by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Lots of release news today…

Simon Joyner, Grass, Branch & Bone (Woodsist, 2015)

“You Got Under My Skin,” the first track off Simon Joyner’s upcoming album, Grass, Branch & Bone, is being streamed via Stereogum today (right here). The album comes out on Woodsist Records on St. Patrick’s Day. Pre-order your copy here. You won’t regret it.

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Dereck Higgins, Myths…Realities (DHV, 2015)

Dereck Higgins’ follow-up to last year’s Murphy LP is titled Myths…Realities and is being co-produced with KiNETiK Records (Greece). The collection is archival material, most of it never released. Preorder your copy of this limited-run release here

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See Through Dresses, self-titled (This Charming Man, 2015)

Preorders are being taken here for the European release of See Through Dresses’ self-titled LP on German label This Charming Man Records. The record drops in late March.

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In non-local music news, The Mountain Goats today announced they’ve got a new album coming out April 7 on Merge called Beat the Champ, which is about professional wrestling. “I wrote these songs to re-immerse myself in the blood and fire of the visions that spoke to me as a child, and to see what more there might be in them now that I’m grown,” said head goat John Darnielle. Check out the first track from the album, below.

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Rock NYC

has written a love letter to Matt Whipkey in the form of a glowing review of his upcoming album, Underwater, calling Matt “Omaha’s best export since Conor Oberst.” Read the review here and check out Matt’s latest video, below.

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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 © 2015 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

Jeff Runnings of For Against will have his solo debut on Saint Marie later this year. Photo by Phil Glynn.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

There has been plenty of buzz about about a new For Against album in the making.

Waitaminit? You never heard of For Against? The Lincoln band was one of the first Nebraska acts to make a national mark in the ’80s for its unique take on post-punk. As I said in this 2007 interview with the band, For Against made 4AD/Factory Records-style Euro-pop that bordered on today’s version of electronic dance music. Their sound was directly influenced by ’80s and ’90s-era European post-punk from bands like Durutti Column, Joy Division, Gang of Four and Kitchens of Distinction.

Last year, NYC-based indie label Captured Tracks released a box set of the first three For Against full lengths: Echelons (1987), December (1988) and In the Marshes

(1990), originally released by Independent Project.

Now comes word that For Against frontman Jeff Runnings has signed with Saint Marie records, who will release a new Runnings solo album as well as more For Against reissues. Jeff said he recorded the new album at his home studio last year “then decided to finish by doing the vocals in a ‘proper’ studio with good microphones (Milktone Studios, Lincoln, NE). I mixed the album with Mark Wolberg (owner of Milktone).”

What inspired the making of the record?  “A challenge to myself,” Runnings said. “Can I make a record alone? Guess so! ”

Saint Marie was so impressed with what they heard, they not only offered Runnings a deal for the record, but also expressed “great interest” in reissuing the For Against albums from the ’90s — Aperture, Mason’s California Lunchroom, the long out-of-print Shelflife, and Coalesced.

“The offer was accepted and I signed with Saint Marie,” Runnings said. The label has a focus on shoegaze, dreampop, electronica and more, and includes among its roster Seasurfer, Static Daydream and Scarlet Youth.

The album, Primitives and Smalls, will be available on CD/digital in July or August 2015, Runnings said. He’s still working out details on a vinyl edition. “I play all the instruments on this album, all the vocals, lyrics, etc., which is why it’s a solo album instead of a For Against album,” he said.

Runnings said he’s also contemplating a solo tour in support of the release. “It’s certainly being discussed (Europe, NOT the U.S.); nothing set in stone yet, though,” he said.

Well then, what about a For Against reunion? “I want to get Mave (Steve Hinrichs) and Paul (Engelhard) to tour for the reissues,” Runnings said, “but (I’m) not sure when the reissues will ‘hit the shelves’… before year’s end?” Keep your fingers crossed.

BTW, I’ve heard three tracks off the Runnings solo album and they are, in a word, sublime. For Against fans (and anyone who likes groovy indie dreampop) are in for a treat.

