Mystic Valley Band enjoying some PBRs…

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band play the first of a two-night stand at The Slowdown tonight. The shows have been sold out for a long time, and mark the only performances by this version of Oberst Inc. anywhere this year.

Oberst is an enigma to me anymore. There are four versions of Oberst (five if you count his “real” solo stuff) and they’re in a constant state of flux. The most current incarnation has been Desaparecidos, which emerged out of nowhere this year with a couple 45s and some national tour dates. Then it disappeared again, but will re-emerge for another month-long national tour toward the end of October.

Then there’s Mystic Valley Band, who first appeared as the support personnel on Oberst’s successful 2008 debut solo outing, but were not credited specifically as “Mystic Valley Band.” The moniker was added for 2009’s forgettable (except for “Nikorette”) Outer South album. Oberst is said to be working on a new solo album and has a handful of solo dates scheduled on the West Coast in early October. Will his next release be credited simply as “Conor Oberst” or will “Mystic Valley Band” also be attached? We’ll have to see.

Let’s not forget Monsters of Folk, which has released the least interesting of all the Oberst recordings, but has provided some of the most memorable live performances. Or maybe I just really like Jim James. There have been natterings here and there from various members, but nothing concrete regarding any future activity (but with Jim James scheduled at The Slowdown Sept. 10, you never know what could happen).

Finally, there’s Bright Eyes, which has and will always be Oberst’s gold standard, though the future of this incarnation of Oberst is always in question. The last Bright Eyes album, 2011’s The People’s Key, came and went with a flash as bright as the flames on the record’s sleeve. 2007’s Cassadaga, which was a better record, didn’t burn much brighter.

Despite all the activity, you get a sense that Oberst is wandering through the forest without a map. After years of the usual release-an-album-then-tour-for-a-year shtick he probably got sick of the strict regimen, and who can blame him? Putting out a Bright Eyes record means clearing your calendar for 18 months or else you’re not doing the record or the label justice. Of course, it doesn’t have to be that way. Oberst could pull a Beatles and simply record with his Bright Eyes crew and release the albums without touring, but in this era when bands depend on tour revenue more than album sales, that route may not be the most economically feasible for anyone in the band not named Conor.

Things were so much easier when money didn’t matter.

As for tonight and tomorrow night’s shows, I don’t have a ticket and I’m not on the list, so it looks like I won’t be going. If you’re one of the lucky ones, have a good time. The show starts at 9 with two openers.

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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 © 2013 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

As I mentioned yesterday, local legend Dave Goldberg (Full Blown, Carsinogents) is now playing keyboards in Simon Joyner’s band. And while that should be news enough for anyone, it should be pointed out that Dave’s primary project, Solid Goldberg, recently released a four-song EP via Bandcamp, which you really need to check out below. You can even download the EP at a “name your price” price. Do it. And keep an eye out for the next Solid Goldberg live performance, which always promises to be a life-changing experience.

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And speaking of online music, SPIN magazine yesterday posted a link to a stream of Jake Bellow’s entire new album, New Ocean, slated for release on Saddle Creek next Tuesday, Aug. 6. The story’s headline kicker calls Jake “The Omaha lifer…” even though last I heard Jake was living somewhere on the West Coast. I guess he’ll always be an Omahan in his heart of hearts…

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O’Leaver’s is having a particularly busy week this week. Yesterday was that Pleasure Adapter tour kickoff show which featured their “latest” new bassist Darren Keen, who also took the stage as Touch People. Now tonight O’Leaver’s hosts local faves Gordon with Austin Texas garage rockers Major Major Major and Video Ranger. $5, 9:30 p.m.

And then Friday night O’Leaver’s will see the debut of a new band fronted by Steve Micek (ex-The Stay Awake) called Adtrita. I’m not exactly sure what the name means but I think it’s Latin for “extra special.” And even though they haven’t played out, the band already has a track up on a Bandcamp (below). Kind of reminds me of Bottomless Pit/Silkworm and is downright poppy compared to Micek’s previous band. Friday can’t come too soon…

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Last but not least, two members of Conor Oberst’s Mystic Valley band, Jason Boesel and Taylor Hollingsworth, are playing a free gig tonight at Conor’s Pageturner Lounge in Dundee. The free show starts at 9:30 and should be an absolute crush mob.

