by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Not a good week for shows in the Omaha area. In fact, nothing stands out until Masses and Lightning Bug on Saturday at Slowdown, and then Tim Kasher Nov. 19. Egad is this the slow season or am I just overlooking something? It can’t last forever, can it?

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It seems like only yesterday that Alessi Laurent-Marke — or just Alessi as she was known back in the day — was playing gigs at The Waiting Room and wandering around Benson with Jake Bellows. But in fact it’s been more than a couple years since I wrote this goodbye column to Alessi as she headed back over the waters to her home in England. Then out of the blue I hear about a show she’s playing in Portland, and discover she no longer is with Virgin Records, and hasn’t been since January. Alessi is now with Bella Union (Cocteau Twins’ old label, whose roster includes Beach House, Explosions in the Sky and Dirty Three), who just released her new EP Soul Proprietor. Maybe we can get her back to Omaha while she’s on tour.

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As I type this, I’m listening “Bitch Boyz Like It Rough,” a track off Bad Speler’s second mix collection now available for download at illegal-art.net. “The new mix is called Bill$ Gate and his Michael Soft Umpire PRESENT : The Babble iFad,” said Bad Speler mastermind Darren Keen. “It is a lot faster, smoother, and almost has a European breakcore influence. mos def something very different for the Midwest, for better or worse. trust me, our grandchildren are gonna love this band!” I’m sure they will, Darren. The mix collection is a pay-what-you-want endeavor, so go to the site, download, and pay what you think it’s worth — now there’s one possible future business model for the music industry. But we’ll talk more about that in this week’s column, which goes online tomorrow.

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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 © 2010 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

This is what we call a late-day post. The event of the evening is the Omaha Entertainment & Arts (OEA) Awards showcase in Benson. More than 20 artists playing in four venues all for one low price of $10. Go to the OEA Facebook page for the lineup and schedule. In all honesty, I haven’t seen half of these bands before (a few of them I’ve never even heard of), and there isn’t a better — or more convenient — way to catch them all at once. First band hits the stage at 8.

Skipping Benson? Check out Talking Mountain at O’Leaver’s with Lawrence, Kansas band Mammoth Life and The Benningtons. $5, 9:30 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 © 2010 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

Azure Ray at The Slowdown, Nov. 3, 2010.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

I fully intended to see Azure Ray last night at Slowdown. In fact, I even went down to Slowdown for the show, but unfortunately something came up and I had to leave shortly after taking the above photo during their first song. What very little I heard was, as you’d expect, lovely.

I was disappointed with the crowd size. Maybe 200? Maybe more. The balcony was closed and only about half the floor was filled. Slowdown never seemed so enormous. I guess Maria was right — maybe people don’t know that they’ve got a new album out, even though there were stories in all the usual print media.

I did get to see opener Tim Fite, which was an experience. Fite is a one-man performer who sang along with pre-recorded tracks and a video presentation, all the while doing everything he could to engage the audience (and doing a good job of it). His music is acoustic folk in sort of the Randy Newman vein (pretty stuff) blended with low-bass-beat hip-hop (which was just OK). There’s something about his style that recalls Devo/Talking Heads AV and the childish humor of Daniel Johnston. I haven’t met Fite, but I have to believe that he’s playing a character up there. No one could be that whimsical and fun in real life, but you never know.

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Column 295 was a slight recasting of my review of Bad Luck Charm at The 49’r. You can read the original here. There’s no reason to repost it. However, if you want to see the changes (new lead, new ending) check it out on The Reader‘s website, here (or better yet, pick up a copy of the paper). How long until the wrecking ball makes its first appearance?

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Big show tonight at O’Leaver’s. The headliner is Dapose, who is, of course, Dapose from the Faint rolling out songs from his new record, just released on blank.wav. Marijuana Death Squads is experimental electronics and percussion featuring dudes from Gayngs and Song of Zarathustra. Slapping Purses is, according to the show’s Facebook listing, “one-man beatstorm with suitcases full of electronics and a crazy microphone covered in switches. He opened for the Faint last time at First Ave.” $5, 9:30 p.m.

Also tonight, Wu Tang’s Ghostface Killah is at The Waiting Room with Sheek Louch, Frank Dukes, & Maxilla Blue. $25, 9 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 © 2010 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

If you haven’t already, I suggest that you read the Lazy-i interview with Azure Ray before you head out to their show tonight at Slowdown. The interview is right here. Already read it? Well, read it again. Whatever. Just go to the show, which definitely should feel like a time warp back to those jaunty days of 2003.

I’m told by someone who’s on the Azure Ray tour that opener Tim Fite is worth an early arrival — he’s a one-man multi-media experience. In fact, you might as well get there really early for James Husband, who is really James Huggins, a staple of the Elephant 6 collective and former member of Of Montreal. The fun starts at 9, $14. See you there…

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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 © 2010 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Since there is no music news worth mentioning, here’s a brief political comment: Two years ago on Election Day, there was a sense of hope in what could happen, mixed with a dreadful sense of fear, also about what could happen. In the end, miraculously, hope won out. Now, two years later, hope has dwindled as fear and ignorance has become the fuel driving this election. I have no aspirations as to any positive outcomes at the polls, especially on local races. A tidal wave of stupidity is engulfing this country, and there’s no stopping it. That, however, will not deter me from my civic responsibilities, no matter how futile they may seem. I will hold my nose and cast my vote, and then go home and try to forget the outcome. I suggest you do the same.

My name is Tim McMahan, and I approved this message.

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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 © 2010 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Well, I hoped everyone had a great Halloween. As for me, well, I stayed home as I always do on what has become the greatest of amateur nights (besides St. Patrick’s Day).

Anyway…

Tonight at Slowdown Jr it’s the return of Someone Still Loves You, Boris Yeltsin, or as they’re becoming known throughout the blog-0-sphere, SSLYBY. It seems like almost yesterday (instead of four years ago) that SSLYBY was playing at O’Leaver’s, opening for The Third Men and The Pomonas (whatever happened to those guys?). You can read a review of that show here. SSLYBY has grown a bit since then. They’re on Polyvinyl now and Chris Walla of Death Cab for Cutie (DCFC) is producing their records. Welcome them back tonight, along with The Lonely Forest and Tie These Hands. $10, 9 p.m.

Also tonight, it’ll be a battle of ukuleles at The Waiting Room where Fort Collins chanteuse Danielle Ate the Sandwich takes the stage along with Omaha’s own euk phenom All the Young Girls Are Machine Guns and Two Black Cats. $7, 9 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 © 2010 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.