[Editor's note: This Q&A previews Universe Contest's free showcase with The Renfields and The Lepers tonight at 9 p.m. at The Bourbon. RSVP here.]

Here's hoping guitarist and vocalist Tim Carr found some clothes. He and the rest of Universe Contest wore cutoff jeans — and little else — to their concert outside Wells Fargo in downtown Lincoln at noon. Some pockets were deeper than inseams as the band played through their set to fans and curious passersby. Afterward, word is Carr went to a job interview.

Tonight, the band travels just a couple blocks down O Street to The Bourbon for their free Maha/HN showcase with The Renfields and The Lepers. To preview the concert, I asked a handful of questions about one UC song, "Snake Stand." Listen closely to that second verse, and give us your best guess for what the lyrics are.

All of Universe Contest's music is available for free on their Bandcamp page. The band is among other locals and national touring acts including Desaparecidos, Garbage, Delta Spirit and Conduits picked to play the Maha Music Festival, which takes place Aug. 11 at Stinson Park in Omaha.

Hear Nebraska: I hear you guys have a new practice space. What's that like?

Tim Carr: We just had our first practice there. It’s an old school in an unnamed location. We don’t want bad guys to find out where it is. But we’ve got two rooms out of four in the school, and they’re ours.

HN: What does “Snake Stand” mean to you?

TC: Good question. I don’t know. I never listen to it, I just play it. I think what it means is overcoming disappointment. Who knows?

HN: Do you play the song slower live?

TC: It depends. My delay pedal is based on how fast I tap it. Usually, I’m pretty exhausted by the time we play it, so that could be why it’s slower.