Frightening screen capture from the Bloodcow Kickstarter video.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Well, Bloodcow launched its Kickstarter campaign yesterday. They’re trying to raise $8,900 so they can release their 4th album, Crystals & Lasers, on vinyl and other formats. I know there’s some folks who are “anti-Kickstarter,” but I see it as a chance for fans to pre-order a release at a pretty decent price and get some other tchotchkes along the way.

If there’s one disappointment with Bloodcow’s Kickstarter it’s the lack of creative premiums. They’re only offering the usual war chest of goodies — vinyl, CD, T-shirt, play at your house, producer credit, etc. I was hoping for something more becoming of a Council Bluffs band of self-proclaimed Xenu followers. Come on guys, where’s the “Spend a night with Bloodcow at a classy Council Bluffs strip club” or “Have your picture taken with Bloodcow at the BLACK ANGEL OF DEATH” or “Hand-etched Bloodcow tattoo by artist Karl Nicholason” or “Guest role in Aaron Gum-produced drag queen video” or “An actual Bloodcow” (I’m not sure what that is).

Without those, I’ll probably just go in at the vinyl/t-shirt level. You should, too. Check it out.

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Dereck Higgins, Murphy (self-release, 2014)

This morning Omaha songwriter/musician Dereck Higgins (InDreama, Strange Attractors)  posted a link to his latest release in Bandcamp, Murphy, the follow-up to his Flyover Country album. Higgins says he might release the all-instrumental Murphy on vinyl late this year or early next year. The record is named after a buddy Higgins knew in high school who had a party spot along the Elkhorn River. Check it out.

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Death Cab for Cutie announced on its website today that longtime member Chris Walla is leaving the band. No reason was given for his departure. This Saturday’s Maha Music Festival will be among the last times you’ll be able to see Walla on stage with the band. DCFC also announced that its new, yet-to-be-titled  album has been recorded with producer Rich Costey (Mew, Interpol, Cave In) and is slated for release in early 2015. Wonder if they’ll be playing any of the new material on Saturday?

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The second in Hear Nebraska’s Live at Turner Park concert series is tonight at 6 p.m. and features local hip-hop artists AZP and BOTH. The concert is free and a fun way to check out Turner Park’s new concert stage. Find out more here.

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Also, tonight’s Record Club at the Shop @ Saddle Creek features Death Cab for Cuties’ seminal 2003 release Transatlanticism. Record Club is a chance for folks to get together and listen to an album in its entirety, then discuss it afterward. Fun! The needle drops at 7 p.m. More info here.

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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.

Orenda Fink’s new one, Blue Dream, is streaming at NPR Live. Photo by Bill Sitzmann.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Going through the mailbox…

This just in from Talking Mountain main guy Jason Meyer:

“Feel Tight” is a new band that I’m in with dudes from the Seen and Weird Howl. I think we’re calling it “black prog stoner doom,” which is just a fancy way of saying Black Sabbath stoner rock with other tendencies. Explorations of genres I know very little about. I get to play a loud guitar.

ANYWAY.

We’re playing our first show at The Slowdown August 20 with Huge Fucking Waves (Allan from Snake Island’s surf band) and Stephen Nichols, who is doing some sort of solo/bass/noise/art performance and is Christine Fink’s huzbs. Could be a blasto.

Yes it could, indeed.

* * *

What else:

M34n Str33t has a new video out for “Night Owl,” a track from their Mutants of Omaha LP. Check it out below. No doubt the crew is getting ready for Saturday’s Maha Music Fest (They go on stage at 1:55). Is Mean Street on the verge? There’s a lot of people who think so.

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Speaking of being “on the verge,” the guys in Bloodcow are prepping a Kickstarter campaign for their new album, Crystals and Lasers. Hey guys, don’t tell us you’re going to do a Kickstarter, just do the damn thing. I can only imagine the twisted “premiums” available for donors with this one, none of which can legally be delivered via the U.S. Mail.

Check out the new track here, if you have a PC. They posted the track as a frickin’ .wma file, which isn’t happening on my Mac.

* * *

NPR First Listen is hosting a stream of the new Orenda Fink album, Blue Dream. Check it out here.

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So what do you think of the “We Don’t Coast” slogan, which is showing up on billboards and Social Media?

