Eli Mardock and wife, Carrie, in the studio. Photo by Joe Teplitsky.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Dirty Dancing: Singer/Songwriter Taps into the Power of Porn

To say the video that feature’s Nebraska musician Eli Mardock’s song “The King of the Crickets” is NSFW (Not Safe for Work) would be an understatement.

Titled “Double the Pleasure,” the video opens with the sound of Mardock’s somber piano chords as two young women in bikinis — Francesca and Caprice — nuzzle on a cushioned wicker beach chair sipping cocktails. As they kiss, an MTV-styled song-credit graphic appears in the lower left-hand corner of the frame that includes Mardock’s website address (elimardock.com).

By the 30-second mark, both “actresses” are topless. By two minutes, one is completely nude as Mardock’s music fades away, replaced with canned ocean sound effects and moaning.

From there, well, let the video’s producer, X-art.com, describe it for you:

“X-Art features beautiful, explicit, HD erotic videos that will absolutely blow your mind! Over 100 gorgeous girls-next-door and fresh-faced fashion models getting f***ed in HOT, explicit sex scenes all shot in crystal-clear 1920×1080 Super High Definition Video!”

As the video comes to a proverbial climax, the models are performing an act that cannot be described without using the words “acrobatic” and/or “flexible.” In the afterglow, Mardock’s music fades back in, as the video fades to black.

There are those who will find Mardock’s decision to license his music for use in the soundtrack of hardcore pornography not only distasteful and offensive, but a tacit endorsement of an industry some consider misogynistic.

“People can say whatever they want,” Mardock said. “I will say that I think suppression is unhealthy. And often, people who have a problem with pornography also have problems with sex. You know, they’re wracked with guilt and self-disgust. They battle all their lives to suppress, control and deny the impulses within them which are fact. And it’s a huge waste of energy. Of course, obsessing about sex and watching porn all the time is a huge waste of energy, too. I don’t advocate either — both suppression and overindulgence will fuck with your head.”

Mardock said he was introduced to X-Art by a friend who runs a boutique advertising/television/film/music licensing company in New York City. “It was immediately clear that music is one of the most important elements in their videos — so I was intrigued,” Mardock said. “The plan was to compose original music specifically for a couple of their videos. But they had so much enthusiasm for the early demos of my solo material that I sent them (as examples) that we decided to go with that instead.”

To take full advantage of the video’s promotional power, Mardock timed the June 2012 release of his EP, NE Sorrow Is Born, with the online release of the video, and it worked… probably.

Mardock said his digital-only release, available in 111 countries via 80+ retailers and through his website, has been downloaded more than 7,500 times, while sales of the EP’s single, “Cut Me Open,” (also used in an X-Art video) has clocked more than 11,000 downloads. But how much of that download traffic was due to X-Art? Mardock isn’t sure.

Keep in mind, he’s had some success long before he dabbled in dirty movies. Mardock has toured in the United States and Europe both as the frontman of his former band, Eagle Seagull, and as a solo artist. He is arguably one of the area’s more successful local indie rock musicians, so it’s hard to directly credit the porn videos for his music sales.

“Judging from the numbers of views/comments on YouTube, etc., it’s definitely had an impact,” Mardock said. “But, at the same time, I’ve had promotional campaigns going in both the U.K. and the U.S. that have generated a lot of press/interest.”

The licensing fees and exposure were both factors in his decision to sell music to X-Art. So was the quality of X-Art’s past videos. “I wouldn’t be interested in working with a typical adult site,” Mardock said. “That kind of stuff just isn’t appealing to me.”

X-Art’s director, Brigham Field, is a professional fashion and beauty photographer based in Los Angeles whose work has been published in a number of magazines, including GQ and Maxim in Spain, according to his website.

“Brigham is amazingly talented,” Mardock said. “He’s an artist. And, it’s female friendly. He co-founded X-Art with his wife, Colette. You know some people will say it’s all the same and blah blah blah and that’s alright. But for me, there is a huge difference between (typical porn and X-Art), and believe it or not I’m really very picky about who and what I would want to be associated with.”

But at the end of the day, it’s still hardcore pornography. And there are those who will question whether someone who’s “enjoying” a porn video would care enough about the music to track down the artist and buy the song. “I’m sure there are,” Mardock responded. “But, there’s no doubt it’s had a positive impact on sales.”