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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 © 2015 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

Ted Stevens Unknown Project at Reverb Lounge, Jan. 15, 2015.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Big draw Saturday night for Ted Stevens Unknown Project at Reverb Lounge in Benson, though almost no one was there when I dropped in at 9 p.m. As much as I like Ted and his crew, I wanted to see Miniature Horse a.k.a. Rachel Tomlinson Dick, who I’d seen a few months ago at an afternoon concert at Almost Music and couldn’t believe my ears.

Miniature Horse at Reverb Lounge, Jan. 17, 2015.

Namewise, why Miniature Horse instead of RTD? Who knows. She didn’t say from stage what the name meant. Miniature horses are cute little creatures that have been known to take a chunk out of the back of a child’s head or crush a passerby’s kneecap whether provoked or not. No one knows what goes through the creatures’ minds other than somber bitterness and/or barely contained rage over being born a diminutive reflection of their more regal brethren. It’s only a matter of time before that rage boils over into a reflex motion that requires surgery and long-term rehabilitation to an unfortunate passerby.

I don’t think that’s what RTD had in mind when she came up with the name, though there is a “beauty and the beast” style to her one-woman show, brought to you by her amazing voice (one of the best singers in town) and her effects pedals that alter her guitar’s tone from quiet reflection to Neil Young feedback blaze with a tap of her toe. Consider her our own version of Polly Jean Harvey circa her 4-Track Demos

phase. An intricate finger-picking style had a couple of the guys next to me (there were only guys in the crowd early in the evening) staring in awe. One of them wondered what her songs would sound like with a full band, and I wondered, too, but would be afraid the added instruments could clutter up the solitary majesty. Maybe a simple trio, though RTD is doing fine by her lonesome, standing like her namesake on an empty stage.

McCarthy Trenching at Reverb Lounge, Jan. 17, 2015.

Next up was the string-band version of McCarthy Trenching. Dan McCarthy is known as a piano man by a lot of people who have only seen his early-evening weekly gigs at Pageturners, but he’s just as comfortable with a guitar hanging ’round his neck, backed by talented upright bass player James Maakestad. McCarthy rolled through a set that included familiar chestnuts (the one about kicking a ball through the Cathedral uprights; another about being a self-employed, self-hating lout) as well as new songs (including one that perfectly captures my seething road rage).

McCarthy balances a forlorn loneliness with humor and a knack for capturing every-day details lyrically I haven’t heard since John Darnielle, though musically Trenching songs in no way resemble Mountain Goats songs. When played on piano, they more closely resemble Randy Newman tunes, and I would recommend McCarthy Trenching albums to anyone who loves Newman’s solo piano songs.

McCarthy said he wants to enter the studio again. We’re all waiting, Dan.

By the time Ted Stevens and his all-star band rolled onto the Reverb stage the lounge was a jam-packed calamity of fans and fellow musicians come to pay homage to the guy behind Lullaby for the Working Class and Mayday, and who, by the way, also plays and writes for Cursive. Backing Stevens as the Unknown Project is Lincoln Dickison (Putrescine, Monroes) on electric guitar, Ian Aeillo (Eli Mardock, Eagle*Seagull) on bass and David Ozinga (UUVVWWWZ) on drums.

Stevens’ songwriting is like no one else’s around here. It’s linear, without the usual chorus and verse structure, more like a stream of conscious telling of his life backed by an indie version of Crazy Horse. The closest resemblance to Stevens’ music (to me) is American Music Club/Mark Eitzel, which has a similar foreboding sense of chaotic ennui. There is a darkness to his music, a sense of stark anxiety like we’re getting a look inside what drives Stevens’ life, a sense of uneasiness accented by a voice that sounds like a hand outstretched to something just out of reach. Gorgeous stuff

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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 © 2015 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

Bloodcow plays tonight at O’Leaver’s…

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

I’m back. And just in time for the weekend. Only two shows are showing up high on my radar.

Tonight at fabulous O’Leaver’s it’s the return of Bloodcow. One assumes from the design of the flyer that that band will be playing tuneage off their upcoming album Crystals & Lasers. It’ll be a night of metal-infused carnage with sledgehammer openers Nightbird (Omaha-flavored stoner rock) and Pro-Magnum (Omaha-flavored punk). This will be loud. $5, 9:30 p.m.

