There’s a crapload of stuff going on this weekend, not the least of which are Kool and the Gang/.38 Special in the park and the Summer Arts Festival (alright, alright, I’m just kidding…).

On top of my list is a performance by a band called Fortnight. Who are they and why is this show significant? Step right into the Wayback Machine and I’ll tell you…

Back in the January 1996, there was a little indie-pop band playing around town called Park Ave. Its members included Conor Oberst, Clark Baeche, Neely Jenkins, Jamie Williams and Jenn Bernard. Read about them here. After Park Ave. dissolved, along came the ultra-shortlived Magic Kiss in 2001, a band that included Jamie Williams and Jenn Bernard of Park Ave., along with Kianna Alarid, Matt Bowen and Jeremy Stanosheck. Read about them here. That was followed two years later by a band we all know and love called Tilly and the Wall, which included Alarid and Williams. For whatever reason Jenn Bernard didn’t participate in that band (methinks her teaching career may have had something to do with it).

Now Jenn is back in a new five-piece band called Fortnight that includes a handful of fellow teachers. They’ve already done some recording, have a myspace page and are playing tonight at The Papio Bowl’s T.O. Garcias, way out on 204 E. Lincoln St in Papillion. Something tells me that there won’t be any tap dancing in this band. Find out tonight at 9. No idea on the cover.

Also tonight, the reunion of long lost Omaha pop-rock band The 9’s at The Waiting Room — $7, 9 p.m.

Over at O’Leaver’s it’s Techlepathy with No Blood Orphan and Bird in the Rafters — $5, 9:30 p.m.

At The 49’r it’s Race for Titles and Latitude Longitude (who hasn’t played in ages) — $3-$5, 9:30 p.m.

And over at The Slowdown Jr. it’s The Fourth of July with Our Fox and Suzannah Johannes — $6, 9 p.m.

Things are just as busy tomorrow night. The prime show is probably at The Bemis, where they’re holding their “Creative Festival ’08.” Part of the festivities is an evening of performances in “Gallery 3” by Shiver Shiver, Bear Country, Columbia Vs. Challenger and Capgun Coup. The show starts at 7:30 and runs until 10:30, and is free.

Also:

At The Waiting Room, Joel Petersen (of The Faint) returns with his Broken Spindles project. According to brokenspindles.com, Joel has a new BS album in the can (called Kiss/Kick) but doesn’t know when it’s coming out. Apparently it’s not being released by Saddle Creek Records, as he’s been moved off the site’s main pages and onto their “Alumni/Inactive” page, along with The Faint. Opening is FTL Drive and Lincoln’s Pharmacy Spirits. $8, 9 p.m.

At Slowdown Jr., it’s Sarah Benck and the Robbers with Landing on the Moon and Caroline Smith. $7, 9 p.m.

–Got comments? Post ’em here.—