Fidlar at The Waiting Room, March 28, 2013.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

I wondered if I’m just getting old or if the crowd really looked as young as they did last night at The Waiting Room. I was assured by a few folks that I am not experiencing accelerated aging and in fact the crowd was real young last night, as evidenced by how easy it was to get a beer despite the near capacity crowd.

It’s been quite a few weeks since I’ve been to TWR. Since then, they’ve taken out the booths that were located behind the bar in the “pinball room” to make space for merch sales. The area is actually kind of nice, and did anyone ever use those booths anyway? All the improvements in the club have come together and the room feels more “complete,” or more like a formal music venue.

Anyway, I got to the club early to catch Cheatahs, a London 4-piece whose indie rock sound felt formulaic and smoothed out for radio approval. Vocals were moody tones. And while it was mostly by-the-numbers indie, there were moments of surprise, like when they threw in an unexpected break or riff toward the end of a song that made you nod your head and think, ‘That’s cool. They should do more of that.”

Cheatahs’ mannered rock approach was an odd fit opening for chaotic LA skate-punkers Fidlar. Were these the guys who the kids came to see? Their adolescent gawkiness is a decade younger than Cheatahs or Wavves more pro style. You knew it was going to be one of those sets when one of the Fidler guys (who looked like a miniature version of Little Brazil’s Greg Edds) invited anyone on stage early in the set. Sure enough, one awkward youth with a homemade “Fidler” (no points for spelling) T-shirt came on stage only to be quickly escorted off stage by a beefy security guy. “Hey security guys, we want people to come on stage,” said mini-Edds-looking dude.

With that, a parade of kids came on stage one at a time to stage dive and crowd surf around a pseudo pit. (BTW, someone pointed out last night that, like everything else from the ’90s, moshing apparently is back, and that mosh pits broke out at just about every performance he attended at SXSW). Fidlar’s music, while nowhere near hardcore punk standards, made for good dance fodder. It’s well-written, well-played, hook-filled garage-style rock that’s too polished to call punk (even if all the songs are about drugs and partying). Their music’s energy lives somewhere in a territory bordered by License to Ill Beasties (though they don’t rap), Kerplunk!-era Green Day, blue-album Weezer and ’90s-era Oblivians, but with plenty of modern-day lost generation drug-fueled fuck-it-ness.

By the end of the set, 30 or 40 people were on stage with them, jumping around like they didn’t give a shit about anything, which has to be a goal for a band who’s name stands for “Fuck it dog, life’s a risk.” It was one of the best live sets I’ve seen in a long time.

Pleasure Adapter at Slowdown Jr., March 28, 2013.

Next up was Wavves, but I just saw Wavves a couple years ago when they opened for Best Coast (and blew Best Coast off the stage). Instead of seeing a replay, I headed downtown to Slowdown Jr. , where I arrived just in time to see Pleasure Adapter’s set.

This is quite a departure for Jeff Ankenbauer, who someone described last night as Omaha’s GG Allin — or I should say formerly Omaha’s GG Allin. Ankenbauer says that’s all in his past and that he’s on a better path than his Shanks days, when you never knew from one show to the next who was going to end up bloody and broken.

On bass and vocals, Ankenbauer is the centerpiece of a balanced four-piece where really every part is as important as the next. The synth/keyboard work of Annie Dilocker (ex-Digital Leather) provides the band’s central tonal New Wave style, both tuneful and sonically retro.  Ben Allen (Watching the Train Wreck, Peace of Shit) is fireworks on electric guitar, tearing away the edges with riffs and feedback. Drummer Joey Koneko is a fucking machine gun — technical, precise, bombastic, an amazing drummer. I was told last night that he’s leaving the band and moving back to New Jersey. Someone (who already has been chosen) has some big shoes to fill.

