The Good Life at Maha Music Festival, 08/15/15. The band plays tonight at fabulous O’Leaver’s.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

It’s “Cyber Monday,” whatever that’s supposed to mean. But who has money left over from this weekend? If you do, a few indie record labels are offering discounts today, including Saddle Creek (20% off). There’s no better time to buy that coveted Bright Eyes box set.

Tonight is one of the year’s biggest Thanksgiving shows that just so happens to be taking place after Thanksgiving. Tim Kasher and his crew from The Good Life are in town tonight, playing at fabulous O’Leaver’s. The band has been on the road supporting their last album, Everybody’s Coming Down (Saddle Creek, 2015).

Sayeth the band via Facebook: “Almost 3 years ago we decided it was time to write, record and tour after a 7-year break! Tonight is our last show for the foreseeable future! Please come join us one last time as we close the chapter on this incredible journey!” Who’s responsible for all those exclamation points? Roger?

Joining them is everyone’s favorite Nebraska ex-pat, Jake Bellows, and Philly/NYC band Field Mouse (Top Shelf Records). All for a mere $10. Expect a crowd. The fun starts at 9.

Also tonight, Florida emo band Copeland (Tooth & Nail) play The Waiting Room with Rae Cassidy. $22, 8:30 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.

The Good Life are back in the saddle again…

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

My feature story/interview with members of The Good Life for The Reader is on newsstands now and online right here. The band talks about their return, their new record (and what it means) and where the band fits in today’s music.

From the article:

He pointed to a number of Omaha bands influenced by ’90s rock, such as Noah’s Ark Was a Spaceship and See Through Dresses. The difference between The Good Life playing “120-Minutes-style” alternative rock versus those bands, Kasher said, is “we’re actually from that era.”

Read the rest here. Everybody’s Coming Down really is a great album and a departure for the band. As described in the article, there’s virtually no acoustic instruments on this record. It rocks more than any past Good Life record and as much as any Cursive album, though it’s not nearly as abrasive. Favorite tracks are “The Troubadour’s Green Room,” “Everybody,” “Holy Shit” and closer “Midnight Is Upon Us,” but it’s all good, and in some ways, more cohesive than a typical “concept album.” Read about it.

BTW, The Good Life kicks off their international tour at this year’s Maha Music Festival Aug. 15. Tickets are still available (for now). Kasher chimes in on Maha in my Over the Edge column in this month’s Reader. Look for it on newsstands, or wait ’til the column goes on line later this week…

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Holly Miranda returns to Omaha tonight, this time to The Slowdown. I interviewed Miranda (via email) five years ago in support of a show at The Waiting Room. The inspirational line from that story:

…Miranda did say how much success in the music business depends on talent and how much depends on lucky breaks and Kanye flukes. “You’ll need a LOT of both, and a strong sense of self,” she replied. “If you don’t know who you are in this industry, someone else is going to tell you who you are and they probably won’t get it quite right.”

No kidding. Read the rest of story from March 2010 here. Toronto’s Marnie Herald opens. $10, 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 © 2015 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.