Frigs take the Ten Questions survey. They play at Brothers Lounge tomorrow night. Photo by Caitlin McLafferty.
by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com
Toronto 4-piece noise punkers Frigs (formerly Dirty Frigs) play a dark, growling, acidic style of indie rock that either chugs angry and hot, or drags lethargically like a Robitussin-fueled nightmare. On the band’s debut EP, Slush (2016, Arts & Crafts) the fast ones showcase front woman Bri Salmena sounding like a young Shirley Manson or Polly Jean Harvey as the band cranks like the reincarnation of Elastica. On the slower tracks, it’s all guitar chimes under water, backed by hypnotic, throbbing drums and Salmena spitting out the vitriol.
We asked Frigs to take our Ten Questions survey, Salmena and band member Edan Scime Stokell took the test:
What is your favorite album?
Bri Salmena: I hate this question because it changes, right all I want to listen to is Post Plague by Odonis Odonis.
Edan Scime Stokell: Rumors by Fleetwood Mac
2. What is your least favorite song?
Bri: Anything by Elvis Costello
Edan: Anything by Janet Jackson
Bri: Edan you are insane.
3. What do you enjoy most about being in a band?
Bri: I think if the answer isn’t playing music something is wrong.
Edan: Feeling cool and getting attention.
4. What do you hate about being in a band?
Bri: I don’t really hate anything about being in a band…
Edan: Road poops
Bri: Oh ya, maybe that.
5. What is your favorite substance (legal or illegal)?
Bri: Ummmm Pepto Bismol. It helps me tolerate all my favorite “other” substances.
Edan: beer
6. In what city or town do you love top perform?
Bri: Hometown shows are always fun, but it’s also nice to perform in front of a bunch of strangers. There is a certain amount of freedom for me to be as weird as I want. But i don’t really have an answer to your question.
Edan: New York City baby!
Bri: lol
7. What city or town did you have your worst gig (and why)?
Bri: Hmm, not sure. I feel like our first show in London, England, was pretty brutal. We had a lot of technical difficulties that made it really hard to play, but everyone was really nice.
Edan: Definitely London, yeah it was bad.
8. How do you pay your bills?
Bri: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Edan: I make pizza.
9. What one profession other than music would you like to attempt; what one profession would you absolutely hate to do?
Bri: I studied Art History and want to go into art restoration if music is a bust. I would hate to do my job now as a real “profession” (sorry Mom, it’s just not for me!).
Edan: I’ve always dreamed of being an architect. I would hate to work in a hospital. I cant stand blood or guts or cuts or veins or stuff, ew.
10. What are the stories you’ve heard about Omaha, Nebraska?
Bri: I really like that song “Omaha” by Waylon Jennings, and I’ve heard really great things about Nathan Ma, the guy who booked us 
Edan: Only the ones told by Bruce Springsteen on the album named after your glorious state.
Frigs play with Anna McClellan and Collin Duckworth & the Transcendental Lovers at Brothers Lounge, 3812 Farnam St. Tickets are $5, showtime is 9 p.m. For more information, go to facebook.com/brothersloungeomaha
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Over the weekend Hear Nebraska released a handful of performers who will be playing the three-day Lincoln Calling festival Oct. 6-8. I told you there were some big names:
Real Estate
Twin Peaks
Ceremony
Icky Blossoms
Esme Patterson
David Dondero
See Through Dresses
Plack Blague
There’s a shit-ton more (and bigger names) that will be announced Wednesday. Their plan to release names incrementally is working, apparently. Passes at the “early-bird” rate have sold out. Three day general admission passes are now $39 and will likely follow suit. Get them while you can at lincolncalling.com.
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Pageturners continues its summer music series tonight with Thick Paint, Graham Ulicny of Reptar’s one-man project. The 10 p.m. show is free.
While we’re at it, here’s the full calendar for Pageturner’s summer series. Impressive!
7/11 — Thick Paint
7/13 — Sam Martin / Pat Mainelli
7/18 — Digital Leather
7/20 — Closeness
7/22 — Phil Schaffart / Dan McCarthy
7/27 — Pro Magnum
8/1 — Noah Sterba / Ruby Block
8/3 — MiWi La Lupa / Justin Ready and Echo Prairie
8/6 — Tyrone Storm
8/8 — Chemicals
8/10 — Michael Favara / Mike Schlesinger
8/17 — Linemans Rodeo / The Shrinks
8/22 — Nathan Ma and the Rosettes
All shows are 10 p.m. start times and are free.
Also tonight, Atlanta garage band The Black Lips return to Omaha, this time to The Waiting Room. Not sure why they’re touring, as their last album came out a couple years ago. Trying out new material? Sounds like it could be a messy show, if this review of their gig last month at the 40 Watt Club is any indication. Chain and The Gang are opening. $15, 9 p.m
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Read Tim McMahan’s blog daily at Lazy-i.com — an online music magazine that includes feature interviews, reviews and news. The focus is on the national indie music scene with a special emphasis on the best original bands in the Omaha area. Copyright © 2016 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.
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