But it’s Ankenbauer who stands tall in the middle with a voice that’s more of a Johnny Lyndon/ PiL bark than any sort of rock croon. He spits and bends the words with controlled anger and angst. Dilocker pulls it back when she blends in counter-vocals/”harmonies” that push even further to New Wave territory. That said, their set was more punk than anything else I saw or heard last night. If the kids at TWR were looking for a place to mosh, they came to the wrong party.

* * *

Well, if you missed out on the last two nights of rock shows, you’re in for some slim pickens over the next few days. Only a couple shows are worth mentioning, and they’re both happening Saturday night.

Outlaw Con Bandana is hosting a night of music Saturday at the Sweatshop Gallery in Benson. It’s being sold as the “Outlaw Con Bandana Record Release BBQ,” though I don’t think his new record is done (or is it? The kickstarter just ended). Food starts at 5, when you can also see a ton of artwork (details here); music starts at 9 and it’s free, but a donation is suggested.

Also Saturday night, at fabulous O’Leaver’s, Dim Light returns to the stage after a lengthy baby hiatus. Joining them is Lawrence Kansas band Sona and our very own Goon Saloon. $5, 9:30 p.m.

* * *

Final note: Darren Keen of Touch People informs me that his new album, Brain Massage, is out today. You can check it out and buy it for the right price of $5 right here. You Lincolnites can celebrate the release tonight at The Bourbon.

* * *

Happy Holidays for those of you who care about such things…

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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.

Pleasure Adapter

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Oh my god it’s like rock show heaven tonight. And if you work for the railroad, you don’t have to go to work tomorrow, which means bar-hoppin’ baby. Apologies to the shows I missed last night, but my head felt like someone slid a 12-inch needle above my right eyeball and into my brain, and then jiggled it all night long. Those of you who suffer from sinus headaches know what I’m talking about. No amount of ibuprofen and/or jagermeister will dampen the agonizing, bright red pain.

I swear to god even if it keeps up, I’m not going to miss frickin’ Pleasure Adapter tonight. The band has been on top of my must-see list for over a month but somehow has managed to allude me every time. In the meantime, they’ve slowly but surely begun to generate an army of fans into their style of dark wave, electronic post-punk. Hear Nebraska has some of their backstory here. Read it. And check out two of their songs below:

Now go see them tonight at Slowdown Jr., where they’re headlining a show with fellow noise/punk bands Goon Saloon, Worried Mothers and New Lungs, all for a mere $5. Show starts at 9. Get there early.

But that’s not the only show happening tonight.

Wavves returns to The Waiting Room tonight. Their new album, Afraid of Heights (Mom + Pop/Warners) just clocked in with a 74 at ATOY. But for me, it’s the undercard that’s the draw. Fidlar (which stands for Fuck it dog, life’s a risk) is a garage band from Los Angeles also on Mom + Pop Records. Opener Cheatahs are a U.K. band on Wichita Records. This would be must-see at SXSW, but we have them here together for one night for $15. Show starts at 9.

Also tonight fabulous O’Leaver’s is hosting a Slow Burn Production: The charmingly named Fat History Month is opening for Pile. Video Ranger also is on the fight card, all for a mere $5.

* * *

In this week’s column, who remembers Jodie Dallas? (If you do, you’re probably as old as me.) So how did Jodie impact America’s view of the gay lifestyle? Find out in this week’s issue of The Reader, or read it online right 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.

Mousetrap at The Waiting Room, Dec. 29, 2010.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

The last time we heard from Mousetrap was back in December 2010, when the seminal Omaha punk band played a reunion show at The Waiting Room. It was quite a night — frontman Pat Buchanan and bassist Craig Crawford, along with new drummer Mike Mazolla, were in fine form. I remember thinking at the time that the band never sounded better, and I mean ever. “That sense of uncertainty is gone. They’re more focused; they know exactly what they want to do, and they do it. Their sound is as vicious and acidic as ever; but Buchanan’s voice (as well as Crawford’s) is more controlled and certain,” I said in a review the following day.

