Soundwave: 1733 Purpose

First and foremost this magazine is in the realm of pseudo-journalism that I would like to call objective opinionated analysis. To summarize, this is NOT a journal designed for the following:

Hit pieces
Slander
Album Reviews
Fluff pieces
Drama
Other Bullshitery

This music journal is intended to spotlight artists, venues, music related shops and festivals. All through first hand accounts as much as possible, my descriptive analysis and thoughts on live shows, albums, merchandise, tours and more. This is no way meant to pit artists or groups against each other but rather to give some sort of meeting place for the Kearney area to distribute the work through a print and online magazine.

In my descriptions I will be analyzing current performers’ aesthetics and art direction in reference to artists in music history, both underground and legendary. NEVER is an article intended to be taken as gospel or “The Final Word” on anything, but only taken as a means to participate in a conversation.

Before I go, here is a bit about me. I myself have traveled the world for about 28 years, and fancy myself an amateur music historian. I will die on the hill that I am a 90’s kid since I was born in ‘94! Moving on, I grew up in San Antonio surrounded by Hispanic culture and music, yesterday’s and today’s. My old friends and I, a band called Good City Modern (check socials) used to hang out in the music scene of SATX, ATX and I would frequent trips to Houston; all for concerts and networking. Throughout my time in Texas I have become great friends with many musicians in all ranges of age, and always found a thirst to know how music was made, marketed and remembered through the history of man.

My mother has recently retired from her role as Director of The Music Therapy Department at the San Antonio State School and my father is an alumni of the International School of Bangkok of which he toured with a group known as The Young Internationals, which serves similar in vein to a USO show, hold the American patriotism. I will also state that I am nowhere near as practiced as any of the musicians I will write about, which is why I don’t feel it’s my place to criticize up and coming artists. I have my preferences as anyone else would; my style boundaries are well defined, but my perspective is open.

My aim is to place Kearney Nebraska and its (re) emerging music scene on the map and help our community create an atmosphere that we are not only proud of, but proud to maintain. My focus is exclusively on Kearney for the time being, but we hope, through your readership, to expand further soon!

1. Sponsor Schedules

2. SoundWave: 1733 Purpose

4. What Is 1733?

6. 2024:1733 (Current Events)

8. Favorite Albums

9. Cover Story: What Makes A Music Scene?

13. Abroad Nebraska: Kearney

19. Musician Spotlight

22. Editor's Notes

Throughout my time living in Kearney for the last six years one rule of building and road construction remains true: “The railroad was here first.” Now to a lot of younger folks who are excited for the latest whip, or for those enamored by the promises of all electric vehicles, the conceptual reach of the railroad industry seems like something from the distant past. However, here in Kearney their influence remains.

1733 is a long forgotten piece of Midwestern and American lore that has escaped our thoughts for 134 years. A number that was once intrinsically tied with the identity of Kearney Nebraska itself. It remains one of many symbols of the unique identities that each state in the Union once held, down to their cities and smaller localities. These identities, not made of ideas of material things, but ones more abstract and thought provoking, one’s that make you remember to ask “Where Am I?”

1733 is a number that references Kearney Nebraska as the center-point of the United States of America, as True Middle; where all roads meet, end and begin, Where All Roads Lead.

It tells a wandering (but not lost) traveler that they are in fact 1733 miles from San Francisco California and 1733 miles from Boston Massachusetts. Between Alcatraz Prison and Fenway Park. Placed at the very center of the US and all of its history. Though you might find yourself confused on your coast to coast journey when you look at your GPS:

“It’s not 1733 miles driving to Boston OR Frisco?!”

And you would be absolutely correct, but you must remember the rule in these kinds of areas. Where there might be dissonance on your road journey, the train conductor outside your window knows the truth.

“The railroad was here first”

Being that is it the center of the United States, it is fair to assume in turn that it is somewhat of a “core” of all encompassing combinations of the other parts that makeup its whole. In a way its fair to say that it doesn’t get more American than here. Again, being that it is the center also means that every kind of person or representation thereof has passed through this area. Here no one is excluded and everyone is welcome.

In my time living here and visiting annually beforehand, I have felt that to be the truth. That Kearney Nebraska is the center of the United States and most everyone is welcome, so long as they provide something back to the community in turn. While writing this I even thought to myself that it would make a fitting Capitol to the US in some alternate universe; and in my research I found that I am no where near the first to think of this.

