Story and Photos: Audrey Wright
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Now back to the story....
If you’re from the Omaha area, many of you know about the beloved Admiral (formerly known as Sokol Auditorium) and have also heard of Bright Eyes. I grew up listening to this band and going to this venue. During Covid, Sokol got a renovation as well as a name change. When I walked through those doors, I was blown away by what they had done with the place. It gave Great Gatsby vibes with the black and gold detailing, and they kept the chandelier! A perfect mix of old with new.
First to hit the stage was Hurray For The Riff Raff, from New Orleans. They were a mixture of punk pop and obscure synth beats that really got the crowd going. Lead vocalist, Alynda Segarra, was very vocal about women’s rights, as they should be. All of us ladies in the audience cheered for her during their speech. They dedicated a song to all the women, including themselves. It was a very raw moment that all of us needed to hear and be a part of. It was a great way to end their last day of tour with such powerful music.
Next was the one, and the only, Bright Eyes. If you’re from this city, you know who Bright Eyes is, and if you don’t, what are you doing? Conor Oberst and Bright Eyes have been around making music in this great city since the late 90s. Conor decided to bring the last two shows of his tour to Omaha, which was very bittersweet. I could definitely tell he felt at home on that stage. Friends and family came to watch him play. It was definitely a blast from the past for all of us who attended.
I wanted to keep this article short and sweet, merely because the boss man, Spencer, wrote an incredible article about night one and the grand opening that you definitely need to check out. I don’t want to steal his thunder. I would just like to leave you with this. The Admiral has been my second home for as long as I can remember. I started my photography career in the former basement venue at the age of 14. I have seen thousands of artists roll through these magnificent doors and I can’t wait to see many more. I love this place with my whole heart and I am stunned by the beautiful renovations and little bits and pieces of the old venue. I can’t wait to keep coming back and shooting shows here. Until next time, friends.
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Bright Eyes
Hurray for the Riff Raff
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