And, apparently, no negative impacts, or so he says. But though he described the experience as being “overwhelmingly positive,” music from Mardock’s latest EP, Hamburg, which was released Feb. 14, will “probably not” be used in future X-Art videos.

Is he having second thoughts? Not likely. Whether or not you agree with Mardock’s experiment in the flesh industry, it’s hard not to admit it gave him some exposure he wouldn’t have received elsewhere. And in an era when the indie music industry seems to be on permanent life support, any creative solution to getting your music heard is probably a good one, whether you can watch it in the office or not.

Over The Edge is a weekly column by Reader senior contributing writer Tim McMahan focused on culture, society, the media and the arts. Email Tim at tim.mcmahan@gmail.com.

First published in The Reader, Feb. 14, 2013. Copyright © 2013 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

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Happy Valentines Day, there’s no indie shows tonight in Omaha, so drive to Lincoln and check out Day 2 of Lincoln Exposed.

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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 © 2013 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Lincoln Exposed 2013 poster.

Lincoln music’s annual coming out party, Lincoln Exposed, kicks off tonight and runs through Saturday. The Zoo, Duffy’s and Bourbon Theater team up for this 4-day event that showcases some of the hottest bands in the Star City. Your $7 cover gets you into all three venues all night. If you’re planning on making a week of it, pick up the $20 all-access pass that gets you in all week. The full sched and other details are online at the event’s Facebook page (right here).

What else is going on tonight? Well yesterday I think I mentioned the Corrections House show at Slowdown Jr. and said it was a band that featured members of Neurosis, Eyehategod and Yakuza. Wrong wrong wrong. In fact it’s a night of performances — four solo performances, to be exact — featuring Scott Kelly of Neurosis, Mike IX Williams of Eyehategod, Sanford Parker of Nachtmystium, and Bruce Lamont of Yakuza. The sets will include experimental, spoken word, acoustic and “end times collaboration,” whatever that means. Opening is Saint Christopher. $13, 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 © 2013 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

I never said in yesterday’s review whether or not Sunday’s Ty Segall show tanked. A glance at the crowd tells me there were twice as many people there on Sunday night than at Slow Burn’s Titus Andronicus show last year.

Sam Parker, who runs Slow Burn, said the show did “very well.” “There was over 100 in advance sales for (Sunday) night’s show alone,”  he said. Here’s hoping that was enough to cover Segall’s guarantee.

Slow Burn has another show tomorrow night at Slowdown (Corrections House featuring members of Neurosis, Eyehategod and Yakuza), and then three shows in March and April, including 2012 breakout artist The Men April 27 at The Slowdown.

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Eli Mardock released the first track off the upcoming EP Hamburg yesterday. It’s the title track, but Mardock said the song’s unofficial title is “Middle Finger,” and that it is, indeed, autobiographical, which will be obvious to anyone who knows the back story. It’s also pretty frickin’ good. Check it out below and come back Thursday for an interview with Mardock about the “unorthodox” marketing behind his last EP.

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Speaking of new music, The Thermals’ first single off their Saddle Creek debut, “Born to Kill,” went online yesterday. Check it out below. Desperate Ground comes out April 16 on Saddle Creek Records.

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There’s a big Fat Tuesday show happening tonight at The Sydney featuring Universe Contest, Guilty Is the Bear and Low, Long Signal. $5, 9:30 p.m. More info here.

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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 © 2013 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

Ty Segall at Sokol Underground, Feb. 10, 2013.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Digital Leather frontman Shawn Foree confirmed the band’s line-up change about a week ago. I’d heard about it from someone who knows the guys in the band who e-mailed me simply to say that Todd Fink of The Faint had been practicing with DL in what would likely be a return of synthesizers to an act that had dropped them from their live performances years ago. Foree in the past has explained that his synth-driven recordings are a different animal than DL’s stage performances, which for the last few years has been a guitar-driven power trio.

Digital Leather, with Todd Fink behind the keyboards, Feb. 10, 2013.

Anyway, Foree confirmed the rumor, but said he wanted to keep it on the down low at least until this show. Sure enough, last night on stage this new version of Digital Leather was unveiled with Fink behind a keyboard. And the result was, to say the least, satisfying, but not a night-and-day difference from what we’ve been hearing from these guys for the past few years. DL is still fueled by the rhythm section of bassist Johnny Vrendenburg and drummer Jeff Lambelet — the best bass & drum duo in Omaha — as well as Foree’s voice and guitar (and his spleen-bleeding songs), but Fink’s keyboards add that element that’s been missing for a lot of the band’s fans — a sinister, other-worldly quality that underlies the neo-futuristic nature of DL music. They also sound pretty cool. Fink’s backing vocals were an added bonus.

