Nebraska’s best: Conor Oberst’s bar, an amphitheater in the pines and more
Hey Seeker readers!
Welcome to the working week. OK, it’s already Tuesday—but if you’re anything like us, Monday was still a slow ramp after a long, loud weekend.
Perhaps your travels took you to Stagecoach, where Lainey Wilson and Post Malone headlined, Sydney Sweeney sang karaoke, and Public Enemy performed “Fight the Power” with Hootie and the Blowfish. More than a few of you were at the multiplex, because Michael just had a record-breaking opening weekend for a music biopic (despite the reviews).
Whatever your speed, keep Music Roadtrip in your pocket, and your week can only get better. You’ll have a digital roadmap to authentic venues, festivals, studios, stores and sights, no matter where you end up.
Nebraska
A state famed for its sights: rugged western landmarks and vast plains. But there’s also a sound to Nebraska, and it expands far beyond the state’s rustic image. Take its capital of Omaha, which was a pivotal stop on the jazz and blues circuits in the early 20th century. In the 2000s, the city redefined itself as an indie-rock mecca with the rise of Saddle Creek Records, home to Bright Eyes, Cursive, and The Faint.
"Omaha will always be a music town,” says Sara Bertuldo, Program Manager of Omaha Girls Rock.
“I remember buying The Ugly Organ by Cursive at Homer’s in 2003 as a fan. Over time, that connection came full circle—from learning how to play music, to sharing the stage with my heroes, to now supporting the next generation through The Bay and Omaha Girls Rock. The cycle of discovery, growth, and giving back is how music in Omaha stays alive."
Curious to see how the Nebraska scene is renewing itself these days? Us too. Let’s check out a few of our favorite spots in Omaha, Lincoln, and beyond.
Pageturners Lounge
Conor Oberst put Omaha’s indie scene on the national map. His bar, on the other hand, keeps things local and low-key.
The Bright Eyes frontman opened Pageturners in 2012 with fellow Omaha musician Philip Schaffart, and they’ve kept the vibe chill and close-knit—and the drinks cheap—ever since. For five bucks, you can order a “House Jam”: a shot of Old Overholt rye chased with a can of Tecate.
That’ll help you settle in for whatever their tiny corner stage might be hosting: DJ sets, book readings, open mics, trivia nights, community gatherings, and the occasional concert.
“We’ll never be a music venue,” Schaffart once told the Omaha World-Herald. But that means when Pageturners does host a show, it’s something special—whether it’s a rare stop from Pitchfork darling Cindy Lee or a band of local players doing their annual Last Waltz tribute the day after Thanksgiving.
The Zoo Bar
Chicago bluesman Magic Slim had rarely, if ever, ventured outside his city to perform when the Zoo Bar first booked him in 1975. He ended up moving to Lincoln.
That’s how well this 53-year-old venue nails the look, sound, and feel of a tight, narrow Chicago blues bar.
Buddy Guy, Bo Diddley, and Koko Taylor have all performed here, and while blues remains at the core of the Zoo, these days the calendar is open to all kinds of players and singers looking to make some onstage magic.
Kanesville Kollectibles
“It looks disorganized in here,” Tim Behrens told Omaha’s KMTV last year. “But if you just ask me, I can tell you where to look.”
The chaos is part of the charm at his store, Kanesville Kollectibles, a 10,000 sq. ft. facility in Council Bluffs, IA (just over the state line Omaha straddles). There are literally more than one million vinyl records to sift through—so yeah, it might be wise to get some directions from Behrens first. And 10,000 of those records can be yours for a dollar. Apiece, that is.
If a tour comes to Omaha, you might find your favorite band digging through the racks at Kanesville: blues-rocker Jimmie Vaughn and electronic musician Shigeto both paid a visit last year.
Pinewood Bowl Theater
We haven’t said this about a featured venue before…but this place must smell amazing.
Surrounded by rows of tall pines, Pinewood Bowl Theater sits inside Lincoln’s 668-acre Pioneers Park, a WPA-era project filled with scenic trails, prairie land, and public art. Like the Gorge or Red Rocks, the amphitheater leans into its natural beauty.
No surprise that it’s drawn Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, and Jack White to this neck of the woods—and this summer, The Black Crowes, Alison Krauss, and comedian John Mulaney will all hit the trail.
Slowdown
Built by the Saddle Creek crew after years of watching DIY venues come and go, The Slowdown gave Omaha’s indie scene a permanent home. Co-founded by label head Robb Nansel, the 750-capacity club came together after the city pushed the team to help activate a then-empty stretch of North Downtown—and boy, was it activated. NPR posited that Slowdown was responsible for a $100 million creative boom in Omaha, though its owners were “all still broke.”
At least the calendar’s an embarrassment of riches: upcoming visits from The Format, The Black Angels, and Beach Bunny confirm there’s nothing slow about this place. In fact, the name is a reference to Slowdown Virginia, a 1990s Omaha band that would later morph into Cursive.
Travel Pick of the Week: Katie Bain’s Desert Dreams
Whether you were there in person or glued to the YouTube stream, it’s hard to come down from the musical high of Coachella—but Katie Bain’s book Desert Dreams: The Music, Style and Allure of Coachella helps soften the landing. Bain has attended 14 Coachellas, including this year’s, and writes from firsthand experience about the festival’s real magic—which can’t be conveyed in headlines and algorithms.
“Coachella is too often dismissed as just an influencer festival or celebrity hangout space,” she tells us. “That hasn't been my experience. Rather, in the 14 years I've been attending and covering Coachella, it's been a place where I've been truly lucky to witness some of the greatest musical performances of my life.”
Desert Dreams hits it all, from Coachella’s nerve-wracking start just months after Woodstock ’99 to the performances that cemented its legend (Prince was what brought Bain out to her first Coachella in 2008), and the technological shifts that have brought its sights and sounds to the world.
“My goal is for Desert Dreams to celebrate the music that fuels the event and to shine a light on the culture—the fashion, art, history, and influence of Coachella—that makes it the Super Bowl of music and a worldwide fascination.”
More Nebraska spots
Visit Nebraska The state’s official home base for mapping out road trips, local events, and hidden gems.
Vive le Rock! Lounge & Record Store A loud and proud rock ‘n’ roll hang that lets you dig through crates with a drink in hand.
Carhenge Nebraska’s premier roadside oddity—a full-scale Stonehenge tribute built entirely from vintage steel.
Homer’s Music A legendary Omaha staple that has spent decades supplying the city with new and used vinyl.
Niobrara National Scenic River The go-to for a "tanking" or tubing float trip through waterfalls and northern Nebraska wilderness.
The Waiting Room Lounge & Reverb Lounge A Benson neighborhood powerhouse duo that handles everything from buzzy indie tours to intimate local gigs.
The Jewell Building (former site of Dreamland Ballroom)
A physical nod to the 24th Street corridor’s legacy as a mandatory stop on the mid-century jazz circuit.
Block 16 A downtown lunch favorite where the "fine dining street food" menu changes daily and the lines are worth it.
Ground Floor Guitar A specialized boutique shop for players looking for vintage gear and rare, hand-picked pedals.
Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium A massive, world-class complex famous for its massive indoor desert and rainforest domes.
Museum of Shadows A creepy, immersive dive into a massive collection of allegedly haunted artifacts and paranormal history.
Scotts Bluff National Monument A towering landmark that once guided pioneers and now offers the best horizon views in the west.
