page: Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School Omaha

3

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Donation

8pm-11pm door @ 7:30

theater BSB’s masterfullywritten pub-centric play Distant Music an evening well spent

H

by Warren Francke

thetic vacillating” between a preference for Guinness or Murphy’s. At one point, Dev lifts the pint up like a chalice and muses, “If God were a bit more theatrical, this is what transubstantiation would look like.

“There’s a very thin line between religion and stout, d’ja know that?”

Dev calls Connor Janus, the two-faced god, for his vacillating, not just about stout but about his Catholic faith and his legal profession. He credits Janus to the Tuesday night visits by the Harvard Classics department. “I overhear the odd bit.”

Don’t let the easy humor mislead you. It’s always as wise as it is funny, meaty as it is mirthful.

And Dev is always “overhearing the odd bit”

ow often do you enjoy a play so much you can’t wait to see it again? So enchanted you quickly read the entire script of Distant Music, hearing the words once more as spoken by Scott Kurz, Kevin Barratt and Laura Leininger?

Almost never, but it’s not surprising that it happens when Cathy Kurz directs distant voices the Brigit Saint Brigit Theatre and has Scott playing Dev, an Irish immigrant bartending at the Poulnabrome pub in Cambridge, Mass. I’d squeeze every blessed line into this review if only I could, but will settle instead for setting the scene with help from playwright James McLindon.

He notes that “a fierce nor’easter blows” outside the snug pub with the bar on the right, a window on the left near a flickering Bass ale sign. The writer reminds us that such places are more important for talk than drink and adds words from James Joyce whose “Dubliners” describes a woman listening to “distant music.”

Dev the bartender, we’re told, displays customary good humor, but “when ex- from his guests. Gaydar? He picked it up from cited, which is not infrequently, he is loud, ani- the Gay and Lesbian Parents Without Partners on Wednesdays. mated, dramatic, a bit larger than life.”

But his eavesdropping becomes a bit much The bell rings, his friend Connor the law profor Connor and his friend Maeve (Leininger) fessor (Barratt) enters, and says, “God, it’s nasty when they’re sharing life-changing issues. So out there.” keep your eye on an obscure piece of the set beDev: “Snow is it, professor?”

Connor: “No, Dev, they’re having a ticker- neath a bar stool, a heating vent that provides a playful piece of action. tape parade on Massachusetts Avenue.”

The play runs a little under two hours at a Dev: “Feck off with ya. You’ve no call to be taking the piss out of a struggling young immigrant.” pace that never lags. Yet it has the blissful comAnd he begins to draw a pint of Murphy’s fort of a tavern evening with Elwood P. Dowd of stout, leading to an argument over Connor’s “pa- Harvey fame.

Will Connor surrender his cynicism about the law and accept a judgeship? Will Maeve risk her vocation to perform a forbidden sacrament?

Will Dev return to his native Sligo to run a fish and chips shop?

You’ll care about them, and about the strength of their faith or the lack of it. And you’ll love to listen as they sort out the lessons of life.

Dev shrugs off that Boston bar, “Cheers,” where everybody knows your name. In Sligo, he complains, everybody in the whole village knew your name and every little misstep in your past.

He takes up some issues with God, recalling when his grandfather questioned his possession of a sack of crisps (potato chips). After a lot of “says he” and “says I,” Dev explains that given his fondness for crisps and their placement next to something he was acquiring for his grandmother, it “was more God’s fault than mine.”

Grandpa, he recalled, “looked quite thoughtful at that.”

Connor: “So he let you go?”

Dev: “No, he beat me same as always, but I could tell he was troubled in his mind.”

McLindon lets Dev share some Irish lore about “party pieces,” little performances on evenings spent by folks not couched before television screens. Dev did some Joyce about the drifting snow, and “my older sister did the Molly Bloom.”

Later, Dev does a little of her erotic poetry himself. And then he turns out the lights after a well-spent evening in a very hospitable pub. , The Brigit Saint Brigit’s presentation of Distant Music runs through Feb. 19, Thurs.-Sat. at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. at the Downtown Space, 614 S. 11th St. in the Old Market. Tickets are $22, $18 for students and seniors. Call 502.4910 or visit bsbtheatre.com.

theater

coldcream

Bar Handled

n You might want to hang out at Metro this weekend, especially if you’d like to try Rattlesnake in its Culinary Arts Building. That’s at 7:30 p.m. Friday on the Metropolitan Community College Fort Omaha Campus.

It’s not culinary exotica but an original play-acted by its author John Hardy, playing 14 characters. He’s written many plays and recently toured as George in John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. One critic called this one “sinuous, mean theater” and another said Hardy “needs no props to convince you of the reality of his world,” which includes a lonely man’s bonding with some rattlers.

And you need only $10 at the door, unless you’re a Metro student because then it’s free. It’s free for everyone on Saturday when James McLindon, author of Distant Music, that superb play in the Downtown Space, appears at Metro at 1 p.m. for a workshop. He’ll do a talkback after the Brigit Saint Brigit production that evening. n It’s also all new the following weekend when the Circle Theater presents the regional premiere of The Year of Magical Thinking, Joan Didion’s moving portrayal of grief and loss with Barb Ross doing the one-woman show at the Central Presbyterian Church starting Feb. 18.

And the Omaha Community Playhouse mounts the first local production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, opening the same day. You’ll see more on both the Didion drama and the musical next week. n This isn’t the first or last time I’ll beg forgiveness for the odd enjoyment I get from an enthusiastic press release, but one sentence in the news from The Nebraska Bellydance Spectacular was especially intriguing. It read: “The boldest and brightest stars of the Midwest bellydance scene will answer the question: What is beauty?”

That takes on more meaning when we read that too often folks confine their bellydance fantasies to the slim and shapely figure from “I Dream of Jeanie.” So I suspect we’ll be invited on March 26 to the Holland Center to appreciate more ample and varied shapes that answer that age-old question.

The producer, Christina Kadlec, who performs as Magdalena, advises that it all “goes much deeper than just some flirtatious wiggling.”

Apparently bellydancing features many styles, but some good old-fashioned “Turkish cabaret” goes deep enough for me. But I doubt they’ll let us smoke hookahs in the Holland.

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

| THE READER |

feb. 10 - 16, 2011

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art

OpeningS

CATHEDRAL CULTURAL CENTER, 3900 Webster St., 551.4888, cathedralartsproject.org. NEW WORK: Dennis Wattier and Deborah Murphy, opens Feb. 13-Apr. 1.

EL MUSEO LATINO, 4701 S. 25th St., elmuseolatino.org. MOLAS EXHIBIT: Textiles created by the Kuna people of Panama.

NEBRASKA MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS: Grou show, through Apr. 16. EL CABALLO: The horse in Folk Art, opens Feb. 12-May 4.

HAYDON CENTER, 335 N. 8th St., Lincoln, 475.5421, haydonartcenter.org. UNREAL LANDSCAPES: Steve Ryan & Diane Fox, opens Feb. 10-Mar. 12, reception Mar. 4.

HOT SHOPS ARTS CENTER, 1301 Nicholas St., 342.6452, hotshopsartcenter.com. ARDENT: Presented by G Thompson Higgins Photography. DRAWING FROM LIFE: Work from drawing from life sessions. ART CHALLENGE 2011: Juried show. All shows open Feb. 12-27, reception Feb. 12, 6 p.m.

IMAGEWERKS COLLECTIVE, 5723 S. 137th St, 880.6294.

AMORE: A celebration of Valentine’s Day, group show, opens Feb. 11 & 12, 7-11 p.m.

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

THE GLORY OF UKRAINE: Two part exhibition that forms an unprecedented celebration of this large European nation, opens Feb. 12-May 8.

RNG GALLERY, 1915 Leavenworth St., 214.3061. 9: Group show, opens Feb. 12-Mar. 6, reception Feb. 12, 7 p.m.

TUGBOAT GALLERY, 14th and O, 2nd floor, Lincoln, tugboatgallery.com. LANDSCAPE/LANDSCAPED: Group show curated by Kim Thomas, through Feb. 26.

ONGOING

A TO Z PRINTING, 8320 Cody Dr., Lincoln, 477.0815, atozprint. com. PHOTOFEST EXHIBIT: Group show, through Feb. ANDERSON O’BRIEN FINE ART OLD MARKET, 1108 Jackson St., 884.0911, aobfineart.com. NEW WORK: Jenny Gummersall, through Feb. 20.

ARTISTS’ COOPERATIVE GALLERY, 405 S. 11th St., artistscoopgallery.com. EVERY ARTIST HAS A STORY: New work by Ken Heimbuch, Katrina Methot-Swanson and Tom Sitzman, through Feb. 27.

BELLEVUE UNIVERSITY GALLERY, Hitchcock Humanities Center, 1000 Galvin Road. S., 293.2048, Bellevue.edu. ART AND MEDICINE: New work by Mark Gilbert, through Mar. 7.

BEMIS CENTER, 724 S. 12th St., 341.7130, bemiscenter.org.

STILL LIFES: New work by Vera Mercer. ANOTHER NEBRASKA: Group show by the Nebraska Arts Council individual artist fellows. Both shows through Apr. 9.

BEMIS UNDERGROUND, 724 S. 12th St., 341.7130, bemiscenter.org. GROUP SHOW: New work by Kenneth Adkins, Dan Crane and Victoria Hoyt, through Feb. 26.

BLUE POMEGRANATE GALLERY, 6570 Maple St., 502.9901, bluepom.com. THE ARTFUL HEART: An artful celebration of the Heart as an iconic form, through Feb. 28.

CREIGHTON LIED ART GALLERY, 2500 California St., 280.2392, finearts.creighton.edu. DRAWING OMAHA FROM MANHATTAN: New work by Edgar Jerins, through Mar. 4.

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

REDACTED PERFECTION: Group show curated by Jeff Thompson and Angeles Cossio, through Mar. 2.

DURHAM WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM, 801 S. 10th St., 444.5071, durhammuseum.org. SCHOOL HOUSE TO WHITE HOUSE: THE EDUCATION OF THE PRESIDENTS: Through Mar. 27. WITH MALICE TOWARD NONE: The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Exhibition, through Mar. 20.

EISENTRAGER-HOWARD GALLERY, Richards Hall, Stadium Drive and T, Lincoln, 472.5025, unl.edu/art/facilities_eisentragerhoward.shtml. WORK MAKES THE WORK: New work curated by Jeff Thompson, through Feb. 18.

