Benson After Dark l Ingrained Videos

As I scanned the schedules of the last couple mini-music festivals that have come and gone, I've started noticing fewer and fewer of the bands I recognized. Initially for me, it's off-putting. I start assuming the bands are playing one of their first shows and how crappy that's going to be. I find I'm already a bit crotchety at 27. Yikes. 

Then young gun and HN contributor Chevy Anderson reached out, saying he was real excited to help produce video, and asked about shooting at Benson after Dar, July 28 during Benson Days. He didn't know any of the bands, either, but that made him excited. It made me realize that just two years ago I was starting to shoot shows in Omaha. Sometimes you get stuck inside circles of friends and bands you like, and forget how any of those people even got there. 

Enough of that. 

So with some reccomendations from booking agent/promoter Marq Manner, Chevy and I went out and captured a couple new and exciting bands.

First, we went to Barley Street and shot The Love Technicians, a bouncy electro-pop duo with lots of energy to spare. They played a fun tune called "The Golden State," featuring a funky chorus: "Don't try to say we didn't warn you but the bears and junkies out in California will try to break into your car." It's a fun song.

The Golden State by The Love Technicians from Ingrained on Vimeo.

We swung over to the Sydney to capture underground punk legend Jim Jacobi and his Crap Detectors. It's fierce, angry punk rock from a guy your father's age. Marq and I were blown away by Jacobi's guitar playing — the guy can shred even in a three-cord rocker. (Read our Echos piece on the band from February 2010 for more context, including an awkward addition from The Dead Kennedy's Jello Biafra.)

Song by Crap Detectors from Ingrained on Vimeo.

We crashed at the Waiting Room to see female-led hard-rock act 3rd & Delaware. Featuring three tough women, this band had the walls shaking with a heavy vibration. All the women share vocals, including bombastic drummer Roselle, who was just fun to watch play.

Road Nowhere by 3rd & Delaware from Ingrained on Vimeo.

Wayne Brekke convinced me to check out his new rock outfit, The Ground Tyrants, who played next so we stayed, grabbed a drink and then captured their new song, "Big Gun," which has a hypnotizing hook to it.

Big Gun by Ground Tyrants from Ingrained on Vimeo.

A ton of bands played that night, and these are just a few of the ones we saw. The experience opened my eyes, and I hope one of these videos does for you, too.

Give the new and unheard-of bands a chance and you might be surprised who becomes your new favorite band.

Camera: Chevy Anderson, Andrew Roger

Audio/Edit: Andrew Roger

You can find more Ingrained videos on Vimeo and Youtube.

Andrew Roger is a Hear Nebraska contributor and director of Ingrained. Contact him at andrew.j.roger@gmail.com.