Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Live Music O!ut West

Omaha is an up and coming music town.  In recent years we have become home to Red Sky Music Festival with big names like Journey, 311 and Rascal Flatts.  We have rocked more local and independent music at festivals like Maha, featuring groups like Garbage and Desaparecidos.  Who doesn't love a good music festival every once in a while?  But where do you go when you want live music the rest of the year?

Well, in Omaha, in the past, the answer has been either downtown or in Benson.  And that's still true.  Good music can be found regularly in both locations, but as we all know, Omaha is growing South and West very quickly and you know, if you live South and West, you know how far of a drive it can be to Benson or downtown.  So what other options are there, especially in Southwest Omaha?

Here's your answer...The Lauter Tun Fine Ales and Spirits. Chad Rozniecki and Co-Owner Chris Acker are both classically trained jazz musicians.  Chris is the President of the Omaha Musicians Union.  Between the two of them, they have connections with some of the best local bands around including the well-known Confidentials.  Although many bars may host music sporadically, The Lauter Tun hosts bands three to four nights a week and music ranges from jazz to acoustic rock to cover tunes. In addition to being a home to known local musicians, The Lauter Tun has recently opened up there stage for Open Mic Night on Tuesdays with Austin-based singer/songwriter Lee Carroll. 

However, one drawback to live music can be cost.  Many bars charge a cover at the door of a minimum of $5 per person, regardless of how long you're there, but at The Lauter Tun, Chris and Chad, being musicians themselves, wanted to find a good compromise so the bands will be compensated and guests are not penalized if they can't stay to get their money's worth out of an expensive cover charge.  During live performances, guests are charged an additional 15% on the total bill in lieu of a cover.  So if you're only there for 1 drink, you end up with a cover charge of less than a dollar!  Pretty awesome deal if you ask me.

And if you think the positives end there, you're wrong!  During live performances, specific beers and cocktails are on special.  Right now, during Open Mic Night on Tuesdays, 312 and Blue Paddle are $3 during performances.  The Lauter Tun also features a reverse happy hour EVERY NIGHT from 11-close, Wednesday-Friday The Lauter Tun features happy hour prices from 4-6 and on Sundays ALL DAY!!! 

Check out The Lauter Tun website and sign up for there weekly newsletter so you are always up to date on who is playing at The Lauter Tun.  Their newsletters are very informative including a detailed description about each upcoming band and/or event, pictures, new beers on tap and new bottled beers. 

Speaking of beer, I can't feature The Lauter Tun and not talk about the beer.  If you have been to the bar, you will notice that the tap box is ON the stage.  That was done as a symbol of fusing amazing beer with amazing music and when you visit The Lauter Tun, you will see that to be the case.  With more than 20 taps and dozens of bottles, selection is always fresh and you have a wide variety to choose from, whether you're looking for a specific brewery, a certain style of beer, or a great seasonal. And be sure to take a look at our blog's video bar featuring some of the highlights of The Lauter Tun--everything from why they use the glasses they use to how they keep their beers blended to perfection. They take beer seriously.

And we must not forget that The Lauter Tun does feature FINE ALES AND SPIRITS.  If you don't believe me, go in and try a Polish Lemonade, a Pink Squirrel, a Moscow Mule, or one of their classic cocktails like an Old Fashioned or Pimm's Cup. 

Here's a list of upcoming music and new beer at The Lauter Tun.  And come out to watch a Husker game or two on the Lauter Tun's 6 Foot Projection Screen!!!  GO BIG RED!

Enjoy Omaha!!

Upcoming Music Events

Marcus Lewis Quartet
Thursday 09/20, 8:30 pm - 11:30 pm
Marcus Lewis is currently on tour with his group celebrating his debut release "Facing East." In 2001, Marcus graduated from Valdosta State University with a Bachelorʼs Degree in Jazz Performance and continued on to receive a Masterʼs Degree in Trombone Performance from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Notable Performances include the Birthday of St. Petersburg Russia in 2001, the Klipieda Jazz Festival in 2003, and the Jimmy Carter Summer Concert Series in 2008. As a member of Janelle Monae's ArchOrchestra, Marcus Lewis performed at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards, the 2011 Glastonbury Festival, the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize Concert and the 2010 North Sea Jazz Festival. Marcus has also played at the 2010 New Orleans Jazz Fest while touring with the Ohio Players. Marcus was awarded the 2008 Betty Carter Jazz Residency and Outstanding Soloist at the Wichita Jazz Festival in 2003.



