by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Yesterday’s announcement that Saddle Creek Records will be releasing the debut by Icky Blossoms came as a very pleasant surprise. IB was among the triad of bands who emerged last year that everyone thought Creek would — or should — give close consideration. The other two were So-So Sailors and Conduits. S-S S is still without a deal (I’m not sure they even want one as much as a tour agent). Conduits, of course, ended up on Team Love. After the Conduits announcement last week I asked TL exec Matt Maginn if his label was considering releasing records from both Tilly and the Wall and Icky Blossoms. He said “yes” to Tilly (though there’s no release date yet), and that IB would be “releasing with someone else I believe.” Coy, Mr. Maginn, very coy.

Anyway, when Creek passed on those two acts whose lineage traces back to other Saddle Creek bands (So-So to Ladyfinger, Conduits to Good Life), I figured they’d also give the cold shoulder to IB. Thankfully, I was wrong (again).

The other big news was that TV on the Radio’s David Sitek will be recording Icky Blossom’s debut, presumably in LA according to their Facebook page (apparently they’ve already headed West). That’s a sizable coup, and a change of pace from the usual ARC Studio approach (though few of Creek’s recent signings record at ARC). What will Sitek bring to IB’s already-trippy sound? We’ll find out eventually, but probably not until late 2012 (I’m guessing). We’ll all be able to track their progress at the new Icky Blossoms website, conveniently located at ickyblossoms.com (What, that url wasn’t already taken?).

Now who else in Omaha still needs a record deal?

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Speaking of new records, Simon Joyner launched a Kickstarter campaign today to generate money for an upcoming double album. “I’m nearing completion but I’m looking for backers to help fund the final recording, mixing and manufacturing expenses for my 13th proper full-length album. The new album is being recorded all-analog in my south Omaha warehouse ad hoc studio on a borrowed 16 track, 1” reel to reel machine and will be mixed at ARC Studio soon,” Joyner said on his Kickstarter page.

His plan is to self-release the vinyl album, making it available directly from him via mail order as well as distribute it through traditional channels via Ba-Da-Bing Records. Team Love, who put out Joyner’s last album, Out Into the Snow, will also help out.

Joyner’s pledge target is $6,000, and donors will receive a number of incentives based on level of support, ranging from a good-hearted thank you to a personal performance. Check it out today, campaign ends Feb. 19.

* * *
Speaking of limited-time offers, today is the last day to enter the drawing to win a copy of the Lazy-i Best of 2011 comp CD. You know the routine. Just email me (at tim@lazy-i.com) your mailing address, and your name will be dropped into the hat. Tracks include songs by tUnE-yArDs, St. Vincent, Icky Blossoms, Decemberists, Gus & Call, It’s True, Eleanor Friedberger, Peace of Shit, Digital Leather and a bunch more (check out the track list at the bottom of this blog entry). I’ll announce the winner(s) right tomorrow!

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Last but not least, Bloodshot Recording artist Lydia Loveless is playing tonight at The Waiting Room with Gerald Lee Jr. (You know him from the Filter Kings). Among Loveless’ accolades: #4 on SPIN’s Top 20 Country/Americana Albums of the Year, included in Paste Magazine’s Best of What’s Next 2011 feature, an 8 / 10 album rating in SPIN Magazine, features with AOL/Spinner, Daytrotter, and The Chicago Tribune. Show starts at 9, $7.

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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 © 2012 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

Blessed Are the Merciless at Sokol Underground, Jan. 14, 2012.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

A few things from this past weekend…

One of the longest running traditions in rock music is bands playing to audiences that include their relatives. We’ve all seen them over the years, those out-of-place “old” people tucked back in the corner away from the rest of the crowd, hiding in the shadows with earplugs firmly in place as they suffer through the opening acts waiting for their son’s or daughter’s band to get on stage so they can get the hell out of the club.

