Members of Conduits take Slowdown's holiday stage Dec. 17, 2010.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Friday night’s Christmas Throwdown multi-band mish-mash at The Slowdown was an evening of good-natured, sloppy X-mas fun. It was appropriate that hand-made clothing and other gift items were on display in the darkness, as most of the songs that night also sounded hand-made. Or maybe I just don’t get slacker/indie renditions of Christmas classics (and who else is getting sick of those Hyundai TV commercials with the uber indie-hipster couple (Youtube darlings Pomplamoose) recording toneless, zombie-like Christmas standards inside what looks like a POS Elantra?). While the crowd of 200-300 soaked in the love, the evening’s highlight was the Mynabirds’ set. Joined by members of Honeybee, Conduits and others, Laura Burhenn and her band performed her new single, “All I Want Is Truth (for Christmas)” a jaunty, cautionary message of political/environmental warnings in the face of apathy played off the opening riff of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” before going on its own merry way. You can buy the 7-inch online here (where you can also download it for free). Laura, her band and about a half-dozen women also did covers of Davies’ “Father Christmas” and Maria Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” that turned into an all-women battle for vocal dominance (Now there’s a cover tune I’d like to hear recorded).

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I wonder if we’re going to be treated to more indie Christmas covers tonight at The Waiting Room, when Saturn Moth takes the stage. The new four-piece, fronted by Collin Matz, tops a bill that includes The LymphNode Maniacs, The Benningtons, and The Dads. $5, 9 p.m.

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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. Copyright © 2010 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.