ELDER GALLERY, 51st and Huntington, Nebraska Wesleyan University, nebrwesleyan.edu. ALL STUDENT ART SHOW: Through Feb. 27.

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

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

NEW WORK: Larry Griffing, through Feb.

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feb. 10 - 16, 2011

GOVERNOR’S RESIDENCE EXHIBITION, 1425 H St., Lincoln, nebraskaartscouncil.org. NEW WORK: Marcia Bauerle, through Mar. 11.

GREAT PLAINS ART MUSEUM, 1155 Q St., Hewit Plc., Lincoln, 472.0599, unl.edu/plains/gallery/gallery.shtml. DOUBLE VISION: New work by Hulleah Tsinhnahjinnie, through Mar. 27.

HILLMER ART GALLERY, College of St. Mary, 7000 Mercy Rd., 399.2400, csm.edu. RECENT PAINTINGS: Jeffrey Spencer, through Mar. 4, reception Feb. 17, 5 p.m.

INTERNATIONAL QUILT STUDY CENTER AND MUSEUM, 1523 N. 33rd St., Lincoln, 472.7232, quiltstudy.org. MARSEILLE: WHITE CORDED QUILTING: Through May 8. REVISITING THE ART QUILT: Through Apr. 3, gallery talk Apr. 3, 3 p.m.

JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER, 333 S. 132nd St., 572.8486, jccomaha.org. SCREAM TRUTH AT THE WORLD: Emanuel Ringelblum and the Hidden Archive of the Warsaw Gutter, through Feb. 25.

KRUGER COLLECTION, UNL Architecture Hall, 10th and R, Lincoln, 472.3560, krugercollection.unl.edu. THINK GREEN: Interior/green design and miniatures, through Mar. 18.

LAURITZEN GARDENS, 100 Bancroft St., 346.4002, omahabotanicalgardens.org. A TROPICAL PARADISE: Amazing tropical plants, through Apr. WEEDS/PODS/SEEDS: New work by Kristin Pluhacek. THE LANDSCAPES: New work by Kristin Pluhacek.

Both shows through Apr. 17.

THE LICHEN, 2810 N. 48th St., Lincoln, thelichen.com. THE METRO PHOTO CLUB COLLECTIVE: Group show, through Feb. LUX CENTER FOR THE ARTS, 48th and Baldwin, Lincoln, 434.2787, luxcenter.org. VIS-A-VIS: Group show, through Mar. 1. PULP: Group show. SELECTIVE MEMORY: New work by Arjan Zazuety. AS YOU WERE: New work by Matthew Dercole. All shows through Feb. 26.

METRO COMMUNITY COLLEGE, Fort Omaha Campus, 30th & Fort St., North Building #10. LUIGI WAITES EXHIBIT: Artwork honoring Luigi Waites, through Mar. 30.

MODERN ARTS MIDWEST, 800 P St., Lincoln, 477.2828, modernartsmidwest.com. PHOTOGRAPHERS: Group show, through Feb. 26.

MORRILL HALL, 307 Morrill Hall, Lincoln 472.3779, museum. unl.edu. AMPHIBIANS VIBRANT AND VANISHING: Photographs

by Joel Sartore, through Nov. 30.

MUSEUM OF NEBRASKA ART (MONA), 2401 Central Ave., Kearney, 308.865.8559, monet.unk.edu/mona. THE ANIMAL KINGDOM: Through Jun. 5, 2011. A GREATER SPECTRUM: African American artists of Nebraska, 1912-2010, through Apr. 3. OF PEN, PAPER, PENCIL: Group show, through Feb. 27.

NOMAD LOUNGE GALLERY, 1013 Jones St., 884.1231, nomadlounge.com. THE LONG CON: New work by Timothy Siragusa, through Feb. 27.

OLD MARKET ARTISTS, 1034 Howard St., Lower Level of Old Market Passageway, oldmarketartists.com. GROUP SHOW: Featuring 13 local artists, through Feb. 28.

OMAHA ARTISTS INC., The Designers, 12123 Emmet St., omahaartistsinc.com. ARISTS IN RESIDENCE: Group show, through Feb. 27.

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

PRIVACY AND THE PLAINS: Photographs by Kimberly Thomas, through Feb. PROJECT ROOM, 1410 and 1416 O St., Suite #8, Lincoln, 617.8365, projectroom.us. NEW WORK: Matt Hilker, Ying Zhu, Maggie Tobin, through Feb. RETRO, 1125 Jackson St., 934.7443. NEW WORK: Group show curated by Pope Katherine of Ralston Costume, through Feb. SCREEN INK, 416 S. 16th St., Lincoln, screenink.com. NEW WORK: Nicole Gustafsson, through Feb. SHELDON ART GALLERY, 12th and R, UNL, Lincoln, sheldonartgallery.org. BETTER HALF, BETTER TWELFTH: Women artists in the collection, through Apr. 1, 2011. AN AMERICAN TASTE: THE ROHMAN COLLECTION: Through May 1. POETICAL FIRE: THREE CENTURIES OF STILL LIFES: Group show, through May 7. TRANSFORMING VISION: PHOTOGRAPHIC ABSTRACTION IN SHELDON’S COLLECTION: Group show, in conjunction with Lincoln Photofest.

UNL ROTUNDA GALLERY, Nebraska Union, 1400 R St., Lincoln, 472.8279. MFA SCULPTURE GRAD EXHIBIT: Group show, through Feb. 18, reception Feb. 18, 5 p.m.

WORKSPACE GALLERY, Sawmill Building, 440 N. 8th St., Lincoln, sites.google.com/site/workspacegallery. NEW WORK: Priya Kambli, through Feb.

| THE READER |

art/theater listings

check event listings online!

theater oPENING

APPROACHES TO PLAYWRITING AND DIALOGUE, Mule Barn, Building 21, Metro’s Fort Omaha Campus, N. 20th & Fort St., mccneb.edu. Workshop with playwright James McClindon, free and open to the public, Feb. 12, 1 p.m.

DEAD MAN’S CELL PHONE, Nebraska Wesleyan, Miller Theatre, 51st and Huntington, 465.2384, nebrwesleyan. edu. Opens Feb. 10-20, Thu.-Sat., 7:30 p.m., Sun., 2 p.m., $10, $7.50/seniors, $5/students.

HAPPY DAYS: A NEW MUSICAL, TADA Theatre, 701 P St., Lincoln, 402.438.8232, tadatheatre.info. Opens Feb. 10-20, Thu.-Sat., 7:30 p.m., Sun., 2 p.m., $20.

“MOMENTUM”: BY BALLET NEBRASKA, Arts Center at Iowa Western College, 2700 College Road, Council Bluffs. Opens Feb. 11, 8 p.m., $12.75-$35.

“MOMENTUM”: BY BALLET NEBRASKA, Witherspoon Concert Hall, Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge St., balletnebraska.org. Opens Feb. 12, 8 p.m., $12.75-$35.

RATTLESNAKE, Institute for Culinary Arts Building, Metro’s Fort Omaha Campus, N. 20th & Fort St., mccneb.edu.

Opens Feb. 11, 7:30 p.m., $10.

oNGOING

DISTANT MUSIC, Brigit Saint Brigit Theatre, 614 S. 11th St., 502.4910, bsbtheatre.com. Through Feb. 19, Thu.Sat., 7:30 p.m., Sun., 2 p.m., $22, $18/students, seniors & military.

FROM SHELTERBELT W/ LOVE, Shelterbelt Theatre, 3225 California St, 341.2757, shelterbelt.org. Through Feb. 14, Thu.-Sat., 8 p.m., Sun., 6 p.m., $15, $12/students & seniors, special rates available, visit shelterbelt.org for online sales.

MARY POPPINS, Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St., 345.0606, omahaperformingarts.org. Through Feb. 13, various showtimes, $23-$50, more information at ticketomaha.com.

THE MISFITS, Rose Theater, 2001 Farnam St., 345.4849, rosetheater.org. Through Feb. 13, Fri., 7 p.m., Sat., 2 p.m. & 7 p.m., Sun., 2 p.m. & 6 p.m., $16.

THE ODD COUPLE, Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St., 553.0800, omahaplayhouse.com. Through Feb. 13, Wed.-Sat., 7:30 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. & 6:30 p.m., $35, $21/students.

poetry/comedy thursday 10

AARDBAARK, The Bookworm, 87th and Pacific, 392.2877, bookwormomaha.com, 6 p.m. Amiable adult readers discussing books almost always read by kids. (2nd Thursday.)

OMAHA TABLE TALK ETHNIC POTLUCK DINNER AND DISCUSSION, West Hills Church, 3015 South 82nd Ave., omahatabletalk.com, 6 p.m. Rap and hip-hop are focus of this table talk.

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

FRIDAY 11

CONVERSATIONS CONFERENCE ON NEBRASKA ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY, East Campus Union Great Plains Room, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, nslw.org/conversations. html, 8:30 a.m.

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

SATURDAY 12

ARDENT!...LOVE, LUST, OBSESSION AND PASSION, Hot Shops Art Center, Studio 101, 1301 Nicholas St., 342.6452, hotshopsartcenter.com. Readings from local authors on love, lust, obsession and passion.

ART OF BOOKMAKING WORKSHOP, Omaha Public LIbrary, Florence Branch, 2920 Bondesson St., 10 a.m. Hands-on workshop with Marvel Maring.

CLEAN PART READING SERIES, Drift Station Gallery, 18th & N St., Lincoln, cleanpartreading.blogspot.com, 7 p.m. Arda Collins & Tina Brown Celona.

POETRY SLAM & OPEN MIC, Omaha Healing Arts Center, 1216 Howard St., 7:30 p.m., 345.5078, omahaslam.com, $7 suggested donation. The longest-running slam in Omaha. (2nd Sat.) SHERLOCK HOLMES BOOK CLUB, The Bookworm, 87th and Pacific, 392.2877, bookwormomaha.com, 10 a.m.. Discuss the tales of Sherlock Holmes. (2nd Saturday.)

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

Sunday 13

BRUCE HOPKINS, The Bookworm, 87th and Pacific, 392.2877, bookwormomaha.com, 1 p.m. Author of When Foxes Wore Red Vests.

BOOKS AND BAGELS, The Bookworm, 87th and Pacific, 392.2877, bookwormomaha.com, 11 a.m. Discussion of Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris.