Last Friday night I was one of those out-of-touch relatives when I went to see my nephew’s death metal band Blessed Are the Merciless play a showcase at Sokol Underground. It was a pleasure to be back in a performance space that literally helped build the Omaha music scene in the late ‘90s and early 2000s when One Percent Productions booked the room with some of the best indie shows Omaha has ever seen, not the least of which were the Saddle Creek acts that grew up on the Sokol Underground stage.

Those days, of course, are long gone. One Percent hasn’t booked shows at Sokol since The Waiting Room and Slowdown opened four years ago. Today Sokol mainly hosts metal shows, which explains why I haven’t been there in four years. Other than the pay counter moving to the left side of the stairs, the room remains the same dark, dank cavern that it ever was, complete with inconvenient metal poles breaking every sightline.

We showed up at around 8:30, in time to see most of the set by At War With Giants, one of the night’s other metal bands (there was no real headliner) who had invested in large stage display banners. Odd.

Blessed Are the Merciless came on next, a massive five-piece anchored by my nephew, Chris McMahan, on bass and fronted by Kapree Hey, who handled the prerequisite “voice of doom” growl while the rest of the band roared mightily through Sokol’s still formidable PA. Listen, I don’t know shit about death metal, so I can’t tell you if what they played was “good” or “bad” (and if I did, you probably wouldn’t believe my hardly-unbiased account, anyway). I can say that Kapree does have a cool, unpretentious frontman vibe, looking and sounding the part either when he’s screaming over and over “There’s a killer on the moors” or doing comfortable stage patter between songs. And of course, Chris was amazing. But what else is a proud uncle going to say?

One surprise of the evening was seeing the largish crowd (Around 250 paid – not bad) part in the middle (with Kapree’s urging) so a handful of eager fans could form a modified circle slam. I haven’t seen a mosh pit at a show in a few years, and they look as violent and disturbing as ever. The only thing I can tell you about metal is that it’s all about communicating your personal angst and/or aggression on stage in hopes that that audience can share in your distress, and if that’s the measure of success, Blessed Are the Merciless are on their way. You metal heads that missed it can check them out when they play The Sandbox Feb. 10.

* * *

Perhaps the most hyped artist of the last part of 2011 and first part of 2012 is Lana Del Rey, and for good reason. Two songs that she’s released so far – “Video Games” and “Born to Die” – have become instant classics, along with the videos that support them, all of which you can see and hear at lanadelrey.com. So good, in fact, that there were whispers that she could be an intelligent response to Lady Gaga.

Needless to say, there was a lot of build-up to LDR’s debut this weekend on Saturday Night Live, the one-time platform for breaking and underground music talent… 30 years ago. These days, SNL’s musical guests are another reason to thank the technology gods for the fast forward button on your DVR. Ironically, Gaga was the last real “talked-about” performance on SNL because she showcased her actual piano-playing skills, causing people to think that maybe she did have talent.

Just the opposite was the case for LDR’s debut. Instead, there she was, looking nervous and mechanical, like a robotic deer frozen in the spotlight on that famous 30 Rock stage. She sounded frightened and forced and off-kilter, filling in the spaces with awkward hand gestures and a strange 360 twirl about halfway through “Video Games.” The next Stevie Nicks she is not. It was not her finest moment (her handlers should be crucified), and yet, it’ll go down as another classic SNL performance if she honestly breaks through to a larger audience and her Interscope debut (out Jan. 31) contains at least a couple more songs as good as “Video Games.” If it flops – and she flops – the performance will join a long list of other forgotten SNL performances.

But the real gold was the next morning when the media began piling on LDR, reporting her demise as tweeted during the broadcast by the likes of notable has-been Juliette Lewis. Yes, that Juliette Lewis, the one known for the “quality” rock of Juliette and the Licks. If she’s crowing to the twitterverse that you sound like shit, than you really must have something going on. By Monday hundreds of articles were popping up on Google telling the world how much LDR sucks from reporters that had never heard of her before with headlines like “Lana Del Rey Bombs SNL.” And now I’m wondering if the whole thing was a put-on. Would she have received this much attention if she’d nailed the performance?

