I may be the only person in Omaha who hasn’t heard Little Black Stereo perform live. The band is opening a free show tonight at Slowdown Jr. with All Young Girls Are Machine Guns and headliner Danielle Ate the Sandwich (from Ft. Collins). 9 p.m. Tonight. Free.
–Got comments? Post ’em here.—
Which of these are “must haves”? Ted Leo/Pharmacists, Shearwater, Beach House and Japanther. I like the Yeasayer CD a bit more than Vampire Weekend disc, but really, they’re basically the same idea. Thanks to Webboard member JOC for the idea for the column lead; you can read the whole Midgett essay here.
Column 259: Quarterly Report
A glance at 1Q’10 releases.Tim Midgett of seminal ’90s Chicago rock band Silkworm (now, unfortunately, no longer a band) said in a frighteningly insightful essay about music criticism that critics should listen to every album five times before putting their thoughts to electronic paper. And while I generally agree with Midgett, you don’t need to take five bites out of a turd to realize that you’re eating a piece of shit. On the other hand, a really good album could take five times that long to really understand, and then you still may not “get it.” With that in mind, the following aren’t CD reviews as much as casual impressions after listening to these albums in shuffle mode for the past few weeks. The bottom line: Very few will leave a bad taste in your mouth.
Ted Leo and The Pharmacists, The Brutalist Bricks (Matador, out March 9) — Remember the first time you heard My Aim Is True? You thought you finally found a new rock album that was cool (It was 1977, after all. Wait a minute, that was 10 years before you were born?). And then Elvis Costello began to pander to his inner poet and become all wordy and that was the end it. Well, Ted Leo picked up the ball sometime around 2001 and started running and never looked back. Yes, this is hyperbole, and no, TL sounds nothing like EC. BTW, “Bottled in Cork,” and “One Polaroid a Day” already are the best songs of the year. Start counting the days until March 9.
Yeasayer, Odd Blood (Secretly Canadian) — With its weird noises, stuttering rhythms and gaggle of production tricks, this is the Avatar of indie rock, thanks to Chris Keatings’ wholesome croon that drains away any and all of the recording’s subversive-ness. Playful as Vampire Weekend and more interesting (most of the time), and just as mindless (and in this economy, who wants to think anymore?).
Spoon, Transference (Merge) — The guy in the corner of the pool furiously treading water is frontman Britt Daniel, who after six albums in 14 years is just trying to keep his poorly combed hair from getting wet. Do you really need this if you already have one of his last four albums? Probably not, but in an era when indie rock keeps getting younger and cuter, it’s nice to hear something that the teenagers rocking out to MGMT (or vegging out to Animal Collective) won’t understand for a few more years.
Shearwater, The Golden Archipelago (Matador) — Sure, it’s dreamy and atmospheric (as per usual) and head mewer Jonathon Meiburg still sings like he’s trying to coax a camel to sleep, but there’s more drama here than on any of their past albums. And when they get all heroic up in your face, like on standout “Castaways,” you’ll fondly recall John Denver singing “Aye Calypso!”
Sade, Soldier of Love (Epic) — The undisputed queen of loungecore is back after an unexplained 10-year absence (Somehow, we persevered). Same midnight beats, same sultry voice, same pleasant yet forgettable melodies. Get the album before you hear these songs while pushing a shopping cart or staring at ceiling tiles at your dentist office.
F_cked Up, Couple Tracks (Matador) — This singles comp contains selections recorded from 2002 to 2008 that border on goon rock but with indie cred thanks to its Matador pedigree. Included here only so the garage band guys and the folks down at The Hole don’t think I’m a total pussy.
Los Campesinos!, Romance Is Boring (Arts & Crafts) — You can almost see their angry, Walesian snarls through the (oh-so-carefully applied) dirt on their faces. You appreciate the new, slick production, but you can’t help but want it raw and ugly in a way they could never pull off (at least not now). “Nicer” than their last one, and that’s not a compliment.
