by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

This weekend is the end of the line for The Brothers Lounge. Omaha’s legendary punk bar closes its doors for good at the end of the month and is going out with a bang with two sold-out shows.

Tonight (Friday) is a big one — SERIAL headlines — a supergroup that includes Tim Moss (Porn music, Ritual Device), John Wolf (Cellophane Ceiling, Bad Luck Charm, Porn music), Lee Meyerpeter (Cactus Never Thang, Bad Luck Charm, Filter Kings) and Jerry Hug (Ritual Device, Porn music). Their annual holiday shows at The Brothers are a thing of legend. Joining them are Pagan Athletes (new album out Nov. 5!) and Those Far Out Arrows. Doors at 8; music at 9:30. This one has been sold out for weeks. Something tells me it’ll be a madhouse.

Then tomorrow night (Saturday) Omaha punk newcomers No Thanks headlines with 138 (a Misfits tribute band) and Nowhere. Just like tonight, this one’s been sold out for awhile. Doors at 8, music at 9:30 p.m.

I would not want to be the doorman at The Brothers this weekend. As a member of the press who covers the Omaha music scene, I’ll attempt to document these final days… I’m sure I won’t be the only one.

. ) ) ) .

Before I get to the rest of the weekend, it looked close to capacity last night at Slowdown Jr. for Tokyo Police Club.

I only caught the last song from opening band And How, which had the crowd in the palm of their hands. With eight members, it was a crowded stage. The band is becoming Omaha’s version of late-era Talking Heads, and people are noticing.

The best thing you can say about a tour like the one Tokyo Police Club is currently on in support of the 10 year anniversary of the release of their sophomore album, Champ, is that it made you reconsider the release. Fact is, I never really gave Champ much of a listen when it came out. The band had left Saddle Creek after their debut album, Elephant Shell, for label Mom + Pop Music. And thus, when I heard the album upon its release I thought it was more of the same — i.e., a sort of Vampire Weekend-meets-Strokes indie-rock band.

Last night, the songs from that album took on a different life, as I suppose any album would performed live 10 years after its release. The music was more dynamic and I caught myself raising an eyebrow throughout the set, especially with the neat, clean guitar lines guitarist Josh Hooks was laying down. Frontman/bassist Dave Monks, wearing a T-shirt that said, “I May Grow Older but I Refuse to Grow Up,” was in ageless form and perfect voice.

Leaning against the stage-right door I watched members in the front row sang along to every tune, including the Monks’ acoustic encore and the band follow-up. It was great to see a show in Slowdown Jr. again after a couple years – the space continues to be one of the best small rooms in Omaha.

. ) ) ) .

So, it’s a Brothers weekend for the lucky few who can get in, but what about everyone else?

Well, tonight art-house indie band Xiu Xiu plays at Low End in the basement of the Bemis. This is a sort of after-party show for those who attend the annual Bemis art auction, but a number of free tickets also were available… for awhile. This one is also “sold out.” If you’re going, this is a No Vax / No Entry show, and face masks are encouraged when not eating /drinking. Music starts at 9:30.

That’s all I got. If I missed your show put it in the comments section. If you can’t go to The Brothers this weekend, go to your record player, slap on your favorite punk record and slam a beer for Trey and Lallaya, Omaha legends whose contribution to our music scene cannot be underestimated. You and your bar will be missed.

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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 © 2021 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Some catching up from last week.

Item: Omaha indie band Uh Oh released their first single to their upcoming album last Friday. It’s called “Still Life,” and it’s pretty rollicking in a smash-up ’00s kind of way. Check it:

. ) ) ) .

Former Grasshopper Takeover (remember them?) bassist James McMann has a new self-released LP out called Peter Is a Robot that’s “like 80%  instrumental plus a couple of tunes near the end including a cover of ‘Heard it through the Grapevine’ and ‘Ten in the rearview’ that Jim Homan mixed.” Check it:

. ) ) ) .

Former Omahan Brad Hoshaw has been doing a good job getting the word out about his new album, Living On a Sliver. His dream is to see it actually show up on the Billboard charts. You can help him realize that dream by buying a copy from Bandcamp for just $4 or more.

