Off the grid…

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Well it’s time to escape this endless winter, at least for a long weekend.

So what am I missing? Not a whole helluva lot.

KISS is tonight at the CHI Center. Or at least two of the original KISS line-up. This will be the last chance you’ll get to see them (supposedly), and as far as I can tell, there are plenty of tickets available at $26.50 a pop (not including fees). To help get you ready, here’s an ancient interview I did with KISS’ Peter Criss. The Catman is long-time retired, I believe.

Here’s the rest of what would be on my radar at the usual haunts this week/weekend:

Tonight at Reverb, Massachusetts band And The Kids headlines. They’ve got a nice indie-pop sound. Opening is Brooklyn act Tōth. $12, 8 p.m.

Friday night you’re on your own.

Saturday night Jason Steady opens for Win/Win and Mama’s Boy at Slowdown Jr. 9 p.m., $7.

Meanwhile, there’s a punk(ish) show going on at fabulous O’Leaver’s Saturday night with Lincoln band Red Cities, The Broke Loose and The Morbs. $5, 10 p.m.

Monday Austin indie/blues-rocker Ian Moore (Yep Rock) plays at Reverb Lounge. This is a pretty good under-the-radar show, especially at $15. 8 p.m.

And that’s all I’m seeing. If I missed your show, put in the comments section. have a great week/weekend and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do…

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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 © 2018 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

Lucy Dacus at Reverb Lounge, April 2, 2018.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

I’ve been trying to see Adult Mom, the indie music project of Stephanie Knipe, since I reviewed the Sometimes Bad Happens cassette four years ago. Seems like the band cancelled once and/or I didn’t make it to another. They were worth the wait. Fine singer/songwriter stuff that would have been better if the sound were tweaked enough to hear the lyrics.

I could hear Knipe fine when singing alone or with the bassist, but when the full band came in, Knipe was somewhat submerged. Adjustments were made and it got better in the end. Knipe’s an example of someone who will do well on a solo acoustic tour, but that’s not a downgrade on the band, which was tight and good throughout.

Adult Mom at Reverb Lounge, April 2, 2018.

I almost skipped the second band, And the Kids, resenting they were on the bill (I still swear the original line-up had only two bands), but am happy I didn’t. Call them an indie power trio with vocalist Hannah Mohan reminding me a bit of Angel Olsen. She wowed the audience with her guitar work including some fancy behind-the-back strumming and an Indian wrestling match flat on her back with her bass player. I will be doing further investigation via Spotify over the coming days.

Finally it was Lucy Dacus’ turn. They had a sound problem with the lead guitarist’s pedals that forced her to do a solo acoustic number, which actually was a great way to start the set anyway.

Despite the fact she’s on my favorite record label (sorry Robb) I’m not too familiar with her music and that likely hurt the set for me. The strength is more in the lyrics than the melodies (which were somewhat par for the course for indie singer/songwriter stuff), while the turn of the phrases I did catch were stunners.

If the show wasn’t sold out it had to be darn near as Reverb was elbow-to-elbow packed with a crowd mesmerized by Dacus and her band. And as one person put it, the crowd’s age was “refreshingly older,” I’m told thanks to her NPR status.

I only caught about half the set as I turn into a pumpkin at 10:30 on work nights, but I think I got the gist of it (if you know what I mean).

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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 © 2018 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

And the Kids plays tonight at Slowdown Jr.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Northampton, MA, indie band And the Kids headlines a stacked bill tonight at Slowdown Jr. The young four-piece lists Modest Mouse, Rilo Kiley, The Doors and The Police as influences. Their sound has a similar dreamy quality as, say, Alvvays, especially on their new album, Friends Share Lovers (Signature Sounds Recordings). Opening tonight’s show is Omaha garage-rock god David Nance and the legendary Noah’s Ark Was a Spaceship. This big show has an early start time: 8 p.m. $10.

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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 © 2017 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.