I stand by my original suggestion. BTW, I’m getting tired of all these montage videos that show zoos and ball parks in timelapse format. What would it take to get someone to make a gonzo-style video that highlights one crazy night in Omaha?

* * *

BTW, there ain’t much happening music-wise this week. Save it up for Maha.

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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.

Matt Cox celebrates the release of his new album, Nishnabotna tonight at The Waiting Room.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Not a lot happening from a national indie standpoint again this weekend, but we’ll make up for that next Saturday when the Maha Music Festival blows up Stinson Park again.

That said, there is one national show worth mentioning. Houston singer/songwriter Jolie Holland headlines at The Slowdown tonight. Holland has quite a pedigree, having been courted musically by the likes of Tom Waits. She was sort of known as a bluesy twanger but walked away from that slightly with her latest, Wine Dark Sea (ANTI-, 2014), an album at times rife with rough-hewn, feedback-fueled electric guitar while at other times, haunted by glowing strings. There’s a hollow shimmer to this recording that reminds me of very early Cowboy Junkies, a loose, jazzy, dark-lit feel that’s both lonely and inviting. Opening is Brooklyn trio Shy Hunters. $12, 9 p.m.

Also tonight, Matt Cox is having a big ol’ CD release party at The Waiting Room for his new album, Nishnabotna (2014, Sower).  The self-produced album was recorded and mastered at Hidden Tracks Studio/J Garrett Sound Productions over the past year. Very laid-back, very country. Cox’s press release references Allman Bros and Willie Nelson, which certainly gives you an idea of his influences. Opening are his pals Sarah Benck, The Filter Kings and The Electroliners. $7, 9 p.m.

Meanwhile, over at fabulous O’Leaver’s, it’s the return of Midwest Dilemma. Where have these guys been the past couple of years? With Las Vegas folk-pop band Rusty Maples. $5, 9:30 p.m.

Tomorrow night’s only gig (on my radar, at least) is Millions of Boys, Free Cake for Every Creature and Lincoln’s Once a Pawn opening for The Shidiots at The Barley Street Tavern. $5, 9 p.m.

BTW, the new bar across the street from The Waiting Room, 1912 (read about it here), finally opened its doors this past Tuesday. The rooftop deck awaits you. And no, the kitchen isn’t open yet and won’t be for awhile.

Did I miss anything? Put it in the comments section. Have a great weekend.

* * *

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.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Orenda Fink yesterday released a new video for the song “Ace of Cups” from upcoming album Blue Dream, which comes out on Saddle Creek Records Aug. 19. The video (below) was directed by Nik Fackler (the director of feature films Lovely Still

and Sick Birds Die Easy as well as a member of Icky Blossoms and InDreama) and Aaron Gum (also in InDreama). It’s a head trip. Look for cameos by The Faint’s Todd Fink and InDreama’s Dereck Higgins.

* * *

Some Big Star news…. A band is being pulled together to play Big Star’s Third in concert that includes original member Jody Stephens on drums. Joining him are Mike Mills, Mitch Easter (Let’s Active), Chris Stamey (The dB’s) and “guest musicians from each city.” The band will be backed by a chamber orchestra and sets also will include songs from #1 Record. Cities are Carrboro, NC; Washington, DC; Seattle and LA. More info at ardentmusic.com. Ardent recently announced that #1 Record and Radio City are being remastered and rereleased by Stax, with a drop date of Sept. 2. I do love Big Star…

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When in ROAM: Audio Postcards from the Four Corners of the Globe

David Matysiak (Coyote Bones) posted the next installment of his ROAM audio series. This time it’s audio postcards from around the globe. Contributors include Sarah Bohling (Icky Blossoms), Sam Martin (Capgun Coup), Mike Albanese (Maserati), Graham Patrick Ulicny (Reptar), among others.

Check it out via SoundCloud here.

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In this week’s column, random notes on Mula (delicious), zucchini (big), Maha (soon), Guardians (awesome) and cyclists (chubby) . You can read it in this week’s issue of The Reader or online right here.

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Speaking of Maha, the Maha Team announced yesterday that the festival is getting a Ferris wheel for the Aug. 16 concert at Stinson Park. “We are also introducing a game truck to the entertainment lineup in the early part of the day,” Maha said in a press release. “This truck will be stocked with a variety of XBOX, Nintendo Wii, and PlayStation 3 games.”