The surprise of that review: “Buchanan ended the set saying, ‘See you next year,’ but made the surprise announcement that the band is considering recording a new album in 2011 — that is, if they can find a label to give them some cash.”

Well, as you might have guessed, that new album never happened in 2011. Instead, Buchanan moved to sunny Florida from his home base in Detroit, making it impossible for him to continue practicing with the rest of the band in Chicago. End of story, right?

Yesterday out of the blue I received the following message from Craig Crawford via Facebook:

“Hey Tim! Craig Crawford here. Well, I don’t have all the details worked out yet, but Patrick Buchanan is back living in Detroit, and it seems that Mousetrap might be a functioning working band again. Not a reunion; we’re gonna just try and pick up where we left off all those years ago and start making new stuff. So, we should start rehearsing sometime in the next few weeks and I will tell you all about how it seems to be progressing.”

I glanced at my calendar to make sure it wasn’t April 1. And then I typed, “Fantastic! Can I spread the word via Lazy-i?”

“I don’t see why not. We have yet to get together, but Patrick seems so super-psyched about it that I think it’s gonna be fun,” Crawford replied. “We had been meaning to do this since the last reunion, but he started working in FL, so it just never worked out. Now that he’s in MI, and just 5 hours away, we can actually start working on a new album.”

Crawford said he had no idea what Mousetrap circa 2013 will sound like. “We are very different people now, but I doubt that it will be too removed from what we ever were,” he said. “That just seems to come out.”

Indeed it does. While we wait for what happens next, catch up on your Mousetrap history with this 2009 reunion story.

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Talking Mountain, Mysterious Knowledge/Unknown Colors (Slumber Party, 2013)

All right, back to rock shows, finally. There’s a big one tonight at Slowdown Jr. and the price is right.

Talking Mountain is celebrating the release of its latest on Slumber Party Records, Mysterious Knowledge/Unknown Colors. It’s a step in TM’s becoming Omaha’s version of the Flaming Lips. Trippy stuff with a synthy bounce that embraces a comfortable pop aesthetic. WTF does that mean? I dig. It’s the most realized TM album in their long history. Check it out tonight.

Opening the show is the one and only Coyote Bones featuring Omaha ex-pat David Matysiak. Expect guest stars during his set. Also on the bill is Hers, who I’m told destroyed O’Leaver’s a couple weeks ago. Headlining all this is Ever Ending Kicks, a band I’ve never ever heard of, but judging from their website looks like they’ve been touring the country since mid-January.

So how much does it cost to get into this extravaganza? Why, it’s absolutely free, courtesy of our friends at Urban Outfitters. Maybe stop in UO and buy something before you head to Slowdown tonight. Show starts at 9.

Also tonight, so-called “Cinematic Pop” band Milo Greene (Atlantic Records) plays at The Waiting Room with Kopecky Family Band (ATO Records). $12, 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

An update on yesterday’s post about Matt Whipkey’s Penny Park Omaha NE: Summer of 1989 project: This morning Whipkey launched a Kickstarter program to help fund production of the double-vinyl album. His goal is to raise $4,000 in 30 days. As of this writing, he’s already almost a quarter of the way there.

“My initial skepticism for crowd funding has recently turned into pure enthusiasm,” Whipkey says on the site. “This is an exciting time for independent music, like a live performance there is now no barrier between artist and listener. Through Kickstarter, we remove the proverbial middleman who always holds things up. You and I are working together on this one, in concert. Quite frankly the idea of a double-gatefold, 150-gram vinyl double concept album about a long gone Midwestern amusement park in 1989 would make many labels immediately stop communicating.”

I’m sure it would. Check out the Kickstarter site and make a pledge.

* * *

Tonight at The Waiting Room it’s the return of Chicago-by-way-of-German industrial band KMFDM. Opening are Legion With and Chant. $25, 8 p.m.

