June Live Music Preview
Happy June! Here is an overview of some things to look forward to this month. This is just a drop in the bucket. Make sure to subscribe to get the weekly calendar and daily posts where we dig deep into that bucket.
June 1st-Cake-Astro-We used to listen to a lot of Cake, didn’t we? I just went down the rabbit hole and damn I know a lot of Cake songs. If they play half of these-this show will be wild. Supposedly they have a new album coming out this fall. Interesting. Will they play any new songs on June 1st at The Astro Amphitheater? We will see.
June 3rd-Primus, Puscifer and A Perfect Circle at Baxter Arena-This was I think supposed to be a one-off date and then turned into a tour and now it is another tour and coming to Baxter Arena on June 3rd. This is a dream show for some of you all.
June 5th-Shigeto-Live at the Low End-Bemis Center-Taken from bio-The Detroit-based, Japanese American musician, DJ, Portage Garage Sounds label co-founder, WDET 101.9FM host, and longtime Ghostly International artist will at at Live at the Low End at The Bemis Center. Cherry Blossom Baby, Shigeto's first full-length statement since 2017, sprouts out from a collective thaw, ambitious, collaborative, and fully realized. It finds Saginaw embracing the role of producer and composer, showcasing a band-built sound that honors traditions in electronic, jazz, R&B, and hip-hop.
June 6th-Lords of Acid-Bourbon Theater-Praga Khan and Oliver Adams are back at Lord Of Acid and they have a new vocalist. Carla Harvey, formerly of Butcher Babies will be joining the band going forward. They will be in Lincoln on June 6th at Bourbon Theater. Darling come here…..
June 7th-Flock of Seagulls, Bow Wow Wow, Animotion-Steelhouse Omaha-Steelhouse Omaha is bringing more '80s bands to town. This time, it’s Flock of Seagulls, Bow Wow Wow, and Animotion. I think the last time we saw Flock of Seagulls in Omaha was at Edgefest at Aksarben. I have always wanted to see Bow Wow Wow, and I saw Animotion in Pasadena a couple of years back—they were a blast!
June 7th-Green Jelly-Reverb Lounge-The little pigs are coming back to Omaha. Green Jello/Jelly will be at Reverb Lounge on June 7th. The band (well, vocalist Bill Manspeaker) will celebrate 45 years next year. Crazy.
June 9th-Krang-The Sydney-I cannot tell you how many times I have killed Krang in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles video game. It looks I like I will have to do battle with the skate punk version of Krang on the street of Benson. The Czech band will bring their wild performance to The Sydney on June 9th.
June 10th-Sleep Theory-Bourbon Theater-Memphis rock band Sleep Theory released their debut album on May 16th. The band has already notched up four Top 20 hard rock hits and are hitting the road and will be at Bourbon Theater on June 10th. The album has been selling well; this should be a big show.
June 13th-Billy Currington-Pinewood Bowl Theater-About 20 years ago Billy Currington won “Hottest Video” on at the CMT Awards for “Must Be Doing Something Right”. In 2021 he put out a synth pop album that still had some country in it, but he was certainly going to something new. What is he up to now? You can find out on June 13th at Pinewood Bowl Theater
June 13th-Josh Meloy and Kenny Fiedler at Barnato-Country artists Josh Meloy and Kenny Fiedler have put in the work on the touring circuit and have become very in demand. They have also put in the work in Nebraska and have a very loyal following here. They recently did a Bourbon Theater show that I think sold out, and Josh has also played the Astro Theater this year. Do not sleep on tickets to this show.
June 14th-Lyrics Born at Falconwood Park- Lyrics Born was one half of the indie hip-hop duo Latryx, and if you haven’t heard their 1997 album, The Album, you should add it to your streaming queue immediately. He’s also built a successful solo career and will be bringing his latest album, Goodbye, Sticky Rice, to Falconwood Park on June 14th.
June 15th-Karyn White-Johnny T’s- Karyn White is known for the song “Superman”, but that Ritual of Love album got a lot of play at the record store I was working at in 1991 and people snatched that CD up. She will be part of a Father’s Day celebration at Johnny T’s that will also feature a lot of area talent also.
