The New York band’s latest, ILYSM (2022, Royal Mountain), was co-produced by Justin Pizzoferrato, whose credits include work with Pixies and Speedy Ortiz, and Peter Silberman of The Antlers, and includes guest spots from J Mascis, Julien Baker and Ryley Walker, among others. Pitchfork gave it a 7.0 and called it “a richly detailed and expectedly sentimental album that wrestles with all the life and death that exists in the midst of a cancer diagnosis.” Eek.
For the most part, it’s a quiet, meditative collection that reminded me of Nick Drake, with frontman John Roth’s quiet, breathy vocals. The album’s title track is among the highlights, rising to a blazing crescendo before coming back down.
Opening band Trace Mountains is a project led by Dave Benton formerly of Sub Pop band LVL UP. Their latest, House of Confusion (2021, Lame-O), has that dreamy early Jackson Browne lilt that goes down easy, especially on tracks like “If You Do.” This would be the perfect concert for a warm summer evening instead of a frostbitten last night of November. Early show: 7:30. $15.
I’m not, nor have I ever been, a Ryan Adams fan. I just never cared for his music. So I wouldn’t have gone to tonight’s Ryan Adams show at the Holland Center regardless of the controversy that surrounds him (and for some, always will). That said, if I had been listed for this show, I might have gone just to see if he mentioned the controversy from stage (or to hear what Bright Eyes song he’ll be covering).
Certainly Adams will be surrounded tonight by people who either have forgiven his past abuses or have looked beyond them because, regardless, they still like his music. Incidentally, if you want to know where I stand on Adams, you can read my column in The Readerfrom 2019, here. When I wrote it, Adams was clocking in with 1.4 million monthly Spotify listeners. Today, that number has risen to 1.5 million. Where that number stood before The New York Times is anyone’s guess, but rest assured, it was probably higher. BTW, Adams has self-released four digital-only albums this year alone.
I have no doubt, had this concert been scheduled before the Times article was published, the Holland would have sold out. Today, there are still plenty of tickets available on the Ticket Omaha website.
Very much like every other year was last Wednesday’s holiday concert at The Waiting Room, the eighth such event (according to Criteria frontman Stephen Pedersen, who celebrated this winning streak from stage). Lots of old, familiar faces were on hand to wish glad tidings as well as they could through the 100+ dB din (even between bands, it was loud).
Uh Oh at The Waiting Room, Nov. 23, 2022.
Uh Oh kicked it off with a solid set and what appeared to be the evening’s largest crowd (a crowd that slowly, slightly waned throughout the night). The more I hear Joe Champion live the more I’m reminded of Tim Quirk of Too Much Joy, thought Uh Oh’s music is played straightforward lyrically vs. TMJ’s snarky humor, and that’s OK. While the entire band is solid, lead guitarist Mari Crisler is a standout on solos that leave the histrionics for the fretboard (which is a nice way of saying the band doth not emote much on stage, but few indie bands do).
Landon Hedges, left, and Danny Maxwell of Little Brazil at The Waiting Room Nov. 23, 2022.
Little Brazil followed with their best performance in recent history driven by frontman Landon Hedges. Always solid instrumentally, for me LB shows depend on how well Landon handles those high notes. Get him on a bad night and your best best is to lean back and enjoy guitarist Shawn Cox’s amazing fretwork. Get Landon on a good night (or in this case, a great night) and you’re flying above the crowd alongside him on that vocal tight rope.
LB has been kicking it for decades but their latest album, Just Leave, is a career highlight thanks to risk taking on song structures and the guitar interplay between Cox, Hedges and the rest of the band, held down firmly by a rhythm section of LB co-originator Danny Maxwell on bass and larger-than-life drummer Austin Elsberry. That said, Hedges’ unique, high vocals make LB a standout in a city full of standouts.
There were times Wednesday night when I cringed waiting to hear if Landon was going to make that note. He almost always did, though a couple times he seemed to forget the words at the beginning of songs. No matter. He always caught up in the end.
