words by Michael Todd
Nebraska music is just something Dan Jenkins does.
At least that's how one of Lincoln's most experienced musicians put it when asked what Nebraska music means to him. Sure, Jenkins has played well over 150 shows from 2003 to 2012 just with Ideal Cleaners. He's been in a number of other bands since 1994 including Drive-By Honky, Palooka, Sailor Ripley, 13 County and Tea Cozy.
He helps other Nebraska music from the past find new ears through The Band Broke Up, which has posted more than 60 albums available for download. Still, as we sit in The Zoo Bar green room, in the second floor of the blues building on 14th Street in Lincoln, Jenkins says, "Generally, I've just been around a lot. I go to a lot of shows, but not as many as I used to."
"It's been such an important part of my life and something that I've done so much for so many years," he says. "It's hard for me to say what it means to me. It's just something I do."
When he stepped onstage to play Opium Taylor's "Sip.Sip.Shot.SNAPSHOT!" at Take Cover, Vol. 2 on Saturday, Jan. 19, Dan Jenkins did Nebraska music justice. Watch and listen:
edited by Michael Todd
audio by Ian Aeillo
cameras:
Kat Buchanan
Michael Todd
Nickolai Hammar
* performed on Jan. 19, 2013, at The Zoo Bar in Lincoln, Neb.
Michael Todd is Hear Nebraska's managing editor. He wears alpaca-paca-paca-paca-paca-paca gloves. Reach him at michaeltodd@hearnebraska.org.