Also tonight, Kait Berreckman Band plays at The Barley Street Tavern with Weatherwise, The Ronnys and John Larsen. $5, 9 p.m.

Meanwhile, John Klemmensen and the Party opens for The L1MBS at Reverb Lounge, along with John Larsen (Wait…isn’t he playing at the Barley Street?). $7, 9 p.m.

Tomorrow night (Saturday) the main event is Ted Stevens Unknown Project at Reverb Lounge. As most of you know, Ted is the guitarist of Omaha indie rock godfathers Cursive and one helluva singer/songwriter. You will not be disappointed. Opening is the always entertaining McCarthy Trenching and the mysterious Miniature Horse (Rachel Tomlinson Dick). $7, 9 p.m.

Also Saturday night, The Broke Loose plays at The Sydney with Anthems and a TBA band. $5, 9 p.m.

That’s what I got for this weekend. If I missed your show, put it in the comments area. Have a good one.

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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 © 2015 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

Life Is Cool at The Waiting Room, Jan. 10, 2015.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

The version of Life Is Cool that I saw at The Waiting Room Saturday night was a lot different than the version I saw play years ago somewhere in Omaha. That old version was a sort of Icky Blossoms party-band trying too hard to have fun, and it showed. This new version, featuring seven members split between Omaha, Lincoln and Chicago, is a different animal altogether. Think of them as a Midwestern version of Talking Heads combined with, say, B-52s and more than a smidgen of Arcade Fire and you’d be on the right track.

The set-up is (almost) traditional, with two guitars, bass, synths, trumpet, drummer and percussionist. The sound is eclectic bordering on artsy, with songs heavy on rhythms and light on melody. Maybe it was the mix but the dense arrangements worked best when they weren’t so crowded, when each instrument was given room to breath. When they played all at once (and loudly) the little details, which glowed so brightly individually (that cool woodblock percussion, Eric Bemberger’s chopping guitar), got lost in the din.

Frontman James Reilly seemed anxious holding it all together and occasionally shot a look like even he wasn’t sure where things were headed. Based on the number of cues from the stage during the set, monitor problems could have contributed to the sonic challenges (which is a nice way of saying it’s hard to keep a 7-piece band together when you can’t hear yourself on stage).

At their best, the band eschewed a post-punk jittery-ness that felt unsettled yet still leaned in with rhythmic funk, like the best early Talking Heads. Too often Reilly sounded restrained rather than letting it all hang out, unlike his co-vocalist (who played keys and whose name I don’t know) who willfully let herself get lost in the moment. On the other hand, there were times when they sounded like a reductive version of Arcade Fire. I prefer the direction heard on the closing number,  played after an admirable cover of Adam Ant’s “Desperate But Not Serious” that could have used a tad more swing.

No one around here is doing what Life Is Cool is trying to do, or at least no one around Omaha. For as long as I can remember, you had to head south to Lincoln for bands attempting anything this artsy, experimental and, well, cool.

The Sub-Vectors at The Waiting Room, Jan. 10, 2015.

The night’s “main event” was The Sub-Vector’s CD release show, which was a ball… literally. As in a few dozen blow-up beach balls that bounced hyper-kinetically over the crowd throughout most of the set of fun-loving surf rock. The instrumental-only trio (bass, drums, guitar, in that order) showed the proper respect to the originators of the genre while at the same time adding their own sonic touches, hard and heavy, almost casting a metal sheen. If the songs seemed too long at times it could be due to the simple, stripped down arrangements that forecast every chord change like a hammer slamming on an anvil.

Edge of Arbor closed the evening with a set of laid-back folk rock accented by crisp bongos and guitarist Matt Whipkey’s usual glowing guitar solos. Frontwoman Jessica Errett does this style of indie-folk as well as anyone on the Lilith circuit (Maybe it’s time to retire those “Lilith Fair” comparisons, the last fair was five years ago). Oddest part of their set — at least three couples were doing ballroom dancing down on the floor, complete with twirls and dips, like watching auditions for the sequel to Silver Lining Playbook...

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Reception will be spotty this week, and if I skip a few days I apologize in advance.

Show-wise, the week starts with a bang in Lincoln with the return of the Paul Collins Beat, who just played at Slowdown Jr. in October and is now taking the stage at The Zoo Bar at 7 p.m.. Go if you can.

