33rd Street Sessions
The Mighty Jailbreakers & Full Choke
9/5/2024 | 1h 28m 9sVideo has Closed Captions
Relive the 33rd Street Sessions concerts featuring The Mightyjailbreakers & Full Choke from 1994.
More than 30 years ago, live audiences swayed to blues, country, rock and every music genre in between as bands played in our studio on 33rd Street in Lincoln. Now, we're returning the legendary local programs to television. This episode features the Mighty Jailbreakers with their blues, soul and funk sounds. The second band is Full Choke, a country band from Clearwater, NE.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
33rd Street Sessions is a local public television program presented by Nebraska Public Media
33rd Street Sessions
The Mighty Jailbreakers & Full Choke
9/5/2024 | 1h 28m 9sVideo has Closed Captions
More than 30 years ago, live audiences swayed to blues, country, rock and every music genre in between as bands played in our studio on 33rd Street in Lincoln. Now, we're returning the legendary local programs to television. This episode features the Mighty Jailbreakers with their blues, soul and funk sounds. The second band is Full Choke, a country band from Clearwater, NE.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch 33rd Street Sessions
33rd Street Sessions is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
(gentle music) (groovy music) (upbeat drumming) [Narrator] Recorded live, it's the Nebraska ETV Network's "33rd Street Sessions" with the music of The Mighty Jailbreakers featuring Brad Cordle on vocals, Dave Cupak on lead guitar, Craig Balderston on bass, Todd Smith on drums, Mitch Towne on keyboard, Dave Polson on baritone sax, Mike Gurciullo on trumpet and flugelhorn and Sylvester Jakopovic on tenor sax.
And now here's The Mighty Jailbreakers.
Appreciate that.
(audience applauding) We've got some original music for you right now.
This is called "Beat of the Night".
(groovy music) ♪ On the move ♪ ♪ And in the groove ♪ ♪ You're making the best of what you've got ♪ ♪ Traipsing down the boulevard ♪ ♪ You've got to let them know that you are hot ♪ ♪ You've got nothing to do ♪ ♪ You sing, you scream ♪ ♪ It's a dream that can only mask at home ♪ ♪ In the beat of the night ♪ ♪ You've got to get your kicks ♪ ♪ You need that perfect fix ♪ ♪ In the beat of the night ♪ ♪ You've got to get your kicks ♪ ♪ You need that perfect fix ♪ ♪ Sleep by day ♪ ♪ You rule at night ♪ ♪ You're looking for love under the stars ♪ ♪ You get your kicks ♪ ♪ And that perfect fix ♪ ♪ You're making a showdown at the bar ♪ ♪ You've got nothing to do ♪ ♪ You sing and scream ♪ ♪ Like a dream you can only mask at home ♪ ♪ In the beat of the night ♪ ♪ You've got to get your kicks ♪ ♪ You need that perfect fix ♪ ♪ In the beat of the night ♪ ♪ You've got to get your kicks ♪ ♪ You need that perfect fix ♪ ♪ In the beat of the night ♪ ♪ You've got to get your kicks ♪ ♪ You need that perfect fix ♪ ♪ In the beat of the night ♪ ♪ You've got to get your kicks ♪ ♪ In the beat of the night ♪ (groovy guitar solo) (groovy saxophone solo) ♪ In the beat of the night ♪ ♪ In the beat of the night ♪ (audience applauding) Well, thank you very much.
Yeah.
♪ 99 percent, babe ♪ ♪ Of your love ♪ ♪ Yeah, 99 percent baby ♪ ♪ And that ain't enough ♪ ♪ You're a midnight angel ♪ ♪ You were heaven sent ♪ ♪ If love's going to live ♪ ♪ Just can't give no 99 percent, babe ♪ ♪ 99 percent, babe ♪ ♪ Of your kisses and your time ♪ ♪ 99 percent, baby ♪ ♪ What should be your mind ♪ ♪ Change your mathematics, baby ♪ ♪ Check your figures again ♪ ♪ 'Cause I know how to count ♪ ♪ Won't sit around for 99 percent, babe ♪ ♪ You've got to gimme, gimme, gimme ♪ ♪ Gimme, gimme, gimme ♪ ♪ Gimme, gimme all that you got ♪ ♪ You've got to show me, show me, show me ♪ ♪ Show me, show me, show me ♪ ♪ Babe, you've got to show me a lot ♪ ♪ Baby, baby, baby ♪ ♪ Baby, baby, baby, baby, it's a natural fact ♪ ♪ If you want to hold on to your man ♪ ♪ You can't hold nothing back ♪ ♪ No 99 percent, babe ♪ ♪ I just gotta know ♪ ♪ 'Bout that other one percent, baby ♪ ♪ Where did it go?
♪ ♪ Well, you talk about forever ♪ ♪ Wondering where it went ♪ ♪ In my dream, all you ever gave is 99 percent, babe ♪ ♪ 99 percent, babe ♪ ♪ I just wanna know ♪ ♪ 'Bout that other one percent, babe ♪ ♪ You want it all ♪ ♪ Change your mathematics, baby ♪ ♪ Check your figures again ♪ ♪ 'Cause I know how to count ♪ ♪ Won't sit around for 99 percent, babe ♪ (groovy guitar solo) ♪ Got to gimme, gimme, gimme ♪ ♪ Gimme, gimme, gimme ♪ ♪ Gimme, gimme all that you got ♪ ♪ You've got to show me, show me, show me ♪ ♪ Show me, show me, show me ♪ ♪ Babe, you've got to show me a lot ♪ ♪ Baby, baby, baby ♪ ♪ Baby, baby, baby ♪ ♪ Baby, it's a natural fact ♪ ♪ If you want to hold on to your man ♪ ♪ Can't hold nothing back ♪ ♪ You're the best loving ♪ ♪ I've ever found ♪ ♪ Loving ain't like butter ♪ ♪ You can't spread it around ♪ ♪ Take care of the bread on your table ♪ ♪ You'll be wondering where it went ♪ ♪ If love's going to live ♪ ♪ Just can't give ♪ ♪ No 99 percent, babe ♪ ♪ Yeah, I know how to count ♪ ♪ Won't stick around for 99 percent, babe ♪ ♪ Yeah, I'm sticking around ♪ ♪ Just can't give no 99 percent, babe ♪ (upbeat music) (audience applauding) Thanks a lot.
(audience applauding) [Craig] I played bass with The Mighty Jailbreakers from 1992 until Brad's passing in 2018, several different configurations, small bands, large bands.
[Mitch] I played keyboards in The Jailbreakers from 1993-95, and like Craig, I played with Brad countless gigs after that in a variety of settings.
He was a force of nature.
[Craig] He was.
We were going to be playing up in Vancouver.
We had a booking agent out of Minneapolis that had said, "Okay, when you're gonna go out of the country", and this is years ago when I think travel across the borders was a bit easier.
"You know, you either have a passport or you have your driver's license"- [Craig] Two forms of identification -Two forms of ID.
[Mitch] Two forms of ID.
And he stressed this.
He's like, "Make sure you do this, don't bring any illicit substances with you."
