Conny Franko plays the crowd as DJ Kethro looks on last Saturday at Beer Nebraska at The Slowdown.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Pretty durn good turnout at Beer Nebraska Saturday night at The Slowdown considering that Chvrches was going on at the same time up in Benson.

I’m not a beer connoisseur but I know what I like, and for me, Zip Line’s Sticky Blossoms and First Street Brewery’s Freakastout got the gold medals in the Lazy-i Taste Test. Drinking five samples of local microbrews made for a different kind of listening experience than my usual Rolling Rock tallboys.

But what about the music? I caught sets by Mesonjixx, Freakabout, Conny Franko and Icky Blossoms.

Franko and DJ Kethro (who was terrific, playing tracks by Thundercat, Kids See Ghosts, Mayer Hawthorne, J Cole and Sade, among others) were the evening’s highlight. That said, as much as I like The Slowdown’s sound system, I couldn’t make out a word Franko rhymed, which is problematic when you’re talking about an art form that emphasizes words as much as beats. Still, you caught the vibe, and his a cappella reading that closed his short set was impactful.

Icky Blossoms at Beer Nebraska at The Slowdown, Aug. 4, 2018.

Icky Blossoms had their usual strong performance (with a few technical glitches early in the set). They play so infrequently that every time I see them I hear something different, though I’m still waiting anxiously for their next album (if one is even in the works).

Mesonjixx rhythm section is what floored me about their set, along with some tasty guitar solos. Their drummer slayed. As did the drummer for Freakabout.

Fun night and a fun crowd there to support Rabble Mill.

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Tonight Chicago singer/songwriter Sam Vicari headlines at Reverb Lounge. Magu and Win/Win open. $7, 8 p.m.

Also tonight, former indie starts Portugal, The Man headline at Stir Concert Cove. 8 p.m. show, tix are in the $40 range…

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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.

Icky Blossoms at Farnam Fest, Sept. 16, 2017. They play Saturday night at The Slowdown as part of Beer Nebraska.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Just a few shows worth mentioning this weekend.

The Sydney (which is now under new management) is hosting a show tonight as part of Benson First Friday (#BFF). The line-up: Bed Rest, Bokr Tov and Sean Pratt. Bokr Tov will be rolling out some new material. This could be fun. $5, 10 p.m.

And if you’re in Benson for BFF festivities, be sure to stop by The Little Gallery, 5901 Maple (in the bottom of the Masonic Lodge building), where we’re opening a show of the works of ’80s/’90s Antiquarium artist Melvin Usher. The opening reception runs from 6 to 9 p.m. Booze and treats provided. See you there.

Tomorrow night is the big Beer Nebraska benefit for Rabble Mill at The Slowdown, which I wrote about yesterday. We’re talking five local brewers matched with five local bands that include Icky Blossoms, Conny Franko and Satchel Grande. Beer is 5 to 9 p.m. outside, music starts on the big stage at 7 p.m. Tix: $25 Advance/$30 Day of Show with Beer Tasting; $15 Advance/$20 Day of Show without beer tasting.

Also tomorrow night (Saturday) Oquoa headlines at fabulous O’Leaver’s. Joining them are Minneapolis prog/metal act Straya and Putter & Co. $5, 10 p.m.

Finally, Saturday night at The Waiting Room indie pop band Chvrches headlines. Local folks Field Club opens the show at super-early time of 7:30 p.m. Tix are $28 Adv/$32 DOS.

And that’s all I got. If I missed your show, 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 © 2018 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

Beer + Bands = Beer Nebraska. Here’s the list of exclusive-release brews…

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

The next pseudo music festival is this Saturday at The Slowdown — it’s a benefit for non-profit Rabble Mill, which, if you didn’t know, is the umbrella organization that houses good ol’ Hear Nebraska (Yes, Hear Nebraska still exists. In fact, they have offices in the Slowdown complex in a shared space with Saddle Creek Records and Maha Music Festival personnel).

This benefit concert is a bit different in that it features both bands and beer — specifically five local breweries who have made exclusively released beers inspired by the performing bands. It’s weird and cool. Local brewers are Zipline (who’s co-hosting this even with Hear Nebraska), Brickway, Farnam House, First Street and White Elm.

The inspired beer I’m most looking forward to is Zipline’s Sticky Blossoms, which is “honey plus orange blossom IPA.” Mmm-mmmm.

According to the Facebook invite, beers will be served outside from 5 to 9 p.m. The beer-tasting ticket gets you five samples plus a commemorative glass.

Event pricing :

$25 Advance/$30 Day of Show with Beer Tasting
$15 Advance/$20 Day of Show without
Tix here or at Zipline’s drinking room in the Slowdown complex.