AUGGIE SMITH, Funny Bone, Village Pointe, 17305 Davenport St., funnnyboneomaha.com, 493.8036, 7 p.m.

monday 14

DUFFY’S COMEDY WORKSHOP, 1412 O St., Lincoln, 474.3543, myspace.com/duffystavern, 9 p.m., Free. (every Mon.) POETRY AT THE MOON, Crescent Moon Coffee, 816 P St., Lincoln, 435.2828, crescentmoon@inebraska.com, 7 p.m. Open mic and featured readers. (every Mon.) LOVE SONGS AND SARCASM WITH BILLY MCGUIGAN, Funny Bone, Village Pointe, 17305 Davenport St., funnnyboneomaha. com, 493.8036, 7 p.m.

tuesday 15

88 IMPROV, Pizza Shoppe Collective, 6056 Maple St., 8 p.m, 88improv.com, $5. Each performance is one-of-a-kind because the audience helps create the show. (1st and 3rd Tuesday) DAVE MULLINS, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Skutt Student Center Room 105, 7 p.m., FREE. Author will read from Greetings From Below.

INTERNATIONAL INTRIGUE BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP, The Bookworm, 87th and Pacific, 392.2877, bookwormomaha.com, 6:30 p.m. Discuss The Second Death of Goodluck Tinubu by Michael Stanley.

FILM OF AND BY WOMEN ARTISTS: WHO DOES SHE THINK SHE IS, Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery, 12th & R St., Lincoln, sheldonartmuseum.org, 7 p.m. This film by Pamela Tanner Boll focuses on five particularly bold women artists.

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, music (every Tues.)

STEVE CLARK, Milo Bail Student Center, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 6001 Dodge St., unomaha.edu. Lecture: “Malcolm X, Black Liberation and the Road to Worker’s Power”.

Wednesday 26

ACOUSTIC OPEN MIC FOR MUSICIANS & POETS, Meadowlark Coffee & Espresso, 1624 S. St., Lincoln, 8 p.m., 477.2007. Hosted by Spencer. (every Wed.) COMEDY NIGHT AT THE SIDE DOOR, 3530 Leavenworth St., 8 p.m., $5. Every Wed. FANCY PARTY COMEDY, The Waiting Room, 6212 Maple St., 884.5353, waitingroomlounge.com, 9 p.m., FREE. Come see some of the areas best comedic talent.

MIDWEST POETRY VIBE, Irie, 302 S. 11th St., 9 p.m., poetry, R&B, Neosoul music, live performances (Every Wed.) PANEL DISCUSSION: “WHO IS AN AMERICAN? LATIONA/O IMMIGRATION, CITIZENSHIP AND POLITICAL PARTICIPATION IN THE 21ST CENTURY”, Bailey Library, 228 Andrews hall, 14th & T St., Lincoln, 12:30 p.m.

PAUL A. OLSON SEMINAR IN GREAT PLAINS STUDIES, Great Plains Art Museum 1155 Q. St, Lincoln, unl.edu, 3:30 p.m. Thomas C. Gannon discusses birds and their relationship to humans.

PEOPLE’S FILM FESTIVAL: GASLAND, McFoster’s Natural Kind Cafe, 38th and Farnam, 7 p.m., FREE. Explores the natural gas industry. (every Wed.)

4HE OF

'LORY 5KRAINE February 12–May 8 Only at Joslyn will you be able to see these two collections, Sacred Images and Golden Treasures, merge into one exhibition that celebrates the cultural heritage of this large Eastern European nation. public lecture Sunday, March 20 @ 2 pM Portals to Paradise with Nicolae Roddy, Ph.D.

Your life...Your path...Your choice

Free FaMily Fun day Sunday, March 27 @ 1 pM

In cooperation with the U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC) and with the support of the Embassy of Ukraine in the United States and the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, The Glory of Ukraine is presented by the Foundation for International Arts & Education (FIAE) (Bethesda, Maryland).

Image: Chalice, 1751, gilded silver

Major SponSorS: Suzanne and Walter Scott, Gail and Michael Yanney, Douglas County, Robert H. Storz Foundation, and

contributing SponSorS: Adah & Leon Millard Foundation and Supporting SponSorS: Fran and Rich Juro and

Additional support provided by

G SPRRIN B EG IN S

Q U AR TE

“MCC is giving me the chance to explore what I always wanted to do.

I get to step outside the classroom and learn the techniques I need to build my own construction business.”

ENROLL NOW

H9 MARC

> Phone 402.457.2400 > Toll-Free 800.228.9553 > Online www.mccneb.edu

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

| THE READER |

FEB. 10 - 16, 2011

37

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What We Buy:

FEB. 10 - 16, 2011

| THE READER |

PLATINUM Anything made of platinum.

SILVER Flatware, tea sets, goblets, jewelry, etc. and anything marked sterling.

We Buy Gold 10k, 14k, 18k & 24k

FREE ADMISSION

CONTINUES IN OMAHA EVERY DAY TUESDAY - SATURDAY

FEBRUARY 15TH - 19TH

T-F 9AM-6PM SAT 9AM-4PM CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL OMAHA-OLD MILL 655 NORTH 108TH AVENUE OMAHA, NE 68154 DIRECTIONS: (402) 496-0850 SHOW INFO: (217) 787-7767

music

Large and Live Electro two-piece Big Gigantic sets focus on clubs shows, festivals

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By Jesse D. Stanek

olorado-based two-piece Big Gigantic plays a bombastic mixture of jazz rhythms and electronic dance beats.

Featuring saxophonist/producer Dominic Lalli and drummer Jeremy Salken, Big G’s music was made for dancing and the duo have been ably ripping up clubs from coast to coast. They made a big wave on the festival circuit last summer, including much-talked-about sets at both Rothbury and Wakarusa. And while the recorded material is ambitious in its scope and vision, the records primarily serve as a tool to get folks to the shows.

Accordingly, it makes perfect sense that Big G offers both of their longplayers and an EP for free download on its website.

“We really want to get our music to as many people as possible and this is really the best way

n Consider this the first piece of concrete news regarding the next Little Brazil album. The Omaha indie-rockers trotted out new material during a Friday night gig at The Sydney, 5918 Maple St., as they headlined the HearNebraska.org launch party. The gig was also the first show with Megan Morgan as a full-fledged member. Morgan, who plays in Landing on the Moon with her husband and Little Brazil drummer Oliver, is now full-time on keyboards for the quickly-evolving Little Brazil. Hopefully, more news of a follow-up to 2009’s Son will come quickly over the next few months. n Send your best wishes to Best Coast’s Bethany Cosentino, who had to cancel an interview with The Reader because of a bout with the flu. Best Coast hits Omaha with Wavves Feb. 12 for a show at the Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. Cosentino and Wavves’ Nathan Williams, who are dating, spent 2010 in the indie-rock public eye, as both had highly praised records. Best Coast’s Crazy For You succeeded in being a modern update on the indie rocker who vents about boys, love and loneliness, something of a Liz Phair for the garage set. n Tommie Emmi, who runs the lathe cut record maker Poly-cut, is adding a record label to his bag of tricks. Fear of Music Records is set to begin releasing small-run lathe-cut records with a handful of releases this spring. Emmi says the label will focus on smaller bands, with an eye toward letting them indulge their creative whims. “I personally think the recording industry is afraid to let bands do whatever they want,” Emmi says. Up first for the label is an EP release by UK garage trio the Damerels and a split single by Watching the Train Wreck and Peace of Shit. Visit Fear of Music at fearofmusicrecords.com. n Noah’s Ark Was a Spaceship will go on tour just weeks after they release their debut album HangaFang in February. The trio leaves March 18 with fellow locals Yuppies on a nine-date tour that will take them down to Austin, Texas and back. The tour includes dates in Memphis, Chicago and St. Louis.

— Chris Aponick

backbeat

big gigantic

for us to do that,” Lalli wrote in an email after driving 12 hours through a white-knuckle snowstorm from Boulder to Sioux Falls. “We give our music away for free and hope that people will come check us out live.”

The band’s latest effort, A Place Behind The Moon, is a sprawling effort, charging and pulsing in one moment and laying it back jazz-style in the next. The saxophone lends a smooth mood that intertwines effortlessly with Lalli’s electronic sounds, and Salken serves as a morethan-capable rhythmic accompaniment. Big G’s sound is singular in that no one else is making similar music; however, the never-ending flourishes and nuances that give Big G its depth also lend a somewhat primal familiarity. The record is a lively testament to the music’s energy and the passion the band sparks during live shows.

Songs like “Lucid Dreams” and “High and Rising” showcase a cutting edge understanding of what electronic music is capable of and offers an almost hip-hop sensibility and strut.

“The initial vision is pretty similar to what we are today in terms of the music,” Lalli wrote.

“Playing electronic music as a duo. Songs, some improvising and solo’s, etc. We honesty never thought things would take off as much as they have; but, we are really grateful and happy the way things have turned out and we’re excited for what’s in store for 2011.”

Touring has always been a major part of the band’s modus operandi and in the process they have forged legions of booty-shaking fans across the country. They want to maintain their momentum with a major headlining tour this winter, leading to a summer filled with festival spots and club shows. The band’s penchant for live exploration and devotion to hitting the road has led them to be embraced by a jam band scene whose members appreciate playful improvisation and artful melodies and grooves. Music with such ambitious scope could be dawdling and somewhat precocious in the hands of lesser musicians, but Salken and Lalli have the chops to see the sound through to something tangible and relevant.

“We feel really fortunate to be in the position we’re in right now and we want to just keep having a great time, keep working hard,” Lalli wrote.

music

Backbeat takes you behind the scenes of the local music scene. Send tips, comments and questions to backbeat@thereader.com.

“It’s great being on tour and having kids come out and throw a big party every night. We are having a blast.” , Big Gigantic w/ Somasphere play The Waiting Room, 6212 Maple St., Thursday, Feb. 10 at 9 p.m. Tickets are $12 in advance and $14 day of show. For more info or to purchase tickets visit radkadillac.com.

| THE READER |

feb. 10 - 16, 2011

39

Yves Behar Industrial Designer 24 February 2011 — 7:00 pm

Joslyn Art Museum Witherspoon Concert Hall 2200 Dodge St, Omaha, NE daOMA members: FREE Joslyn Members & Students: $10

Founder of fuseproject, a San Francisco based design agency. Fuseproject develops cohesive brand and product experiences, establishes new markets and disrupts old ones in the areas of technology, furniture, sports, lifestyle and fashion.

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feb. 10 - 16, 2011

| THE READER |

| THE READER |

FEB. 10 - 16, 2011

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That heavy lovin’ feeling: Bright Eyes, The People’s Key

B

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

50% oFF

shure 58

with stand

onlY $99

www.RainbowMusicOmaha.com

right Eyes’ new album, The People’s Key, comes out Feb. 15 on Saddle Creek Records.