Finally there was Criteria. What to say that I haven’t already said the last seven times I’ve seen them play this holiday show or all the other times in between? The band continues to wield the ridiculous guitar-fueled power that made them an indie-music staple in the emo-powered aughts when Omaha was a global music brand. I am here to report that frontman Pedersen can still shred the high notes as well on songs that are nothing less than endurance tests for any vocalist over the age of 30 (which he most definitely is).
The band is sheer power at every position, tight as a tick and tour ready as they’ve ever been, though they’re unlikely to play again until next November. No doubt some of the reasons for that involve the three little boys who ran around stage prior to the set — Pedersen’s personal roadies (the youngest of which wore sound-dampening headphones and ran wild in the crowd during the set). In just a few years maybe they’ll be opening for dad’s band, at a show held sometime around Thanksgiving at The Waiting Room…
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The holidays cavalcade of local shows rolls on this weekend.
Tonight at Reverb Lounge, Saddle Creek Records band Twinsmith headlines with up and comer Bug Heaven who I’m told is a must see (though I somehow keep missing them). This one starts at 9 p.m. and is $12.
Also tonight, singer/songwriters Stathi and Mitch Gettman are playing sets at The B. Bar, 4330 Leavenworth (right next to Barrett’s Barleycorn). Mitch goes on at 8, Stathi at 9 and then headliner, Sweetstreak, who describe themselves as East Omaha garage Rock, at 10. No price listed for this one, so you’re on your own.
Tomorrow night (Saturday) our old friends Las Cruxes headlines a free show at fabulous O’Leaver’s. Joining them are (kind of) new band The Rare Candies (Josh Medlock, Mitch Gettman, Ryan Menchaca and a fourth dude who’s probably pissed because he’s not listed anywhere on the band’s websites) and Kelroy. Just like the old days, this one doesn’t start until 9:30.
Also Saturday night, The Waiting Room is hosting a reunion of Omaha ska band Jimmy Skaffa. Joining them is Stick Figures and Plastic Presidents. $15, 8 p.m. Lotta people will be at this one (including on stage, if I remember this bands properly).
And that’s all I got. If I missed your show, put it in the comments section. Have a great weekend.
Every year it’s the same thing — Criteria and Little Brazil at The Waiting Room. And this year is no exception.
These holiday shows are sort of Omaha music scene get-togethers. I honestly don’t know what Criteria has been up to for the past year. Will there be new music or just another evening of their greatest hits? Who knows?
On the other hand, Little Brazil started out the year releasing a new album, Just Leave, on Max Trax Records. Expect to hear songs from that one along with a few of their greatest hits.
Opening the festivities is Omaha indie band Uh Oh who’s last album was 2021’s Good Morning. It all gets rolling tonight at 8 p.m. Always one of the best shows of the year. $12. Don’t be a turkey. Take part in this festive holiday tradition…
Welcome to Ice Station Zebra. Parkas are optional, but they’re a pain in the ass at the club.
Couple shows tonight…
The Legendary Pink Dots are, in fact, legendary, though I hadn’t heard of them until this show was listed on the Reverb Lounge calendar. Formed in London in 1980, the band’s central dude is keyboardist Edward Ka-Spel. According to All Music, their high-water album was TheMaria Dimension in 1991, released on PIAS Records, an album that AM said is the influence for their most recent album, The Museum of Human Happiness, which came out just this past spring.
Their sound is goth electronic Dieter music kitschy old-school Euro. That said, they’ve been influential to such acts as Dresden Dolls, MGMT and Skinny Puppy. Opening is moody Denver performer Orbit Service a.k.a. Randall Frazier, who has collaborated with LPD in the past. 8 p.m., $27.
Also tonight, down the street at The Sydney, it’s Wichita post-punk band TF BUNDY (which, as any purveyor of the Urban Dictionary will tell you, stands for Totally Fucked but Unfortunately Not Dead Yet. Local heroes Pagan Athletes and Jeff in Leather open at 9 p.m. $10.