So there was one member of the band, we made sure to shake down before we went over, you know, won't say who.
We get to the border of Canada.
We had a van that they had to go through the all the gear and stuff, you know, we had- [Craig] And the box truck.
[Mitch] The box truck, right, you know, there was a long, this was a long procedure.
So everyone's got their stuff and we go up to the window and they look at it and they stamp our stuff.
Brad walks up, no lie, a band photo and his high school transcript.
[Craig] Yeah.
[Mitch] Says to the woman behind the counter, "I'm the big one."
And I look to Craig and I'm like, we're not getting into Canada.
[Craig] We're not gonna go.
[Mitch] We're not making it.
We're not getting in.
[Craig] Turn it around, boys.
[Mitch] And this woman gave Brad such a hard time and at one point she says, "How do you make it through life?"
And that just killed us.
The entire band is on the floor laughing and then she lets us in.
I don't know if she just felt sorry for us or realized- [Craig] No, they called the venue, remember?
[Mitch] They called the venue, that's right.
[Craig] They called the venue to make sure that we were who we said we were and- [Mitch] That's a quintessential Brad story 'cause Brad sort of went through life counting on the kindness of others, you know?
[Craig] Yeah.
[Mitch]I mean people took care of Brad 'cause he was such a sweet man.
[Craig] Yeah.
[Mitch] You know?
And like everyone, he had his quirks and we all have our foibles, you know, but people just ended up taking care of Brad, you know?
(Nikki laughs) [Nikki] I'm the big guy.
Nikki, -that is a hilarious story, -(Nikki laughs) and I bet bands all over the place have stories like that, -that they tell.
-Oh, yeah.
That is so funny.
We heard several of them.
(laughs) Thank goodness they made it to Canada.
You're watching "33rd Street Sessions" on Nebraska Public Media, and we hope you're enjoying it.
There's plenty more to come with the Mighty Jailbreakers and some country music coming up from the Clearwater band Full Choke.
I'm Perry Stoner here in the studio, with producer Nikki Bates.
Hi, Perry.
This was such a fun show to work on.
I'm a lifelong Nebraskan, so it's been very fun to revive these concerts from the 1990s.
The Jailbreakers were here in this studio in 1994, and as you can see, a lot has changed since then.
It has changed just a little bit.
That's right.
Our studio is newly renovated.
Our name has changed from back then, from NET to Nebraska Public Media, but throughout the years, we've been a constant source of entertainment and educational programming in Nebraska.
Now, in that last clip, you heard Mitch talking about how the band depended on the kindness of others.
Well, that's another thing that hasn't changed through the years.
For nearly 70 years, Nebraskans have supported Nebraska Public Media, and through the years, your dollars have made educational programs, documentaries, news, and stories about Nebraska possible.
We've grown a lot since those early days, but your support is still the thing that makes it all possible.
And when you support Nebraska Public Media with a monthly donation of $15, or a one time gift of $180, we'll thank you with a pass to see more live local music.
It's the Zoo Bar pass.
It's good for two admissions at five shows at the Zoo Bar in Lincoln over the next year.
Some restrictions will apply.
There'll be some sold out shows or some special shows that may not be included.
But if you're watching the concerts today and feeling some nostalgia, this is your literal ticket to make some new memories that you'll look back on.
Take a friend, see a concert, and you'll be supporting public media and local music at the same time, or for $10 a month, we'll thank you with a Roku Express.
Want to watch more episodes of "33rd Street Sessions" on your TV?
You can with the Roku Express.
This is an internet connected streaming device that you plug into your TV to give you access to a wide variety of apps and shows, including the free PBS app, or for a contribution of $5 a month, we'll send you this Nebraska Public Media coffee mug.
If you're a long-time viewer or listener, I know you'll remember and appreciate all these old logos from the early years of Nebraska Public Media.
We've come a long way, and it's thanks to you.
Show your support with this mug by calling 800-989-8236, or going to NebraskaPublicMedia.org/donate, or by scanning the QR code in the lower right corner of your screen.
[Nikki] And here's another reason to make your donation monthly: Passport.
This is one of our most popular member benefits.
It's an extended on-demand library of your favorite PBS shows.
And with any of the thank you gifts that Perry just listed, or any donation of at least $5 a month, you'll get access to Passport, which means, in addition to all of the existing content on the PBS app, you'll get access to bonus content.
There's a lot of great music specials available on the app, including more "33rd Street Sessions" from the nineties.
You'll be able to watch those concerts in their entirety.
Nikki, 30 years later, you brought some of these historic music programs back.
Tell us about that.
What was that like?
That's right.
My co-producer, B.J.
Hutchtemann, and I got to sit right here in this studio and reminisce with the bands.
I think everyone that we spoke to looked back really fondly of their memories of recording here.
But I think in addition to the concerts, the things that they most looked back on was like the road trips and the travels.
Yeah, what do you remember them talking about as far as their reactions to the experience of being in the studio to record those programs?
Well, we put the old shows up on a monitor so they could watch them and see themselves play.
And there were some laughs about old clothing and old hairstyles, but for most of the bands, it was just a really fun excuse to get back together and reminisce.
It was kind of like a reunion.
They talked about, again, performing here in the studio, but you just heard the story about Canada and some of those road trip stories were just so funny.
They talked about out-of-town practices, and just all of the grueling work that this involved, because for most of these bands, you're not just the performer, you are also the promoter.
You're the one calling and booking the gigs.
You're the one printing and selling the T-shirts and everything.
So it was a lot of hard work.
And not a lot of recordings from that time, I bet.
Or what did you find when you went into our archive?
That was another thing that they talked about a lot, was there aren't a lot of recordings from that time.
You couldn't promote yourself on YouTube or TikTok, so to have these recordings, to have a high quality recording of one of the shows that they did, this is really special to have this, and that we've preserved this for them, but also for future generations to see.
Yeah, well, it's exciting for us to have them too, for sure.
For those of us who remember the nineties like it was yesterday, it may sound funny to call this Nebraska heritage, but that's exactly what it is.
It really is.
We're preserving the music and the performances of that time.
It's a snapshot.
Your donations help support it.
Whether it's producing a documentary about reporting on the legislative session, or preserving our state's culture and local music, your dollars are what make programming like this possible.
When you support Nebraska Public Media with a donation of $15 a month, that's a one time gift of $180, we'll thank you with a pass to see more current live local music at Lincoln's Zoo Bar.
This pass is good for two admissions to five shows at the Zoo Bar over the next year.
Some restrictions will apply.
There'll be some sold out shows that it won't work for, or some special shows that may not be included, but it's a great gift for the music buff.
For a $10 a month contribution, we'll thank you with a Roku Express.
It's an internet connected streaming device that you plug into your TV to give you access to a wide variety of apps and shows, including the free PBS app.
One thing I love about the Roku Express is the universal search feature.
If you're looking for a special specific program that you don't know which streaming service carries it, the universal search allows you to search for content across them all.
Also, for a contribution of $5 a month, you can receive the Nebraska Public Media coffee mug.
If you're watching along with us today, thinking, "I remember those days," there are a lot of the logos on this mug that probably look familiar to you too.