So what’s this addition mean for future Digital Leather set lists? Well, for the most part, last night’s set wasn’t much different from the Nov. 28 set, when DL opened for King Khan at Slowdown. Both included a rousing version of fan favorite “Studs in Love” (well, at least it’s one of my favorites). That said, I don’t remember DL playing “Styrofoam” last November, a song in which the synths take the anthem to a whole ‘nother level.

Will DL now dig back to other early material where synths play a central role? Will we finally get to hear songs like “Modern Castles” and “Gold Hearts” (both from Warm Brother)?  I doubt it. It also will be interesting to hear if Fink will add anything to future DL recordings — a process that Foree has always commanded by himself. And what’s the lifespan for this collaboration now that The Faint are back together? Does it matter? Just enjoy it while you can, and that includes March 8, when Digital Leather is slated to return to one of their favorite stomping grounds — fabulous O’Leaver’s.

OK, what about the rest of the show? Opener, Memphis band Ex-Cult (formerly Sex Cult) was bad ass, a five piece that played a refined, aggressive indie garage punk that had a few kids in front of the stage shoving each other.

But the night’s centerpoint was Ty Segall and his band — a well-honed noise machine, easily the loudest thing I’ve heard on a stage in a few years. Playing songs off a number of his albums, including Twins and Slaughterhouse, Segall blazed through one monster rocker after another, leaving a wake of bleeding ears in front of the stacks. I stood on a chair along the wall and watched the crowd writhe in ecstasy to the knuckle-bleeding music.

You got a sense that you were seeing this guy at the height of his power, still flying under the radar, ready to explode. Something tells me in the next few years Segall could blow up to become as big as Jack White. If it happens, we’ll look back at this show and say “I saw him back when he played Sokol Underground.”

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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 © 2013 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Might as well just get right into the weekend.

Tonight at O’Leaver’s Noah’s Ark Was a Spaceship headlines a gig with Ego Death (the band formerly known as Sun Settings) and Killer Blow. $5, 9:30 p.m. Get there early for KB.

Also tonight, a special Slow Burn Productions $2 showcase at Slowdown Jr. headlined by Omaha hip-hop artist Conchance with The Fucking Party, La Brood and Radkey. All for just $2! I just listened to The FP’s 7-song debut EP again this morning. There is something inherently bleak and unsettling about this music. Let it disturb you. Show starts at 9.

Finally, over at The Barley Street Tavern, The Ground Tyrants headline tonight with Ft. Collins band SHEL and Daniel Christian. $5, 9 p.m.

Saturday night’s all right for CD release shows, and there are two to split your attention.

Over at O’Leaver’s, it’s a party for New Lungs’ debut 5-song EP You’re Not Gonna Recognize Me. New Lungs is Danny Maxwell (vocals, guitar), Craig Fort (bass), and Corey Broman (drums). The EP was recorded throughout the course of 2012; engineered and mixed by Matt Carroll at Little Machine, and tape/tube mastering was completed by Mike Saklar at Ant-Records. The band says they dial in their sound from the heyday of Archers of Loaf, Pavement, Dinosaur Jr. and Polvo, and I’d say that’s pretty right on. This is a fantastic debut. Headlining is our old friends The Photo Atlas. See Through Dresses rounds out the bill. $5, 9:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, over at The Waiting Room, UUVVWWZ celebrates the release of its sophomore Saddle Creek release The Trusted Language. You either get UU or you don’t. With the demise of Beep Beep, it’s easily the most challenging music on the Saddle Creek roster. That said, this new record is more accessible (and less dissonant) than their debut. Opening is The Renfields and Touch People (Darren Keen, formerly of The Show Is the Rainbow). $7, 9 p.m.

If Lungs’ indie/math/slacker rock and UU”s art rock ain’t your thing, check out the black-leather rock of Bullet Proof Hearts at The Brothers Saturday with Chromafrost. $5, 9 p.m.

Ty Segall, Twins (Drag City, 2012)

And then comes Sunday and the show of the weekend (maybe the show of the year?): Ty Segall headlines at Sokol Underground. This show is part of Ty’s first full U.S. tour in support of Twins, his third full-length of 2012, which was released via Drag City last October. Check out Kyle Eustice’s interview with Segall in this week’s issue of The Reader or online right here.

