Friday, April 23, 2010 |
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Live review: Everest, Minus the Bear; The Album Leaf tonight, Fang Island Saturday, Yeasayer Sunday...
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by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com It took an associate of mine to remind me that Everest -- last night's opener for Minus the Bear (along with Little Brazil, who I missed) -- also was the opener at last year's Neil Young concert at Qwest. Now here they were, back down on the club circuit. Americana is the new alt country (and has been for a couple years), and the Everest guys looked the part with their untucked western-cut shirts, work boots and hippie beards. Their sound, however, carried a darkness that belies typical alt country. It would be easy to compare them to The Jayhawks or Wilco, especially considering the lead singer Russell Pollard's vocal resemblance to Tweedy, but they (thankfully) lacked Wilco's tendency for wonky jam-band noodling. Everest is more... what? Majestic? Grander? Some of their music teetered on the edge of epic (in line with a band like The National), especially when Pollard dropped his guitar and slid behind a second, smaller trap set. Two drummers is almost always a novelty, and almost always fun to watch. Overall, Everest had a great -- if not slightly monotonous -- sound. It's one of those bands whose records would require (many) repeated listenings before they grew on you. The crowd last night at Slowdown was… strange. It was a real "bro" crowd -- not frat/preppy, not indie. More like slightly inebriated suburban guys seeking fellowship and a shared experience. A bro crowd. A crowd that wasn't afraid to get into the music, and by "getting into" I mean raising their fists in the air or stretching over the edge of the stage to tap their PBR tallboys with the drummer. A bro crowd. So why were they there for Minus the Bear? I guess the band has changed since the last time I saw them back in 2003. They've become a pop band. Instead of the typical angular indie rock band that I remembered, Minus the Bear has morphed into some sort of indie grunge band -- like if Eddie Vedder fronted Criteria or Cursive but with the Faint's rhythm section, all smoothed out for FM. I seem to remember their sound relying much more on complicated intricate time sigs. This was downright straightforward bordering on dancey post-punk. So, Pearl Jam with keyboards? A stretch. Steve Winwood goes indie? No. They were at their best when they were letting the weird guitar lines sneak beneath the surface. The weirder the better. Otherwise, yeah, they've become an indie Pearl Jam without the pretentious lyrics. There was almost no dynamics, which became monotonous at times -- I found myself checking my watch. Regardless, with the smoothed-over edges, they've found their niche or their niche has found them. When did they become so big? The show didn't sell out the big room, but the floor was plenty full. I guess over all these years they've managed to generate a nice following, which will only get bigger. (See photo) It's Night 2 of the Omaha Invasion in Lincoln. Like last night, $6 gets you into all the clubs all night long. Here's the line-up: 12th St. Pub Duffy's Tavern Bourbon Theatre Bricktop Also tonight, Whipkey/Zimmerman play for three hours at Stir Lounge at Harrah's. Three hours. $5. 9 p.m. Saturday night at Slowdown Jr is an evening where the undercard is as eye-catching as the headliner. First, Los Angeles' epic, heavy-psych instrumental quintet Red Sparowes has a knack for creating atmosphere on their new album, dramatically titled The Fear is Excruciating, But Therein Lies the Answer. The soundscapes are huge, foreboding climbs up a castle wall surrounded by smoke and darkness and lots of electric guitars. It's quite a contrast to red hot opening band Fang Island, whose debut on Sargent House Records scored a blistering 8.3 on Pitchfork, which these days has become a launchpad to indie stardom. Judging by the buzz at this year's SXSW, they have indeed blasted off. Their hyperkinetic rock has been compared to Andrew WK, but their sound isn't nearly as spazzy and unhinged. Instead, Fang Island's proggy assault is like a jittery frat party where someone spiked the keg with amphetamines. $10, 9 p.m. Also Saturday night, three hours of Midwest Dilemma at Stir Lounge at Harrah's. Three hours. $5, 9 p.m. Sunday night at The Waiting Room, Brooklyn band Yeasayer takes the stage. Their new album, Odd Blood, has been near the top of the College Music Journal (CMJ) charts since its release this past February on Secretly Canadian Records. When it's not trying to be weird (creepy opener "The Children") it's a playful whirlwind, a throbbing indie-pop gem driven by quirky beats, buoyant synths and frontman Chris Keating's energetic croon, who on songs like bouncing single "O.N.E.," becomes Howard Jones for a generation that was wasn't born when "Things Can Only Get Better" was released. Brooklyn dance-pop duo Sleigh Bells (ex-Poison the Well) open. Too bad it's SOLD OUT. Starts at 9. And finally, I'd be remiss not mentioning the Big Al Free Music Festival at The Hideout Friday and Saturday nights. It's two nights of Al's favorite bands, capped each evening by a Big Al Band performance. More info here. The fun starts at 8 p.m. and admission is… free, of course. --Got comments? Post 'em here.-- Read Tim McMahan's blog daily at Lazy-i.com -- an online music magazine that includes feature interviews, reviews and news. The focus is on the national indie music scene with a special emphasis on the best original bands in the Omaha area. |
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posted by Tim McMahan - Lazy-i.com at 11:55 AM |
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Thursday, April 22, 2010 |
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Minus the Bear, Julian Casablancas, Omaha Invasion Day 1 tonight...
