Godspeed You! Black Emperor at The Slowdown Feb. 10, 2016.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Even if you’ve never seen Godspeed You! Black Emperor before but are familiar with the band’s music you pretty much knew what you were in for last night at The Slowdown.

Five minutes before the band walked onto the darkened stage a low-end rumble quietly roared like distant thunder. One at a time the eight members found their places among a stage cluttered with equipment and pedals and cables, looking for a place to set down their drinks, and quietly picked up their instruments, each adding to the building din. This went on for another five minutes or so as scratchy abstract marks began being projected on the screen behind the stage.

Eventually, the noise took form. Two percussionists began rattling things as the violin and cello added something akin to a melody that ultimately was overtaken by the three guitars and bass, and 15 minutes later you realized the concert had indeed begun.

Most compositions (songs?) were deep, repetitive ambient tonal melodies that evolved into haunting and/or majestic sweeps of sound. Sludgy, slow, deep ponderous movements were played in dim, deep-red sepia lighting, perfect for setting a mood or developing film. Overhead, the projections became less abstract — images of burning fields, film sprocket holes, a deer standing in a field, a sunset shot from inside a moving car — all in black-and-white (of course).

There wasn’t much to see on stage except lots of people leaning over things, huddled over guitars or effects pedals. Sometimes the compositions transformed into big rock numbers that reminded me of Meddle-era Pink Floyd or Mogwai, but most of the set was a pulsing dirge set to a 6/8 beat. Throughout the set, none of the performers talked to the audience. There were no microphones on stage if they’d wanted to.

It was beautiful and awful and exhausting. The set began at a quarter after 9. When I left at 11 and it was still going strong, the sold-out crowd standing in front of the stage was transfixed, mesmerized.

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A day or so after this interview from Nik Fackler hits the internet, Nik’s band Icky Blossoms released a new video for “Living in Fiction,” directed by Aaron Gum. Omahans, see how many people you recognize on the dance floor. Hey Ickys, I’m still waiting for a video for my favorite track on the album, “Away from You”…

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Everyone’s favorite Nebraska ex-patriot Darren Keen just released a new track called “10,000 Dollar Pyramid Scheme” that is twisted remix of the $10,000 Pyramid game show theme.  It’s included in Channel Flippin’ 2, a comp of TV theme song remixes. Enjoy, and as we like to say, “Big money, no whammy.”

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They’re calling it Bands for Bernie. It’s a rally for Bernie Sanders at Reverb tonight. Bands playing include CJ Mills and Lincoln punk band Once a Pawn. The free show begins at 7 p.m.

Also tonight, Fizzle Like a Flood’s Doug Kabourek does a rare set at The Barley Street Tavern. It’s part of a free six-band show that starts at 7 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 © 2016 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

Because I don’t have a photo of Conor Oberst and Corina singing at O’Leaver’s, here’s a photo of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

The Live @ O’Leaver’s session released to the world yesterday happened on Jan. 3, 2016, a Sunday night followed by a workday Monday which kept me from seeing it live. No matter. I have these recordings to mark the date of my absence due to responsibilities (T’was a time, my friends, t’was a time…).

Dolores Diaz & The Standby Club featured Matt Maginn (Cursive), Dan McCarthy (McCarthy Trenching), Ben Brodin, Phil Schaffart (Con Dios), Miwi La Lupa, Roger Lewis (The Good Life), Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes) and Conor Oberst. Fronting the band was Conor’s wife, Corina.

The fact that Corina was the front-woman was hush-hush at the time. Not sure why. Who knows the motives behind celebrities and their fragile psyches? Keep in mind, Oberst had been married for years before he acknowledged it in the press, a secret to all but his friends and family. One could argue that’s how it should be. Anyway, for some, this show was a sort of coming out party for Corina.

For most, this was a return for Conor, who disappeared from the music world last fall at the beginning of a Desaparecidos tour, stating illness and exhaustion. The details on that also are shrouded in mystery, along with the current status of Desaparecidos, though at least a few of the members have moved onto other projects. Denver Dalley will be touring with Har Mar Superstar again; Landon Hedges is said to be completing a new Little Brazil album.

And Oberst, who turns 36 next Monday, continues to lie low, though he was spotted in the crowd at a recent Creighton basketball game (via Facebook). Only he knows what he’s working on next. For now, we have these recordings.

Oberst sings lead on two tracks. The first is a cover of a Randy Newman song called “Jolly Coppers on Parade,” from the 1977 album Little Criminals. The other is a cover of Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere.” I have to believe there are rights issues with these and the other songs (which are all covers). All the more reason to listen to them right now.

Not to be overshadowed by the Diaz release is another set recorded the same night from Johnathan Rice. Good stuff.

And to add local flavor to yesterday’s releases were four songs from High Up, recorded on New Year’s Eve that showcase the amazingly talented Christine Fink at her usual ferociousness, especially on opening track “Two Weeks.”

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As of this posting (at noon), tickets were still available to tonight’s Godspeed You! Black Emperor show at The Slowdown. As with all Godspeed shows, this should be a mammoth production. I think the last time they played in Omaha was at The Music Box, a show that I’m told was so loud it killed fish swimming in the nearby Big Papio Creek.

Opening is Xylouris White, described as “Master of Cretan lute, George Xylouris, and Jim White a most innovative and charismatic drummer.” Ruffled attire optional.

This one starts at 8 p.m. and is $25, while tickets last.

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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 © 2016 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.