Ironically, I jokingly called their $50 ticket an “all-day ride pass” in my column

this week not knowing about the impending Ferris wheel addition, which is bound to cause some confusion with someone.

* * *

Couple shows to consider tonight:

At The Waiting Room indie/country blues band Bazile Mills headlines with Burkum Boys (the bros from Skypiper). $7, 9 p.m.

At The Barley Street, it’s The Talbott Brothers Band w/ Maxwell Hughes (former Lumineers guitarist, yes those Lumineers) and John Larsen. 9 p.m. $5.

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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.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

A quick note about a couple shows happening tonight…

Down at Slowdown Jr. it’s San Fernando Valley, CA, band Run River North. They’re described on Wiki as a “Korean-American indie folk-rock band” that used to be called Monsters Calling Home. Their self-titled debut was released on Nettwerk this past February. They apparently got their big break after filming a music video in their Hondas.

“Unable to afford a studio space at the time, the sextet switched off playing instruments inside the cramped interiors of their Honda Fit, Accord and CRV. Once uploaded, the video experiment ran an upward viral course to the Honda offices.” It resulted in a surprise guest spot on Jimmy Kimmel Live, followed by the Nettwerk deal.

Opening is Mitch Gettman, who’s making the rounds playing tracks off his impressive new record, Stop Living Like It’s the End of the World. $10, 9 p.m.

Also tonight, pop band Foster the People plays at Stir Concert Cove (Weren’t they just here?). NONONO opens. $35+, 8 p.m.

Also tonight, Brad Hoshaw once again hosts Viva La Vinyl at The Barley Street. Free peanuts! More info here

.

ADDENDUM: I don’t know how I missed this but See Through Dresses is playing at fabulous O’Leaver’s tonight with Atlanta’s Places to Hide and L. Eugene Methe. $5, 9:30 p.m.

Also, I’m told the new gourmet restaurant next to O’Leaver’s, called Modern Love, is now open. Get some veggie goodness.

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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.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Benson First Friday seems to be catching on — I saw lots of people strolling around Benson, packing the bars and enjoying the cultural village over in the Marcus Motors parking lot (and the food trucks parked behind it).

However, there’s one somewhat important thing missing from BFF (other than an outside music stage): Art.

BFF is supposed to be a showcase for local artists, but actually finding the art along Maple Street is like a scavenger hunt. In fact, I overheard one older lady (probably in her late 60s) comment to her group of elderly friends: “Where’s the art?” in classic Where’s the beef? fashion.

Shops displaying art as part of BFF need to set up sidewalk signs that point people inside, because no one is reading those impossible-to-read art maps that were available in some of the venues. Without those sidewalk signs, oldsters and folks from outside the Benson area are going to walk right past the shops hosting art displays.

* * *

Speaking of walking past venues, 1912, the new bar/restaurant located right across the street from The Waiting Room was not open Friday night (or their reported silent opening date July 31). I’m told the reason they were closed had to do with the city’s usual bungling of permits. Needless to say, the delay cost 1912 a chunk of money, as a steady parade of people walked up to its front door only to get turned away by a deadbolt. Will 1912 finally open its doors tonight?

* * *

There’s a couple hot shows happening this evening.

Down at The Slowdown it’s the return of Jenny Lewis. Lewis is out supporting her new album, The Voyager (Warners Bros, 2014), which Pitchfork gave a big fat 7.2. Opening is Nashville’s The Apache Relay. This one is SOLD OUT. Starts at 8 p.m.

Also tonight, The Lupines return to fabulous O’Leaver’s with Milwaukee’s Fatty Acids and Worried Mothers. $5, 9:30 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 © 2014 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

No big national shows going on this weekend that I’m aware of (except for maybe Toadies Saturday). In fact, not much going on show-wise at all.

Tonight is, of course, Benson First Friday, so expect the usual crowds in and around Benson wandering from bar to bar.  While you’re wandering, check out Brad’s Corner at 62nd and Maple. This month singer/songwriter John Klemmensen joins Brad Hoshaw and Matt Whipkey. Klem is coming from opening for Matthew Sweet last night in Lincoln.

