by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Lot’s going on this weekend, so let’s get started…

There’s a kinda/sorta interesting gig going on tonight down at Slowdown. Barsuk band Maps & Atlases opens for former Equal Vision (now Atlantic) band Circa Survive along with States. M&A’s 2010 album Perch Patchwork got a respectable 7.4 from Pitchfork. Circa’s latest album, Blue Sky Noise, was produced by David Bottrill, who worked with Peter Gabriel, King Crimson, Tool, and Silverchair. $20, 9 p.m.

Across town at O’Leaver’s, Shawn Cox’s new band, Dirty Flourescents, is playing with Comme Reel (Marc Phillips (Students of Crime, ex-Carmine, ex-Carsinogents) on drums and bass and Chris Esterbrooks (Mal Madrigal, ex-Philharmonics, ex-Carsinogents) on bass and keyboards, along with frontman Mike Saklar (No Blood Orphan, ex-Ravine, ex-Ritual Device) on guitar, vocals, bass and pedals) and The Butchers. $5, 9:30 p.m.

While fun-punk trio Millions of Boys (Sara from Honey & Darling) are playing over at the Barley Street Tavern with Full Bloods and Cymbal Rush. $5, 9 p.m.

Also tonight, Mitch Gettman is hosting a listening party for his new CD at The Sydney from 6 to 8; while Travelling Mercies and Matt Cox are playing at Stir in CB at 9.

It’s a Husker Saturday, and whether you want to believe it or not, that does (did) affect the show calendar, even though the game should be over in plenty of time to get to a rock show. The Slowdown is combining things Saturday with a football party in the early evening followed by a free rock show featuring Capgun Coup, Feral Hands and Video Ranger in the Jr. room, starting whenever the game ends…

Ideal Cleaners, As Far As You Know (Speed! Nebraska, 2011)

In Lincoln, Ideal Cleaners is having its CD release show at The Bourbon with Sputnik Kaputnik and the Cherry Mashers and Her Flyaway Manner. The Cleaners are one of the hardest but least-heralded bands in the Nebraska scene. I have yet to hear the new disc, As Far As You Know, but have a feeling it’s just like the last one — blistering hot. Show starts at 9. No idea on the cover.

The weekend is capped off with a last-minute Ladytron DJ set at House of Loom featuring Reuben Wu & Mira Aroyo. The deal: $5 entry before 11 with RSVP to info@houseofloom.com, otherwise, it’s $10. Wu/Aroyo will follow sets by Brent Crampton and Enfant Coma a.k.a. Jacob Thiele. Things get rolling at 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 © 2011 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.