. ) ) ) .

Matt Whipkey has a new video out for “Overboard,” the next single off his new album, Hard. Check it out and buy the album at his upcoming release show at The Jewell Nov. 12.

. ) ) ) .

And based on posts in Facebook, it looks like David Nance and his band is in the studio working on their next album. No info to share except one photo posted by bass player Dereck Higgins, who plays on the sessions, shows Jim Schroeder behind a soundboard. Can’t wait to hear what the Nance band is up to.

. ) ) ) .

Tonight at The Slowdown, it’s former Saddle Creek Records band Tokyo Police Club, which you read about on Monday here. Joining them is red hot local indie ensemble And How. Tickets are $20, showtime is 8 p.m. This is a No Vax / No Entry show, so bring proof of vaccination and a photo ID to get in the club. For more information, go to theslowdown.com.

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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 © 2021 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Seems like only yesterday when in fact it was 13 or 14 years ago that Saddle Creek Records announced that it signed one of its first non-Omaha acts — Tokyo Police Club. Elephant Shell came out on Saddle Creek in April 2008 to much fanfare, but the record would prove to be a one-and-done for the label, as TPC would go onto Mom + Pop Music for the follow-up, 2010’s Champ.

And now a decade later, TPC is celebrating that record with a tour that comes through The Slowdown this Thursday, Oct. 28. TPC is issuing a vinyl version of the album in honor of the 10th anniversary. In addition, TPC frontman Dave Monks has a new album coming out Oct. 15 and guitarist / keyboardist Graham Wright dropped a solo album last month. 

That leaves drummer Greg Alsop to do our Ten Questions survey. We caught up with him and here’s what he had to say: 

What is your favorite album?

Greg Alsop: Siamese Dream – Smashing Pumpkins

What is your least favorite song?

“More than a Feeling” – Boston. It’s like 3 terrible songs strung together. 

What do you enjoy most about being in a band?

The travel. 

What do you hate about being in a band?

The travel. 

What is your favorite substance (legal or illegal)?

5:1 CBD to THC. (Thankfully – legal where I live). 

In what city or town do you love to perform?

Omaha. No – for real. The Slowdown is one of the best venues in the country and we’re always so happy to be back there. It’s a club that actually goes out of its way to make touring bands feel welcomed and taken care of. Laundry? Check. Load-in ramps? Check. Love the Slowdown and can’t wait to be back.  

What city or town did you have your worst gig (and why)?

Austin TX, SXSW 2007. At that gig we learned what a “texas mickey” was and why one should never be on our rider…

Are you able to support yourself through your music? If so, how long did it take to get there; if not, how do you pay your bills?

We’ve been fortunate enough to be able to do this full-time for a while now, which we’re all still extremely grateful for. This will be our first tour since 2019 and we’re all pumped to have the opportunity to be doing this again. 

What one profession other than music would you like to attempt; what one profession would you absolutely hate to do?

I think there’s a real opportunity to go city to city solving unsolved mysteries. However, everything would have to get wrapped up pretty neatly by “van call” the next morning…

What are the stories you’ve heard about Omaha, Nebraska?

Nothing comes to mind, but if there’s some inscrutable case out there please let us know and we’ll get our best sleuths on the job. 

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Tokyo Police club plays with And How Thursday, Oct. 28, at The Slowdown, 729 No. 14th St. Tickets are $20, showtime is 8 p.m. This is a No Vax / No Entry show, so bring proof of vaccination and a photo ID to get in the club. For more information, go to theslowdown.com.

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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 © 2021 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

The Open Casket Series continues Saturday night at The Brothers Lounge where Cat Piss headlines a show with Boston sludge-loving punkers Kal Marks. Our pals Leaf Blower open the show at 9:30. Tickets are $7. Get there early if you want to get in. And this is a No Vax/No Entry show, so bring your vax card or a photo of your vax card along with a government photo ID. 

Unless you already have tickets to the remaining Brothers shows, this will be your last chance to see live music in Omaha’s original (and best) punk bar. 

