Take Cover Lincoln 2015 at The Bourbon

Surrounded by Nebraska music fans in the black-walled Bourbon Theatre, AZP revamped Universe Contest’s “The Day the Earth Took Pills” with soulful vocals, an extra rapped verse and hip-hop beats. And they did it while Universe Contest looked on.

Friday’s fourth annual Take Cover Lincoln at The Bourbon featured 13 more examples of Nebraska artists covering each other. Here were a few other highlights (and find photos of each performer below):

Eli Mardock and Universe Contest debuted new songs, giving The Bourbon the chance to be the first to hear new material.

Churls’ original “Pizza Store” stole laughs as the band shimmied in shimmering pastels and cheetah prints. The venue hushed, though, as Churls banded together as a quartet, showing off vocal talent and cohesiveness for their cover of Dos Hobo Erotica’s “Starfish.”

Gordon’s Aaron Parker opted out of a sound check, relying on loud, emotional vocals and the silent Bourbon crowd that gathered around him for his intimate cover of a David Dondero track.

Universe Contest followed Parker, forcing the tonal shift from an acoustic show to a weird dance party as The Bourbon went dark, the band illuminated only by a few purple lights. In what’s now tradition among the band’s fandom, the audience playfully flung beer cans at the pair during their distorted cover of Bonehart Flannigan’s “Get in the Van Let’s Go,” which Bonehart’s Jon Dell wrote about his time playing in Universe Contest.

The Bottle Tops finished out the night with their rockabilly cover of Shithook’s “Flunkin’ Out Again,” inciting the audience to kick up its heels and swing each other around in circles.

Huge thanks to all the performers who participated.

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