Over at The Sydney Omaha’s favorite outlaws The Filter Kings open for The Willards with 24 Hour Cardlock tonight. Cost is probably $5 and it probably starts at around 9.

The Waiting Room has Ft. Worth alt-rock band Toadies tonight with Ume. $20, 8 p.m.

Weird show of the weekend is tomorrow night (Saturday) at The Down Under, 3802 Leavenworth. The place ain’t exactly known as a music venue, but whatever, right?  The line-up is Dumb Beach, Fire Retarded, Stomach and Kool 100s. I could have sworn Digital Leather was on this bill but they’re no longer listed. Anyway, free show, starts at 9.

Also tomorrow (Saturday) record store Almost Music, 6569 Maple (consider it west Benson) is hosting a gig with John Klemmensen and the Party, Curt Oren and Omaha legend Dereck Higgins. $5, 8 p.m. Get some vinyl while you’re there.

Over at fabulous O’Leaver’s Birmingham, AL, band Dead Fingers (featuring Taylor Hollingsworth of Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band) headlines. The always amazing McCarthy Trenching opens. $5, 9:30 p.m.

Finally, the second showcase for Omaha Girls Rock happens at The Waiting Room. It’s always a good time. 5:30 p.m. and free.

That’s what I got. If I missed anything, put it in the comments section. Have a great weekend.

* * *

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.

Matthew Sweet at fabulous O’Leaver’s, July 30, 2014.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

It was nothing less than a dream come true for Matthew Sweet fans. There he was, literally steps in front of them, surrounded by a top-notch band playing all of his “greatest hits” one after the other in fine voice. As Sweet said, it was like playing a gig in someone’s living room.

Earlier in the day someone apparently hauled more PA equipment to bolster O’Leaver’s modest system. Speaker stacks were balanced on either side of the the club’s staging area. I was told 100 tickets were sold for this show, but the crowd was probably two-thirds that size — I’ve seen it more crowded in there at Digital Leather shows. With the tables taken out, there was plenty of room up and around the band. Sweet seemed to like the proximity to his fans. “I’m used to looking down on you.” Not last night.

Tommy Keene at O’Leaver’s, July 30, 2014.

Before he kicked into his set, The Lupines warmed up the crowd with a fractured set of Nebraska-style garage rock that I’m sure startled some of the oldsters there to see Sweet. A badly shorting cable marred the set’s opening song, but after some fiddling around the crew got it fixed and the good times rolled.

Next up was surprise “special guest” Tommy Keene, an East Coast-based singer songwriter who Replacecments fans may remember for having played guitar with a touring Paul Westerberg in the late ’90s. I remember him from his handful of solo albums released on Matador earlier in that same decade. Keene was always a first-rate songwriter who despite a sizable push by Cosloy and Co. never took off as everyone had hoped.

With a 12-string and later an electric guitar, Keene played a selection of tunes from his career, closing out the set backed by the band that would back Sweet. And what a band it was. Consisting of two members of Velvet Crush, bassist Paul Chastain and drummer Ric Menck, they were joined by guitar-slinger Dennis Taylor who shared grinding leads with Sweet all evening.

Sweet was all business as he rolled through an hour-plus-long set that included just about every song any fan would want to hear, drawing heavily from his classic ’90s breakthrough album, Girlfriend. We’re talking “Winona,” “Evangeline,” the title track, and on and on, spanning through songs off Altered Beast and 100% Fun

and beyond.

It really was a greatest hits show for Sweet fans who will not be disappointed if they make the trek to Lincoln to see him perform again tonight. That show, at the shiny new Vega, will be a completely different and no doubt more detached experience than the reach-out-and-touch-him intimacy of last night’s O’Leaver’s show. I wonder if anyone happened to record it…?

* * *

In this week’s column, the quarterly album reviews round-up (featuring an exciting new rating system!) including thoughts on new ones by Strand of Oaks, Courtney Barnett, Alvvays, Mark Kozelek, Digital Leather, Gold-Bears, Mitch Gettman, The Both, Bob Mould, Orenda Fink and more. It’s in this week’s issue of The Reader

or online right here.

* * *

Tonight, it’s back to O’Leaver’s for Minneapolis indie band Brilliant Beast with up-and-coming Omaha band Post Verse. $5, 9:30 p.m.