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by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com It's an insanely busy night for live music. 12th St. Pub Duffy's Tavern Bourbon Theatre Bricktop And finally, at beautiful O'Leaver's Pub, it's Australia's favorite export, Electric Jellyfish, with Blue Rosa. $5, 9:30 p.m. --Got comments? Post 'em here.-- Read Tim McMahan's blog daily at Lazy-i.com -- an online music magazine that includes feature interviews, reviews and news. The focus is on the national indie music scene with a special emphasis on the best original bands in the Omaha area. |
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posted by Tim McMahan - Lazy-i.com at 1:43 PM |
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Wednesday, April 21, 2010 |
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Column 267: A tale of two Digital Leathers; Goo goes to TWR tonight...
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by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com One last thought on Harrah's Stir lounge: I was told that it was designed to be a live performance space, but there's something about that room that makes it, well, unappealing. Maybe it's the low ceiling over the stage which gives you the impression that the band is being crowded. Or maybe it's the blank-white-blue stage lighting that's about as appealing as being lit by a row of drugstore fluorescent bulbs. Or maybe it's the flat, brittle sound of the PA -- sonically bright with no bottom and plenty of bounce. Needless to say, I didn't stick around for Little Brazil, who I'm told played a hugely long set...
* * * One of Slowdown's early "hits" from an event standpoint was Goo, which had more buzz surrounding it than most of the live performance on Slowdown's stage. Despite its massive popularity, it didn't take long for Slowdown to tire of the hassle that came with the theme-related dance event. Goo quickly became a 21+ night, and eventually Slowdown quit hosting Goo altogether. Now Goo returns, this time to The Waiting Room, which in the past hosted Goo-inspired Gunk nights. Tonight they get the real thing. 9 p.m., $5 if you're under 21 (free if you're over 21). --Got comments? Post 'em here.-- Read Tim McMahan's blog daily at Lazy-i.com -- an online music magazine that includes feature interviews, reviews and news. The focus is on the national indie music scene with a special emphasis on the best original bands in the Omaha area. |
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posted by Tim McMahan - Lazy-i.com at 10:57 AM |
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Tuesday, April 20, 2010 |
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The Show Is the Rainbow goes on hiatus for High Art; Ember Schrag enters Enamel...