From the years 1835-1907 there walked a man named Moses H. Sydenham who has a grand proposal in 1870, one, that as a born and raised Texan I have found to be very interesting. In 1870, Moses (as a Statesman) proclaimed that there be a new US Capitol. One in which our emerging rail system could spring forth from like the geometrical center of a flower. In his own words

“I claimed that if Congress passed the act providing for the same, that railroads would center there from all points of the compass, and a large city grow as if by magic; would stimulate business in all the eastern cities and be an impetus for developing the then undeveloped central plains of this republic in Kansas and Nebraska; make our nation’s capital safe from foreign attack, and bind all sections of our country together in one harmonious bond of business.”

Though now a long lost campaign and project left on the dusty shelves, its apparitions still remain. 1733 being one of those old relics that point to a time when things could’ve been vastly different than they are today. There was once a precipice that could’ve landed Kearney Nebraska as the Capitol of the United States.

A few questions I want to leave you with is:
“What does that US Capitol look like? Sound like? Move like?
(Let us know your thoughts for a future editorial)

In closing, who says that being a capitol is solely about a spot on a map. Who says it has to be wholly political reasons and not cultural ones? Why can’t it be a destination in the mind or a place for the soul to come alive? Our communities are what we make them, there is no one else to decide that for us.

1733 – Kearney Nebraska – 40.6993° N, 99.0817° W

The (re)Emergence of Extreme Metal

Before we begin, I want to explain that the type of metal that is discussed here will fall into the catagory of Extreme Metal, that being described as: blindingly quick guitar work, jazzy and intricate composition, roars of revolting and horrifying lyrics, pounding drums at shattering speeds, ancient understandings of forgotten gods and yet to be discovered concepts or any combination of the above.

Most folks can agree that the deep, blackened roots of Metal run from the fields and countrysides of England with acts such as Black Sabbath and Venom. The question after the whirlwind of time that has passed is not so much how it all began, but where the hell is Metal going? And hell for some of you reading you may be wondering where the true spirit of Metal is hiding, or where did it go all those years ago?

Canada.

I’m so very serious. While much of the Metal that we used to enjoy in our youths was based out of the heart of Europe or that once beaconed island to its Northwest, the spirit of progress in the field of Metal is largely touted in The Great North. With bands like Archspire, Beyond Creation and Cryptopsy to name a few.

Literally called “Prog”, shortened from the word Progressive, the prefix is normally attributed to a genre to indicate the breaking of boundaries and conventional norms or expectations of said genre. Usually incorporating themes or literary references to sci-fi, religion, eastern philosophy and anything else. ( or course the easiest reach is Satan, there’s more to write about than that)

Then on another hand there is what’s called Technical Metal for all my sweepers, shredders and gear heads out there. Named appropriately it means exactly what you think it does: this is where speed, ability, endurance and consistency come into play. Alongside, of course some manner of proficient writing ability to produce these lightspeed ensembles.

I go to the trouble of mentoning these two sub genres because I believe that when you put them together in some crucible of sound, what emerges is the true form of Metal itself. Whatever era, whatever was the status quo, it would be usurped by something novel and progressive, something more technical and stimulating than what came before. Like a king divested of his throne what comes next must be new. And it is here I present the pinnacle of boundary pushing in all parameters and realms of Metal.

Progessive Technical Death Metal.

Progessive Technical Death Metal. It is The Sacred Tome, The Protected Wisdom and more akin than anything to the Dead Sea Scrolls and it’s Apocrypha of heavier guitar music.

Just as any new discovery or re-discovery of mankind. The knowledge is apt to spread far and wide and is also subject to interpretation and assimilations rendered by the lands of which novel ideas travel. Just as many lands have many differing laws, so too do they have differing musical scales and expectations as to how music is arranged and created. Here is where you add the best spice of life to Progressive Technical Death Metal, variety of sound and content.

