311 @ River's Edge Park in Council Bluffs, Iowa on Saturday, July 12, 2025. [Photo by Duane Vosika]
DUANE VOSIKA | Go Venue Magazine
On a scorching day at River’s Edge Park in Council Bluffs, Iowa—though functionally Omaha for anyone attending—89.7 The River celebrated its 30th anniversary with a music festival that felt like a mixtape from the golden years of alt-rock radio. And appropriately enough, to get there, you had to cross a literal bridge: The Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, which funneled thousands of fans from downtown Omaha into what could only be described as a nostalgia vortex.
Parking in Iowa? Forget it. All attendees were directed to park in Omaha and take the long, hot walk across the Missouri River, shoulder to shoulder with Heartland Pride parade-goers who were celebrating just a few blocks away. Meanwhile, Stir Concert Cove at Harrah’s Casino was hosting its own show—meaning extra security kept lazy music lovers from sneaking in via the casino lot. River’s Edge became a strange liminal zone between a rainbow-filled celebration, a gambling hall’s glam, and the alt-rock gods of yesteryear.
Anchondo
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Hector Anchondo kicked things off with a set that showcased his unique fusion of blues, reggae, and Latin rock. Hailing from Papillion, Nebraska, Anchondo brought both soul and swagger to the stage, even throwing in some brass for good measure. His sound carried across the field like a warm-up lap for the night’s genre rollercoaster.
The Urge
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The Urge brought the brass and the bounce, like a band that never quite left 1997—and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Mashing up ska, punk, funk, and hard rock, their set was pure kinetic chaos. A major highlight came when Nick Hexum of 311 joined them onstage for “Jump Right In,” which sent the crowd into a frenzy. It was like a spoiler for what was coming later that night.
Blue October
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Then came Blue October. Justin Furstenfeld’s voice is still a weapon of emotional destruction. Hailing from Houston but with a fanbase that clearly doesn’t care about geography, they brought the introspective depth to the lineup. Personally, they are not my cup of tea, but they did sound just like how I have heard them on the radio.
Sublime
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Possibly the most polarizing act of the night, Sublime took the stage with Jacob Nowell—son of the late Brad Nowell—now fronting the band and legally allowing them to drop the “with Rome” label. He looks like his dad, sounds like his dad… and yet, to some, he’s still not his dad. While many cheered, others quietly whispered, “It’s not the same.” Musically, the performance was tight. Nostalgically, it was complicated.
311
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Then the night culminated in the only way it could—with 311. A band forged in Omaha’s scene and elevated to national prominence, 311’s return felt less like a performance and more like a coronation. Grey hairs or not, they still command the stage like they invented it. Many of the parents of the band members were in attendance, Nick and Tim’s for certain. It was my fourth time seeing them, and it wasn’t the best, nor the worst of performances I have seen. “Fun” was the vibe for them and the crowd.
Final Thoughts
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89.7 The River’s 30th anniversary wasn’t just a celebration of a station—it was a tribute to an entire generation of alternative music lovers. A festival with its feet in the present but its heart clearly planted in the past, where every act was a different shade of teenage memory, now aged, but not faded. Whether you came for the ska, the emo, the punk-funk, or the local legends, you left with your ears ringing and your nostalgia glands fully juiced.
And hey, crossing that bridge? Totally worth it. It didn’t collapse, but from what I’ve read, was tested, when the crowds left the show.
311 Sublime Blue October The Urge Anchondo All images © Duane VosikaFollow our socials, only take a second and is free by finding us on:
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