Right before Segall, it’s Digital Leather as you’ve never seen or heard Digital Leather before. I have a feeling we’ll be talking about this set all next week. First band of the night is Micro Knife (members of Sun Settings and Capgun Coup), followed by Chicago thrash metal band ZATH (Captcha Records) and Goner Records garage heroes Ex-Cult, who have been on the road with Segall throughout this tour. Tickets are $13, show starts at 8.

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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 © 2013 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Yesterday Desaparecidos announced a new two-song double-A single, “Anonymous” b/w “Left is Right.” You can listen to a stream of the songs below, then order your copy of the limited edition 7-inch from desaparecidosband.com. ($5 for the mp3, $10 for the vinyl). Brutal, anthemic rock, not sure I’d call it punk, though the themes touch on revolution, which is an old punk theme. “Anonymous,” the harder-edged of the two, reminded me of early Strike Anywhere, another band around at the time Desa first came on the scene. Check it out below.

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The press release announcing the new Liars video for “WIXIW” reminded me of a Netflix moment I had over the weekend. Going through the queue, I watched “Kill Your Idols,” a 2004 documentary that looks at the New York City No Wave movement of the ’70s and early ’80s and includes interviews with Lydia Lunch, Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, DNA’s Arto Lindsay, Swans, Glenn Branca, Sonic Youth and others.

It then kind of compares it to the so-called NYC No Wave scene of 2004, with interview with Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Black Dice and, to my surprise, Liars. There on the screen were Liars’ Pat Noecker (ex-Opium Taylor, These Are Powers, RAFT) and Ron Albertson (ex-Mercy Rule, Ron Wax), along with Aaron Hemphill and Angus Andrew. The film was made before Pat and Ron left the band under circumstances that are still unexplained (to me at least). Still, it’s interesting to see those two briefly talk about the band and moving from Lincoln to the big city. The film concludes with the older artists, including Lunch, lambasting the new kids on the block. Actually, I’m not quite sure who they were targeting. As a whole, the documentary kind of sucked… but worth it if you have Netflix and 90 minutes to kill…

Here’s that new Liars video. I lost interest in this band after Pat and Ron left and it turned into something else.

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Speaking of videos, here’s the new Love Drunk video of New Lungs performing “New Lungs” at the New BLK. New Lungs have a self-released EP coming out Feb. 9 called You’re Not Gonna Recognize Me that is being celebrated at a release show this Saturday at O’Leaver’s. Be there.

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This week’s column focuses on feedback I got from that gun control column I wrote a few weeks ago. One guy wasn’t too pleased, as you’ll read. It’s in this week’s issue of The Reader or online right here.

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At Slowdown Jr. tonight there’s a benefit for Gary Kurtz. I don’t know who Gary is, but he has some super-talented friends who will be performing to help raise money for his battle with cancer. Among them: The Brigadiers, Video Ranger and Gordon. $8, 7 p.m. start time. More info here.

There’s also a couple hot shows going on tonight in Benson.

Over at The Sydney John Klemmensen and the Party headline with The Love Technicians. Opening are performances by Reagan Roeder, Aly Peeler, Jeremy Mercy, Jon Jerry and John Larsen. 8:30 start time. No idea on cost.

Meanwhile, over at The Barley Street Tavern, Pleasure Adapter headlines with Millions of Boys and Dads. $5, 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 © 2013 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Have you heard about the Ty Segall show happening at Sokol Underground Sunday night? No? You’re not alone.

I’ve seen very little online about the show. The Reader will be publishing a feature in tomorrow’s issue, and I have no doubt that Kevin at The OWH also will put something together for The Go! about the show, but by then it could be an afterthought to fans who (like me) would have had to had made plans to go. Sunday night shows are a struggle for those who have to be up bright and early the next day for school or work or whatever.

I’m taking Monday morning off for this show. Ty Segall is one of the hottest garage/psych rock bands in the country, a guy who is continually putting out new and interesting music, and who is arguably at the height of his game. This show would be sold out already in a lot of other markets. As evidence, this from NYC Taper: “On Friday (Feb, 1), Ty Segall sold out Webster Hall. This was not a soft sell out — tickets prices were inflated five times over on various secondary markets for weeks before the show.” Of course, this means nothing in Omaha.

