In the news department, Lincoln and sometimes Omaha electronic-fueled singer, songwriter and beat maker Darren Keen says he’s moving to Chicago. You likely know Darren from his current project, PROBLEMS, as well as his former project, The Show Is the Rainbow.
In Darren’s own words: “It’s just time. Gotta go back to a bigger city.” Keen spent years in NYC before moving back to Nebraska. His music continues to grow and he’s been touring his one-man project constantly the last few years. Chicago is a smart move and something tells me will provide a happy ending to an already pretty happy story.
To send him off in style, PROBLEMS has two nights of going away gigs this weekend. Friday night, PROBLEMS is at Duffy’s Lounge in Lincoln with Pagan Athletes and Benjamin Gear X. $10, 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday night (July 16), PROBLEMS plays The Sydney in Benson with Turquoise, Cultplay and Oceanz. 5 to 9 p.m., $10 donation.
Come say goodbye to a dude who has been a staple of Nebraska music for the past 20 years! Don’t forget us, Darren…
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What’s happening tonight?
Down at The Slowdown in the Main Room, Oregon band Flor headlines. The four-piece (now a trio) is a self-proclaimed indie band and Fueled by Ramen is, indeed, an indie label (The Front Bottoms, Panic at the Disco) or should I say “was” as they were bought by Elektra Records in 2018. Flor is more of a pop band masquerading as an indie. That said, the acts opening for Flor tonight — Bad Self Portraits and BB Sledge — are as indie as they come. $25, 8 p.m.
Also tonight, Safe Space plays at The Sydney in Benson. This is the indie-style project by the pop singer/songwriter who performs locally by the name “Ione.” In this iteration, she sings singer/songwriter fare alongside a talented guitarist – quite a contrast to the Sheryl Crow-style pop stuff she’s becoming known for (thanks to Bon Jovi). Also on the bill are The Oddities and Chase the Horseman, two acts I’m not familiar with. Three performances on a Thursday night starting at 8 p.m.? Only at The Sydney. $10.
Welp, tonight is first in what is likely to be a series of out-of-town travel concerts — i.e., the new normal if you’re a fan of modern indie music and live in Omaha.
I bought the tickets to tonight’s Blondshell concert in early March after I discovered her music via an article that listed the most anticipated acts at this year’s South by Southwest festival in Austin. Blondshell topped Brooklyn Vegan’s list. After listening to the singles she’d released, I checked out her tour schedule and saw that her closest pass to Omaha would be tonight’s show at 7th St. Entry.
A somewhat unknown entity at the time, tickets were easy and cheap ($15), and I figured if anything came up that prevented me from making the drive, I could just ditch them. Four months later and Blondshell, a.k.a. Sabrina Teitelbaum, has released her debut album on Partisan Records, had a successful week at SXSW, and made her network television debut on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. And, of course, tonight’s concert is now sold out.
Since she announced this tour, she’s also announced that she’ll be the chief support for Liz Phair’s upcoming national tour, which also is skipping over Omaha. It’s a potent combination, as Blondshell’s confessional rock was heavily influenced by Phair as well as Hole, PJ Harvey and Patti Smith, among others.
Is she an LA product act? Probably. When that Brooklyn Vegan mention first happened there wasn’t much about her on the inter webs. Now her Wiki entry is voluminous. Turns out her first shot at music was a pop act called BAUM, which released songs used for Target ads. She’s no poor indie upstart. She (reportedly) attended The Dalton School. No doubt she comes from $$$. Now, apparently, she’s trying the indie thing. I don’t care; her debut album is among my favorites so far this year.
Anyway, I’ll be writing a full report on the trip and live review, probably tomorrow sometime, so look for it…
Scriptown in the Blackstone District again hosted bands this past Saturday as part of the district’s Second Saturday event wherein performers performed in venues along Farnam Street.
Her Flyaway Manner was already set up and playing to a good-sized crowd at Scriptown when I arrived after 3 p.m. Like last time, the trio was set up in the back corner of the bar near the door that leads to the their back patio, where a small team of personnel was busy stuffing hotdogs and sausages into buns, the smoke from the barbecue wafting through and into the venue – it looked and felt like a Fourth of July picnic, except for the music, of course.
HFM, out of Lincoln, has been around for well over 20 years, powered by frontman/guitarist Brendan McGinn, drummer Boz Hicks and bassist Adam2000. In all that time, their sound hasn’t budged much from its initial brittle, post-punk recipe, and that’s a good thing. The crowd formed a circle around the band as the barkeeps tried to keep everyone’s glasses filled.
