Kris Lager, Kait Berreckman to play Bench Sessions Volume 2
Bazile Mills guitarist Sam Vetter debuted an experimental “house-show-meets-podcast” event over the summer, and after relative success, is bringing it back for another event.
Lincoln’s Kris Lager and Omaha singer/songwriter Kait Berreckman will play Volume 2 of Bench Sessions — Vetter’s invite-only event at Bench co-working space in downtown Omaha — this Friday, Oct 30. As with the first installment, Vetter will interview both musicians post show, and craft the audio into a podcast. Check out volume 1 here, which features Los Angeles troubadour Jared Burton.
Again, as an invite-only show, space is limited. Inquire via Facebook here.
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Introducing Omaha electronic duo Castor & Lux, premiering emotional single
What started as a bedroom project for Omaha musician Noel Minchow has blossomed into a fully-sculpted electronic project, and we’re pleased to introduce it today via Hear Nebraska.
Castor & Lux, the Omaha fraternal duo of Minchow and his brother Nate, have announced the release of its debut EP Keep Time, recorded earlier this year with Ben Brodin at ARC Studios. It drops this Friday via Spotify, iTunes and elsewhere.
Noel Minchow, 23, began writing the tracks for Keep Time more than two years ago on a detuned upright piano at his parent’s lakeside Cedar Creek, Neb., home. After penning lyrics and laying out melodies as the skeleton, he brought in Nate, 18, to help finish them. Both are keyboard players by trade and computer scientists; Nate is currently working on his software engineering degree.
With the EP announcement comes Castor & Lux’s premiere single “Come Up.” Its beat pulsates and pops, pushing its sci-fi synths and eerie keys along. The track recalls Yeasayer, combining elaborate composition with Noel’s emotional tenor and cryptic, abstract lyrics.
Noel raves about his experience at ARC, and given Brodin’s extensive resume, the decision to record there was a no-brainer.
“You’re always nervous going in, but as soon as we walked in there everybody was on the same page,” Noel says.
Moving forward, Noel says he’s eager to perform the songs live, though the duo has nothing booked yet. They are currently refining their live set in anticipation of finding a show.
Hear the premiere of Castor & Lux’s “Come Up” below, and check out the band via Soundcloud here.
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Concert Round-up
Tonight, Sufjan Stevens plays Orpheum Theater with Los Angeles R&B singer Gallant. The well-known singer/songwriter released critically acclaimed Carrie & Lowell in January, in which he addresses his mother’s struggles with being bipolar and schizophrenic. It is Stevens’s seventh full-length record, released on his own Asthmatic Kitty Records. Earlier this year,Gallant released breakout single “Weight In Gold,” which has since blown up. RVSP to the 7:30 p.m. show here, and find tickets here.
In Lincoln, Faded Black plays a metal-heavy billing at Duffy’s Tavern with For Edward and Hope For The Fallen. This 21+ is $5, RSVP here.
Also tonight, Opera Omaha continues its National Opera Week celebration with one-act show “The Human Voice” at House of Loom. Composed by Francis Poulenc and based on the play “La Voix Humaine” by Jean Cocteau, the story finds a woman reeling after her lover has left her for another. After three days, the two have a final conversation, in which the woman’s dignity unravels. The show is free, and while walk-ins are welcomed, it’s best to reserve tickets to guarantee entry (which you can do here). RSVP here.
As always, head to our statewide calendar at hearnebraska.org/events for a fuller listing of shows. If you do not see your show or one you plan to attend, email us at news@hearnebraska.org, or add it yourself. And keep those song submissions, story ideas and news tips coming.