Beach House, Teen Dream (Sub Pop) — A friend of mine compared them to Al Stewart (Come on, you remember “Year of the Cat”). But for all I know, she was joking (or as drunk as everyone else at O’Leaver’s that night). This is real underwater dream machine music (sorry Mr. Vovk) that’s as appealing as rolling up in your favorite snuggie with your dog (or significant other) asleep on your lap, too afraid to move for fear you’ll wake them up. And now you have to go to the bathroom.
Four Tet, There Is Love In You (Domino) — Like all “electronica,” (or for that matter, like all instrumental-only albums) it can become somewhat tedious after the novelty of the first 30 seconds of each song wears off. OK, I get it. Next. Unless, of course, you’re dancing with 100 people at 3 a.m. in someone’s funkily-lit downtown loft. And you’re drunk. Like that’s going to happen at my age…
Basia Bulat, Heart Of My Own (Rough Trade) — Imagine Tracy Chapman hugging an autoharp while fronting a fiddle-driven hayrack ride of a band emoting shades of The Green Isle by way of Toronto and you’re halfway there. With the Dixie Chicks on hiatus, Bulat is the next in line.
Japanther, Rock ‘N Roll Ice Cream (Menlo Park) — Chock full o’ the cool songs that your pals will include on their next mix CDs (Do people still make mix CDs?). Sure, some of the songs sound like an amateur improv sketch, but that’s half the fun.
Vampire Weekend, Contra (XL) — The most hyped album of 2010 and it’s only February, which makes you want to hate it even more. Despite that inner contempt, you can’t help but smile when you hear their Graceland-ripped melodies, the blue-light keyboard bounce, the hyper-kinetic beat and the silly-love-song lyrics. Utter cuteness wins again
–Got comments? Post ’em here.—
I missed Ladyfinger at O’Leaver’s Friday night. I’m told they slayed. If you don’t already know, Dan Brennan is the band’s new member, which means you’re going to have to wait a few months to see him play in this capacity again as he’ll be out on the road with Cursive through the first week of April.
I didn’t miss the trifecta of bands at O’Leaver’s Saturday night, however. The out-of-towners, Weatherbox opened the night with former Omahan Landon Hedges swinging a big ol’ bass from his childlike shoulders, looking like he was having the time of his life, while a couple of his Little Brazil bandmates looked on with pride. Live, the Criteria/Cursive comparisons are justified, even moreso as the band didn’t play any of the slower, mellow stuff off the last full-length. Instead it was a lesson in angular-indie — a compound modifier that still doesn’t mean anything, but somehow fits this category of music. Hedges remains a formidable bassist, lest we forget that he slung one way back in his Desaparecidos days; he didn’t seem to mind letting someone else handle the frontman chores.
On paper, Brad Hoshaw and the Seven Deadlies were a strange fit, sandwiched between two hi-energy post-punk bands. And maybe they were, but their style provided a nice respite in the middle of all the angst. Hoshaw rolled out at least one brand new song and a couple that I didn’t recognize, providing proof that there’s more on the way as good — or better — than what we got on his debut. I even got a shout-out before their last song — set staple “Powdernose,” which is a lesson in rock dynamics, as loud as a gang fight one moment, drunk and alone the next. Hoshaw and his clan certainly broke a few hearts on that Valentine’s Eve.
Finally, there was The Photo Atlas, who just played at O’Leaver’s last April, when I described them as “twitch-dance-rock that reminded me of The Rapture, sort of… shiny post-punk with an ever-present dance beat beneath everything all the time,” and “the kind of band that a label could turn into something huge, at least with 15-year-old girls.” The description still stands, but Saturday night they had all the boys in the house climbing all over each other in some sort of man-love rock ritual, trying to get to frontman Alan Andrews and too often succeeding. Their style is as direct and in-your-face as At The Drive-in during that band’s heyday — the only thing missing are the Afros. Andrews and Co. do just fine with their current hairdos, and make up for any deficit with shear exuberance (and sweat). Their Myspace page says that they’re still unsigned, which seems hard to believe, especially when they have a journalist following them around writing a book about their tour (or so I’m told).
