Lightning Stills 'Closed Down The Bar' As New Album Arrives

(Reybee) Omaha, NE's outlaw country band Lightning Stills have released their Self-Titled debut album. "On October 17, 2023, I was at a movie theater with my wife seeing Still Playin' Possum: Music and Memories of George Jones [the all-star tribute concert film featuring Brad Paisley, Jelly Roll, Tanya Tucker, Wynonna, Travis Tritt, and many others] and in between songs, they would tell tales including one of George Jones closing down a bar. In my head, I instantly joked, 'Yeah, I closed down the bar...when I quit drinking'," laughs Craig Fort of Omaha-based outlaw country band Lightning Stills about their new single and video "Closed Down The Bar," which is taken from the self-titled debut, due out on February 20, 2026 via Max Trax Records, "It was like a Dewey Cox moment," he adds, referencing the main character played by John C. Reilly from the comedy film Walk Hard. "All these ideas for lyrics started pouring into my head like the tap was flowin. Once I got home, I collected all my thoughts, and the song was done in five minutes."

While the album highlights the heavy subjects of sobriety and addiction, "Closed Down The Bar" looks at sobriety from a different angle, albeit a positive one. Fort describes, "I feel like this is a celebration song about achievement," he counters. "It also helped me realize how much was really affected around me by the addiction."

Offering an "Easter egg" of sorts for the Omaha local music scene, Lightning Stills' new video features a cameo from Fort's other band, local post-hardcore band Leafblower. While Fort sits in the foreground, seated at the bar, Leafblower mascot "Tim" shuffles around the background, closing up shop. Filmed at O'Leaver's Pub where Fort worked during his twenties, the video was a quick jobber. "The bar staff unlocked the doors for me at 10am, I met my wife at her studio for a green screen shot at noon, and got the video done around 3pm," he laughs.

While the topic of sobriety can be, well, sobering, Fort looks at it with a shot of humor. "The lyrics may come off as playful at times, but there is a darkness behind each one," he explains. "While I believe that everyone should do what they want, I had to change, or my kids wouldn't have a father. I definitely have plenty of embarrassing times and moments I'd rather forget, but I can control what happens going forward with a better grip than I had before."

Featuring a venerable cast of Omaha musicians - a who's who of local artists of varying genres, Lightning Stills is a labor of Outlaw Country love. Originating in 2020, Craig first formulated the band with Omaha music icon and multi-instrumentalist Mike Friedman who had been playing country for decades. Pulling into their magnetic orbit a "good-timing odd bunch" that features guitarist Tom May, bassist Dan Maxwell, and drummer Javid Thunders, Lightning Stills was born.

Lightning Stills is Craig Fort (vocals, guitar), Mike Friedman (steel guitar, guitars, keys, vocals), Tom May (guitars), Dan Maxwell (bass), Matt Baum (drums) with Oliver Bates Craven guesting on fiddle (NOTE: Javid Thunders played drums on the album).

Lightning Stills 'Closed Down The Bar' As New Album Arrives

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