Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
"On songs like Four Years to Forgery and Of Prematur', Foreign Elfest's singer, Benj Hochfelder,
displays vocal characteristics that carry the raw riot-raising power of a certain 1960's folk revivalist. But unlike many singer/songwriter's voices, his vocals are mostly smooth in delivery and somewhat seductive, like that of many post-punk, synth-pop bands.
…all in all, if the music of Foreign Elfest doesn't catch you, the lyrics will. They're drop-dead brilliant."
-Stephanie Davidson
- Peel Verbs
"…Well-written and quite thoughtful resulting in a decent psych-folk indie affair."
-Smother Magazine - Smother Magazine
"From track to track, this album is very diverse, but in a good way. Track Four, Carbon Chemist Magic on Blue Dirt or Red Carpet, is as danceable as Spoon with the dark theatrics of fellow Omahans Cursive. Skip to the fifth track, Jumble o' Mea Culpa, and the vibe is nearly tropical and uplifting. This is quite a debut. Keep your eyes on Foreign Elfest."
-Nate Kinkade
- Eugene Read 'Zine
"…Their debut effort "Blue Dirt / Red Carpet" was released last month, and they will be supporting the disc with a number of shows in Omaha and elsewhere in the near future. The driving force behind the band is the frontman and songwriter Benj Hochfelder, whose coming-of-age tales of love, loss and debauchery combined with a basso projection reminiscent of Faithless vocalist Maxi Jazz present a distinct and cohesive vision of a vibrant sound."
-Ian Simons - The Omaha City Weekly
Discography
Foreign Elfest - Blue Dirt / Red Carpet (Full-Length)
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Back then Benj Hochfelder had just finished his 10th grade year in Kearney, Nebraska and Anna Schmidt was a fresh out of high school. In late May of 2005, an honor choir they were involved in toured the country of Costa Rica. One late night, Anna and Benj snuck out of their hotel huts and walked down to the water. Under the shadow of a volcano, Anna and Benj found their lips giving birth to the future.
After they returned home to their flat little streets, Anna and Benj’s music began to bloom. The two of them started spawning songs in her brother’s old bedroom with Anna drumming and Benj strumming. As summer came to a close, Anna left for college in Omaha, Nebraska. Benj was stuck in Kearney.
He drove eastward to see Anna in Omaha every other weekend. Three days before Christmas Day, Benj permanently packed up shop and moved to Omaha, despite his lack of a place to live. He was in eleventh grade. The music grew and spread.
One year passed, more musicians were brought into the band, and Foreign Elfest’s debut album, Blue Dirt / Red Carpet, was brought to life and released. From danceable to political, Foreign Elfest songs just tend make people move. Now Foreign Elfest is chanting their frantic flavor of psychedelic indie rock all over this country.
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