Brotherly Love

Minneapolis-based MC brings message of peace to Omaha show

    With infectious beats and hook-riddled musical flows, singer-hip-hop-rapper Brother Ali has crafted songs that promote a strong message of acceptance and hope while addressing social injustices across the globe.

    Based in Minneapolis, Brother Ali is on tour in support of his just-released album, Secrets & Escapes. He'll be in Omaha on Friday (Dec. 13) to perform at the Waiting Room.

    Legally blind as a result of his albinism, Brother Ali says his music "is based on the reality that beauty is the splendor of truth.

    “Beauty in all of its forms is the outward manifestation of love and virtue. It soothes the soul and pulls it gently toward the truth it communicates."

    If all this sounds a bit too deep for a Friday night, just go with the flow. For me, that's what it's all about — Ali's smooth melodies is where the appeal lives.

    See what I mean by watching Ali's video to one of my favorite songs, "Forest Whitaker" (the best of all the songs titled "Forest Whitaker," BTW). Click on the video play button above to see it. If that flips your pancake, get to the Waiting Room on Friday.

What: Brother Ali, with DJ Last Word and Nur-D

When: 8 p.m. Fri., Dec. 13

Where: Waiting Room, 6212 Maple St.

Tickets: $20-$65 (VIP)

Web: waitingroomlounge.com

Use Your Illusion 

'Dare to Believe' show set for Lied Center

    He's an escape artist and illusionist who promises an evening that will "leave you breathless with a feeling of childhood wonder."

    With help from his Bengal tigers and family members, Jay Owenhouse will bring his "Dare to Believe!" magic show to the Lied Center in Lincoln on Thursday (Dec. 19).

    Curious? Check out the promo video linked to the play button above. Click it to see it.

What: Jay Owenhouse

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19

Where: Lied Center for Performing Arts, 12th and R streets

Tickets: $44.10-$79 

Web: liedcenter.org

U.S. box office receipts

for the week ending Dec. 8

1. Frozen II — $35.3 million

2. Knives Out — $14.3 million

3. Ford v Ferrari — $6.8 million

4. Queen & Slim — $6.7 million

5. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood — $5.3 million

6. Dark Waters — $4 million

7. 21 Bridges — $3 million

8. Playing with Fire — $2 million

9. Midway — $1.9 million

10. Last Christmas — $1.1 million

Jumanji: The Next Level (PG-13) — Finally. I've been forced to watch 2017's Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle about 289 times so far. Don't get me wrong, I like it. But three or four times was enough. 

    Needles to say, my kids will be dragging me to see this highly anticipated sequel this weekend, and I'm perfectly OK with that. Because, you know, Karen Gillan is back as Ruby Roundhouse.

    The Story: In Jumanji: The Next Level, the gang is back but the game has changed. As they return to Jumanji to rescue one of their own, they discover that nothing is as they expect. The players will have to brave parts unknown and unexplored, from the arid deserts to the snowy mountains, in order to escape the world's most dangerous game.

    Watch the official trailer by clicking on the movie’s poster above.

    Richard Jewell (R) — I hope this is able to clear things up once and for all.

    The Story: Directed by Clint Eastwood and based on true events, Richard Jewell is a story of what happens when what is reported as fact obscures the truth. "There is a bomb in Centennial Park. You have 30 minutes."

    The world is first introduced to Richard Jewell as the security guard who reports finding the device at the 1996 Atlanta bombing — his report making him a hero whose swift actions save countless lives.

    But within days, the law enforcement wannabe becomes the FBI's number one suspect, vilified by press and public alike, his life ripped apart. 

    Watch the official trailer by clicking on the movie’s poster above.

 Black Christmas (PG-13) –

Yeeeeeaaaaah . . . uh, pass.

    The Story: Hawthorne College is quieting down for the holidays. But as Riley Stone (Imogen Poots, Green Room) and her Mu Kappa Epsilon sisters —athlete Marty (Lily Donoghue, The CW's Jane the Virgin), rebel Kris (Aleyse Shannon, The CW's Charmed), and foodie Jesse (Brittany O'Grady, Fox's Star) — prepare to deck the halls with a series of seasonal parties, a black-masked stalker begins killing sorority women one by one. 

    Watch the official trailer by clicking on the movie’s poster above.

Holly Jolly Jukebox

Postmodern holiday pop takes on the Lied Center

    Singers and musicians offer up remakes of hit songs all the time. But no one does it quite like Postmodern Jukebox. This effervescent ensemble has set a new standard on standards.