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by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com Darren Keen, the mastermind behind The Show Is the Rainbow, says TSITR is going on hiatus indefinitely. "We went on tour as a full band, and now we decided to keep doing that," he said. That band is called High Art, and features drummer Jim Schroeder from UUVVWWZ, bassist Saber Blazek from Machete Archive and keyboardist Josh Miller from Columbia V. Challenger. All will provide backup vocals. * * * Lincoln singer/songwriter Ember Schrag wrote in to say that she's currently recording a new album at Enamel with AJ Mogis. "Musicians are me (guitar, piano, vocals), Günter Voelker (guitar, drums, banjo, vocals), AJ Mogis (on upright bass), Joe Salvati (from Triggertown, pedal steel), Dan McCarthy (piano), Rebecca McPherson (piano), Pearl Lovejoy Boyd (vocals) and Lenna Pierce (from Das Hoboerotica, cello)," Schrag said. "Thirteen new songs. I've got some interest from a label that I'm excited about, can't say who quite yet." Schrag also said that she's bringing Jad Fair to Lincoln's Clawfoot House (1042 F St.) next month. "His art will be up at Clawfoot House during May," she said. "May 7 will be the opening, with a concert afterward. The opening is at Clawfoot House from 6-9 p.m. with music by The Shipbuilding Co, and the concert is at the Zoo Bar at 10 p.m. with Jad Fair, UUVVWWZ and Samuel Locke Ward & the Boo Hoos, $6. (Entry to art opening is free)." --Got comments? Post 'em here.-- Read Tim McMahan's blog daily at Lazy-i.com -- an online music magazine that includes feature interviews, reviews and news. The focus is on the national indie music scene with a special emphasis on the best original bands in the Omaha area. |
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posted by Tim McMahan - Lazy-i.com at 10:47 AM |
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Monday, April 19, 2010 |
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Live reviews: Slumber Party showcase, Students of Crime; New Pornographers sneak tonight...
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by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com I'll post my thoughts on Friday night's Digital Leather show at Harrah's at a later date in the very near future. Later that night I headed back over the river for the Slumber Party Records showcase, and was pleasantly surprised. Remember, I had accidentally said online (and in print) a few days prior to the show that it was going to be held in the front room, based on assumption more than anything, and not bothering to double-check with the Slowdown site. Stupid, lazy me. Turns out that Slowdown's big room was the right room. When I arrived at around 10:30, the main floor and the railing area back to the bar were completely filled for Conchance, which made me wonder if he's emerging as the label's next (or first) big star. We'll find out when he finishes recording his new album. In the meantime, I'll say what I've said in the past -- backed with an eight-piece band that included trumpet, bongos, bari-sax, keys and the usual rock accouterments, Conchance must be taken seriously. The band definitely knew its way around a comfortable, mid-tempo groove, and Conchance did his thing with the right amount of swagger and confidence needed to pull it off. So is he any good? You'd have to ask a real hip-hop aficionado. My take: You can tell about 10 seconds into any hip-hop performance if the guy/gal on the mic knows what s/he's doing (or doesn't, which in those cases, is embarrassing for everyone involved). Conchance knows what he's doing. But we'll have to wait for the record to decipher what he's got on his mind, and if there's any weight to his words. --Got comments? Post 'em here.-- Read Tim McMahan's blog daily at Lazy-i.com -- an online music magazine that includes feature interviews, reviews and news. The focus is on the national indie music scene with a special emphasis on the best original bands in the Omaha area. |
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posted by Tim McMahan - Lazy-i.com at 10:55 AM |
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Friday, April 16, 2010 |
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Slumber Party showcase, Digital Leather/Little Brazil tonight; Students of Crime, Bloodcow, Once a Pawn Saturday...
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By Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com I know I've messed up dates and times throughout the week, but I'm going to get this right: So tonight, at the floating gambling den called Harrah's Casino, Digital Leather and Little Brazil are performing in the Stir Lounge. My understanding is that each band will be forced by rifle-barrel to play sets that are longer than they've probably ever played before. That fact, added to a menu of cheap booze, gambling and general decadence, will likely result in an evening of fun and embarrassment, which is just fine because what happens in Council Bluffs, stays in Council Bluffs. $5, and I'm told Digital Leather could start as early as 8:30. My plan is to catch some early-evening gambling/rock action and then head over to Slowdown for the Slumber Party showcase on the big stage. The lineup includes some of the area's best bands: Capgun Coup, Conchance, Honeybee, Noah's Ark Was a Spaceship, Talking Mountain and Thunder Power. The price: Free. Show starts at 8:30. Saturday night Students of Crime -- the new band featuring Robert Thornton (The Wagon Blasters, Now Archimedes!), drummer Brad Smith, guitarist Dan Stewart and bassist Marc Phillips -- will make their stage debut at O'Leaver's with The Third Men and The Ground Tyrants. 9:30 p.m., $5 Meanwhile, in Benson Saturday night, Bloodcow returns after a lengthy hiatus to perform at The Waiting Room with Saudi Arabia (formerly The Dinks), Bible of the Devil and Desire to Destroy. $7, 9 p.m. Finally, Lincoln punk duo Once a Pawn is playing a rare Omaha show at The Barley Street with Cat Island, Charles S. McVey and Chad Wallin. Once a Pawn's new album, Mission Accomplished, is one of my faves so far this year. $5, 9 p.m. --Got comments? Post 'em here.-- Read Tim McMahan's blog daily at Lazy-i.com -- an online music magazine that includes feature interviews, reviews and news. The focus is on the national indie music scene with a special emphasis on the best original bands in the Omaha area. |
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posted by Tim McMahan - Lazy-i.com at 11:02 AM |
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Thursday, April 15, 2010 |
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Live Review: A Weather; Simon Joyner, Yuppies tonight...