Don’t believe me? You can check out all three bands tonight at The Sydney for free. That’s right, all three bands are playing a free repeat show before Landon and his crew head out for the next leg of the Weatherbox tour, which runs through the end of March. For those of us who were there Saturday, it’s worth going just to see if The Sydney can pull off the same vibe that O’Leaver’s had — there’s just something about the tiny bar on Saddle Creek Rd. that brings out the best in bands despite its lack of stage, no lights and an amateur-quality PA. In a town with two world-class music venues that have invested thousands (and in Slowdown’s case, millions) to maintain the highest standard of live performance excellence, O’Leaver’s remains my favorite place to see a live band.
–Got comments? Post ’em here.—
It would appear on the surface that O’Leaver’s has the weekend cornered with two marquee shows tonight and tomorrow. Tonight at everyone’s favorite drunk tank, Ladyfinger plays a set for the first time in a long time. They’ll be joined by Lightning Bug. Then tomorrow night O’Leaver’s conducts an experiment in overkill by booking three bands that each could fill the club on their own — Brad Hoshaw and the Seven Deadlies, The Photo Atlas and Weatherbox, who you read about yesterday (with new member Landon Hedges of Little Brazil). Both shows are $5 and start at 9:30 and will be uncomfortably packed, so get there early.
But O’Leaver’s ain’t the only thing going on this weekend. Lincoln Exposed is happening tonight and tomorrow. You can check out their schedule in Facebook here. $6 per night for all three venues.
Tomorrow night The Brothers Lounge is hosting a special show called “Better Than Television,” featuring Vampire Hands and Nathan Nelson of The STNNNG performing Television’s Marquee Moon in its entirety. Before that, The Leisure Birds will be covering some classic Monks songs. The evening will be kicked off by a set from Well Aimed Arrows (ex-Protoculture). $5, 9 p.m.
Sunday is Valentine’s Day, but it’s also the day before a holiday, which means I don’t have to go to work Monday. So there’s a good chance that I’ll be swinging by The Waiting Room for a show featuring Bear Country, Sara from Honey and Darling and headliner One for the Team. $8, 9 p.m.
Also Sunday night, Lincoln punk band Once A Pawn plays their CD release party at Duffy’s with UUVVWWZ and Gooses. Reader scribe Andy Norman, now of Michigan State University, wrote about Once a Pawn in this week’s issue of The Reader (online here) and name-checked me in the article where I described OAP’s Catherine Balta as sounding like “a very young, angry Rebecca Gates of pioneering mid-’90s guitar-and-drum duo The Spinanes.” Kind of a useless description since no one knows who The Spinanes are. Judging by his tone, I don’t think Andy agrees with me, but I stand by the description (as meaningless as it is). Once A Pawn’s new disc, Mission Accomplished, is one of my favorites so far this year and is worth checking out. Someone needs to get this duo to come to Omaha. Anyway, that Duffy’s show is $5, and starts at 9…
–Got comments? Post ’em here.—
Just posted, an interview with Weatherbox frontman Brian Warren (read it here). Warren talks about why he prefers being in a band vs. writing and performing music by himself in the studio. He also talks about luring Little Brazil frontman Landon Hedges away to the Left Coast to join his band. Check it out. I’d tell you to buy tickets to Saturday night’s Weatherbox show, but it’s at O’Leaver’s and there ain’t no tickets for sale — you’ll have to pay your $5 at the door. This one will be crowded, as both The Photo Atlas and Brad Hoshaw and the Seven Deadlies also are playing. Get there early.