Conor Oberst’s publicist tells me the band, which had just started rehearsals, has put all press inquiries on hold for the time being. Maybe when Bright Eyes schedules the inevitable concert in Omaha we’ll get Conor’s perspective on the album. Until then, you’ll have to settle for mine in this review. (Ed’s Note: A Bright Eyes concert was announced Tuesday for June 4 at Westfair) NPR.org, which has been streaming the album in its entirety for the past few weeks, came right out of the gate declaring it the “best record Bright Eyes has ever made. In fact, it’s the best record the band’s frontman, Conor Oberst, has ever been a part of.” Only time will prove if NPR is right, though I don’t know how you could declare any album as being an artist’s “best.”

It might be your favorite, but “best?”

Come on …

I will say this: I like The People’s Key much more than Oberst’s last solo album and his Monsters of Folk material, and that’s somewhat concerning to me as I’ve maintained all the talk about this being “Bright Eyes final album” was pure silliness since Bright Eyes at its core is Oberst. However, there’s no denying that Oberst is a different man when it comes to Bright Eyes. From both a musical and lyrical standpoint, Bright Eyes records hold together better, like reading a great novel as compared to a collection of short stories. The thematic essence of Bright Eyes albums is more consistent and, well, satisfying than what he’s produced under his solo banner.

The album keeps with the Bright Eyes tradition of starting with a spoken-word audio clip. For Cassadaga, Bright Eyes’ last album, it featured a (presumably) bighaired southern woman talking about spiritual centers that attract “believers,” like the Florida town the album was named after. This time it’s “Shamanic” vocalist Denny Brewer of the band Refried Icecream doing an L. Ron Hubbard-esque spiel about spaceships and lizard men at the beginning of the world. Brewer occasionally sticks his head in between songs, sounding like Will Ferrell imitating Harry Caray. For long-time fans, this eccentric touch is part of what you come to a Bright Eyes album for, though later on you’ll find yourself figuring out ways to cut out those opening two-and-a-half minutes so you can get right to the first song.

In this case, that song is “Firewall,” a simple melody draped in dread and built upon a sinister, circular electric guitar line. Oberst spits out his vision of talking ravens and artificial theme parks before getting to his own artificial reality and his escape from it via jump

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ropes and slit wrists. Breaching the “firewall” opens the melody to the glorious heavens, before it comes back down.

If there’s a theme that ties the album together it’s Oberst’s dwelling on the inevitability of death. Every song has an allusion to death or dying, a theme approached now with resignation, though it’s something (based on earlier Bright Eyes material) that Oberst figured out long ago.

That theme is most obvious on the album’s ultimate downer number, “Ladder Song,” with its subtle opening lines: No one knows where the ladder goes You’re gonna lose what you love the most You’re not alone in anything You’re not unique in dying Mournful piano and Conor at his most quivering.

In the old days, this would have been a song about a broken heart or a strung-out night spent in Manhattan.

My how things change as you get older. And unlike, say, Prince’s song about a ladder, there’s no salvation or hope at the end of this one. About to turn 31, Conor seems too young to be dwelling on death, but then again, there were those who wondered if h=e’d even live to see 30.

The People’s Key might be Bright Eyes’ most consistent album from a song craft perspective. There is an undeniably straightforward quality; everything seems self-contained, pulled together and kept from going on tangents. The end product is an even line from beginning to end. Predictable, and for a lot of music-goers, that can be very satisfying.

But there is something missing. On every other Bright Eyes album, there was one perfect moment that jumped off the disc, unique and demanding a rewind, the perfect song for the mix tape. From I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning it was “Lua.” From Cassadaga it was “I Must Belong Somewhere.” From Lifted, it was “Nothing Gets Crossed Out” and “Lover I Don’t Have to Love” and “Bowl of Oranges” and “You. Will. You. Will? You. Will? You. Will?” and “Waste of Paint” — a song that you can’t turn off or skip over after it’s begun.

I’ve been listening to this album for a couple weeks and that song hasn’t jumped up and waved its arms at me yet. Maybe it will later. I don’t know. Maybe it’s more than I should expect.

That’s the thing about Bright Eyes albums. Those of us who have followed the band since the days when Conor wore glasses expect every release to be a masterpiece. And maybe that’s what separates Oberst’s solo work from his Bright Eyes efforts — that he and cohorts Mike Mogis and Nate Walcott also approach each album as if it were something more than just a collection of songs.

Time will tell if The People’s Key was a just a collection of songs or a “masterpiece” or a “best” or just a favorite. Right now it’s just a good album. ,

Lazy-i is a weekly column by long-time Reader senior contributing writer Tim McMahan focused on the Omaha music scene. Check out Tim’s daily music news updates at his website, lazy-i.com, or email him at lazy-i@thereader.com.

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feb. 10 - 16, 2011

| THE READER |

lazy-i

b l u e s ,

r o o t s ,

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OEA Awards this Sunday, Sunday Roadhouse at the Side Door

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he annual Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards will be presented this Sunday, Feb. 13, at 6:30 p.m. at the Harrah’s Convention Center ballroom. The show is scheduled to feature live performances from All Young Girls Are Machine Guns, The Filter Kings, Steve Raybine and slam poet Felicia Webster as well as several theatrical nominees. Remember, all nominations were arrived at through public voting held last year. A group of judges with specialized knowledge in each category vote for the final awards. (Full disclosure: I am a judge in the music category.) Visit HarrahsCouncilBluffs. com for ticket info; tickets are $20. See OEA-Awards. com for more on the nominees. A post-show party takes place in the Stir Live & Loud lounge featuring nominated DJs.

Sunday Roadhouse Returns Dean Dobmeier’s and Gary Grobeck’s Sunday Roadhouse concert series is back Sunday, Feb. 13, at 5 p.m. The popular series hits a new venue for this show: The Side Door Lounge (see page 16 for more on that) at 35th and Leavenworth. Performing are Jeffrey Foucault and Mark Erelli. NoDepression. com describes their collaboration as “stellar.”

Their tour is billed as “Murder Ballads and More.” AltCountryTab.Ca praised the music from their disc Seven Curses as having “an elemental approach with elemental subjects: love and death … raucous and chilling, raw and poignant, an expansive interpretation of a classic American genre.” The review noted Foucault and Erelli were drawn to “a dark little backwater of American music, where tales of gamblers, cowboys and love gone wrong are the coin of the realm-the murder ballad.”

Both Foucault and Erelli have acclaimed solo careers working in the folk/Americana genre. Find links to Foucault’s and Erelli’s press and music at SundayRoadhouse.com. This show sounds like the sort of music that should appeal to fans of Dave Alvin’s stripped down, traditional acoustic folk music or to the work of Roadhouse alums David Olney and Sergio Webb.

Also coming in the Sunday Roadhouse series is the great Tom Russell on March 27, followed by James McMurtry and the Bottle Rockets on April 3, as part of the two band’s national tour. Both of those shows are at The Waiting Room.

Lift Update Terry O’Halloran remains the owner-operator of The New Lift Lounge for now, as prospective owners finalize details for their financing. The New Lift hosts popu-

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lar Oklahoma rockabilly/roots artist Scott Keeton for the Thursday early 5:30 p.m. show Feb. 10.

Thursday, Feb. 17, O’Halloran presents Mary Bridget Davies from Kansas City. She and her band just placed second in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, so be sure to check out this rising star on the national blues scene. O’Halloran hopes to hand the bar off to new owners John Anderson and Chad Kelderman sometime after the February 17 show. The new owners have committed to continuing the Thursday blues series on a trial basis, so if you want to see this series continue, get out and support it.

Zoo Bar Blues The Zoo Bar presents blues-rocker Ana Popovic on Wednesday, Feb. 9, and outstanding vocalist Gina Sicilia on Wednesday, Feb. 16. The Wednesday shows start at 6 p.m. The Lil’ Slim Blues Band heats up the 5 p.m. show on Friday, Feb. 11. You can sign up for weekly email calendar updates at ZooBar.com.

Celebrating our Troops Tickets are on sale for the second annual blues-oriented fundraiser on Saturday, Feb. 26, at 6 p.m. for Operation BBQ. The event is at The Barn, at the corner of Military and State Streets. Featured entertainment is Iowa band The Avey Brothers, former International Blues Challenge finalists. Operation BBQ is a non-profit organization that throws departure and homecoming dinners for area troops. The group consists of local barbecue enthusiasts. Money raised at the Feb. 26 dinner goes toward the out-of-pocket costs for preparing these celebration meals. Tickets are $20 for this blues and BBQ celebration. Visit OperationBBQmw.org or call 709.0153 for tickets and details.

Hot Notes Chicago harmonica blues master James Cotton has been added to the March 5 Big Head Todd show at the Holland. Also performing will be the great Hubert Sumlin and Cedric Burnside and Lightin’ Malcom. Big Head Todd has just released a CD celebrating the iconic Robert Johnson’s centennial.

Brad Hoshaw headlines a night of Americana/folk at the Slowdown on Thursday, Feb. 10. Also on the bill are Lincoln Dickison, SAS and Michael Wunder.

The Sydney presents a night of rockabilly and twang on Friday, Feb. 11. The Reckless Ones from Minneapolis are on tap, along with The Filter Kings, The Blacktop Ramblers and Snake Island.

The Kris Lager Band plays a last-minute show at The Barley Street Tavern on Friday, Feb. 11.

Veteran Omaha blues band Blue House celebrates their 21st anniversary on Saturday, Feb. 12, with a show at The Reef at Del Mare at 168th & Pacific (formerly The Prestige). Keep up with the band at BlueHouseBlues.com. ,

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.

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feb. 10 - 16, 2011

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livemusiccalendar

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 10

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FUNKTROPOLIS, (DJ) 9 p.m., 415, FREE. DIGITALLOVE, (DJ) 9 p.m., Bricktop, FREE. OPEN JAM, 9 p.m., Chrome.

OPEN MIC W/ DASTARDLY & JARED BARTMAN, (rock/

acoustic) 7 p.m., Cultiva.

SHITHOOK, (karaoke) 9 p.m., Duffy’s, FREE. BIG SCOTT ALLAN, (island) 8 p.m., Firewater Grille, FREE. SPIKE NELSON TRIO, (jazz) 6 p.m., Jazz Louisiana Kitchen.

ESCAPE THE FIRE, CHASING THE SUN, (rock/metal) 9

p.m., Knickerbockers.