    Jazzy. Doo-woppy. Vintage-y (think 1920s). These are some of the ways fans describe Postmodern Jukebox, a musical collective that formed in 2011 and has since drawn more than 1.2 billion views of their videos that feature cover versions of songs by everyone from Lady Gaga and Katy Perry to Billy Idol and Journey.

    With 4 million-plus subscribers for their YouTube channel, Postmodern Jukebox — PMJ to their fans — has earned a loyal following, some of which will certainly be on hand Tuesday (Dec. 17) at the Lied Center in Lincoln.

    PMJ will bring their collection of instrumentalists, along with singers and dancers who will swing to their color-outside-the-lines renditions of holiday classics mixed with some of their notable covers.

    Need some examples? Try these three videos:

• "All About That Bass" (Maghan Trainor) – CLICK HERE.
• "Juice" (Lizzo) — CLICK HERE
• "Last Christmas" — CLICK HERE

    As you can see (and hear), PMJ has got it going on. Kind of like "Stacy's Mom," the cover of which PMJ just released (they post a new video about once a week). Check out their take on the Fountains of Wayne cut by clicking on the video image above (featuring former "American Idol" contestant Casey Abrams playing bass and singing lead on the song).

    As PMJ frontman Scott Bradlee has said, PMJ is the "equivalent of Bing Crosby singing 'Little Drummer Boy' with David Bowie."

    And if you want to see PMJ live, tickets remain for Tuesday's show in Lincoln at the Lied Center.

What: A Very Postmodern Jukebox Christmas

When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17

Where: Lied Center, 12th and R streets, Lincoln 

Tickets: $11.50-$63

Web: liedcenter.org

What else is going on this week?

    From Craft Mafia's "Happy Holimade" event at the Westside Community Center and Brother Ali at the Waiting Room, to Five Finger Death Punch at the CHI Health Center and Christmas with the Nelsons at the Arts Center, it's another festive week of entertainment in the Omaha-Council Bluffs and Lincoln areas.

    Plus, "A Drag Queen Christmas" is at the Orpheum Theater; a trucker hat workshop is at the Neighborhood Offshore Boutique & Board Shop; illusionist Jay Ownenhouse is at the Lied Center in Lincoln; and there is a Santa's bag full of events at the Down Under Lounge.

   You can read all about those events — and many more — in this edition of the Dispatch.  

     And we have more viral videos of the week and look-a-likes of the week, too, so be sure to check those out.

    Oh, and one more thing . . . try to do a kindness for someone today without anyone else knowing about it.

#stacysmomhasgotitgoingon

– Jim Minge, publisher of the Dispatch

Sonic Punch of Rock

Faces, prepare to be rocked off on Saturday

    Tired of all the sappy-pappy holiday shows? Then this one is for you.

    It's Five Finger Death Punch, a band that will probably not be singing "All I Want for Christmas" — unless it's some twisted, metal-minded version. And that might be pretty cool, actually.

    But for the most part, you can expect FFDP and the bands opening the show on Saturday (Dec. 14) at the CHI Health Center to be spewing heavy metal into the arena. For FFDP's part, you're likely to hear new cuts, like "Inside Out" from the band's upcoming 2020 album, F8. Click on the video play button at right to hear it.

    If that puts you in a fist-pumping, head-snapping, chest-banging, throat-shattering, ear-blistering, hair-raising mood . . . then get to the CHI Saturday.

What: Five Finger Death Punch, with Three Days Grace, Bad Wolves and Fire From the Gods

When: 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14

Where: CHI Health Center, 455 N. 10th St.

Tickets: $39.50-$79.50

Web: ticketmaster.com

Circle It On Your Calendar

Trucker Hat Workshop at the Neighborhood Offshore Boutique & Board Shop; 'A Drag Queen Christmas' at the Orpheum Theater; a Nelsons Christmas at the Arts Center; and 'Happy Holimade' with Craft Mafia at the Westside Community Center

MEDITATE & CREATE . . . They start with a 30-minute mediation using an alchemy quartz crystal singing bowl, which ushers in creative energy. Next, the group will work with paint to create custom designs and color pallets to bring snapback "trucker" hats to life. Materials, refreshments and hat are included. Cost for the 3-5:30 p.m. workshop — which takes place at the Neighborhood Offshore Boutique & Board Shop, 6837 Grover St., on Sunday, Dec. 15 — is $38 per participant. Online registration is required. Go to neighborhoodoffshore.com for more info and to register.

