Friday Benefit Show to Benefit Nebraska Exposed SXSW Showcase

By Brittany Ward
Feb. 27, 2018

Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development (LPED) and KZUM will be presenting the third annual Nebraska Exposed at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, this year. It’s KZUM’s third year being involved in the show and second year presenting. This Friday, Duffy’s Tavern will host a (21+) benefit show to raise funds and sample some of the Nebraska bands being featured this year. Doors open at 9 p.m. with a $5 cover and the show begins at 9:30.

Better Friend, consisting of Alex Steele (guitar/vocals), Meghan Munyon (vocals), Caleb Wiedel (drums), Kalib Faltys (guitar/vocals), Dylan Richters (bass) is a punk rock band that has been in the Lincoln music scene since 2012. Music can be heard on Spotify and Bandcamp. Check out their album Just Turn Green that was released this past August.

Alternative/metal four-piece band, A Different Breed, is made up of Chuck (bass/vocals), Sean (guitar/vocals), Caleb (guitar/vocals), Tim (drums). The group have been performing together since 2008 and have finally got the opportunity to check SXSW off of their bucket list. The band echoes the sentiments and significance of SXSW, writing,“it’s exciting to go get inspired listening to a lot of talented people do what they’re most passionate about. It’s infectious in a good way. Can’t think of a better way to spend a week than getting to know a lot of people, eating good food and playing some good tunes!” Their current music can be found on Bandcamp, Spotify, and YouTube. See the show on Friday to hear a new song they’ve been working on this winter!

Performing professionally since 2014, HAKIM, is an exciting hip-hop/rap artist to follow. Having recently performed at Lincoln Exposed, he has a tour in the works and is readying for his second time at SXSW. The year has just started and HAKIM shows no signs of slowing down in 2018. Friday’s performance will be different than his SXSW set as HAKIM plans on bringing up other artists on stage with him. On Facebook HAKIM has said, “I want to be the first to create a culture through music and fashion in Nebraska while being notorious for pioneering and taking the risk for the greater good.” There will be a surprise tape to follow up the recently released tape “Young Drifter II.” More music is available on Spotify, YouTube and iTunes.

The Dilla Kids is a hip-hop, jazz, soul three-piece group made up of Marcey Yates and Xoboi that formed in 2016. With influences from Andre 3000 and Mos Def, the groups groove and soul pay homage to the hip-hop giants. Their music is available on YouTube, iTunes, Spotify and Bandcamp. Check out their song “Gluttony” and get ready for The Dilla Kids to take stage Friday night.

SAS has been a singer/songwriter since childhood starting out in humble beginning of rocking the karaoke stage. SAS has since taken the stage to perform her own poetic, heavy-hearted material and has been compared to Joni Mitchell, Kathleen Edwards and Patty Griffin. SAS’s performing is described on Facebook as “brings a warmth and repose to the stage while maintaining a witticism, edginess, and full-bodied sentiment to challenge the most jaded of listenerships.” Music is available on Bandcamp and YouTube.

Nebraska will proudly be presenting 11 bands from the Omaha and Lincoln area this year in Austin. In addition to the five bands performing at Duffy’s this Friday Laughing Falcon, State Disco, Mesonjixx, Orion Walsh, Lloyd McCarter and The Honky Tonk Revival and KHARI The Duo will also be at Nebraska Exposed. The music will be from a variety of genres from honky-tonk, hip-hop, punk and much more, truly representing the music diversity of Nebraska. The showcase will be a free event at Cheers Shot Bar on March 14, starting at 7 p.m. with bands performing on both the rooftop and lower outside terrace stage.