CHRIS SAUB, (acoustic) 8 p.m., LIV Lounge, FREE. EYRA, (acoustic/jazz) 9 p.m., Myth SCOTT KEETON BAND, (blues) 5:30 p.m., New Lift Lounge.

CYMBOLTON, (jazz) 6:30 p.m., Ozone.

SWAMPJAM, (blues) 8 p.m., Pour House, FREE. SNOW AND TELL W/ ARTILLERY FUNK, FADED, REGGAE

JUNKIEJEW, BIG ELEPHANT, SOFTWARE,

ELECTROMIZE, (funk/various) 7 p.m., Sokol

Underground, $7.

BRAD HOSHAW, LINCOLN DICKISON, SAS, MICHAEL

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

JR HOSS, (acoustic) 9 p.m., Two Fine Irishmen, FREE.

READER RECOMMENDS

BIG GIGANTIC, SOMASPHERE, (jam/electronic) 9 p.m.,

Waiting Room, $12/adv, $14/dos.

COUNTY ROAD 5, (cover) 9 p.m., Whiskey Roadhouse,

FREE. PIANO HAPPY HOUR, 5 p.m., Zoo Bar, FREE. THE HUNDRED MILES, THE HANGIN’ COWBOYS, (rock/

blues) 9:30 p.m., Zoo Bar, $5.

FRIDAY 11

KENNEDY, ROB BEATZ, (DJ) 9 p.m., 415, $5.

FISH HEADS, (cover) 9 p.m., Arena, FREE. KRIS LAGER BAND, (blues) 9 p.m., Barley St. Tavern, $7.

THE MACHETE ARCHIVE, ALL MY FRIENDS ARE

DINOSAURS, MELTING ELEPHANTS AND WINNERS,

(instrumental/rock) 8 p.m., Bourbon, $6, $8/under 21.

HI-FI HANGOVER, (cover) 9 p.m., Brewsky’s Park Drive,

FREE. CHESHIRE GRIN, (cover) 9:30 p.m., Chrome.

OPEN MIC W/ JES WINTER, 4 p.m., Clancy’s, FREE. STOVALL, (acoustic) 6 p.m., Crane Coffee Cafe.

ALANNA HOFFMAN, (singer-songwriter) 8 p.m., Cultiva.

JR HOSS, (acoustic) 5 p.m., Cunninghams, FREE. TIJUANA GIGOLOS, (blues/rock) 6:30 p.m., Duggan’s, $5.

CHAD LEE, (country) 9 p.m., Firewater Grille, FREE. FARMDOG, SHAKEN BABIES, OPK, (rock) 9:30 p.m.,

Hideout, $5.

READER RECOMMENDS

DAVID CASSIDY, (pop) 8 p.m., Holland Center, $15.

NIGHT SHAKERS TRIO, 7 p.m., Jazz Louisiana Kitchen.

DETHMASK, FAITH BURIED IN FLAMES, IDOL MINDS,

CURSED BY MOONLIGHT, (metal) 9 p.m.,

Knickerbockers.

CYMBOLTON, (cover) 9 p.m., Loose Moose.

LIPSTICK & LACE KING SPIN DJ BATTLE, (DJ) 9 p.m.,

Louis.

DIRTY FLUORESCENTS, COMME REEL, GARDEN, PAPER

CRICKETS, (rock) 9:30 p.m., O’Leaver’s, $5.

THE JAZZ EXPLOSION, 9 p.m., Pizza Shoppe Collective, $5.

READER RECOMMENDS

KICK CANCER IN THE KISSER W/ KILLIGANS, BLOODCOW,

BAD SPELER, (various) 8 p.m., red9, $5.

LEMON FRESH DAY, (cover) 10 p.m., The Reef, FREE. GUNSHOT ITCH, SEPPEKU, (rock) 9 p.m., Shamrock’s, $5.

AURAISING, STRAIGHT OUTTA JUNIOR HIGH, WE BE

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

44

feb. 10 - 16, 2011

| THE READER |

music listings

THOSE GUYS, FURIOSITY, SUPPRESS THE AFFLICTION,

LP LADIES MAN, G ROSE, (rock/various) 6 p.m.,

Sokol Underground, $6.

PERSONICS, (cover) 9 p.m., Two Fine Irishmen, FREE. LEARNING TO FLOYD, (tribute) 9 p.m., Waiting Room, $8.

THE LABELS, (cover) 9 p.m., Whiskey Roadhouse, FREE. MAGIC SLIM, (blues) 5 p.m., Zoo Bar. OAKHURST, THE WEEPING FIGS, (blues/rock) 9 p.m., Zoo

Bar, $8.

SATURDAY 12

CHE GARCIA, SHIFT D, (DJ) 9 p.m., 415, $5.

THE RUMBLES, (rock/oldies) 8:30 p.m., Ameristar, FREE. CAPTAIN OBVIOUS, (cover) 9 p.m., Arena, FREE. MOOSEKNUCKLE, (rock) 9 p.m., Barley St. Tavern.

PAPADOSIO, FLOOZIES, BASSTHOVEN, (electronic) 9 p.m.,

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

CHESHIRE GRIN, (cover) 9:30 p.m., Chrome.

AND COLLAPSE, DIRE GNOSIS, VERENDUS, WORDS LIKE DAGGERS, QUARANTINED, (rock/metal) 6:30 p.m., The

Commons, $5.

THE MAPLES, (acoustic/rock) 8 p.m., Cultiva.

READER RECOMMENDS

BLUE HOUSE ANNIVERSARY SHOW, (blues) Del Mare.

LEARNING TO FALL, HEMINGWAY’S LION, THE EXILES

AMONG US, (punk/rock) 6 p.m., Duffy’s.

DAVID CASSIDY, (pop) 8 p.m., Holland Center, $15.

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

Kitchen.

MY BROTHER, GIANT RUBBER SHARK, (rock) 6 p.m.,

Knickerbockers.

MY BROTHER, NAT RUNGE BAND, (rock) 9 p.m.,

Knickerbockers.

CYMBOLTON, (cover) 9 p.m., Loose Moose.

CLYDE, MOTHER OF ALL, SATURN MOTH, ANDY BUTLER,

(rock) 9 p.m., Louis, FREE. 112 NORTH DUCK, (blues) 9 p.m., McKennas.

READER RECOMMENDS

THIRD MEN, STUDENTS OF CRIME, CHROMAFROST,

(rock) 9:30 p.m., O’Leaver’s, $5.

DJ TEKFRO, (DJ) 9 p.m., Oasis, FREE. HI-FI HANGOVER, ED ARCHIBALD, IN THE MOMENT, (jazz)

6:30 p.m., Ozone, FREE. SWEET ESCAPE VALENTINE’S PARTY W/ D*FUNK, (cover)

9 p.m., red9, $7.

MR. SINISTER, (rock) 9 p.m., Shamrock’s.

READER RECOMMENDS

TRAVIS PORTER, LIL SCRAPPY, YADDA MAN, (hip-hop) 9

p.m., Slowdown, $34.50.

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

PERSONICS, (cover) 9 p.m., Two Fine Irishmen, FREE. TURNPIKE TROUBADOURS, MCKENZIE RIVER BAND,

(country) 9 p.m., Uncle Ron’s, $10.

READER RECOMMENDS

BEST COAST, WAVVES, NO JOY, (rock) 9 p.m., Waiting

Room, $15.

THE LABELS, (cover) 9 p.m., Whiskey Roadhouse, FREE. SATCHEL GRANDE, (funk/rock) 9 p.m., Zoo Bar, $6.

SUNDAY 13

POLARIS STEP, (DJ) 9 p.m., 415, FREE. MURAKAMI, GIANT RUBBER SHARK, APPROACHING

NOTHING, (rock) Duffy’s.

VELCRO! W/ MR. DEEDLES, EDWARD SKRIBL HNDZ, KID

COMA, (DJ) Duffy’s.

DAVID CASSIDY, (pop) 2 p.m., Holland Center, $15.

LUSTER, EDGE OF ARBOR, VAGO, BROKEN TRUTH, (indie/

rock) 9 p.m., Louis, $5, $8/under 21.

THE PRAIRIE GATORS, (cajun) 2 p.m., New Old Bar, FREE. CLARK POTTER, (viola) 2 p.m., Sheldon.

READER RECOMMENDS JEFFREY FOUCAULT, MARK ERELLI, (country) 5 p.m., Side

Door, $12/adv, $15/dos.

AN EVENING WITH UMPHREY’S MCGEE, (jam) 9 p.m.,

Slowdown, $22.50/adv, $25/dos.

JAMESTOWN STORY, KIEREN SMITH, BEYOND SUNSETS,

TAKE ME TO VEGAS, HONEYDEW, (rock) 6:30 p.m.,

Sokol Underground, $8/adv, $10/dos.

THE NEBRASKA BRASS, (brass) 3 p.m., St. Michael’s.

OEAA DJ SHOWCASE, (DJ) 9 p.m., Stir Live, $5.

GORILLA PRODUCTIONS BATTLE OF THE BANDS, (rock) 4

p.m., Waiting Room, $8/adv, $10/dos.

AUDITION NIGHT W/ K9 SUITE (cover) 7 p.m., Whiskey

Roadhouse, FREE. MELISMATICS, MIKE GOOD, (blues) 9 p.m., Zoo Bar, $5.

MONDAY 14

SOUP & SONG W/ KYLE & ANDY, (folk) 8 p.m., Barley St. ALLI AND I, MIDLIFE BOY, RICH CONFER, (singer songwriter) 5:30 p.m., Bourbon, $5, $7/under 21.

LOVESTEP LOUNGE W/ BASSTHOVEN, (DJ) 9 p.m.,

Bourbon.

AMY GRANT, MICHAEL W. SMITH, (christian/pop) 7:30

p.m., Holland Center, $48-$78.

MIKE GURCIULLO AND HIS LAS VEGAS LAB BAND, (jazz)

6:30 p.m., Ozone.

READER RECOMMENDS

THE TOASTERS, THE BISHOPS, THE ABSTRACT, (ska/rock)

8 p.m., Waiting Room, $10/adv, $14/dos.

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

TUESDAY 15

VIC NASTY, (DJ) 9 p.m., 415, FREE. LUSTER, GARFAN, IVORY HILL, (indie/rock) 9 p.m.,

Bourbon, $5, $7/under 21.

BASS TUESDAY W/ DJ BLAC, (DJ) 9 p.m., Bricktop, FREE.

READER RECOMMENDS

PIMPS OF JOYTIME, BRENT CRAMPTON, SPENCELOVE,

(funk/DJ) 9 p.m., Hideout, $7.

