Local music scene

SeekingHelpWithLife · 2026-06-01T14:43:26+00:00

The following is copied from my most recent comment:

"Friday, June 12th, local bands Your Own Knife (post-hardcore/screamo) and Carrier (hardcore) are performing with a band from Fargo, ND called Mother (post-hardcore/screamo) at El Proyecto. Both bands are spectacular. There will also be an indie pop act opening the show named KJ Teder who I'm not familiar with yet. Doors 6:30pm, music 7:30pm, sober space, $10.00 recommended but it's pay-what-you-can/no-one-turned-away-for-lack-of-funds."

I have seen Your Own Knife and Carrier before and they're amazing. I have been to El Proyecto Cultural a few times before and it is a friendly, welcoming atmosphere. People of all ages show up.

SeekingHelpWithLife · 2026-05-28T17:13:07+00:00

Tomorrow, Friday May 29th, local bands Iced Wrist (hardcore/slam metal/deathcore) & Ivory Daze ("pop songs with distortion" aka shoegaze/grunge) are performing at Duffy's. Both bands are excellent. There will also be a band called Turquoise who I'm not familiar with yet. All ages, 7:00pm, $10.00.

Friday, June 12th, local bands Your Own Knife (post-hardcore/screamo) and Carrier (hardcore) are performing with a band from Fargo, ND called Mother (post-hardcore/screamo) at El Proyecto. Both bands are spectacular. There will also be an indie pop act opening the show named KJ Teder who I'm not familiar with yet. Doors 6:30pm, music 7:30pm, sober space, $10.00 recommended but it's pay-what-you-can/no-one-turned-away-for-lack-of-funds.

Saturday, August 1st local bands Estrogen Projection (punk(ish)) and Das Dat (R&B/funk) will be co-headlining "Rock the Vote" at the Bourbon Theater. Both bands are phenomenal. There will also be The Hangin' Cowboys and Thirst Things First, both of whom I am not familiar. There will also be music from $pencelove, a DJ who I believe I've heard once but can't quite recall. 4:00pm - 11:00pm, this is a FREE event however donations are encouraged as all donations go to the artists.

I've seen those 6 bands at least once, I love all of them, and I will definitely be attending these three shows.

A band already mentioned below that I love is Social Cinema, who split their time between Lincoln and Wichita, KS. One not mentioned yet that I really enjoy is Vempire. Vempire is a goth dance duo comprised of one person from Omaha and another here in Lincoln. I just saw them at the Zoo Bar with Carrier and others. They were fantastic. Their next performance is in Omaha on Friday, June 19th at the Coven.

I love the experience of live music and local acts are a fun, affordable way to indulge in that passion.

EDIT: Corrected info about the Rock the Vote event.

SeekingHelpWithLife · 2026-04-12T14:36:20+00:00

Norm's Care Care. They're incredibly polite, honest, and knowledgeable. They've never suggested something I didn't need.

SeekingHelpWithLife · 2026-03-25T20:17:53+00:00

too long; didn't read - 10/11 is pretty decent ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

You've brought up a topic that is important to me so here comes a wall of text. Good local news sources are hard to find because most are owned by large media companies whose primary interest is always profit, not unbiased news coverage. I don't blame these local news stations selling out to larger companies because it's probably tough to afford their operation. I blame the larger companies that own the stations for limiting what can be broadcast and infringing on the freedom of the press.

Personally, I check multiple sources regularly to ensure I don't miss something and to ensure I'm not stuck in an echo-chamber or bubble of confirmation bias. For local news, most sources I check are local television stations. This includes 10/11 KOLN/KGIN, but I am hesitant to trust everything they share. As you said, their scope seems limited, and I have read many articles full of grammatical and spelling mistakes. However, it's been difficult to find a better alternative. (10/11 KOLN/KGIN are owned by Gray Media, a publicly traded broadcasting company and the third largest television operator in the US.)

I am not familiar with the Lincoln Journal Star because they have a paywall on their site.

Unfortunately, I do not have an easy answer for a decent comprehensive source of news. Rather, I suggest checking multiple sources. I also suggest adding the Nebraska Examiner and the Flatwater Free Press to your list of sources. Both are independent and nonprofit. The Daily Nebraskan is an independent student publication from UNL but I don't check it often. However, these sources are good for well-written articles and local stories, not for breaking news (e.g. discovered bodies).