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by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com It's springtime at O'Leaver's. The volleyball players are back, drunkenly flopping around out in the sand. The smoke hut has been dismantled and put away 'til next year, and there's new outdoor furniture in the beer garden -- handmade, thick, wooden benches and tables surrounding the perimeter, which I'm told have been weatherproofed with multiple layers of marine-quality spar varnish so as to never warp. It's only a matter of time until those benches have been lovingly carved with dick jokes and badly drawn nude women with over-sized boobs. A topic of discussion last night: Would it be possible for someone to light this new wooden furniture on fire? Conclusion: I suppose, yes. With enough gasoline and time, anything will burn, even weather-treated moisture-sealed wooden planks. And at O'Leaver's, nothing is fire-proof. By the time A Weather took the stage last night, the volleyball players and their cars had disappeared, leaving the parking lot partially empty. A small crowd of around 30 was inside to hear the trio play a quiet, slightly withdrawn set that didn't resemble their new album, but was good in its own way. Live, A Weather deconstructs their lush, dense music with a frontman who sings and (barely) plays an electric guitar, and a rhythm section that includes a bass player and a cute blond girl with a pretty voice that gently tap-tap-tapped on drums. Last night the music was all about bass and voices, together in a minimal setting that reminded me of '90s band Bedhead. I liked it, but in the end I prefer the sound of their new album (Everyday Balloons), which has an added beauty and depth thanks to its keyboards. The album is a daylight walk through a forest in summer. Last night's performance was that same walk, but in December with the trees bare -- it's still a beautiful stroll. * * * Tonight at Slowdown Jr., Joe Jack Talcum of the Dead Milkmen performs along with Simon Joyner, Samuel Locke Ward and the Boo Hoos (Iowa City), and our very own Yuppies. $7, 9 p.m. * * * One more correction -- I said yesterday in my column that The Slumber Party showcase Friday night would be held at Slowdown Jr. In fact the showcase will be held on Slowdown's big stage. All the more reason... --Got comments? Post 'em here.-- Read Tim McMahan's blog daily at Lazy-i.com -- an online music magazine that includes feature interviews, reviews and news. The focus is on the national indie music scene with a special emphasis on the best original bands in the Omaha area. |
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posted by Tim McMahan - Lazy-i.com at 10:43 AM |
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Wednesday, April 14, 2010 |
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Column 266: MAHA: Now it's up to you; Team Love band A Weather tonight…
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I promise I'm not going to keep writing columns about this festival every week, but I feel obligated to report on what's become something of a dream concert for indie music fans. And as I say below, they're not done yet. If they want to make this festival pitch-perfect, they need to get at least one more keynote national act, preferably a cutting edge up-and-comer like Hot Chip or Beach House (who just played here last week) or Frightened Rabbit or Ted Leo and the Pharmacists (who aren't really new or up-and-coming, but are just plain awesome).
