Michael - vocal
Ben - guitar
Stax - bass
Jarrod - drums
Influences
The Smiths, Smashing Pumpkins, Elliott Smith, Stone Roses, Nick Cave, The Pogues, Pixies, Husker Du, Johnny Cash, Bruce Springsteen, The Clash, Red House Painters, Weezer, Bob Dylan, Afghan Whigs, Pearl Jam, Manic Street Preachers, At the Drive-in, The Replacements...
Sounds Like
Everything that keeps you awake at night.
Everything that makes it worth getting up in the morning.
It was in late 2005 that renowned producer/engineer Adrian Hall (The Clash, Live 8, Ray Davies) picked up a rough demo that had been laying on his cluttered desk for a number of weeks. On hearing Nebraska's 'The Sound Stars Make' he was hooked and instantly picked up the phone to get in touch with songwriters, London-based Welsh-born Benjamin Todd (Guitar) and Michael J Hall (Vocals).
Following various incarnations that had seen Nebraska play up and down the country and at dozens of London venues over the previous two years, the band had begun to rise to prominence on the much-touted New Cross anti-scene that heralded the likes of Bloc Party and Art Brut, and had a wealth of material just waiting to be realised with a willing and able producer.
The resulting album 'The Path to the Silent Country' was recorded by Adrian in early 2006 and released in October of that year through Hometown Jam Records, the label operated by his prot--g-- Zoe Smith, becoming one of the brightest shining hidden gems of the year. An album that traverses the personal and the political in epic fashion while always maintaining an intimate, off-kilter warmth, it has garnered a wildly enthusiastic response from both fans and the underground press.
Featuring the anthemic stomp of 'A Divine March', the otherworldly grandeur of 'First Russian Winter' and the lachrymose pop of crowd-pleaser 'One Cold Kiss' it is an album that stands as a testament to the incredible songwriting talent of the band and the immense faith and passion they instil in every moment of their music.
A glorious album launch gig at London's Water Rats Theatre saw Nebraska not only sell out the venue but proceed to fill it with the entire album, live and in sequence, to rapturous response.
In following months the band found it's definitive line-up:
Ben Stack - Bass
Jarrod Storm - Drums
Benjamin Todd - Guitar
Michael J Hall - Vocals.
Having been compared favourably to any number of wonderful bands (The Smiths, Afghan Whigs, And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead, Manic Street Preachers) Nebraska continue into 2007 with many more London shows booked, increasing radio and industry/media attention (including a double-page feature in Time Out London), a UK tour beginning in March and an ever-increasing fanbase of ultra-dedicated true-believers.
Nebraska are, and always have been, a self-funded, self-realised DIY band with an absolute dedication to music and a belief in honesty and soul over fashion and trend.
"A Stunning debut, surely destined for greatness" Artrocker Magazine
Ourobouros Podcast #67 featuring 'New Uniform' and other tracks from the 'Keep Britain Tidy' compilation is now online. You can find it at ourobouros. co. uk or listen through the flash player on the myspace page.
