Punk Legends Call It A Day, Zoo Fest Wraps Up And A Return To The Stage For Area Band
The Saturday and Sunday Live Music Lineup
Happy Saturday (Or Sunday). Let’s get into all that is happening this weekend in Omaha, Lincoln and Council Bluffs live music venues.
Zoo Fest at the Zoo Bar in Lincoln wraps up Saturday with an eclectic lineup. On the lineup is Nebraska’s own Lloyd McCarter and the Honky Tonk Revival, bringing the old school country and twang. Iowa blues musician Kevin Burt will also perform. I am listening to the soulful blues man right now for the first time, and I am really digging it. I am putting him on my list of artists to see if he comes around again. I will be traveling to Kansas City today for a show, so I can’t make this one. California roots rock and rockabilly band The Paladins is a longtime favorite of the Zoo Bar crowd, and they will be one of the main attractions Saturday for sure. The New Orleans funk, soul, and hip-hop band The Soul Rebels will have the streets dancing as the sun goes down. This is a really cool addition to Zoo Fest, I have seen this band in New Orleans, and it is a party. Closing out the festival will be Nebraska’s Midland Band doing a tribute set to Steely Dan.
Bazile Mills is back! The area band has been putting out new music again, and they will finally return to our stages for live music. The large collective of musicians always put on inspired shows, and I expect their return to be no different. They are at Reverb Lounge Saturday night and I am super bummed to miss this one. They will be joined by Minne Lussa and Fox
Up-and-coming country artist Billie Jo Jones will bring her latest singles “Some Girls Don’t Cry” and “Right Now Kinda Girls” to Buck’s Bar and Grill in Venice, Nebraska, Saturday night. I was reading about her last week when I was putting together the July music preview and saw that she won the Future Faces showcase recently for the best up-and-coming Texas/Red Dirt music. The thing that struck me there was that she performed a song called “I Can’t Take Keith Whitley Tonight," and that song title has me very curious. I can’t find a good version of it to listen to, so it must be super new. Keep an ear out for that one.
Other happenings on Saturday night include Radical Sabbatical with Aircraft Grade for a free show at O’Leavers. Ska band Plastic Presidents are at Slowdown Saturday with Uh Oh, Stop the Presses and Jar. I am heading to KC for some live New Wave music, but here in Omaha, you can dance if you want to at Verdict tonight to deep cuts and more from that genre. Ebba Rose is at The Jewell on Capitol this evening for a no cover show. I would love to see her perform in that room.
It’s pretty rare to see a band that started almost fifty years ago perform with all four of their original members. You get that chance at The Waiting Room when legendary LA punk band X takes the stage on Sunday. They just announced their new album Smoke & Fiction a couple of days ago. They have also stated that this will be their final album. The band also named this tour The End Is Near and have announced that this is their final cycle as a band.
Portland’s Portugal The Man released their first album in six years last year with Chris Black Saved My Life. The band have been on tour with that album and come to Steelhouse Omaha on Sunday night. Progressive psych rock band Spoon Benders open this show so get there early.
All of my X loving friends would take away my cred card, but if I were in town Sunday evening, I would be at TV Star at Reverb Lounge. The Seattle band doesn’t have a ton of music out yet, but they have a throwback alt rock sound that I am finding appealing, and I think this band has a lot of potential. I want to see them now and follow where they are going. Check them out. Also on the lineup are Heavy Clippings and Cupholder.
Other happenings on Sunday include Chris Saub at Sonny’s for an 11AM show to play for Omaha Farmers Market patrons. Also in Aksbarben, but at 5PM is Rylee Chavez. If you want to get out in the country a bit, you can take the short trip to Heron Bay in Springfield for an afternoon of Swampboy Blues Band.
The full lineup for Saturday and Sunday are below. Will be back on Monday with the new weekly calendar. Subscribe and have it sent directly to you.
Saturday July 6th
Radical Sabbatical with Aircraft Grade at O’Leavers 9PM (Omaha) FREE
Zoo Fest with Lloyd McCarter, Kevin Burt, The Paladins, Soul Rebels and The Midland Band at The Zoo Bar 3PM (Lincoln)
Bazille Mills, Minne Lussa and Fox at Reverb Lounge 7:30PM (Omaha)
Plastic Presidents, Stop The Presses, Uh Oh and Jar at Slowdown 8PM (Omaha)
Billie Jo Jones at Bucks Bar and Grill 9PM (Venice)
The New Wave at Verdict 9PM (Omaha)
Whitmore, Intrusive Minds, As Tides Rise, Tehom, Tombstone at Maloney’s Live 7PM (Council Bluffs)
Cover Me Badd at The Mile Away 8PM (Council Bluffs)
Matt Cox at Mouth of the South Old Market 11AM (Omaha)
Randall Shreve at Mouth of the South Lakeside 11AM (Omaha)
Petty Beige, The World Without Us, Cyphen, Jiblets, Escaping The Eclipse at 1867 6PM (Lincoln)
Michael Lyon at Gorats (Omaha)
Saving Fiona, Mystee, Bad Self Portraits at Duffy’s 10PM (Lincoln)
Ebba Rose at The Jewell on Capitol 7:30PM (Omaha) FREE
Exile on O Street at Bodega’s Alley 9PM (Lincoln)
The 70’s Band Woodcliff Marina 9PM (Fremont)
Pint of Plain at Dubliner Pub 9:30PM (Omaha)
2 Drink Limit Band at Slattery Vintage Estates 7PM (Nehawka)
DJ Trolli at Pageturners 9PM (Omaha)
Envy at Stinson Park 7PM (Omaha) FREE
Carlos Vargas Guitar at Whiskey Roadhouse (Council Bluffs)
Dustin West Band (Tribute To Jimmy Buffett) at Cellar 426 6:30 PM (Ashland)
Ecko at Surfside Club (Omaha)
School of Rock at Heron Bay 6PM (Springfield)
Dan Reynolds Neil Diamond Tribute at Deer Springs Winery 7PM (Lincoln)
Sunday July 7th
Portugal The Man at Steelhouse Omaha 7PM (Omaha)
Chris Saub at Sonny’s 11AM (Omaha) FREE
Colin Bracewell, Jonathan Leach, MMA & Jordanna Maria at Duffy’s 7PM (Lincoln)
X at The Waiting Room 8PM (Omaha)
TV Star with Heavy Clippings and Cupholder at Reverb Lounge 8PM (Omaha)
Denise Howe at Glacial Till Winery 1PM (Palmayra) (FREE)
The Wildwoods at Kinkaider 4PM (Lincoln)
Katie Largent at Kinkaider 10AM (Omaha) FREE
Shaun Fredu at Juniors Forgot Store Bar & Grill (Ponca Hills)
Randall Shreve at Mouth of the South Old Market 11AM (Omaha)
Matt Cox at Mouth of the South Lakesdie 11AM (Omaha)
Rylee Chavez at Noli’s Aksarben 5PM (Omaha) FREE
King of Diamonds at Soaring Wings Winery 2PM (Springfield) FREE
Swampboy Blues Band at Heron Bay 3PM (Springfield)
Bordertown with Stolen Limits at PlaMor Ballroom 7PM (Lincoln)
Luigi Inc. at Mr. Toads 9PM (Omaha)
Open Mic at Bodega’s Alley 7PM (Lincoln) FREE