"33rd Street Sessions," tele-learning courses, and those live auctions.
Remember those?
[Nikki] Everybody remembers the live auctions.
[Perry] I know a lot of Nebraskans have fond memories of growing up with Nebraska Public Media, and we'd like to thank you with this gift.
[Nikki] Julie from Omaha is one of those people who remembers, and she says she was raised watching PBS as a child in the sixties and seventies, and still enjoys watching shows on there today, whether it's human interest stories produced locally, or a PBS show.
We also heard from Richard from Omaha, and he says, "I've watched PBS on numerous occasions when they have different groups playing.
I recognize and I remember the music and it's awesome.
I've always felt that I should do something, and I guess I decided to do something tonight.
I would hate to see it go away.
Thank you."
Well, thank you, Richard.
This concert that we're watching right now, Nikki, it's from 1994, -is that correct?
-Yeah.
Both of the ones in this show are from 1994, but there were about 30 concerts down in the vault.
Wow.
So we're busy getting a lot of those onto Passport so everyone can stream them.
Now tell us about that.
What was the process like getting them from our archive, to what we're watching today?
Well, it seems like it would be an easy task, but it was a little more complicated than you'd think.
Just like a library, all of the items down there have a unique ID number.
Well, these shows were so old that they were not in the new system, so we had to give them all new numbers.
And some of the shows were on Beta tapes.
Do you remember Beta tapes?
I do, yes.
Some of them were even older.
They were on one-inch tapes, and as you can imagine, not a lot of those machines still functioning, you know, to get those digitized and get them running.
So a huge, huge thanks to our engineers, especially Raygene.
He put in a lot of hours getting those digitized for us.
A lot of work went into that for sure.
They did, and now we're glad that they're on Passport, so people can stream them.
Yeah, so we've got a digital copy of them now.
That'll be great.
Any other shows that you saw while you were down in the vault that you'd -like to mention?
-I did.
I did.
I saw some "Roger Welsch and..." I saw "Next Exit", lots of old high school sports, and I actually saw some old news stories with a guy who looked kinda like you, but a lot younger.
Do you know -anything about that?
-Me?
Younger?
A little bit, yeah.
Hmm.
-(Nikki laughs) -I'll have to look into that.
Yeah, well, okay.
It was me.
Well, whether you've been watching us for years, like decades, sorry, Perry, maybe a little longer, or you've just recently discovered we invite you to become a member.
Member donations are what make our programs possible, so call 800-989-8236, or you can go to our website, NebraskaPublicMedia.org, and become a member.
When you do, we're gonna thank you with one of these gifts.
With a monthly donation of $15, that's a one-time gift of $180, we'll send you a pass for Lincoln Zoo Bar.
Now, this pass is good for two admissions to five shows at the Zoo Bar over the next year.
And yes, there are some restrictions that apply.
The lawyers like us to say that, but you'll get into five shows.
So if watching local music, like the concert you're watching today, is something you love, this is a great thank you gift.
If $10 a month fits your budget better, you can get that Roku Express that Perry talked to you about.
Again, you can access PBS Passport and the a great way to watch programming.
And for $5 a month, we'll send you this Nebraska Public Media coffee mug.
Perry, you probably remember all these -old logos, right?
-I believe that I do.
-Yes.
-(Nikki laughs) [Nikki] Well, if you, like Perry, remember that, and want that as your thank you gift, make that call now to 800-989-8236, or NebraskaPublicMedia.org/donate.
(upbeat music) This is a beautiful ballad called "Soulmate".
(slow romantic music) ♪ When your spirits are feeling broken ♪ ♪ All the colors are turning blue ♪ ♪ You can take it to your soulmate ♪ ♪ That's what I am and I'm here for you ♪ ♪ Never let you bear your troubles alone, no ♪ ♪ Long as I'm alive ♪ ♪ You can take it to your soulmate ♪ ♪ Only wounded hearts can confide ♪ ♪ Lay down your sorrow, your burden ♪ ♪ Just hold me, keep you warm ♪ ♪ I'll be standing beside you ♪ ♪ Weathering every storm ♪ ♪ Let it be my shoulder where ♪ ♪ You lay your weary head ♪ ♪ Let it be my arms you turn to ♪ ♪ Again and again and again ♪ ♪ You can take it to your soulmate ♪ ♪ Tell it to your soulmate ♪ ♪ Take it to your soulmate ♪ ♪ Yes, you can ♪ ♪ Yes, you can ♪ ♪ Yes, you can ♪ ♪ Bring it to me ♪ ♪ I can carry some weight ♪ ♪ I'm your soulmate ♪ ♪ You can take it to your soulmate ♪ ♪ Tell it to your soulmate ♪ ♪ Take it to your soulmate ♪ ♪ Your lover and your friend ♪ ♪ Take it to your soulmate ♪ ♪ Tell it to your soulmate ♪ ♪ Take it to your soulmate ♪ ♪ Your heart's gotta yearn till the end ♪ ♪ Lay down your sorrow, your burden ♪ ♪ Just hold me, keep you warm ♪ ♪ Be standing beside you weathering every storm ♪ ♪ Bring it to me ♪ ♪ I can carry some weight ♪ ♪ Bring it to me ♪ ♪ Bring it to me, baby ♪ ♪ Please bring it to me, baby ♪ ♪ Bring it to me ♪ ♪ Bring it ♪ ♪ I'm your soulmate ♪ ♪ Bring it to me ♪ ♪ I'm your soul, I'm your soulmate ♪ (groovy guitar music) ♪ You can take it to your soulmate ♪ ♪ Tell it to your soulmate ♪ ♪ Take it to your soulmate ♪ ♪ I'm yours ♪ (audience applauding) Love you, baby.
(audience applauding) Thank you very much.
(audience applauding) (groovy music) [Mitch] Everyone was a real musician.
Everybody studied their craft.
You know, nobody was sort of half-assing it.
[Craig] When I first got here, I was without a doubt the weakest link in the band.
And you know, I've heard you say this before, that's a great place to be.
[Mitch] Yeah.
[Craig] You strive to get better and it, you know, or die, sink or swim kind of.
And so I worked really hard.
I think my biggest period of growth in my playing was the first couple years I was in Omaha.
Sammy was recording the gigs.
[Mitch] He was the sound guy.
[Craig] And just handing me a cassette tape afterwards.
And I would go home and get out a legal pad and go, "You don't have to do that, stop that."
I wasn't listening to this stuff to pat my back.
I was just dicing me apart, you know, and just trying to get better because I felt like I had to.
It was being thrown in with all those players that were better than me that made me better.
[Mitch] And we rehearsed.
We spent time getting this stuff really tight.
And so that's, I think what was a great thing about being in the band was the unified front of wanting it to sound really good.
[Craig] Yeah.
[Mitch] Nobody didn't pull their weight.
One, two, eh, two.
