What more could you ask for than Conor Oberst singing "Lua" backed by Nate Walcott on flugelhorn? It was one of the highlights of last night's sold out Haiti Relief Concert at Slowdown. For this rendition of Bright Eyes, Oberst had Walcott on keyboards and assorted brass, Mike Mogis on guitar, Matt Maginn on bass and someone on drums who resembled a young Winona Ryder (at least from my vantage point across the room). Whoever that drummer was, she was amazing.

The crew played a couple new songs (that, or I simply didn't recognize them) that will fit nicely in the Bright Eyes oeuvre. The best of them was the encore that roared to a crashing, epic finish. When will we be hearing this new material? Something tells me it won't be until sometime during the latter part of the year.

I didn't arrive at Slowdown until around 11, when Simon Joyner was on stage with his band playing a rather low-key set. In fact, most of the evening had a distinctly low-key feel, which I guess was appropriate for a benefit for such a grim situation. Tilly and the Wall's set was less rousing than relaxed, especially since Jamie Pressnall no longer tap-tap-taps out the hits, one assumes because she's still feeling the effects of giving birth to her and husband/guitarist Derek Pressnall's first child.

That said, one band did manage to pry the roof off the joint. It's True has never played a better set, taking their sound to uncharted waters. They were the band that had the most buzz among those I chatted with in the crowd. The consensus: They just keep getting better. They knew they were on one of the biggest stages of their careers (thus far), and they took full advantage of it. Wonder who is putting out their upcoming album?

An aside: I haven't seen Oberst play "Lua" in a long time, and to his credit, he attacked it with the same intensity as he ever has, spitting out the lines almost with poetic disgust. Despite being his "hit," the woman next to me had never heard the song before, and commented on how freakin' sad it is.

There was a movie that came out sometime in the early '80s that starred Paul Simon called One Trick Pony. Simon played Jonah, a guy on the downside of his career, balancing various relationships, trying to make a comeback. Anyway, late in the film, an award show based on The Grammy's asks Jonah to appear at their ceremony and perform his famous war ballad "Soft Parachutes," which is just the type of nostalgia trip that Jonah was trying to avoid. In the end, he does the performance, walking onto an empty stage with just a guitar. It's a pretty song, a strong song, the kind of simple melody that Simon did so well and seemingly effortlessly (before Graceland). I think of that scene every time I see Oberst perform "Lua." It would be easy to say that "Lua" is Conor's "Soft Parachutes," except that after all these years, he looks like he still loves playing it, as if he knows what a jewel he has in that song.

* * *

Weekend's looking busy.

Tonight at O'Leaver's, OEA Award winner for best hip-hop, Conchance, opens a show at O'Leaver's with godshamgod and Pharmacy Spirits. 9:30, $5.

There's another Haiti Benefit Concert tonight down at The Hole, 715 So. 16th St. The line-up is Eastern Turkish, Cordial Spew, Living Victim, Youth & Tear Gas and Straight Shot. $5, 7 p.m.

Meanwhile, down at Slowdown Jr., The Killigans have their CD release show with Parting Shot and Cave Kids. $7, 9 p.m.

Saturday night's main event is Her Flyaway Manner at The Waiting Room with Perry H. Matthews, This Life Is a Scarecrow and Bazooka Shootout. $7, 9 p.m.

--Got comments? Post 'em here.--

According to Slowdown major domo Val Nelson, here's how tonight's Haiti Benefit Show is going down: The first band starts at 8:30 sharp, and to facilitate eight bands in four hours each band will play a 20-minute set. The line-up again: Tilly And The Wall, Bright Eyes, It's True, Simon Joyner, The Mynabirds, Bear Country, McCarthy Trenching and Brad Hoshaw. Val says that all money raised from ticket sales will be donated to Doctors Without Borders -- http://doctorswithoutborders.org/. Of course, if you don't have tickets, you're out of luck as the show has been sold out for a few days.

Also happening tonight, Sarah Benck is headlining a show at O'Leaver's with Adam Robert Haug, Pennyhawks and Mumfords. $5, 9:30 p.m. The amazing Blue Scholars are playing at Lincoln's Bourbon Theater; $10, 7 p.m. And DJ Kobrakyle will be running a victory lap at The Waiting Room, celebrating his OEA award for best DJ. $5, 9 p.m.

--Got comments? Post 'em here.--

If you didn't get your ticket to Thursday night's Haiti Benefit concert at Slowdown featuring Tilly and the Wall and Bright Eyes (among others) you're out of luck. The show is now sold out.

--Got comments? Post 'em here.--

A reader pointed out on the Webboard that I forgot to include my pick and prediction for Artist of the Year in yesterday's blog entry. Oops. The nominees are Black Squirrels, Brad Hoshaw & the Seven Deadlies, Cursive, It's True and Little Brazil. My guess is that Little Brazil will squeak by with the win, mainly because they weren't nominated in many other categories despite making the best album of their career. I voted for Cursive, who had a breakthrough year with their new album, their ongoing national (and international) tour and their appearance on Late Night with David Letterman. We'll find out Sunday night.

I didn't make it out to The Waiting Room grand re-opening last night as I'm still on the mend and the idea of standing up for more than an hour didn't seem like a good one. I'll get my introduction to the new room tonight when NOMO takes the stage with Satchel Grande. Tix are $10, show starts at 9.

--Got comments? Post 'em here.--

This Sunday is the Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs. There has been a bit of muttering about moving the event to Iowa, but you won't hear it from me. The Holland, while regal and impressive, is anything but fun. During past year's award ceremonies, most of the crowd spent the evening in the lobby drinking, because they wouldn't let us bring our booze back to ours seat for fear that you might stain one of their blonde-wood seats. No one cares about such things at the MAC Center, and the organizers have all but promoted the award show as some sort of drunkfest. Good for them. It certainly will be more laidback, if not chaotic.

