by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

This is turning out to be a busy week show-wise, it’s almost like the good ol’ days. 

Tonight at Slowdown Jr., Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter Noah Weinman a.k.a. Runnner headlines. His new album, Like Dying Stars, We’re Reaching Out, was released just a couple weeks ago on Run for Cover Records and already received a 7.0 rated review at Pitchfork that said the album’s “cloudy, spacious indie folk songs ruminate on the limits of human communication.” Weinman kind of reminds me of Alex G (or even Phoebe Bridgers or Sufjan) with his mid-tempo, mostly acoustic personal slice-of-life songs, downbeat and pretty. 

Two locals open the show. Singer/songwriter Jacob James Wilton calls his music “prairie pop.” His latest, Life Open Wide, was released this past December. In the middle slot is our old friends, indie rockers Bad Self Portraits, whose Fear of Missing Out CD was released last July.  $18, 8 p.m. 

Meanwhile, back in Dundee at Pageturners, Kingston, New York’s Al Olender returns for another intimate engagement. She just released a new track, “Almost Famous,” a couple weeks ago. Her last LP was Easy Crier, released last May on Big Al Records. Opening is super-intriguing singer/songwriter Ahna Ell, whose latest, 2021’s Everybody’s Gonna Let You Down, is downright infectious. This is a sneaky good show with no cover, and it starts at 8 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 © 2023 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

You have to be strategic when picking which weekend to leave town, and this turns out to be a good one. No touring indie bands are playing anywhere (What else is new?).

One show of note is The Sydney’s monthly Benson First Friday bash, this time featuring local indie bands Oquoa and Bad Self Portraits. Teetah also is on the bill. $10, 9 p.m. 

Saturday, Dr. Jack’s Drinkery a.k.a. the old Brass Knocker, is hosting their annual Punk Rock BBQ. Looking at the line-up, I’m not familiar with any of these bands, but that doesn’t mean anything. $40, show starts at 4 p.m. 

Look, it’s a lousy weekend for shows, but you’ve got Pageturners’ big weekend of shows next weekend (Sept. 9-11) celebrating their anniversary, and you’ve got Lincoln Calling coming up Sept. 22-24. 

So take the weekend off. 

BTW, the next touring indie shows are Gary Numan Sept. 10 at The Waiting Room, Sunny Day Real Estate Sept. 14 at The Admiral and DEHD Sept. 22 at The Slowdown. So don’t fret, pet. 

If I missed your show, put it in the comments section. Have a great 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 © 2022 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

I tell people that even if they have just an inking of an urge to go to a rock show they should go because you never know when the next chance will come around. That’s never been more true than right now, as once again, there are no touring indie rock shows happening in Omaha this weekend.

But, there are a couple local shows to consider…

Glow in the Dark is opening tonight at Reverb Lounge for a couple bands I’ve never heard before. GitD alone is worth the $8 cover charge. They go on at 8.

Tomorrow night (Saturday) local indie band Bad Self Portraits has an EP release show at Slowdown Jr. Omaha prog duo Pagan Athletes is on the bill along with Estrogen Projection. $12, 8 p.m.

That’s it. Well, at least we had Petfest last weekend, right? And Outlandia? Like I said – when a good show comes your way, go! You never know when the next one will happen…

Have a great 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 © 2022 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

weekend.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

I dropped in for last night’s set by Philly band Grocer at Reverb Lounge, where I also conducted a quick interview with the band about proof-of-vaccine mandates, comments from which will appear in the September issue of The Reader. Needless to say, they support them, but what reasonable band wouldn’t?

Anyway, the four-piece came on at around 8:45 to a good-sized crowd for a Tuesday night (around 40?). Many in the young audience wore masks while they bounced around to Grocer’s thick-beat post-punk. That beat was created by bassist Danielle Lovier, who shared the lead vocals with drummer Cody Nelson and guitarist Nick Ryan.

Their style very much was in the early Pixies tradition, angular and cool riding high on the bass line and backbeat drums, while guitarist Emily Daly shredded feedback-drenched leads run through a muffled effects pedal, which at times was drowned out by the rest of the band (i.e., I would have loved more of her in the mix).

I dig their new EP, Delete If Not Allowed, and we got a good helping of it last night, including a fiery version of lead track “Better Now.” Other highlights included songs from the band’s debut LP, including “The Party Song” and an acidic version of “Don’t Touch Me” (Who are you singing about, Danielle?).

Side note: Closing band Bad Self Portraits’ drummer handled the vocals last night as apparently frontwoman Ingrid Howell suffered an appendicitis prior to the gig. You know what they say: The show must go on…

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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 © 2021 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.