Tim Kasher
Hey, you. Sponges of Experience was written over the 4-day weekend of Memorial Day, 2025. It was a challenge to myself: when I was a wee teenager, I heard Elvis Costello mention on some talk show (I’ve long forgotten which) that he could write an album over a weekend. It was an offhand remark, a throwaway line as he was promoting something or other. As I had already become a prolific writer myself, I was curious if I could pull off something of the sort.Fast forward to 35-odd years later, I decided to give it a shot. I offered myself FOUR days rather than just the two, and perhaps that’s a cheat, but since it was Memorial Day weekend I decided to allow it. As it turned out, I absolutely needed those extra two days.The other rules were simple: I just needed to write a complete composition and completed lyrics for enough songs to fill an album. At least… eight songs, though I would’ve been disappointed with just eight. I kept pushing myself to write as much as possible, as I wanted to have enough songs to be able to weed out one or two of the crappier contributions. All of the additional arrangements you hear were written and recorded after the fact, casually over the remaining year, no rush nor rules on those parameters.I have a nice little community online, a Patreon group called, “Tim Kasher’s home phone”, that I shared the weekend challenge with. They were incredibly supportive, helping keep me to task as I didn’t want to let them (nor I) down. As soon as I finished a song I went live online to perform it. ‘Receipts’, you might say.I started strong: four songs the first day and four songs the second day. Excellent, after two days I had already hit that minimum quota of eight songs! But as mentioned, I wanted more; more songs to be able to pick and choose from.The third day was rough. Unsurprisingly, I hit a wall and had to take the bulk of the day off as I simply could not muster any inspiration. I managed to eke out one more song that day. But the fourth and final day bore more fruit, including The Collapse and Don’t Hang Up, a couple of favorites. What a ride.Spurred on by many of the kind folk in the Patreon group, I decided not to cut any songs from the album and let it be released as a complete artifact of the weekend. I can’t claim to love all these songs, but I do love some of them, and certainly, all of them are endearing to me.This funny little trifle of a weekend project wound up meaning a lot to me. I love music and songwriting in a way I don’t think I’ll ever quite be able to explain, though I’m sure I’ll continue to try, and will continue to express this adoration for the rest of my days. I feel so incredibly thankful for being a songwriter, and I encourage all of you to become songwriters as well. They don’t gotta be good songs, it’s enough that they’re simply yours. With sincerity, Tim.
The Mezcal Brothers ft. Dave Gonzalez
The Mezcal Brothers – Final Farewell Show After 28 years of rock ’n’ roll, The Mezcal Brothers are preparing to say their final goodbye. The band will be releasing their final studio album, Bing Bang Boom, marking the closing chapter of a remarkable journey that helped define roots rock and rockabilly in Nebraska and beyond. This release, and the shows that follow, will stand as a celebration of the music, the memories, and the brotherhood forged over nearly three decades. Joining the Mezcals on stage for this historic Farewell Show will be guitar legend Dave Gonzalez of The Paladins. This final performance will also serve as a heartfelt tribute honoring their fallen brother, Benjie Kushner, whose presence, passion, and legacy remain forever woven into the soul of the band. One last album. One final night.
Mrs. Nezbitt
Orialus
Orialus – Orialus is an American heavy metal band based out of Omaha, NE formed in late 2020. This show will be in celebration of their album release for “The World Ends With You” on Sulairo Records! https://www.instagram.com/orialusofficial/ Jiblets – metalcore band from Lincoln, NE https://www.instagram.com/jibletmaster Petty Beige – post-hardcore/ math rock / Midwest emo from Omaha https://www.instagram.com/petty.beige.band/
AM/FM
Rewind AM/FM pressed play for the #Totally80s Dance Party in May 2013. Growing up in the 70s and 80s, the guys in AM/FM were excited to bring audiences all of the fun 80s music they grew up listening to and playing. In 2022, the band welcomed Jadyn Cree Olesen, who took over as Lead Singer. Jadyn’s versatile voice and style opened up the playlist options for AMFM. Pause In 2024, Jadyn auditioned for Season 27 of NBCs “The Voice.” Michael Buble saw and heard what we already knew and took Jadyn under his wing for what would become an incredible run on the show. Week in and week out, Jadyn wowed the judges and audiences with her powerful, spot on performances. After finishing 5th Overall in the competition, Jadyn is back performing with AM/FM, working on her first album of original material, and the band sounds better than ever! Fast Forward AMFM has performed at major area music festivals, including HEAR G.I., Capital City Ribfest, Celebrate Lincoln and FrogFest as well as Lincoln and Omaha clubs like The Royal Grove and The Waiting Room…and warmed up the stage for the likes of Gin Blossoms, David Cook, Blue Oyster Cult and Hairball.
Cosmic ReKinection Pre Party
Cosmic ReKinection Pre Party for Omaha will feature some of the local talent that worked hard to land their place at Cosmic ReKinection. This Pre Party is a way to experience some aspects that ReKinection is so known for. The day will start out with Yoga by Kendall Lanning, Dj’d by MRLYN. (Limited Spaces) Followed by a Sound Bath with Lindsey Hylen. You get to hear spoken word from Soul Piece & SunChild prior to the music — music from SKAPA, Sploinka, RAWLZ, RÜGER, DARKWOOD x Callisto, NCITE. There will be a short Improv by The Off Shelf’s during the night as well. Madison Marie Brunch Come join your commUnity & Deepen your roots together.
FELICITY
FELICITY – FELICITY is an Orlando-based “trash rock” band formed in 2013, blending pop-punk, hard rock, and metalcorehttps://www.instagram.com/wearefelicity/Blondo – pop punk from Omahahttps://blondostreet.bandcamp.comLight Speed Highway – indie / pop punk from Omaha, NEhttps://lightspeedhighway.bandcamp.com/
Slumbering Sun
Slumbering Sun – Slumbering Sun is a powerful new melodic doom entity formed by members of underground mainstays Temptress, Destroyer of Light and Monte Luna. Their resulting sound explores broader melodies and sonics than their other bands, inspired as much by Celtic folk standards as by doom in the vein of Warning, even with hints of the classic 90s heft of Soundgarden and Alice In Chains. doomgaze / post-doom / doom metal from Austin https://slumberingsun.bandcamp.com/ Insomniac – A band that exists between this world and the next. A bouncing ball on the sound and rhythm of the universe. An aural guide. Writing their songs in the frequency of the earth, the Atlanta-based quintet’s sound casts the light on the magic and strange beauty in the balance between unconsciousness and dreams. heavy psychedelic rock / doom from Atlanta https://insomniacvibes.bandcamp.com/music/ Weaving Shadows – 4 piece Existential Dread Inducing Sludge/Doom from Nebraska https://weavingshadows.bandcamp.com
EXECUTION DAY
Missing Singer
“Missing Singer” is a music project featuring two longtime members of the Omaha-based band Normandy Invasion.