Anyway, I'll be there again this year. But before I go, here's my list of who will win and who I voted for (or who should have won). As I've said before, the OEAAs are now considered by most folks in the scene as a "Benson thing," which is great for Benson but not so good for the rest of the city (and Lincoln). Oh well, onto the awards:

Singer/songwriter Alternative: I voted for Brad Hoshaw and the Seven Deadlies based on the strength of their debut album, which came out at the beginning of '09. A year later and most folks have forgotten about it, unfortunately. The winner will be It's True, because Hawkins and his crew are red hot right now, and are about to put out a new album.

Alternative/Indie: It's True will win this one as well. I'm telling you, folks, the "It Band" of the moment. I voted for Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band, a local guy with national presence, and even though I didn't care for their last album, Conor and his boys clearly eclipsed anyone else locally.

Blues: Kris Lager Band seems to be the favorite here. I voted for Son of 76 & the Watchmen, a band that I discovered last year through the OEAA showcase series.

Folk/Roots/Americana/Blue Grass: Black Squirrels will win this easily. They have a large fan base and voting block. I voted for Outlaw Con Bandana, whose songwriting style is more to my liking.

Hard Rock: Very likely Emphatic will win since news of the band's deal with Atlantic Records broke during the voting period. I voted for Bloodcow.

DJ: Brent Crampton is recognized as the guru of local house/club music, and he'll win it again this year. And I voted for him.

Ethnic / World Music: It'll probably go to Rhythm Collective, whose name seems to pop up a lot these days. I voted for The Turfman, which has been one of the best ethnic (and true folk) bands in Omaha for decades.

Gospel: Either Salem Baptist or Sacred Heart choirs will win, as they should. I voted for Salem Baptist.

Hard Rock / Metal / Punk: A poorly named category since there already is a Hard Rock category, Emphatic will feel stupid picking up two trophies for the same category. I again voted for Bloodcow, who wouldn't mind at all picking up two trophies.

Hip Hop / Rap: Could go to El Genius. I voted for Conchance, who emerged last year as one of the most creative musical acts in the area.

Jazz/Standards/Easy Listening: It's sad that anyone would include "Jazz" with "Easy Listening" in a category name. But because they did, Heidi Joy will win, thanks to her immense fan base. I voted for Luigi, Inc.

Soul and R&B: Considering that he's playing at the OEAA ceremony, it will probably be Lucas Kellison. I voted for Son of 76 & The Watchmen.

Rock: Again, a shitty category name. Is it supposed to mean "generic rock"? Regardless, I voted for Box Elders since they had the biggest growth last year. I also think they'll win as people will ignore Cursive due to their success (I know, it makes no sense).

Cover Band: The dumbest category of the OEAA's. You don't see the Grammy's handing out awards to cover bands. Regardless, Secret Weapon will win this. I voted for Zeppelin tribute band The Song Remains the Same.

Best New Artist: It's True will win and It's True got my vote.

Album of the Year: Based on their fan base and the fact that they open for just about every other band's CD release show last year, Black Squirrel's Paying for your Pleasure will win. I voted for Cursive's Mama, I'm Swollen, which was one of my favorite albums of '09.

Tickets to the OEA Awards Show are $20, or $30 with dinner, and are available via Ticketmaster or at the MAC box office. The reception starts at 4:30, the actual show starts at 6 p.m. this Sunday, Jan. 24.

* * *

As I wrote about (here), the Waiting Room will have its true Grand Reopening tonight with a free show featuring Little Brazil, Little Black Stereo, Ground Tyrants and Kyle Harvey. Show starts at 9. Prepare to be amazed.

Tomorrow night the first touring band will perform at the newly remodeled Waiting Room, and it's a doozy -- afro-beat dancemasters NOMO with Satchel Grande. $10, 9 p.m.

There's a ton of other stuff going on this weekend:

Tonight at The Barley St. Tavern, Our Fox (Jake Bellows & friends) take the stage with Ember Schrag. $5, 9 p.m.

Tomorrow night, fIREHOSE tribute band Brave Captain plays at The 49'r with Dragon Vomit. $5, 9:30 p.m.

The Life and Times are playing Saturday night at Slowdown Jr. with Techlepathy and At Land. $8, 9 p.m.

Spiders for Love are at O'Leaver's Saturday with The Sharks and The Biotomic Point. $5, 9:30 p.m.

--Got comments? Post 'em here.--

Just placed online (right here), a feature story about -- and photos of -- the newly remodeled Waiting Room Lounge. Marc Leibowitz talks about what went into the refurb and why he and partner Jim Johnson did it. I can tell you with all certainty that if you've been to the Waiting Room before you're going to be impressed with what you see when they reopen tomorrow night.

My only gripe: The new curtaining system effectively takes away my favorite spot to watch a show -- from off stage left. You'll no longer have access to that area, as the new curtain (which doesn't arrive for a couple months) will cover the floor from the stage all the way to the green room door. The area off of stage right also will be covered. Leibs says bands don't like people standing off the edge of the stage (or as he said, they hate to "play in the round."). The curtain will also cover all the equipment that's usually stacked off to the side. It'll also make the stage seem bigger, though it isn't. I was surprised to hear that The Waiting Room's stage is larger than Slowdown's stage, but smaller than Sokol Underground's stage -- just more evidence that I could never be a structural engineer. Anyway, read the article and check out the new Waiting Room yourself tomorrow night or Saturday when NOMO takes the stage.

Can't wait that long? One Percent just announced that it's having a "soft opening" tonight featuring It's True. The doors open at 8 pm. and It's True plays sometime after 11 p.m. And it's free (21+ only).

* * *

Saddle Creek Records announced its first new signing for 2010 yesterday. The label will be releasing on April 27 the full length debut by The Mynabirds, What We Lose in the Fire We Gain in the Flood. The Mynabirds is a new project by Laura Burhenn (ex-Georgie James) whose members also include Dan McCarthy of McCarthy Trenching.