* * * C O R R E C T I O N S: That's right, there's more than one. In Monday's blog, I boasted about all of the great shows going on this week, and in the process got the dates wrong on two of them. I said the Slumber Party Records showcase was Saturday night -- it's not, it's Friday night. And I said that the debut of new band Students of Crime starring Robert Thornton (The Wagon Blasters, Now Archimedes!), drummer Brad Smith, guitarist Dan Stewart and bassist Marc Phillips was Sunday night. Wrong wrong wrong! The debut is Saturday night at O'Leaver's with The Third Men and The Ground Tyrants. Take note. * * * I did get the date right for tonight's show at O'Leaver's -- Team Love recording artist A Weather is playing along with McCarthy Trenching and Thunder Power. Check out the clever, cool A Weather website (right here), where you can hear their gorgeous new album, Everyday Balloons, streamed in its entirety. $5, 9:30 p.m. Do not miss this one. --Got comments? Post 'em here.-- Read Tim McMahan's blog daily at Lazy-i.com -- an online music magazine that includes feature interviews, reviews and news. The focus is on the national indie music scene with a special emphasis on the best original bands in the Omaha area. |
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posted by Tim McMahan - Lazy-i.com at 10:45 AM |
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Tuesday, April 13, 2010 |
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The Faint, Old '97s, Superchunk join Spoon at MAHA; Matador band Girls tonight…
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You've very likely heard the news by now. You're not dreaming: The Faint, Old '97s and Superchunk all have been added to this year's MAHA Music Festival lineup. I'll be waxing poetic about this in tomorrow's column, but thought I'd share it with you now (as I won't have time for a blog update later). It's hard -- nay impossible -- to argue with this lineup, and MAHA isn't done yet, as they're considering two more nationals to fill out the bill along with the local stage. Impressive, and all for only $33. Tix go on sale April 24. How many people can they fit into Lewis & Clark Landing? We'll find out July 24. Also, briefly, tonight at The Waiting Room it's San Francisco indie-psychrock band Girls (Matador Records) with Sub Pop act Dum Dum Girls. $15, 9 p.m. Be there or be square. --Got comments? Post 'em here.-- Read Tim McMahan's blog daily at Lazy-i.com -- an online music magazine that includes feature interviews, reviews and news. The focus is on the national indie music scene with a special emphasis on the best original bands in the Omaha area. |
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posted by Tim McMahan - Lazy-i.com at 5:19 AM |
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Monday, April 12, 2010 |
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MAHA announcement eminent, New Jake Bellows, The Golden Age returns (sort of)…
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by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com My allergies got the best of me this weekend. I'm hoping they retreat quickly as there are a number of promising shows this week, including Girls tomorrow night, A Weather on Wednesday, Little Brazil and Digital Leather at the boats Friday, the Slumber Party Records showcase also Friday night, and Bloodcow/Saudi Arabia and the Students of Crime debut both Saturday night. Someone, get me a Zyrtec. -- The remaining headlining bands -- three of them -- are about to be announced by the MAHA Festival organizers, possibly as early as tomorrow. I'm willing to bet you'll be surprised by at least a couple of them. --Got comments? Post 'em here.-- Read Tim McMahan's blog daily at Lazy-i.com -- an online music magazine that includes feature interviews, reviews and news. The focus is on the national indie music scene with a special emphasis on the best original bands in the Omaha area. |
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posted by Tim McMahan - Lazy-i.com at 11:03 AM |
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Friday, April 09, 2010 |
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OEAA crosses the river; Dead Meadow tonight; Bare Wires Sunday…
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The OEAA's Spring Showcase on tonight in five venues on the 100 block of Broadway in Council Bluffs. So where is that exactly? It's apparently near where Kanesville and Broadway meet near downtown CB. For example, here's where the Fiddlin' Monkey is on Google Maps. Consider it an adventure. A $10 cover gets you in the doors of all five venues. The full band listing and schedule is here: http://www.oea-awards.com/ I know only three of the performers. Strangely, no set runs past 1 a.m. -- what's the point of hosting this in CB if you can't take advantage of the 2 a.m. closing time (which we'll be getting here in Omaha, eventually)? Also happening tonight, Matador band Dead Meadow is down at Slowdown Jr. with Imaad Wasif and Life of a Scarecrow. 9 p.m. $10. Tomorrow there's an all-afternoon homeless benefit punk festival at The Hole featuring 13 bands. Full schedule is here. Show starts at 2 p.m. Admission is $10, or $5 with a can of food. Nathaniel Rateliff (Born in the Flood) opens for Megafaun and Breathe Owl Breathe at The Waiting Room. $10, 9 p.m. And then, Sunday, Bare Wires plays at The Barley Street Tavern with Saudi Arabia (formerly The Dinks) and Cheap Smokes. $5, 9 p.m. --Got comments? Post 'em here.-- Read Tim McMahan's blog daily at Lazy-i.com -- an online music magazine that includes feature interviews, reviews and news. The focus is on the national indie music scene with a special emphasis on the best original bands in the Omaha area. |
