by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Looks like all the fun this weekend is happening tonight.

Over at fabulous O’Leaver’s Lincoln’s next great hope, Universe Contest, headlines a show with fellow Lincolnites Her Flyaway Manner and Twinsmith, the reimagined Betsy Wells with former Little Brazil drummer Oliver Morgan behind the kit. Check out a Twinsmith tune below. $5, 9:30 p.m.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/88229826″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Meanwhile, over at The Waiting Room, Omaha celebrates everyone’s favorite man-about-Benson MarQ Manner’s 50th 40th birthday. On stage, a gathering of all MarQ’s favorite local bands past and present: Matt Banta, Pat Gherman, and Michael Campbell (Songwriter Showcase), Witness Tree, The 9’s, Whipkey Three, The Seen and Bennie & the Gents. Think of it as a preview to the upcoming OEAA showcase! Your $10 cover goes to support Angels Among Us. Show starts at 7.

MarQfest is sort of part of the Benson First Friday festivities. Find out what else is happening at BFF right here.

And that about wraps it up for the weekend, other than the Kentucky Derby Saturday (which is really just a warm-up for next weekend’s Horsemen’s Park live track meet).

But before we go, here’s the first song off the upcoming Lloyd Cole album, Standards. The album drops June 24 on Tapete Records.

Happy 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 © 2013 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

O’Leaver’s new tiki bar menu. I see trouble…

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

No, I’m not getting paid by Cursive to promote the grand re-opening of their new bar — the old O’Leaver’s on south Saddle Creek Road. I’m merely highlighting that the bar’s next three days of music out-classes most of the area’s “festivals” and multi-band special events.

O’Leaver’s already had a reputation for being a veritable pickle-tank of booze-soaked humanity, a place where any beer-fueled madness could happen and usually does. But now they’ve added a tiki bar. The only thing more destructive to mankind than nuclear fission, television and high-fructose corn syrup is rum drinks. Most people (me included) just can’t resist the fruity temptation of a Zombie, Singapore Sling or everyone’s favorite liquid porn, The Mai Tai. Needless to say, I’ll be sipping on an umbrella drink instead of my usual Rolling Rock this weekend while I enjoy the musical festivities.

It starts tonight, at O’Leaver’s. Simon Joyner and The Ghosts headlines a show that also features So-So Sailors and the mega-talented McCarthy Trenching. $5, 9:30 p.m.

Also tonight, it’s Friday, March 1, which means it’s also Benson First Friday, the day of the month where there’s absolutely no parking anywhere on Maple St. (and which has been declared a holiday by those greedy, car-towing bastards at The Fullhouse Bar). The highlight event is (as per usual) at The Sweatshop Gallery, which tonight features Powerful Science, Gordon, Mint Wad Willy and Austin band Luchuguillas. And, apparently, there will be some boxing action going on “in the ring.” Admission is free but donations are encouraged (all cash goes to support Sweatshop). 7 p.m. start time.

Up the street, The Waiting Room tonight is hosting the Javier Ochoa memorial benefit concert featuring a slew of tribute and cover bands. $7, 9 p.m.

Saturday night, it’s Day Two of O’Leaver’s grand re-opening, featuring Criteria (wow, three shows in as many months, I guess they really are back) and Noah’s Ark Was a Spaceship. The usual $5, the usual 9:30 start time.

Also Saturday night marks the return of garage legends White Mystery to The Brothers Lounge. Opening is Snake Island and the incomparable Solid Goldberg. 9 p.m. start time. No posted cover price but probably at least $5.

Meanwhile, over at The Waiting Room, Modern Lovers’ Jonathan Richman returns. $15, 9 p.m.

Sunday is the final day of O’Leaver’s grand re-opening, and it starts in the afternoon with an opportunity to dine on a wide selection of smoked meats courtesy of Smoke Buds — the culinary duo of Danny Maxwell and Craig Fort. Get your meat on. Bands start at 5 p.m. with Ladyfinger and Rock Paper Dynamite.

Missing anything? Put it in the recently fixed comment section. Have a a glug-glug 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 © 2013 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Ladyfinger CD release show

Lest we forget, the weekend starts now.

And the biggest show of the weekend is the Ladyfinger record release show at The Waiting Room tonight. I’m told the boys will actually have some CDs on hand for sale in addition to the vinyl. Opening is The Seen, who also are celebrating a CD release, and The Hussies. $8, 9 p.m. See you there, if I can find a place to park…

…Because in case you’ve forgotten, it’s Feb. 1, which means tonight is Benson First Friday. As part of the art walk festivities, Sweatshop Gallery, 2727 No. 67th St. (just south of The Barley Street) is hosting Club No Quiet featuring music by Howard, George Glass, Rock Paper Sisters, Sister Kisser and The Wayward Little Satan Daughters. The fun starts at 8. More info here.

Saturday night Florida “punk” band Hot Water Music plays at The Slowdown with La Dispute and The Menzingers. Hear Nebraska has a Q&A right here with Menzinger Tom May (wonder if he gets confused with former Omaha folk singer Tom May? Something tells me he doesn’t). $20, 8 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 © 2013 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.