By the way, I discovered from this review of KMFDM’s show in Milwaukee that the acronym stands for “Kein Mehrheit Für Die Mitleid,” a grammatically incorrect German phrase meaning roughly “No Pity for the Majority,” and not, as the band has jokingly claimed on occasion, “Kill Motherfucking Depeche Mode.”

* * *

Tomorrow: Some very special news for fans of ’90s-era Omaha-based punk…

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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

Bad weather (or the threat of if) kept me away from the bars all weekend. What month is it, anyway? March? March used to be “kite-flying month.” Not anymore. Thank you global climate change.

Over the weekend, Matt Whipkey launched his Penny Park Omaha, NE Summer 1989 project. For those too young to remember, there was this urban amusement park located where the Hy-Vee currently stands at 79th and Cass St. I always thought the park itself was kind of shitty, but the lagoon, well, that was special.

Anyway, it was called Peony Park, not Penny Park. But there were some legal questions tied around using the Peony Park name. Whipkey points out that the record isn’t specifically about the park but about a girl named Penny Park.

“Penny Park is a person. Peony was an amusement park. The former spent a great deal of time at the later. This is a record about a girl,” says the mypennypark.com website.

As part of the recording project, Whipkey is asking people to send in their memories and photos of Peony Park. Those photos may be used in the album’s gatefold. We’re talking about a 21-song double vinyl album, folks. In fact, tomorrow, Whipkey will be launching a Kickstarter campaign to help fund its production.

For now, here are a couple recordings that will give you a flavor of the project:

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/84636455″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/84638002″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Speaking of Kickstarter projects…

Outlaw Con Bandana is currently running a Kickstarter to help produce a new double-vinyl LP and writing collection.

“White Pariah is a micro publishing company started by four friends from Omaha, NE. The Ticks and Trips vinyl and writing collection will mark our first release. We’ve worked really hard to make sure this thing rules. The writing collection has a bunch of great prose, and poetry from Brendan as well as some old photos we had him dig up from the depths. The booklet also features lyrics to all 27 songs featured on the album, which we had fun making Brendan type up. We hope everyone loves sitting down and going through this thing.”

OCB is only trying to raise $1,000 and currently is at the $865 mark with four days to go. Go to his Kickstarter page and give him a hand.

About a month ago I told you about the Kickstarter campaign for Travelling Mercies’ Motel album. Well, according to that Kickstarter site, the band has met it’s $4,000 goal (though the pledges listed don’t add up to $4,000 — I’m not sure how that works. Regardless, congratulations are in order).

Kickstarter is quickly becoming a accepted way for artists to “pre-sale” their albums, effectively funding their production and taking away a lot of the risk involved. For better or worse, it’s become a primary business model for independent musicians.

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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.

Tim Kasher and band at O’Leaver’s, March 21, 2013.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

That dim line that divides Tim Kasher’s music projects got a little dimmer last night when the ol’ boy played at O’Leaver’s in front of a packed house with yet another new backing band.

This time Kasher, who spent the night behind electric guitar and microphone (vs. last night’s sold-out acoustic gig at O’Leaver’s) was backed by Sara Bertuldo (Millions of Boys) on bass and backing vocals, drummer Dillon Ryan (who played with Cursive on their last tour) and keyboardist Patrick Newbery (Cursive). Or maybe I should say “multi-keyboardist” as Newbery was surrounded by a tiger cage of no less than four keyboards (Bertuldo provided a fifth keyboard for good measure). More than anyone, Newbery has become Kasher’s creative right-hand man and ever-present collaborator, not only on this music, but in Cursive, and why not? He adds a colorful layer to everything Kasher does, whether on keyboards or trumpet. The two looked like they shared a psychic bond when they played as a duo during last night’s set.