* * *

Other shows tonight include Fortnight at Slowdown Jr., as part of their free Thursday night showcase series. Joining them are The Answer Team and John Klemmensen and the Party. Starts at 9. Also tonight, Fine Fine Automobiles (a.k.a. Landon Hedges of Little Brazil) is playing at The Barley St. Tavern with Watching the Trainwreck, The Gasams and Above the State. 9 p.m., $5.

--Got comments? Post 'em here.--

The following column was written last week. I'm feeling much better now, thanks for asking.

Column 255: The Letting Go
Jay Reatard and the 49'r

I write this at 4 a.m. coming off Percocet and poor sleep after crossing a hill of agony that was abdominal surgery last week.

Three stories burned with controversy in the haze of my midweek absence. First there was Haiti. But that was simply too big to put my feeble mind around. Then there was The Tonight Show Controversy -- Conan O'Brien being laid to rest in the path of a greedy Jay Leno. In the end, who cared? Both would wind up at 10:30 somewhere.

Then there was The 49'r Situation.

There actually were four stories that happened during my sleep. Jay Reatard died somewhere in Memphis. His death was one of the first things I tweeted about after surgery; I felt I needed to since no one was talking about it on the intergoogle. Reatard, who recorded on Matador but has roots in Memphis labels like Goner and In the Red was a fresh new hope for rock 'n' roll, a guy who embraced the simpler style of garage rock; his noisy, shambolic sound somehow made everything new again.

In his wake he pulled along a lot of people, including local folks like Box Elders and Digital Leather and Brimstone Howl and The Shanks. I thought his death was maybe a hoax -- from stories I heard about the guy, it sounded like something Reatard would do. But there is no hoaxing The New York Times, who, in his obituary, called Reatard, real name Jimmy Lee Lindsey, Jr., "a Force in Punk Rock," dead at age 29.

For some reason I thought Reatard's death would spur some sort of Kurt Cobain outcry in the art/music world until I remembered that no one really knew who he was. Let that be a lesson to all of you local rockers who have made a mark (of sorts) nationally. Who will talk about you after you're gone?

Certainly the people who went to -- and go to -- The 49'r don't know who Jay was. Reatard was more of a Brothers Lounge or O'Leaver's sort of guy, though I think he would have liked The 49'r, too.

The bar's demise became public early last week on Facebook via The 49'r Facebook Page (of course), where someone (no one really knows who runs those "fan pages") posted the message: "The rumors you're hearing are true. The 49'r, and surrounding property, has been bought to make way for a CVS Pharmacy. Our doors will close, permanently, next January. Please make this next year the best year the 49'r has ever had."

It was met with an immediate outcry heard low and long over the Internet. Close the Niner? It simply cannot be! It's an Omaha music landmark. Hell, it's a national landmark that has acted as a cornerstone of the Dundee neighborhood!

One fan of the Niner, musician Greg Loftis currently of Montana, Facebooked me asking if its demolition could be stopped. Like a doctor telling a parent that his child has passed, I told him that I thought there was nothing anyone could do. I added that, ironically, it was The 49'r where I had first met Loftis so, so many years ago.

"Yes it was...and yes we did. lllooonnng time ago," Loftis replied. "That is where I learned everything I know about music, learned the rules of seedy underground behavior, made almost every friend I have in Omaha (and some that were just passing through)... I loved that place. I remember the old days (before they took out the juke box and when Dana was in charge) when you could walk down the steps in the afternoon on a summer Monday (when the music kids hung out there), a beer would already be waiting, Landon would ask for a shot (he was 19) Marq would be on the desk computer researching right wing politics and Prince, Kasher would tell you about this new record, The Ugly Organ, he was working on, Bob Thornton would be drinking vodka and explaining to someone why he was smarter than them, Kyle Harvey was losing money working there because he was buying too many drinks... everybody knew everybody and if someone showed up we didn't know they got drunk for free... I once went 47 straight matches undefeated in shuffle board... it was the reason it took Greg Edds like 7 yrs to get out of college, Minturn fell off the roof into the dumpster, I fell off the roof and missed the dumpster, the tattoo shop guys would scare away any frat boys that wanted to come in... Mindy welcomed me to Omaha the first night...Christ that was amazing (get your mind out of the gutter)... I could go on for weeks... this is very sad...the place had changed but I always held out hope it would return to it's glory days... I never dreamed it would close its doors."

Now a new Facebook page has launched, titled "Save The 49'r." Something tells me that the person behind it hasn't talked to owner Mark Samuelson, who will likely see a nice payday for his property, a property that he's owned and operated and poured money into for a long time.

In the end, it's just a bar, like a thousand other bars in Omaha. It just happens to have sat at an epicenter where so much was going on around it. The Niner's glory days from a music standpoint were a long time ago. And while it still hosts bands on weekends, it's nothing like it used to be.

No, we don't need another pharmacy. There is one literally a block away from the Niner right now. But what realistically can be done to stop it? Have the building declared a "national landmark" so it can sit empty and be another blight on Dodge St.? Convince Samuelson to not sell it? Why shouldn't he?

I say, take this final year and enjoy it, remember it, then let it go. In the end, it was just a bar. It wasn't a person.

* * *

It's True has received an official invitation to the South By Southwest Festival in March. This is looking to be a strong year for Nebraska band participation in Austin. In addition, It's True announced that a split 7-inch with Lawrence band Cowboy Indian Bear is being released on Kansas City label The Record Machine. The Nebraska release shows for this vinyl-only outing are Feb. 5 at Duffy's and Feb. 6 at The Waiting Room with Cowboy Indian Bear and Eagle Seagull. That's not all -- the band also said that it secured The Waiting Room on April 30 for a release show for their debut full length. They don't mention who is putting it out, however...

* * *

Beep Beep is having its last show ever tonight at Duffy's. It seems like only yesterday (instead of more than six years ago) that I was interviewing the band for this feature story. And now... gone. Something tells me we haven't heard the last of Eric Bemberger. Playing with Beep Beep tonight is The Machete Archive and Pharmacy Spirits.

