A Record Label is Born - Featured Artists

Tim Kasher, seen here performing on the rooftop of Mama's Pizza in Omaha, is the lead singer and guitarist of "Cursive" and "The Good Life," two of Saddle Creek's most adored bands. Regarding his two bands, Tim says, "In Cursive, it's much more of an instrumental band in terms of musicians playing off of each other, and it's a lot louder as far as bands go, like hard rock or whatever you want to call it. That's something that I grew into through the years. I really didn't grow up with that style of music at all. If anything I grew up with what comes off as 'The Good Life.' But there's so much passion and so much you get out of playing music loud and so much expression in it, that I mostly enjoy playing it, more than I enjoy listening to it."

"The Good Life's" newest release is entitled "Black Out." Tim performs the track "Empty Bed" acoustically atop Mama's Pizza, and together with "The Good Life" at Sokol Hall. Watch the exclusive video located above.

Conor Oberst and his band "Bright Eyes" have been creating imaginative music since the mid-90's. The incorporation of string instruments, accordions, horns, as well as traditional rock instruments have drawn praise from critics everywhere. Conor's raw voice has been compared to such rock legends as Nick Drake, Jonathan Richmond and Feargal Sharkey, lead singer of early 80's British popsters "The Undertones."

Conor's unique song stylings were recognized by fellow Saddle Creek cohort Ted Stevens when he heard Conor playing in his bedroom at age 13. Ted helped record Conor's early work, and Conor's brother Justin released a cassette only item entitled "Water" on "Lumberjack Records," which eventually was to become Saddle Creek.

Today Conor continues his work with "Bright Eyes," but has also just released his first album with his new band "Desaparecidos" called "Read Music Speak Spanish." The album contains an overall harder sound than "Bright Eyes," as Conor takes on Omaha sprawl among other contemporary issues.

Ted Stevens has been a leader in the Omaha and Lincoln music scenes since first introducing his band "Lullaby for the Working Class" back in 1994. As their name suggests, "Lullaby" produced evocative understated music and was a forerunner in blending string instruments with alternative new sounds. Ted and his band put CD's on Bar/None Records, but also stayed at home on Saddle Creek with their vinyl releases. Their work was acclaimed in "Rolling Stone" magazine as well as other music reviews.

Ted's new band is called "Mayday" in tribute to a long standing tradition of Ted and some friends who have gotten together annually to perform on May 1. "Mayday's" first album is called "Old Blood" and will also be released on May 1. Check out songs from "Mayday," "Lullaby," and other Saddle Creek bands at Saddle Creek's web site.

In addition to his work as a musician, Ted also does graphic work for bands on the label such as helping to design album cover art and t-shirts. While going through the t-shirt inventory Ted noted that all the smaller sizes of a recent "Cursive" shirt that he designed were out of stock. Ted's explanation -- "I know what the girls like!"

Mike Mogis is Saddle Creek's resident producer/engineer who has helped craft the sound of virtually all the "Saddle Creek" bands. Be it the hard sound of "Desaparecidos," the electronic edge of "The Faint", or the fluid emotional stylings of "The Good Life," Mike has worked with them all. You can also hear Mike's musicianship on several releases as well, as he's been known to pick up a guitar, mandolin, hammer dulcimer, or even the old tambourine. Mike's brother A.J. also performs with Saddle Creek bands, working with Conor Oberst on the "Bright Eyes" recordings.

Here's what "Cursive" and "The Good Life" lead man Tim Kasher had to say about Mike Mogis, "Well, I don't even know the names of great producers but pretend I did, and they called me and said they wanted to do the next record, I would very politely say that I wasn't interested. Mike and I are just really close friends, and I'd just much rather work with a really close friend. And I mean he's great at what he does so it doesn't matter. I don't think that anyone else could really give that much. I mean a good friend can not only work hard but cares as much as you do how it sounds. I think that's really very hard to find."

Dereck Higgins has been playing and recording music in the Omaha scene for nearly 25 years now. As bass player for the legendary Omaha band "Digital Sex," Dereck helped form a sound that became internationally acclaimed. Not only did "Digital Sex" sign a release with the European label Sordide Sentimental, who also released albums by artists such as "Joy Division," "Durutti Column," and "Tuxedomoon," but they were one of the only American bands of its day to receive critical acclaim for taking the Factory label sound of Manchester, England and successfully blending it in the states. Dereck has also played in "Norman and the Rockwells," "High Voltage Jammers," "RAF," "Paddy-0-Furniture," and the now somewhat forgotten early Omaha punk band "Elvis and His Boss." Dereck also writes and records his own solo music and has recently released "Nice", which he says friends say sounds, well, nice!

Regarding why more Omaha bands have not had the success of Saddle Creek Dereck points out that, "I think one of the reasons that musicians in Omaha don't have a higher profile is that Omaha is such a family oriented town, and people tend to grow up and meet that girl, get married and have the kids, and then it's like it's all over. But there's this strong undercurrent of activity, creativity, and musicality that is always present. If you tried to go to all the shows in Omaha you couldn't do it because there are so many all time -- bands touring as well as bands locally. Some people could say that maybe Omaha's kind of a boring town which maybe feeds people's creativity. I'll agree with that."