(upbeat groovy music) ♪ Tired of laying low ♪ ♪ I was getting weak ♪ ♪ I'm tired of playing this hide and seek ♪ ♪ I want them bad, bad days to be ♪ ♪ Only this fever, this fever in me ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ I'll track you down somehow ♪ ♪ Can't give you up now ♪ ♪ I wipe the floor ♪ ♪ Pick out new shoes ♪ ♪ I need you more than my body needs sleep ♪ ♪ Going on 21 nights ♪ ♪ Going on 21 days ♪ ♪ Not taking a shower, taking a shoe or a shave ♪ ♪ Oh no ♪ ♪ I'll track you down somehow ♪ ♪ Can't give you up now ♪ ♪ Can't give you up ♪ ♪ I need your love ♪ ♪ You're just as important as the air I breathe ♪ ♪ Can't give you up ♪ ♪ I crave your touch ♪ ♪ Daytime, nighttime, in between, oh yeah ♪ (groovy saxophone music) ♪ I call the police ♪ ♪ I need help bad ♪ ♪ I lost my job, 'bout everything I had ♪ ♪ Can't think of nothing but the good love we made ♪ ♪ Lost you now and it's a crying shame ♪ ♪ Oh yeah ♪ ♪ I'll track you down somehow ♪ ♪ Can't give you up now ♪ ♪ Can't give you up ♪ ♪ I need your love ♪ ♪ You're just as important as the air I breathe ♪ ♪ Can't give you up ♪ ♪ I crave your touch ♪ ♪ Daytime, nighttime, in between oh yeah ♪ ♪ Can't give you up, can't give you up ♪ ♪ I need your touch ♪ ♪ I crave your touch ♪ ♪ Can't give you up, can't give you up ♪ ♪ Can't give you up, now yeah ♪ ♪ Can't give you up, oh no, no, no ♪ (audience applauding) Thank you very much.
Once again, we've had a great time.
We usually have a great time everywhere we go.
Anyway, I'm gonna leave you with a tune of ours, a song called "Fresh Air".
One, two, three.
(groovy music) ♪ When your love comes out, I see a star ♪ ♪ Through a break in the clouds, it's shining too ♪ ♪ Like a private (unintelligible) in my heart ♪ ♪ It's a love that makes me think of you ♪ ♪ I wish I could fly straight home for you ♪ ♪ Give it up like that for your love ♪ ♪ Then to hear you say you'd want me too ♪ ♪ Even if they have the skies above ♪ ♪ Choking clouds are surrounding me ♪ ♪ You're the one that can set me free ♪ ♪ You are fresh air ♪ ♪ You are fresh air ♪ ♪ Fresh air ♪ (upbeat groovy music) ♪ In the end, we have to make a choice ♪ ♪ The decision lies inside of you and me ♪ ♪ From the distance, comes a lonely voice ♪ ♪ It's a heart that's looking for its liberty ♪ ♪ Choking clouds are surrounding me ♪ ♪ You're the one that can set me free ♪ ♪ You are fresh air ♪ ♪ You are fresh air ♪ ♪ Fresh air ♪ (groovy saxophone music) ♪ Choking clouds are surrounding me ♪ ♪ You're the one that can set me free ♪ ♪ You are fresh air ♪ ♪ You are fresh air ♪ ♪ Fresh air ♪ (groovy saxophone music) (groovy piano music) Thanks for that, y'all.
God bless you.
Thanks to ETV.
Thanks Carl Milone.
Thank you all.
We love you.
(audience applauding) That was the Mighty Jailbreakers performing right here in the Ron Hull studio in 1994.
I'm Nikki Bates here with Producer Perry Stoner and Perry, I love watching the music and looking back at the 90s, but as an employee here, it's not just the concert.
I actually get a kick out of the end credits there too.
There's some familiar names that we've both worked with over the years.
Oh, for sure.
I saw Donna, Jim, Foster, Kelly, a lot of folks that I've had the pleasure to work with over the years, and a lot of folks that have done great work for the viewers all across our state, some Nebraska Public Media history, along with some local music history in this.
That's right, Nebraska Public Media has been telling the stories of Nebraskans for 70 years, and you've supported us all that time.
We're so glad to have many of you watching with us today and grateful to those of you who have already made a donation to support Nebraska Public Media.
Members Kathleen and Virgil say we enjoy many of the TV series as well as various musical concerts, and an anonymous Lincoln donor has said, I listen to music a lot on Nebraska Public Media and get inspiration and get ideas for music that I want to do myself.
I also love the news, love the shows.
It's all good, and I encourage everybody else to jump in and help.
Well, we hope you do too, and thank you to those members for their donations and their kind words.
You can leave us a comment when you donate by calling 800-989-8236, or you can go online to NebraskaPublicMedia.org/donate.
And when you support Nebraska Public Media with a monthly donation of $15, that's a one-time gift of $180, we're gonna thank you by sending you a pass to see some more live local music at the Zoo Bar.
This pass is good for two admissions to five shows at the Zoo Bar over the next year, and of course, some restrictions apply.
Sold out shows and special shows may not be included, but if you're watching the concerts today and feeling some nostalgia, this is your literal ticket to make some new memories that you'll look back on.
Take a friend, see a concert, and you'll be supporting public media and local music at the same time.
Or if $10 a month fits your budget better, we will thank you with this Roku Express.
This is a way to watch more episodes of 33rd Street Sessions on your TV.
You can do that through the Roku Express, with the PBS app, and especially if you have the member benefit of Passport.
You can do that for $10 a month or for $5 a month, we'll send you this Nebraska Public Media coffee mug.
We're getting nostalgic in here today, and this has all of the logos from our history, so I know you'll remember and appreciate all of those from the early years of Nebraska Public Media.
We've come a long way and it's thanks to you.
So show your support by calling 800-989-8236 or by going to NebraskaPublicMedia.org/donate, or you can always scan that QR code in the lower right corner of your screen.
[Perry] A reminder that if you're enjoying this concert, there's more music online with PBS Passport from Billy Joel to Bob Dylan to Broadway.
There's always a ton of great programming to stream on the PBS app, but when you donate at least $5 a month, you'll get access to even more, including more episodes of 33rd Street Sessions.
We're broadcasting this one and a few others on television, but there are several more that you'll only be able to watch online with PBS Passport.
Again, that's a member benefit that we offer to all our members that donate at least $5 a month to Nebraska Public Media.
If you're already a member at that level, then you already have Passport to activate it and start watching.
Go to nebraskapublicmedia.org/passport Now, Perry, you know we love history here.
If you are a regular listener or viewer, you've probably learned something about Willa Cather or Standing Bear or the homesteaders that settled here more than a century ago, and while I love historical documentary, it is sometimes easy to forget that history is happening all around us right now.
Nebraska Public Media is proud to chronicle the people and places of Nebraska through news coverage, "Nebraska Stories", and by preserving Support more programs like this by making a donation at nebraskapublicmedia.org/donate or by calling 800-989-8236.
One thing I'm really impressed about, Nikki, is that for being 30 years old out of our archive, these concerts really still sound good.
Yeah, we didn't know what to expect when we pulled 'em out of there.
It was a little dusty, but thanks to our team of talented audio engineers, they sound very good.
They spent quite a bit of time restoring the old recordings and doing what we call audio sweetening.
