by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Here’s what we got for the weekend…

Tonight at fabulous O’Leaver’s it’s Minneapolis band Author. Radio station The Current described the trio’s latest album, 2015’s Of Brighter Days, as “the sort of album John Lennon might have made in 1994 if he’d survived to collaborate with Jon Brion.” Haughty praise. Listen to the album below and decide for yourself if that’s accurate. Also on the bill are LA band Sea Cycles and Eklectica. $7, 9:30 p.m.

And that’s all I see for tonight.

Tomorrow night (Saturday) is another story.

Easily one of the most talked about band debuts in recent memory goes down Saturday night at O’Leaver’s. CLOSENESS (all caps, not sure why) is a collaboration between Orenda Fink of Azure Ray fame and her husband, Todd Fink of The Faint and Digital Leather. They’re describing their music as “haunting and hypnotic electronic songs.” A lot of people are interested in this debut. Opening the bill is Thick Paint, a hot new project by Reptar’s Graham Patrick Ulicny, and spaced_bar. $5, 9:30 p.m.

Then there’s the annual Big Al’s Music Festival, happening all afternoon and evening Saturday at Lookout Lounge. This is the 9th year for BAMF, a free concert featuring a bunch of local bands, this year including the amazing Wagon Blasters (8:45 set), Mike Saklar playing old Ravine songs (9:30) and Relax, It’s Science (10:14), among others. In addition, Big Al Band will be closing out the show (11:45). See the full schedule here. This also is a food drive, so bring your canned stuff, all of which will go toward Food Bank for the Heartland.

Finally, Sunday it’s O’Leaver’s beer garden grand opening. It’s a shame that it’ll probably be cold and raining all day. The night’s festivities include Iska Dhaaf (which you read about here) opening for Annalibera. Also on the bill are Haunted Gauntlet and Mike Schlesinger & Sean Pratt. $5, 9 p.m.

And that is it. If I missed your show, put it in the comments section. Have a wet and wild 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 © 2016 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.