story by Trish Bendix
photo by Butch Hogan

Omaha has been hailed as a major indie rock melting pot for the last few years, but one of the biggest misconceptions about the scene is that there, in fact, is one.

"I think people tend to think Omaha is this really big scene with all these bands and neat things happening, but it's really sort of quiet and laid back with not that many bands," says Derek Presnol, guitarist for the folk-rock supergroup Tilly and the Wall. "There aren't really cliques [in Omaha]. Everyone's sort of friends with everyone and when someone does start a band, everyone thinks it's cool because there are not that many bands. It's not like Chicago and NYC where there's hundreds."

Presnol is the lone guitarist in the unconventional band, where tap shoes and keyboards are the percussion and two female vocalists stand at the mics Supremes-style with cutesy choreography. Though not on Omaha's fabled Saddle Creek label, TATW are one of two artists to release an album on Bright Eyes mastermind Conor Oberst's new label Team Love.

PRESNOL'S INNER VIEW "There are people to whom it seems gimmicky but we hold our own as a band and we're not using it as a gimmick. We're making things that we love and having fun."

Tilly and the Wall are opening for Bright Eyes on his tour in support of two new Bright Eyes albums to be released at the end of the month. TATW, having just come off their second tour with former Saddle Creek sweeties Rilo Kiley, have been resting and working side jobs in preparation for their month-long opening slot.

Wild Like Children, TATW's debut album, is a sunny bright sing-along with promises of slow dances and pre-marital sex. Presnol's vocals are great compliments to the cooing of Kianna Alarid and Neely Jenkins. Tapper Jamie Williams dresses in mini skirts and mouths the words to the infectious tunes while Nick White travels along the electric pianos.

The hometown-goodness feel of TATW is perfect for smaller venues, like their previous tour stop at the Abbey Pub. This time around, the quintet will be following the success of Bright Eyes to the much larger Riviera, where their sound and love will hopefully translate well.

"This will definitely be the biggest thing we've done so far," Presnol says. "I think it will be okay [in larger venues] because a lot of places [we're playing] are theaters built for dancing and things like that. The sound people have mic[rophon]ed taps before."

The consistent touring will continue, with tentative dates opening for Of Montreal in 2005 as well as the continual writing for an album still in the works. Presnol says TATW will play at least one or two new songs on the tour. "Hopefully we'll record and put out another record and it will be coming out by the end of 2005," Presnol says. "We also talked to our friends the Black Lips from Atlanta about recording a split 7-inch sometime soon."

TATW are laid back and uninterested in critical opinion of their being another product of Omaha-produced bands or a novelty act. "There are people to whom it seems gimmicky but we hold our own as a band and we're not using it as a gimmick," Presnol says about the irregular band makeup. "We're making things that we love and having fun."

Tilly & the Wall :: with Bright Eyes and CocoRosie :: Riviera :: January 17.