* * *

Finally, there was last night’s secret show at Krug Park featuring Conor Oberst and Phil Schaffart. Word of the show started filtering out to “the network” at around 6 p.m. on a “keep it on the downlow” basis. Alas, I already knew I wasn’t going to be able to attend as we had company last night at the Lazy-i World Headquarters for the Golden Globes. Plus, I had a 5 a.m. wake-up call this morning, which I knew I wouldn’t make since there is no way to go to Krug and not enjoy the fantastic array of beverages on tap. Judging from the online patter this morning, Conor played a nice acoustic set from in front of the room with onlookers watching from the street outside. It’s good to see that he’s still hanging around Omaha and helping put Benson on the map. Next time, Conor, next time…

Check out some pictures from the show taken by shooter Mike Machian, and read OWH’s Kevin Coffey’s take on the evening.

* * *

Lazy-i Best of 2011

Speaking of Lana Del Rey, she’s one of the artists on the Lazy-i Best of 2011 Sampler CD. And if you haven’t entered into the drawing to win a copy of this once-in-a-lifetime collectors item, your time is running out as tomorrow is the last day to enter. Also included on this year’s disc are tracks by tUnE-yArDs, St. Vincent, Icky Blossoms, Decemberists, Gus & Call, It’s True, Eleanor Friedberger, Peace of Shit, Digital Leather and a bunch more (check out the track list at the bottom of this blog entry). To enter, just send an e-mail (to tim@lazy-i.com) with your name and mailing address. Hurry! Deadline is Jan. 17!

* * *

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 © 2012 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Again, another weekend without a notable national touring show. That’s January, folks.

There’s a handful of interesting local shows going on tonight, however. In fact, this might be the night I finally check out the Side Door Lounge at 3554 Leavenworth as it hosts Lincoln punkers Once A Pawn, Twin Cities duo Daymoths and Omaha’s Blue Rosa. Show starts at 9, and no idea on the cover.

Also tonight, metal monsters Bloodcow headlines a show at Venue 162, located at 162 Broadway in Council Bluffs. With Win Via Kill and Superchief. $5, 8 p.m.

And finally, over at The Waiting Room, it’s Stand-Up Bass night with Blacktop Ramblers, Travelling Mercies, Vito Cole and hot new country act Electroliners featuring guitarist/vocalist Pat White of The Third Men, Travis Sing (bass, vocals), Staphanie Krysl (fiddle, keys, vocals) Wayne Brekke (drums) and Corey Weber (pedal steel, guitar). Slap on your seed cap and come on down at 9 p.m. $7.

Things get a little murky on Saturday and Sunday. The Waiting Room is closed to the public. the Barley Street is supposedly hosting a “secret show,” and I’m going down to Sokol Underground to see Blessed Are the Merciless who plays with a handful of local metal bands (for just $3, more info here).

And then it’s Sunday.

* * *

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 © 2012 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

And now, the conclusion of my annual music predictions columns, where I gaze into the glossy black finish of a Fender Squier and see visions of what will occur in the coming days / months / years. Hang onto your hats, because it’s time for the Lightning Round!

— With all this new technology that (presumably) puts every bit of music ever released at our fingertips, a new appreciation for curated radio will emerge. And by that, I don’t mean radio programmed by a closet full of brain-dead suits somewhere in balmy El Lay, but rather a low-watt or web-based alternative station whose content is developed by a guy or gal who could be standing next to you in line at Baker’s. Look for not one, but two stabs at creating a low-power FM community radio station in Omaha next year, the result of S.592, a.k.a. the Local Community Radio Act. And remember, it’s only as good as you make it.

– Benson’s rebirth as Omaha’s music/tattoo/booze/vice hub hasn’t gone unnoticed outside of our little burg. A Hollywood film crew will set up shop in ’12 to document the creation of our little street of dreams as a weekly “reality” TV show featuring a gaggle of lovable characters. The Real Housewives of Benson? Benson Venue Wars?Benson Park Hillbilly Hand Fishing? Make sure the camera gets your good side.

— Speaking of film making, the fine work of one of our many local videographers will catch the attention of a large-ish national record label who will either fly one of their rock stars to Omaha or fly an Omaha video crew to the rock star to create a music video that will air on MTV and/or go “viral” on the interwebs.