Playing in front of a lot of familiar faces Kasher took the opportunity to roll out a number of new songs, a few he said had only previously been played for an audience of house pets. New songs ranged from garage-flavored psych-pop to New Wave-y rock (powered by Newbery’s wonky, wonderful synths) to the usual slow sad stuff (“This next one’s new, and it’s a bummer.”) to a triumphant, set-ending anthem. The new stuff was fun and hooky, among the more poppy stuff I’ve heard him play (and most varied), right up there with the most-tuneful of Good Life material, and a sharp contrast to his debut solo stuff (which for me, was colored in shades of anxious blue, underscoring its theme). Despite that, there was no stretching toward an obvious pop moment, like on Help Wanted Nights. Some of that material resembled an artist searching for an infectious hook (“Heartbroke” comes to mind).

So here’s the thing: Kasher’s Monogamy material was as intimate and personal as you’d expect from a solo outing. The new solo material feels less so. Maybe I’d have a different opinion had I been there Wednesday night when he was solo acoustic. With the band, it sounded like a different incarnation of The Good Life. In fact, they even played a few Good Life songs to make matters more muddled. When Kasher played a Cursive song — a trippy, dissonant solo version of “Sierra” — there was no confusing it with the original. Kasher helped draw a distinction between bands when he called Good Life drummer Roger Lewis to the “stage” to play three or four Good Life songs with him. No doubt his new material would fit more comfortably within The Good Life canon than as Cursive songs, which are more abrasive, sardonic (and apocalyptic) in tone than anything else Kasher does.

Also like past Good Life sets, Kasher was in a chatty mood last night, filling the set with lots o’ funny moments (He barely talked between songs during the last Cursive tour). He said he’s off to the studio next week to record the new material, conceivably in Chicago this time, where he now lives, though we all know he’ll always call Omaha home.

Opening the show were some of his new Chicago pals, the band Brighton MA, which has a distinctively indie rock sound that recalls acts like Wheat, The Walkmen, Spoon, and at times, The Good Life. If you’re into any of that — or just good guitar-fueled indie rock — check out their new album Oh Lost on Fast Plastic Records.

* * *

OK, so what do we have going on tonight and the rest of this weekend? It’s going to be busy. Let’s hope the weather doesn’t muck it up.

Hot show for tonight is the Benefit for the Community Bike Shop at Slowdown Jr. Your $7 cover will go toward building a permenant outdoor repair stand outside the shop, which is located at 525 North 33rd Street. The bands performing: Simon Joyner and the Ghosts, M33n Str33t, No I’m the Pilot and UUVVWWZ. Is there a Joyner song you’ve always wanted to hear performed live? Tonight’s your chance, as Joyner will take requests ahead of time from anyone who contributes $20 or more through the shop’s Paypal link on their website. Details here. Show starts at 9.

Also tonight, Lincoln band Plains is headlining a show at fabulous O’Leaver’s with Small Houses and Howard. $5, 9:30 p.m.

Tomorrow night’s centerpiece show is at the Sweatshop Gallery, which is quickly earning a rep as a new destination for rock shows. The line-up: Filter Kings, Solid Goldberg and Pleasure Adapter. It’s also the closing reception for artist Joe Damon. $5, 21+ (not sure why since it’s a gallery but probably because they’ll be serving booze). More info here.

Also Saturday night, ’80s indie band Soul Asylum plays at The Waiting Room with local heroes Landing on the Moon. $20/$25 DOS, 9 p.m.

Sunday night, dance band STRFKR (you remember their cover of Lauper’s “Girls Just Want to Have Fun”) play at The Waiting Room with Blackbird Blackbird. $13/$15 DOS 9 p.m.

And finally, also Sunday night, Delicate Steve returns to Slowdown Jr. with Twinsmith and The Dad. $10/$12 DOS. 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

If you’re a regular reader, you’ve seen a couple of these reviews in one format or another already (though they’ve been slightly altered). Bowie got nudged from the top spot on Billboard by Bon Jovi, which is a shame. Whether you like the new Bowie album or not, it’s hard not to root for him. I didn’t mention the new Low because I only got it yesterday. It’s a return to form for the Duluth trio. I’d love to get them back to Omaha somehow. The surprise among the Honorable Mentions is the Hookworms album, which is real steamroller of a record — grinding psychedelic throb rock, entrancing, Find it.