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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 © 2013 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

Simon Joyner and the Ghosts at Benson Days, July 27,2013.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

The only aspect of Benson Days in which I partook in was the beer garden/band stage. Instead of the usual setting on Military Ave just outside of Jake’s, the stage was set up on 62nd St., right in front of the old “building and loan” and just east of Jane’s. It’s a good location, with park benches and plenty of trees and just enough space for Jake’s booze tent. The fact that it was so much smaller than the Military Ave. stage area was a plus in that it brought the crowd closer together.

Dumb Beach at Benson Days, July 27,2013.

Another plus: The smaller space made for better sound. I have no idea who was in charge of that aspect of the show, or for that matter, who booked the day stage, but both did a good job. I got there late in the day, just in time to see Dumb Beach plug in and tear it up with their gritty, brutal style of garage rock. The band formerly known as Peace of Shit has pushed its way toward the top of my list, as sort of an Omaha all-star collection of garage rock glitterati led by Austin Ulmer.

They were followed by Simon Joyner and the Ghosts. Joyner has surrounded himself with his own all-star cast, among them old reliable Mike Friedman on pedal steel and Omaha legend Dave Goldberg on keys. The group was rounded out by a fiddle player, a bassist and a guy on kettle drum/snare. The result was raucous yet tuneful versions of songs like set opener “Vertigo” and “If I Left Tomorrow,” both from Simon’s latest album Ghosts.

As the set wore on we wandered out of the beer garden looking for food, but by 7 or so, Maple Street had become a blocked-off ghost town. I guess you had to get there early to get in on food booths…or maybe there weren’t any. I noticed a food truck parked nearby, but it was closed. We ended up (as always) at Pizza Shoppe, which I’m happy to report has really turned it around service-wise. Was a time when it would take a half hour just to get your order in; these days PS has the best food service in Benson, and their pizza’s pretty good, too.

That’s it for my weekend. This pestilence that I mentioned last Friday continues to have me in its grip, which meant no night shows last weekend…

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That same pestilence will likely keep me away form O’Leaver’s tonight where Pleasure Adapter and Touch People will be hosting their tour send-off. And guess what: It’s free. Show starts at 9:30.

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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 © 2013 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

The Millions, circa 2013

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

I’ve been fighting a summer cold all week. It’s insidious in its intensity. A seemingly benign pestilence quietly builds and builds… I know, I know, “Who gives a sh*t about your f**king cold, man, just tell us what’s going on this weekend.” You’re heartless…

Tonight’s performance by The Millions at The Waiting Room is sort of both a CD release show and the first of three farewell shows. The band is rereleasing M Is for Millions as the second CD from the band’s “Millions Archive Series.” The two CD set includes M is for Millions as it was originally released on cassette by the band before they were signed to Smash (minus the songs “No. 6” and “The River,” which are already available on the recently released Poison Fish CD).  Disc two is called M is for Millions Sessions and contains 11 previously unreleased tracks.

In addition to tonight’s show, the Millions is headed to Lawrence tomorrow to play at The Bottleneck, and then plays the Maha Music Festival Aug. 17. After that, the future of the band is anyone’s guess. Lives have a way of getting in the way of things like rock and roll, and certainly that’s the case with The Millions, who presumably will go back to their usual day-to-day existences after Maha. Bassist Marty Amsler said the band never intended to play beyond last December’s reunion show at The Bourbon. These three shows are merely “bonus time.” That said, something tells me this won’t be the last you hear from these folks…

Opening for The Millions tonight is fellow Lincolnites UUVVWWZ. $10, 9 p.m.

Also tonight, The Sydney has a red hot show featuring See Through Dresses, Dsoedean and Well Aimed Arrows. $5, 9 p.m.

And….tonight at The Barley Street, Blue Bird plays with Communist Daughter and Field Club. $5, 9 p.m.

Benson Days is Saturday in… Benson. Of note is the “Benson Mainstage,” which apparently will be a beer garden and stage located somewhere on or near Maple Street. The line-up ain’t half bad:

12 to 2:30 — DJ Kobrayle
2:30 to 4:50 — Brad Hoshas, Matt Cox and Sarah Benck
5:10 to 5:50 — Howard
6:10 to 6:50 — Dumb Beach
7:10 to 8 — Simon Joyner
8 to -9 — DJ Dave Goldberg

Following the day activities, Benson bars will be hosting bands throughout the strip, but it’ll cost you $10 for a wrist band. The clubs’ lineups are here.

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In this week’s column, how Playboy magazine got me hooked on canned beer, and why (despite the proliferation of online porn) Hefner’s enterprise will never drop the nudie photos. You can read it in this week’s issue of The Reader, or online right here.