Also tonight, The Lepers are playing a set at The Barley St. Tavern. $5, 9 p.m.

* * *

And hey, did anyone else notice that Monotonix has been scheduled to play at O'Leaver's on April 19?

* * *

Tomorrow: A look inside the remodeled Waiting Room.

--Got comments? Post 'em here.--

Well, we got a heckuva response to this year's drawing for a copy of the Lazy-i Best of 2009 Sampler CD -- and I even made extra copies -- but everyone couldn't win. Here are the lucky folks whose names were pulled from my green-and-yellow Speed! Nebraska farmer's cap:

Emily Hiykel, Omaha
Brian Armknecht, Chicago
Jessica Errett, Omaha
Joe Kmiecik, Brookline, Mass
Kelly Murphy, Omaha
Nic Waddell, Eureka, MO
Judy Coleman, Omaha
Andrew Roger, Des Moines
Gary Rosenberg, Omaha
Bill Latham, Austin

The discs will be dropped in the mail tomorrow (probably). Thanks to everyone who entered!

* * *

If you're like me, you don’t know what to do about Haiti. The catastrophe is just too big to get my head around. In addition to the overall devastation, the earthquake shined a new and unforgiving light on the social and economic conditions that existed in Haiti long before the buildings fell.

Needless to say, there are literally hundreds of ways to give money. But yesterday, Val and the folks at Slowdown came up with another -- a benefit concert for Haiti to be held Jan. 28 (that's a week from Thursday). The lineup has been finalized and includes some of the best talent Omaha has to offer:

Tilly and the Wall
It's True
Simon Joyner
The Mynabirds (ex-Georgie James)
Bear Country
McCarthy Trenching
Brad Hoshaw

Tickets are only $15, and all proceeds go directly to Haiti relief. I suggest you get your tickets right now (right here) as this very likely will sell out.

--Got comments? Post 'em here.--

So I'm back from my brief medical hiatus, not at full-speed but getting there. It's amazing how much stuff happens when you disconnect for even a couple days. The death of Jay Reatard disturbed me more than I thought it would. I write about it and the 49'r in this week's column (which goes online Wednesday). I keep looking online for more information about his death, but it just ain't there. Here's a story about his funeral (which was Saturday) that appeared in the Memphis Flyer, including a eulogy written by Eric Friedl of Goner Records.

* * *

Well, today's the last chance to get in on the drawing to win a copy of the Lazy-i Best of 2009 Sampler CD. To get your name in the hat, send me an e-mail (to tim@lazy-i.com) with your name and mailing address. It's that simple. I'll announce the winners tomorrow!

* * *

I picked the right time to be taken off my feet. It's been quiet from a show perspective the last few weeks. Something tells me that's all going to change Thursday night...

--Got comments? Post 'em here.--

...while I recover from surgery...

In the meantime...

Here's another reminder that you've got a week to enter to win a copy of the Lazy-i Best of 2009 Sampler CD. It's my annual best-of-the-best collection, and this year includes songs by Yo La Tengo, Elvis Perkins in Dearland, Box Elders, Micachu and the Shapes, Cursive, Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band, The xx, Digital Leather, Pete Yorn, Peaches, Ladyfinger, The Avett Brothers, Maria Taylor and more. Full track listing is here. To get your name in the hat, send me an e-mail (to tim@lazy-i.com) with your name and mailing address. It's that simple. And considering the number of people who have entered so far, your odds of winning are pretty damn good. Deadline is Jan. 18.

--Got comments? Post 'em here.--

A final word on my music predictions as we move forward into 2010: People love them, which is yet another reason why I stretch them out over three columns. For those of you who prefer the compendium version (all three parts together in one friggin' huge article), it's online here.

Column 254: Predictions Pt. 3: The Lightning Round
Music Visions of 2010

Do we really need three weeks of music "predictions"? I'm afraid the answer is yes. I used to knock this out in one 2,500-word article, but The Reader doesn't budget space for that sort of thing anymore unless you write horoscopes, so here we are. If you're coming in late, Pt.1 was a review of my 2009 predictions. Pt. 2 was predictions based on the theme for 2010: Survival in the Time of Music Industry Cholera. And now, onto the "lightning round":

-- Consider it a raising of the white flag -- a well-known mainstream band will give away the digital download of its next album. You'll simply have to log into the band's website and voila, the files will be transferred to your computer and/or iPod. Though the download will be free, you'll still have to pay for the CD version and the limited edition vinyl (as well as the tickets to see the band on tour).

-- Despite the fact that only old people buy music these days, a new kind of record store will open this year that specializes in just that: Records. This small, boutique-style music store will boast the area's largest selection of new vinyl, but also will sell CDs and music-related merch, such as T-shirts, collectibles and other assorted music-related ephemera.

-- The success of Susan Boyle proves that it doesn't matter what you look like or how well you sing, anyone can be the next American Idol. All it takes is YouTube and a crush of publicity. With that in mind, watch as record labels scour the globe (or reality television) for the next Elderly Idol -- some unassuming, unemployed fat guy or a recently divorced housewife -- anyone with a shred of talent who appeals to aging baby-boomers who still buy CDs.

-- Three years ago, it was MySpace. Then it was Facebook and Twitter. This year, look for yet another new social media service that will eclipse both of those fossils. This one will be optimized to allow for easy, instant (and legal) distribution of online music, revolutionizing how musicians and fans access "music content" on portable devices, while also providing yet another way to tell our BFFs (and anyone else) what we had for breakfast.

-- Omaha dived into music festivals in a big way last year; with every swinging dick putting together a night of shows and calling it "an event." This year you'll see fewer "festivals" in Omaha, with one pushing ahead of the pack. The Maha Festival could finally become the event the organizers dreamed it could be, that is if they get the right line-up. Find out July 24 down at Lewis & Clark Landing.