MIKE SCHWABE, JUST IVORY, (rock/singer-songwriter) 9

p.m., Knickerbockers.

ALL CITY ORCHESTRA FESTIVAL, (classical) 7 p.m., Mid-

America Center, $5, $3/students.

DANNY GARCIA, (acoustic) 6:30 p.m., Ozone, FREE. CHRIS SAUB, (acoustic) 8 p.m., The Phoenix, FREE. CLARK POTTER, (viola) 2 p.m., Sheldon.

AS I LAY DYING, WINDS OF PLAGUE, AFTER THE BURIAL,

BYLETH, (metal/rock) 7:30 p.m., Slowdown, $20.

CALEB HAWLEY, KOREY ANDERSON, MICHAEL CAMP BELL, (singer-songwriter) 9 p.m., Waiting Room, $7.

JAZZOCRACY, (jazz) 6 p.m., Zoo Bar, FREE.

READER RECOMMENDS

DARREN KEEN, PROFESSOR PLUM, SAS, DEREK OUT SEN, (singer-songwriter) 9 p.m., Zoo Bar, $4.

Wednesday 16

KEVIN GIBSON, (DJ) 9 p.m., 415, FREE. FLOATING OPERA, ORION WALSH, MICHAEL PARDING TON, (pop/rock) 8 p.m., Bourbon, $5, $7/under 21.

DICEY RILEY’S, (celtic) 7 p.m., Brazen Head.

PETER BOUFFARD JAZZ GROUP, (jazz) 7:30 p.m.,

Brewsky’s Jazz Underground, $6, $5/students.

TEMPO, YAMN, THE TREES, (rock) 9 p.m., Duffy’s.

READER RECOMMENDS

MARTIN SEXTON, JOANNA MOSCA, (country) 7:30 p.m.,

Holland Center, $30.

SOUTH OF LINCOLN, GREAT PLAINS MASSACRE, MIKE

GOOD, (folk) 9 p.m., Knickerbockers.

BOZAK & MORRISSEY, (oldies) 6:30 p.m., Ozone.

OPEN MIC, 9 p.m., Sean O’Casey’s, FREE. THE SCENE AESTHETIC, HE IS WE, CARTER HULSEY,

PLUG IN STERO, (rock) 6:30 p.m., Sokol Under ground, $12/adv, $15/dos.

BLU SIMON, (blues) 9 p.m., Your Mom’s, FREE. GINA SICILIA, (blues) 6 p.m., Zoo Bar, $10.

THE RENFIELDS, STRAWBERRY BURNS, THE WHIPKEY

THREE, (rock) 9:30 p.m., Zoo Bar.

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 Duffy’s Tavern, 1412 O St., Lincoln, 474.3453, myspace.com/duffystavern The Hideout, 302 S. 72nd St. Knickerbocker’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 McKenna’s Blues, Booze & BBQ, 7425 Pacific St., 393.7427, mckennasbbq.com New Lift Lounge, 4737 S. 96th St., 339.7170

0 O’Leaver’s Pub, 1322 S. Saddle Creek Rd., 556.1238, myspace.com/oleaverspub Ozone Lounge at Anthony’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

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

thu 2/10/2011

fri 2/11/2011

wed 2/16/2011

thu 2/17/2011

“Snow and Tell” arTillery Funk w/ Faded, reggaejunkiejew, Big elephanT, SoFTware & elecTromize doorS @ 6:00, Show @ 7:00 “The Show” preSenTed By crum producTionS w/ ThoSe guyS, FurioSiTy, SuppreSS The aFFlicTion, lp ladieS man & g roSe doorS @ 5:30, Show @ 6:00 $6 in advance Through The BandS or aT crum producTionS The Scene aeSTheTic w/ he iS we, carTer hulSey, plug in STereo & painT The coaSTline doorS @ 6:00, Show @ 6:30 $12 in advance aT eTix.com eaSTern TurkiSh w/ The ShidioTS, iT’S me SweeTumS, Big elephanT, and drugSTore cowBoy doorS @ 6:00, Show @ 7:00

UPCOMING SHOWS

Best Coast sounds the way music sounds when it comes over the beach from the parking lot. The perfect combination of that naïve and nervous excitement of a youthful crush and the fuzzy, think reverb of having been around the block at least once before, Best Coast evokes a nostalgia for the California of Gidget and dates at the soda fountain without forgetting that it is that same California that would later spawn Charles Manson.

saTuRday, 2/12/11 9:00PM @ The WaiTing RooM

SPOtlIGHt SHOW

BEST COAST / WAVVES w/ No Joy

FRiday, 2/11/11 9:00PM @ The WaiTing RooM LeaRning To FLoyd

FRiday, 2/11/11 9:00PM @ sLoWdoWn auRasing

sunday, 2/13/11 9:00PM @ sLoWdoWn an eVening WiTh uMPhRey’s MCgee

sunday, 2/13/11 4:00PM @ The WaiTing RooM goRiLLa PRoduCTions

Monday, 2/14/11 8:00PM @ The WaiTing RooM The ToasTeRs

Tuesday, 2/15/11 9:00PM @ The WaiTing RooM CaLeB haWLey

Tuesday, 2/15/11 7:30PM @ sLoWdoWn

Wednesday, 2/16/11 9:00PM @ The WaiTing RooM

ThuRsday, 2/17/11 9:00PM @ The WaiTing RooM

NO COVER CHARGE!!!

w/ Blue Martian Tribe

w/ Straight Outta Junior High, We Be Lions, & Cannonista

MusicOmahaShow.com

Christmas Music Episode

w/ The Bishops & The Abstract

Battle Of The Bands

With Special Guests:

w/ Korey Anderson & Michael Campbell

Rock Paper Dynamite Janurary Music Episode With Special Guests:

Landing on the Moon

AS I LAY DYING

w/ Winds Of Plague, After The Burial, & Byleth

FANCY PARTY COMEDY

2/18/11 tennis 2/18/11 GUnK Goes BLACK & YeLLoW 2/19/11 DeeRHooF 2/20/11 MURDeR BY DeAtH 2/21/11 PinBALL PARtY 2/22/11 ties 2/23/11 sMitH WesteRns

YAMN

2/24/11 tAPes ’n tAPes 2/25/11 noAH’s ARK WAs A sPACesHiP 2/25/11 ten CLUB 2/27/11 DRiVe-BY tRUCKeRs 3/12/11 MiCHAeL sHoWALteR 4/30/11 MoGWAi 5/6/11 oF MontReAL

More Information and Tickets Available at

WWW.ONEPERCENTPRODUCTIONS.COM

music listings

| THE READER |

feb. 10 - 16, 2011

45

United Way of the Midlands

Tell us about the experience that changed you forever, and will always stay with you.We are seeking the most life-changing stories of every day people for publication in a superb, nonfiction book. Your story has value, and we would love to hear it.

All stories are welcome.

Email alex@flashbacksoftomorrow.com

Attend a February “Come Create It� Workshop:

3.6875_bwAD_C_2010.indd 1

2.12

8/30/2010 11:35:37 AM

2 p.m. POP-UP CARDS with Ying Zhu

2.19 10 a.m. PAINTING & GREETING CARDS II with Paula Wallace 2.26 10 a.m. FUSED GLASS AND KILN CARVING with Barb Greene

Register & Locations: visit omahacreativeinstitute.org or call 402.917.8452

1R

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CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION

March 4 - 5

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BUY 1 ENTREE get second

for 10% off

(OP 6WUHHW ‡ ‡ WK &HQWHU ZZZ MDLSXUEUHZKRXVH FRP Offer only valid Mon. - Wed. for dinning only • Not valid with any other coupon Must present ad. Exp 3/31/11

46

feb. 10 - 16, 2011

| THE READER |

Spend a weekend with national and local experts to learn how to restore and preserve older structures.

If you care about preservation, this is the event for you!

For more information and to register call Nicole Malone at 402-968-3349 or visit

w w w. r e s t o r e o m a h a . o r g )PTUFE CZ .FUSPQPMJUBO $PNNVOJUZ $PMMFHF t .FEJB TQPOTPS Ç°F 3FBEFS

E D I T E D

It’s not the size of the Oscar shorts, it’s how you watch them

O

by Ryan Syrek

Sure, it’s pleasingly shot, but there seems to be no lingering point other than delivering one divine bummer. Grade: C Keeping with the theme of wee lads with accents getting into sticky wickets, writer/director Michael Creagh presents the familiar tale of a tot who falls for his 2nd grade teacher (would that be considered a cougar mauling?). But just when you’re thinking “Aww,” out come the pistols.

Thankfully, young Ardal (Oran Creagh) is not

scar pleasure is usually reserved for grouches or award show addicts. As both, one of my favorite weekends has finally arrived: Film Streams at the Ruth Sokolof Theater (FilmStreams. CONFESSION org) presents its annual screening of the year’s Oscar-nominated short films.

These proud members of the itty-bitty cine committee are pint-sized powerhouses proudly packaged together for ease-of-viewing on the big screen. As has become an annual tradition, we’ll grade each of the live-action and animated shorts below, giving predictions for who will win while lamenting the inevitable loss by my favorite selections.

Live Action Shorts To be direct, writer Caroline Bruckner and director Tanel Toom’s Confession made me feel sad. Very, very sad. Would that I could wax more poetic about this excursion into the macabre day experienced by 9-year-old Sam (Lewis Howlett) on the eve of his first confession, but I can’t. The things that Sam and his buddy Jacob (Joe Eales) get involved in are all sorts of ooky and icky.

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

cut from an American cloth, and the biggest shot fired is at our hearts. Grade: B Writer/director/lead actor Luke Matheny looks like the lovechild of Sideshow Bob and Napoleon Dynamite. His black-and-white God of Love is giddy, goofy goodness that represents the only comedy in the short film litter (and, thus, the surest crowd pleaser). From quotable dialogue (“Maybe I could convince her she has diabetes?”) to an adorable plot (a dart-throwing crooner is given the power of cupid), one can only hope someone upgrades Matheny to the big leagues. We could use a few comedies with more “aw shucks” than words that rhyme with truck. Grade: AI can hold my breath for 19 minutes.

