The Buttertones prove they're the next big thing

The Buttertones, a sharp-dressed five-piece with a ton of musical talent, brought their riveting live show to Omaha's Slowdown on Aug. 8.

The Buttertones have a distinct look and sound that's rounded out by saxophone. The members ooze confidence onstage and have adoring female followers, at least in the band's home base of Los Angeles. Does any of this remind you of a certain band in the '80s?

But instead of Duran Duran's amalgam of Chic, Roxy Music, and the Sex Pistols, The Buttertones' musical style has been described as Johnny Kidd and the Pirates meets The Gun Club.

In Omaha, the Buttertones got an assist from opener Ron Gallo, an afro-coiffed rocker channelling the MC5 and backed by a bassist and drummer (Ron Gallo and the Gallos, as The Buttertones' frontman Richard Araiza called them). Ever wanted to hear a garage rock version of Des'ree's "Love Will Save the Day? Ever wonder what a guitar played with a suitcase sounds like? Then look no further than Ron Gallo.

London Guzman, Dakota Bottcher and Richard Araiza. All photos by Christopher Windle.

But The Buttertones were the main event, playing a slick and energetic set of songs off current album "Gravedigging" as well as tracks from further back in the band's six-year career. Despite an appearance earlier this year on "Last Call With Carson Daly," The Buttertones are largely unknown outside LA. Band members endearingly sell their own merchandise before and after the show, writing the night's set list in lulls between customers. They mill about the crowd, Araiza wearing glasses as a sort of offstage Clark Kent-type disguise. But the buzz around the band's must-see live show and aforementioned TV appearance, especially, are paying off, according to guitarist Dakota Böttcher.

Araiza has proper frontman swagger.

Onstage, The Buttertones wasted no time whipping the crowd into a frenzy. Especially well-received were songs off the new album like "Sadie's a Sadist," "Matador," and "Gravediggin.'" The trio of songs are solid tracks backed by Quentin Tarantino-esque videos.

The band veered from raucous rockabilly and surf to vintage-flavored rock ballads like "Geisha's Gaze." As for the older material, it has more of a doo-wop flavor, as evidenced on ballads like "Baby Doll."

After listening to the band's previous album, "American Brunch," it's clear that The Buttertones have come into their own with "Gravedigging." Whether singing about falling "over in love" ("Geisha's Gaze"), about a bullfighter past his prime ("Matador"), or about a houseguest who overstays his welcome ("Two-Headed Shark") the band covers timeless topics with a sometimes-devious twist.

The Buttertones showed they're a band that could achieve big things. It will be exciting to see what's next.