* * *
Speaking of shows, tonight The Korey Anderson Band opens a show at The Waiting Room for Caleb Hawley and Reed Waddle. Anderson had one of the best songs on this year’s Christmas at Pine Ridge compilation. In fact, his voice is so high and purty on the track (which opens the collection) that I thought it was woman singing (and a hot one at that). Turns out it was just Anderson, who may or may not be hot (I’ve never actually met him). Anderson’s band is an all-star line-up featuring Craig Balderston (bass), Wayne Brekke (percussion), Andrew Penke (guitar & keys) and Michael Campbell (guitar). 9 p.m. $7.
Also tonight, the Lincoln Exposed Festival is in full swing. Here’s tonight’s schedule with Z=Zoo D=Duffy’s B=The Bourbon Theater
06:00 (Z) Triggertown [bluegrass/roots]
06:30 (D) Son Del Llano [salsa/latin]
07:30 (Z) Dr. John Walker [pop/rock]
08:00 (D) Ron Wax [rock/garage]
08:45 (Z) Ember Schrag . South Of Lincoln . Kill County [singer/songwriter]
09:00 (B) Josh Hill Band [rock/blues]
09:30 (D) Her Flyaway Manner [progressive/rock]
10:15 (Z) Bottlerocket [ska]
10:20 (B) Hundreds Miles [folk/rock]
11:00 (D) The Vingins [psychedelic/rock]
11:30 (Z) Tie These Hands [indie/pop]
12:00 (B) The Amalgamators [americana/rock]
Just $6 gets you into all the venues all night. The festival runs through the weekend, and the full schedule is in Facebook, here.
–Got comments? Post ’em here.—
Yes I know I’m overselling The Hole by even mentioning The Cog Factory, and no it has nothing to do with my 2010 predictions (which so far have been uncanny). While its success or failure will depend solely on the folks running it, maybe just as important is the booking. I talked to one local garage rock musician about The Hole this weekend and he said he’s waiting for a band outside of the skatepunk/hardcore genre to perform there before he checks it out. The fact is The Cog booked a diverse collection of bands including quite a few nationals that would go on to become some of the most important bands of that era. Will Black Heart be able to do the same thing? Time will tell, though a glance at their calendar indicates The Hole’s initial focus is squarely on punk and little else. That said, Mr. Wright told me Saturday that he’s already been approached by some of the area’s non-punk musicians (including local bluesman Matt Cox) about playing at the all-ages club. If that happens, and if The Hole becomes an option for touring bands looking for a place to play an early set for an all-ages crowd (without having to deal with Omaha’s archaic permission-slip restrictions), comparisons to The Cog may not be so far-fetched.
Column 258: Long Live The Hole
The all-ages club closes, then reopens.This story of the death and rebirth of an all-ages music venue (in 24 hours) begins with me being chastised by show promoter Lucas Wright.
He’d read my annual “Predictions” column and took offense to the part where I said no young local promoter had stepped up in ’09 to give One Percent Productions a run for its money. “You couldn’t be more off base,” Wright ranted. “I think you may be just unaware what’s been going on in some circles of music in Omaha. I know I don’t own my own venue and book HUGE national touring acts very often, but there’s still a LOT going on in underground music that you have no idea about, Tim.”
Of that, I had no doubt. Wright sent along a list of shows he’d put together under the moniker Black Heart Booking — a long list, made up of such local high-flyers as Ladyfinger, UUVVWWZ, It’s True, Simon Joyner and The Stay Awake; national bands such as The Have Nots (Boston), Theodore (St. Louis) and Dozal Brothers (Texas), and venues including Slowdown, The 49’r, The Sydney, The Barley St. and, most of all, The Hole.
I’d been hearing about The Hole, which I was told was in the basement of the Convicted Skateboards shop at 715 So. 16th St. The all-ages venue was where Wright had been focusing his attention for the past few months. So I figured I’d kill two birds with one stone — get Wright’s story and also check out this new all-ages club.
When I arrived at Convicted, Wright led me downstairs to The Hole. It was pretty much what I expected — a drab, low-ceiling cinderblock basement with a mattress wrapped around one of the support poles. Pieces of skateboard ramp were littered along the concrete floor. But something was wrong. Where was the stage?