I know this because that’s how long writer/director Ivan Goldschmidt’s Na Wewe lasts. Set in Burundi in 1994, this lungemptier follows Hutu soldiers as they detain a random bus and begin screening for Tutsis. This is one of those great examples of what the short format can allow, as this singular scene unfolding in real time is a vital way to understand the horror humanity has to offer. Grade: A Don’t be surprised if writer Tom Bidwell’s Wish 143 is turned into a fulllength feature, as its concept (a teenage boy dying of cancer wants to lose his virginity) seems pitch perfect for pitch meetings. Director Ian Barnes ably dances from humor to solemn tragedy without stepping into tastelessness or continued on page 48 y

B Y

R Y A N

S Y R E K

■ After decades of supporting roles, Samuel L. Jackson has finally made it: He’s getting his own sidekick. As everyone of the nerd persuasion knows, Jackson plays Nick Fury in the upcoming Avengers movie, a movie that represents a personal pinnacle of joy … and it isn’t even made yet. Apparently, Jackson is getting a sassy assistant (comic fans know her as Maria Hill), and word is that “How I Met Your Mother” star Cobie Smulders is the front-runner for the role. In a related note: Cobie Smulders was my first choice for my porn star name.

■ You get a lot of leeway if you win an Oscar, and word on the street is that David Fincher hopes he wins the award this year for directing The Social Network. Not just because that’s cool, but because he wants to put a topless Rooney Mara on the poster for his upcoming remake of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and he may be willing to cash in his Oscar swagger to get it done.

It isn’t going to happen, on account of the prudish public and oppressive MPAA, but he’ll have a better chance if he’s gesturing with an Oscar.

■ Robert Downey Jr. said “no” to mauling our childhood memories by turning down the role of the Wizard in Oz, the Great and Powerful. So far, so good. Producers then went to the guy you offer everything to, but Johnny Depp also said “no.”

Nice. Now they’re on James Franco, who is considering things. If the “no” thing continues, we may just preserve our dignity as a culture. But I have a feeling that the guy 205th on the list will take it: Topher Grace is tired of unemployment.

CUTTINGROOM

Don’t Laugh at Tiny Projections

film

— 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 Oscar Shorts!

The 2011 Academy AwardNominated Short Films (Animated, Live-Action & Documentary categories) Starting Friday, February 11 exclusively at Film Streams’ Ruth Sokolof Theater!

Somewhere First-Run (R) Directed by Sofia Coppola.

Through Thursday, February 24 “A fascinating, mature, beautifully crafted work of art, from a director who continues to surprise us.”

—Andrew O’Hehir, Salon.com

Steven Soderbergh Series sex, lies, and videotape 1989 (R) Friday, February 11 - Thursday, February 17

film

Family & Children’s Series The Marx Brothers:

Horse Feathers 1932 Feb 5 - 17 (Saturdays, Sundays, Thursdays)

The Met: Live in HD Nixon in China Adams Live: Saturday, February 12, 12pm* Encore: Wednesday, February 16, 6pm *A Prelude Talk with Opera Omaha Artistic Adviser & Principal Stage Director Garnett Bruce will begin at 11am.

| THE READER |

FEB. 10 - 16, 2011

47

film m o v i e

INVITES YOU AND A GUEST TO A SPECIAL RUN OF ENGAGEMENT OF

LOG ON TO THEREADER.COM AND REGISTER FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN WARNER BROS. PICTURES PRESENTS IN ASSOCIATION WITH DARK CASTLE ENTERTAINMENT A PANDA PRODUCTION LIAM NEESON DIANE KRUGER JANUARY JONES COSTUME AIDAN QUINN AND FRANK LANGELLA “UNKNOWN” MUSICBY JOHN OTTMAN AND ALEXANDER RUDD DESIGNER RUTH MYERS EDITED PRODUCTION BASED UPON THE DIRECTOR OF DESIGNER RICHARD BRIDGLAND PHOTOGRAPHY FLAVIO LABIANO

BY TIM ALVERSON NOVEL BY DIDIER VAN CAUWELAERT EXECUTIVE SCREENPLAY PRODUCERS SUSAN DOWNEY STEVE RICHARDS SARAH MEYER PETER MCALEESE

BY OLIVER BUTCHER & STEPHEN CORNWELL PRODUCED DIRECTED

BY JAUME COLLET-SERRA

BY JOEL SILVER LEONARD GOLDBERG ANDREW RONA

No purchase necessary. 25 passes will be distributed via a random drawing on Thursday, February 16. All entries must be received by midnight Wednesday, February 15. PG-13 for some intense sequences of violence and action, and brief sexual content.

www.unknownmovie.com

IN THEATERS FEBRUARY 18!

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Film: Unknown Paper: KC Reader Run Date: Thursday, February 10 Ad Size: 5x5 Publicist: D. Collins Artist: L. Hassinger

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melodrama. This is helped by great performances by Samuel Peter Holland, who is riveting as the dying David, and Jim Carter, whose affable priest manages to tiptoe trite traits often assigned to such a throwaway character. It’ll warm and break your heart in just under a half-hour.

Grade: A Although the race is tight between Na Wewe and Wish 143, I give the slight nod to the latter on the grounds that voting against a sweet dying boy seems a little, I don’t know, evil.

Should win the Oscar: Na Wewe Will win the Oscar: Wish 143 Overall grade for Live Action Shorts: B+

day and night

Animated Shorts It’d be stranger to not see a Pixar film on this short-film shortlist, as the perpetually nominated producers haven’t taken a year off in seemingly forever. This year’s entry, Day and Night, was directed by Teddy Newton and skews strangely on the side of “messageheavy” for the generally apolitical/we-just-want-togive-hugs studio. Blending hand-drawn and CGI animation, the quick flick follows anthropomorphized representations of “night” and “day,” who make a statement about fear of the “other” and contempt for the “unknown.” Not bad for a half-dozen minutes. Grade: AFeaturing a crazy big voice cast (Helena Bonham Carter, Tom Wilkinson, John Hurt, Robbie Coltrane), The Gruffalo was shown on BBC TV because they do some cool stuff on the small screen in Limey Land. Screenwriters Julia Donaldson, Jakob Schuh and Max Lang adapted the children’s book by Donaldson and Axel Scheffler into a huggable CGI Aesop’s fable. A squirrel mama tells her babies all about a cunning mouse who invents a creature called The Gruffalo to scare away predators … so maybe the whole

reportcard

Black Swan A It’s like Kafka’s “Metamorphosis” … only with more sexytime.

READER RECOMMENDS

Blue Valentine A Love hurts, but Williams’ and Gosling’s performances sure don’t.

The Fighter If you can be punch-drunk on crack, Bale nails it.

The Green Hornet It’s somewhere between spoof and superheroism, and between savor and swat.

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thing is an allegory for the Iraq war? I can’t be sure. Although slightly cloying and moderately repetitive, cuteness abounds. Grade: B Writer/director Geefwee Boedoe’s Let’s Pollute is supposedly a send-up of ’50s and ’60s-era educational films, but plays like a one-note, passably animated joke about consumerism and capitalism … the sort of joke Stephen Colbert makes a dozen of before finishing his opening monologue. If someone showed me this on the web, I would have applauded their mastery over flash animation and good intentions. As an Oscar-nominee? Yeesh. Grade: CThe Lost Thing is blissfully weird. Writer/ director Shaun Tan and director Andrew Ruhemann weave a fable about losing imagination that would rather show than tell, demonstrating our fall from childlike dreaming through one man’s discovery with a weird … thing.

Looking like Lovecraft by way of Dr. Seuss, the central discovery is a halfrobot, half-tentacled monstrosity that endears without saying a word. This is the sort of thing you only see once a year. Grade: A Madagascar, A Journey Diary is exhilarating. Flipping in and out of varied and often-contradictory animation styles (CGI flicking into barebones, hand-drawn sketches), the film isn’t a narrative but instead presents a flavor of what truly foreign travel feels like. It seems weird to say so little about a film I enjoyed so much, but this isn’t a film you explain: You just experience it. Grade: A+ No contest here, as Madagascar is transcendent … so there’s no way it can possibly win, right?

Should win the Oscar: Madagascar, A Journey Diary Will win the Oscar: Day and Night Overall grade for Animated Shorts: B+ , The King’s Speech BNot the best movie of the year, but lots of people will tell you it is.

The Mechanic Jason Statham is a one-man Jiffy Lube of pain.

C+

B+

No Strings Attached C+ No strings and even less originality … but at least it has Nat-Po.

C

True Grit AYippee ty yi yay! The best Western since The Unforgiven.

&5(,*+721 :HOFRPH WR 2XU +RXVH

FRIDAY February TH VS #HICAGO 2IOT PM FRIDAY -ARCH TH VS -ILWAUKEE 7AVE PM For tickets: Visit www.ticketmaster.com or Qwest Center Box Office

ALL HOME GAMES PLAYED AT THE /-!(! #)6)# !5$)4/2)5- s 4( #!0)4/, www.omahavipers.com

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Men’s basketball home games played at Qwest Center Omaha (10th & Cass St.) Women’s basketball home games played at the Ryan Athletic Center/D.J. Sokol Arena (19th & Webster St.)

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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

Those Ingenious Western Spies!

I

n January, Saudi officials detained a vulture from Tel Aviv University (part of endangered-species research), calling it a spy and alarming its Israeli handlers that the bird might face a gruesome execution as an espionage agent. Then, a day later, Iran reportedly detained an Arab-American woman crossing its border from Armenia — after discovering a “spy microphone” in her teeth. (A week later, she was allowed to travel to Turkey.) In December, after an Egyptian woman was killed by a shark at a Red Sea resort, the local governor in Egypt accused Israel’s spy agency, Mossad, of releasing “attack sharks” in order to stifle tourism.

Cultural Diversity A supposedly centuries-old Korean health treatment — the vaginal steam bath — has become a popular fad recently in Southern California, according to a December Los Angeles Times report.

As the client squats on an open-seated stool, vapors of herbs such as wormwood supposedly fight stress, infections, hemorrhoids, infertility and irregular menstrual periods. Thirty minutes’ treatment runs $20 to $50, and according to a prominent Beverly Hills gynecologist, the procedure actually could be beneficial.

Among the don’t-miss tourist attractions in Thailand, according to author Jim Algie’s recent guide (“Bizarre Thailand”): the monkey hospital in Lopbun, where terminal patients are treated with utmost respect (pending, of course, their imminent reincarnation); “Tortoise Town” in Khon Kaen province, where those critters outnumber humans by 4-to-1 and dominate the streets with

shell-butting mating-rights competitions; and the Buffalo Head Temple near Bangkok, where the abbot’s pagoda, for some reason, is made of 6,000 water buffalo skulls.