-- Adding to the annual "Youth Concert" and the July 4th weekend county-fair freedom-rock concert, look for a third major concert event in Memorial Park this year featuring a genuine outside-the-box performer.

-- DJs Rising: Like other big cities, this year you'll begin to see DJs spinning at more and more clubs and restaurants in Omaha. Soon all of us will know at least one person who "spins" somewhere in the metro, even if it's only at Anthony's.

-- Finally, a new all-ages performance space will take hold, becoming this generation's Cog Factory.

-- Who we'll be talking about this time next year: Arcade Fire, Rolling Stones, Radiohead, Liz Phair, Tim Kasher, Of Montreal, Okkervil River, Bright Eyes, It's True, Soundgarden, Prince, Pavement, Ritual Device, Beck, MGMT, Bear Country, Modest Mouse, The Wrens and Sufjan Stevens.

-- Who we won't be talking about: Animal Collective, Susan Boyle, Monsters of Folk, Wilco, Cursive, The Faint, Emphatic, Lady Gaga, Black Eyed Peas, Phoenix, Green Day and Vampire Weekend.

-- UK musician/dope fiend Peter Doherty (Libertines, Babyshambles, Kate Moss) will finally see his problems resolved once and for all.

-- Conor Oberst will break the hearts of thousands of his female (and a few male) fans (I know I said that last year, but it'll actually happen this time).

-- Sick of life on the West Coast and seeing no discernable advantages to living near L.A., a member of a national band we all know will move back to Omaha to be closer to his family.

-- A major national musician will come to Omaha to record his/her new album. But he won't be visiting Mogis' ARC studios; he's headed to Enamel.

-- Watch out SLAM Omaha, a new local online resource will launch in '10 that will act as the definitive arts, entertainment and music information hub, featuring news, reviews and schedules, along with another pointless online discussion forum.

-- Michael Jackson was only six years old when he debuted as a member of the Jackson Five way back in 1964. This year, watch as another 6-year-old raises the eyebrows (and hearts) of an America still mourning the passing of the King of Pop.

-- Back in the day (about 20 years ago) there were a few live music venues located in the midtown/Mutual of Omaha area. Who remembers The Chicago Bar and The Brickhouse? With the development of Midtown Crossing, look for a new live music venue to open among all those restaurants that not only will focus on dance music, but will provide a viable stage for original bands.

-- Forget about Saturday Night Live, Conan, Letterman or network television in general. No one's watching anymore. The next national breakthrough for a local band will come when one of its songs is included on the soundtrack of a major motion picture.

--Got comments? Post 'em here.--

The big buzz over the weekend was the announcement that The 49'r and its surrounding property has been sold and will be demolished to make way for a CVS Pharmacy, this according to The 49'r Facebook page. The page says that the bar will be open for the rest of the year, and then it's wrecking ball time.

The Niner used to be one of Omaha's primary venues for live indie music, but began ratcheting down the number of live shows back in 2005. It continues to book bands on weekends, and will throughout its final year of operation.

My favorite show at The Niner? There were quite a few. The Street Urchins back in 2004; any show by any of Mike Tulis' bands (The Sons of…, The Monroes, etc.); Gris Gris and The Terminals back in '06; all of the Bad Luck Charm shows... And all of Matt Whipkey's bands had their best shows at The 49'r. The reason: There's no real stage at The Niner, the band plays right up to the tables and that forces interaction, whether the patrons want it or not. It's going to be tough to see this one go, especially for something as unnecessary as another pharmacy...

* * *

Following up on '09, Box Elders' album Alice & Friends made Buddyhead's "Best of 2009" list. Buddyhead has been writing some of the funniest (and meanest) music commentary for a long, long time. Check out their Gossip section.

* * *

The Slowdown is trying out a new "Free Thursdays" showcase, wherein there's no cover charge for an evening's worth of live music. The series kicks off this Thursday with Our Fox and The Mynabirds. Next Thursday Fortnight plays along with The Answer Team and John Klemmensen and the Party.

* * *

Here's another reminder that you've got a week to enter to win a copy of the Lazy-i Best of 2009 Sampler CD. It's my annual best-of-the-best collection, and this year includes songs by Yo La Tengo, Elvis Perkins in Dearland, Box Elders, Micachu and the Shapes, Cursive, Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band, The xx, Digital Leather, Pete Yorn, Peaches, Ladyfinger, The Avett Brothers, Maria Taylor and more. Full track listing is here. To get your name in the hat, send me an e-mail (to tim@lazy-i.com) with your name and mailing address. It's that simple. And considering the number of people who have entered so far, your odds of winning are pretty damn good. Deadline is Jan. 18.

--Got comments? Post 'em here.--

Following up on what was reported here early this morning:

A half-dozen or so online music news sites, including NME and Spinner reported this morning that Monsters of Folk are working on new material. They're making the claim based on a Twitter account titled twitter.com/oberstconor (that shows a profile photo of Oberst smoking a cigarette; the page has just been taken down). None of the sites apparently verified that the Twitter account actually belongs to -- or is updated by -- Conor Oberst. Just a glance at the account and what's been written on it would make anyone doubtful. Then there's the fact that the feeds that @oberstconor is following, such as the @saddlecreek aren't following @oberstconor.

So I contacted Monsters of Folk's publicist Jen Appel of Press Here Publicity and asked if @oberstconor was real. This was her response: "Not him. Also, She & Him are starting to promote Volume Two, thus M. Ward is not working on MOF things at this time."

No surprise here. Anyone who has been following Oberst over the years knows that he doesn't participate in these kinds of thing, preferring to let his music speak for itself. He rarely even does interviews anymore (I haven't interviewed him since Cassadaga came out). Twitter seems out of the question.

What is surprising is that music pubs like NME would run the information without verifying it with: 1) Oberst's or Monster's of Folk's publicists, 2) Shangi-La Records, 3) Anyone.