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posted by Tim McMahan - Lazy-i.com at 10:50 AM |
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Thursday, April 08, 2010 |
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Digital Leather, Baby Tears, Jake Bellows, Unwed Sailor tonight…
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by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com Lot's o' shows tonight. Down at The Hole, 712 So. 16th St., it's Digital Leather with Baby Tears and out-of-town act JEFF the Brotherhood from Nashville. $6, 7 p.m. No Booze! Afterward, head over the Barley Street Tavern for Jake Bellows with Matt Cox, Andrew Jay and Jeff Metil. $5, 9 p.m. Or swing by Slowdown Jr. for Unwed Sailor and All the Young Girls Are Machine Guns. $7, 9 p.m. Read Tim McMahan's blog daily at Lazy-i.com -- an online music magazine that includes feature interviews, reviews and news. The focus is on the national indie music scene with a special emphasis on the best original bands in the Omaha area. |
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posted by Tim McMahan - Lazy-i.com at 11:03 AM |
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Wednesday, April 07, 2010 |
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Column 265: Bare Wires; Cursive goes deep in the hoopla…
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by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com By the way, when Bare Wires frontman Matthew Melton was asked how he knew Chris Aponick, this is what he said: "Isn't he in Digital Leather?"
* * * The video of Cursive's cover of Starship's "We Built This City" is online (here), and making its way through the blog-o-sphere. My question: Where is Ted Stevens? * * * --Got comments? Post 'em here.-- Read Tim McMahan's blog daily at Lazy-i.com -- an online music magazine that includes feature interviews, reviews and news. The focus is on the national indie music scene with a special emphasis on the best original bands in the Omaha area. |
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posted by Tim McMahan - Lazy-i.com at 10:47 AM |
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Tuesday, April 06, 2010 |
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Live Review: Beach House; RIP Luigi Waites…
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by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com The highlight of last night's Beach House concert at The Waiting Room: 50 people packed into the venue's pinball room with 13.6 seconds left in regulation of the NCAA men's basketball finals. It was like a beer commercial, the booths crammed with fans (mostly guys) glued to the plasma, praying for a miracle while across the cavernous venue on stage roared one of indie's best dream-pop bands. As the shot tipped off the rim and into a Duke player's hands, a groan of disgusted frustration drowned out the hall, and within seconds the crowd of sports fans joined the rest of the throng, not thinking of music but of what could have been. --Got comments? Post 'em here.-- Read Tim McMahan's blog daily at Lazy-i.com -- an online music magazine that includes feature interviews, reviews and news. The focus is on the national indie music scene with a special emphasis on the best original bands in the Omaha area. |
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posted by Tim McMahan - Lazy-i.com at 10:40 AM |
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Monday, April 05, 2010 |
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Why hasn't tonight's Beach House show sold out? Black Lips tonight...
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Here's a random thought about tonight's Beach House show... During that meeting with MAHA Festival organizer Mike App (read about it here), we tossed around ideas for bands to play this year's festival. I told him that the nature of indie music (which, as you know, I cover) is that it's not terribly popular. You and I might think that indie bands are the cat's pajamas, but the great unwashed masses don't give two shits about them, especially since they're not heard on the radio. So the idea that an indie festival loaded with College Music Journal (CMJ) bands could sell out Lewis and Clark Landing (with its capacity of between 5k and 6k, according to App), seems far-fetched. Case in point, Beach House has had the No. 1 album on the CMJ charts for weeks, only recently giving up the top spot. It's one of the most popular indie albums so far this year. And as of right now, tonight's Beach House show at The Waiting Room, priced at a mere $10 (now $12 DOS), has yet to sell out. Surprising? Let's look at the March 24 CMJ top 10 Radio Chart:
Spoon is probably the biggest band on that list (and is the headliner for MAHA '10), but their new album is still below Beach House. Spoon would quickly sell out TWR and Slowdown, and so would Vampire Weekend, but how about Yeasayer? They're coming to TWR April 24 and that show also hasn't sold out yet. Of the rest of the list, Gorillaz, Broken Bells and maybe Hot Chip would sell out TWR or Slowdown... eventually. I would have said that Beach House was the sure quick sell out, and I would have been wrong (as per usual). So why hasn't that show sold out? Phoenix's last album only recently fell off the top-20. That band just played Slowdown last September (it didn't sell out until a couple weeks before the show). Now Phoenix is coming back, this time to play the Stir Cove concert series along with a handful of dinosaur acts. Would they have been a good addition to MAHA? Probably, but I think they would draw, at the most, maybe fewer than 1,000 people. Alright, so how does Pitchfork Music Fest in Chicago do it? Look at the headliners: Pavement, LCD Soundsystem and Modest Mouse. The festival isn't until July, and the $90 3-day passes have already sold out. It's kind of a head scratcher. Of those three bands, only Pavement seems like a bulls-eye winner. While LCD Soundsystem is nothing less than awesome, I don't know how it would do in Omaha. Modest Mouse has sold out Sokol Aud in the past, but hasn't released an album in awhile (I assume they must have something coming up or else Pitchfork wouldn't bother with them). It all boils down to the fact that 1) it's Chicago, 2) the headliners, and 3) the undercard, which in this case includes Jon Spencer Blues Explosion and Broken Social Scene. Incidentally, none of those Pitchfork headliners are in the CMJ top 20. Anyway...So tonight is Beach House at The Waiting Room. Tix are still available for $12. Opening is Bachelorette (another good band). Show starts at 9. Also tonight (which you could argue is the reason why Beach House hasn't sold out, but which I would argue is a different crowd), Black Lips play at Slowdown Jr. (that's right, the front room) with Box Elders and Brimstone Howl. $12 (also still not sold out), 9 p.m. --Got comments? Post 'em here.-- |
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posted by Tim McMahan - Lazy-i.com at 10:46 AM |
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Friday, April 02, 2010 |
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Live Review: Kyle Harvey, Nick Carl; Little Dragon, Pharmacy Spirits tomorrow; Low Anthem, Har Mar Sunday...
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by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com All jokes aside about looking like an Islamic terrorist, Kyle Harvey and his new beard wowed the crowd of around 50 last night at The Barley Street Tavern, playing a rather slim set of eight songs in support of the release of his new CD. I think I've heard him play all the painfully tortured tunes before, many of which I'm told are on that record (instead of buying a copy, I bought one of his iron-on T-shirts that bears an almost-invisible "Kyle Harvey beard" logo). The funny thing is that Kyle is a funny guy on stage in the face of these songs about personal torment, betrayal, extreme drug and alcohol dependency and general heartbreak and self-loathing. He finished each pained melody with a smile and the occasional guitar histrionic (EVH tap technique guitar playing made inaudible on acoustic, behind the back-of-the-neck ax strumming, etc.). The CD is out on Kyle's very own Slo-Fidelity Records, and hopefully you'll be able to find it at one of the fine local independent record stores, eventually. If not, contact Kyle through the Slo-Fi myspace page (http://www.myspace.com/slofirecords). A handful of acoustic singer/songwriters opened the show. The one that stood out the most was Nick Carl, a guy who looks like a young version of Drew Carey that played a handful of really well-written folk songs that you won't find anywhere because he hasn't recorded them, yet. Carl told me afterward that he's planning on doing a record in the near future, which will come out on Slo-Fi. * * * This holiday weekend is heavily bottom-loaded. Tonight might be a Brothers night, as the only interesting show that I'm aware of is Satchel Grande at The Waiting Room (with The 9's). $7, 9 p.m. Tomorrow night looks busy. Down at Slowdown Jr., Little Dragon is playing with VV Brown. LD is a modern Swedish alt-indie/dance band that plays dense, atmospheric pop that recalls bands like Ladytron, Saint Etienne and Portishead. Trippy and fun and well worth $10. Starts at 9. Also tomorrow night (Saturday) Pharmacy Spirits has its Omaha CD release show at O'Leaver's with Talking Mountain and The Yuppies. $5, 9:30. Three hot shows on Sunday night: -- Down at Slowdown Jr., it's The Low Anthem with Nathaniel Rateliff and McCarthy Trenching. Providence's Low Anthem plays quiet, introspective alt-folk. Beautiful stuff, on Nonesuch Records. $12, 9 p.m. -- On the opposite end of the spectrum is Har Mar Superstar, who's playing a special sexually-charged Easter show at The Sydney that includes an "after-show dance party" with sets by DJ Denver Dalley and Har Mar himself. $5, 9 p.m. -- Last but not least, Deerhunter is playing at Lincoln's Bourbon Theater Sunday night with It's True and Ideal Cleaners. Deerhunter is modern-day indie prog rock, a dynamic, artsy band that isn't afraid to go to thunderous extremes. Tix are $13 now and $15 DOS. 8 p.m. --Got comments? Post 'em here.