Wright told me that just the day before, Convicted’s landlord showed up for a surprise inspection, unaware that shows were being held in the basement. And that, as they say, was that. Regardless of the landlord visit, it was only a matter of time until someone would have put a stop to it. While local police had checked out shows and let them go on, one visit from a fire marshal would have shut them down. The public entrance to The Hole was an unmarked 3-foot-high door in the side of wall. The single bathroom was a plywood stall with a toilet bolted to the floor. You get the picture.
But despite the spartan conditions, The Hole had quickly earned a reputation as a place where youth could enjoy their music and skateboard without being hassled. Yes, it was a basement, but it was their basement.
The day The Hole ended, Convicted owner Anna Diederich, who runs the shop with husband Donny (Double D), needed to find another venue for a show booked at The Hole that very night. She remembered that shortly after Convicted opened, she had met Cindy Sechser, the owner of the long-closed Diamond Bar located right across the street. Sechser had told Donny she was looking for someone to do something with the old bar.
“Donny was out of town when all this went down,” Anna said, “So I called Cindy and told her what had happened.” And so The Diamond became The Hole.
That Saturday afternoon a small team of teenagers was busy inside the old bar building a stage under the direction of Cordial Spew frontman Jay Bacon. The night’s show was scheduled to begin in just a few hours. Power and audio cables already had been fished from the PA — brought over from the old Hole — to the soundboard in the back of the room. Old furniture and other dusty junk still needed to be cleared out.
The new Hole appears to have a lot going for it. It has a similar layout as The Barley St. Tavern — a long barroom next to a separate stage room. There’s one functioning bathroom and room for a second that needs repair. The building is a stone’s throw from Douglas County Corrections, which means there will be plenty of cops keeping an eye on things. There’s also parking across the street in Convicted’s lot (as well as on-street parking). Best of all, the club is rent-free. Money from the door is split between the landlord, Convicted, Black Heart Booking and the bands.
“Technically, The Hole is run by Donny and me, but it’s more of a collective,” Anna said. “We have meetings every week and agreements on the way things are run. Everyone pitches in. Donny’s cousin, Leonard, is the door guy. Jay (Bacon) does sound, and either Donny or I are at every show — we lock up and patrol.”
Could The Hole become a modern-day Cog Factory? Only time will tell. “When the kids refer to The Hole or the skateboard shop, they say it’s their place,” Anna said. “They put their sweat into it and help out in all kinds of ways. I just like watching them enjoy themselves and have a good time.”
Wright has shows booked at The Hole through July. You can check out the schedule at myspace.com/theholeomaha. Most shows start at 7 p.m. and end by a parent-friendly 11 p.m. The club has strict no drinking/no drugs rules that Wright said are stringently enforced. There’s also a no-pretention rule.
“The other night, we heard one kid tell another that he ‘wasn’t punk enough’ to be there,” Wright said. “We quickly put an end to that. That’s not what this place is about.”
So while Black Heart Booking will continue, Wright says The Hole is his labor of love. “I’m in this for the long run,” he said. “I want my kids to go to shows there some day.”
* * *
Tomorrow: Weatherbox
–Got comments? Post ’em here.—
Before we get to it, I’ve updated yesterday’s blog post at the insistence of members of It’s True, so go back and read it again if you only read it before 5 p.m. yesterday (otherwise, skip it).
* * *
A couple SXSW updates…
Little Brazil will be playing the festival this year in Austin, according to LB guitarist Greg Edds. Venues and times have yet to be scheduled.
Thunder Power’s official SXSW show also has yet to be scheduled, but they have three unofficial shows already slated. They’re playing at The Parlor at 9:45 p.m. on Tuesday 3/16; Sonny’s Vintage at 5 p.m. on Friday 3/19, and the band is teaming up with It’s True for a day show at Lovey’s Loot on Saturday 3/20.
