Mason Jennings with Zach Gill @ the Slowdown

Omaha's Slowdown has consistently brought in a diverse array of acts – ranging from rock and reggae to hip-hop and singer/songwriters – since its inception, and has provided much-needed relief to the rather lagging music scene in the area, forcing me to become increasingly familiar with the Omaha metro area. Saturday, November 22 warranted another trip to the venue for what promised to be a stellar night of music featuring Mason Jennings and support act Zach Gill.

Read about the night and view photos after the jump

Zach Gill is sort of a Jack of all trades when it comes to music. He is currently touring solo in support of his new album, Stuff, which was released on Jack Johnson's Brushfire Records. He is best known for his work with his band Animal Liberation Orchestra. Gill also recently joined Johnson as a permanent member of his band.

The evening started off with a bang, as we arrived just a little past start time, in time to see Gill finishing his first number. To my surprise, the crowd was already packed in rather tight for the somber, yet entertaining opener. Gill ran through an interesting set of songs, including many from his new album. Mixed in with his solo work were a few ALO tunes, including "Girl, I Wanna Lay You Down" and Eggs and Cereal’s song of the decade, "Plastic Bubble." I found that ALO mellowed down a few notches was equally as good, allowing you to really focus on Gill’s glorious voice. The audience's attention was captured by the constant change in his stage show, which incorporated an accordion, ukulele, keys and even a child’s toy horn. The set, which lasted a bit under a hour, was nothing short of impressive, exhibiting Gill’s true talent with his unsubtle hues of quirkiness.

Mason Jennings is a singer/songwriter whose body of work leans heavily on folk elements. He currently lives in Minnesota and, like Gill, is signed to Brushfire Records. I've heard numerous comparisons to Jack Johnson, but after seeing Jennings, I don’t really understand where the comparisons are drawn from.

Going into the night, I knew little about Mason Jennings. I recently picked up a copy of his latest studio effort, Into the Ever. And that was about all the knowledge I had of this gifted gentleman. After a short break between the acts, Jennings emerged with his guitar in hand. Without delay, he began with a number off of that very album, entitled "Memphis, Tennessee." Jennings’ raspy yet calming voice echoed throughout the venue, struggling to break through the constant teen chatter that would eventually lighten up for the most part. Jennings was soon accompanied by his band, which included Adam Topol, who is also in Jack Johnson's band, on drums and Jonny Polonsky on the bass. This gave a little more energy to the show, but the ambiance of the venue was still on the placid side.

The evening continued in the same manner, with the trio making their way through Jennings’ catalog. Gill also joined the band on keys for several songs towards the end of the night. They eventually left the stage for a quick teaser, only to have Jennings return for another intimate solo moment. They closed with Gill’s interesting song about his organizational system, entitled "Don’t Touch My Stuff."

The two songwriters seemed to take a different approach towards their music, yet meshed well, making for another amazing evening of music. While I have always been a fan of Gill, my relatively non-existent knowledge of Jennings wasn’t much of a concern, as he was equally impressive. It will be interesting to see these musicians continue to grow throughout their careers.

For starting off the night with some fun-loving, quirky tunes that kept the audience attentive and entertained, I give Zach Gill 7.5/10 slices.

For a slightly more upbeat show, filled with signature music featuring an extremely talented songwriter with a blissfully eccentric voice, I give Mason Jennings 7/10 slices.

Cocked in Nebraska,
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