PHOTO COURTESY OF NASTYLITTLEMAN "Beep Beep" - Omaha's Beep Beep might have a weird cowboy fetish. Or this might be a new trend we've got to hop on.

Omaha, Neb. doesn't necessarily seem like a breeding ground for great musicians. But indie label Saddle Creek's roster of Omaha-based bands are starting to make people rethink the artistic merit of the Midwest.

Beep Beep, an art-rock band whose occasionally danceable, is one of their newest additions. Their first album, Business Casual, was released last year and tours supporting label heavyweights like The Faint and TV on the Radio have followed.

"Omaha is run-down, very Republican. No money for education, let alone art or culture," said vocalist and guitarist Eric Bemberger. "You kind of create your own entertainment. It's boring and it's either really hot or really cold. A lot of people spend their time making music, because there really isn't anything else to do."

While Saddle Creek has helped get the word out about Omaha's musical talent, other cities aren't necessarily at a disadvantage.

"I don't see Omaha as this cultural hub that helps recognize artists. It's totally DIY. You accept the limitations that the city has and you try to work around it," said Chris Hughes, who also plays guitar and sings.

The limitations of Omaha were apparent for Hughes and Bemberger growing up. Most bands didn't play in Nebraska, and they had to rely on a few select record shops to learn about music.

"As a kid and a teenager, I would risk getting grounded often. I would go on these unauthorized road trips to places like Lawrence, Kansas," Hughes said. "And I'd make a decision: I'm going to skip class, run away from home for a couple days and accept the consequences."

After talking with Hughes for 20 minutes, his eccentric nature became apparent. Bemberger seems to be completely opposite, thoughtfully pausing before slowly answering a question. The two first met at a show in 1996.

"He wouldn't stop talking to me. He liked my guitar and I stood there for about an hour, and he just went on and on," Bemberger said.

The two minds that lead the band, completely different but equally passionate about their music, were going nowhere for a while after they formed Beep Beep in 2001. Bemberger was trying to excel at technical guitar playing while Hughes was struggling to get in touch with his feelings.

When no one was interested in a demo they recorded, it was time for a change.

"We just kind of said, 'fuck it.' We still want to have this band, let's at least make it fun," Bemberger said. "Our objective was to not give a shit. And then for some reason, everyone liked the results, to our surprise."

The results, a mix of screaming melodies, noisy guitar and up-tempo beats got to Saddle Creek, which put out the record in July.

While their label has arguably made them a more recognizable name, Beep Beep doesn't necessarily "fit in" with the rest of the Saddle Creek roster.

"I think some people have expectations of what Saddle Creek entails. I always hear this 'Saddle Creek' sound. But Azure Ray sounds nothing like the Faint," Hughes said. "I would say, yes, we are different than those bands. But I don't think that matters. Screaming, annoying art-rock is not something that's being created by very many labels."

Since they haven't sold too many albums, Bemberger said he's interested in seeing how many Beep Beep fans there are during this headlining tour. But people who are hearing Beep Beep for the first time are also in for an interesting experience.

"We get a lot of deer in headlights. A lot of people don't know how to bob your head to it," Hughes said. "I went to a Bright Eyes show the other day. And they were clapping along to a song. dear God - they could not clap in time. If they can't clap to a Bright Eyes song, which is in 4/4 time, they would not know what to do with us."

Beep Beep plays at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St. La Cerca and Yak Dance open the $4 show.