— Last year saw Homer’s worldwide chain of stores get whittled down to just one measly location in the Old Market. This year will mark a rebirth of sorts for Omaha’s favorite independent music retailer when it alters direction to broaden its customer base. Translated: Homer’s will become much more than just a music store.

– As we mourn the death of The Anchor Inn interest in outdoor concerts continues to grow (even as club attendance at rock shows continues to dwindle). Local promoters will reach out to a few new park-like compounds to host large concerts like MAHA and Playing with Fire in places you’d never imagine. And yes, Memorial Park and a certain Sarpy County ballpark will be in the mix.

— Speaking of outdoor festivals, did that burning sea of empty pavement that greeted Red Sky’s unattended day programming and a half-empty (or more) Ameritrade Ballpark teach MECA anything? This year at least one big name indie-style rock act – someone you’ll actually be excited to see — will get booked for Red Sky and make you rethink the whole debacle… until you see the rest of the festival’s line-up. Another poor year of ticket sales will force MECA to rethink Red Sky’s future (just like the organizers of Kanrocksas are doing right now).

– Early planning by the fine folks at the MAHA Music Festival, on the other hand, will pay off big time this year as they land one of their all-time dream bands (But will they be able to sell enough tickets and find enough sponsors to pay the enormous guarantee? Yes). This will be MAHA’s the last year at Stinson Park, as the concert turns into a real-life “festival” in 2013.

— Artists we’ll be talking about this time next year: MGMT, M.I.A., Conduits, The xx, Lana Del Rey, Bloc Party, Black Sabbath, Frightened Rabbit, Sleigh Bells, Garbage, Modest Mouse, The Shins, Paul Westerberg, The Mynabirds, Van Halen, The Arcade Fire, Husker Du, Digital Leather, Tilly and the Wall, Best Coast, Ritual Device and Beck.

— Artists we won’t be talking about this time next year: Katy Perry, Cee Lo Green, Metallica, Bright Eyes, Kanye, Black Keys, Black Lips, Ryan Adams, Bon Iver, M83, Vampire Weekend, RHCP, Madonna, The Bieber and The Gaga.

— This year all of Eddie Van Halen’s problems will be resolved once and for all.

— Despite the many music- and culture-focused websites that have popped up over the past couple years, a new locally produced, slick print publication will emerge in 2012 with a special emphasis on music, art and fashion. And don’t bother looking for it online.

— As an experiment, Matador, Sub Pop or our very own Saddle Creek will release an entire formal full-length album by one of their top acts as a free download (You’ll still have to pay for the vinyl, and there will be no CD). Its success will breath new life into an already-established (though waning) act who will see its biggest crowds ever on tour, generating merch and back-catalog sales for the label and causing the music industry to rethink (again) how it does business.

— The next local act to break through on a national level won’t come from the indie ranks, but from Omaha’s under-appreciated hip-hop scene. As a result, look for a new hip-hop / urban-focused club to launch somewhere in midtown or downtown in 2012.

— Bright Eyes never made it onto SNL, but nothing will stop Cursive from stepping onto that famous 30 Rock stage.

And finally, one of the city’s longest-running local music columns will call it a day in 2012, in print (though it will continue to live on (forever?) on the Internet). Now who could I possibly be talking about?

* * *

Moving on…

Conduits, self-titled (Team Love, 2012)

Yesterday’s red-hot news was that everyone’s favorite local shoe-gazers, Conduits, announced that they’ve signed with Team Love Records, who will release their self-titled debut album March 20. Pre-orders are being taken now at the Team Love online shop ($12/CD; $16/vinyl), which will get it into your earbuds two weeks before the street date. In addition, the band hits the road with Cursive and Cymbals Eat Guitars in March for a couple months.