Beyond that, nothing stands out on the rock-show radar until Friday night’s Bloodcow gig at O’Leaver’s. It could be a long week…

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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 © 2015 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

There’s an extremely limited number of indie shows this weekend.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Kevin Hiddleston has been a fixture of the Omaha music scene for years, whether you know or it or not. Hiddleston is that pony-tailed dude you may have seen running around stringing cables and staring at sound boards at some of the larger music events around town. Most musicians and sound guys who have worked in Omaha over the years know Hiddleston well.

I bring this up because Hiddleston’s band, Big Wheel, is having its stage debut tonight at The Reverb Lounge. In addition to Hiddleston, band members include Jason Churchill, Mike Matsui and Bill Nanso.

Hiddleston describes Big Wheel’s music on Facebook as all-original rock songs that are classic rock-ish or maybe “Americana,” but not heavy and not weepy songwriter stuff, either. The band’s full-length debut is almost completed.

Big Wheel opens for Clarence Tilton (Corey Weber’s band) tonight at Reverb, $5, 9 p.m.

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In the wake of yesterday’s Coachella announcement, Conor Oberst has been named as one of the feature performers at this year’s Governor’s Ball Music Festival in NYC June 5-7. Other performers include My Morning Jacket, Ryan Adams, Tame Impala, The Decemberists, St. Vincent, Sharon Van Etten, Chromeo, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Charli XCX and more.

Hey Maha, when are we going to get an announcement?

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And now the moment you’ve been waiting for: The winners of this year’s drawing for a copy of The Lazy-i Best of 2014 Compilation CD

are:

Jonathan Boulay of Saugerties, NY, and Paul Trap of Omaha!

I’ll be dropping your CDs in the mail tomorrow. Thanks to everyone who entered!

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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 © 2015 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

I didn’t make it out to see The Good Life last night and it hurts my heart. It was a game-time decision, the wind-chill was in the negatives and I had to get up early this morning. In the old days (just a few years ago) I would have gone anyway, but it’s getting tougher to get out during the week, especially when I don’t know if there will be any air in my Tracker’s tires when I leave the club (They have this way of leaking out in sub-zero weather).

If you were at O’Leaver’s last night, let me know how it went. The band is reportedly in the studio today working on their new record.

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What else…

Desparecidos is playing Coachella April 12. Impressive. Coachella is getting some blow-back this year because of the number of legacy bands playing the festival, including AC/DC, Steely Dan, not to mention the ’90s and ’00s bands (Built to Spill, Sloan, heck Desa’s been around for a decade). I’m not sure what all the whining is about. The majority of the lineup consists of modern-day acts (read the lineup at TIME).  You’re always going to have a few notable big names from back in the day that appeal to multiple generations. Congrats to Desa. Something tells me this Epitaph release could be a monster…

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One Percent’s latest update went out this morning. The most notable nugget on their list of shows — Of Montreal March 16 at The Waiting Room. I think that might be smack-dab in the middle of SXSW, so it’s very likely I’ll miss them. Or maybe not. The press release says they’re playing SXSW March 19…

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I got all your entries for the Comp CD giveaway. Thanks! I’ll be announcing the winners tomorrow.

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Tonight at Reverb Lounge legacy performer Sarah Benck takes the stage with Kevin Sandbloom and CJ Mills. $5, 9 p.m.

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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 © 2015 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

The Good Life at The Slowdown, May 1, 2011. The band plays tonight at fabulous O’Leaver’s.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Expect another crazy night at fabulous O’Leaver’s as the club hosts The Good Life tonight playing new music from their upcoming album. In fact, the band enters the studio tomorrow to begin recording, so tonight’s show is sort of like the date leading to conception. Opening is the incomparable James Maakestad (Gus & Call, McCarthy Trenching). $5, 9:30 p.m.

