When: 9 p.m. Saturday
Where: Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St.
Tickets: $15 at www.etix.com
Information: www.onepercentproductions.com or 884-5353
When Omaha was blanketed with snow last winter, Jenny Lewis and Johnathan Rice were stuck inside like everyone else.
The Los Angeles indie musicians made the trek to Omaha to record an album as Jenny and Johnny. Called “I'm Having Fun Now,” the album was released weeks ago to great reviews from Spin magazine, the Los Angeles Times and others.
Lewis, lead singer of Rilo Kiley, and Rice, a Scottish singer-songwriter, have contributed to each other's records for years, but this album is more of a direct collaboration.
“It's always been very clear whose project it was. It's clear that it's my song even if Jenny contributes,” Rice said on the phone from California. “Once it became clear that we were working on an album together, it became more richly collaborative. Mostly that involved singing together and playing everything that we could.”
The duo has quite the Omaha and Nebraska connection. Rilo Kiley was once signed to Saddle Creek Records. Lewis and Rice have recorded several times in the area. And Conor Oberst introduced Rice and Lewis, who now are dating.
“This was before he suggested I make ‘Rabbit Fur Coat,'” Lewis said. “Conor suggested it and said, ‘You know, if you make a record, I'll put it out.'”
Lewis and Rice said they were excited to come back to Nebraskan, where they have so many “dear friends.”
“I grew up in Los Angeles,” Lewis said. “But the place that I've spent the most time aside from where I've grown up is Nebraska. Some of my best friends are from Nebraska. Most of my best friends, actually.”
Most of the album was recorded at Mike Mogis' ARC recording studio in Omaha during some of last winter's terrible snowstorms, which caused the duo to be stuck mostly in the studio's guest house.
“I think it kind of invited in a laser focus. There's no distractions, so we were able to agonize over every little detail,” Rice said.
“I knew going out there that Mike would do that regardless. He's one of the hardest working guys I've known,” Lewis added.
The duo has many Omaha and Lincoln memories from having recorded or performed here several times. Last year, Lewis opened a show for Oberst and his Mystic Valley Band, whose instruments and equipment didn't arrive on time. They were forced to use stuff from Lewis' band instead.
“If there were two bands that were best friends, I would say that they're ours,” Lewis said with a laugh.
Mogis' studios, first Presto! in Lincoln and now ARC in Omaha, also provided stories.
“This was first time recording in Omaha. I had worked with Mike (Mogis) before, but I had actually spent way more time in Lincoln than I have in Omaha,” Lewis added. “The second time I met Johnathan, Rilo Kiley had driven from L.A. to Lincoln to make ‘More Adventurous' and Johnathan was finishing up his first record and Mike was supposed to be done with Johnathan's record. We rolled in and we were (mad).”
“Blake (Sennett) started loading his amp into my vocal booth while I was still in it,” Rice said.
“Mike was actually mad about that,” Lewis said, and they both laughed.
Lewis and Rice are both looking forward to the Omaha stop on their tour. The band plays Saturday at the Waiting Room.
“We're gonna have to put something in there to bulk the set up,” Lewis said. “The record's only 30 minutes, so maybe a cover, maybe one of my songs.”
Contact the writer: 444-1557, kevin.coffey@owh.com
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