I’m not a weatherman. But I can guaran-****ing-tee there will be a storm in Omaha on April 5th. The first Saturday of April this year, STORMFEST 2014 invades the Hideout Lounge! This will be the third annual StormFest, the greatest Nebraska gathering of local metal.
If you’ve been to a lot of local metal shows in eastern Nebraska, especially Omaha, you’ve probably seen a crazy little longhaired f*cker running around, headbanging, helping bands on and off stage, and sometimes even getting up on stage to help out with vocals, that would be the one and only Storm Corbin. His outrageously f*cking awesome parents, Paul and Kris, have been taking him to shows since his hair was short. The whole family is a mainstay of the Omaha metal scene.
In 2012, Tripp Stevens of Clenched Fist Productions realized that there were hardly any all-ages shows for real local metal, so why not line up a doozie of a metal festival named after Nebraska metal’s biggest under-21 fan? And thus, StormFest was born.
StormFest is great because you get a sampling of all different kinds of metal, each band gets a 30-minute set, and there is never a dull moment. It’s a rocking party atmosphere, with lots of band guys (and at least one girl!) and fans, hanging out, drinking, headbanging, moshing, and supporting these great local metal bands. If you know someone who hasn’t been to a metal show, but needs to see one, this is the one to be at. Everyone will surely find at least one band they will love!
And speaking of bands you’ll love, Uncle Tripp has really outdone his self with the lineup this year. Not only will you be able to see the best in Nebraska metal, but there are two kick ass out-of-state bands closing out the night. Second to last will be Wichita, Kansas’s own KingShifter. These guys tickle me in the same place as Black Label Society does, with big guitar riffs over mid-tempo rock drums. KingShifter has enjoyed some radio airplay in Minnesota and Kansas, and is one of those bands that is loved by hardcore metalheads and newbies alike.
Headlining this year’s StormFest is the eternally-touring Hemlock, from Las Vegas. The amount of ground these guys cover is incredible. With their brutal grooves and sometimes melodic hooks, it’s no wonder they have fans in every corner of the US. These guys have been around for over 20 f**king years, and they show no sign of slowing down.
So now that you’re thinking, “Holy s*it! This is going on near me? I’ve got a raging metal boner (or metal clit boner) now!! How do I sign up??” Well, it’s easy folks. Advance tickets are just $8, you can get them from any of the bands on the bill, from Tripp Stevens, or from the Hideout. If you aren’t the planning-ahead type, you can pay $12 at the door. Make sure to bring a wallet full of merch money, as lots of the bands will have merch, and you’ll definitely want to get in on the raffle to win a StormFest guitar!
I shouldn’t even have to tell you this, but…
go out and buy some pre-sale tickets!