Leafblower at Scriptown, July 8, 2023.
They were followed by Omaha band Leafblower, each member of the four-piece adorned with their trademark rubber, old-man-in-a-gray-ponytail mask, which they only wore for the first song (and last). Fronted by guitarist/vocalist Danny Maxwell and bassist/vocalist Craig Fort, with Jahn Clark on second guitar and Tab Tworek on drums, this really was the first time I soaked in what they were after sonically. I’ve seen this band at least a half-dozen times but never paid much attention to what they were doing because I was always derailed by whatever gimmick they were using for their stage show (giant leafblower smoke machines, old-dude mannequins, etc.). Not so Saturday afternoon, as they tore into a set of good old-fashioned heavy metal.
I’m not now, nor have I ever been, a metal fan; on the other hand, I dig Heavy Metal. The difference: HM is slower, has better hooks, better grooves, is just funkier than metal’s “need for speed,” which usually translates (for me, anyway) into insect-noise fronted by the Cookie Monster. Heavy metal music has more nuanced vocals (or at least better yelling) and is just more fun. And this was, indeed, fun.
Like all good heavy metal, the proof is in the riffs, which power everything, and that was certainly the case here. The vocals, unfortunately, were next to non-existant from my vantage point behind the speakers (since there was nowhere else to stand), and the fact that Fort’s mic seemed to only be working half the time. And, goddamn, was it loud. I was happy I had earplugs.
Good times. Scriptown needs to host bands more often. They could corner the market on live indie rock if they wanted to, as no other business in Blackstone seems so inclined to host these kinds of shows.
No touring indie artists this weekend. Let the draught continue.
If you’re in Benson tonight, take in the art at Benson First Friday #BFF. You know the drill, art in venues up and down Maple Street (including at the Ming Toy Gallery, 6606 Maple St., which is open until 8 p.m.). Full list of events and map of the stars is here. Musicwise, The Sydney is hosting Benson Soul Society tonight starting at 10 and it’s free…
Not to be outdone, the Blackstone District is hosting its Second Saturday event this Saturday with music all day in venues throughout the district. You can see the full line-up here, but the highlight is Scriptown’s Summer Smash with Omaha punk band Leafblower and Lincoln’s Her Flyaway Manner. Music starts at 3 p.m. and is free. I went to this Scriptown show in the past and it was a blast (though it looks like they’re foregoing the goats this time).
Saturday night, Brooklyn-by-way-of-Limerick, Ireland, band Cinemartyr is playing at The Sydney in Benson. Among their (stated) influences are The Mars Volta, Nine Inch Nails, Fugazi and Swans. Could get weird. $10, 9 p.m.
And that’s all I got. If I missed your show, put it in the comments section. Have a great weekend…
The Maha Music Festival will look a lot different this year — its last year at Stinson Park in Aksarben Village. Food vendors will not be allowed within the festival compound. That means you’ll be on your own to get grub from the local restaurants located outside the festival grounds.
“There will be four new exit-only gates along 67th Street, opening right at the doorstep of several eateries — some even offering special Maha menus,” Maha said in a press release. “You can reenter the festival at any time; just keep your ticket handy to scan out and in.”
And don’t bring your food with you. Maha has set up picnic tables outside the main entrance so you can scarf down your dinner before going back inside.
Is this a bad thing or a good thing? Well, I’ve never partaken from Maha’s food vendors in the past (other than the beer vendors, that is, and they’ll still be on festival grounds), so I guess I don’t know what I’m missing. This could introduce a whole new crowd to Inner Rail Food Hall, which is somewhat hidden if you don’t know what you’re looking for. So in the end, it may be a good thing, that is if these restaurants staff up to handle the (potentially) larger patronage…
And in case you missed it, Maha is moving down to the Riverfront for 2024. I suspect the food trucks will be back for that one…
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Tonight at The Sydney in Benson it’s Brooklyn “premier speed rock band” Pons. According to their bio: “Known for their dynamic swing and thunderous pulse, word of the band has quickly spread due to their unconventional and controversial approach to live performance, known as ‘body connection.’”
I see an affront on your personal space in your future… if you go. Also on the bill are Omaha’s premier speed rock band, Cat Piss. Western Haikus open the show at 9 p.m. $12.
I’m unsure where Fleet Foxes fits on the spectrum of today’s popular music. They are indie for sure, releasing records on Seattle super-indie label, Sub Pop Records, and their music is anything but radio friendly, or is it?
Standing in the shoulder-to-shoulder crowd at Steelhouse Omaha Sunday night as the band rolled into their fourth song, the mid-tempo pumper “Can I Believe You,” I was reminded if only for a moment of ’70s feel-good FM-favorite Chicago, thanks to the ensemble’s mini-brass section.
