MUSIC PRODUCTION

Onken-Stein Records began in 2004 to release the first album of the Omaha band Ten O'Clock Scholars, of which Taylor Stein is a member. That album, "Leaving It Behind," sold 200 copies and is now out of print. The latest release from Onken-Stein Records, Ten O'Clock Scholars 2006 release, "Bridges and Brighter Days," is distributed by Virtual Knowledge and has been released nationwide on the internet and can be downloaded from most major digital distribution outlets.

After building Onken-Stein Records from the ground up with Ten O'Clock Scholars, the label expanded its artist line-up, signing the Fremont/Omaha band Third Frate. It is also home to Death of a Taxpayer and the side project band PG-13, which consists of members of all the bands on the label. In the winter of 2008, Onken-Stein Records release "Pulling Focus," a compilation CD showcasing the label's artists.

ARTIST BIOS

Ten O'Clock Scholars

PRESS QUOTES:

"Its full-length debut, Bridges and Brighter Days, establishes the Ten O'Clock Scholars as a band of incredible versatility and impressive musicianship."
- The Reader (Omaha, NE)

"Omaha, Neb. has become a mecca of indie rock, and the Ten O'Clock Scholars have found themselves in the right place at the right time...and the band has risen to become one of the Midwest's top acts."
-The Eagle Spotlight (College Station, TX)

"Multifaceted and marketable rock for Midwestern bars."
- The Reader (Omaha, NE)

"...a refreshing break from the unfortunate fatal accident that contemporary music has had with itself."
- Storm Lake Pilot Tribune (Storm Lake, IA)

"...the combination of the primary songwriters' styles makes for something truly unique."
- The Reader (Omaha, NE)

*Though Ten O'Clock Scholars have gone on indefinite hiatus after their July 2009 full-length CD release, "Ten To Close," the band continues to stay in touch and is heading into the studio in Feb 2010 to record a brand new song for the next Onken-Stein Records compilation disc.*

Described as anything from Indie-Pop-Rock, to "...a refreshing break from the unfortunate fatal accident that contemporary music has had with itself," (Storm Lake Pilot Tribune), Ten O'Clock Scholars have been making a name for themselves in the renowned Omaha music scene. Formed back in the spring of 2000, the Scholars (Paul Gedbaw, Ryan Kosola, Taylor Stein, Derek Vanosdall) began to take shape in 2002 when Justin Connealy joined the band to replace Vanosdall on bass. Since then, the band has withstood the test of time and become a mainstay in both Omaha and Lincoln, gigging regularly in both cities.

During the course of their existence, they have shared the stage with acts such as Deep Blue Something, Marty Casey and The Lovehammers, Jeffrey Gaines, Zack Hexum, The Alternate Routes, The Nadas, Sarah Benck and the Robbers, The Feds, Anonymous American, Ten Cent Redemption, and Old Boy Network and shared festival stages with Sister Hazel, Saliva, Ingram Hill, Flickerstick, Green River Ordinance, and Railbenders. In December of 2006, the band was one of 12 bands asked to play the 36 Hours of Keystone Festival, and was one of the only non-Colorado bands to play the show. Not long after that, the Scholars were invited to play the Northgate Music Festival in College Station, TX in March of 2007. They have also twice been asked to travel to Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, IA for campus events.

Over the past four years, the Ten O'Clock Scholars have had eight different songs played on local radio stations, including their most recent release, "Please Baby Please," from the Onken-Stein Records compilation CD, Pulling Focus. Local television station KXVO featured Ten O'Clock Scholars as their band of the week in May of 2006, prior to the release of their new CD, and again in April of 2007. KXVO's online radio station, The Source, has songs from the new disc in regular rotation. In September of 2006, the Scholars were the featured band on the Lincoln website StarCityScene.com.

Third Frate

PRESS QUOTES:

"This group counts The Black Crowes, Aerosmith and Jet among its influences. That’s apparent when you listen to such tracks as “Hang On Let Go” and “I’m What You Came Here to Do.""
-Omaha World-Herald (Omaha, NE)

"...bluesy, down and dirty rock tunes."
-Omaha World-Herald (Omaha, NE)

"The album sounds great. Its got a lot of different influences...but predominately just rock."
-KXVO (Omaha, NE)

A classic rock feel that's more Black Crowes and Buckcherry than Dark Side of the Moon, Third Frate brings a sound and style to their live show that makes you sit back and say, "Wow!"

The band that formed from the ashes of Vinyl Groove in 2004, consists of brothers Jeremy Francis (guitars and vocals) and Tim Francis (drums, percussion, vocals), as well as Nate Hall (bass, vocals).