Tomorrow night (Saturday) is, of course, the big Black Lips show at The Slowdown. These ‘00s indie legends are still kicking after all these years. The Atlanta quintet is touring in support of Apocalypse Love (2022, Fire Records). According to Wiki, “The Black Lips are noted for provocative theatrics – including vomiting, urination, nudity, electric R.C. car races, fireworks, a chicken, flaming guitars and other un-predictable antics.” What will they do Saturday night? Opening is Omaha legend Solid Goldberg! Also on the bill is Bloodshot Bill, who film director John Waters describes as “like Roy Orbison with a head injury.” 8 p.m., $20 (worth it just for Goldberg).
And that’s all I got. If I missed your show, put it in the comments section, and have a great weekend!
An addendum toTheReader column about Saddle Creek Records recent releases…. there are a few artists off their recent roster who weren’t mentioned because they’ve been relatively dormant. Among them is Black Belt Eagle Scout, the project of Swinomish Indian Tribal Community-based multi-instrumentalist Katherine Paul. Creek released a new single by BBES yesterday, “My Blood Runs Through This Land,” and announced a new LP out Feb. 10, 2023, which you can pre-order now. Psst… I actually like the second track, “Don’t Give Up,” (not to be confused with the Peter Gabriel song (but wouldn’t a cover of that be something)), more. Nothing like closing out your LP with a strong track.
Saddle Creek’s most recent signing, Pittsburgh’s Feeble Little House, just got a review of the re-release of their debut album, Heyday, at Pitchfork, which said, “The Pittsburgh rock quartet’s newly reissued debut is a relentless, intentionally chaotic document of twentysomething existential dread.” Chaotic? Maybe not so much. Definitely a throw-back sound to ‘90s indie acts like Helium or even Chavez (yeah, I said it). The Pitchfork rating was 7.4, btw, which is high for a Saddle Creek release, but I’m finding that Pitchfork likes this era of Saddle Creek a whole lot more than they liked the first wave (and definitely the second Saddle Creek wave).
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Tonight at Reverb Lounge Aussie indie act The Murlocs headlines. The band has been recording and touring for a decade. Their latest, Rapscallion, was released in September on ATO Records. Their sound has been described as “neo-psychedelia” but is closer to straight-on jangle-pop. Montreal singer/songwriter Paul Jacobs, who has been compared to Kurt Vile, opens at 8 p.m. $17.
Here comes the weekend. Try as I might, I couldn’t find a single thing to do tonight show-wise, though Saturday is packed. It’s usually the other way around. So, here’s the line-up.
Friday night is a wasteland. Go to a movie.
Saturday you’ve got options.
Our old pals Oquoa are headlining at fabulous O’Leaver’s Saturday night, no doubt still playing songs from they 2019 LP Timesquares. It’s indie awash in shoe-gaze awash in frontman Max Holmquist’s brassy tenor voice. Joining them on the bill are Steady Wells featuring Jordan Smith of Twinsmith. Singer/songwriter Alexis DeBoer, whose vocal style is more than a little reminiscent of Angel Olson, opens the show at 9 p.m. $10.
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Meanwhile, across town at Reverb Lounge in Benson, Violenteer headlines a three-band bill Saturday night that includes the band Glow and Max Trax Records artist Leafblower. $10, 9 p.m.
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Just around the corner at The Waiting Room, gothy industrial instrumental band Lucida Dark headlines a bill that includes Minor Movements, metal monsters Living Conditions and hot new indie sensation Bug Heaven. 8 p.m. $15.
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And now for something completely different…
Sunday night, The Slowdown is hosting Kenyan-Ugandan industrial grindcore/noise act Duma. Their music is brutally heavy, downright punishing. Just listening to the below track makes me jittery and anxious. Imagine how it’ll sound live. Opening is Masma Dream World, the solo recording project of multi-disciplinary artist/healer Devi Mambouka. Kicking things off is Nebraska’s own leather-clad noise gimp Plack Blague. $20, 8 p.m. In the front room.
