311 circa 1993. The band plays tonight at The Astro Amphitheater.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Get ready for the last hot weekend of the year…

Over at The Waiting Room tonight, Oklahoma City noise band Chat Pile headlines. A metal band at their core, I usually wouldn’t mention them on this blog, but there are times when something beyond the usual goon-rock growling slips through in their recordings that makes me think they might actually have a sense of humor. Frontman Raygun Busch is at his best on tracks like “grimace_smoking_weed.jpeg” and “Mask,” where he vacillates between spoken word and screaming over rhythm-heavy head banging, reminscent of Ross Farrar (Ceremony) or our old pal Tim Moss (Ritual Device). Their latest single was released on metal label The Flenser. Heavy stuff. Nerver and Nightosphere also are on the bill. $25, 8 p.m.

Meanwhile, tonight The Astro Amphitheater kicks into high gear with 311. I am shocked (shocked!) that this concert has not sold out… yet. Listen, since the band got its start in the early ‘90s, there has been a love/hate relationship with the Omaha music scene. I’ve always thought part of the animosity stemmed from their success prior to moving to Van Nuys (or wherever they live in California these days).

That animosity is captured in this 1993 cover story from The Note with the headline: “Sometimes it Pays to be an Asshole,” which you can still read online right here.

My take: They are/were a talented bunch of dudes, that SA was a better frontman that Nick, that P-Nut really can “beat that thang.” In recent years, drummer Chad Sexton has been under fire for being associated with various online right-wing conspiracies, which is more of a lessen about keeping your bandmates off social media. Do I listen to their music? No. But I did have fun at one of their Ranch Bowl shows around the time that article was published, or as the article goes:

I asked the guy next to me what he thought of the band. “I hate this kind of music,” he yelled, hurting my ear. “but I’ve got to admit, this is a blast.”

I wish them only the best. I hear Nick is now a part owner of the Omaha Union soccer club. AWOLNATION and Blame My Youth also are on the bill. 7 p.m. start time? Tickets range in price from $49 to $129 (and higher for VIP stuff). More at The Astro website. The Astro keeps its momentum front and center with The Gaslight Anthem tomorrow night.

Also tonight, local band Fox headlines at Reverb Lounge with Peach Paw and Matt Whipkey (joined on stage with guitarist extraordinaire Mike Friedman). $7, 8 p.m.

That’s not all. Tonight over at B-Bar, 4330 Leavenworth, NYC guy from Omaha, Stathi, is playing a “home team gig” that starts at 8 p.m. No price listed.

Pickings are much slimmer Saturday. The only show on my radar is Mesa Buoy at Pageturners Lounge. Mesa Buoy is a project led by guitarist James Schroeder, whose Covid-era debut album featured a plethora of the city’s finest talent including Kevin Donahue, Patrick Newberry, Megan Siebe, Colin Dockworth and Michael Overfield. Leaves Brown also is on the bill and the show is a benefit “to support Kupo’s daughter,” so no cover but $10 donation is suggested. Starts at 8 p.m.

Finally, Sunday is the annual Porchfest event held in the Gifford Park neighborhood at 33rd and California streets. The event is as it’s described — a series of performances hosted on porches throughout the neighborhood, but also with the Omaha Mobile Stage set up at Yates Illuminates. Every year the schedule and assortment of acts gets more diverse. This year includes Las Cruxes, Mitch Gettman, B.B. Sledge and a ton more. The full schedule and details are available at the Porchfest website.

And that’s all I got. If I missed your event, put it in the comments section. Have a great weekend.

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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 © 2023 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

On this red-hot Thursday, we step into the Wayback Machine and pull up this Lazy-i blog entry from July 14, 2004, featuring Nick Hexum of the band 311. I had interviewed Nick in support of the band’s Memorial Park concert, organized by then Mayor Mike Fahey as part of Omaha’s 150th birthday celebration. The full interview with Hexum is here, but there were interesting leftovers that never made it into the final article…

TBT: 311 and GTO and Saddle Creek – July 14, 2004

An interview with 311’s Nick Hexum is on the site (read it here). Nick once and for all disputes the age-old stigma that 311 turned its back on Omaha by denying its Midwestern roots. Nothing could be further from the truth, Hexum says, categorically denying the accusation. And it only makes sense. Why on earth would they not take advantage of the novelty? Especially at a time when Omaha was only known for being in the center of the country? No, there is no cache in telling anyone that you’re among the thousands of faceless bands from LA. Who cares? Now, telling them you’re from Omaha… instant interest. The novelty has been somewhat blunted since the emergence of Saddle Creek Records.

Speaking of which, among the interview highlights that didn’t make it into the story is a back-and-forth about Omaha band Grasshopper Takeover and the Creek scene. I asked Hexum why GTO’s move to LA didn’t propel them to the same commercial heights as 311. “There’s an element of luck involved,” he said, adding comments (included in the story) about how 311’a move had nothing to do with their signing to Capricorn. 311 and GTO go way back. In fact, Hexum said he recently was on some sort of fishing trip with the band’s members. And GTO is opening for 311 at Friday’s Memorial Park concert.