Werner manages that team.
He did a lot of the work, so here's a peek into that process.
My name's Werner, I am audio production supervisor at Nebraska Public Media here in Lincoln.
Today I'm going to be working on a mastering process for the 33rd Street from the vault series that we are doing currently.
We are looking at dubs from shows that are 30, sometimes 40 years old, and the media and the technology has changed quite a bit.
What we have is dubs from digital sources back in the mid-90s on forward, but we also have dubs that predate that are analog where the entire production process might have been analog.
The recordings don't sound like they did to my ears back in '98, and I'm just trying to bring a little bit of that back.
(blues music) So that's what that sounds like.
It's a good performance.
It sounds fine, but in my opinion, it can be made better if I look at the different elements, and you can see there's some similarities in the curve that always looks the same, but they are different from each other, tuned to this particular act.
This is what that sounds like.
(bluesy guitar with richer sound quality) Which is maybe not what the intent was back in 1990, but it's closer to what the intent was because I don't have a way of knowing what the intent was in 1990.
I'm just trying to bring back a little bit of what got lost.
That's the way I look at it.
♪ Now I cry... ♪ Huge thanks to Werner and the audio team for all their work on these concerts.
You can find a longer interview with Werner, along with photos from the original performances.
On the website, that's NebraskaPublicMedia.org/sessions to see that.
That was a great little behind the scenes piece there.
Nikki, who was that singing at the end of that?
You might have recognized Annette.
She is one of our weekend announcers, so another familiar face there.
On Nebraska Public Media Radio.
Yeah, all sorts of connections.
Those are the kind of things that you support when you become a member of Nebraska Public Media.
The quality work that we do here, call 800-989-8236 or online at nebraskapublicmedia.org/donate.
You can also scan the QR code on the screen and donate that way with a monthly donation of $15 a month.
We're really excited about this thank you gift.
You can receive a pass to see more live local music at Lincoln's Zoo Bar.
This pass is good for two admissions to five shows at the Zoo Bar right here in Lincoln over the next year.
There will be some restrictions that apply.
There'll be some sold out shows or some special events that may not be included, but still a great way to see local music and support it right here in Nebraska.
For a $10 a month contribution, we'll thank you with a Roku Express.
It's an internet connected streaming device that you plug into your TV.
It gives you access to a bunch of apps and shows, including the free PBS app.
For a $5 a month contribution, we'll send you this Nebraska Public Media coffee mug.
If you're watching along with us today thinking, yeah, I remember some of those days and some of those logos, then a lot of these logos on this mug look familiar to you.
Maybe you remember watching "33rd Street Sessions" when they first aired, or maybe you grew up watching Sesame Street or Mr. Rogers on this channel.
A lot of Nebraskans I know have fond memories of growing up with Nebraska Public Media, and we'd like to thank you with this gift.
Now, while we're talking about local music on Passport, Perry, this is a good time to remind you about another local series of music, Jam.
Jam is a series that has interviews, tell us a little bit about it.
It's got intimate interviews, stellar performances of some today's best groups and individual artists.
It's coming back again this year.
-I'm excited for it.
-So stay tuned.
See what's coming up next on Jam.
We'll be using some of the great new equipment that we have here in the renovated studio, so we can't wait to see what comes out with Jam.
Right now, you can become a member and support that with 800-989-8236.
Give us a call right now for this Zoo Bar pass and other great thank you gifts, thank you.
(upbeat drumming music) [Narrator] Recorded live, it's the Nebraska ETV Network's "33rd Street Sessions" with the music of Full Choke from Clearwater, Nebraska featuring Dave Mlnarik, vocals, Josh Mlnarik, bass, Dan Mlnarik, lead guitar, Ryan Baker, guitar and mandolin, Jay Blomencamp, harmonica, Jon Lundgren, drums.
And now, here's Full Choke.
(audience cheering) (guitar music) ♪ There's an Elvis movie on the marquee sign ♪ ♪ We've all seen at least three times ♪ ♪ Well, everybody's broke and papa's got a buck ♪ ♪ Put a dollar's worth of gas in his pickup truck ♪ ♪ They're going 90 miles an hour through a dead end road ♪ ♪ What's the hurry, son, where you gonna go?
♪ ♪ They're gonna howl at the moon ♪ ♪ Shoot out the light ♪ ♪ It's a small town Saturday night ♪ ♪ It's a small town Saturday night ♪ ♪ Lucy's got her lipstick on a little too bright ♪ ♪ Papa's getting drunk and looking for a fight ♪ ♪ Liquor on his breath, groping on his mind ♪ ♪ Well, but Lucy's just a kid along for the ride ♪ ♪ They get a six pack of beer and a bottle of wine ♪ ♪ Got to be bad just to have a good time ♪ ♪ They're gonna howl at the moon ♪ ♪ Shoot out the light ♪ ♪ It's a small town Saturday night ♪ ♪ Well, it's a small town Saturday night ♪ ♪ Well papa told Lucy the world ain't round ♪ ♪ Drops off sharp at the edge of town ♪ ♪ Lucy, you know the world must be flat ♪ ♪ 'Cause when people leave town, they never come back ♪ ♪ They're going 90 miles an hour through the city limit sign ♪ ♪ Put the pedal to the medal 'fore they change their mind ♪ ♪ Well they howl at the moon ♪ ♪ Shoot out the light ♪ ♪ It's a small town Saturday night ♪ ♪ They howl at the moon ♪ ♪ Shoot out the light ♪ ♪ Yeah, it's a small town Saturday night ♪ ♪ It's a small town Saturday night ♪ ♪ Well it's a small town Saturday night ♪ (country music) [Narrator] "Full Choke" does top 40 country tunes, but some of their best music is their original work, like "Highway Hazard", written and sung by Dave Mlnarik.
♪ Going down the wrong way of a one way street ♪ ♪ Tapping on the dashboard and keeping the beat ♪ ♪ I'm a highway hazard when my favorite song comes on ♪ ♪ I go cruising through stop lights ♪ ♪ And driving too fast ♪ ♪ Grinding all my gears and running out of gas ♪ ♪ I'm a highway hazard but I can't help singing along ♪ ♪ All the cops in town know my license plate number ♪ ♪ But they don't know the kind of spell I'm under ♪ ♪ Trying to memorize all the hot new numbers ♪ ♪ Keeps me all over the road ♪ ♪ I'm always losing my directions and getting lost ♪ ♪ Better look both ways before you cross ♪ ♪ I'm a highway hazard, got to give my rhythm some room ♪ ♪ Now my bender is bent and my bumper is gone ♪ ♪ I keep the body shops busy all year long ♪ ♪ I'm a highway hazard when I'm listening to a country tune ♪ ♪ All the cops in town know my license plate number ♪ ♪ But they don't know the kind of spell I'm under ♪ ♪ Trying to memorize all the hot new numbers ♪ ♪ Keeps me all over the road ♪ (upbeat country music) ♪ All the cops in town know my license plate number ♪ ♪ But they don't know the kind of spell I'm under ♪ ♪ Trying to memorize all the hot new numbers ♪ ♪ Keeps me all over the road ♪ (upbeat harmonica music) (audience applauding) [Jon] I started playing back in fourth grade to play in the band, that's you go pick your instrument.