China’s dynamic economy has created Western-style insecurities, including young women’s anxieties about beauty and self-improvement as they search for employment. Consequently, China has become the world’s third-largest consumer of plastic surgery services — with demand that perhaps challenges the supply of skilled surgeons. Women typically want wider eyes, “sliced” eyelids, narrower noses and jaws, and smaller chins, and both men and women seek height by attempting the painful (and usually unsuccessful) “heel implant” procedure. (A currently popular, less invasive remedy for immediate body streamlining — as when preparing for a job interview — involves ingesting eggs of the ringworm, so that the worm devours food before the stomach can digest it.)

Latest Cutting-Edge Research Georgia Tech scientists tested (for an October publication) the “oscillatory shaking” they witnessed by wet mice and various-sized wet dogs as they shook water off — finding an inverse ratio between size and speed, from 27 cycles per second by a mouse to 5.8 by a mid-sized dog.

Their original hypothesis was that speed would decrease according to “torso radius,” but they forgot to factor in the length of the animals’ fur.

Israeli researchers, writing in the journal Fertility and Sterility, found that women undergoing in-vitro fertilization were almost twice as likely to conceive if they had been made to laugh by a hospital “clown” entertaining them as soon as their embryos were implanted.

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weird news

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).

News That Sounds Like a Joke When longtime Orange County, Calif., inmate Malcolm King demanded kosher meals and double helpings, jailers resisted, and King went to court. Judge Derek Johnson asked King if his demands were religion-based, and King said yes — citing “Festivus” (a joke religion popularized on the “Seinfeld” TV show). According to a December Orange County Register report, Judge Johnson approved King’s demands.

A 2010 Chicago Tribune public-records examination of suburban Chicago traffic-stop drug searches found that sniffer dogs are usually wrong — that 56 percent of all “positive” signals by dogs yielded no contraband (73 percent failure if the driver was Hispanic).

Recurring Themes Which Branch Is Best? Dustin Jakes, 27, an Army soldier, was arrested for shooting drinking buddy David Provost, 24, a Navy sailor, in Florence, Ariz., on Christmas Day. They argued over which service was better (and since Jakes had the gun, the answer was “Army”).

Mark Richardson, 21, of Oklahoma City is the most recent con man to seek caregivers to attend to him intimately as he dresses in a diaper, feigns autism and claims to require constant care. Richardson’s mother admitted to The Oklahoman newspaper that her son is “not your average, everyday, walking-the-street citizen.”

Rape Victims Re-Victimized “Ashley,” attacked at age 15 by a counselor in a New York City lockup, finally received justice in September when the counselor pleaded guilty to that assault and two others. (Ashley had been in

the lockup for lying on a police report and served one year in juvenile detention.) The counselor’s guilty pleas came in a deal with the prosecutor, for which he was “punished” by a probation-only sentence, according to an October New York Daily News story. Thus, Ashley was locked up after the rape; the rapist remains forever free.

“H.S.,” a high school cheerleader in Silsbee, Texas, claimed sexual assault in October 2008 by a classmate-athlete, who a year later was indicted (and pleaded guilty to simple assault, receiving a suspended sentence). In February 2009, while the attacker was still denying culpability, H.S., though cheering for the team at a basketball game, refused to specifically cheer for her attacker and was kicked off the squad. A federal judge and appeals court subsequently ruled that H.S. had no right to withhold her cheering (though the attacker’s right to falsely claim innocence remained inviolate).

Chicago Symphony Orchestra • Mondays 8 PM Live at the Concertgebouw • Tuesdays 8 PM Modern Classics • Fridays 6pm Midnight Special • Fridays Midnight Metropolitan Opera • Saturdays Noon Classical Guitar Alive • Sundays 10 AM Composer Spotlight • Sundays 11 AM Going Beyond Words • Sundays Noon From The Top • Sundays 5 PM New York Philharmonic • Sundays 6 PM

WWW.KVNO.ORG

News of the Weird Classic (February 1994) The epicenter of California’s January (1994) “Northridge” earthquake was five miles from the United States’s then-largest egg farm, where hens had produced their usual 1 million eggs in the hours before the quake hit. The damage to the farm was a snapped water line, toppled empty egg pallets and a total of one broken egg. Said manager Robert Wagner to his employees, “We had a 6.6 earthquake that broke less eggs than you guys do when we’re working.” , CORRECTION: Two weeks ago, News of the Weird reported that Charles Clements of Chicago received a sentence of only four months’ probation for fatally shooting a neighbor after the neighbor’s dog had urinated on his manicured lawn. Actually, Clements was sentenced to four years’ probation.

I apologize for the error.

weird news

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planetpower w ee k l y

h oroscopes

M

eow! Greetings our first week into the Year of the Cat! Some speak Year of the Hare; but I just don’t care. They need to rid themselves of the habit of calling the Year of the Cat the Year of the Rabbit. The Cat’s where it’s at. Audibly celebrate with Al Stewart’s only hit! Visually, here’s Omaha artist Jim Jacobi’s “Young Jaguar in Love” for you, from Kat Man Du. He was supposed to be “in” last week, but he said he had to hide to get satisfied with his pride before we/he could take a peek/peak.

— MojoPoPlanetPower.com k AQUARIUS (1.212.19) Here’s Mercury, Mars and Neptune in that order. Mercury is conjunct with the Sun right now, presenting you with a brilliant, electrifying, uncompromising, mesmerizing, hypnotizing, emphasizing, realizing. Look into my eyes … don’t be surprised.

Mars (red) is in your stars — right now! Neptune (purple) on the Full Moon coming soon next week (the 18th) when once again we speak … l PISCES (2.20-3.20) This next Full Moon in Leo next week (the 18th) will be in opposition to your esoteric ruler Neptune (conjunct the Sun) in its last year of a nebulous 14-year transit of Aquarius. What has electricity and things like computers and Astrology done for you since January ‘98? You’ve got a good year left on your contract. After that your dream becomes a dream becomes a dream … becomes … aahhh...

Since Neptune rules the unfathomable truths, those that words can’t fulfill … aahhh. I’m speechless. a ARIES (3.21-4.20) Mars is conjunct Mercury and the Sun in Aquarius, the sign of the unexpected. Sounds like the movie Cowboys Versus Aliens?

Football’s over, so what’s all the commotion that’s sparkin’ your devotion? You’re hungry to interact, that’s a fact, but Mars is there so even you have to be (a)ware. What part will you play in the social foray?

Who can say? Miguel Jose. 2/18! Boom! b TAURUS (4.21-5.20) You’re desiring/visiting the antique shops of your mind (Venus in Capricorn until March). The classics. That’s when things were done right, right? Does any body REALLY love anymore? Or is that just the past? Whoooosshhh …

What was that? Whooosshhh … You do … and that is why you suffer? First step is accurate diagnosis?

Who do you love? Who came to mind? Second step? When you’re ready with the first step. c GEMINI (5.21-6.21) Please read Aquarius.

They need you to middle through their riddle.

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mojo

b y

mo j opo

The power’s in your Fifth House of creativity and children? Well, then have some and/or get unexpectedly creative? Since Mars is there you have to beware. The Moon’s in your sign from this Friday at Sundown until all day Sunday. That’s your time to read, write or play. Meditate on your Third Eye. The color’s electric light blue to offer you a clue. d CANCER (6.22-7.22) Get ready! You’ve got a week before we have to speak. Moonday and Tuesday you’ll find the almost Full Moon is in your sign for a new room. Gather. You’ll need all your energy for the economic (for you) 18th, Full Moon in Leo/Virgo. e LEO (7.23-8.22) Hide. The unexpected ain’t gonna’ do you no good, Hollywood! Write about it from the “other side,” Clyde. Give it all away and they can/will give it back to you someday? Some say? You pray. Low profile for a while for a week until once again we speak. f VIRGO (8.23-9.22) Please read Aquarius?

Hah! Fooled you! The next two Full Moons are on your cusps. February 18 (the Leo/Virgo cusp) and March 19 (the Libra/ Virgo cusp). You’re caught in the middle — once again leaving you a “myst” the riddle. Am I coming or going? It’ll take a whole Moon for the knowing to be growing. If crazy works for you, you become enlightened. Uh-oh! Now you’re frightened. g LIBRA (9.23-10.22) Is it your fame and fortune from the past that’s haunting you? The traditions of the past are offering you a clue. For you right now; if it’s old, it’s gold. Maybe it’s Yoga time? Whatever that means to you. Read some Holy books and/or stand on your head for five short minutes a day. h SCORPIO (10.23-11.22) You’re exalted. Fame and Fortune are looking for you. It’ll take a week or two for them to come through to/for you. It’s all there. Just fill in the pieces and wait for the timing. i SAGITTARIUS (11.23-12.21) As usual you’re ahead of us all, the fruit of your Spiritual acumen and your spirit of giving back to them. It’s your personal Spring come early. Just don’t be swayed by looking out the windows of your mind. Keep your thoughts to yourself for some time. Don’t let logic interfere with your impetus. Good luck! We’ll catch up to you by Spring. Do your thing. j CAPRICORN (12.22-1.20) Let’s see: The North Node leaves in March. Venus leaves in March. Last chance to Fall in love this lifetime, or are you lost in husband and wife time? How does the MOJO know? Peace and Love Shall Conquer All. There are no mistakes. ,

GOOD FELLAS NIGHT CLUB UÊ iLÀÕ>ÀÞÊ£ä]ÊÓ䣣ÊU 'UNS WILL COMPLETELY BE OUTLAWED IN THE 5NITED 3TATES IN !T THAT TIME PERIOD THERE WILL BE FOUR GUNS IN EX ISTENCE IN THIS COUNTRY FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO LIVES HERE AND THANKS TO WIDESPREAD CONCEAL CARRY LAWS IT WILL BE QUITE COMMON FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE PISTOLS ON THEM AT ANY MOMENT 4HIS WILL LEAD TO MULTIPLE INSTANCES OF WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A COMMON ROBBERY

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THE 5 3 WILL HAVE lVE TIMES THE NUM BER OF DEATHS FROM GUNlRE AS ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD 7HILE THE PROHIBITION WILL NOT WORK IN COMPLETELY ELIMINATING GUNS DESPITE INVOLVING A #ONSTITUTIONAL !MENDMENT VOTED ON BY A MAJORITY OF !MERICANS IT WILL EFFECTIVELY REDUCE OWNERSHIP DOWN TO A SMALL GROUP OF DEDICATED COLLECTORS AND AN OCCASIONAL MISGUIDED CRIMINAL WHOSE PRISON SEN TENCE WILL BE FAR WORSE FOR IT

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