by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Matt Wilson, who we all remember from the ‘90s band Trip Shakespeare, is headlining tonight at Reverb Lounge as “Matt Wilson and his Orchestra.” I think these guys played at the late, great Hi-Fi House a few years ago. If you’re a fan of Trip Shakespeare or even old enough to remember that band, you’re probably going to love this show. Captain’s Platter opens at 9. $15.

Also tonight, Slowdown Jr. is hosting a punk show with Mike Vallely & the Complete Disaster. Joining them are Omaha’s own RAF (RAF’s Dereck Higgins has posted on Facebook that this will “likely” be the last chance to see RAF play live), Tiananmen Squares and Acolyte. $17, 8 p.m.

Saturday night is the big Silversun Pickups show at The Slowdown. This one has been sold out for quite a while. I always thought of these guys as low-grade Smashing Pumpkins, but what do I know? Zella Day opens at 8 p.m. This is a No Vax No Entry show, so bring your evidence.

Finally Sunday is the return of BoDeans to The Waiting Room. I interviewed these guys when they were on a return-to-the-road tour way back in 2004. From that article:

(Sam Llanas, original half of BoDeans) said the aging of their core audience is one of biggest changes he’s seen over the past 20 years. “Everyone’s older now. They’re not kids anymore, they’re in their 40s and it’s not easy for them to come to shows,” he said. “It’s not the same as when we were younger and everyone wanted to party all night.” So, those fans are now in their late 50s and early 60s? Sounds about right. $30, 8 p.m.

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 © 2021 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

Wagon Blasters at Lookout Lounge April 30, 2016. The band plays tonight at The Down Under.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

There are a couple neighborhood festival-type thingees happening this weekend. Dundee Days is Saturday (but all the good music will be at Dario Days), and Hutchfest is going on in the so-called “new north makerhood” at 11th and Nicholas. There’s a live music component to Hutchfest, but the bands are still not listed on their website, so…

Anyway, let’s get on with it…

Tonight at The Down Under our ol’ pals The Wagon Blasters headline. The band is out supporting its sublime new four-song single, Pandamonium Paradise (which I assume was meant to be an ode to pandas, based on that unique spelling). Gary Dean Davis and his tractor-punk brigade will be blowing the doors off this little venue, along with openers 24 Hour Cardlock and Michael Campbell. This eclectic bill starts at 8:30; no price listed.

Tonight also sees the return of The Filter Kings. It’s been a long while since Omaha’s favorite outlaw country band took the stage. They’re opening for a Johnny Cash tribute band at The Waiting Room. 8 p.m. start time, $12.

Right around the corner at Reverb… Who remembers Cowboy Indian Bear? Well that band’s frontman, Marty Hillard, is now fronting a hip-hop outfit called Ebony Tusks, which is opening tonight for Yuno. $12, 8 p.m.

And we can’t forget that Bodeans are back in town, this time at The Slowdown for a benefit for NorthStar Foundation. Mike Glabicki of Rusted Root opens. $50, 8 p.m.

Then comes Saturday and Dario Days, a mini music festival located in the parking lot of Dario’s in Dundee that competes head-to-head with Dundee Days. The line-up, starting at 4 p.m.: Cubby Phillips & John Evans, Dirt House, Miwi La Lupa, Tom Bartolomei and Satchel Grande. Watch out for those Belgian beers, they sneak up on ya. $6.

Saturday night Ben Eisenberger (guitarist for Screaming Plastic, FiFi NoNo, Hussies) headlines a night of music at Almost Music in the Blackstone that also includes Dan McCarthy and Noah Sterba. 9 p.m., $5.

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.