words by Michael Todd | photos by Shannon Claire

The three-person act of Musical Charis laughs to themselves, a bit sarcastically, as their set at Duffy's on Friday comes to a close.

They're reflecting upon the start of their tour, some 40 shows before, when around 10 people shared the stage with them. Now left with three, they are sticking this one out. Fortunately, Orion Walsh — hosting his first formal EP release show in Lincoln — didn't drop out of his solo setup along the road, and Bolzen Beer Band traveled only to Austin for South by Southwest, where the punk polka band busked on the street with Walsh a time or two.

But if anything, the anything-goes feel pervaded the night as Walsh returned home. Musical Charis' Blake Abbey checked the time then threw his cell phone into the crowd. Walsh kept with his more calculated stage persona but still invited members of both bands onstage as well as trombonist Tommy van den Berg of The Jazzocracy and bassist Jason Martin-Tardy of Dude Won't Die. And with Bolzen, well, it just happened to be a holiday on Friday.

See the crowded stage, the band in the crowd and one lucky fan crowd surfing with Shannon Claire's photos below. Listen and purchase Walsh's EP, First By Water Then By Fire, via this link.

Musical Charis

Orion Walsh

Bolzen Beer Band

Michael Todd is Hear Nebraska's managing editor. Shannon Claire is a Hear Nebraska contributor. Each tries to out-nice the other in a constant battle for goodness. Reach them at michaeltodd@hearnebraska.org and shannonc@hearnebraska.org.