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Have a good weekend.

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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 © 2013 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

Sticky album art for Tim Kasher’s new album, Adult Film (2013, Saddle Creek).

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Some email to go through…

Tim Kasher’s publicist Cobracamanda announced today that the Cursive frontman’s sophomore solo album, Adult Film, will be released Oct. 8 on Saddle Creek. Kasher recorded the album at Chicago’s Electrical Audio this past spring.

Sayeth the press release: “Whereas The Game Of Monogamy was an orchestral album filled with theatrical arrangements, Adult Film favors less ornate, equally impactful instrumentation across its 10 affecting tracks….Lyrically, Kasher is at his incisive best, thematically elastic and touching on aging (self-reflection and taking stock), mortality (one’s own and others’), and relationships of all kinds.”

Not exactly new lyrical ground for the ol’ boy, but I’ll take it.

“Kasher is joined on Adult Film by Sara Bertuldo (bass, vocals), Patrick Newbery (organ, keys, synths, horns), and Dylan Ryan (drums) – who backed him while touring around The Game Of Monogamy – as well as additional artists including Nate Kinsella (drums; of Make Believe and Birthmark) and Laura Stevenson (vocals; of Laura Stevenson and the Cans), among others. The album was mixed by John Congleton (St. Vincent, Wye Oak, Explosions In The Sky) at Elmwood Recording in Dallas, TX.”

Kasher’s having a CD release show Oct. 5 at The Waiting Room.

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One of the only local hip-hop artists from the area that has caught my attention, Conchance (Make Believe Recordings) dropped a new video for his track “What’s Goode?” According to the label, the video “pays homage to his old friend, Mark Goode, an Omaha-fled skate comrade who now lives in Los Angeles, who Conchance frequently visits on the West Coast.” The video was directed and shot by Omaha filmmakers Sam Martin (Capgun Coup) and Dan Thompson. Check it:

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Tonight at The Waiting Room, helmeted guitar virtuoso Bob Log III returns. Rockers Bullet Proof Hearts opens.  $10, 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 © 2013 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Eros and the Eschaton, Home Address for Civil War (Bar/None)

A head’s up on this new Eros and the Eschaton album, Home Address for Civil War. This new record sounds nothing like the last one from It’s True, the band that E&E member Adam Hawkins used to front. Now with wife Katey Perdoni (a.k.a. Sleeveless) the new record takes Hawkins’ and Perdoni’s melodies and drapes them in dense layers of Slowdive, My Bloody Valentine and Jesus & Mary Chain fuzz. We’re talking deeply atmospheric, intensely trippy grinding rock that’s not afraid of brash, creative guitar noise. The record comes out Aug. 13 on Bar/None, while the band visits Slowdown Jr. Sept. 22. You’ve been warned… and invited.

I don’t know what “Eros and the Eschaton” means, by the way. Wiki says Eschaton means “end of times,” which sounds very appropriate for their brand of rock. Actually, I’m not sure how to even pronounce Eschaton.

Pronunciations could also be a problem for oquoa. That’s the name of the new project by former Conduits members Roger Lewis and J.J. Idt, and frontman Max Holmquist (ex-Great American Desert). The band has been whispered about for months, with word leaking out that their new recording will be stellar. And now they’ve just announced their first public gig, Aug. 23 at O’Leaver’s with Electric Chamber Music.

The show’s Facebook listing says “oquoa (o’ko’uh)”. Maybe the pronunciation is actually part of the band’s name… So what’s it mean? Look it up in The Google and you’ll get back… nothing. How very mysterious.

BTW, I think it may be safe to say that Conduits has sailed into the sunset, though the band never made it official.

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Sweatshop Gallery in Benson is hosting Seattle garage rockers La Luz (Burger Records, Suicide Squeeze) tonight, with local guys Adult Films and the amazing duo called Killer Blow. Great show at the “nice price” of just $5. 9 p.m. All ages!

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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 © 2013 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

Eli Mardock and his band at O’Leaver’s, July 19, 2013.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

We talk about publishing rights income for musicians all the time –you know, the money a band gets when its music is used in movies, TV shows, commercials and movie trailers, etc.. Now that record sales are going the way of the dinosaur, it’s one of the few revenue generators left for independent artists. I’m not sure how it works. Labels like Saddle Creek offer agent services to some of its artists, and I’m sure other labels do, too.

