[title size=”1 to 6″ style=”options: default, sidebar”]LINCOLN EXPOSED DAY 2[/title]
Contents:
1. The story of day 2 of Lincoln Exposed at Duffy’s Tavern. Bands covered: Weldon Keys, The Wondermonds, Josh Hoyer and the Shadowboxers, Pure Brown, Beaver Damage.
2. The night at Zoo Bar on Thursday of Lincoln Exposed. Bands covered: Honeyboy Turner Band, Powerful Science, Powers, Handsomer Jaws.
[The Bourbon Theatre had a full concert going on this night with Roy Rogers Band. The Bourbon was the third venue of Lincoln Exposed during all 3 of the other nights.]
[title size=”1 to 6″ style=”options: default, sidebar”]1. Lincoln Exposed Day 2: DUFFY’S[/title]
Story By Daniel Lindsay and Annie Bohling | Photos by Patrick Wright, Brenna Dittmer and Annie Bohling | Seeds Entertainment
[Prior to Weldon Keys, Emily Bass performed. Bass plays bluesy piano at the Zoo Bar nearly every Monday. According to an article by The Daily Nebraskan, Bass planned to stick to original material for Lincoln Exposed, rather than throwing in a lot of covers of songs like she frequently does at the Zoo.]
By Daniel Lindsay:
[title size=”2″ style=”options: default, sidebar”]Weldon Keys[/title]
Weldon Keys is a local roots rock band, one which cites bands such as Rolling Stones, Neil Young, and CCR as its foremost influences. As such prominent big name influences suggest, the band’s sound was instantly familiar, appealing and energetic yet warm.
They performed fairly early in the night for a rather subdued, yet receptive crowd. Most people were sitting or buying drinks, save for one particularly enthusiastic dancer who I can only assume was their biggest fan.
The whole set seemed to suggest restlessness and motion, with the band jamming away in the background while grizzled frontman J.D. Kuskie dispensed world-weary travelogues front and center, tales of taking long drives to Indiana and beyond, nursing a broken heart on the way.
Weldon Keys received a warm ovation from the rapidly-expanding crowd as their set ended. I was sitting at a table twiddling my thumbs and contemplating asking one of the Daily Nebraskan photographers to buy me a beer when the next band, The Wondermonds, began their mic check.
[title size=”2″ style=”options: default, sidebar”]The Wondermonds[/title]
That lone weirdo dancing finally had some company as soon as funk jam band The Wondermonds took the stage. They got people moving with a variety of covers of classic funk artist like Booker T and the Meters, played with an infectious energy and vigor.
The set consisted of freeform, wordless jams, which almost started to drag a bit before being invigorated by Duffy’s impressive light show. The band was quite enthusiastic, and obviously happy to be playing that night, a sentiment echoed by the growing crowd.
The whole night’s atmosphere was pretty laid-back, with Wondermond’s confident, grinning guitarist making cheeky comments between songs, teasing friends in the crowd about being “guilted” into coming to the show. The band’s sound boasted a tightness and style that could only be pulled off by an old group of friends.
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By Annie Bohling:
[title size=”2″ style=”options: default, sidebar”]Josh Hoyer and the Shadowboxers[/title]
The Wondermonds were given a prime spot to show off their talent: just before Josh Hoyer and the Shadowboxers. People were pouring into Duffy’s like ants filing into an ant hill. Indeed, Duffy’s offered shelter, warmth, comradery and sustenance–that being drinks and, most importantly, really good music.
The performance Thursday made obvious that Josh Hoyer and the Shadowboxers are a gem of the local scene. Lincolnites are happy to support them and proud to call them their own. They were easily a highlight of Lincoln Exposed.
The soulful ballads of Josh Hoyer and the Shadowboxers are nothing short of infectious. It’s impossible not to move or smile during their performance and the same can be said for the band members themselves. One audience member at their CD release show last month said: “He’s the happiest drummer I’ve ever seen!” referring to Justin G. Jones. It’s a tough statement to argue. At every show, Justin is smiling and having a great time while playing drums with his friends.
The band of nine people (yes, nine people fit on Duffy’s small stage) unanimously love what they get to do on stage together. This is partly what makes them so lovable and brings the audience back again and again. The band members and the music feel each other and you feel all of it, too. The audience is never left out at a Shadowboxers show.
They truly are able to foster a magic through the room not just with their charisma and passion, but with the type of music they play and the way they fully execute it every time. Josh Hoyer and the Shadowboxers are a soul band. They feature drums, a trombone, trumpet, guitar, bass, 3 lady back-up singers (the Foxy Boxers) and Hoyer on the keyboard and vocals. Their songs are funky, bluesy, dirty, lovely and beg you to move and groove and get out of your cube. Duffy’s was packed with people feeling the music in their soul in their own ways–but most were dancing around. If not, they were happy to be there and were enthralled by what was coming from the stage.
The songs they played were mostly from their newly released, self-titled EP. The Shadowboxers played a dirty blues song. They played a sexy song. They played a happy, upbeat song. Josh Hoyer and the Shadowboxers offer some tasty music, each song with its own flavor.
[See Seeds’ interview with Josh Hoyer here: http://seedsent.com/the-soul-of-lincoln-josh-hoyer-and-the-shadowboxers/)
[title size=”2″ style=”options: default, sidebar”]Pure Brown[/title]
A great thing about Lincoln Exposed is that the directors of the festival do not obsess about getting bands in an order that provide a harmonious flow of genres between bands stacked against each other.