It’s a nice return to form for Team Love, who also recently announced that it is releasing Simone Felice’s self-titled solo debut April 3, recorded with members of Mumford & Sons and his fellow Felice Brothers. So does this mean that Team Love also will soon announce the release of the highly anticipate Tilly and the Wall album? And what about Icky Blossoms, Derek Pressnall’s reinvention of Flowers Forever, a band that released its debut on Team Love in 2008? Will Team Love release an Icky Blossoms full-length in the near or distant future? We’ll have to wait and see.

For now, let’s bask in the Conduits’ news. For most of us, the music on this debut will seem almost rustic, having been played at local clubs for more than a year. In fact, the recording itself was created nearly a year ago. Will Conduits be able to keep up the intensity on songs they’ve been playing since 2010, and how will they ease any new music into the set list? We’ll see when they hit the road in March.

* * *

Tonight at Slowdown Jr. it’s a free rock show featuring the reunion of Stolen Kisses, the surf-pop garage band that features members of Talking Mountain and Omaha expat Chris Kramer, who is back in town from Chicago on vacation. Tonight they’ll be performing as a five-piece and unveiling some new songs, and possibly a few chestnuts. Opening the show is Lincoln’s Powerful Science, headed by Joshua Miller of Columbia vs Challenger, and fellow Lincolnites Well-Dressed Man Disguise, which Kramer described as “psychedelic punk rock. Probably like early XTC.” Sweet. Like I said, it’s free, and the show starts at 9 p.m.

* * *

Lazy-i Best of 2011

Well, folks, we’re getting down to the wire. If you want to enter the drawing for a copy of the Lazy-i Best of 2011 Sampler CD you better do it now. This year’s disc includes tracks from tUnE-yArDs, St. Vincent, Icky Blossoms, Decemberists, Gus & Call, Lana Del Rey, It’s True, Eleanor Friedberger and a bunch more (check out the track list at the bottom of this blog entry). To enter, just send an e-mail (to tim@lazy-i.com) with your name and mailing address. It really is that easy. Hurry! Deadline is Jan. 17!

* * *

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 © 2012 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Well Aimed Arrows, Adult Entertainment (2012, self released)

Clayton Petersen of post-rock band Well Aimed Arrows dropped me a line this week to let me know that the band’s debut recording, Adult Entertainment, is finally available, at least digitally. “The first track is free to wet your appetite or the whole album (8 songs) is only five bucks,” Petersen said. You can access the recording from their bandcamp page.

Recorded by Steve Micek at The Robot Factory and mastered by the venerable Doug Van Sloun, I reviewed the album way back in July, figuring that it would never get “released.” Back then I described it as “Intelligent punk with big-shoulder swing, dissonant male/female harmonies, jangling ringing electric guitars, sing-along choruses and a straight-four beat. Best lyrics of any band going, period.” I stand by those words. Check it out.

* * *

Speaking of new releases, Jake Bellows tweeted yesterday that he’s just placed a new track online called “Blackest Heart (acoustic).” You can buy the song for $1.29 at jakebellows.com, where Jake also provides an update on the new record he’s making with Ben Brodin, Ryan Fox, Todd Fink and Heath Koontz. “We are currently in the mixing phase of this record and expect to have it mostly finished by spring at the latest!” No doubt a tour will follow.

* * *

And finally, the first interesting concert announcement of 2012: Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks are returning to Slowdown Feb. 17. $15 tix go on sale Saturday. More info at the show page on the Slowdown website.

* * *

Tomorrow: Future Tense: 2012 Music Predictions, Pt. 2 (the Lightning Round) — the conclusion of my annual predictions columns, and boy, this one’s a doozy.

* * *

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.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

The good ol’ OWH has done a pretty good job of reporting on the permanent closure of The Anchor Inn, though we’re still waiting to get comments from the business owners who probably don’t have a whole helluva lot to say about the matter, anyway. If you missed the story, the Anchor Inn got swept away in last year’s Missouri River floods. And now the city isn’t going to let them rebuild because the area is in a floodway. The first thing that came to mind after reading about this was what’s going to happen to The Surfside Club and The Cottonwood Marina in Blair and all the other businesses that saw their livelihoods washed away last year. Do they have to deal with similar ordinances?

