 "Photo: Courtesy photo")
The members of Rock Paper Dynamite really want to quit their day jobs.
The rock foursome has been playing music together for four years, and they feel like they're on the edge of a accomplishing something great.
"We've been trying to get away from real life for as long as we've been trying to play music," said lead guitarist Andrew Janousek. "We really just want to break out and make a living off music."
Rock Paper Dynamite will showcase their music in Omaha at the Slowdown this Saturday at 9 p.m. and Duffy's Tavern on Sept. 7.
Upon first listen, it's evident that Rock Paper Dynamite isn't your run-of-the-mill southern-infused rock band.
Their sound is difficult to specifically pin down and their live show has been rumored to boast runaway freight train-type power.
The group features a set of brothers and two of their high school friends. They hail from the small town of Schuyler, Neb., and have been developing their sound and fan base steadily during the past four years, with promising results. They've opened for Joan Jett at Stir Concert Cove, and their newest record will hit the shelves this November.
"We're still paying our dues within the Omaha music scene," said lead singer Joe Janousek. "We started from nothing, so we're just trying to build our image one show at a time."
The band is a close-knit group, with Joe's brother Andrew playing on lead guitar and friends, Scott Zrust and Trey Abel, on drums and bass, respectively.
"This isn't our first time playing at Slowdown," Joe Janousek said. "The sound in there is great, so we're looking forward to a good show."
The band has recorded three full-length albums and their sound continues to evolve as the foursome discovers news ways to explore their potential.
"We don't necessarily have a genre that we're trying to fit into," Joe Janousek said, "Our new record has four songs that all sound completely different so that helps keep things fresh."
With bands like Cursive and Bright Eyes showcasing the typical "Omaha sound," Rock Paper Dynamite is attempting to exploit a wide-open market for catchy and melodic southern rock with fierce vocals and solid guitar playing.
In fact, Andrew's ferocious guitar playing is highly reminiscent of a grungy Greg Allman.
"I grew up listening to bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam," Andrew Janousek said. "Then I found that the further back I went, the more I was inspired."
Rock Paper Dynamite has two shows in the Omaha-Lincoln area in the next few weeks, and they happen to be at two of the band's favorite venues: The Slowdown on Sept. 3 and Duffy's on Sept. 7.
"We've never really had a bad show at Duffys," Joe Janousek said. "We're looking forward to getting down to Lincoln."
matthavelka@dailynebraskan.com
If you go:
Rock Paper Dynamite
When: Saturday, Sept. 3, 9 p.m.
Where: The Slowdown, 729 N 14TH ST, OMAHA NE
How Much: $7
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