Also tonight, Omaha’s favorite outlaws The Filter Kings open for Jason Boland and The Stragglers at The Waiting Room. 8 p.m. $15.

Tonight also is the public opening of 1912, the new bar and roof-top deck across the street from The Waiting Room. Drop by and grab a cold one and get a whole new view of Benson.

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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.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Who remembers The White Octave, a band fronted by Criteria’s Stephen Pedersen before he formed Criteria? Well, believe it or not, they’re back. From a press release received this morning:

The White Octave emerged in Chapel Hill and Durham, NC in 1998 from demos recorded by guitarist and songwriter Stephen Pedersen, formerly of Omaha, NE band Cursive. Material came together quickly for The White Octave, as the trio’s chemistry became evident to all who saw the band perform. Bob Weston was enlisted to record the group in the fall of 1999 at Mitch Easter’s brand new Fidelitorium in Kernersville, NC. The gentlemen read Chunklet and dined on Prissy Polly’s BBQ, and the record that resulted was quite good. It was issued by the Deep Elm label in the year 2000.

The product, the band’s debut Style No. 6312, is now being rereleased on vinyl by Broken Circles. “In addition, the track sequencing has been restored with ‘Looking Past Sky’ being added, letting the album be heard as the band originally intended for the first time. Also, the LP will feature reinterpreted artwork by band member Lincoln Hancock.”

Vinyl and digital out September 16, 2014, on Broken Circles. If that wasn’t enough, The White Octave also will be reuniting to play Hopscotch Fest in Raleigh, NC, on September 6.

* * *

A little travel tip: There’s nothing going on in Austin on a Monday night in July. Nothing. Figured maybe there would be some gig at one of the 6th St. haunts that are on fire during South By Southwest, but it was a ghost town. Beerland was doing karaoke. Mohawk was closed “for cleaning.” A glance at the austin360 website showed zero activity Monday night. But what did I expect?

Anyway…

Contrast that with what’s going on in Omaha tonight.

On my list is Matthew Sweet at O’Leaver’s. This show has been sold out for months. Opening is The Lupines. I’m seeing two listings for start times — 9 and 9:30. Be on the safe side and get there at 9. I’ve been told that this gig was purposely undersold to make for a comfortable show-going experience (Is there any other kind at O’Leaver’s?). See you there.

Stir Cove’s website doesn’t list any openers for tonight’s Arctic Monkeys show, which starts at 7:30. Odd, but maybe typical. I’ve never been to a Stir Cove show. I’ve also never been an Arctic Monkeys fan. But I know there are a lot of them around here. Weather should be perfect.

It also should be perfect for the inaugural showcase of the Hear Nebraska Live at Turner Park series. A joint effort by HN and mid-century lifestyle boutique Hutch, the summer concert series “proudly presents authentic, original Nebraska music at Midtown Crossing’s Turner Park, Wednesdays, July 30-Aug. 20, 2014.” Tonight’s concert features Skypiper and Life is Cool.  The free concert  runs from 6 to 8 p.m.

Also happening tonight is a special benefit concert for tornado-ravaged Pilger, Nebraska, at The Waiting Room. Performing are Matt Whipkey + Band, Monday Mourners, Clarence Tilton and The Sons of The Waiting Room. $8, 8 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 © 2014 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

A moment from the Benson Days parade Saturday morning…

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Sleepy week of music, at least until Wednesday when everything explodes. But until then, not much happening.

My only music outing this past weekend was at Benson Days, which has grown to impressive proportions. The street was loaded with vendors and food options Saturday. It could still get bigger, but how much bigger? Do you really want it to be like, say, Ralston Days with its carnival, rides and an audience that looks like a Juggalo convention? No.

Benson Days featured a stage on 61st St. Unlike last year, the roster was mainly acoustic singer/songwriters, at least early in the afternoon. Things got spicier later on, but I was gone by then.

And… that’s all I got. I’m posting this early because I’m headed to Austin on biz this morning and won’t be back until Wednesday (which means no update tomorrow, unless I snap some pictures of 6th St. (look for them on my Instagram – instagram.com/timmymac29)). And that’s okay because there really is nothing going on over the next day or so except pub quizzes.

But then on Wednesday… hoboy…

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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.