I bring it up because Eli Mardock’s music is tailor made for secondary use in marketing media. I’m not sure if that’s a shot or a compliment. In the case of his new record, it’s meant as a tip of the hat. The record’s title track, “Everything Happens for the First Time,” is movie trailer gold. Attention Alexander Payne: You would be wise to seek out this track for the trailer of your next feel-good-heartbreak-romance-coming-of-age comedy. I can already see it in my mind’s eye: The green “This Preview is approved…” screen fades to black, followed by the song’s opening five-note chords (and breathy “ha’s”) to fade in on George Clooney (or whoever Payne’s working with this time) running along a beach or highway as heartfelt comedy ensues.

Why is this record’s music so well-suited for secondary use? Well, in addition to Mardock’s uncanny knack for writing stuck-in-your-head melodies, the album is impeccably recorded. This is the best-recorded record I’ve heard out of Omaha in a long time, and that includes all the Saddle Creek stuff. It is stunningly well produced, and the vinyl sounds even better (I guess because my stereo is better than my iPhone soundwise). Beautiful studio work by Mardock (with mixing by Justin Gerrish (Vampire Weekend, Strokes, Muse)). By the way, Mardock tells me this was recorded, “In my bedroom, in my basement, in an empty building on I street...” ???

The songs themselves are as well-crafted, though it’s easy to spot the (perceived) influences in this record. That title-track/opener is equal parts Arcade Fire and ELO. “Theologians Tell Me” sounds like an homage to Pink Floyd’s “Money.” Lush, tonally dense tracks like “Hold On” recall Bowie and Radiohead.

I don’t care what music you’re listening to, you’re going to pick out references in the melodies — that’s the nature of rock music. The important thing is for the artist to put his or her own spin on it, and Mardock certainly does that. His style is recognizable, from the minor key builds in his song structures to his personal vocal style, which is among the most unique in today’s indie. Listening to this record with my wife, she said she can finally clearly hear Eli’s voice — something that she said is missing when she’s seen him perform live.

Well, the wife wasn’t along Friday night, but she would have had a similar complaint. While you could hear Eli and the rest of the band on O’Leaver’s “stage,” the live set lacked the drama of the record in part due to the limitations of the sound system and the mix. Eli Mardock is one of the very few Nebraska bands that actually sounds better on records because they’re so damn well recorded. To match that level of sound quality would require a Slowdown or Waiting Room, and even then it’s tricky business. Certainly it can’t be done easily with a small club sound rig, which could make his touring a bit… challenging.

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Tonight at The Waiting Room Bloodshot Records artist Wayne “The Train” Hancock headlines. Get a taste of his live show below via YouTube. Opening is good ol’ McCarthy Trenching. $12, 9 p.m.

Also tonight, Lord Huron plays at Slowdown with Enscondido. $10, 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 © 2013 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

Presumably Eli Mardock behind the Eli Mardock album cover…

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

I love you Benson, but you’re bringing me down. How long since my last show there? It’s been weeks…

That said, it looks like it’s going to be another O’Leaver’s weekend. Hottest show of the next three days is tonight at the House that Booze Built. Eli Mardock celebrates the release of his debut, Everything Happens for the First Time (Paper Garden, 2013). This one is a loooong time coming. Hear Nebraska has the skinny on the new record right here. I like it. Opening is The Kickback and John Larson Guitar. $5, 9:30 p.m.

Then it’s back to O’Leaver’s Saturday night for John Klemmensen and the Party. Opening is La Guerre (which is Katlyn Conroy of Lawrence band Cowboy Indian Bear) and All Young Girls are Machine Guns. $5, 9:30 p.m.

Also Saturday night, We Live in Sod Houses returns to The Barley Street with Ronnys and Weather Rest. $5, 9 p.m.

Finally, it’s an EDM night at The Slowdown Saturday with Baauer + RL Grime Infinite Daps Tour w/ Jim-E Stack and Buzz Junior. Baauer is the guy behind “Harlem Shake,” btw. Do your research on YouTube and dance appropriately. $18 adv/$20 DOS, 9 p.m.

Did I miss something? Put it in the comments section.

Have a red hot weekend…

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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 © 2013 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

Wayne Brekke in his Tiki Bar studio.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

This week’s column talks about the 200th episode of the Worlds of Wayne podcast, of which host Wayne Brekke asked me to be the special guest, just like I was for episode No. 100. I also talk about the film 20 Feet from Stardom (which is now playing at Film Streams), the state of rock music, Thom Yorke and Spotify. Through it all, Wayne provides the obligatory realistic counter-point. You can read the column in this week’s issue of The Reader or online right here. Go there now and read it. GO!