Sunday night Scranton punk-folk band The Menzingers return to The Slowdown. They’ve been there a number of times in the past, though I’ve never managed to catch them. The band has been around since 2006 and has six LPs to prove it, almost all of them on Epitaph. Joining them are Brooklyn’s The Worriers (SideOneDummy) and Canadian act The Dirty Nil. This is a No Vax / No Entry show. Same drill as at The Brothers. Bring a card or a picture of your card and an ID. $25, 8 p.m.  

That’s all I got. If I missed your show, put it in the comments section. Have a great 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 © 2021 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

I warned you if you didn’t get your tickets to the upcoming shows at The Brothers Lounge that they’d sell out, and sure enough, all but this Saturday’s Cat Piss / Kal Marks / Leaf Blower show are sold out.

In fact, I tried to get in to last weekend’s Digital Leather show at Brothers and was turned away at the door as they were already at capacity. You snooze, you lose. The sell outs are an indication that the fact Brothers is closing for good at the end of October is now well known. I intended to write about the closing in the October issue of The Reader, but was told to keep it on the down low.

While it’s cool these shows are selling out, The Brothers, to me, is/was more of a punk rock club to hang out and drink (best jukebox in town!) than it was a live music venue, and I’m sure the fine folks who run the place would agree, having run one of Omaha’s legendary live music venues – the amazing Capitol Bar & Grill in downtown Omaha, home to some of the greatest rock shows of the ‘90s.

The Brothers has had their share of great shows over the years as well. An early gig by The Faint is on that list, as well as those Serial gigs that took place around the holidays the past few years. The “on the record” reason why the bar is closing will have to wait, and I can’t speculate other than to say The Blackstone District is not the same neighborhood it was during the bar’s heyday when you couldn’t find an empty table on a Friday or Saturday night. The Brothers has long been thee after-show destination for those with discernible taste.

It seems the smaller Omaha clubs have been hit hardest by the pandemic, or at least the smaller bars that featured live music. Small stages like The Barley Street, O’Leaver’s and now Brothers Lounge are going away. O’Leaver’s remains a head-scratcher. As far as I can tell there are no immediate plans to reopen their little stage (but we can always hope). And while it’s a bummer for those of us who liked the smaller punk rock venues, it’s a real killer for young local bands who need a place to perform.

Omaha still has a plethora of great music venues and more on the way, but other than The Sydney in Benson, none cater to the up-and-coming indie and punk rock acts the way these small clubs did.

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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 © 2021 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

It’s the weekend, folks. Here’s what we got.

NOTE: THIS SHOW HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL NOV. 8! Post Animal is a Chicago neo-psych band maybe best known as the band that the kid from Netflix show Stranger Things was in. Joe Keery plays older guy Steve Harrington who works in the mall food court, who befriends the four little kids on their quest to untangle the Upside Down. He’s pretty good on the show, which I like. Anyway… He ain’t in Post Animal no more, or at least isn’t touring with them since the success of Stranger Things.

The band’s 2018 album, When I Think of You in a Castle, was their first release on Polyvinyl, who stayed with them on their 2020 follow-up, Forward Motion Godyssey. They fancy themselves a prog-rock act, but they’re more of a vibe act in the vein of Tame Impala, and are at their best when they’re avoiding classic rock riffs and leaning into the beats. Still, no question these guys probably listened to their share of Pink Floyd albums.

Post Animal headlines tonight at The Slowdown. Touring with them is Portland art-rock dance-beat duo Reptaliens, and Omaha’s own Garst. $20, 8 p.m.

Also tonight, Doom Lagoon plays at Brokedown Palace, 88th and Maple St., with Texas act Riley! and our very own keyboard-drum-prog-monsters Pagan Athletes. $5, 8:30 p.m.

Saturday night has Digital Leather at The Brothers Lounge as part of the “Open Casket Series.” DL is coming off an appearance at this year’s Goner Fest. Joining them is Nowhere, a new act that features members of Retox, No Thanks and Natural States. Opening the show at 9:30 is red hot Latin punk band Las Cruxes. This one’s loaded and is only $7.

