Numerous artists from many periods and genres, but our prime influence is the rich tradition of American country music, whether it is hillbilly, folk, white blues, bluegrass, western swing, honky tonk or even rockabilly.
Sounds Like
. . . we know what we're doing?
Here are some kind words about us:
“Sunday afternoon, rural folks donned their finest and gathered in an austere, clapboard farmhouse for good fellowship and to hear what the four dirtroad pickers had picked up in the big city. Banjo, mandolin, and guitars ambled without airs. Faded flowery wallpaper peeled. Milk-sweet harmonies and homey storytelling broke open the blue August sky.” [3/6 records] – Rockabilly Magazine; Issue 45 (Spring 2009)
“You all sound great! Excellent songwriting and musicianship.” – Sage Guyton (The Lucky Stars), 4.20.09
“The main talk at the after party at Nomad was that a lot of bands that deserved to win did... The Black Squirrels winning the best Bluegrass/Folk/Americana award seemed to be a rallying point for many post-awards show as the hard-working band really paid their dues this year.” - Marq Manner “Local Tunes,” Omaha City Weekly, 1.14-20.09
"Well they do make a strong first impression. The sleeve is lovingly tooled and illustrated. The first song '30 Miles' instantly reminds me of the Walkabouts and the Handsome Family with its dark compelling folky sound. It’s a good start, a very favourable first impression.... The harmony, melody and structure of the country lament 'I Took Your Name in Vain' is straight down the line. It is beautifully constructed and equally well performed." – David Cowling, AmericanaUK.com, 12.4.08
" 'Pleasure' is a delight, wound together tightly with perfect pitch and a musicianship as sturdy as the grassroots in which this take on Americana are held. . . .As such, these stories are crisp and interesting, humorous and downright sad. They successfully run the gamut of human frailty, and if for nothing more than that, the band is to be commended. 3.5/5 stars" – Brady Vredenburg The [Omaha] Reader, 10.23-29.08
“The Waiting Room was the scene Friday, Oct. 3rd for The Black Squirrels CD release show. 'Paying For Your Pleasure' is the second offering from the Squirrels. It showcases the country side of Omaha's music scene….The Black Squirrels played to a standing-room only crowd and showcased songs from the new record …The Squirrels played an amazing set that blended their style of traditional country with a touch of bluegrass. Beautiful harmonies and the extended band [that night] showed the true potential of the Black Squirrels as a band that is helping cut new facets of traditional country influenced original music into the local scene — one upright at a time.” — Mark LaPointe, The [Omaha] Reader, 10.10.08
"Forget about the sophomore slump. It's more like a sophomore surge....'Paying For Your Pleasure,' finds the band with another batch of well-crafted material, from playful country stompers to tear-in-your-beer ballads."– Niz Proskocil, Omaha World-Herald, 10.2.08
"...but I HAD to see The Black Squirrels [at Burke's Pub for MAMF showcase] … and wow! ... These guys have tremendous talent." – Damon "Bosby" Marvin, killbosby.com, 9.5.08
“… Black Squirrels seamlessly merge the sadistic with the sublime....The songs are short and sweet – if not a tinge sardonic ...” – Will Simons, The Omaha City Weekly, 4.9-15.08
"They're pretty good." – Lee Rocker (solo artist and Stray Cat), 1.25.08
"The quartet's performance was among the highlights of Thursday's [OEA] show." – Niz Proskocil, Omaha World-Herald, 12.28.07
"The 11 tracks tell twisted tales of desertion, debauchery and regret in jovial, yet serious ways." – Will Simons, The City Weekly, 5.16-22.07
"The harmonizing of Kat and Kate is nothing short of goose-bump material . . . A great album from a great live band." – Jesse Stanek, The [Omaha] Reader, 5.10-16.07
“[Black Squirrels] pair their reverence for the past with a cool, contemporary energy." – Niz Proskocil, Omaha World-Herald, GO! Entertainment, 10.26.06
“Big crowd last night at The Dubliner for the debut of Black Squirrels . . . [who] played a nice, laid-back set of bluegrass-flavored torch songs . . . [with] lyrics that were timely, local and pretty funny (in the right way).” – Lazy-i.com, 9.14.06
You can purchase our CD at The Antiquarium Record Store, Drastic Plastic, and Homer's Music locations. Visit the Homer's online store:
homersmusic.com
The album can also be purchased here: cdbaby.com,
or on the good ol' iTunes:www.apple.com/itunes/
For those tired of the standard-issue indie rock that emanates from Omaha like the stench from a South O packing house, the BLACK SQUIRRELS are here to offer an aural respite. Formed in the spring of 2006 by three small-town kids lost in the big city, the band is influenced by the rich tradition of American country music. Although reverence for the past runs deep, this is not a retro act. Black Squirrels meld a modern, literate twist onto the old forms. A premium is placed on strong songs, whether it’s a four-to-the-floor barnburner, or a gently swaying waltz.