I picked the drums and I played all the way through high school.
I really wasn't ever looking to play in a band but David had called me up when we were in college and said, "Hey, we're gonna get a band together.
And oh by the way it's gonna be country."
[Dan] I got a guitar when I was maybe, I don't know, 13, 12, 13 years old and didn't really do anything with it until when I was in high school playing football, I had a knee injury.
So I picked up the guitar and started playing it.
And by the time I got to college, Dave had kind of picked it up a little bit and then we started playing and realized that this would be fun to do and I don't think we dreamt that we'd be playing 80 or 90 nights a year but it just sort of evolved into that and was a a ton of fun along the way.
Mostly our rehearsal was during the sound check.
You know, we might do a 30 or 40 minute sound check to work through some of those things but some of us were at least a hundred miles away.
So whether that was between Lincoln and Sioux City and Clearwater, Nebraska or you know, Sioux City and Lincoln or Norfolk.
[Jon] You know, Dave would say, "Hey we're gonna learn this song by George Strait.
Listen to the radio and figure out your part."
[Dave] I would take a boombox and have bought the CD and then record it onto a cassette tape, that's how old we are.
[Dan] I mean it was just, we were all over the place.
So getting together on a Tuesday night to have a band rehearsal like you would do in an ideal world was just, it just wasn't available.
The only time we saw each other was at at the gig.
It was just how we did it.
Do you remember cassette tapes, Nikki?
I do remember cassette tapes.
I had a boombox where I could record songs off the radio or go from one tape to another, yeah.
I did a little bit of that myself too.
It was a great way to record your favorite song and then listen to it over and over again back in the day.
Yep.
Hey, everybody, I'm Perry Stoner here in the studio with producer Nikki Bates, and it sounds like it was pretty tough to get the band together because they're all spread out, but they sound really good.
Yeah, and they found a way around that with the cassette tape practices.
I think that takes a special skill to just be able to hear the song and then learn it, and what a range of experiences, too.
"The Mighty Jailbreakers", we heard earlier in the show, they talked about practicing and recording with an audio engineer, and they were a pretty well-established act in Omaha.
So it's cool to hear the different beginnings.
"Full Choke" was just some brothers and college friends that started getting together and said, let's start a country band.
That sounds like a thing you some people might do in college for sure.
Are we starting a band right now, Perry?
I'm not sure 'cause I don't know, I don't have an instrument I can play.
Right.
But anyway, supporting local music and supporting Nebraska public media is what you can do with a donation to Nebraska Public Media.
We have some great thank you gifts for a $15 a month contribution, or a one-time $180 contribution.
We'll thank you with a pass to see more live local music.
The Zoo Bar Pass is good for two admissions to five shows at the Zoo Bar over the next year here in Lincoln.
Of course, restrictions will apply.
There'll be some sold out shows or some special events that may not be included.
But if you're watching this concert today and feeling some nostalgia, this is a great way to see more music.
It's a literal ticket to make some new memories that you'll look back on.
Take a friend, see a concert, and you'll be supporting Nebraska Public Media and local music at the same time.
For a contribution of $10 a month, we'll thank you with the Roku Express, you wanna watch more episodes of "33rd Street Sessions" on your TV?
Well, you can with the Roku Express.
It's an internet connected streaming device that you plug into your TV to give you access to a wide variety of apps and shows, including the free PBS app, or for a contribution of $5 a month.
We'll send you this Nebraska Public Media coffee mug.
If you're a longtime viewer or a listener, you'll remember and appreciate all these old logos from the early years of Nebraska Public Media.
We've come a long way, and it's thanks to you and your support over the years.
Show your support now with this mug by calling (800)989-8236, or going online to Nebraskapublicmedia.org/donate scanning the QR code in the lower right corner of your screen.
They didn't have those QR codes in the days of cassette tapes, did they?
No, they did not.
Well, when you donate, consider becoming a sustaining member.
Sustaining members give on a monthly basis, and members who donate at least $5 a month, get access to Passport and extended library available on the PBS streaming app.
[Narrator] The songs you love, from the artists you can't forget.
With concerts from the hit-makers of the 80s and 90s, like Brian Adams, Sheryl Crow, "Third Eye Blind", Sting, and so many more.
PBS Passport brings you performances from and around the world with the PBS app or online support your PBS station and become a Passport member today.
(soft music) So far, we've heard a blues-rock band, and now country, Nikki, you were kind of on a mission of discovery when you went through looking for these programs.
What else did you discover?
Oh, it was fun.
There was a decent amount of blues in there.
There were a couple country bands.
We just saw "Full Choke", but there was folk music.
There were some alternative bands, including some that got nationally signed, gospel, reggae, rockabilly.
I was really impressed by the diversity here in Nebraska in the 90s.
And I noticed the dancers in this one.
Did they all have dancers?
They did not all have dancers.
"Full Choke" had quite the following at the ballrooms, and you'll hear them talk about dancers and playing at the ballrooms in just a few minutes, but it really depended on the band.
Sometimes we turned the studio into a dance floor, and sometimes people were sitting at tables, and I even heard rumors there may have been a little tailgating before some of these concerts.
Were you part of that Perry?
No.
Oh, okay.
No, I was not.
Very well behaved.
Even local bands have groupies, right?
Yeah, and they were here.
They went everywhere with them.
They were here.
I bet they did.
When you support Nebraska Public Media, you can be one of our groupies with a monthly donation of $15.
That's a onetime gift of $180, and we'll thank you with a pass to see more live local music.
This is the Zoo Bar Pass.
It is good for two admissions to five shows at the Zoo Bar over the next year.
Some restrictions may apply, so check with the Zoo Bar on that, but you'll be able to see some live local music, make some new memories just like the ones we're seeing in the show.
Or if $10 a month fits your budget better, we will thank you with the Roku Express.
The Roku Express, you can plug it into your TV, and it's gonna give you access to several apps and shows, including the PBS video app, and again, if you're donating at least $5 a month, you're gonna have Passport access on that as well.
For $5 a month, we'll send you this Nebraska Public Media coffee mug.
We've been getting nostalgic in here, and if you grew up alongside Nebraska Public Media, you're gonna remember some of these logos from the early years.
We've come a long way, and it's thanks to you.
So show your support with this mug.
Call (800)989-8236.
You can do so on our website, Nebraskapublicmedia.org/donate, or you can scan that QR code to get to the donation page.
You won't find shows like this anywhere else, whether it's locally produced concerts, documentaries about Nebraska's history, Backyard Farmer, or Big Red Wrap-Up, Nebraska Public Media connects Nebraskans with stories about our state.
You won't find this on national networks or subscription streaming services.
This is television made by Nebraskans for Nebraskans.
We decide what to air based on what our viewers want, not based on advertising or corporate interests.
Our interest is serving the public.
Tell us what you think that's worth by supporting Nebraska by calling (800)989-8236 or go to Nebraskapublicmedia.org and make a donation right now.
