Ted Stevens Unknown Project at Reverb Lounge, Jan. 15, 2015. Ted’s playing at O’Leaver’s tonight.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

This may be the year I return to SXSW. Two Omaha bands already have been invited to the Austin party in March: High Up and Closeness. No surprise, really, considering they’re probably the best indie bands going from ’round these parts. To the best of my knowledge, both bands are still without a label, which could all change after the festival.

Looking at the first wave of artists invited to SXSW, a few others stood out: The Drums, Joan of Arc, our old friends Minus the Bear and Thigh Master from Australia, which is in the early running for best band name at SXSW 2017. Read the whole list here.

The deciding factor regarding my participation may be if Saddle Creek hosts a showcase this year. They skipped last year, but the label has a rather rich new stable of artists  — Sam Evian, Big Thief, Hop Along — not to mention comp reissues for The Faint and Bright Eyes. Todd Fink will be in Austin for Closeness; imagine what a Faint show would be like at SXSW…

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The Saddle Creek Shop is having a big clearance sale this week. It’s an effort to make room for “an exciting new business.” They’re keeping the name of that new business on the down low (I’ve got a feeling something big is brewing).

In the mean time, the store has 40% or more off non-Saddle Creek vinyl stock. That’s quite a discount. I’m surprised Homer’s or Almost Music didn’t sweep in, make an offer and take the whole thing off their hands and resell it at a profit. Well, their loss is your gain. The shop is open daily through Friday until 6.

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Maria Taylor, In the Next Life (2016, Flower Moon)

Maria Taylor released the first single off her upcoming album, a song called “If Only,”  via Stereogram this morning. Her old pal Conor Oberst provides guest vocals. Taylor’s new album, In the Next Life, comes out Dec. 9 on her own Flower Moon Records.

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Tonight, Alkaline Trio’s Dan Andriano brings his solo set to O’Leaver’s. You read about Dan here yesterday. Opening the show is our very own Ted Stevens, along with Dan P (of MU330) and Derek Grant (of Alkaline Trio). $12, 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.

Dan Andriano in the Emergency Room plays O’Leaver’s tomorrow night, Oct. 19.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Dan Andriano is probably best known for his role as vocalist/bassist for seminal ’90s pop-punk band Alkaline Trio, for which he’s still very much a member. The official name of his solo project is Dan Andriano in the Emergency Room, a moniker in which he released his most recent album, Party Adjacent (2015, Asian Man).

Produced by Jeff Rosenstock and influence by the likes of Elvis Costello and Paul Westerberg, Party Adjacent is more more mainstream and radio-friendly than the harder stuff heard on Alk Trio releases, and that’s just the way Dan wants it.

I caught up with Dan to get his take on the ol’ Ten Questions survey. Here ya go:

1. What is your favorite album?

Dan Andriano: The Queen Is Dead by The Smiths

2. What is your least favorite song?

“She’ll Be Comin Round The Mountain”

3. What do you enjoy most about being in a band?

Traveling, making up and playing songs, winding up in bizarre situations.

4. What do you hate about being in a band?

I don’t really hate anything about it… but it’s a little disappointing when you book a tour, get all excited to see some far off part of the world. And then, once you get there, not having enough time to actually see it.

5. What is your favorite substance (legal or illegal)?

Hard to say… what was the bad terminator in T2 made out of?

6. In what city or town do you love to perform?

Pretty much anywhere that’ll have me! Chicago is home so that’s really nice…

7. What city or town did you have your worst gig (and why)? 

8. Are you able to support yourself through your music? If so, how long did it take to get there; if not, how do you pay your bills?

I feel very fortunate to say yes… For now, anyway. I got a head start on touring with a band when I was still in high school, and I think I was quitting my last job when I was 22.

9. What one profession other than music would you like to attempt; what one profession would you absolutely hate to do?

I think I’d like to be a chef… but I’m not sure I could handle the stress.  And, I could never be one of those guys that has to put on a HazMat suit and go in a clean up a house after a super hoarder has died…

10. What are the stories you’ve heard about Omaha, Nebraska?

I can’t say I’ve heard any! But I’ve been to Omaha and it rules… people are always super nice, and really appreciative of bands coming through. There’s been such a great underground music scene there for decades, it’s really great to roll through and try and channel some of that energy… See you there!

Dan Andriano in the Emergency Room plays with Dan P (of MU330), Derek Grant (of Alkaline Trio) and Ted Stevens (of Cursive) Wednesday, Oct. 19, at O’Leaver’s, 1322 So. Saddle Creek Rd. Tickets are $10 Adv/$12 DOS. Showtime is 9 p.m. For more information, go to liveatoleavers.com. 

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That one above is tomorrow night. Tonight at fabulous O’Leaver’s Lung headlines. The duo consists of Daisy Caplan of Foxy Shazam and electric cellist/vocalist Kate Wakefield. Bonghammer and Trench open. $5, 9 p.m.

Also tonight, LA ska/punk band The Interrupters headlines at Lookout Lounge with Bad Cop / Bad Cop and Mad Dog & the 20/20s. $14, 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 © 2016 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.