And so, the weekend…

Tonight’s mega-show is Yo La Tengo at The Slowdown. For all of us who lived through Matador’s heyday in the 1990s, YLT is a can’t-miss concert. And for you young-ens who weren’t around in those golden days, YTL also is a can’t-miss show if only for the strength of their latest album, Popular Songs. Every time they release a new record I say it’s their best one yet, and every time I’m right. It is almost three years to the day since the last time they came through Omaha, and that show ended up being in my top-five for the year (read that review here). As of this writing, tickets are still available for a mere $17. Opening band is Tennessee garage/punk trio Cheap Time, whose full length was released on In The Red. Cheap Time has toured with garage band legend (and Matador labelmate) Jay Reatard. Get there at 9.

Also tonight, Simon Joyner will be at O’Leavers playing songs off his new album, Out Into the Snow. Joining him is Grotto recording artist Samuel Locke Ward & The Boo, Mr. Wizard and Data Gun. $5, 9:30 p.m.

Saturday night’s marquee event is the Landing on the Moon CD release show (read about them here) at The Waiting Room with Noah’s Ark Was a Spaceship, Ideal Cleaners and Fortnight. $7, 9 p.m.

Also Saturday night is the world premiere/stage debut of Well-Aimed-Arrows, a new band that features Koly Walter and Clayton Petersen of The Protoculture as well as Brian Bird (Antiquarium co-owner) and Michelle Petersen. Well-Aimed-Arrows (the name was derived from the Simon Joyner song “Three Well Aimed Arrows”) opens for Private Dancer at O’Leavers. $5, 9:30 p.m.

Also also Saturday night, Cowboy Indian Bear makes a trip up from Lawrence to play at The Sydney with Shiver Shiver. $5, 9 p.m.

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