photos and words by Chloe Ekberg

Picture yourself on the beach. A huge red-and-white umbrella casts a shadow as you watch the sea crash against the rocks close to shore.

Wednesday night’s concert at Slowdown with Saltwater Sanctuary, Eli Mardock and Tie These Hands was the soundtrack to that scene.

Omahan Justin Wallin opened as Saltwater Sanctuary with just his electric guitar and a pedal board. Even when his amp lost power halfway through a song, with his calming voice, he made a smooth transition back to the soothing sounds.

The mesmerizing Eli Mardock followed, and as he played, the front room crowd of 20-plus people hardly made a sound. I was charmed by Mardock’s personal lyrics in each of his songs, which are well-suited for Sundance films.

When Tie These Hands walked on stage, three out of four of the members rocked a look similar to Rivers Cuomo in the “Buddy Holly” video. Their personal style may be Weezer-ish, but their lyrical style and sound is more Jimmy Eat World.

Tie These Hands recorded their first album in 2002. For five years, they toured and released new albums. In 2011, Tie These Hands, a little band from Lincoln, Neb., were contacted by Japan’s Kilk Records, and they put out the full-length album, Come On. Now, they’re self-releasing Come On in the U.S.

See photos of the concert here, and listen to the gorgeous sounds of Saltwater Sanctuary, Eli Mardock and Tie These Hands:

Chloe Ekberg is a Hear Nebraska mulitmedia intern. Being at this show made her miss the coast.. Reach her at chloee@hearnebraska.org.