The band recorded their first album, "Low Commotion," in 2006 at the renowned Bassline Studio in Omaha, and that album has sold over 500 copies to date. The nine-song disc, released on C-Dub Chateau Records, successfully captured the essence of their music; it rocks, it's danceable, it's heartfelt, and most of all, it's fun. Come to any Third Frate show and you'll get the exact same experience.

Since the release of "Low Commotion," Third Frate has played shows all over Nebraska, including Lincoln, Kearney, Barnestom, David City, Scribner, Fremont, Elkhorn, Hooper, Winslow and Bennington. During that time they've shared the stage with Steve Ewing (of the Urge), Anchondo, Sarah Benck and the Robbers, Ten O'Clock Scholars, The Pendrakes and countless others. In the summer of 2008, they were one of 35 bands choosen to play the Omaha Entertainment Awards Summer Showcase, a music festival designed by the creators of the OEA Awards. Their recently released single "Hang On (Let Go)" has received airplay on 89.7 the River's P.S. Blues and Planet O shows and their song "I'm What You Came Here To Do," has also been played on 89.7's Planet O Show. That song was also performed on local entertainment news show, KXVO, when they were invited to be band of the week in the fall of 2006. They later won a spot back on the KXVO news when they took home first place at a University of Nebraska at Omaha Battle of the Bands in the winter of 2007.

Death of a Taxpayer

When you start up a new band, often times you'll grab a group of friends and hash out a direction for the new project. It's not often that you already have a direction before the band even starts and you end up stealing friends from other bands. However, that's exactly what happened with Omaha's Death of a Taxpayer, which formed in 2008 while all three members were playing in other local bands. The trio originally started because of the seven members of local label, Onken-Stein Records (which is home to Omaha bands Ten O'Clock Scholars, Third Frate, and PG-13), they were the only three that actually lived in the Omaha city limits and it was easy to get together and jam. Frontman, Paul Gedbaw, and drummer, Taylor Stein, were staples of the Omaha and Lincoln music scene since 2000 as members of the powerpop band Ten O'Clock Scholars, while bassist, Nate Hall, can be seen playing all over town with Third Frate and Edge of Arbor. The music, which is vastly different from the three's previous bodies of work, is a healthy dose of anti-establishment indie rock, with a smattering of punk influence and a hint of Dylan.

For a band that just started playing together less than a year ago, it's safe to say that Death of a Taxpayer has hit the ground running. They've already recorded 6 songs with J. Scott Gaeta of Music Factory Productions, and are slated to release a digital EP titled "The Individual" in the near future. In their short existence, the band has played shows around town at the Barley Street Tavern, Saddle Creek Bar, Barfly, PS Collective, Knickerbockers in Lincoln and showcased Death of a Taxpayer music in Oklahoma and Texas.

PG-13

PG-13 was formed by Paul Gedbaw and Taylor Stein in the summer of 2007 as a way to experiment in the studio with friends from the Omaha music scene. As the brainchild of Gedbaw, the idea was to eventually record an album that had 13 guest musicians on it -- hence PG-13. During a lull in activity with their main project, Ten O'Clock Scholars, Gedbaw and Stein decided to go into the studio and record an old song called "Cry, Cry, Cry" that never really made its way into the Scholars' catalog. Because the tune was a chugging blues-rock song, Stein recruited Jeremy Francis of Third Frate whose vocal style and lead guitar work fit right into the framework of the tune. And to round out the song, Scott Gaeta played some of the best rock organ this side of the Mississippi. After about 5 months of sitting on the song, "Cry, Cry, Cry" eventually found its way onto the Onken-Stein Records compilation disc, "Pulling Focus." After its release, the song was featured on 89.7 the River's P.S. Blues show, garnering a multiple week run, and was also played on 89.7's Planet O show.

When PG-13 makes a live appearance, though albeit rare, it's clear that the band is more of a collaboration of friends. More often than not, you'll see the band make an appearance when Ten O'Clock Scholars and Third Frate are on the same bill. Recently, Tim Francis and Nate Hall (of Third Frate) have been taking over rhythm section duties, but occasionally Ryan Kosola and Justin Connealy (of Ten O'Clock Scholars) will switch it up and play some instruments they don't normally play. It really depends on who's in the building at the time.

The latest PG-13 song, the guitar rock influenced "Casualties of Sex," was recorded in April of 2008. This tune, written by Stein and Gedbaw, features another all-star cast including Richard Lewis (brother of The Good Life and Neva Dinova drummer, Roger Lewis) on vocals, Uncle Chris Jenson on lead guitar, and Nate Hall on bass.