I point a long, crooked finger directly at Slow Burn Productions, the company bringing in Ty Segall and a number of other interesting shows, including last night’s Growlers/Jaill show at The Slowdown (which I didn’t attend) and tonight’s Red City Radio show. I’m guessing that these shows aren’t cheap to book. Tickets for Ty Segall are $16.59 after convenience fees (here at etix) — that’s pricey for a band that’s not well known in this market. You’d think that Slow Burn would be canvas-bombing every square inch of the Internet trying to drum up interest.

A music colleague pointed out another reason why this show is under the radar: It’s not a One Percent Production. One Percent does a pretty good job of getting the word out about their shows via Social Media and, of course, the One Percent Productions website, which is a go-to spot for a lot of local music fans searching for show info. For many of them, if it’s not listed at the One Percent website, it’s not happening.

Which begs the question: Where’s the Slow Burn Productions website? Why, it’s right here at slowburnomaha.com. Unfortunately, the first thing you see when you go there is a bunch of anonymous, unmarked photos instead of a clear, easy to read calendar (and why is every listing dated Nov. 8, 2012? Confusing).  And as a person who follows Slow Burn in Facebook, why haven’t they been blasting this show on their timeline/newsfeed? Simple shit that would make all the difference.

The reason I’m busting Slow Burn’s balls is because I want them to succeed. They’re bringing in some amazing shows — shows that One Percent either didn’t know about or passed on. Without them, we may not be getting to see bands like Ty Segall in Omaha. So come on, guys, get your shit together. I want this show to sell out.

One other thing about Sunday night’s show at Sokol Underground: I’m told that opening band Digital Leather has something very special up its sleeve for this performance. You won’t want to miss it. Get your tix now.

Here’s a taste of Ty Segall from last Friday night’s show at Webster Hall:

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As mentioned above, Oklahoma punk band Red City Radio plays tonight at The Slowdown with Broadway Calls, Silver Snakes and The Renfields. $10, 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 © 2013 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

UUVVWWZ, The Trusted Language (Saddle Creek, 2013)

It’s a big day at Saddle Creek Records. UUVVWWZ’s The Trusted Language and Ladyfinger’s Errant Forms both drop today. Interestingly, both are being offered as digital/vinyl releases — i.e., Saddle Creek isn’t offering either on CD from the online shop, though the vinyl comes packaged with a compact disc. So if you want the CD, you have to buy the vinyl at a higher price ($15 for UU, $17 for Ladyfinger).

Is this CD-with-vinyl-only format how Saddle Creek will handle all releases in the future? I wouldn’t be surprised. Interestingly, digipak CDs of Errant Forms were on sale at last Friday’s album release show. I wonder if UU will have digipaks at Saturday’s release show at The Waiting Room…

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If Jenny Lewis wasn’t busy enough with the upcoming Postal Service tour, today Rilo Kiley announced (via Press Here Publicity) that it’s releasing a b-sides and rarities collection called RKives April 2 on LA based indie Little Record Company, owned by Rilo Kiley’s Pierre DeReeder.

“The record includes nine never-before released songs, a variety of demos, b-sides, and previously hard to find tracks. The 16-song CD and double vinyl will be available in multiple formats including a special deluxe bundle personally curated by Rilo Kiley.”

Who remembers when RK was on Saddle Creek?

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The Slowdown is featuring some interesting garage rock bands tonight, headlined by Cali band The Growlers (Burger Records), Milwaukee Sub Pop act Jaill, Bluenote/Capitol act Jessica Hernandez and the Deltas and Twinsmith. $13, 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 © 2013 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

Ladyfinger at The Waiting Room, Feb. 1, 2013.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

After last Friday night, it’s high time that I dig out whatever parking maps may be available for the Benson area that identifies public parking. Big shows + First Friday = ol’ reliable parking places won’t be available. That certainly was the case last weekend, as I drove around and ’round looking for somewhere to park my ’96 POS Tracker, finally finding a parking lot east of PS Collective’s back parking area. There were no “No Parking” signs anywhere, so I figured I was safe (and was). I’m guessing there’s plenty of parking in Benson — if you know where it is — and even more importantly, where it isn’t. No one wants to go back to their car after a show and find it gone, which is a distinct possibility if you park in a private lot owned by an asshole who loves to tow cars.

