The Lupines return to the Barley Street Tavern tonight. It’s all a part of Benson First Friday.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Wondering where the big touring indie bands are playing this weekend? Well, there ain’t any, and you better get used to it because there are no national touring indie shows scheduled for the remainder of December.

Instead, this weekend is a smorgasbord of local bands.

Tonight it’s the irrepressible Lupines at The Barley Street Tavern. This is garage rock at its finest, fronted by former Brimstone Howl frontman John Ziegler. Also on the bill is Calm Fur, featuring members of Talking Mountain and Snake Island. Also listed is “special guest Slushy.” $5, 9 p.m.

It’s all part of Benson First Friday, which should be boiling over Maple Street all night long.

No doubt a lot of things will be reaching the boiling point at Sweatshop Gallery tonight when pervo-devo-freako-bondage-noise-riot act Plack Blague headlines a show with the infamous Superstar & Star. $5, 10 p.m.

Up the street at the birdcage known as Reverb Lounge Blue Bird headlines with The Derby Birds opening. $7, 9 p.m.

Finally, blocks and blocks away from Benson at fabulous O’Leaver’s A Wasted Effort headlines with The Decatures and PYRATE. $5, 9:30 p.m.

Tomorrow is the Big Chili Cookoff at O’Leaver’s. For just $5 you can eat all the chili you can get down your pie hole. Service starts at 1 p.m.

Then later that night after the smoke (or gas) clears, Sons of O’Leaver’s (featuring Mike Tulis) takes the stage. Opening is 3D Jupiter (fronted by Bob Crawford). $5, 9:30 p.m.

Back in Benson at the Reverb Lounge, nanaHara headlines Saturday night. The band consists of member of Lincoln bands Sideshow and Sound of Rails. Opening is Lincoln post-punk legends Her Flyaway Manner. $5, 9 p.m.

There’s a four-band bill at The Sydney Saturday night: Grumble, Low Long Signal, Super Moon and The Decatures. All for $5. Starts at 9.

That’s what I got. If I missed your show, put it in the comments section. Have a good weekend!

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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 © 2014 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.