Star City Blog / Music

Lincoln Exposed 2010: Reminding You That Lincoln is a Music City

 By Cory Kibler
The Lincoln music scene is a strange animal, often defying the rules of logic.  Despite the modest size of our city, we have more bands than you can shake a stick at.  We boast a few nationally-recognized bands, as well as countless regional heroes.  The scene is definitely diverse. Punk and metal bands thrive, and the same can be said of those that play blues, hip-hop, country, folk and rock.

Currently, Lincoln is in the process of putting itself on the music map and declaring itself a music city.  Lincoln isn’t the same size as some other musically famous cities, but what we lack in population, we more than make up for in quality acts and events.   

The final (and arguably the most arduous) step is that Lincoln needs to start self-identifying as a music city. This doesn’t mean just the bands, the fans, the press or the city government. It includes everyone in the city of Lincoln. If we start defining Lincoln as a strong music city, everyone else may start to pay attention.  

Paleo to Perform at Clawfoot House November 17

By Cory Kibler
     
Paleo, aka David Strackany, is pushing the boundaries of rock-lifestyle in several different ways, and it has everything to do with the music.  It’s not because he’s partying 24/7 with trace amounts of drugs on all of his possessions.  He doesn’t come off as decadent or concerned with his status.  Instead, he’s a thoughtful, grounded guy who is always--and I mean always--writing, recording, and touring.
     
Paleo is probably most well known for his “Song Diary” project, which consisted of writing a song a day for a full year (Spring 2006 to Spring 2007).  And that’s just the tip of the iceberg: when I took a look at his website and saw his tour history, I started to feel exhausted myself.  It is expansive to say the very least.

Lincoln Recording Studios Information

Compiled by Joshua Hoyer

The following is a collection of factual information and sample recordings that didn't fit conveniently into the four part series on Lincoln Recording Studios (links to which can be found here: Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV).  To hear music, hover the mouse over the gray MP3 player and click.

LINCOLN RECORDING STUDIOS

DISTANT STATIONS RECORDING CO.
Website: www.myspace.com/bryanklopping
Location: N/A
Hours: Negotiable
Rates: Negotiable

Gear, engineers, philosophy: I focus on putting a lot of abstract thinking and artistic tinges on a piece.  I produce music as I record it.

Past projects: Bryan Klopping, Luminoso Lashkar, Calling Home, The Wright Bombers.

Lincoln Recording Studios: Part IV

By Joshua Hoyer

The following is the fourth and final article in the “Lincoln Recording Studios” series begun on August 24th.

Links to Part I, Part II, and Part III.

THE CONVERSATION PART IV

How do you see the future of recorded music? And do you think downloads and other technology are helpful, harmful, or both? In what way?
Brendan McGinn:  Coming from the non-traditional studio setting, I think downloads, etc. are helpful. Maybe not if a band's full album can be found online and the band didn't give permission for that. But MP3 blogs are the wave of the future--anyone can find a few songs from new bands and can go from there if they want to find out more about a band. I think we will begin to see .zip files as digital albums with a little picture for cover art, and it can all be put on the MP3 player, totally reducing production costs on packaging for underground bands.

Pick Up the Phone! It's Lincoln Calling

By Joshua Hoyer

Eight downtown venues. Five days. 106 musical acts. And endless reasons for all of Lincoln to celebrate the annual music festival known as Lincoln Calling.

The festival is poised to take Lincoln's downtown area by storm in this, its sixth year of existence. Since 2004, attendance numbers have grown, with the largest leap being last year. Over 2,300 people attended the festival in 2008, a true spark for commerce in downtown Lincoln. The festival, which features bands from Lincoln and Omaha and hosts various national touring acts, is bigger and better than ever. 

Lincoln Recording Studios: Part III

By Joshua Hoyer

The following article is the third in the “Lincoln Recording Studios” series begun on August 24th.

Links to Part I and Part II.

THE CONVERSATION PART III:

How much of your time is spent producing? How much does being part of the creative process come into play in your studio?
Brendan McGinn:  I am not sure what "producing" would entail. That's subjective. I can give feedback to the bands, but I am just there to document what they are doing. I might suggest a mic-ing technique, but I have no interest in re-arranging songs.

Lincoln Recording Studios: Part I

By Joshua Hoyer

Cursive, Bright Eyes, The Faint, JV All-Stars, Dave Gonzalez, Kris Lager Band, UUVVWWZ. Sounds like a list that could be found on the website of recording studios in L.A. or Nashville. But the reality is, all these bands were recorded in Lincoln, NE, and the list is growing.  

From small basement studios, to some of the finest facilities in the nation, Lincoln is a hotbed of music recording and activity. Over the past couple of weeks, I have been corresponding with as many recording facilities in the area as I could find. Although I may have missed some of the smaller underground studios, one thing I have learned is that a large number of people in Lincoln are knowledgeable and passionate about recording music.

Interview with Underground Pop Artist John Freidel

By Ashley Buck

“You are into music ‘mathematically’. Why do you choose pop?” I ask.

“I just think that it’s the most beautiful. A lot of people think that pop music is what they hear on the radio. But when I think of pop it’s The Everly Brothers, the early Beatles, its Doo wop, its Motown…you have to think about it applying to more than one genre…I love a good melody and a good hook on things. I love it still being able to rock and have a psychedelic edge and weird textures; things people haven’t heard before but they can still relate and we can make the music listenable to everybody.”

The who: singer/songwriter John Freidel (pronounced fry-dell)

The where: The Manhattan Deli.

The why: to let ya’ll know about what’s happenin’ on music scene

The how: By having lunch with John Freidel at work

Who is this infamous creature of the “underground” Lincoln music scene with his shape shifting stage names and catchy pop melodies? That’s what I was trying to find out.