Monthly Archives: February 2013

Rock Candy Q&A: James Valentine of Maroon 5

Posted on February 28, 2013 by Kevin Coffey

Before James Valentine rocked sold out arenas as Maroon 5′s lead guitarist and the songs he wrote sold millions of copies, he went to Lincoln Southeast High School. He played in bands such as Square and Happy Dog. He played … Continue reading →

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Album Review: Atoms For Peace, “AMOK”

Posted on February 26, 2013 by Kevin Coffey

(XL Recordings) Available now Rating: ★½ (out of four) “AMOK” came together when Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea and R.E.M.’s Joey Waronker holed up in a studio with percussionist Maura Refusco. There, they listened to Fela Kuti … Continue reading →

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Snow Day: Some venues closed, show must go on at others

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Kevin Coffey

Hey, it’s snowing. You probably haven’t been outside or been on the Internet if you didn’t already know. (If you’re staying home tonight and still need to do something musical, I recommend a rental of Dave Grohl’s “Sound City” documentary … Continue reading →

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SXSW: Saddle Creek planning showcase; Other Nebraskans coming to SXSW?

Posted on February 19, 2013 by Kevin Coffey

Yeah, it’s time to start hearing about the festival in Austin. South by Southwest is around the corner (this year the music portion is March 12-17) and it’s time to get ready. For those of us going, it’s all about … Continue reading →

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Snow Day: The 17 best songs for a blizzard

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Kevin Coffey

It’s snowing outside and, I hate to say it, but it’s going to snow more. Sometimes, you need some good jams to get you through the winter wonderland (and deathly icy streets) that Omaha shall become. I combed through some … Continue reading →

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The Thermals pick their favorite Saddle Creek songs

Posted on February 15, 2013 by Kevin Coffey

What are your top 10 Saddle Creek Records tunes? Inevitably, it probably includes some Bright Eyes, Cursive, The Faint, Ladyfinger, etc. Same with The Thermals. They’re like the punk band that are your friends because they listen to the same … Continue reading →

Posted in playlist, Saddle Creek, The Thermals | 1 Comment

Album Review: Frightened Rabbit, ‘Pedestrian Verse’

Posted on February 15, 2013 by Kevin Coffey

(Canvasback/Atlantic) Available now Rating: ★★★★ (out of four) On Frightened Rabbit’s sophomore album, “The Midnight Organ Fight,” frontman Scott Hutchison found himself as a songwriter and delivered tunes that were heart-wrenching and sometimes uplifting. Occasionally, I wanted to shed a tear … Continue reading →

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Album Review: Tim McGraw, ‘Two Lanes of Freedom’

Posted on February 15, 2013 by Kevin Coffey

(Big Machine) Available now Rating: ★★☆☆ From the start, this is an album to listen to when you hit the road. Title track “Two Lanes of Freedom” kicks off the album and urges you to enjoy the open road as McGraw … Continue reading →

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Sad Songs: Sad tunes remind us we aren’t alone

Posted on February 14, 2013 by Kevin Coffey

On bad days, on good days, during the changing of the seasons, when we’re depressed, when we’re happy and, sometimes, when we want a good cry, we play some sad songs. Whether it’s “How to Disappear Completely” by Radiohead or … Continue reading →

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Stream: The Thermals’ new track, ‘Born to Kill’

Posted on February 12, 2013 by Kevin Coffey

I don’t know a better way to introduce yourself to The Thermals’ new album than “Born to Kill,” which premiered today on SPIN and that you can listen to below. Hutch Harris, Kathy Foster and Westin Glass recorded their latest … Continue reading →

Posted in Saddle Creek, The Thermals | 1 Comment