Now, this is the last time you're gonna see us in the show, so if you've been watching with us and waiting to donate, now is the time.
This is one last quick look at these thank you gifts we have available with 33rd Street Sessions.
These can be yours when you call the number on your screen, or go to Nebraskapublicmedia.org and become a member.
First, we've got that Zoo Bar pass.
This comes with a donation of $15 a month, or a one-time donation of $180.
That's good for five shows at the Zoo Bar for two people.
That's admission for two people to five shows.
Again, some restrictions may apply on that.
Or for $10 a month, we've got the Roku Express.
You plug this into your TV and it's gonna get you connected to all sorts of apps and programs.
Those apps include, my favorite app, the PBS video app, so you'll be able to access our shows on there as well.
And for $5 a month, you're gonna get that Nebraska Public Media mug.
This says "I've watched Nebraska Public Media since it was..." maybe since you watched the 33rd Street sessions, so this is a great way to thank us.
You can call (800)989-8236, or you can go to the website, Nebraskapublicmedia.org/donate.
Again, let's take one more look at that Zoo Bar pass.
This pass is yours with a donation of $15 a month.
You're gonna get more local music.
You can go see it live and make some new memories.
This was a lot of fun looking back at all of these shows on Nebraska Public Media.
We hope you're enjoying the show too.
Please become a member now, thank you.
(country music) ♪ She said my conversation's immature ♪ ♪ I still act like a child ♪ ♪ I can't hold on to money because I'm too doggone wild ♪ ♪ I wouldn't even try to prove her wrong ♪ ♪ Not even on a bet ♪ ♪ Well what am I supposed to tell her ♪ ♪ I ain't a good ol' boy just yet ♪ ♪ It still takes more than one bouncer ♪ ♪ To throw me out of them bars ♪ ♪ I still like crazy women and I still drive fast cars ♪ ♪ Life's too short for just working ♪ ♪ Yeah, I still love to play ♪ ♪ If it's a good ol' boy she's after ♪ ♪ She'll just have to go away ♪ ♪ Good ol' boys, I'm glad they're still around ♪ ♪ But they all wait till Saturday night ♪ ♪ before they come to town ♪ ♪ I like to start on Monday and party all week long ♪ ♪ If it's right to be a good ol' boy ♪ ♪ Then I'm happy that I'm wrong ♪ ♪ Midnight's a little bit early ♪ ♪ Yeah, I stay out till two ♪ ♪ And dance with all the women I know ♪ ♪ Before the night is through ♪ ♪ I like to buy the house a round ♪ ♪ And have them all drink to me ♪ ♪ When the good ol' boys all come to town ♪ ♪ It's me they're glad to see ♪ ♪ Good ol' boys, I'm glad they're still around ♪ ♪ But they all wait until Saturday night ♪ ♪ Before they come to town ♪ ♪ I like start on Monday and party all week long ♪ ♪ If it's right to be a good ol' boy ♪ ♪ Than I'm happy that I'm wrong ♪ ♪ Well she packed her bags that Monday ♪ ♪ When I was down at Charlie's Bar ♪ ♪ I ain't seen her in over a month now ♪ ♪ But I don't think she went real far ♪ ♪ When she said I was abnormal ♪ ♪ I told her, girl, don't fret ♪ ♪ My only explanation, I ain't a good ol' boy just yet ♪ ♪ Good ol' boys, I'm glad they're still around ♪ ♪ But they all wait till Saturday night ♪ ♪ Before they come to town ♪ ♪ I like start on Monday and party all week long ♪ ♪ If it's right to be a good ol' boy ♪ ♪ Then I'm happy that I'm wrong ♪ ♪ Good ol' boys, I'm glad they're still around ♪ ♪ But they all wait until Saturday night ♪ ♪ Before they come to town ♪ ♪ I like to start on Monday and party all week long ♪ ♪ If it's right to be a good ol' boy ♪ ♪ Then I'm happy that I'm wrong ♪ ♪ If it's right to be a good old boy ♪ ♪ Then I'm happy that I'm wrong ♪ (audience applauding) [Dave] That was the first song I ever wrote and Charlie's Bar was the bar, one bar in Clearwater, Nebraska and I don't really remember what inspired it, it was just a bunch of young people starting to make music together and I thought it would be easy to play, that's how that song started.
We recorded that in a garage studio in O'Neill.
[Jon] And when we played at Charlie's Bar that first time, we might have known what 30 songs, -20 songs?
-No way, no way, 10.
[Jon] Maybe 10.
I mean it was like, you like that?
[Dan] It was a built-in break.
We got through the songs, we take a break, you know, and keep practicing.
Once we played all the songs we knew, we'd take a break and then we'd come back and play 'em again and that was the second set so we got a lot of practice.
[Jon] It was terrible.
(laughter) (country music) ♪ She rolls her own cigarettes ♪ ♪ With the work of just one hand ♪ ♪ Well she acts mean and she cusses ♪ ♪ I know she wish she were a man ♪ ♪ She got her teeth knocked down by a bucking horse ♪ ♪ And when I told her that it made her look tough ♪ ♪ Well she just grinned and said I like it that way ♪ ♪ And then she loaded up her lip with snuff ♪ ♪ She's my snus queen ♪ ♪ She's my Copenhagen angel ♪ ♪ She my Beech-Nut bunny ♪ ♪ She's my Red Fox brush-all ♪ ♪ Get some!
♪ (groovy guitar music) ♪ Well she can ride a bareback horse ♪ ♪ And she can really hook it two or more ♪ ♪ She never misses her saddle rock out ♪ ♪ And then she rides like a spurring fool ♪ ♪ She team ropes with the best of them ♪ ♪ And ties a calf in 9.3 ♪ ♪ Well, she dog steers just for fun ♪ ♪ And make a fool outta you and me ♪ ♪ She's my snus queen ♪ ♪ She's my Copenhagen angel ♪ ♪ She's my Beech-Nut bunny ♪ ♪ She's my Red Fox brush all ♪ (groovy guitar music) ♪ A buck old pile, sure she's dang sure not ♪ ♪ 'Cause she wins her own in all the tough spots ♪ ♪ Chasing cowboys just ain't her style ♪ ♪ But winning the prize money, that makes her smile ♪ ♪ Well she's got a plug in both her cheeks ♪ ♪ She's got Copenhagen in her lip ♪ ♪ She's got a roll your own between her teeth ♪ ♪ And I've never ever seen her spit ♪ ♪ She's my snus queen ♪ ♪ She's my Copenhagen angel ♪ ♪ She's my Beech-Nut bunny ♪ ♪ She's my Red Fox brush all ♪ ♪ Well, she's my snus queen ♪ ♪ She's my Copenhagen angel ♪ ♪ Yeah, she's my Beech-Nut bunny ♪ ♪ She's my Red Fox brush-all ♪ ♪ Take it home ♪ (groovy guitar music) (audience applauding) (slow guitar music) ♪ I'll always carry this torch for you ♪ ♪ The smoke will burn my eyes ♪ ♪ And leave a trail like finger paint ♪ ♪ Across the evening skies ♪ ♪ I've cut you loose a thousand times ♪ ♪ And gone my merry way ♪ ♪ But here I am, I'm back again ♪ ♪ What more is there to say ♪ ♪ The torch burns on, a lonely fire ♪ ♪ Leaves my soul to pain and desire ♪ ♪ I wonder, would I be the same ♪ ♪ If I never loved at all ♪ ♪ Does the joy outweigh the hurting when you fall?
