'Bent Over Neal' Soundtrack Concert at Vega

Via phone alarms, staged concerts and car radios, the sounds of Nebraska artists set the mood throughout the Omaha-made indie film Bent Over Neal.

Vega hosted the Lincoln premiere of Bent Over Neal yesterday, after the movie debuted in Omaha late last week. Bent Over Neal is a ‘dramedy’ set in Omaha, in which the title character is going through a midlife crisis. Five different featured acts — read more here — from the soundtrack played short, 30-minute sets after the conclusion of the film screening.

Scott Severin was the first artist to play on Vega’s stage. Alternating between soft picking and hard strumming on his acoustic guitar, Severin sang with a loud expressiveness. Next, Jeremy Starkel wielded a strong voice with a soft country twang.

The third act, Rock Paper Dynamite, showcased the tight harmonies of brothers Andrew and Joseph Janousek. Andrew played a driving palm-muted acoustic guitar rhythm throughout the set. Fourth, Eli Mardock created a softer style of music than the previous acts with his falsetto voice and acoustic guitar. Mardock’s “Cut Me Open” is featured at a pivotal moment in Bent Over Neal.

The final act, The Strange Attractors, was alone Sunday night in playing as a full band, contrasting the four acoustic artists that came before. The Omaha band showcased quick, technically-sound guitar solos and skillful bass fills.