Speaking of Worlds of Wayne, that 200 episode also went online this morning right here at the Worlds of Wayne website. Take a listen, because I very likely won’t be as I have this crazy phobia about hearing my own recorded voice. I don’t think scientists have come up with a name for that condition (yet). Interestingly, I also don’t like looking at photos of myself. Scientists call that “self-loathing.”

Luckily, Wayne doesn’t suffer from either malady. The Reader column captures what Wayne and I talked about before the “tape” started rolling. After he hit the “record” button, we chatted about why he started Worlds of Wayne, what he gets out of it, and the ups and downs of doing interviews.

Among his favorite WofW moments are talks with Ace Frehley of KISS, psychic Kelli Miller and the many live performances captured in studio. The worst moments center around technical glitches, like his interviews with Billy Ray Cyrus and Lee Rocker of the Stray Cats. You’ll have to listen to the podcast to hear what happened (but it underscores why I’ve rarely recorded my interviews of the years).

Worlds of Wayne enjoys a healthy 3,000 downloads per month, Wayne said. The production is a labor of love rather than a search for profit (kind of like Lazy-i). I suspect I’ll be in his studio again for Episode 300 and beyond.

“Everyone seems to want to be on the show,” Wayne said. “I’ll do it until no one wants to be on it anymore.”

That’s not going to be anytime soon, especially considering the cavalcade of stars who showed up for his “open call,” which you’ll hear on Pt. 2 of Episode 200, online soon…

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BTW, I ended up not going to Speedy Ortiz last night due to a very early wake-up call this morning and fear of feeling like a total loser walking into West Wing alone. I need to find someone to go to these shows with me.

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I don’t need anyone to go with me to tonight’s show at O’Leaver’s because everyone already will be there. The headliner: Bloodcow. The openers: Minneapolis bands Birthday Suits and Buildings, and Omaha’s own PRO-MAGNUM, $5, 9:30 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 © 2013 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

Screen capture from the Speedy Ortiz video for “Tiger Tank.” The band is playing tonight at West Wing.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Good ol’ Pitchfork. Some of the shit that they’ve pushed to the top of the list has, indeed, been shit. And though their reviews are hit and miss, music fans have no choice but to take Pitchfork seriously since it’s the default “house organ” of the indie music scene. In fact Pitchfork has become so successful, the folks behind the website recently launched a new film review website called The Dissolve, so now you can get that famous Pitchfork point of view about the movies opening this weekend (though The Dissolve will never have the impact on the film industry that Pitchfork has had on the indie music industry…).

Anyway… I say all this because I do keep an eye on Pitchfork if only to help guide my Spotify listening habits (though these days I almost exclusively rely on review aggregator Album of the Year for that need), and noticed they got it right when they lauded the new release from Massachusetts band Speedy Ortiz called Major Arcana (Carpark). The record already was at the top of my personal music-listening list before it was ordained with Pitchfork‘s “Best New Music” status, scoring a massive 8.4 rating

For me, Speedy Ortiz conjures comparisons to Guyville-era Liz Phair (but much heavier), Breeders, Pavement… It will end up on my “favorites of 2013” list.  If you haven’t heard their stuff, check out the YouTube vid at the bottom of this post.

Anyway, before the Pitchfork review came out, Speedy Ortiz booked its current tour, which consists mostly of small rooms and house shows, like the one going on tonight at West Wing here in Omaha. If you don’t know what West Wing is, well, look it up on The Google. The band now has a booking agent and are likely to play more “traditional” venues the next time they come through (though the band comes out of the Boston DIY basement scene which they love, and I’m told has played at West Wing before).

I’m still trying to figure out a game plan for going to tonight’s show. As I’ve said many times before, whenever I go to a house show everyone thinks I’m a cop, or someone’s dad come to spy on his son/daughter, and I can’t blame them as I’m usually old enough to be the father of most people in the room… No idea when this starts, who else is playing or how much it costs, but if you see someone who you think looks like a narc in the crowd, be sure to say hello.

If you don’t feel like going to a house show, Melvins are playing tonight at The Waiting Room. This is being billed as their “30th Anniversary Tour,” and features the core band of King Buzzo and Dale Crover. Honky (ex-Butthole Surfer Jeff Pinkus’ band) opens. $17, 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 © 2013 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.