June 15th-Allison Krauss and Union Station-The Astro-It has been over a decade since Allision Krauss took out Union Station on a tour. They also just released a new album, Arcadia. You get to experience the old and new tunes on June 15th when the bluegrass mainstay hits The Astro Amphitheater.
June 17th-Insane Clown Posse at The Admiral-According to the internet, it has been 15 years since our area last saw the Clowns perform. That was at Westfair over in Iowa. It has been 25 years since they graced an Omaha stage at the long-gone Ranch Bowl. I'm pretty sure there are still Faygo bottles in some of the ditches on Dodge Street. New generations of Nebraska Juggalos will be able to find out if magnets really work at The Admiral on June 17th. Plus, the opener will be professional wrestling!
June 17th-Samantha Crain-Reverb Lounge-This is cool. In 2020, Samantha Crain put out her sixth album, A Small Death, which ended up being my introduction to her. The story behind that album is wild—look it up. It was a favorite of mine that year. She just released Gumshoe on May 2nd and I recommend putting it on and then heading to the show. You can catch her on June 17th at Reverb Lounge.
June 17th-Gypsy Kings-Holland Center-It’s odd, Tonino Baliardo and Nicholas Reyes are original members of the Gypsy Kings and both are listed on all official sites and social media as current members of the Gypsy Kings, but they both tour separately. Omaha will get the Tonino Baliardo version, and he was an original guitar player in the band that was formed out of two families. The Gypsy Kings were massive in the late 80s and well into the 90s and are a favorite of many.
June 20th-Walker Montgomery-The Matt-Walker Montgomery, the son of country star John Michael Montgomery and nephew of Eddie Montgomery of Montgomery Gentry, is carrying on the family legacy. That was a lot of Montgomery’s to type out. His music embraces that signature ‘90s country sound, with tunes like “Almost, So Close, So Long, Goodbye,” “Never Had You Anyway,” and “Leave Your Leaving Behind.” Catch him live at Country Fest at The Matt on June 20th, alongside KC Johns and Kimberly Meyer.
June 21st-Evan Bartels-Bucks Bar and Grill-Evan Bartels will be at Buck’s Bar and Grill on June 21st. Big things have been happening for him for a while, but he is on the cusp of something really big and people can feel it. Bartels is a country singer-songwriter originally from Tobias, Nebraska, and resides in Nashville. He has been playing in Europe and opening shows for Charley Wesley Godwin and Hank Williams Jr. His new EP To Make You Cry just came out and it’s very good. Check it out.
June 24th-English Beat-Waiting Room-80’s pop and ska band The English Beat returns to The Waiting Room on June 24th. When people ask me which band I’ve seen the most (not including local bands), the answer is definitely The English Beat. I’m pretty sure this will be my 20th time seeing them. I saw Dave Wakeling and his band last year in Minneapolis, opening for Adam Ant, and he was in top form that night. He was planning to tour with Adam in England this year, but something must have happened. Still, that gives us another chance to groove and dance with the band.
June 25th-Greensky Bluegrass-Slowdown-Popular bluegrass band Greensky Bluegrass will take their winter tour to Slowdown on June 25th. This is a rescheduled show from March. College World Series is over! Time to head back downtown for concerts.
June 27th-Tripping Daisy-Waiting Room-It’s the 30th anniversary of Tripping Daisy’s album I Am an Elastic Firecracker, which featured the hit “I Got a Girl.” You know that song! “I got a girl, I love her dog too.” See! Tim from Tripping Daisy later went on to form the successful band Polyphonic Spree. The 30th Anniversary tour hits the Waiting Room on June 27th.
June 27th-Frankie Valli-The Orpheum-The 90-year-old legend, Frankie Valli, became a meme last year because he is 90 years old and performing and not the most animated cat around anymore because he is 90. Some people say that he is being trotted out for money, but if you watch recent interviews with him, he wants to be out there doing it. He is actually working on something new, he recently said. Frankie will be at The Orpheum on June 27th.
June 29th-Foreigner at Stir Cove-This performance at Stir Cove won’t feel like the first time, but the newly inducted Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band—or the members representing the band—will be there on June 29th. Foreigner is currently working on Feels Like The First Time – The Foreigner Musical, and in the fall, they will reunite with original singer Lou Gramm for an acoustic show. There’s a lot for Foreigner fans to look forward to.