So as it stands now, Omaha participants at SXSW are It’s True, Digital Leather, Thunder Power, The Mynabirds, UUVVWWZ and Little Brazil.
More details as they become available.
* * *
Tomorrow: Black Heart Booking and the rise and fall of The Hole…
–Got comments? Post ’em here.—
It was a strange, mopey night at The Waiting Room Saturday, or maybe I was the mopey one. The crowd seemed restless for a good time and you’d figure they’d get it from Eagle Seagull, who announced from stage that their full length is finally coming out March 28 (but they didn’t say who was putting it out, maybe they’re doing it themselves?). Edit: A reader pointed out that I reported back in December (in this blog entry) that the record is coming out on [PIAS] Recordings.
If the band seemed a bit listless it might have something to do with not having one of their guitarists — has there has been a personnel change that I wasn’t aware of or was he just under the weather? Or maybe their rather detached performance had something to do with violinist/keyboardist Carrie Butler, who looked sullen bordering on upset throughout their entire set (Or maybe that’s just her way). No matter. The music was the usual good stuff, despite the band looking bored and distracted (They say Fleetwood Mac’s best album was borne out of conflict.)
The chatter in the crowd focused on It’s True, who has announced that its having a CD release party for their debut full-length at TWR April 30. No one, however, knows who is releasing it, and now people are speculating that the band will release it themselves.. No one understands why this band doesn’t have labels nipping at its heels, be they local or national imprints. Here’s a band with a solid collection of songs that seems willing to do whatever is necessary to get the music in front of a larger audience. What more could a label want? Then again, it’s getting harder for bands to figure out why they need to be on a label at all, other than the bank and the marketing that goes with it (and certainly they’d like someone to pick up the tab for their recording). Distribution, which was a key advantage in the old days, is losing its value as more people quit buying CDs altogether.
By now, the story of Eagle Seagull’s multi-year constipation in releasing their material is well documented, which doesn’t make it any less unfortunate. They were a rocket left on the launching pad, bogged down with too many delays until people began to wonder whether the darn thing could ever get off the ground. If nothing happens with their new record, it’ll be another in a series of tragedies that seems to characterize Nebraska bands these days. No one wants to see what happened to ES happen to It’s True, which is why if the band decides to put out the record themselves that it makes all the sense in the world, especially in an era where patience is often mistaken for indifference. It’s True has to push forward right now, and should a label suddenly take interest in them, they can always release the album again. In the meantime, they’re hitting their stride, growing with every performance, which means there’s never going to be a better time to get out and share it with the rest of the world. (See photo).
Friday night was spent at O’Leaver’s with The Third Men and Des Moines rock band North of Grand. My take on The Third Men: Just about any bar or venue would be better off having them perform in some sort of residency capacity, say every second Thursday or the first Friday of the month. The Third Men play good-time rock music for smart people who recognize well-played good-time rock music. There’s something comfortable and familiar with their sound, which is probably due to the fact that the band grew up — and continues to — love good, unpretentious (and fun) rock music. It also helps that they roll out a few covers with every set. This time they unveiled a snarling version of Warren Zevon’s “Poor Poor Pitful Me,” along with “Next Time Round,” an Elvis Costello chestnut off of 1986’s Blood and Chocolate (That’s right, that record came out 23 years ago).
Chatting with North of Grand’s drummer Pat Curtis before their set, I was expecting a full-on punk attack, but in fact NoG has more in common with post-punk power rock than straight-up punk (and to me, that’s a good thing). Despite being hard with their guitars, the band isn’t afraid of hooks or cranking up white-knuckle backbeat rhythms right after a break. For whatever reason, I was reminded of post-punk acts like Bad Religion, Fugazi and Husker Du. But that’s just me. With four albums under their wing — all apparently self-released — it’s bands like this that epitomize the DIY business approach that every band will have to adopt sooner or later. Just ask It’s True. (See photo of North of Grand).
* * *
Briefly, Mastodon announced its spring tour this morning, and Omaha’s Sokol Hall is on the list for May 14.