And here are the set times:

7-7:40 – Mesonjixx
8-8:40 – Freakabout 8:00- 8:40
9 to 9:40 – Conny Franko
1- to 10:40 – Icky Blossoms
11 to midnight – Satchel Grande

As mentioned proceeds go to Rabble Mill, which has a lot of exciting programs in the works, including music-related ideas that (hopefully) you’ll be hearing more about in the near future.

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Tonight, Omaha punk band Crease opens for Minneapolis screamo band Sleep Debt at Brothers Lounge. $5, 9 p.m.

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I thought I’d drop in this just-released Ron Gallo track. He’s playing Lincoln Calling in September. Something about the guitar effects reminds me of The Oh Sees…

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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.

The 2018 Good Living Tour, brought to you by Hear Nebraska.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Even though it’s been explained a dozen ways, I continue to run into people who think Hear Nebraska folded when the organization merged with The Bay earlier this year to form Rabble Mill. No matter how many times I tell them that ain’t the case, they don’t listen, probably because the small army of Hear Nebraska photographers no longer are hanging around local shows.

Fact is Hear Nebraska is very much alive and kicking. This morning HN announced the 2018 Good Living Tour. The fourth-annual statewide event combines Nebraska music with skateboarding, and it’s probably the highest profile program HN has put on since the org formed in 2011.

This year’s tour locations are Broken Bow June 9 (featuring See Through Dresses and Matt Cox, among others); Imperial June 23 (with Conny Franko); Red Cloud July 7 and Norfolk July 20 (with Bokr Tov).

Showtimes weren’t given, but these typically are evening shows in public-square-style locations and they’re always free. More info here.

Hear Grand Island 2018

What was a by-product of Hear Nebraska but is no longer affiliated with the org is Hear Grand Island, which announced its 2018 schedule this week. All the shows are on Friday nights from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Railside Plaza in downtown Grand Island. The sched:

June 1: Twinsmith, Taking the Hourglass and Unforsaken Allies
June 8: Universe Contest, Cruz control and Misfire
June 15: Domestic Blend, Field Club and Isaiah Dominguez
June 22: The Fey, Rascal Martinez and UPSET
June 29: Tim Zach & Whiskey Bent, The Belles and Bernardus
July 6: High Up, Sebastian Lane Band and Losing My Charm
July 13: Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal, Evan Bartels & The Stoney Lonesomes and The Lupines
July 20: David Nance, Salt Creek and Alli and I
July 27: FREAKABOUT, The Way Out and From The Arc
Aug. 3: The Midnight Devils, The Wildwoods and High Plains Remedy

Beer Nebraska

Finally, there’s Beer Nebraska, a fundraiser for Rabble Mill — the umbrella org that houses Hear Nebraska. This one pairs local music and local beer and is being held at The Slowdown Aug. 4. And those bands are Satchel Grande, Icky Blossoms, Conny Franko, FREAKABOUT and Mesonjixx.

This one ain’t free:

Beers outside 5pm-9pm, Music in the Main Room 7pm-midnight
$25 Advance/$30 Day of Show with Beer Tasting
$15 Advance/$20 Day of Show without

So, yeah, Hear Nebraska is definitely kicking ass and taking names…

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Pet Shop is hosting a show tonight with Uh, Death Cow, The Natural States and headliner Minneapolis band Dirty Junk. $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 © 2018 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

Navy Gangs plays tonight at Milk Run.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

If Lincoln Calling and the second year of the Good Living Tour (which kicks off this Thursday in the mighty town of Ord, Nebraska) weren’t enough, Hear Nebraska yesterday announced a mega-fundraiser Sept. 24 in Lincoln. They’re calling it Beer Nebraska — five bands and five breweries. And what bands: Cursive, Criteria, Universe Contest, Better Friend and a reunion of Lincoln band Columbia Vs Challenger. The concert takes place all afternoon in the parking lot of Zipline Brewery in Lincoln at 2100 Magnum Cir #1. Tickets are $30 and include entrance fee and three samples per brewery.

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Tiny Engines, the imprint that releases music by Omaha’s own See Through Dresses, announced that the band is hitting the road on its summer tour starting July 26 at Lincoln’s Vega when they open for Soul Asylum. Afterward it’s off to Hastings for a stop on the Good Living Tour and then a couple dates with Little Brazil in Kansas. After that, STD will be driving along the East Coast, eventually winding up back in Omaha Aug. 20 for a performance at Maha Music Festival.

The band continues to support their 2015 Tiny Engines debut, End of Days, but has begun recording the follow-up, which is slated for release next spring.

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Speaking of the East Coast, Brooklyn band (with Omaha connections) Navy Gangs plays tonight at Milk Run. Hear Nebraska has an interview with the band right here. Opening is Staffers, Vegetable Deluxe and Lush Bruise Crew. $7, 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.