OTE53: The Quarterly Music Roundup, Brought to You in Spotify

Time for the usual roundup of what I’ve been listening to, this time stretching back to the beginning of the year. And for your information, all of it is available right now via Spotify.

Iím not trying to endorse the service, which is systematically fleecing just about everyone involved in the music industry. I’m just letting you know how I’ve come across the music, and it’s a lot different than it was in “the good old days.”

There was a time about five years ago when I received five or six manila envelopes per week in the mail loaded with promotional CDs. Today, I get about one CD a month (and it almost always sucks).

Instead of CDs, record labels now ìserviceî critics electronically. That means sending us emails with super-secret passwords that allow us to download albums from highly secured ìpress onlyî websites. To be honest, I prefer the downloads to cluttering up my office with CDs, even though I canít trade mp3s for store credit at Homer’s.

But lately even those download codes are drying up. Maybe itís because I’m writing less and less about music in these pages, or because record labels now simply streaming full albums via music websites prior to official street release.

Or maybe itís Spotify, where one can find every new album streamed on its release date. Make that “almost every new album,” because not everything is on Spotify, or even available online. Which explains why there’s no review of the new My Bloody Valentine album, titled m b v, below. Not only is it not in Spotify, it’s not on iTunes or available as a free stream anywhere. If you want to hear the new MBV, youíre gonna have to pay for it, kids, just like we all used to do.

Now, onto the reviews:

David Bowie, The Next Day — Some records take time to “sink in,” but how much time do you give? If itís David Bowie, you give it all the time it needs, I suppose. But after listening to this one off and on for about a week, I’m still struggling to find anything that stands out as being “essential,” or for that matter, memorable. Highlights “The Stars (Are Out Tonight)” and “(You Will) Set the World on Fire” are as close to straight-up rock as you’re likely to get from the once-Thin White Duke, and are indeed good, if not safe. The foggy, fuzzy, melancholy ballad “Where Are We Now?” is comfortably attractive. The rest of it feels by the numbers, if not slightly dated; functional, but sung well by a voice we all love (and miss). Maybe thatís all weíll ever get from now on, or all we need, or maybe I just haven’t given it enough time.

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Push the Sky Away — As with most of his recordings, Cave is perversely dramatic in his singing/speaking, as if telling dark lies at midnight, which by the way, is the best time to listen to this record. The centerpiece, “Jubilee Street,” starts with a quiet repeated guitar line and Cave’s weird story about a street hustler named Bea. It builds slowly over six and a half minutes to a massive crescendo reminiscent of the best moments from the Kadane Brothers — the guys behind classic bands Bedhead and The New Year. But instead of Matt Kadaneís droll, monotone vocal delivery you get Cave at his most urgent. The rest of the record is merely sublime. From the dark rumble of “We Real Cool” (with the winning line, “Wikipedia is heaven when you don’t want to know anymore”) to the nearly 8-minute-long rock eulogy “Higgs Boson Blues” that calls out both Hannah Montana and her real-life counterpart: “Miley Cyrus floats in a swimming pool in Toluca Lake and youíre the best girl I ever had…” Shades of Robbie Robertson’s spoken-word dramas are conjured (“Somewhere Down the Crazy River” comes to mind), but Cave is never as corny, and never less than sincere.

Foxygen, We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic — One of the most hyped releases so far this year, and worthy of it. Produced by Richard Swift, who worked on the last two Mynabirds albums, track “In the Darkness,” with the line: “Thereís no need to be an asshole / Youíre not in Brooklyn anymore…” is pure ’70s Stones, as Stonesy as you can get without dragging Mick’s saggy old bones into the studio.