Crime Sena
Friday 09/21, 8:30 pm - 11:30 pm
Crime Sena offers an eclectic mix of mostly older pop tunes played with fresh arrangements. You can usually count on a revolving cast of sit ins at any given time since these guys have played for a lot of years with a lot of bands. Tom and Dan played together off and on since Guerilla Theatre days. Matt Wallace toured with Maynard Ferguson and played with um....everyone. Troy Johnson joins us this evening on bass and has played with most bands in town in typical bass whore fashion. Selections from Rundgren to Billy Joel to Maroon 5,...ya we said eclectic.


No Collateral
Saturday 09/22, 8:30 pm - 11:30 pm
No Collateral is a high-energy jazz quintet that is sure to impress music lovers of all backgrounds. The band combines elements of jazz, funk, popular, and dance music for a fun, dynamic show. No Collateral features music from Chris Potter, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Adam Rogers, Chris Bucher, and others. Chris Bucher leads the ensemble and has written several original tunes for the specific instrumentation of No Collateral. The quintet features Chris Bucher on baritone saxophone, Kevin Sullivan on guitar, Kevin Lloyd on keyboards, Tim Kasl on bass, and JB Ferguson on the drumset. Please visit www.chrisbuchermusic.com for video and audio clips.


School of Rock Scholarship Fund
Sunday 09/23 and 9/30, 6:00pm-8:30pm
(15% added in Lieu of cover charge goes directly to the scholarship!)

Come support the children and the arts by attending this wonderful event sponsored by The School of Rock. Children of all ages will be performing songs varying from Metallica to The Police and Queen on our Stage. It gives them live performance experience and helps raise money for music scholarships!  



NEW BEER
DRAFT:

 Today we tapped a bunch of great, new beers! Summit Belgian Abbey Ale is a wonderful Belgian Dark Strong Ale. 8% ABV with wonderful notes of toffee sweetness and some dark fruit, but still very drinkable. And at under $4, it is a steal!!! New Belgium's PeachPorch Lounger is a wonderful Peach Saison with "Brett". Brett is short for brettanomyces, a wild fungus (a type of yeast) which adds an interesting "wild" character and sometimes a pleasant, unique tartness to the beer. Odell Myrcenary is a great Double IPA now on draft as well. Myrcene is a component of the aromatic oils in hops. This large IPA has an obvious hop bitterness, a wonderful floral hoppy aroma accompanied by a nice hint of light fruit like pineapple or apricot. We also have several seasonal Summit beers and a few Odell barrel-aged beers waiting to be tapped as well. Check our website, facebook ,or twitter for up to the minute information on our current listings.

BOTTLE:
The LT recently aquired Breckenridge's Agave Wheat. A crisp, clean, American wheat beer with a hint of Agave Nectar, adding a small amount of sweetness to the brew. We added Peace Tree Brewing's Hop Wrangler, an easy drinking American IPA. Hoppy enough for a hop head, but not so much that it will leave your mouth forever tainted. Of course we still have some Gouden Carolous Hopsinjoor, a wonderful Belgian IPA. Rich with malt flavor, great hop aroma, extremely effervescent, ending with a crisp hop finish, this beer is nostalgic to me as it was what I used at my wedding to toast with. Who needs champagne when you have Belgian Beer right? Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin is our first seasonal pumpkin beer and is a great introduction into fall (soon to follow will be Nebraska Brewing Co's Wick For Brains). Lastly, Lakefront's Riverwest Stein Lager, an amber lager, is now available. Slightly malty sweet on the front, finishing with a nice crisp dryness and hop bitterness. Very well balanced and drinkable.