Let me take a second to clarify something I posted a few days ago. I said if that the Oct. 29 Brothers show with Serial, Those Far Out Arrows and Pagan Athletes was going to sell out for reasons I can’t explain. A number of you misinterpreted that to say that there will be secret, unannounced band playing that night. That’s not the case, at least to my understanding. The show will sell out for sentimental reasons that many (most) of you know already. So, no secret show. Carry on.

Also Saturday night, singer/songwriter Mitch Gettman plays at The Berkley, a new lounge/live music room at 1901 Leavenworth (just down from Shucks). 8 p.m. and no cover.

Finally, The Dharma Rose plays at The Sydney in Benson Saturday night with Mere Shadows. We’re talking some heavy shit. $5, 9 p.m.

That’s all I got. If I missed your show, put it in the comments section. Have a great 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 © 2021 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

This morning Matt Whipkey dropped a surprise with the release of his new full-length, Hard. Actually, it’s not that much of a surprise as I interviewed Matt last weekend for a column that will support his Nov. 12 album release show at Jewell. That’s when the vinyl will be available. The digital version is out now on all the usual services and for purchase from Bandcamp.

Those who know Matt know that this is a personal album of sorts. It’s being released by a consortium out of Minneapolis called Unusual. Recorded and mixed by Matt, Scott Gaeta and Ian Aeillo, it’s arguably the best sounding album in Whipkey’s rather large catalog of releases, and I’m told the vinyl sounds even better (lacquers cut by the legendary Bob Weston at Chicago Mastering Services). Check out the tracks below and get your tickets to the Nov. 12 show. And watch for the November issue of The Reader for more info about the making of Hard.

More new music news…

Shurr Jr. is a new project out of Sioux Falls, SD, with some strong Omaha connections. The trio consists of brothers Frankie, Sam and Nick Maxwell, the offspring of legendary Fifth of May musician Frank Maxwell. They dropped their first single, “Dysania” b/w “Uncool” Oct. 1 on Max Trax Records. Recorded and mixed by Nate Van Fleet of See Through Dresses fame. Check out the tracks below. Word has it the trio has a full EP recorded and ready to drop as well. Now all we need is to get them to Omaha to do a show.

Last week Omaha indie band Uh-Oh announced it’s releasing a new album, Good Morning, Dec. 3. It’s a product of the pandemic (what isn’t these days?) The first single, “Still Life,” isn’t due until Oct. 22. See their story below.

The Oct. 29 rock show at The Brothers Lounge is going to be a very special affair. I can’t tell you more, though if you know, you know. And if you know, then you know it’s in your best interest to purchase your tickets to this show, which is guaranteed to sell out. Headlining is Omaha ’90s legendary supergroup Serial. Joining them are Those Far Out Arrows and Pagan Athletes. Needless to say, this is a big deal. The only place to get tickets is at The Brothers, so stop in and have a drink and get you a pair before they’re gone.

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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 © 2021 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Farnam Fest is back this Saturday. The Blackstone District block party takes place in the parking lot behind Scriptown Brewery and on 40th Street at Farnam, which will be blocked off for the occasion. The festival will have the usual food trucks and vendors but also features a number of live performances, including sets by Those Far Our Arrows, Specter Poetics (Jack McLaughlin’s latest project) and DJ Tyrone Storm a.k.a. Roger Lewis. The full schedule is below:

4 p.m. — Left Handed Country
5 p.m. — Anthony Worden & The Illiterati
6 p.m. — Specter Poetics
7 p.m. — Those Far Out Arrows
8 p.m. — DJ Tyrone Storm
9 p.m. — Satchel Grande

Farnam Fest actually starts at noon with a dog shows and there’s stuff the rest of the afternoon. After 5 p.m., entry is $5.

Also going on Saturday night in the Blackstone District (but not affiliated with Farnam Fest) is a rock show at The Brothers Lounge headlined by Relax, It’s Science. Also on the bill is Violenteer, the new project by Randy Cotton (Members of the Press, Ravine, Ritual Device). Aircraft Grade, a new heavy instrumental duo, opens at 9:30 p.m. $7.

That’s all I got. If I missed your show, put it in the comments section. Have a great 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 © 2021 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

A highlight of Indigo De Souza’s latest album, Any Shape You Take (2021, Saddle Creek) is the remarkable band who backs her, whose members are something of a mystery as they weren’t credited (online anyway). I don’t know if the folks that played with De Souza Saturday night at Slowdown were the ones on the album or not, but they sure were good.