Beyond Creation, Montreal Canada (Technical Death Metal)

VIRVUM, Zürich, Switzerland (Progressive Technical Death Metal)

Photos by Dora Llanes

Beyond Creation
Earthborn Evolution
Montreal, Quebec, CA

Good City Modern
Barefoot Slave Faires
San Antonio, Texas, US

IV & The Strange Band
Southern Circus
Nashville, Tennessee, US

Jatayu
Chango Tales
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

What Makes a Music Scene?By Teja Vedurumudi

Where ever we live there is a culture, a collective understanding of abstract ideas like religion, politics, human achievement and art. Now, even though art has many forms and stylizations, I ask you to look at the specific realm of music and sound. When you zoom into the “arm” (like a galaxy) of art that is, the artistry and journey of mastery over sound, you will find there as well, a sub-culture of sound. A common understanding of what is accepted and what sound is sought after, along with methods to progress the music to the way it ought to sound, and it may challenge your conventional beliefs about “where music is today.” Depending of course, where you are.

The question becomes: is your music scene representative of what is around you, being stories, legends and a common understanding that unities the community into the future?

When you think about a concert or show that handed you a profound experience, I ask you to think about one that wasn’t hosted in a massive arena, with a group of artists who will make more money than any handful of folks you’ll ever meet.

Think about the more intimate shows at smaller venues, with the people who could be your neighbors, teachers, uncles/aunts, cousins, or siblings.

“What is it about this show that carves out a place in my mind?”

“What about the people, the musicians, the music, the setting reached out to me the most that night? Why do I think that is?

“Were they my friends or strangers?

Finally: “Could I see them anywhere else and feel the same energy?”

In my opinion these are some of the questions that are asked most prominently in a healthy music scene. These thoughts don’t arise out of an overly cohesive scene, where no one wants to outshine another. These thoughts come out of a scene that can meet one genre on their level and simultaneously or in that same week be able to meet a polar opposite genre in their wheelhouse and pull crowds regardless. Where there is healthy competition and collaboration above all else.

Here’s what I’m getting at, is your music scene able to host a range of genres and acts? Is it beholden to only one type of genre to find success? For example, can Country, Metal and Hip-Hop exist in a harmonious meeting of the minds AND be held in relative equal standing among the community fanbase? Can everyone sit at the table in the mind with artists, producers, venues and the fans? Are one of these parties causing more problems than crafting solutions, or is there a visceral division somewhere? Are there bad actors who tear others down or just a difference in preferences that can’t mingle? How do we, as a community address these problems and those like them that arise? Do we, as fans, market our artists that we love or let them flounder alone and complain later that “they just didn’t have what it takes”?

But do the fans have to love ALL MUSIC, EVERY TIME? No, they can be exposed to an abundance of genres or styles and find merit in most of what is showcased, that is based solely on their values and virtues regarding the artform, if any at all. Is information flowing in all directions or is there a gate being kept? Variety is the spice of life, as fans we should be excited that eclectic, wide ranging music is available so close to home, and right here in America! You don’t have to pay premiums to hear music that pushes the envelope, these people are here in your region! The number of artists that either maintain the tenants of older genres or pioneer news avenues is astounding. But recognizing and developing a thriving music atmosphere doesn’t happen on a wish and a dream, it happens through a collective noise, and I mean damn right noise, by which I also mean:

Be Hyped About Your Craft, because that is the most valuable and genuine marketing; it may seem overly optimistic, but when you are genuinely excited about the craft it bleeds into the work itself.

Whether that craft is music creation,or fine arts in general; the spread of new ideas, the spread of musician notoriety through actual conversation and sharing. Buy the merch, buy each other’s merch, see a show you wouldn’t normally see, write about it. No respectable blacksmith would sell a sword he didn’t believe in.

And to any readers out there who are unsure if their music is wanted, you have to find out, you have to learn where music truly is today, here’s a hint: it probably in your area.

On the note of fine art I have to mention the mostly overlooked relationship between the auditory artist and the visual artist. A relationship that is put on display at it’s maxim when enjoyed together as one cohesive piece of art, and the best place go find this blend of crafts is the album covers and art of your favorite musicians. Here, the marriage between perspectives is witnessed. Two or more outputs of human consciousness juxtaposed in such a way that it makes the viewer believe these creations were made in tandem, or even in the same smoke circle. However, often that is not the case. If the art

If the art accompanying an album was not made by the musicians or their entourages, it will either be commissioned for the album or chosen out of infinite space to become the letterhead to a possible legendary work. My point in bringing up two wildly different albums is this: there is something that each of these artists, their produces, a friend, whoever in the process saw and felt deeply enough to assign to the project at hand. The visual twin flame to the audio project at hand. The perfect match across concepts, modes of expression or the easily reachable: time and space.

