by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Benson Beerfest

Be aware that Benson Beerfest is happening tomorrow. The area around Krug Park, The Waiting Room and Jake’s will be crowded with fun-loving, beer-gargling drunks. There are a few details about the event at bensonbeerfest.com, but not much other than the price: $30 Adv/$35 Day of Event. That gets you (apparently) all the beer you can drink? What else is involved in this event, I do not know.

Moving on…

Tonight, Hudson NY band Last Good Tooth (Team Love Records, you remember them) plays at O’Leaver’s (and could very well be opening). The band plays jangling Americana acoustic folk rock much in the same vein as Matt Ward. We’re talking guitar, drum, bass and fiddles. Check out some LGT sounds below. Also on the bill is Olympia, WA band Malaikat dan Singa (K Records / Pine Cone Alley). They call their sound “trance-punk outfit featuring bass clarinet, guitars, multiple drummers and his trademark wild vocals.” Headlining is our very own Touch People (Darren Keen). $5, 9:30 p.m.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/84123665″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Also tonight (Friday) Omaha rock band Witness Tree celebrates the release of its self-released EP Breathe In at Slowdown Jr. with Bullet Proof Hearts, Two Drag Club and Thunder Power. $7. 9 p.m.

The band has asked for a review of the EP, despite the fact that Lazy-i’s focus is indie music and Witness Tree — while without a record label — is anything but an indie band. Their sound borders on last-decade alt-radio rock that leans heavy on the pop side. Lots o’ big riffs, radio-friendly vocals and lyrics like “You could be my miracle tonight” and “You’re a bullet from a gun / You’re the fire from the heat” and “Ready or not, here I come.” You get the picture. Their songs emulate the kind of music I remember from the early ’80s, the kind of fun-time high school rock that Z-92 used to play. They’re not plowing new ground, in fact their soil is a couple generations old, and I can’t imagine they want it any other way. Harmless fun.

Tomorrow night (Saturday) Noah’s Ark Was a Spaceship headlines at The Sydney with opener bands Des Moines’ Fetal Pig and The Brigadiers. $5, 9 p.m.

Over at The Waiting Room, Satchel Grande is playing as part of Beerfest along with Touch People. It’s $7, but $5 with your Beerfest wristband. 9 p.m.

Finally, Sunday night — or should I say Sunday afternoon — Simon Joyner and the Ghosts, So-So Sailors and curry sausages are on the O’Leaver’s menu. as part of the Sunday Social Club. Food (from The French Bulldog) starts at 2 p.m., music starts at 5 p.m. $5

Also Sunday night, Dead Oceans Records indie dream-pop band Night Beds plays at Slowdown Jr. No opener is listed. $10, 9 p.m.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/85464505″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Did I miss anything? Put it in the comments section. Have a good weekend.

ADDENDUM!!!

Someone e-mailed with “WTF, no love for Baths/Houses?”

I completely forgot about that show, which is happening at The Waiting Room Sunday night. Houses’ new album, A Quiet Darkness (Downtown Records) is a dark and seething as anything by The National but with more modern rhythms. Gloomy, but very good indeed. Baths is Will Wiesenfeld of [Post-Foetus] and Geotic fame. His latest, Obsidian, was released on the Anti-Con label. Also on the bill is EDM guy D33j, also on Anti-Con. Tix are $10 Adv./$12 DOS. Show starts at 9.

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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.