NRBQ with Special Guest Kris Lager at Hawks and Reed

NRBQ with Special Guest Kris Lager

Tue, Nov 15, 2022 7:30 PM

$30-$35

NRBQ is Terry Adams, Scott Ligon, Casey McDonough, and John Perrin. “NRBQ”, which stands for New Rhythm and Blues Quartet, has often been called a national treasure, which may be why the band’s music has attracted legions of devoted fans worldwide, including Jimi Hendrix, Elvis Costello, Penn & Teller, Doc Pomus, R.E.M., SpongeBob SquarePants, Michael J. Pollard,Ian McLagan, Steve Earle, Drew Carey, and Nick Lowe, among many others. NRBQ songs have inspired cover versions by Bonnie Raitt, Los Lobos, Darlene Love, Dave Edmunds, She & Him,Widespread Panic, Yo La Tengo, and more.The group served as the unofficial “house band” for The Simpsons for Seasons 10-12. They appeared as zombies in George Romero’s movie Day of the Dead.

They have appeared at theBerlin Jazz Festival, the Grand Ole Opry, and Wilco’s Solid Sound Festival. In their 50+ year career, NRBQ has released almost as many albums, including a series of critically acclaimed titles in the past decade, among them Keep This Love Goin’ (2011), Brass Tacks (2014), and the5-disc, 50-year retrospective, High Noon (2016). Of the brand-new studio album Dragnet, released at the end of 2021, Bill Bentley in Americana Highways says, “They play with such startling and powerful simplicity, a style that must be earned and not learned,” while Uncut says, “[it’s] as though the history of 20th-century popular and unpopular music has gone through thorough, playful distillation.

Kris Lager is a one-of-a-kind songwriter, guitarist, singer, keyboardist, and entertainer.  An intense and charismatic  performer who has traveled across the country honing his craft over the last two decades . He has developed a unique  ‘Celebrate Life’ message and mantra that emanates with every performance.  A message that creates a congregation of dancing, singing, and clapping people with smiles on their faces at every show.

Many of his peers are calling him: “One of the most gifted songwriters of his generation.”

World renowned musician Andy Frasco recently called Kris “His favorite songwriter!” on his ‘World Saving Podcast’ and said a lot of the songs for which he has built his ‘positive’ foundation on were written by Kris.  Legendary Rock ‘n’ Roll Producer, who has mixed two of Kris’ albums, Jim Gaines (Santana, SRV, Van Morrison, Steve Miller) says Kris has “A great voice and great songs!”  Paste Magazine calls the music “The kind of toe-tapping rhythm that sometimes you just need to make it through a day.”

A Lincoln native based out of Omaha, Nebraska, Kris and his band have built a reputation as a hardworking Independant band refusing to play by industry rules or pander for awards and accolades.  They just hit the road and the stage with an intense purpose of uplifting and engaging audiences while delivering a flavorful gumbo of feel good rhythms and soulful songs.

New album: ‘Blues Lover’

It seems like a lot of folks have gotten rather nostalgic throughout this past year and a half of the pandemic and it is safe to say Kris Lager has too.  He found himself going back to his blues roots; back to where he started when he first picked up a guitar.

His first stage experiences were at a weekly Blues Jam at Duggan’s Pub in Lincoln, Nebraska and also playing at the world famous Zoo Bar. Kris Frequently played alongside Nebraska Blues legends such as Magic Slim, Lil’ Slim, Baby Jason, and Sean Benjamin.  All of them nurturing and inspiring his love for blues music.

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