And this happens every day, everywhere. Find and trust your visual artists in your scene. Invite them to your listening parties, go get beers together and definitely invite them to your shows. Together these two forces can help cultivate the scene and create threads to bring in various types of people. Art in all forms speaks to people, so to combine these efforts is to not only empower the scene but to cast a wider net across your community.

I come from a city that relinquished all the responsibility they had to the scene: from the musicians themselves being rude and unruly drunks, to venues that would cut them down to the bottom dollar, along with sound people who didn’t give a damn about anything. (Shoutout Tom at The Otherside for being the most solid sound man I’ve ever seen in at least 12 states) All of these groups together, not even mentioning the scheming and lackadaisical producers and promoters pushing only what they liked, oversaw the downfall of he music scene I grew up with in San Antonio Texas. Today, many of the folks I used to go to shows with are picking up the slack as former fans turned show promoters and free lance booking agents. With no financial prospects ahead they cleave forward and move the limping scene into a new dawn. (Shoutout to Good CIty Modern, Ali Simpson and MissionDIY210)

Above all else, the reason I made this magazine is to give a place for musicians to tell their story, spell out their mission, network and ultimately build up these scene into something WE THE PEOPLE want and not what is sold through cookie cutter production lines. Because I don’t want to see this emerging music scene fall victim to the easy trappings of the music industry. I want everyone here to be informed all the way up and down the ladder; from producer to fan, I want us all to have information on our scene so that we are more united as a city when the suits and labels come knocking. I promise,with rate this city is growing they will, and we must be ready for every dollar waved in our faces.

The OtherSide Bar & Venue
15 E 24th St, Kearney, NE 68847

Kearney, NE; What can I say? The OtherSide is, in my opinion, Kearney’s premier bar and venue for pretty much any genre of music! My friends and I have seen all kinds of shows here, including but not limited to: The Hooten Hollars, King Iso, Hemlock, Hank (Coleman) Williams IV, and Afro Man! That’s not even including the local acts that are mind blowing!

Founded by Matt Epp in 2018, The OtherSide is housed in what was formerly known as The Garage and it has shown itself to be head and shoulders above most venues in business right now. Now before the pitchforks come out, let me explain: every single venue here in town has its pros and cons, some have a better selection of a certain kind of music as opposed to others. Some venues may ONLY specialize in one type of music, or they may be too small; but that’s where things are different.

I cannot stress this enough, this is not a bar that is meant expressly for the elder crowd or expressly for the younger crowd. This is a true venue meant for almost all, except when the shows are 18+, then it’s truly all!

The Otherside not only features a beautiful bar against its back wall but boasts a huge selection of local and regional craft beer alongside all the lite favorites. Just above the taps is a massive selection of liquor the likes of which is not seen outside of high class bars in Austin Tx or Irvine Ca. Just to the right of the bar and behind the door is a kitchen that is constantly at work: The Toasted Goat, The Otherside’s in-house sandwiches and bar food hub, because of her,every night is covered in BBQ goodness. From gourmet sandwiches, to stacked nachos, to cheesy bread sticks, you have to come hungry.

Across from the window of the Toasted Goat is the long strip of seating area that is positioned above and corralling the drop down “pit” area just under the stage. The stage itself is of respectable size, reminiscent of stages like Fitzgeralds or The Paper Tiger down in San Antonio Tx, and enough to fit six members comfortably.

Did I mention the upstairs? When you exit the pit, and head along the bar you will see a beautiful staircase that will lead you to a rentable, fully seated, top floor that has its own cocktail lounge incorporated into it. Upstairs you will also find assorted games such as pinball, skeeball, darts and a pool table. It’s the perfect place for reunions, retirements and celebrations of all kinds. And finally, all of this is flanked by double doors that lead you to a nicely lit, elevated patio that is directly across the street from MONA Art Museum of Kearney.

his is one of the venues that has the potential to be known on a national level, one that could be a monument for bands traveling through the midwest via the Lincoln Denver Connection. I’m sure our readers know, but in the traveling musician culture there are landmark small venus that are remembered and later sought out by artists for ages after due to its “hallowedness”. Right here in Kearney, there is potential to elevate the whole scene and this is its center

Buffalo Record & Skateshop and The Vinyl Revolution
19 E 21st St, Kearney, NE 68845

Kearney, NE; Buffalo Records opened in 2015 as a passion project for Rex and Bryce, two Kearney Nebraska natives who brought their love of records back from the brink. In a seemingly innocuous move that is part of a larger revolution, the world over!

