Band plays to a crowded bar.
The Noah James Band plays at Bodega’s Alley on O Street on Saturday, September 11. Frontman Noah Velinsky said the band plans to release its first EP in late 2021. Photo by Ethan Petrik/NNS.

Noah Velinsky, a former Husker sprinter, needed an outlet for his anxiety after a year marked by COVID-19, and he found it in country music.

Velinsky began successfully making music on his own, then through social media and chance encounters, formed the Noah James Band in 2021. The band has been performing in and around Lincoln.

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Noah Velinsky and Peter Dunbar, both of Omaha, created the Noah James Band five days before their first show. Photo by Ethan Petrik/NNS.
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Guitarist Peter Dunbar knew Velinsky from high school. A simple text from Dunbar to Velinksy led to the formation of the Noah James Band. Dunbar also introduced drummer Erik Goodwin to the band. Photo by Ethan Petrik/NNS.
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Guitarist Max Mayer finds his music roots in rock, blues, jazz and folk. Mayer joined the band after seeing a post on the Facebook group “Nebraska Bands Seeking Members.” Photo by Ethan Petrik/NNS.
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With a variety of musical backgrounds, each member of the Noah James Band brings a unique perspective to the group. Photo by Ethan Petrik/NNS.
Ethan Petrik
Ethan Petrik | Senior | Sports Media & Communication, Broadcasting Ethan Petrik had worked in print journalism at the Sidney Herald in Sidney, MT and The Grand Island Independent in Grand Island, NE. Currently, Ethan works as an on-air host and board op at 93.7 The Ticket where he is known as Big Sky.

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