For those of you who haven't been paying attention to the local news, the city announced yesterday the construction of a 32-story condo tower smack-dab in the middle of downtown Omaha (at 14th & Dodge -- just north of the new Union Pacific HQ to be precise). Unit prices start at $200k for those at the lowest levels and could rocket up to a half-mil for the top dogs. The burning question that continues to go unanswered: Who the hell wants to live in a high-rise condo in downtown Omaha? Certainly not families. Young urban professionals? Why when there are so many other (better) living options available downtown (and elsewhere)? It's a mystery to me and to everyone I've asked. Regardless, it can only be good news to our friends building Slowdown (the soil-removal work continues on the site), or is it? Do the kind of people who spend between a quarter- and a half-million for an apartment go to rock shows? Maybe... maybe not.

Tonight you've got The (International) Noise Conspiracy with Circa Survive and Nightmare of You at Sokol Underground. (I)NC started its life as a Swedish hardcore band that's been transformed into a Stooges/Hives garage-punk outfit that would have fit well next to the long lost Carsinogents (or one of its surviving brood of bands). Their last CD, Armed Love, was produced by none other than Rick Rubin and included cameos by Billy Preston and Benmont Tench. Sounds like a fun band. Philly's Circa Survive leans more toward a traditional indie/emo sound while Nightmare of You is Morrissey crossed with The Cure and The White Stripes. Derivative? You bet. $12, 9 p.m.

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