A trumpet, trombone and sax player, all of whom did double duty providing harmony vocals or playing assorted other instruments, was part of an 8-person ensemble that was far from crowded on Steelhouse’s enormous stage. The sax player was particularly versatile, swapping out tenor sax with stand-up bass, flute and tambourine.
At other moments, I was reminded of CSNY, Cat Stevens and, yeah, Air Supply. Hey, I love two out of three of those bands. The evening’s high point was a pretty rendition of one of Fleet Foxes’ most familiar songs, “White Winter Hymnal” from their 2008 self-titled debut, sounding like an indie barber shop quartet building layer upon layer of glimmering harmonies.
The performance was a rote set of mostly older music. Fleet Foxes have done just about everything they can with this style of Americana-inflected indie folk and could keep riding the wave to larger and larger audiences I suppose, though I have to believe it’s going to get boring for them after awhile. They’ve already rereleased their debut in a sort of omnibus collection with an early EP and B-sides, and frontman Robin Pecknold released yet another version of these old songs on A Very Lonely Solstice. Where they’re headed next is anyone’s guess…
A few side notes…
– I’m forever astounded by the need of some concertgoers to carry on full-blown yell-conversations during concerts like this one. Fleet Foxes’ music is somewhat delicate, and having three women yell to each other about their day while standing right up by the stage is the height of self-centeredness. And is just plain weird. Look around, folks. People are trying to enjoy a concert that cost them $$$. Take your convo to the prison-yard patio.
– Speaking of which, after fielding complaints from patrons, Steelhouse security is now segregating smokers out in the prison yard patio. Smokeheads were pushed all the way to the far fence by an imposing dude with a walkie talkie. He told me Steelhouse is looking for ways to better utilize the enormous outdoor space. Maybe more tables and chairs; maybe use it for wedding receptions (!).
– One beer and one vodka lemonade. Cost w/tax and tip: $41.48. These are Broadway bar prices, folks, which I guess Steelhouse can get away with in their early days, but if they want to continue to attract large crowds, they’re going to have to offer more reasonably priced drink options or drop their prices (highly unlikely).
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Melissa Etheridge tears it up at Memorial Park June 30, 2023.
Speaking of cheap nights of music, I strolled up to Memorial Park Friday night to catch the last half hour of Melissa Etheridge and was pleasantly surprised at how good it sounded – like a real rock concert. Nice job, audio people (whoever you are); it must be a real challenge to make a large field situated next to a highway sound like a concert hall.
Etheridge was in good voice, no surprise there, as she ended the evening with her “hits” from 30 years ago, though instead of closing out on a grand high note, she drew out a song with a drum solo(?) followed by an extended end-play that just sort of petered out. Kind of weird, especially with a crowd salivating for their fireworks to begin…
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Tonight at The Blind Spot, Bar None recording artist, San Francisco’s Pardoner, who All Music (accurately) describes as “Noisy slacker pop quartet that marries angular heaviness with indie rock catchiness.” On their just released album, Peace Loving People (Bar None), they remind me a lot of early Parquet Courts mashed with early low-fi Pavement.
The Blind Spot is a new all-ages venue in / near downtown Omaha around where The Cog Factory used to be. The organizer asks that you DM Morgan Goldsberry for the address, though the address is clearly stated on the Nebraska DIY Facebook post (click through the post’s images to event “Vintage Clothes and More!!!,” where you’ll find the address).
Hey folks, I realize DIY is all about keeping things on the down-low to control your audience, but you’re a venue now. Just print the freakin’ address on your flyers.
Based on past and future bookings, The Blind Spot will be the home for hardcore and metal shows. Such is life. The fact that they’ve let this indie show sneak in is a positive sign. We need another place for young touring indie bands to perform besides Reverb, which these days is only booking breadcrumbs. Tonight’s show is a four-band bill with Fire Sign, Glow and Western Hairus, and kicks off at 8 p.m. $10.
If you’re looking for me tonight, I’ll be on my porch eyeing the crowds as they pass by my home on the way to Memorial Park, a beer by my side, a shotgun across my lap…
I’ve been watching the weather the past few days, wondering if the city would cancel the event. The stage is all set up, and it seems unlikely unless there’s lightning in the vicinity. So, enjoy Melissa Etheridge in the park. Just stay off my lawn.