O’Leaver’s is on a roll these days. Craig D, who books the club, shared their January schedule. Here are some of the highlights:

1/9- Clear the Day, The Sapwoods, Foxholes, Mitch Gettman
1/16- Bloodcow with Pro-Magnum and Nightbird
1/22- TIT and Worried Mothers
1/23- Handsome as Sin w/ The Toppings
1/24- Derby Birds, Shane Lamson (Brigadiers), All Young Girls are Machine Guns
1/30- Feel Tight with Christopher the Conquered
1/31- Lightning Bug w/ Fontenelle and Low Long Signal

Of particular note is the TIT show Jan. 22. TIT is Shawn Foree of Digital Leather and Bobby Hussy of The Hussy. Their debut album came out last month on FDH Records and is more of the electronic mayhem we’ve come to expect from these two. That Jan. 16 Bloodcow show should also be off the hook (as the kids used to say)…

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I’ve been trying to find an online resource for upcoming releases. Not much out there, but I did stumble onto Consequences of Sound‘s “50 Most Anticipated Albums of 2015″ list, and found (sort of) what I was looking for, which is the more interesting indie releases in the coming months. Among them, new ones by Belle and Sebastian (1/20, Matador); The Decemberists (1/20, Capitol); Sleater-Kinney (1/20, Sub Pop); Ft. John Misty (2/10, Sub Pop); Will Butler (3/10, Merge) and Twin Shadow (3/17, Warners).

There are a handful of other interesting mentions on the list (The Wrens will have a new album out?), but as a whole, if this is all there is, we could be seeing the doldrums of the last quarter of ’14 continuing.

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OK folks, today is the LAST DAY to enter into the drawing to get a copy of the coveted Lazy-i Best of 2014 Compilation CD — the 20th Anniversary edition of this timeless classic. The collection includes tracks by Angel Olsen, Alvvays, Run the Jewels, Brad Hoshaw and the Seven Deadies, The Lupines, Twin Peaks, Spoon, Strand of Oaks, Protomartyr and ton more, including a wild-card surprise track from the 1994 Best of Cassette (each CD has a different surprise track). The full track listing is here. Entering is super-easy: To enter, either: 1. Send an email with your mailing address to tim.mcmahan@gmail.com, or 2) Write a comment on one of my Lazy-i related posts in Facebook, or 3, Retweet a Lazy-i tweet. Hurry, contest deadline is MIDNIGHT TONIGHT!

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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 © 2015 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

Big Harp plays tonight at O’Leaver’s…

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

After the last couple weeks of stellar reunion shows, I guess it’s payback time. A glance at the calendars for the next few weeks (months) shows very few national touring indie bands coming through Omaha. The winter months always are rather sparse show-wise, but somehow we make it through to the spring.

It ain’t all bad news. In fact, there’s at least one big show going on this weekend.

Big Harp is playing a set tonight at fabulous O’Leaver’s. The band just opened for The Good Life last week, and now here they are again, this time on The Club’s tiny stage. Opening is the always impressive McCarthy Trenching. $5, 9:30 p.m. Expect a crush mob Looks like O’Leaver’s will be booking a lot of indie shows in the coming months. An early heads up for next Tuesday night’s show — The Good Life performing songs from their upcoming new release.

Also going on tonight, All Young Girls Are Machine Guns headlines at Reverb Lounge. Openers include the legendary Dereck Higgins, Xion and CJ Mills. $7, 9 p.m.

Barley Street tonight has Calling Cody, The Doneofits, Those Far Out Arrows, and Jazz Brown and the Afterthoughts. $5, 9 p.m.

And isn’t this supposed to be Benson First Friday? Maybe not… I don’t see any BFF info online anywhere. Maybe they’re skipping it this month.

Anyway, that’s it for shows this weekend. If I missed your show, put it in the comments section.

Hey, while I still got your attention, a reminder that you can win a copy of the Lazy-i Best of 2014 compilation CD — it’s the special 20th Anniversary Edition. The collection includes songs by Courtney Barnett, Sun Kil Moon, Tei Shi, Protomartyr, The Faint, Stand of Oaks, The Lupines and a ton more.  The full track listing is here. Entering has never been easier: To enter either: 1. Send an email with your mailing address to tim.mcmahan@gmail.com, or 2) Write a comment on one of my Lazy-i related posts in Facebook, or 3, Retweet a Lazy-i tweet.Hurry, contest deadline is midnight Jan. 6!

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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 © 2015 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.