Onken-Stein Records began in 2004 with the release of "Leaving It Behind," the first album from Omaha band Ten O'Clock Scholars. Two years later, the label released Ten O'Clock Scholars second, and most successful album, "Bridges And Brighter Days." After building Onken-Stein Records from the ground up with Ten O'Clock Scholars, the label expanded its artist line-up in 2008, signing the Fremont/Omaha band Third Frate and Omaha band Death of a Taxpayer, as well as forming the side project band PG-13, which has a constantly changing cast of characters. In the winter of 2008, Onken-Stein Records released "Pulling Focus," a compilation CD showcasing the label's artists, featuring tracks from Third Frate, Ten O'Clock Scholars and PG-13. The following year the label released the final album from Third Frate, "Almost Where." 2010 also marked the release of Death of a Taxpayer's digital EP, "The Individual." In 2011, the label expanded again, adding the Logan, IA/Omaha band Fork In The Road and the Fremont/Omaha based Brothers Tandem, as well as becoming the home for Scholars frontman Ryan Kosola's solo work. The label will release its second compilation disc, "Unplanned Encore," on September 2nd, 2011.
