Omaha's great, underappreciated music scene

[erik]

Omaha was rated #5 in the nation for best music scene 'outside' of the three big centers of NYC, LA and Nashville

http://www.expressnightout.com/2012/03/an-omaha-state-of-mind/

excerpt:
Omaha, Neb., may better known for insurance companies than for indie bands. But visiting the Gateway to the West was a dream come true for Swedish sister act First Aid Kit (Johanna and Klara Söderberg), on par with a pilgrimage to Memphis or Motown.

That might sound surprising, but Omaha has produced its share of great indie acts whose popularity extends across the Atlantic and into the chillier climes of Scandinavia.

“Omaha has always been a Mecca for us because of the music scene,” says Johanna. “It’s always been this mysterious place where all this magical music came from.”

[Mastermind]

So its 8th?
NYC, LA, Nashville

Then what? I have to think, Chicago, St. Louis, Memphis, Austin, Seattle, New Orleans would be higher.

[jhuston]

I get a kick out of these ratings, don't you?... I have to say, as ridiculous as this one seems... there must be something going on here, as it's not the first time the music scene in Omaha has been cited... a number of years ago, most notably, called the 'Indie Music Mecca' by Rolling Stone. You're right though... I don't care how highly we're rated... we're not Chicago, Seattle, etc (although not sure what St Louis, Memphis is producing these days).

Not really related (other than comparing smaller cities to big ones)... but one thing I have decided that Omaha (perhaps any city in our size range) offers, is a lot of really cool free events to the public. Every time I've been in a larger city... it's as if the sheer population numbers have resulted in promoters using event fees to control attendance. For example, I was disappointed to be in Minneapolis during the last Independence Day weekend, and could find NOTHING, anything like the Memorial Park concert/fireworks in Omaha. Jazz on the Green... Taste of Omaha, etc... all free events (as I imagine Des Moines shares similar ones), yet increasingly, in large cities... these seems to have become pay events. Probably out of necessity as much as anything else, again, otherwise attendance numbers would be uncontrollable.

[Mastermind]

I get a kick out of these ratings, don't you?... I have to say, as ridiculous as this one seems... there must be something going on here, as it's not the first time the music scene in Omaha has been cited... a number of years ago, most notably, called the 'Indie Music Mecca' by Rolling Stone. You're right though... I don't care how highly we're rated... we're not Chicago, Seattle, etc (although not sure what St Louis, Memphis is producing these days).

Not really related (other than comparing smaller cities to big ones)... but one thing I have decided that Omaha (perhaps any city in our size range) offers, is a lot of really cool free events to the public. Every time I've been in a larger city... it's as if the sheer population numbers have resulted in promoters using event fees to control attendance. For example, I was disappointed to be in Minneapolis during the last Independence Day weekend, and could find NOTHING, anything like the Memorial Park concert/fireworks in Omaha. Jazz on the Green... Taste of Omaha, etc... all free events (as I imagine Des Moines shares similar ones), yet increasingly, in large cities... these seems to have become pay events. Probably out of necessity as much as anything else, again, otherwise attendance numbers would be uncontrollable.

I think Omaha has had a great music scene, just not 5th. I visted the Ranch Bowl once and I saw Faith No More at Peony Park ballroom. Also went to a festival at Aks-ar-ben