For some context, the general consensus among the record collecting community is that vinyl record sales began to suddenly decline sharply between 1988 and 1991. When looking at the charts of record sales alone, it seems very unexpected and seems as if it happened all at once; when the reality is very different. Though 8 Tracks and Cassettes existed in parallel, new mediums of music were rising to stake their claim; this including Compact Discs and the entirety of the internet as we know it today.

Fast Forward to 2007 and the first rumblings of the Record Revival as it is called; however it would take time for the medium to reach the form it is in today, which we will talk about later. In the late 00s musicians began experimenting with the medium in ways similar to HipHop, Rap, & R&B artists in the late 80s and 90s. Not only did sampling from records become more popular but so did the multilayering of these samples due to new forms of music being pioneered through DAWs (Digital Audio Workspaces), all of which required records to sample the BEST uncompressed qualities in each record.

Fast Forward again to 2015 and we have Buffalo Records opening its doors on 19 E 21st St in Kearney. At first offering a selection of records made up of parts of either’s collection as well as donations from others looking to offload seemingly innocuous records. In 2017 the last big box stores said they would no longer stock CDs in store. It is understood that the rise of MP3s and the revival of vinyl records contributed to the overall subversion of the compact disc.

Buffalo Records has since participated in many Record Store Day celebrations. This is an International event, these are select days of each year when special album releases are pressed on vinyl in vibrant colors or sometimes for the first time ever on either solid black or a rare multicolored press!

Buffalo Records has also expanded their stock to include store branded merchandise and skateboards from various notable brands. With each new section that they bring to the store they also offer special orders on products such as vinyl, skateboards, parts and accessories. Rex and Bryce’s and their respective wives’ dedication to this music medium as well as the dedication of thousands of others just like them have helped revive vinyl records as a medium. This has helped two and half generations discover music that some feared would be lost to time! Allowing a new generation of collectors to rise up as well, but that is a different story.

The World Theatre – Kearney, NE
Central Ave & 24th Kearney NE,68847

The World Theater is much more than just a fun place to watch movies with your date on a weekend or get a $5 Movie Ticket to a movie that hasn’t been in circulation in thirty five years. It is also a totally volunteer-run operation that helps create the effect of walking into a Vaudeville Era theater in the middle of 2023. Weekend night after weekend night the volunteers work to create one the cleanest, politest and otherwise transporting movie experiences depending on what you are witnessing.

I know that for most folks in the modern day when someone says Theater it usually makes us think of a movie theater with modern movies, however this is a Theatre first! Theater, second. Meaning that even still you can catch a live production put on by one of the local theatre groups, you may even find yourself at a traveling stand up show.

The facade of the theatre itself is breathtaking and takes me back to a time when the arts were a highly respected form of expression regardless of the medium. Upon entry you are greeted with what feels like a trip through a scriptwriters study on the left and a sweets shop right out of the 40s on the right. The seating in the viewing room itself is stadium style so that no one’s head will be directly in front of someone else’s. There is also a balcony section and elevated table section as well for the local craft beer and wines that they have available at the concessions stand.

I myself had the opportunity to see Ben Bailey from Cash Cab and his stand up routine that he did in 2023. It was a great time and what an atmosphere to see it in. I blinked and thought I was watching a production at the Majestic Theatre, but no! Such an experience is right here in Kearney Nebraska! I urge our readers to catch a movie there on a weekend evening.

The World
Theatre

SHOWS
EVERY
WEEKEND
New Seating
New Upstairs

Popcorn
Drinks
21+ Small Selection

Kearney, NE; Stone the Thrones was a band that was quite unique in Nebraska for many reasons. In terms of sound, STT was a blend, in my opinion, that falls somewhere between the 60s haze of one of the greatest summers of all time, into the hangover that is 90s era grunge. Now when I say 60s and 90s your mind may immediately see images of Jimi Hendrix and Nirvana, or more into the alley ways of 13th Elevators and Tad. This group smartly blended the psychedelic efforts of groups like Jefferson Airplane(Starship) and acts like Alice in Chains into a powerful tightly played show that brings local venues alive.