Especially lead guitarist Dexter Webb, who played with a style reminiscent of Lindsey Buckingham, all quick-fills and amazing fingered adagios. I shot a photo of his guitar and texted it to the one of the city’s resident guitar experts and asked what kind of guitar it was. Mr. Whipkey’s response: “Vintage 12-string Ovation Breadwinner electric, maybe. That’s a rare-ass guitar if so.”

Webb, who must stand over six foot, towered over the rest of the band as he leaned into the fills and gaps (there were no solos, per se), a fluid, tonal counter-balance to De Souza’s more freeform vocals that were unashamedly honest and personal – which is a sloppy way of saying she was more concerned with emoting that staying on pitch.

The only other name I caught was drummer Avery Sullivan – I missed the bass player’s name, but he, too, was a virtuoso, his fingers flying across the frets, as De Souza crushed through a 75-minute set of songs from her last two albums in front of a decent-sized (150?) crowd of fans that filled the bowl in front of the stage.

“You guys are so chill, you’re spooking me,” De Souza said halfway through the set. “It’s like playing in someone’s living room. Talk amongst yourselves.” This isn’t the first time I’ve heard Omaha crowds described this way, but you’ll have to go through the archives and find that review. I’m not sure what De Souza is used to, but she said the night before at Minneapolis’ First Avenue was “crazy.” I guess she’s never heard of “Nebraska Nice.”

Opening act, Chicago’s The Slaps, played a tight set of indie rock that showcased their chops on songs whose style leaned close to early Vampire Weekend, though maybe not so clingy. If there’s a quibble to the night, it was that The Slaps precise mix was a ton better than De Souza’s, whose mix sounded crowded, dense, bordering on blown-out, but maybe that’s what she was going for.

A note about The Slowdown: This was my first show there since the pandemic. There are a few changes that may/may not have been in place before. The low tables have been replaced with high-tops, the booths replaced with low-tops — is a big improvement. The door guys were thorough with the vax requirement checking (show card and ID to match, which is the only way to go), and it only took a moment. Easy peasy. This should be a requirement at all clubs until we get past the Covid.

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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 © 2021 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Well, well, well, a full slate of shows this weekend. It’s been awhile.

If you haven’t noticed, today is Oct. 1 and it’s Friday which means it’s Benson First Friday (#BFF). The galleries will be popping all along Maple Street tonight, so get out and bring your checkbook (and your mask).

As part of BFF, The Sydney is hosting it’s BFF show, headlined by one of best indie acts in Omaha, — Lodgings. The group consists of Bryce Hotz, Steve Micek (yes, that Steve Micek), Mike Laughlin, Eric Ernst and Megan Siebe. It’s sort of a super-group. Their last album, 2019’s Water Works, has helped get us through the pandemic. Now see it performed on stage. Joining them is Problems a.k.a. Darren Keen (The Show Is the Rainbow) and Vision Video from Athens. $10, 10 p.m.

Tomorrow night (Saturday), red hot indie act Indigo De Souza (Saddle Creek Records) headlines at The Slowdown. This show originally was slated for the small room but has now been shifted to the main room, likely due to ticket sales. You read what I had to say about her new album in The Reader (here). Opening is Chicago trio The Slaps. 8 p.m., $18. No vax, no entry, so bring your card.

Meanwhile, uptown at Reverb Lounge in Benson Saturday night, local alt-country twangers Clarence Tilton headlines with Owen Justice. $10, 9 p.m.

Finally Sunday night back down at Slowdown Jr. Boulder blues/psych rock band The Velveteers headlines. Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys worked on the next full length, Nightmare Daydream, which drops next Friday on Easy Eye Sounds. Opening is our very own Magu. $12, 8 p.m.

And that’s all I got. If I missed your show, put it in the comments section.

By the way, it’s Bandcamp Friday, so when you check out the music above, make a purchase. Today Bandcamp is waiving their fees and passing the cash along to the bands.

Have a great 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 © 2021 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.