Ergo Pure Brown, a Lincoln trio with just as much passion and love for playing and performing music as the prior ban. The three young men took the stage and flaunted what they categorize as “rock, progressive rock, and nintendo rock,” which is accurate. Though much of the crowd emptied out when the Shadowboxers were done, they held the attention and excitement of everyone that stayed.
Guitarist Ben Kushner, of both Josh Hoyer and the Shadowboxers and The Wondermonds, said of Pure Brown, “You have to check out the guitarist! He is shredding it. He is absolutely killing it.” That’s a statement with weight, coming from a seasoned guitarist speaking of one probably in his early-to-mid 20s. But he was right.
Jay W. freaked out on the guitar through the whole set. He was sweaty and he was happy and maybe coolest of all, he was humble about his fast pace, jaw-dropping plucking and sliding. A few times there would be this cute banter between him and the audience: “Thank you guys. You guys are the best.” Cheering. “Nah, come on.” Clapping and yelling. “No, youuu guys are the best.” …Stuff like that. They were happy to be on stage, representing Lincoln’s music scene with all the other bands on the big bill.
The guys’ charming demeanor and absolutely fun music that urges audience members to let loose and shake your body and hair and just not care provided for an enjoyable and energetic set.
[title size=”2″ style=”options: default, sidebar”]Beaver Damage[/title]
Beaver Damage was another shift in genres. It’s good they did not perform right after Josh Hoyer and the Shadowboxers, because the slide of things would have been way off. It’s possible that many of the lovers of souls, blues and funk at Duffy’s might not have digged the thrashy, screaming, BAMBAMBAMBAMBAM that was Beaver Damage.
I’m not comparing Beaver Damage to Bam Bam on the Flintstones. On the contrary, Beaver Damage’s music was certainly not primitive. It was modern and complex, a general statement that can be said of any metal band. It’s safe to categorize Beaver Damage as metal. That’s what they were producing on stage. Vibes of punk and rock shined through, as well.
This type of music hasn’t been heavy in Lincoln Exposed thus far. But the diversity is welcomed by lovers of the niche sound and by optimists who are open-minded and patient enough to hang out for the show even if they typically wouldn’t attend a metal show otherwise (this is another neat facet of Lincoln Exposed). These groups of people is what made up the sparse crowd at Duffy’s during Beaver Damage.
Categorizations and stereotypes aside, Beaver Damage played a solid and vigorous set. The audience approved; there was even some long hairs swinging around in the air. The crowd was no where close for a mosh, but given the right atmosphere, maybe these guys could inspire one. Though metal is an acquired taste, it cannot be argued that it is one of the most difficult types of music to master in all of its fast-paced, BAMBAMBAMBAMBAM glory and Beaver Damage did a nice job living up to the reputation.
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[title size=”1 to 6″ style=”options: default, sidebar”]2. Lincoln Exposed Day 2: ZOO BAR[/title]
Story by Matt Knapp | Photos by Patrick Wright
Night two of Lincoln Exposed at the Zoo Bar had no shortage of talent. Here’s a recap of what went down.
[Before Honeyboy Turner Band, Pat Bradley opened up the night and was followed by Charlie Burton, a staple live musician for Lincoln blues lovers.]
[title size=”2″ style=”options: default, sidebar”]Honeyboy Turner Band[/title]
Honeyboy Turner Band felt right at home playing at Lincoln’s only blues bar, and reminded us all what the definition of “cool” is. Sporting suits and sunglasses, this 4-piece blues act spit out sounds that would make only tapping your foot an insult. Harmonica solos dominated many of the songs in their 45 minute set, and nobody on stage was shy about taking the microphone and sounding just as soulful as the last singer did. These seasoned musicians knew how to put on a show, and they did not disappoint.
[title size=”2″ style=”options: default, sidebar”]Powerful Science[/title]
Powerful Science took the stage next, and gave the audience a completely different taste of Lincoln. What started out as a loud, forceful rock performance dominated by their lead singer and crazy meters quickly evolved into funk-esque 4 part harmonies and crazy synthesizer solos that got people on their feet and moving. By the halfway point of the set, it seemed as if there was an entirely different band on stage. A crowd favorite was the falsetto duet that they pulled off flawlessly.
[title size=”2″ style=”options: default, sidebar”]Powers[/title]
Continuing the trend of ‘power’ was Powers, a 4-piece rock group that melted faces from their first chord to their last. Featuring lead guitar solos that had the audience going wild, Powers had blew the roof off of the Zoo Bar by the end of their first song. With enough time at the end of their set, Powers obliged the Zoo Bar crowd and played the first encore of the night. Nobody would have been a better lead in to the final band of the night at the Zoo Bar.
[title size=”2″ style=”options: default, sidebar”]Handsomer Jaws[/title]
Wrapping up night two of Lincoln Exposed was Seed’s featured Handsomer Jaws. They were a perfect end to a fantastic night of music. Simply put, these three know how to rock. With heartfelt lyrics, spot-on riffs, and an unbeatable personality, Handsomer Jaws had the crowd in their pocket before they could make it to the front of the stage to dance with the band. With just enough time left before they were kicked off the stage, they gave the audience an unforgettable cover of The Killers’ “All These Things That I’ve Done.”
Night two of Lincoln Exposed made it even more clear that Lincoln’s music scene is alive and strong. When multiple genres can take the stage one after another and still bring an audience to their feet, it’s a testament to the talent that calls Lincoln home.
Lincoln Exposed lasts until Saturday, Feb 8. See the full schedule here: http://seedsent.com/lincoln-exposed-2014-schedule/
