Omaha's Indie Pro-Rock Invasion

 
story by tim mcmahan

Lazy-i: Deecember 4, 2002

The Quiet Type w/ Fromanhole, Ravine, The Sound of Rails Saturday, Dec. 7 8:30 p.m., $5, 21+ Broker's Bar and Grill 13th and Pacific Omaha

Is Broker's Bar and Grill at 13th and Pacific evolving into a showcase for Omaha's indie prog-rock scene? A four-band line-up slated for Dec. 7 is bound to give the bar just that reputation.

The line-up includes aggressive noise trio Ravine as the headliner, along with indie instrumental trio The Sound of Rails, angular math-art trio Fromanhole and maverick frontier prog outfit The Quiet Type -- maybe one of Omaha's best kept secrets.

Formed back in January 2001 out of the ashes of a couple indie-style rock bands, The Quiet Type is drummer/vocalist Oliver Morgan, (ex-Ravine), and his former Reset and Revilo bandmates bassist/vocalist Mark Kosmicki and guitarist/vocalist Shawn Cox. The trio released a six-song demo last spring and is releasing a split 7-inch with Fromanhole in January. But those recordings should be considered an old incarnation of The Quiet Type compared to what the band is up to these days with their new keyboardist, Oliver's wife Megan.

She began working with the trio when a friend of the band's asked them to play a handful of classic cover songs at a wedding reception with Megan on keyboards. "We meshed so well that we asked her to join us after it was all over," Oliver said. "We put together an entirely new set with her that took us in a different, more artistic direction."

With the additional keyboards, The Quiet Type's sound has evolved from being a straight-ahead indie rock act in the Tanner/Shellac vein, to a much more dynamic, ambient and almost prog-art style band. Their songs germinate from simple, quiet ideas into free-form jazz-influenced jams that never lose sight of the melody or their rock undertones. Megan, a music major at UNO, does more than soften the band's loud, rough edges, thanks to her background as a classical and jazz pianist. "We've certainly toned down," Oliver said, "but we've also discovered a more intricate sound influenced by bands like Fugazi and Sunny Day Real Estate."

He said the new line-up will enter the studio in February to record a full-length to be released on indie label Beehive Records that Morgan runs with members of local hip-hop/funk act Microphone Jones.

The rest of the Dec. 7 line-up echoes The Quiet Type's arty ways.

Consisting of brothers bassist/vocalist Doug Kiser and guitarist Daryl Kiser, along with drummer Doug Berger, the mostly instrumental Fromanhole matches angular, mathy riffs with complex start-stop rhythms that create a wall of post-prog-noise rock. Rare vocals consist of Doug Kiser yelling what sounds like freeform poetry. The band is currently supporting their just released full-length, Out of the Flats.

Also supporting a new release is The Sound of Rails, who's Night Time Simulcast was just released on Lincoln's Caulfield Records. The trio's style is reminiscent of such instrumental outfits as Euphone and Sea and Cake.

Capping off the night is Ravine, who's latest CD, Via Della Strada, was released earlier this year on Skinsuit Communications/Ant Records. With a heavy sound that borders on metal, the self-described "noise" band is anchored by guitarist Mike Saklar and bassist Randy Cotton, both former members of local gutter-groove act Ritual Device.

Most of the bands are veterans of the Broker's stage. Morgan said the bar and grill began hosting shows after one if its employees, who plays in the band Tartoutis, started holding impromptu shows. "Ravine caught wind of it and asked the owners if they could host their CD release show there," Morgan said. "It's not the kind of place you'd would expect to see an indie show on a weekend, but once you're there and the show begins, it fits the part."

Published in The Omaha Weekly Dec. 4, 2002. Copyright © 2002 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.