The irony of the Anchor Inn disaster is that I’d only discovered the place over the past couple years, when Bright Eyes and Jenny Lewis played there (even though they’d been hosting biker/metal/rock concerts for years). I remember talking to the owner during Bright Eyes and how excited we was about the possibility of doing more indie-type shows. So was One Percent. It was a terrific venue, and I’m going to hate to see it go.

* * *

Yesterday At the Drive In announced that it’s getting back together after more than a decade of being broken up. ATDI was a sonically dangerous, groundbreaking act back in its day. Sparta and The Mars Volta, not so much. Rereading a review of their 2000 show at Sokol Underground, I remembered the overwhelming tension in the room throughout that entire night. We hadn’t seen anything quite like the Cedric Bixler before. Now, a decade later, do we really want to see him again? Count me in if they book a show at The Waiting Room.

Among ATDI’s gigs is a performance at this year’s Coachella Festival, whose schedule was announced yesterday and which everyone is going ga-ga over. Lots of talk about a fIREHOSE reunion there, as well as Radiohead, Pulp, God Speed! and Mazzy Star being on the bill. It’s a real Who’s Who of indie rock, and probably the most important U.S. festival going. But it’s hard for me to get too excited about a festival that I know I won’t be attending. And something tells me if I want to see any of the acts perform this year beyond Coachella I’m going to have to do some traveling.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

It looks like another quiet week for shows. The only thing on my radar is Thursday night’s free Stolen Kisses reunion show at Slowdown Jr. More on that later. These are, indeed, the winter doldrums.

My only foray out last weekend was to catch DJ Chris Aponick mesmerize the crowd at House of Loom Friday after work as part of the bar’s new Friday Afternoon Club series. It was my first look at HOL, and what was only intended to be a quick drop-in ended up being my entire evening (at least until 8:30). I’d like to tell you what kept me there was  Chris’ music, but the fine booze on tap had more to do with it, along with the room’s elegant ambiance.

House of Loom is located in the old Goofy Foot/Neon Goose space on 10th Street just south of the Old Market. The only sign marking the entrance is the Loom infinity logo. The room has a sophisticated East Coast feel, thanks to graceful lighting, gleaming hardwood floors, and a combination of modern and Victorian-style furniture. A gorgeous bar runs along the south side of the room adjacent to high tables. A divider wall separates a second room that runs the length of the bar, where all those cushy chairs are located. The DJ booth and the dance floor are in the back  along the west wall. At first glance, the dance floor looks small — too small for the throngs of crowds that Loom events attract. But that dance floor can grow once you take out those tall tables. I’m told that bands set up in front of — or off to the side of — the DJ booth on the floor (that DJ station isn’t mobile), making for an intimate gig or a viable option for smaller shows.

Last Friday afternoon/evening, HOL felt comfortable and reserved, but there were only about a dozen people in the room. I have no doubt that the vibe is completely off the hook late at night when the bar turns into a dance club, the booze begins to flow more freely and the music starts pumping.  I have yet to see that, but I will, Brent, I will…

* * *

This its your last week to get your name in the hat for a chance to win a copy of the highly coveted, highly collectable Lazy-i Best of 2011 Sampler CD.  This year’s disc includes tracks from tUnE-yArDs, St. Vincent, Icky Blossoms, Decemberists, Gus & Call, Lana Del Rey, It’s True, Eleanor Friedberger and a bunch more (check out the track list at the bottom of this blog entry). To enter, just send an e-mail (to tim@lazy-i.com) with your name and mailing address. It really is that easy. Hurry! Deadline is Jan. 17!

* * *

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.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Another weekend without a national touring show. But as info, I just glanced at the last issue of Time Out New York and they didn’t have too many touring shows this first week of the year, either. So things are tough all over, as they say. At least we’ve got a couple good local shows going on this weekend to tie us over until the spring thaw.

Starting tonight at The Waiting Room, with Filter Kings, Dim Light and Snake Island. It’s the kind of show where one of Benson’s many tattoo artists should ask Marc and Jim if he can set up a both in the corner and sell some ink (now that’s good marketing). $7, 9 p.m.

