My Town: Omaha, NebraskaThe Faint on Their Midwestern Home Base
One would think that The Faint, known for hypnotic and exceedingly progressive electronic music, would live in an energy-infused metropolitan hub where everything is in surround. But to the contrary, they are from the heart of middle America– Omaha, Nebraska. This posse of five-鈥 Todd Fink (lead vocals), Joel Petersen (bass), Jacob Thiele (synthesizers), Dapose (guitar) and Clark Baechle (drums)-鈥 all grew up and still reside in the Omaha area.
Fresh off the chaos of the band’s newest album release, Fascination, Petersen shared his view on Omaha鈥檚 idiosyncrasies while on a tour stop in NYC鈥檚 Terminal 5. After a tight sound check, he sat down with psychoPEDIA to discuss the city.
Friends and family are primarily what keeps Petersen there, yet the band is further enabled by living in a fairy inexpensive setting 鈥淲e couldn鈥檛 afford to be a band and own a building with a recording studio, not have day jobs and live in a cool city,鈥 Petersen said. 鈥淥maha allows us the ability to create music without worrying about overhead costs.鈥
Creatively, the band is on par with world-renowned remixers, producers, and bands like Jacques Lu Cont, Tommie Sunshine, Justice, and Daft Punk-鈥 all of whom live in much bigger cities like London, New York and Paris. In Omaha, creativity sparks from the opposite spectrum-鈥 a lack-of certain stimulants.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 because of the opposite of living in a metropolitan area and having inclement weather. It鈥檚 either really cool or really hot! In Omaha, you don鈥檛 have museums to go to either, or that new kick ass bar to check out. You have nothing. It forces you to make your own fun. You stay in and just create,鈥 Petersen states.
The Faint would probably want to stay inside and create rather than facing the absurdly obese population which Petersen describes as 鈥渢he most indicative aspect of Omaha.鈥 It鈥檚 a meat and potatoes world where the restaurant chain Omaha Steaks prevails. No one seems to walk in the city, either. Everyone drives, which in turn leaves a void in physical fitness. Unfortunately, if a pedestrian is spotted on the street, drivers will honk and laugh. Walking is equal to being poor in Omaha.
On a brighter side, Petersen does share a few spots where he frequents including his favorite Mexican restaurant in the world, La Mesa. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the first and last place I eat before and after touring,鈥 said Petersen. 鈥淭heir salsa is just perfect for me!鈥 There are also a few bars and music venues that cater to The Faint鈥檚 like-minded set:Brothers Lounge, a bar about 10 blocks from the band’s studio, and a relatively new music venue called The Waiting Room: Promoters within the city who virtually brought in any great out-of-town band through the Saddle Creek Records community years, finally created their own spot.
If Petersen ever moved away from Omaha, his change in scenery would be quite drastic, namely, 鈥渘owhere in the United States! I鈥檇 stay away from Republicans, get the hell out of this country, and move somewhere in Europe!”
~Jessica McMenamin
Go There:
Omaha Steaks, 4400 South 96th Street. (800) 960-8400
La Mesa, 11002 Emmet St # 112. (402) 496-1101
The Waiting Room, 6212 Maple St. (402) 884-5353
Saddle Creek Records, 725 N 14th St. (402) 558-8208
Downtown Hilton Hotel, 17879 Chicago St. (402) 289-9696