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If noise ain’t your thing, our old pals Guster are back in town, this time at The Admiral (a.k.a. Sokol Auditorium). I still remember seeing them play at the old Ranch Bowl back in 1999 when they were just getting going (Here’s a fun Lazy-i interview from back in the day). Not sure what brings them back to Omaha as they don’t have new material coming out (that I know of). Still, should be a great show. Chicago band Ratboys opens at 7 p.m. $30 or $75 balcony.
And that’s all I got. If I missed your show, put it in the comments section. Have a great weekend.
This month’s column in The Reader is a look at the latest wave of releases from Saddle Creek Records. Our hometown label keeps stretching, and the results can be quite impressive. Read the column online here or in print at newsstands around town (Hy-Vee, LaCasa, etc.).
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Chicago post-punk band Meat Wave is playing a free show tonight at fabulous O’Leaver’s. They just released a pummeling new album, Malign Hex, on Swami Records and are about to hit the road opening for The Bronx. They’re longtime pals and tour mates with local heroes Cursive and haven’t been back through Omaha since their stint headlining Day 1 of O’Leaversfest before the pandemic. Omaha band Nowhere opens the show at 9 p.m.
OK, a handful of new tracks from local artists or old friends with local connections have caught my ear recently. A quick run-down.
Lost in the background of Cursive’s upcoming tour for Domestica is a new track by David Knudson of Minus the Bear and Botch fame that features Cursive frontman Tim Kasher on vocals. “No Ways No Means” comes from Knudson’s new EP, Undo/Redo, which comes out this Friday. Mr. Kasher has never been in finer voice on a track that is absolutely scorching.
Two Omaha legends – Denver Dalley (Desaparicidos) and Clark Baechle (The Faint) — have a new project called Weak Nights, that will soon be releasing material. But until then, the duo have penned a track with Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World called “Place Your Debts,” that just came out. In addition to having a great hook, the clever lyrics bend in on themselves in a clever way. Check it out.
I just told you about two new ambient instrumental releases from former Omaha songster Kyle Harvey under his new moniker, When Light. Well, Kyle’s released yet another one, called The Shape of Time. Get lost in the aural waves of pleasure…
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There’s a sneaky good show happening tonight at Reverb, totally under the radar….
Los Angeles melodic hardcore band Militarie Gun just got off the road opening for Saint Vitus and have a new album, All Roads Lead to the Gun (2022, Loma Vista). Heavy, hard and fast, no doubt there will be some moshing going on. Opening is Hattiesburg, Mississippi-based art-punk band MSPAINT and local hardcore legends BIB, plus two more openers – Public Opinion and Trucha. A five-band bill for $15. Starts at 7:30.
I’ve checked out when it comes to politics this election season. Don’t get me wrong, I will vote today. But after years of watching asinine right-wing conspiracy theories gain traction with the willingly gullible (who aren’t that gullible, but who, in fact, are looking for ways to support racist and sexist candidates without having to admit that they are, in fact, racist and sexist), I’ve turned it off.
Today’s election comes down to one question: Are there more of them than there are of us? Because we’re not polarized from a political perspective, we’re polarized from a humanist perspective. So go out there and vote. That’s all any of us can do. Then turn it off and listen to some music.
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Speaking of music, seems I’m always at rock shows on election nights. And there’s one tonight at The Slowdown. Epitaph band Hunny headlines. They’re described as a punk rock band but lean more toward the pop-punk/emo style. Their most recent album was the pre-covid Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes (2019, Epitaph). Cleveland’s The Sonder Bombs is fronted by singer/songwriter Willow Hawks. Her latest single, “The Star” was mixed by Illuminati Hotties’ Sarah Tudzin. Omaha band Bliss opens at 8 p.m. Tickets are $24.99.
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