Kidding. But not really. But yeah. I saw Etheridge in concert way back in the early ‘90s as part of a double-headline bill with Matthew Sweet, again, playing in a park, this time in Philadelphia. No doubt fans are in for a good show. Etheridge goes on at 8:30 following Herman’s Hermits w/Peter Noone. Fireworks at 10 p.m.
The rest of the calendar is looking pretty light. There’s nothing happening tonight or tomorrow night, unless you like wrestling or Taylor Swift. Slowdown has no shows at all this weekend.
Sunday night is Fleet Foxes at Steelhouse Omaha. Their last release was 2021’s A Very Lonely Solstice, stripped down versions of older songs. 2020’s Shore I believe was the last original studio album and included the single “Can I Believe You.” The show kicks off at 8 p.m. with a set by Uwade (full name Uwade Akhere), who you might remember from her contributions to FF’s Shore album. She’s got a number of singles out but is yet to release an LP. Main floor tickets are still available for $35. Will there be giveaways leading up to Sunday? Watch your socials…
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Also Sunday night is a sneaky good show at Reverb Lounge featuring a handful of bands I’m just discovering thanks to this show.
Glare is a Texas-based self-proclaimed shoegaze act whose most current releases are on Sunday Drive Records. Their newer stuff is warm, shimmering and gauzy, while their older stuff leans toward post-Grunge ‘90s alt rock. Here’s hoping for a set of the new stuff. Co-headliner, Portland’s Alien Boy (yes, a Wipers reference), is guitarist / songwriter Sonia Weber and drummer Derek McNeil, with a rotating cast of Portland support players. Their music is released on Tiny Engines, and is very indie, very poppy, very hooky, very fun. The Dirts and Glassblower also are on this 4-band bill. $18, 8 p.m.
And down the street at The Sydney in Benson Sunday night, Denton four-piece Pearl Earl headlines. Captain Howdy opens at 9 p.m. $12.
And that’s all I got. If I missed your show, put it in the comments section. Have a great weekend.
Making a go of it as an indie band has never been easy. Even in the heyday in the early 2000s, young bands who wanted to break through to the next level had to commit to spending a lot of time on the road, playing to small crowds in venues that ranged from your typical local music club to someone’s basement.
Three weeks ago, Saddle Creek Records’ latest roster addition, Feeble Little Horse, celebrated the release of their Creek debut, Girl with Fish. Pitchfork gave the album its illustrious “Best New Music” designation and a startling 8.2 rating, calling it a “richly textured album full of fuzzy melodic hooks and beguiling left turns.” Sirius XMU began to play the first single, “Steamroller” on high heat rotation.
Everything was setting up well for their just-announced month-long tour and the inevitable world conquest, and then late last week the band posted on Instagram that they had cancelled all the dates.
“we were so excited and this tour meant the world to us. we have been blown away by all the recent support we have received but for now we have to take a step back and reassess our little world for our continued health. we are really sorry if this has a negative impact on anyone’s best summer ever plans it definitely is lame for us as well. right now, we are letting the horse get a good night’s sleep.”
Among the thank you’s was one for Saddle Creek Records: “thank you @saddlecreek for carrying us to heights we never imagined.” There have been no further FLH posts, and who knows what happened, but in this new age when people are now recognizing their health needs (mental or otherwise) and taking the necessary actions, the band seems to have wisely pulled their hand away from the fire when the flame is at its highest. Hopefully they’ll be back on the road soon and will remember Omaha as a tour stop.
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Philly band Speedy Ortiz dropped a new single and video yesterday from their upcoming album, Rabbit Rabbit, out Sept. 1 on Wax Nine Records. They also announced a tour that will bring them to The Slowdown Nov. 17 (OMG, summer will be in our rear view mirrors by then). Check it:
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Omaha’s Ebba Rose a.k.a. Erin Mitchell and 2023 Maha Festival performer, celebrates the release of her new album tonight at Reverb Lounge. The four-band bill includes Cowgirl Eastern, BB Sledge and Trees with Eyes. $15, 8 p.m.
Gazing out the window of my 15-story perch I see the tents remain but the College World Series is over, which means The Slowdown is back in business. The only thing left for Jason Kulbel and his crew to do is sweep up the discarded ten dollar bills that fell out of the pockets of all the loaded LSU fans and continue counting their windfall from this annual sports bonanza.
Tonight The Slowdown’s big-room stage welcomes Athens alt-country indie band Futurebirds. They’ve had LPs released on Fat Possum and Autumn Tone (Aquarium Drunkard imprint). Their latest releases have been a couple of EPs recorded with Carl Broemel of My Morning Jacket. Opening the show is Omaha band Cable Network. 8 p.m., $25.