THE 'NAUGHTY' TOUR . . . Promising a "magical (and hilarious)" evening of holiday performances, the "A Drag Queen Christmas" will feature contestants from the VH1 reality TV show at the Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St., on Monday (Dec. 16). Holiday costumes, back-up dancers, full stage production — and lots of drag queens. Warning: adult content. So . . . ho, ho, ho! Tickets for the 8 p.m. show are $43.50 to $60, and are available at ticketomaha.com. 

HO, HO, HO WITH THE NELSON BROS . . . You remember these guys, right? Gunnar and Matthew Nelson, sons of pop star and actor Ricky Nelson. They had that 1990 hit "(Can't Live Without Your) Love and Affection," and have been doing their two-part harmony and comedy thing ever since. And on Friday (Dec. 13), it's your lucky day, because the Nelsons are bringing their Christmas show to the Arts Center in Council Bluffs on the campus of Iowa Western Community College, 2700 College Road. Get a taste of what the show will entail by watching the teaser video linked to the red play button above. Click it to see it. Tickets are $$29-$39, and are available at artscenter.iwcc.edu.

HOLIMADE GIFTS . . . You know the crafts are seriously awesome when they come from the Omaha Craft Mafia, and this year's "Happy Holimade" craft show will prove exactly that. The 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. event on Saturday (Dec. 15) at the Westside Community Center, 3534 S. 108th St., will feature handmade items and gifts from DIY local makers who have plenty of great gifts for the holiday season. Admission is free and so is parking. More info at omahacraftmafia.weebly.com.

Busy at the Down Under

Midtown lounge keeps its stage filled with fun

    The thing I like most about the Down Under Lounge is the variety of entertainment you'll find there.

    One night might feature the DU's spin on bingo, another night might be karaoke, or art, or an ugly sweater get-together, or a movie night.

    And the bands — great local and regional bands every week, including crowd favorite Jerry Pranksters, a Grateful Dead cover band that has a strong Omaha following.

    But before the Pranksters take the stage on Saturday (Dec. 14), the Down Under will host  "Wasteland — Krampus Edition," just in time for Christmas — and on Friday the 13th, no less.

    Krampus, of course, is that crazy-looking half-goat, half-demon character with the horns from European folklore who punishes bad children during the Christmas season.

    For the DU celebration on Friday, there will be music provided by DJ Wulfgang, Lucid Fatigue and a guest DJ, M.C. Plus, artists Conrad Hinz and Dally Hoover will be on hand. Oh, and costumes are most certainly encouraged. The fun begins at 9 p.m. and there is no cover.

What: Wasteland — Krampus Edition

When: 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13

Where: Down Under Lounge, 3530 Leavenworth St.

Admission: No cover

Web: Facebook event page

What: Jerry Pranksters

When: 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14

Where: Down Under Lounge, 3530 Leavenworth St.

Tickets: $5 in advance, $7 day of show

Web: Facebook event page

Jays on a Roll

UTRGV and Oklahoma up next for Creighton

    That Texas Tech victory a couple of weeks ago for the Creighton Bluejays men's basketball team looks pretty good now, doesn't it? On Tuesday, Tech beat No. 1 Louisville. So, theoretically, the Bluejays should be ranked No. 1, right?

    Don't worry, they'll get there. The Jays are 7-2 after brutalizing the Nebraska Cornhuskers last weekend. CU is back at the CHI Health Center again on Friday (Dec. 13) for a match-up against UTRGV at 7 p.m.

    So . . . what does "UTRGV" stand for? The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The more you know . . . 

    The Jays play again on Tuesday (Dec. 17) against the Oklahoma Sooners (7-1) at the CHI Health Center. That game is at 7:30 p.m.

    ALSO! We are giving away tickets to both games! Just go to the Dispatch Facebook page HERE and "like" our Bluejays tickets post to be entered for a chance to win. 

What: Creighton Bluejays Men's Basketball

When: 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13 (UTRGV) and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17 (Oklahoma)

Where: CHI Health Center, 455 N. 10th St.

Tickets: Start at $13.50

Web: ticketmaster.com

    Our first doppelganger of the week features the one-and-only Axl Rose, the glorious lead singer of Guns 'N Roses, and actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson ("Modern Family"). Maybe?

    Meanwhile, reader Keath Flott sent in our next look-a-like, pitting M*A*S*H actor Gary Burghoff, who played Radar (Corp. Walter Eugene O'Reilly), against Rush Limbaugh (at right, on the right). Nice one, Keath!

See a look-a-like out there? Send it in and become famous! Send your look-a-likes to info@omahadispatch.com.