by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Darren Keen, the mastermind behind The Show Is the Rainbow, says TSITR is going on hiatus indefinitely. “We went on tour as a full band, and now we decided to keep doing that,” he said. That band is called High Art, and features drummer Jim Schroeder from UUVVWWZ, bassist Saber Blazek from Machete Archive and keyboardist Josh Miller from Columbia V. Challenger. All will provide backup vocals.

“We played out the rest of the TSITR dates and the promoters and fans fucking loved it pretty much unanimously,” Keen said. “My bandmates are super fucking awesome and really cool people and really great musicians and I think we are really onto something and we are just gonna jam so hard and so fun and say ‘fuck it’ to all of the people trying too hard.”

High Art is currently recording a live demo and video before recording a formal CD next month in Keen’s home studio. A complete DIY project, Keen said the band will release and promote the CDR and vinyl themselves. They’re also booking their own shows, which includes dates at The Bourbon Theater in Lincoln April 27 (w/Nice Nice), May 24 (w/Dapose and Golden Lions) and July 10 (w/Mahjongg).

“We are really having trouble booking a show in Omaha,” Keen said. “If anyone has a living room/basement/Ted and Wally’s hook-up and they want us to come play in Omaha, call/text me at 402.540.8001 or email me at tsitrainbo@gmail.com“

As for TSITR, Keen said he’s “just a bit tired of it.”

“I’m not killing TSITR for good probably, but I don’t even know what I would do with it right now,” he said. “It will rise again as a one-man band, but not for a year or so. I need a legit break to find out what the fuck TSITR is all about.”

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Lincoln singer/songwriter Ember Schrag wrote in to say that she’s currently recording a new album at Enamel with AJ Mogis. “Musicians are me (guitar, piano, vocals), Günter Voelker (guitar, drums, banjo, vocals), AJ Mogis (on upright bass), Joe Salvati (from Triggertown, pedal steel), Dan McCarthy (piano), Rebecca McPherson (piano), Pearl Lovejoy Boyd (vocals) and Lenna Pierce (from Das Hoboerotica, cello),” Schrag said. “Thirteen new songs. I’ve got some interest from a label that I’m excited about, can’t say who quite yet.”

Schrag also said that she’s bringing Jad Fair to Lincoln’s Clawfoot House (1042 F St.) next month. “His art will be up at Clawfoot House during May,” she said. “May 7 will be the opening, with a concert afterward. The opening is at Clawfoot House from 6-9 p.m. with music by The Shipbuilding Co, and the concert is at the Zoo Bar at 10 p.m. with Jad Fair, UUVVWWZ and Samuel Locke Ward & the Boo Hoos, $6. (Entry to art opening is free).”

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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.