A number of tours were announced yesterday and this morning, one of which is coming through Omaha which you already knew about.
The Good Life is doing a full-blown tour to celebrate the 16th birthday of their seminal release, Album of the Year (2004, Saddle Creek). Wait, shouldn’t that be the 19th birthday? Well they actually kicked it off the tour in 2020 but then COVID happened. This new try starts today July 28 at Wicker Park Fest in Chi-town and winds through the West Coast before the band plays Outlandia at Falconwood Park Aug. 11 (which I thing will actually be a greatest hits set). I always liked this album, but not as much as the follow-up, 2007’s Help Wanted Nights. Where’s that tour?
A few other notable tours that are, unfortuantely, bypassing Omaha.
I’ve been enjoying Cut Worms forthcoming self-titled album due to drop July 21 on Jagjaguwar. The project is centered around singer/songwriter Max Clarke, and the album was recorded by the D’Addario brothers of Lemon Twigs fame. Cut Worms announced a tour today, and the closest passes to Omaha are:
Sat. Sept. 30 – Denver, CO @ Globe Hall
Mon. Oct. 2 – Kansas City, MO @ recordBar
Tue. Oct. 3 – Saint Paul, MN @ Turf Club
Wed. Oct. 4 – Chicago, IL @ Old Town School of Folk Music
Back when he was working at Homer’s downtown, Eric Ziegler cold-recommended an album by The Budos Band, an instrumental-only outfit that recorded on Daptone Records. I’d never heard of them before, took the album home, and dug it. Yesterday The Budos Band announced a new EP, Frontier’s Edge, coming out July 28 on Diamond West Records, as well as a tour. The closest pass to Omaha:
July 2 – Chicago, IL – Salt Shed
July 3 – St. Paul, The Palace Theater
Yikes, that’s next week!
Will Butler, formerly of The Arcade Fire, has a new project called Will Butler + Sister Squares, whose debut album comes out Sept. 22 on Merge Records. They announced a national tour yesterday, but the closest gig is Oct. 21 at Chicago’s Salt Shed (which appears to be a popular venue). I caught Will Butler at SXSW way back in 2015, and the performance in no way resembled Arcade Fire…
Nashville indie band The Criticals just got signed to Fantasy Records, who is releasing their EP, Front Door Confrontations, July 21. I dig their new single, that also dropped today (see below). They also announced a national tour today, whose closest pass to Omaha is:
Sept 5 – Uptown Theatre Encore Room – Kansas City, MO
Sept 7 – Vultures – Colorado Springs, CO
Sept 8 – Lost Lake – Denver, CO
Look, I receive literally dozens of tour announcements every day. I always check to see if the bands are headed here, and if their music is either important and/or good. If they’re not coming here, I’ll tell you the closest pass to Omaha. This is just to keep you aware that indie is very much alive in well in these United States of America no matter what anyone tells you!!!
Have you been noticing a lot of posts on your social newsfeeds recently from Omaha Buzz? Here’s why…
Music impresario and Homer’s record-slinger MarQ Manner had only recently taken over The Reader’s Backbeat column and returned to writing music features for Omaha’s favorite monthly when it was announced that, after the September issue, The Reader will be no more.
Looking for a new outlet for his writing, MarQ is now posting daily at Omaha Buzz — OmahaBuzz.com. There you’ll find his music reporting, reviews (live and recordings), interviews and other cool stuff.
“I also get personally frustrated at a lack of a simple place to look to see a majority of the choices happening around town on any given day,” MarQ said about why he launched Omaha Buzz, “so I am trying to put together just a list of shows every week.”
Omaha Buzz has accounts on Facebook, and now TikTok and Instagram, thanks to MarQ. “Using Buzz in the name is super cliche, but it’s a throwback (along with the logo) to my first foray into writing on SLAM Omaha,” MarQ said.
Though the site boasts Tumblr banner, Omaha Buzz actually is a WordPress joint. And it’s also a sponsored gig, sort of. The site is brought to you by Solstice and the Veil, whose slogan is “Shop local for all your Magical and Metaphysical Needs…” MarQ said his friend who owns the story covered the site’s initial costs. “(it’s) not really ongoing sponsored… I would like yo make a small amount of money to offset the time involved”
So for all of you who have heartburn because Lazy-i only covers indie music and not other genres, here’s a new go-to website for a broader look at pop music. It joins a list of other local music blogs that includes Kevin Coffey’s Pops and Hisses, and Ed Perini’s Facebook-hosted That Omaha Music Guy blog.
You know what Omaha really needs is a printed arts and entertainment weekly that brings together all these writers (he said contemplatively)…
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