Twitter has taken steps to try to prevent impostors tweeting under other people's names. Their "verification" checkmark, which you can see @lancearmstrong, for example, is among those efforts.

FYI: As of lunchtime, NME took the story down, but it lives on at sites like clashmusic.com (story here), spinner.com (story here), and strangeglue.com (story here). Ah, the Internet...

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It's looking like it's going to be an O'Leaver's weekend. Tonight at everyone's favorite concrete bunker is Slumber Party artist Conchance with Terrior Bute. $5, 9:30 p.m THIS SHOW HAS BEEN CANCELED.

Then tomorrow night at O'Leaver's, Little Black Stereo takes the stage along with Matt Cox Band, Why Make Clocks and Bazooka Shootout. $5, 9:30 p.m.

Of course those shows are always dependent on weather issues. Last night's Hubble show, for example, was canceled.

This weather is, indeed, wearing thin...

--Got comments? Post 'em here.--

That Monsters of Folk article in NME (here) that's being picked up by a lot of online music sites is complete bullshit. I just confirmed with the band's publicist that twitter.com/oberstconor is an imposter. More at lunch.

--Got comments? Post 'em here.--

I got a bit of a surprise this morning. I checked my e-mail, then checked various websites including the Lazy-i webboard, where I found a new thread titled "Doom Town Records." The message announced the release of a 5-song EP by Baby Tears, the new band that features among its members Ethan Jones (ex-Ladyfinger). Clicking through to doomtownrecords.com I discovered that this new label also will be releasing that amazing new Perry H. Matthews LP that I mentioned a few weeks ago that was recorded by Joel Petersen at Enamel. That's not all. DTR also is rereleasing a couple out-of-print singles by Church of Gravitron.

So who is Doom Town Records? A quick search on whois.net revealed that the site's domain name (i.e., url) belongs to Ethan Jones, which doesn't mean that DTR is his label, only that he purchased the label's domain name. Maybe someone from DTR will let us know the skinny?

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Tonight at The Sydney, space-rockers Hubble will be playing with John Klemmensen and The Party and Agronomo. $5, 9 p.m.

--Got comments? Post 'em here.--

Before we get to Pt. 2 of the three-part "predictions" columns, a few words of wisdom: There's nothing wrong with making money. I've said it before and I'm saying it again. It needed to be said before I sent you onto the column, because there are those out there that think that "making money" is a dirty, selfish thing, especially when it comes to anything associated with art and music. It's not. There's nothing wrong with making a living. In fact, there's nothing wrong with making a lucrative living. So when I say that some bands will begin demanding to get paid to play and that venues will start raising ticket prices, the comments aren't "negative" or made out of spite. Commerce is essential for art to exist.

Bands, if you value the music you're making, then you should demand to get paid for it (unless music is merely your hobby). Venue owners, if you feel a band's music can help you make money, you have the option to pay the bands to get them to perform on your stage.

Conversely, if a band feels that its music is worthless, then by all means, play for free. Venue-owners, if you feel a band's music can not draw people into your establishment and/or make you money, then by all means, don't pay them to play on your stage (or, if you like, charge them).

But, if a venue owner is unwilling to pay a band that can draw a crowd, it's the band's perogative to refuse the gig. No one is holding a gun up to anyone's heads.

Column 253: Visions of 2010, Pt. 2
Sage music predictions of the year to come...

The biggest change of 2010 will be in how bands and musicians react to the continued demise of the music industry. Dreams of living off CD sales have become just that -- merely dreams with no bearing in reality. And that means everyone -- including the local high fliers -- have to figure out ways to better leverage their performance income.

So, Prediction No. 1: In 2010, local bands will become more insistent than ever about getting paid for gigs, and it's a long time coming. While the army of hobbyist ensembles who are "just happy to be able to perform on a stage" will continue to roll over and lick their nuts for any venue owner willing to put a microphone in front of their mouths, the real bands and performers who have invested long hours and lots of dollars on the road and in the studio no longer will be willing to "suck it up" and play for free or for next to nothing so that the clubs have something to draw people through their doors to buy their booze. With fans no longer buying their CDs, bands will have little choice but to insist on getting paid to play if they want some sort of income for hanging their asses out on stage every night.

Prediction No. 2: As a result of venues (both locally and around the country) being unwilling to knuckle down to those demands from unproven acts, the number of local bands will begin to dwindle. Many long-time stalwarts of the scene that have been struggling to break through the waves will finally realize that it just isn't worth it, and that maybe it's time to get on with the rest of their lives.

Prediction No. 3: The serious touring indie bands that can draw hundreds to their shows also are seeing their CD sales dwindle to almost nothing. As a result they will either charge venues higher guarantees or bypass towns like Omaha altogether, assuming that not enough people will show up at their gigs to make it worth their while.

Prediction No. 4: Being forced to actually pay the "good" local bands and pay higher guarantees to touring acts will put more strain on venue owners who have been trying to eke out a profit during these tough economic times. As a result, the number of live music venues will continue to dwindle all over the country, including in Omaha, where the serious options will boil down to The Slowdown and The Waiting Room.

Prediction No. 5: Despite having fewer venues, there still will be plenty of good, young, unproven touring bands looking for a place to play. This will spawn an increase in "alternative venues" like we saw in the '90s, when social halls and what were essentially practice spaces became options for one-off shows. You'll also see a rebirth of a serious house-show circuit.

Prediction No. 6: Ticket prices will continue to rise at local club shows. If the $7 ticket became the new $5 ticket three years ago, the $9-$10 ticket will become the new $7 ticket. And $20 to $25 ticket prices for the next-tier acts will become commonplace. Considering what it costs to see a movie these days, $10 is a value for a night's worth of original live music. Besides, someone has to pay those higher guarantees.

Prediction No. 7: Ultimately, there will be fewer indie shows booked in Omaha next year, but they will be better shows.