Then I asked him about Saddle Creek Records. Had he heard of it or the bands on the label? “I know of them, but haven’t listened to them,” Hexum said. “I asked Curt Grubb (GTO lead singer) why those bands don’t embrace GTO. GTO sounds like emo and Jimmy Eat World. Curt said (the label) is very clique-y. I don’t know a lot about it, but I’m happy to see any band from Omaha doing well.” Interesting. I wouldn’t categorize GTO as sounding like a Creek band, and I certainly wouldn’t categorize Creek bands as sounding like Jimmy Eat World, but then again, I’ve had the advantage of having listened to them.

One other interesting aside that didn’t make the story: While Hexum was describing how 311 was driven to make it in the music world, he said, “Most of the bands that we were in competition with have broken up. How many bands in ’93 are headlining tours?”

I jumped in. “Well, there’s the Red Hot Chili Peppers.”

Hexum paused. “Yeah, the Chili Peppers were plugging away. We did a show with them New Years 2000. We were so influenced by them, they kicked open some doors and we went through them and kicked open some doors for some other bands.” A gracious comment, especially considering that when 311 was just emerging in the early ’90s, they were often compared to RHCP because both bands shared a similar hip-hop-meets-rock style. Years later, it doesn’t matter who came up with the sound first. — Lazy-i, July 14, 2004

If you have time, read the original feature story. It references a 1993 story about the band written for The Note with the headline “Sometimes It Pays to Be Assholes.” Said Hexum, “Folks in Omaha have been great supporting us, but we’ve been faced with a lot of assholes, too – bands downtown who really wanted to keep us out.” There’s more, lots more.

And in Hexum’s defense, he’s always been nothing but a nice guy to me whenever I interviewed him or the rest of the band.

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Huge show tonight at The Slowdown: Nigerian afro-beat legends Femi Kuti & the Positive Force take the big stage.

From Wiki: “Femi, the son of Afrobeat pioneer and political activist Fela Kuti, inherited his father’s zeal for both music and activism. He started playing the saxophone and keyboard with his father’s band when he was 16 and stepped into the spotlight, writing and singing after his father’s demise. Femi remains politically inclined grooving to high energy funk, jazz and traditional African-fueled songs about political corruption, poverty and primitive living conditions suffered by most inhabitants in Nigeria’s oil-rich nation.”

This is the kind of show where a venue like The Slowdown could really shine. Surprisingly, tickets are still available for $28. Edem Soul Music opens at 8 p.m.

Also tonight, a different kind of jazz will be in concert at The Waiting Room when Chemicals opens for Stu Hamm Rock Experience. I don’t know a lick about electric bassist Stu Hamm, but can tell you that Chemicals is worth the $22 to see on TWR stage. Show starts at 8 p.m.

And then there’s what’s happening tonight at fabulous O’Leaver’s: Drone/ambient band Bus Gas says goodbye at what they’re calling their “last memorial service.” No doubt they’re going on an indefinite hiatus. Helping wave goodbye are Routine Escorts, Chalant and Jim Schroeder. $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 © 2016 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

A glance at the week ahead show-wise…

Tonight at Pageturners it’s Lars + Mal and Silk Robespierre. No idea who this is, but it’s free and starts at 9:30. Why not?

Tomorrow night The Burkum Boys (Skypiper) play at O’Leaver’s with The Cactus Blossoms and Ojai.

Wednesday Slowdown Jr. has Midwest Dilemma, Brad Hoshaw and Landon Hedges (Desaparecidos, Little Brazil). Seems like forever since I’ve seen MD on stage.

Thursday is the final night of Cursive at The Waiting Room, with Ladyfinger and Ted Stevens Unknown Project. Expect the unexpected from what has become a very memorable “residency.”

Friday it’s The Seen and Texas band Crystal Wolf at O’Leaver’s; while Barley Street is hosting its annual X-mas spectacular.

Saturday is Brigadiers and Bear Antlers at O’Leavers; while Envy Corp. returns to The Waiting Room with Oquoa and Millions of Boys.

Finally Sunday Mezcal Brothers are at The Waiting Room with Matt Cox.

Not bad for the week before Christmas.

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In other news…

Neutral Milk Hotel (March 29) and St. Vincent (April 1) both have been booked to play at Sokol Auditorium. Seems like only yesterday that I saw St. Vincent at Slowdown Jr., and now she’s playing that famous South Omaha barn. Tickets on sale now via One Percent Productions.

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In 311 news… (yeah, you read that right)

The band that once called Omaha home confirmed via Billboard Magazine that its next album will be an independent release.  In the article, frontman Nick Hexum calls the move to indie status “one of the best moves 311 could have possibly made,” at least now that they have a distro deal with INGrooves.

But Hexum’s prime quote was this: “The label system is corrupt; they’re so incompetent with their ability to bring any value to the table. It’s just a rip-off.” I don’t think he was saying that back in the Sony/Zomba days… Things must be getting tough at the majors for 311 to turn its back on them.

Another interesting touch was Billboard referring to the band as “the Nebraska rockers.” As we all know, 311 hasn’t lived in Nebraska in over a decade. Where did that come from, and why?

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Finally, Hear Nebraska met its Kickstarter goal of $4,000 today. But the campaign continues, as money raised above the $4k goal will go toward replacing a Macbook Pro used to run the website that was stolen from an HN staffer’s car parked in Benson last Thursday night during the Cursive show…

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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 © 2013 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.