Paris Jackson, The Hill Country Devil
July 20, 2026
The Reverb Lounge, Omaha, Nebraska
Words and photos by Adam Tibbott
Even triple-digit heat couldn’t keep Omaha away.
With temperatures hovering around a humid 103 degrees, fans began lining up outside The Reverb Lounge late in the afternoon, determined to secure a spot inside the sold-out venue. The anticipation was justified. It was Paris Jackson’s first-ever performance in Omaha, and by the time the show started, every ticket had long since been spoken for. Several unfortunate fans found themselves left out i the heat as no one wanted to part with their tickets.
Opening the evening was Hayden Karchmer, better known as The Hill Country Devil. Taking the stage alone with an acoustic guitar, he immediately broke the ice with a self-deprecating smile. “Hello. Obviously I’m not Paris Jackson,” he quipped, drawing laughter from the packed room before warning the audience that his songs were “depressing” because they reflected his own life and struggles. That combination of dark humor and unfiltered honesty defined his set. Karchmer has a gift for making deeply personal songs feel communal, inviting listeners into stories of hardship, addiction, survival, and hope without ever feeling performative. Even while joking that he wasn’t feeling well after eating Taco Bell twelve days earlier and blaming the infamous contaminated lettuce for his lingering stomach troubles, the humor never distracted from the emotional weight of his music. Instead, it made the heavier moments feel even more authentic.
His set balanced original material with carefully chosen covers from some of his favorite songwriters, each selection fitting naturally alongside his own catalog. One of the evening’s highlights came when Paris Jackson joined him onstage for a duet, creating a quiet, intimately humorous moment about a “fucking butterfly” that brought two very different musical worlds together with surprising ease.
After a brief changeover, Paris Jackson took the stage to an enthusiastic welcome from a room that had waited all day, and in some cases much longer, for her Omaha debut. Any lingering expectations were quickly replaced by appreciation for an artist who has confidently built her own musical identity.
Her set moved comfortably between grunge, indie rock, alternative rock, and folk influences, creating a sound that felt both nostalgic and contemporary. Rather than relying solely on volume or distortion, Jackson allowed dynamics to shape the performance, shifting effortlessly between full-band intensity and quieter moments. Two solo acoustic performances stood among the evening’s most memorable highlights, stripping away everything except the songs themselves and allowing her songwriting to take center stage.
Throughout her hour-plus performance, Jackson proved herself to be just as engaging between songs as she was during them. She maintained an easy rapport with the audience, sharing stories, exchanging laughs, and making the sold-out room feel surprisingly intimate. That connection transformed the performance from simply watching a concert into sharing an experience with the artist.
The chemistry between Jackson and her band was equally impressive. Every musician served the songs rather than overpowering them, allowing layers of textured guitars, melodic hooks, and understated rhythms to complement her expressive vocals. Whether leaning into gritty alternative rock or softer indie-folk passages, the band never lost sight of the emotional core of the music.
Despite the oppressive heat outside, there was an undeniable energy inside The Reverb Lounge. The Hill Country Devil opened the night with raw, deeply personal storytelling that reminded everyone how powerful one voice and one guitar can be. Paris Jackson followed with a confident, emotionally resonant performance that showcased both her songwriting and her ability to connect with an audience.
On a sweltering July evening that tested everyone’s endurance before they even reached the front door, both artists rewarded that commitment with performances that felt honest, memorable, and entirely worth the wait.