But I digress…

I got to Ladyfinger’s album release show Friday night at The Waiting Room around 10:15 in time to see The Seen, who also was celebrating the release of a new record. I’d describe the 5-piece band’s sound as “alternative” in a ’90s connotation, a sort of post-grunge alternative, the kind of music that 89.7 The River plays between its usual spate of grunt/cookie monster goon bands.

Their recipe is big guitar riffs beneath frontman Buck Blanc’s breathy Counting Crows/Adam Duritz-style vocals.  I had one guy tell me his voice reminded him of Conor, but all I heard was Duritz, though The Seen’s music in no way resembled the Crows’. The band was tight, the music well-played, but just not my cup of tea. And no doubt their commercial style of rock would/could attract a much larger audience than the usual indie stuff that I listen to.

I was a tad bit concerned that there could be a drop-off in the crowd after The Seen. The fans pushed up against the stage during their set was way younger than who I’ve seen at past Ladyfinger shows — they looked like regular listerners of The River (which (I’m told) The Seen has been played on). And while the crowd’s demographics did indeed change between sets, the room was no less full when Ladyfinger hit the stage for what was easily the loudest set I’ve heard them play.

The band played mostly songs off their fantastic new Saddle Creek release, Errant Forms, as well as a few older numbers including “Smuggler” from their first record. The giant sound was a good test of The Waiting Room’s new sound system, which was impressive — huge, but with great separation. If there was a nit to pick it was (probably) with the mix. Cursive’s Patrick Newbery joined the band on keyboards for a handful of songs, but I couldn’t hear him above the roar… that is until I went to take a leak, when all the sudden, there were the keyboards coming straight out of the urinal! But once I got back out to the floor, they were gone, lost in the melee.

Errant Forms officially comes out tomorrow. Order your copy of the cool, clear, limited-edition (of 500) vinyl at the Creek store while you can…

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The Postal Service announced today via its press agent (Nasty Little Man) that the project, which centers around Ben Gibbard and Jimmy Tamborello, will play its first headlining gigs in 10 years. And get this, joining them as part of the backing band will be The Mynabirds’ Laura Burhenn.

From the press release:

Gibbard and Tamborello will be reuniting on the road with a band fleshed out by Jenny Lewis (Jenny & Johnny, Rilo Kiley) and Laura Burhenn (Mynabirds, Bright Eyes) to celebrate the 10th anniversary and deluxe edition reissue of The Postal Service’s universally acclaimed release, Give Up.  The Give Up Deluxe 10th Anniversary Edition out April 9 on Sub Pop, includes the original 10-track album along with 15 bonus tracks–including the brand new songs “Turn Around” and “A Tattered Line of String,” a previously unreleased live recording, and every other official recording the band has ever released-as well as cover versions of Postal Service classics by The Shins and Iron & Wine.

Both the tour and Give Up Deluxe 10th Anniversary Edition find Lewis reuniting with The Postal Service: She appeared on the original album and played with the band on its handful of 2003 tour dates. Lewis also sings on the two new songs on the Give Up Deluxe 10th Anniversary Edition. Give Up was certified platinum last year just shy of 10 years from its original Feb. 9, 2003, release. Led by the single “Such Great Heights,” the landmark album is the second-biggest selling album in Sub Pop’s nearly 25-year history after Nirvana’s Bleach.

The first tour dates announced were on the West Coast, Europe and NYC. No Omaha dates have been announced… yet. Who remembers when the Postal Service last came through town? Here’s a hint…

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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 © 2013 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Ladyfinger CD release show

Lest we forget, the weekend starts now.

And the biggest show of the weekend is the Ladyfinger record release show at The Waiting Room tonight. I’m told the boys will actually have some CDs on hand for sale in addition to the vinyl. Opening is The Seen, who also are celebrating a CD release, and The Hussies. $8, 9 p.m. See you there, if I can find a place to park…

…Because in case you’ve forgotten, it’s Feb. 1, which means tonight is Benson First Friday. As part of the art walk festivities, Sweatshop Gallery, 2727 No. 67th St. (just south of The Barley Street) is hosting Club No Quiet featuring music by Howard, George Glass, Rock Paper Sisters, Sister Kisser and The Wayward Little Satan Daughters. The fun starts at 8. More info here.

Saturday night Florida “punk” band Hot Water Music plays at The Slowdown with La Dispute and The Menzingers. Hear Nebraska has a Q&A right here with Menzinger Tom May (wonder if he gets confused with former Omaha folk singer Tom May? Something tells me he doesn’t). $20, 8 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 © 2013 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.