It was, quite simply, the perfect night for it.
Omaha felt something like a warm, California summer day — odd for mid-March — on Wednesday, and folks trickled in from the warm street to The Waiting Room Lounge to see the show.
Nick Hexum was back for a hometown show. Yes, that Nick Hexum — he of the famed rock-reggae-rap band 311 and an Omaha boy, too.
Even though 311 celebrated 3-11 Day last week, and the band played a sold-out Las Vegas theater for two straight nights, Hexum was back in Omaha by himself. With an acoustic guitar. And a single microphone. And a suit. And a setlist filled with folk songs.
Last year, Hexum released a trio of EPs filled with sunny, nostalgic, California folk, and they were re-released as a full-length titled Phases of Hope And Hollow.
When he stepped on the stage in his hometown to play a selection of songs from that record — and a few surprises for 311 fans, too — it was magic.
Hexum, the rock ‘n’ roll frontman, fit perfectly into the acoustic folk and bluegrass-style performance.
The setlist was full of his own songs as well as a few covers including Billie Holiday’s Solitude and the Everly Brothers’ All I Have To Do Is Dream, which he dedicated to his dad.
In fact, the night felt something like a family affair, not just because it was a hometown show but because Hexum talked about writing songs with his sister, Angie; singing the song Network Error that was inspired by his daughter; and singing a song he wrote for his late brother, I Am Open.
Hexum also welcomed Curtis Grubb, one of his oldest friends that many in Omaha remember from Grasshopper Takeover. Grubb sang and played guitar alongside Hexum for a single song, and the two hugged it out before Grubb left the stage to cheers.
Hexum was all smiles for it.
“I’ve been friends with this guy for 50 years,” he said. “My first rock ‘n’ roll performance ever was with Curt Grubb at the Arbor Heights talent show. We did three Clash songs. We were only supposed to do two songs, but we were so punk rock we did three Clash songs.”
Through his set, Hexum was backed by Water Tower, a simply incredible LA-based bluegrass band that also opened the show. They’re the real deal, and they performed around a single microphone, deftly stepping in and out to let the mic pick up their intricate instrumentation and incredible vocals at just the right moments.
I’ve seen many artists try that particular performance style, but until last night, only one had done it well. And it was Alison Krauss & Union Station, so when I saw Water Tower nailed it just as well, you know I’m heaping on high praise.
Their songs, voices and playing were incredible, and they played their own songs — Drink Smoke, written with MxPx’s Mike Herrera was a highlight — as well as some covers — Radio by Rancid was a helluva choice for a bluegrass cover.
For the 311 fans — and there were a lot of them decked out in Soundsystem T-shirts and 311 hats — Hexum busted out versions of Champagne, Flowing and Don’t Dwell that were, frankly, perfect as acoustic, folky jams.
And when he closed with 311’s Amber, the whole crowd joined in to sing the song with him.
It was quite a night.
“This has been such a great crowd for us tonight,” Hexum said. “Thank you guys for coming out to support this side project.”