♪ ♪ I listen to the dry grass whisper ♪ ♪ And the howl of the midnight wind ♪ ♪ I feel my cold heart aching ♪ ♪ I think of you again ♪ ♪ Memories take me back ♪ ♪ I feel the tears run to my eyes ♪ ♪ Would seeing you again mean another sad goodbye?
♪ ♪ The torch burns on, a lonely fire ♪ ♪ Leaves my soul with pain and desire ♪ ♪ I wonder would I be the same if I never loved at all ♪ ♪ Does the joy outweigh the hurting when you fall?
♪ ♪ The torch burns on, a lonely fire ♪ ♪ Leaves my soul with pain and desire ♪ ♪ I wonder would I be the same if I never loved at all?
♪ ♪ Does the joy outweigh the hurting when you fall?
♪ (sad guitar music) (audience applauding) ♪ There's a werewolf moon shining at night in the clouds ♪ ♪ It's a perfect night to visit the old haunted house ♪ ♪ We could pile in the Pontiac ♪ ♪ And take off for Summerland Road ♪ ♪ There's plenty to do in this small town, don't you know ♪ ♪ You don't lock your doors ♪ ♪ And you know everybody by name ♪ ♪ And the whole town goes to the high school football games ♪ ♪ Well kids here learn how to work hard and do what's right ♪ ♪ It's all part of living in a small town paradise ♪ ♪ It's a back road, say hello, slow-paced, smiling face town ♪ ♪ And we'll get together, do whatever ♪ ♪ Killing time, hanging around ♪ ♪ We live a dirt street, bare feet ♪ ♪ Church-going, ride-showing life ♪ ♪ In a never-gonna-get-you-down small town paradise ♪ (groovy country music) ♪ An old hayrack ride is the biggest time around here ♪ ♪ And we still play softball games for a keg of beer ♪ ♪ The flag still flies in the middle of the old town square ♪ ♪ And we still wave to let folks know we care ♪ ♪ It's a back road, say hello ♪ ♪ Slow-paced, smiling face town ♪ ♪ And we'll get together, do whatever ♪ ♪ Killing time, hanging around ♪ ♪ We live a dirt street, bare feet ♪ ♪ Church-going, ride-showing life ♪ ♪ In a never-gonna-get-you-down small town paradise ♪ ♪ Well I know to some it might seem a little bit slow ♪ ♪ And some can't wait to finally get a chance to go ♪ ♪ Well I took mine and I ran off to the lights ♪ ♪ And now I know for me the only life ♪ ♪ Is in a back road, say hello ♪ ♪ Slow pace, smiling face town ♪ ♪ And we'll get together, do whatever ♪ ♪ Killing time, hanging around ♪ ♪ I live a dirt street, bare feet, ♪ ♪ Church going, ride showing life ♪ ♪ In a never-gonna-get-you-down small town paradise ♪ ♪ It's a never-gonna-get-you-down small town paradise ♪ (groovy country music) (audience applauding) (groovy music) [Dave] Dance lessons were a big thing back then.
You know, Pla Mor Ballroom every Sunday night, which still has it's country night had dance lessons an hour before the performance started every week.
And this Levi and Lace group was kind of doing that up around the Norfolk area and they got a lot of people into two-stepping and swing dancing country-style and that just fueled it, and they loved Jon, they loved his beat.
I mean it was a thing, it was like, you know, and they would tell us, you know, "We go to other bands and we like to dance to everybody but nobody keeps the beat like Jon."
So that was pretty fun.
[Jon] Thanks, Dave.
You look at back at that video that we saw earlier and they're singing when they're dancing.
You can see them mouthing the words, right?
So they knew us at the time and they knew the songs.
[Dan] When we were getting started and starting to find a pretty good groove, you know, '90's country was huge, which was Garth Brooks and Brooks and Dunn and Alan Jackson which was incredible and we certainly played plenty of that stuff, but I think one of the things early on that people that came to see us really appreciated was we were pulling out Roger Miller songs, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, you know, stuff like that.
[Jon] We started, you know, up in northeast Nebraska where we did a lot of the local celebrations outside too.
One week, we would be in Ewing for their Summer Fun Fest.
Next weekend, we'd be in Verdigre for Kolache Days.
And then the weekend after that, we'd be in Creighton for Berry Pepper Days and then the Clearwater Rodeo.
[Dave] Our regular stops and our favorite regular stops were the ballrooms of Nebraska, the Howell's Ballroom, the Riverside Ballroom, the Oak Ballroom.
Starlite Ballroom.
The Starlite Ballroom in Wahoo.
And you know, later on, we played a little bit more in the clubs in Grand Island and North Platte, Kearney and those were always fun too, but just getting to see different parts of the state was pretty fun and I think it did help us build our audience of people across Nebraska.
But we really, really enjoyed those ballroom nights.
And those were always one night stands, that was more fun, you put all your energy into this one four-hour performance, and there was a run of time that the Howell's Ballroom had tailgates outside and the main street with the younger kids was absolutely packed.
We would get done with our sound check and we would have an hour to get a bite to eat or whatever and we would always go down there and they would have the grills going and, I mean it was just a blast.
(upbeat country music) ♪ We'll we've been picking songs ♪ ♪ And jumping around all night now ♪ ♪ For kicks and to pay this month's rent ♪ ♪ Yesterday became today an hour ago ♪ ♪ And the money and the bar maids are spent ♪ ♪ But it won't be long and we'll be back ♪ ♪ We'll keep burning up the night and making tracks ♪ ♪ Wherever we go, we will remember where we've been ♪ ♪ And before too long, we'll be back again ♪ (upbeat country music) ♪ Like the swallows when they leave old Capistrano ♪ ♪ Like Columbus when he left the motherland ♪ ♪ Whether here or in your hearts or on the radio ♪ ♪ You haven't heard the last of the Full Choke band ♪ ♪ Because it won't belong and we'll be back ♪ ♪ We'll keep burning up the night and making tracks ♪ ♪ Wherever we go, we will remember where we've been ♪ ♪ And before too long, we'll be back again ♪ (upbeat country music) ♪ Yeah, it won't be long and we'll be back ♪ ♪ We'll keep burning up the night and making tracks ♪ ♪ Wherever we go, we will remember where we've been ♪ ♪ And before too long, we'll be back again ♪ ♪ Yes, wherever we go, we will remember where we've been ♪ ♪ And before too long, we'll be back again ♪ (upbeat country music) (audience applauding)


- Arts and Music
The Best of the Joy of Painting with Bob Ross
A pop icon, Bob Ross offers soothing words of wisdom as he paints captivating landscapes.












Support for PBS provided by:
33rd Street Sessions is a local public television program presented by Nebraska Public Media