Iceage, You’re Nothing — Matador Records may be the only label left (well, along with Sub Pop and Merge, and good ol’ Saddle Creek) where just the announcement of a band’s signing is big news. It means that the label’s brain trust has “discovered” something new, something “breakthrough” that could be as defining as when they signed Liz Phair or Pavement. Unfortunately, the last time that happened at Matador was when they signed Interpol way back in 2002. Still, when word leaked out that Matador signed Iceage it sent people scrambling to the internet to find out what these Danish punks sound like. That answer was only mildly hopeful. Iceage puts a new snarl on post-punk, like a modern version of Husker Du sung by a wasted slacker with a cockney’d scowl and not much to say. Songs like “It Might Hit First” border on hardcore, though there’s something artful beneath the buzz (Maybe itís the guitar solo that cuts in at the 30-second mark?). When they pull back toward the more conventional (“In Haze”) the ice melts revealing something akin to melody, and the road that all good punks head down… eventually.

Honorable Mentions worth seeing out on Spotify, or at your local record store: Suuns, Images du Futur; Foals, Holy Fire; Yo La Tengo, Fade; Big Harp, Chain Letters; Bleeding Rainbow, Yeah Right; Hookworms, Pearl Mystic.

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. Copyright © 2013 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

* * *

Tonight is second night of Tim Kasher’s two-night stand at O’Leaver’s. Last night was the solo acoustic gig. Tonight he’ll have a band of familiar faces backing him (so I’m told). Opening is Brighton MA, who according to Omahype is actually a Chicago band who has played with The Walkmen, Okkervil River and Elvis Perkins, among others. Will this one sell out? Don’t chance it. Buy your tickets now. $10, 9:30 p.m.

Hey guys, you better have that tournament going on somewhere…

Also tonight, Dirty River Ramblers play at The Sydney with Brad Hoshaw and In Cahoots. And Celtic-style howlers Great Big Sea are at The Waiting Room ($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 © 2013 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

The act of “leaking” an early track from a upcoming album release is all the rage these days. Everyone from Rolling Stone to NPR to Huffington Post has hosted a leaked track by some famous rock star. Why should Lazy-i.com be any different?

When Touch People (a.k.a. Darren Keen) gave me a sneak peek of his new album, Brain Massage, he also asked if Lazy-i would leak a track. I said “sure,” and picked the album opener, “Amazing Place.” It is, after all, a perfect snapshot of Keen’s new approach to digital soundscaping, as conceptual as it is audibly intriguing. It’s also my favorite track on the album. Check it out below.

Sayeth Keen about Touch People: “I have finally stepped up as both a composer and a producer, while carrying the trademark high energy, unpretentious (and often humorous) dance party antics of my previous projects. Touch People is often compared to Philip Glass, Battles (with whom I’ve played), and Dan Deacon. Combining elements of minimalist composition, prog rock, and dance music, with honest, humorous lyrics.”

So what inspired his new sound? That’s among the questions I have out with Keen, which hopefully he’ll answer for us in the near future. What I do know is that Touch People will be celebrating the release of Brain Massage April 6 at The Waiting Room with m34n str33t (a new project by Adam Haug and Conchance) and the currently touring Killer Blow. Mark it on your calendars.

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Speaking of events, there are a couple doozies going on tonight.

It’s night one of Tim Kasher’s two-night stay at O’Leaver’s (the bar he owns with the rest of the Cursive guys and Chris Mach). Opening is Hers. Surprisingly, $10 tickets are still available. The fun begins at 9:30.

As sort of a preview, here’s another look at Kasher’s Knitting Factory gig last week, this time by Brooklyn Exposed (right here). It’s a bit less complementary than that CMJ review I posted a couple days ago. This makes the KF crowd sound rowdy. Give me a break. Those Brooklyn hipsters wouldn’t last two minutes in O’Leaver’s…

Also tonight, NYC folkies Widowspeak (Captured Tracks Records) headlines a show at Slowdown Jr. with Eli Mardock and I Am the Navigator. $8, 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.