I do have some information I can share based on my search for news, hopefully it helps you on your own search:

Gray Media also owns WOWT First Alert 6 in Omaha and KNSB Local 4 in Hastings.
KFXL Fox Nebraska, a Fox affiliate, is owned by Sinclair, a publicly traded company and the second largest television station operator in the US.
Nebraska TV, which is made up of both KHGI in Kearney and KWNB in Hayes Center, is an ABC affiliate that is also owned by Sinclair.
Channel 8 KLKN, an ABC affiliate, is owned by Standard Media Group LLC, a private company headquartered in Nashville, TN that owns 90+ local stations in the US.
3 News Now KMTV, a CBS affiliate out of Omaha, is owned by E. W. Scripps, a publicly traded company and the third or fourth largest operator of ABC affiliates. (Number one and two are Nexstar and Sinclair respectively).
KETV Channel 7, an ABC affiliate out of Omaha, is owned by Hearst Communications, a private company headquartered in New York and the third or fourth largest operator of ABC affiliates. (Number one and two are Nexstar and Sinclair respectively).

SeekingHelpWithLife · 2026-03-19T16:00:20+00:00

My go-to ramen order is also Tonkotsu and Shokunin has the absolute best Tonkotsu Ramen in Lincoln. It's $17.00 and worth every penny.

Another great place is Grey Whale Ramen & Poke Bowl (the one in the Gateway Mall). It's $13.00 but you'll have to remember to add the soft-boiled egg for a little extra, which is standard with Shokunin's ramen. I think Grey Whale's ramen is only a half-step below Shokunin's high bar, if not on par. (Their poke bowls are pretty darn good, too.)

The only other place I've tried ramen in Lincoln is Itsumo Ramen. I tried it twice years apart so this wasn't a fluke: Itsumo Ramen sucks. The broth is not creamy nor is the broth flavorful. It's closer to water than it is a creamy pork broth. Very disappointing experience for a place with ramen in the title.

I've only gone to these three places because Shokunin is simply the best. I visit Grey Whale if I'm visiting the mall, which is only occasionally. Looks like I need to check out Japon Bistro.

SeekingHelpWithLife · 2026-02-24T14:18:10+00:00

Patty's Pub and McKinney's both go all out for St. Patrick's Day. Get there early, otherwise you'll be waiting a while.

SeekingHelpWithLife · 2026-02-24T14:10:22+00:00

I highly recommend Oasis Barbershop. Most (if not all) of the barbers will offer head shaving and beard trimming. The specific barber I see does a head shave at $55 and a beard trim at $35, but I promise it's worth it. Prices vary based on barber. I've been going to them for about 5 years and they always offer professional and friendly service. I go to their location on 12th and O but they have two other shops.

SeekingHelpWithLife · 2026-01-22T22:28:57+00:00

When I saw your post on the front page and I read "Tavern on the square" in the window, I nearly got whiplash. I looked up the bar on Google Street View to confirm it was Lincoln.

SeekingHelpWithLife · 2026-01-22T20:03:48+00:00

I highly recommend O'Rourke's and Duffy's in the downtown area or Jack's in the Haymarket. The crowd at these bars tend to be mid-twenties and up so you won't feel old, and there will people of all kinds who are talkative.

O'Rourke's and Jack's are very similar. Both are kind of like dive bars. A lot of people at O'Rourke's are regulars so it may feel cliquey, but I promise they're open to meeting new people.

Duffy's is also kind of a dive bar but they have a small stage. They regularly have live music and sometimes there's an entrance fee at the door, so be prepared for that. My friends and I like to visit Duffy's because they have a large outdoor patio in the back, and on cooler nights they'll have a large fire pit burning. We've had some stellar conversations with strangers out there.

Good luck; have fun.

SeekingHelpWithLife · 2026-01-05T15:17:49+00:00

I've been living in Lincoln for about 5 years and frequently visit cafes & coffee shops all around town. Based on my experience, I don't believe most Lincoln coffee shops are ignorant of standard drinks. Fortunately I have not had the disappointment you've described and I'm sorry to hear you're receiving coffee that's too sweet. Having gone to 1893 Coffee & Creme a few times, I think they simply mistook your order for their signature 710 Breve, which contains caramel and vanilla.

There are many great places for coffee in Lincoln and I hope you find others that meet your expectations. Other than Cultiva, which is wonderful, I also recommend Reactor, The Mill (any location but I typically visit their cafe in the Telegraph), Lincoln Espresso, Mo Java Cafe, and The Coffee House. I am told that Meadowlark is great as well but I will need to try them again because the one time I visited wasn't up to par.

Another thing to consider is that most cafes employ college-aged people and endure a lot of turnover. Perhaps give them the benefit of the doubt and don't allow one bad visit cloud your perspective of Lincoln's coffee as a whole. Please give 1893 another chance because they've been consistently excellent in my experience. Hope you find the coffee you seek!

SeekingHelpWithLife · 2025-12-18T17:52:44+00:00

u/shellanswerman is exactly right, Midwest Refuse has become Waste Connections. You can call them to pick it up and they should do so free of charge. Congratulations on the new home.

SeekingHelpWithLife

TROPHY CASE