On June 7, 2009 the band's episode of the long-running (25 years!) River City Folk went out on NPR and XM Satellite’s “The Village.” The band has played various gigs throughout the first half of 2009, including a tour of Texas, Kansas, and Oklahoma. The band played to over 300 people at the Joslyn Art Museum, and also participated in "Wild About Omaha." Since the release of "Paying For Your Pleasure" in October 2008, the album has been in heavy rotation, including the 1 spot, on UNOMavRadio, the area’s only CMJ-reporting station. The band's music has been played on the radio from Florida to Texas to Australia. The album has garnered praise on both sides of the Atlantic.
In 2008 Black Squirrels played not only at local bars, but at Rosenblatt Stadium, Earth Day in Elmwood Park, The Omaha Summer Arts Festival, Mid-American Music Festival, OEA Summer Jam, private parties, and we were one of only four local acts asked by Opera Omaha to turn a poem into a song in conjunction with the premiere of "Blizzard Voices." A song of ours was included on the CD "Christmas for Pine Ridge vol. 1." We were voted one of "Omaha's Top 20 Bands" by The Reader, and we won the 2008 OEA Award for "Best Roots/Folk/Country/Americana/Bluegrass."
KAT comes from a musical family, many of whom are classically trained. She has been singing since she was knee-high-to-a-grasshopper in her hometown of Missouri Valley, IA. She is a hairstylist and one of her clients was John Flansburg of They Might Be Giants.
KATE is an honest-to-goodness farm girl from Tekamah, NE. She not only sings and plays a mean squeezebox, but was an excellent trombonist with the Tekamah-Herman Marching Band. Kate is known throughout town for her work with Bill Hoover and the (locally) legendary Darktown House Band.
TRAVIS hails from Tecumseh, OK, where he grew up around old-time and bluegrass music. Travis is a former member of numerous Omaha bands, most notably Darktown House Band, and he spent 3+ years backing pop troubadour Fizzle Like A Flood on bass and guitar.
TIM was a military brat, but considers Millard, NE, to be home. He is a studio owner/engineer at Bassline Studio [Omaha]. And be warned: he will take your money in a poker game. Then show you "the orb."
N.B.: To all "promtions" sites, your friends request will be denied. We are not interested, but thanks anyway!
And to other acts, we don't use your page as OUR a promo tool, so please DO NOT post your posters on our page (unless we are on that bill)! They will be deleted, no matter how good of "friends" you are! Please have at least a modicum of respect for us--as we have for you!
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this folk-carol on myspace... Poem 230 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (see my blog for details): CHRISTMAS SUNG SIMPLY
As gospellers have said, Beneath signalling skies, On land dusty to tread, A trough in a stable Was the strawy first-bed Of a divine baby - The forgiving Godhead.
A season for new hope - There then and here now; The yuletide of goodwill - There then and here now.
In respect of this chance, Beneath bright or dark skies, Faith's the star that we glance Attending Christ's churches And trying to enhance, With singing and ritual, Our God-loving stance.
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this folk-carol on myspace... Poem 230 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (see my blog for details): CHRISTMAS SUNG SIMPLY
As gospellers have said, Beneath signalling skies, On land dusty to tread, A trough in a stable Was the strawy first-bed Of a divine baby - The forgiving Godhead.
A season for new hope - There then and here now; The yuletide of goodwill - There then and here now.
In respect of this chance, Beneath bright or dark skies, Faith's the star that we glance Attending Christ's churches And trying to enhance, With singing and ritual, Our God-loving stance.
Hey Squirrels, I've got a radio show for a few weeks - so, please tune into the Paul Hughes Show (filling in for Gordon Hotchkiss) on Celtic Music Radio this Wednesday between 7pm – 9pm UK time. As well a Scottish, Irish and American folk/roots music I’ll be chatting with Paddy Callaghan about being selected for the finals of the BBC Young Trad Musician of the Year and hear him playing the harp and box. Celtic Music Radio is available in and around Glasgow on 1530 AM (MW) and you can listen anywhere else in the world on the internet at www.celticmusicradio.net and click on “Listen Live” in the top right of the screen. Thanks for reading down this far.
LOVED the CD. I'm looking forward to another listen when we're back on a long drive later this week. Great job. I'm looking forward to hearing you guys live one of these days. Great seeing you again the other night, Travis.
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 2 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): WALKABOUT WITH MY PEN
Once drove an old sedan, up north, From a place in Sydney to Cairns; Then to Kuranda I went forth, By train, to look without set plans.
I browsed through the trendy market, With fresh fruits of tropical kind; Walked to the creek through lush thicket - Nature’s hand giving peace of mind.
I dined in a scenic cafe; Then, outside, as I wrote for yen, Some passing Kooris called-out: “Hey, You go walkabout with your pen.”
Request or question, I don’t know - Assured voices, elderly men. That’s now several years ago, And I’ve seen the world - with my pen.
My debut single ROLLIN' IN THE HEY is currently #83 on the Music Row Breakout Chart and is poised to move into the top 75 WITH A BULLET!!!. Request it at your local radio station today and CLICK ON THE ALBUM COVER BELOW TO BUY THE ENTIRE CD FOR A LIMITED TIME FOR ONLY $5.00.