Prediction No. 8: Conversely, ticket prices for huge national touring acts at arenas like the Qwest Center will actually go down, driven both by the economy and the bands' desire to get butts in seats so they can peddle their $100 T-shirts and other assorted non-CD-related merch.

So, to summarize: there will be fewer bands overall, and all of them will be trying to get paid more to play in fewer clubs that will be booking fewer shows but with better national bands playing at a higher ticket price.

Extend that beyond the clubs and you'll see fewer record labels with fewer bands recording fewer albums. But despite that, I still think local recording studios will be just fine, even though cheap, high-quality home-studio options are more available than ever. There always will be someone willing to invest in serious recording, understanding that it's the price of admission if they want to get to the next level (whether that level exists or not).

Overall, the slow demise of the music industry will continue to impact every community in the country just as it impacts ours. But there is a wildcard that could change everything in a heartbeat.

All it takes is another Conor to break through. Because every scene needs a prophet to lead it; someone to give musicians' hope that it could happen to them, too. Well, it's been about a decade since any Omaha band has broken through the way the core Saddle Creek bands -- Bright Eyes, The Faint and Cursive -- broke through nationally, and people are beginning to give up hope that it'll ever happen again.

If in 2010 another music prophet emerges from the Omaha music scene and becomes a national focal point, everything will change, for the better. Prediction No. 9: It's going to happen. But who will it be?

Next week, the final chapter: Predictions Pt. 3 -- The Lightning Round.

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No shows tonight. Again. Ah, but there's something going on tomorrow, if we're not trapped in our homes...

--Got comments? Post 'em here.--

Welcome back to the working week; say 'hello' to 2010. The office has been kind of empty without you. It's nice to have you back. If you haven't been to Lazy-i throughout the holiday, you've got some catching up to do. I'll make it easy for you. You can either scroll down and read all the past entries, or check out these convenient links. We've covered a lot since you've been gone, including:

-- The Year in Music 2009 (complete with various top-10 lists)
-- Visions of 2010, Pt. 1 (a recap of the 2009 predictions)
-- The Best of the Decade (that ain't over yet)

Along with various and sundry live reviews of shows that took place over the past two weeks. Catch up on your reading. We'll wait...

We've also been running a contest in your absence. Enter to win a copy of the Lazy-i Best of 2009 Sampler CD. It's my annual best-of-the-best collection, and this year includes songs by Yo La Tengo, Elvis Perkins in Dearland, Box Elders, Micachu and the Shapes, Cursive, Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band, The xx, Digital Leather, Pete Yorn, Peaches, Ladyfinger, The Avett Brothers, Maria Taylor and more. Full track listing is here. To get your name in the hat, send me an e-mail (to tim@lazy-i.com) with your name and mailing address. It's that simple. And considering the number of people who have entered so far, your odds of winning are pretty damn good. Deadline is Jan. 18.

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Yesterday (yes, just yesterday) I spent the lunch hour at the home of Wayne Brekke talking into a microphone about the year that was 2009 for the latest episode of his wonderful Worlds of Wayne podcast. Wayne's already edited the conversation and placed it online for your listening pleasure, right here. We talked about the best music and shows of '09, and even had a friendly, heated back-and-forth about songwriting rights and the Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards, though neither conversation may have made it to the final edit. I'll never know because my ongoing phobia regarding hearing my own recorded voice will likely prevent me from ever listening to this specific episode. But you can, and should. Do it.

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With The Waiting Room closed for renovation and bands generally not touring because of the time of year (Who wants to drive a van in sub-zero, ice-packed conditions?), there aren't many shows looming on the horizon. Something tells me it's going to be a long, cold January...

--Got comments? Post 'em here.--

So here's the deal with The Waiting Room, as told to me by the proprietors -- Jim Johnson and Marc Leibowitz: Right after the bar closes after tonight's show featuring Filter Kings, Broken Spindles, Black Squirrels and The Bruces, a small crew will begin clearing out the place in preparation for the venue's interior demolition, which begins tomorrow.

In essence, the ceiling throughout the entire venue will be "raised" to the same level as the ceiling in the main stage area. That means all of the existing ceiling everywhere else -- and whatever's above it (including a small room) -- will be ripped down to expose the building's true ceiling. Some of the interior walls also will be demolished, opening the sight-lines for the entire space from the bar forward. Johnson told me that the demolition will be full effect on Monday.

After everything is torn down, the new opened-ceiling room will be refinished with the necessary electrical and ventilation and everything else that needs to be done to make the room usable. Johnson told me a new drop ceiling will be installed over the entranceway area that will open up to the full room. The bar area also will see some enhancements, and the rest of the venue's walls will either be recovered or repainted. In other words, you're not going to believe what the place looks like when it's done.

Or sounds like. As part of The Waiting Room's "facelift," the stage's PA will be enhanced, with the speakers hung from the ceiling (or "flown") similar to how the PA is hung from the ceiling of The Slowdown's main-stage room. That, along with the removal of the old ceiling, will completely change the venue's acoustics.

The plan is to have the entire project completed by Jan. 22, when the bar reopens with a free, all-locals show featuring Little Brazil, Little Black Stereo, Ground Tyrants and Kyle Harvey. The following night, afro-beat rockers NOMO returns with Satchel Grande.

It's a hugely ambitious plan. So ambitious that I'm afraid they'll be wheeling Johnson out on a stretcher when it's all done. But in the end, he and Leibowitz will have the music club that they've always dreamed of. The renovation of The Waiting Room represents a substantial investment not only in the local music scene but in Benson, helping galvanize the district as the Omaha music community's "ground zero."

In the mean time, it also means slim pickin's in terms of shows throughout most of the month of January. In addition to The Waiting Room being closed, there aren't that many shows booked at The Slowdown. It's going to be a long, cold January, folks, but it'll be worth it.