And what better place to show off that new tattoo than Saturday night at The Brothers, when Omaha’s favorite punk lounge hosts one of its rare rock shows, this time featuring Lincoln art/noise rockers UUVVWWZ (Saddle Creek Records) along with Iowa City shredders Solid Attitude and our very own garage heroes Yuppies. $5, 9 p.m. More info here.

Last but not least, if you’re out and about early this evening, drop by House of Loom and get your mind blown by DJ Chris Aponick — yes, that Chris Aponick, the music editor at The Reader. Chris will be running the tables (and hence, the dance floor) from 5 to 8 p.m. tonight as part of Loom’s new Friday Afternoon Club program, which, in addition to good music, also includes free food from Casablanca Moroccan Cafe as well as happy hour drink specials… and it’s free.

* * *

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.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

And so, as we enter into the year 2012 (the last year of our existence, according to another great seer), it is once again time for me to gaze through the fabric of time to reveal how all of our lives will unfold, music-wise, anyway. Before we get to the little ol’ Omaha music scene, let’s look at The Big Picture. The following will happen, if not next year, then soon:

Digital subscription music streaming services such as Spotify, Rdio, Rhapsody – and eventually iTunes – have only just begun to take their toll on CD sales, which already were in the shitter.

The lone bright spot has been the sales of vinyl records. But unfortunately, we’ve already seen the peak in that nostalgia. The novelty of vinyl will begin to wear off, as people finally come to the realization that paying twice as much for a new release that they’re going to have get up and turn over on their record player, that they can’t play at work or on their smart phone or in their car, is quaint but woefully inconvenient. There always will be the luddites who refuse to acknowledge technology — who will hold on dearly to the ideas of yesteryear — but their numbers will only wane

Meanwhile, the technology behind streaming music will only get better. We’ll see better quality streams and better connectivity to streaming sources. Eventually it’ll get to the point where fans won’t even remember purchasing individual albums or singles. The music they want to hear will just “be there,” as long as they’re within reach of a Wi-Fi or 3G/4G/5G hot spot. Just turn on your device, dial in your favorite artists, and the music appears. What do you mean, “buy your new album”? As a subscriber to Spotify, I already own your music.

The problem, of course, is that only American Idols and huge international pop stars make real money off services like Spotify. The smaller independent artists, who used to be able to scratch together enough cash from CD sales to finance recording another album, will only make a few bucks from streaming (if they’re lucky).

That cold reality will spawn a backlash against these services, but in the end (just like with iTunes) artists will cave – especially after it becomes easy for them to get their music available on these services.

Spotify and the others will adopt iTunes’ seller model. Right now, any band with decent credit can set up an account in the iTunes Store. They don’t have to be associated with a record label or an “aggregator” such as CD Baby or Tunecore. That’s not the case with Spotify, but that will change (especially after iTunes adopts a subscription model). Getting music in Spotify (and the other services) will be as easy as setting up an account, and eventually anyone with access to Spotify (or the other services) will have access to any artist’s music.

(By the way, those “other services” will eventually go away. Just like The Highlander, there can be only one. It’ll be either Spotify or iTunes or one of the others, but only one will survive as the sole online catalog for recorded music, that is until the regulators step in and break up the monopoly.)

If the above model becomes reality – if all music is streamed or downloaded by subscription – than publishing rights, which have helped sustain musicians by paying them for use of their music on television and films, will eventually erode. Artists will begin paying to have their music played in TV and movies if only to widen their exposure.

So with no income from CD sales and publishing rights, how will the independent musicians of old make a living? Three ways: charity, subsidies and performances.

Kickstarter, an online funding platform launched in 2009 to help artists and musicians generate money through pledges, was a first glance at what will become one of the only sustainable models for independent artists to generate income to record new albums. Some bands will blanch at the idea of asking for “charity” from fans, but let’s be honest: most of us buy local artists’ CDs now not because we want the music (which we already have on our computers), but because we want to support their efforts. The only thing missing is the ability to write off those purchases as a charitable donation (at least for now).

