A complete recap of Lincoln Calling is the subject of this week's column, which will be online tomorrow. The short version is that the festival drew 3,590 people -- about a 1,000 more than organizer Jeremy Buckley had hoped for. In other words, it was a success. More data and quotes tomorrow.

I actually went down for one night of Lincoln Calling this year, to catch the Mercy Rule reunion and the final show of Sarah Benck and her band (the band formerly known as The Robbers). Mercy Rule brought the goods to Duffy's stage, playing four old songs (including "Summer" and "Tell Tomorrow") and four new songs that absolutely ripped. It was fun to see Ron Albertson behind a drum set again, and to see the band lit up in their trademark floor-floodlights (see photo). The question now is when will a new Mercy Rule album be released (presumably on Speed! Nebraska)?

The Sarah Benck show at The Zoo Bar was a mob scene, crazy packed, overheated, insane (see blurry photo). We made it through one song before we had to get out of there as the walls seemed to be closing in. It has been pointed out to me by a couple folks in other bands how ironic it is that Benck and her band are breaking up as it is one of the few non-Creek Omaha bands that consistently makes money (and good money at that).

Anyway, more tomorrow. Also this week (Thursday), look for a sweet interview/feature with Landing on the Moon.

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Tonight at Slowdown Jr., it's the return of Brad Hoshaw and the Seven Deadlies with The Matt Cox Band and Kyle Harvey. $6, 9 p.m.

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