* * *
Alt country band Dr. Dog returns to The Waiting Room tonight with The Growlers. $12, 9 p.m. I’m told TWR is one of their favorite venues. Since they haven’t been here since Sept. 2008, they’re in for a surprise.
–Got comments? Post ’em here.—
It was a pseudo “goth night” at The Waiting Room last night, which meant plenty of the expected costuming (heavy eyeliner (men and women), dyed-black hair, the usual). None of it got in the way, and to be honest, the style of music for the first two bands didn’t really fit the vibe.
Opening band Blue Rosa’s lead singer had sort of a Lilith Fair lilt to her voice, which either compliments or clashes with their post-neu-wave-ambient style depending on your expectations. It was kind of like listening to Sarah McLachlan front The Cocteau Twins with a cello accoutrement (and I could have used more of that cello in the mix). It was pleasant, but not particularly threatening. Not bad, but these guys need to turn it up. See photo.
Dim Light played as a four-piece and sounded like a leather burlesque show held in an anonymous Manhattan basement club; there’s something dirty and decadent about their brazen swing that teeters so close to out of control. One fellow patron told me that he thought frontman Cooper Moon was trying to channel Nick Cave. Maybe so. I’ve compared him to Mark Lanegan before, and I stand by it, though last night’s performance seemed more lucid and coherent than anytime I’ve seen them in the past. They’re ready for prime time. (See photo)
Strap On Halo didn’t go on until about a quarter to midnight, so I only caught a couple of their songs, which sounded like attempts at throbbing industrial meets metal played to a drum machine. Lots of lights and smoke; I guess this is where the goth came in.
* * *
Lots going on this weekend. Tonight you have Matt Wilson from Trip Shakespeare reinventing himself as The Twilight Hours at The Waiting Room. Matt Whipkey is opening. $10, 9 p.m. Me, I’ll be getting my drink on at O’Leaver’s where The Third Men are headlining tonight with North of Grand and At Land (ex-Fizzle Like a Flood). $5, 9:30 p.m.
Tomorrow night, It’s True headlines at The Waiting Room with amazing Lawrence band Cowboy Indian Bear and Lincoln heroes Eagle Seagull. $7, 9 p.m. Meanwhile, there’s a solid punk show down at The Hole, 715 So. 16th St,. headlined by Dead Town Revival and including Redo, Cordial Spew, Officially Terminated, The Upsets and The Brigandines. $5, 7 p.m.
–Got comments? Post ’em here.—
It’s only the beginning of February, but I’m already making plans for the South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin, which isn’t until March 17. Yesterday, Jason Kulbel at Saddle Creek Records told me that his label will again host a showcase at the event. The deets:
Location: Maggie Mae’s Gibson Room
Thursday, March 1810 p.m. The Mynabirds
11 p.m. UUVVWWZ
12 a.m. Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson
1 a.m. The Rural Alberta AdvantageSXSW has filled in the earlier part of the evening with the following Nicodemus Agency bands:
7:30 – 8:00 p.m.: Common Loon
8:15 – 8:45 p.m.: Unwed Sailor
Last year I missed the Creek showcase as I was making a concerted effort to avoid all the bands that I see on a regular basis ’round these parts — what’s the point of going to Austin if you’re going to see bands that always play in Omaha? In the end, I still saw Cursive play a couple times at other day shows. Without a doubt, all of the Creek bands will be playing numerous times throughout this year’s four-day foray. Seriously, can you ever get too much of The Mynabirds?
Other Omaha acts confirmed for SXSW this year include Thunder Power, Digital Leather and It’s True, though I don’t know where any of them will be playing. More details as I get them.
* * *
It’s an evening of dark wave/goth/gloom tonight at The Waiting Room with Strap On Halo, Dim Light and Blue Rosa. $7, 9 p.m. Don’t be afraid of the snow.
–Got comments? Post ’em here.—
Recent Comments