Which brings us to the government and private foundations. In Canada and some European countries, governments and private charitable organizations have subsidized artists and musicians for years. Organizations such as Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent on Records (FACTOR) are credited with making Canada the third largest producer of musical talent in the world. These private foundations are critical, especially as the global recession takes its toll on budgets.

But these foundations will never be enough. Here in the U.S., federal and local governments have to step up – either in the form of tax breaks or subsidies for musicians – or risk losing our creative class altogether. Look, we’ve subsidized farmers and other industries for years, now we have to do it for artists.

Finally, the last and most important source of income for musicians is live performances. Because no matter how available recorded music becomes, fans will always pay to see a great performance, whether it’s in a club, coffee shop, concert hall or arena. The live experience is something that will never be replicated digitally, thank god.

Next week, the fun stuff: Future Tense: 2012 Music Predictions, Pt. 2, the local edition.

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It’s a night of low-fi rock down at Slowdown Jr. this evening with Built To Spill/Pixies-influenced rockers (at least judging by this Bandcamp track) Eric in Outer Space headlining a show that also includes K.C. band Knot Lazy, Omaha garage noise act The Dads and the mysterious Iron Hug. $5, 9 p.m. Get out in this spring weather, wouldja?

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Lazy-i Best of 2011

OK, folks, time to remind you yet again to enter the drawing to win a copy of the highly coveted, highly collectable Lazy-i Best of 2011 Sampler CD.  All’s youse gotta do is send me an e-mail (to tim@lazy-i.com) with your name and mailing address and your name will be dropped into the ol’ shoebox with all the others for a chance to win this once-in-a-lifetime prize. Because, really, who doesn’t need another valuable CD in their collection? Hurry! Deadline is Jan. 15!

Track listing:

1. Eleanor Friedberger, “My Mistake”
2. Peace of Shit, “You Can’t Let Me In”
3. Lykke Li, “Youth Knows No Pain”
4. The Beastie Boys, “Nonstop Disco Powerpack”
5. tUnE-yArDs, “Gangsta”
6. It’s True, “I Don’t Want to Be the One”
7. The Decemberists, “Down By the Water”
8. Big Harp, “Goodbye Crazy City”
9. Kurt Vile, “Jesus Fever”
10. Low, “Try to Sleep”
11. So-So Sailors, “Young Hearts”
12. Destroyer, “Downtown”
13. St. Vincent, “Cruel”
14. Icky Blossoms, “Perfect Vision”
15. Gus & Call, “To the Other Side of Jordan”
16. Lana Del Rey, “Video Games”
17. Digital Leather, “Young Doctors in Love”

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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.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

I’ve still yet to receive my first preview/review CD for 2012, but while I’m waiting, here are some new tracks that became available online to start off your new year.

Cursive, “The Sun and The Moon” — from the forthcoming album I Am Gemini, slated for release on Saddle Creek Feb. 21, if the rest of the new record sounds like this, Kasher and the boys may have another hit on their hands. Check it out here. The album is now available for pre-order here at the Saddle Creek online store, where it’ll ship Feb. 7. Buy it now and get access to a second track from the new album, “The Cat and Mouse,” instantly.

Depressed Buttons, “Dance with Me (Brianski)” — The electronic/dance/DJ triumvirate of Todd Fink, Jacob Thiele and Clark Baechle drop this new acid-themed jam designed to get your rump shaking. Also at SoundCloud.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/32262319″]

Bad Speler: Darren Keen is giving The Show Is the Rainbow the year off so he can concentrate on his other projects: Bad Speler and Touch People. Yesterday he posted the following new Bad Speler tracks at SoundCloud. Says Keen: “This is the stuff I’m going to be doing at my monthly at House of Loom.” His “monthly” is a residency at Omaha’s newest dance club every 4th Wednesday of the month, starting Jan. 26.

“Throw Ya Guns”
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/32228516″]

“Pistols, ETC.”
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/32224392″]

“My Intentions”
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/32219372″]

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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.