-- Read Tim McMahan's blog daily at Lazy-i.com -- an online music magazine that includes feature interviews, reviews and news. The focus is on the national indie music scene with a special emphasis on the best original bands in the Omaha area. |
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posted by Tim McMahan - Lazy-i.com at 10:38 AM |
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Thursday, April 01, 2010 |
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Live Review: Cleemann, Paris When It Sizzles, Thunder Power; Kyle Harvey tonight…
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It was the first show ever for Paris When It Sizzles, a cute girl who played a solo set with electric guitar, which she looped and then played over and sang. Her first show. And the biggest problem was tuning -- if you loop a guitar that's out of tune, you're only compounding the problem, repeating it endlessly and then playing out of tune over the out-of-tune loop. There was a certain unintentional charm about it. She struggled, but I think it's a struggle for anyone who plays at PS Collective because it's one of the worst sounding rooms for live music in Omaha. It's no one's fault -- the place simply has the sonic depth of someone's basement rec room, everything bright and bouncing and sounding hollow and sharp. Add to that a problem with one of the amp connections -- a short that randomly resulted in a thunderous ear-piercing crunch -- and you have less-than-optimum conditions for your first gig ever. She soldiered on, however, and now has it behind her. Those conditions didn't help the other bands last night, though it didn't hinder them as much. Cleemann was a trio led by Danish singer/songwriter/guitarist Gunnar Cleemann with local genius Dereck Higgins on bass and former Preston Love sideman Gary Foster on drums. I heard someone compare him and his voice to Nick Drake, but I didn't hear it, picking up more Lloyd Cole in the phrasing (but I'm always looking for Lloyd Cole). I liked his voice, and I liked his songs which had nuanced depth that lingered beneath the pop. If you listened to Cleemann's Myspace page you were probably wondering who this guy was, because the music sounded completely different. Higgins and Foster have had a thorough effect on his sound. You can barely hear the bass on myspace, whereas the bass led the way on a number of songs last night. Higgins told me afterward that Cleemann worked closely with the rest of the trio on the arrangements, capitalizing on the talent he was working with. Smart. For those who have never seen Dereck Higgins -- no one plays bass with his level of dynamics, his impeccable touch, his awareness of where the songs are going. He knew when to be in the fray, when to lead, and when to pull back and get out of the way. That's something I rarely (if ever) noticed from other bass players. If you get a chance to check him out, you really should. Actually, you have a chance tonight (if you're not reading this too late) as Cleemann and the band are playing at the Clawfoot House in Lincoln tonight. At around 11:30 Thunder Power finally got on the PS Collective stage (after much static/noise/pain). I like their music and their style, but I don't understand the band's frontwoman -- it's as if she's singing in another language, a language that consists of bloops and bleeps and odd vowel sounds. I think I'd like her voice if I understood what she was singing, and if she looked like she was even remotely having a good time on stage instead of looking dour and upset (which was quite a contrast to the rest of the band, which looked like it was having a helluva time). * * * Singer/songwriter and Benson fixture Kyle Harvey is having a CD release party tonight at The Barley Street Tavern. The album is titled Nightmares (of you and me by the sea). "This album is a bit more folky than the previous," Kyle told me in an email, adding that it was recorded with Alex McManus (The Bruces). Harvey is a busy man these days. He says he's already started working on his next album, and then there's his role in local break-out band It's True, which just got back from SXSW and has an album of its own coming out shortly. $5, 9 p.m. Also tonight, Murder By Death is playing up the street at The Waiting Room with Ha Ha Tonka and Linfinity. $12, 9 p.m. --Got comments? Post 'em here.-- |
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posted by Tim McMahan - Lazy-i.com at 5:28 PM |
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