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Speaking of "closings," my only venture out on New Year's Eve was to The Saddle Creek Bar, where a handful of local punk bands including The Upsets (see photo) took the stage for the venue's "last waltz." Afterward, the bar closed for good. Only the drive-thru remains open as its "going out of business" sale continues. Mike Coldewey, the guy behind The Saddle Creek Bar, is moving to Chicago in a few weeks. Who knows what will happen to the building, which holds a unique place in the history of the Omaha music scene. The property is being handled by NP Dodge, and there's a listing online here that shows an asking price of $350,000, which includes the property, the 9,164 sq. ft. bar and drive-thru liquor store. Or you can buy the business without the real estate for $65,000.

I, for one, will miss the Saddle Creek Bar. Despite being vilified for his perceived role in the creation of Omaha's all-ages music ordinance -- and for his tell-it-like-it-is communication style -- I liked Mike Coldewey and wanted to see his bar succeed. The reasons were strictly personal -- a strong music venue/restaurant would have strengthened a neighborhood that has its share of crime and economic problems. And also because the bar is less than a mile from my house.

But it wasn't to be. The biggest crowd that I ever saw at the Saddle Creek Bar was when The Good Life played there back on Dec. 21, 2006. The rest of the time I rarely saw more than a handful of people in the club, as Coldewey couldn't get the bigger-drawing local bands to play there either because of his reputation or the reputation of the venue's sound system.

I still believe that the bar could be a success due to its location and its size. I've talked to a number of touring bands who said the SCB sort of reminded them of The Bottleneck in Lawrence, and I can see that. My fear is that the property will be sold, the venue will be demolished and storage units or some other abomination will be constructed there. And that will be the end of it.

--Got comments? Post 'em here.--

I don't think I've seen as many "best of" lists as I have this year, most likely because it's believed to be the end of a decade (when, in fact, the decade ends next year). As someone who has actively covered indie music for the past 10 years, I've been asked to give my list of the "best albums of the decade." My response: You can see my year-by-year list of my favorite indie albums online right here at Lazy-i. In fact, here are the links to each year's year-in-review write-ups, each of which includes my top-10 list for that specific year:

2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009

So, what are my "best of the best"? Well, all "best of" lists are entirely subjective based on what role an album played in the list maker's life. For example, I've seen Ryan Adams' Heartbreaker on a few lists. I've never cared for the album or Adams -- so not only didn't it make my "favorites of the decade" list, it didn't make my favorites for the year 2000. Doesn't mean it's a bad choice for all those folks who did list it, it just means I never liked the record (and still don't). And that's all these lists are -- subjective notions made by those who happened to experience a specific song or record at a specific time in their lives -- maybe the record was the soundtrack to the year they met their wife or husband, or the year they first moved out their parents' house, whatever. What's considered an "important" album to one person is forgotten or tossed aside (or never heard) by another.

So, here's what I did. I looked over each year's list and picked an album or two that are my favorites from each. Here's what I came up with (in chron):

Deathcab for Cutie, We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes (Barsuk)
Cursive, Domestica (Saddle Creek)
The Faint, Danse Macabre (Saddle Creek)
Low, Things We Lost in the Fire (Kranky)
Interpol, Turn on the Bright Lights (Matador)
Okkervil River, Don't Fall in Love with Everyone You See (Jagjaguwar)
The Arcade Fire, Funeral (Merge)
Bright Eyes, I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning (Saddle Creek)
Sufjan Stevens, Illinoise (Asthmatic Kitty)
Cat Power, The Greatest (Matador)
Wilco, Sky Blue Sky (Nonesuch)

You'll notice no albums were selected from 2008 or 2009, probably because those years are too close to now, and it's hard to think of anything released so recently as being particularly significant, yet. Maybe in a couple years. I also think that the past few years have been "off" in terms of indie music (and music in general), especially if you're not into art rock/snooze rock bands like Animal Collective, Fleet Foxes or Grizzly Bear, which bore me. I don't understand the critical/mass appeal of Animal Collective (though I've tried, I've tried). Also missing from my list is perennial listee Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. I remember not liking the record when it came out and only rediscovered it in the past year (Now I like it). I still prefer Sky Blue Sky, however. Is your favorite band or album missing? Well then, make your own list, and post it on the webboard.

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Speaking of lists, I noticed yesterday that Brimstone Howl's latest, Big Deal. What's He Done Lately, made Magnet Magazine's list of the Best of 2009: Hidden Treasures (The 10 Best Albums You Didn't Hear in 2009). Check it out here. Anyone know if Magnet is still publishing? I haven't seen a copy on the news stands in a long, long time.

What you can still find on the news stands is The Big Takeover, a magazine that's been around forever publishing tons of CD reviews every six months or so. In the latest issue, editor Jack Rabid's review of For Against's new album Never Been was the focus of his Top-40 reviews list. Among his comments: "Playing this record is to be sucked into another world, succumbing to its textural tenacity, so brimming with pocket passages of flickering luminous radiance and the coolest shade, dabbling in dissonance, light jangle, esoteric bass, hypnotic drums, and some of the most inventive guitar playing you'll hear any year." Rabid always has been one of For Against's biggest fans.

Also reviewed in the same issue (No. 65) is Little Brazil's latest, Son. Among reviewer Neal Agneta's comments: "Son evokes a certain air of exuberance and grandiosity, and while certainly not a detriment to the music within, Brazil's commercial ambitions are not to be understated." You can find copies of The Big Takeover at Barnes & Noble.

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I've gotten all of one entry so far in the drawing to win a copy of the (apparently not-so-coveted) Lazy-i Best of 2009 Sampler CD. It's my annual best-of-the-best collection, and this year includes songs by Yo La Tengo, Elvis Perkins in Dearland, Box Elders, Micachu and the Shapes, Cursive, Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band, The xx, Digital Leather, Pete Yorn, Peaches, Ladyfinger, The Avett Brothers, Maria Taylor and more. Full track listing is here. Just send me an e-mail (to tim@lazy-i.com) with your name and mailing address and you'll be entered into the drawing. Deadline is Jan. 18.

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--Got comments? Post 'em here.--