To take things a step further are the individuals that make up the band itself.

Chris Leet, a Texas native is a drummer who remembers the days when acts like Nirvana and Pantera were up and coming. His mind was shaped in the halls of bands like Deadhorse and Dresden 45. His drums, sampling and writing reflect those memories well in the music.

Mark Schaefer, is guitarist whose metal bedrock forms the foundation of rhythm that is accented by djents and harmonics without getting overly technical. His musical background is literally on the wall of the STT’s place of practice, from Dying Fetus to A Perfect Circle the music is reflected in ability.

Mikey Becerra; the prog rock, folk, Latin, Funk and various eras of psychedelia. The bass playing qualities are not only reminiscent of heroes like Justin Chancellor (Tool) and Colin Edwin (Porcupine Tree) but lean into the territory of Primus’ Les Claypool and former Beyond Creation bassist Forest. His stage presence and vibe is reminiscent of the live Soul Sacrifice performance by Santana in 1969.

Professor Keeran Woode provides ambient drums that on a first listen may remind one of the jiving sounds of Santana’s Soul Sacrifice. Though one would be mistaken; the son of the late Ghanaian and western-jazz drummer Morgan Woode will add a layer to the sound that is unlike most heard on this side of the great dividing waters. The traditional hand drumming provides a transient, at times: interstellar feeling to the aforementioned alternative bedrock laid out by the rest of the band. Maria Rodriguez provides an explosive performance with a powerful voice that reminds me simultaneously of the earthshaking Grace Slick (Jefferson Airplane) and the blaze of glory that was Selena. Her writing and tone control provides an incredible insight into the mind of a young Latina woman in the 2020s, the stories told represent a life of coming to understand oneself and their relationships with others. The soundscape of this conversation is perfectly set in cohesion with her bandmates and her powerful voice shakes the concrete undergrowth of most venues that Stone The Thrones visits.

his is a band that could’ve belonged well on the world stage, but here at home in Kearney they breathed new life into the music scene with this project. We here at Soundwave:1733 and Musician Connection will miss this group and their art they made together dearly. Though I’ve tried my best, their music cannot be easily compared to any generation of music or genre in particula, this music is something to be experienced on its own merits. Straight out of the Midwest! Straight out of Kearney!

Now enough with the tears! Beyond this memoriam is the self-titled album released by Stone The Thrones in 2023 and also one Single: Mind Corruption, that was not featured on the final album.

The members of Stone the Thrones are still alive and well; continuing on their individual journeys both musically and personally. You can still catch guitarist Mark Schaefer in his band Vehemoth, as well as Chris Leet in other various projects around Central Nebraska. The bassist Mikey can still be found with his passion project: The Swimbirdz. Keeran Woode is still a percussion instructor at Grand Island High School and enjoys his days as the music director at Aurora United Methodist Church.

In my closing opinion, I am not sure there will another band quite like Stone The Thrones out here; the most we can do now is wait for reunion or promises ourselves that the next time each of us sees and hears musical gold, we support them as much as we can! Its all of us together, backing what we love, that grows the scene ever onward!

Editors Notes

Thank You So Much! Email us and tell us what you want to see featured, tell us how we could do things differently or what we are doing right! Also email us if you would like to write for this publication!

Currently I am one person working to make this issue directly from my own pockets. In the future we will also be launching an online component to this magazine in an effort to cut down on paper usage and to give readers a way to follow links for more information and research. In the future I hope to be able to gather the resources necessary to conduct meaningful interviews and hopefully even sponsor some concerts for various genres. I really do love this town, and I know its growing, leaving behind certain qualities and coming to know new ones. My goal is to help administer some healthy dialogue into our scene so that we can be united and recognize who our friends our out here in this seemingly overconnected world. Remember folks, it takes a village to change the world.

If you want to suggest any stories, new sections we could tackle or want to submit your work, Email Us!

No part of this magazine was made with ChatGPT or any other similar generative AI constructs.

soundwave1733@gmail.com
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