If you’ve ever been to the center of the country, you know how different life is from coastal living. John Denver was right, the Rocky Mountains are serious.

On our way from Colorado to Nebraska, we had to make our first pitstop at Taco John’s. If anyone has been to this West-Mex fast food joint, you know how ridiculous the Potato Ole’s are. They’re not tator tots…they’re amazingly fried potato discs with a secret seasoning that compliments any meal. Just when you think it can’t get better, you can dip it in sour cream, then nacho cheese (in that order). It’s like a savory flavor explosion that’s as addictive as it sounds. If you ever have the chance to stop and eat there, go for it.

Now that our stomachs are full, we hop back in the truck and continue our trek to Nebraska. It’s about a 4-hour drive east of Denver. When you’re there…you know you’re there.

Nebraska is known for a few things: Buffalo Bill, corn, Union Pacific Railroad, corn, having more cows than human population, The Huskers, and corn. These giant silo-like cylinders are full of corn. It’s insane.

Just around the corner from the CO-OP you’ll find the center of town where the courthouse is located…

You’ll also find Chinese restaurants…

Whiskey Creek Steakhouse…

White Horse Video…

Hotel Pawnee…a once bustling retirement hotel with a grand ballroom, now defunct and run-down but admittedly very cool to look at.

At the courthouse you’ll find this statue of a Native American chief from the Sioux Tribe, which once adorned “Sioux Lookout”, the highest point of Lincoln County, Nebraska. Around a decade ago it was moved and brought into the center of town for preservation.

The amount of unoccupied open land is second to none. This is the Wild West…this is Nebraska.

All across the state you’ll find thousands of miles of railroad tracks as far as the eye can see in both directions, but; North Platte boasts Bailey Yards, the largest railroad yard in the world.

The trains haul a variety of goods from cargo and consumer goods to fuel and coal…and these trains can be miles long…that’s a lot of coal.

All in all, it was another awesome trip to middle America. If you ever get the chance to go, we suggest you do.

Adam was a musician, a filmmaker, a director, a husband and a father. He died at age 47 from cancer, but he will live on forever and his music will play on and on, and on and on… RIP MCA.

And now, for the encore:

The night got kicked off by these two dudes called “Apps.” I’m not really sure how to categorize their music, but it was like Beastie Boys meets synth beats meets Switchfoot meets The Used (I know, that’s exactly what I said too..whoa). They performed for about 45 minutes, then hung up their mics and walked off stage like they were never there.
 

The second group of artists to hit the stage were called “Tiny Victories.”

These guys came from Brooklyn and they killed it. Equipped with a 6-piece drum kit, a digital drum kit, a table wrapped with led lights topped with synthesizers, and a few microphones…they had all they needed. They’re music is really easy to listen to, and REALLY easy to get absorbed in. You ever listen to something and sort of find yourself pulled into the music and out of real life for a few minutes? Well, pretty much everything they played had that effect, but it was awesome. Tiny Victories was definitely in it to win it tonight.

And now, Neon Trees…

The Bowery was sold out in a matter of minutes for good reason; and there’s no way of mistaking their prescence with frontman Tyler Glenn on the mic. The mood of their music is so energized and different from anything else out there. Rock n’ Roll isn’t dead…Fame is.

Being at a Neon Trees concert literally feels like you’re stepping back into the 80′s. For those of you who were born after the 80′s, I recommend you see these guys and get a taste of what music should be like before Justin Bieber came around.

Acoustic breakdown…epic.

Back to where they left off…

It’s been almost 2 years since we’ve had the chance to attend and shoot a Neon Trees concert, and as usual, we can’t wait until next time.

Fame. Is. Dead.

When we arrived, Jay wasn’t home. We let ourselves in with our Dunkin iced coffees, cameras (x3), and violin (which Nikki Stixx plays so well, you’d think she was born with it in her hand). And so what if we got up at 6:30am to play music, meet up with friends and talk business.

Jay’s place is definitely eclectic, but the best part is that he’s traveled the world and hand picked the items in his place himself. How’s that for shopping.

Meet Rodrigo… born and raised in Argentina with a love for music and acting, he found his way to Brooklyn, NY where he’s livin’ it up. He’s currently filming a few movies in the Manhattan area so you can expect to see him on the big screen in the near future. I can’t show you what they’re looking at right now, but don’t worry, you’ll see it soon…

Now we head outside where the weather couldn’t be more perfect. Setting up the Jeep with proper angles, lighting, sound equipment, and swag…check.

And action…

The thing that’s most awesome about music, is that it can travel and be shared wherever you take it. Just so happens that this is the place, and now is the time.

We headed to a park a few blocks away…people were popping their heads out of the shops with smiles on their face just to hear where the music was coming from. It was almost like Broadway, except more “real.” The main purpose behind this morning is to get ready for something that is fairly new. Nikki and Jay have toured the country playing rock music in all sorts of venues. From coffee shops to music halls that seat upwards of 10,000+ people, they’ve done it. They understand what many artists seem to forget. It’s not about them, it’s all about the music. They want you to hear it…and so do you. This is the beginning of “Owls & Lions.”

Oh hey Rodrigo…

When we got to the park, Nikki and Jay took a seat and the music continued. It would have been pretty awesome if this bench was shaded by a giant cherry blossom tree.

Oh wait, it was…

Live for music. Die for music. Owls & Lions…Coming soon.

Download your FREE copy here and now! Enjoy!

On our way to Rockwood, we couldn’t help but pass Retna’s new piece on Houston (where the former Obey/Shepard Fairey wheatpasting display had been for a while). Using his bold rolled lines and almost perfect circles, his work is something that can’t go by unnoticed. If you know our love for street art, then you know our love for Retna…

Here we are at our crossroads where we divide the evening for the rest of the night.

 We got to Rockwood, hung out, set up, then it was showtime…

You may have heard of both, one of, or neither Jay Della Valle or Nikki Stixx. They’ve both been involved in multiple bands, traveling the country and parts of the world to perform for fans of all types. Now they’re bringing it home and dialing it down to an acoustic duo that will get your head bobbing and your foot tapping. There’s no doubt about it.

Rattlesnake skin boots… yea, he got those.

After the show, we stuck around the city for a few to enjoy one of the first nights of the year warm enough to walk around. There’s no city quite like Manhattan.

If you think you, or someone you know might be a good candidate for an interview, send an email to: interview@true-feel.com and tell us about you/them and why they’d be good for it. We’ll supply the pizza and beer.

Thanks!