Dicey Riley Band at The Dubliner, March 17, 2013.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Unbeknownst to me, St. Patrick’s Day was celebrated beer-wise (and otherwise) on Saturday rather than the actual St. Patrick’s Day on Sunday. That very likely explains why the cavernous maw that is The Dubliner was less than packed yesterday at 3 p.m. No lines or nothing. And despite the usual SPD chaos the room was nothing less than festive, but easier to get around and get a Guinness, which I did numerous times while enjoying the traditional music stylings of The Dicey Riley Band (formerly known as The Turfmen). Ah, I never get tired of hearin’ those lads.

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We’ve got Tim Kasher of Cursive (and also now of Chicago, apparently) coming in for shows Wednesday and Thursday night at O’Leaver’s. To get a flavor of what we can expect, check out this CMJ review of Kasher’s show last Thursday at The Knitting Factory in NYC. The conclusion: “The night came to a close with a warming performance of ‘No Harmony,’ with Kasher’s vocals echoing through a mostly silent room. His voice was on point, making the song twice as chilling as usual. Instead of playing an encore after, he calmly climbed off the stage to talk to the crowd, greeting fans like old friends and laughing with whoever wanted to say hello.” Aw. Better get your tix as these shows could (and likely will) sell out.

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Drastic Plastic announced last week that it’s releasing three more classics as part of its vinyl reissue program: Motorhead’s Motorhead; A Certain Ratio’s To Each…; and  BFG’s Blue. Each series is hand-numbered and split between 500 LPs in 180 gram vinyl and 500 LPs in collectible color vinyl. They follow in the footsteps of previous DPR releases by The Clash, Agent Orange and The Birthday Party.

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Tonight at Slowdown Jr., Chris Cohen, formerly of Deerhoof, takes the stage with Hers and Touch People (Darren Keen). $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 © 2013 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Here’s your weekend.

Tonight at Slowdown Jr. Killer Blow kicks off a tour that will be taking them to Minneapolis, Green Bay, Milwaukee, Chicago, St Louis, Memphis, and Springfield MO. The duo of Genie Molkentine on drums and vocals and Todd VonStup on electric guitar has a 3 song CD-EP and a 9-song tape recorded on 4-track they’ll be hocking on the road. Check out a track below. Opening are Coaxed, a band that includes members of Sun Settings and Capgun Coup, who will be joining KB on tour. Also playing tonight is Appleton WI band Arms Aloft, and Sister Kisser, a female-fronted punk band with members from Gag Reflex and Places We Slept. $5, 9 p.m. Go!

Also tonight, Matt Cox Band headlines at O’Leaver’s with The River Monks, Field Club and Brad Hoshaw. $5, 9:30 p.m.

Tomorrow night’s big event is the Gary Flanagan Memorial Tribute Show at The Waiting Room. I never met Flanagan but have been told that he was a long-time supporter of local music, which is obvious considering who’s playing this show: The Whipkey Three, Brad Hoshaw, Midwest Dilemma, Scott Severin, Matt Cox, Liz Webb and a special reunion of Sarah Benck and The Robbers. $5, 8 p.m.

Also Saturday night down at The Barley Street Tavern it’s The Ground Tyrants with Custom Catacombs and Mike Saklar and his band. $5, 9:30 p.m.

St. Patrick’s Day is Sunday, which is a bummer for everyone because it’s Sunday and we all have to go to work the next morning. That said, there’s a plethora of shows Sunday night including G. Love and Special Sauce at The Slowdown with John Fullbright. $22/$25 DOS, 8:30 p.m. The English Beat plays the Waiting Room with The Bishops. $22, 8 p.m. But the place to be might be The Barley Street Tavern, which is hosting a special St. Patrick’s Day bash featuring music from Edge of Arbor, Tara Vaughan Band, Valleytown (Dover, OH), The Decatures, No Triangles, Guilty is the Bear, and more. Their website says it runs 2 to 9 p.m. and costs $5.

As for me, I’ll be drinking my St. Paddy’s pint of Guinness at The Dubliner. 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 © 2012 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.