Snake Island at The Waiting Room, Nov. 8, 2013.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

With bands rotating on and off stage playing only 20-minute sets, last night’s Flyover Country CD release show felt like a social gathering more than a rock concert. The smallish crowd of fewer than 100 got a taste of a handful of bands with tracks on the CD. The two highlights I caught were Snake Island playing a blistering, well-crafted set of garage-ish rock that was too well-played, too “put together’ to really be considered “garage.” The word “slick” came to mind, along with “professional” and “tight.”

Dereck Higgins at The Waiting Room Nov. 8, 2013.

The other highlight was composer/performer and local legend (he probably gets tired of hearing that description) Dereck Higgins, who took the stage behind a keyboard and laptop and performed throbbing, synth-fueled multi-layered dance tracks that got a handful in the small crowd moving their asses — no easy feat in flyover country. Cool stuff that anyone who grew up listening to Factory dance records, or bands like New Order or Depeche Mode would appreciate. Higgins said the movie soundtrack was a taste of the material he put together during those creative sessions. Look for a new full-length Higgins release in the near future. I’d love to see how his stuff would translate at House of Loom played to an audience that came to dance.

A final footnote on Flyover Country: The film’s premiere is tonight and tomorrow at The Omaha Community Playhouse. Film rolls at 7:30, and tix are available from flyovermovie.com.

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Way back in September, I wrote a column about a Springfield, MO band called The Gardenheads. The piece, which you can read online here, was a review of the band’s LP release Growing Season, wherein I referenced Big Star, Alex Chilton, Matthew Sweet, The dBs and Wilco, among others. I called the record one of the best I’ve heard this year, and certainly one of my favorites. I never expected to hear from the band again, let alone see them play.

Well, lo and behold, The Gardenheads are playing tonight at The Barley Street Tavern. The band is opening for The Beat Seekers, which means if you want to catch them, you’ll have to get there early. $5, 9 p.m. Funny how these things happen.

Also tonight, David Dondero returns to fabulous O’Leaver’s topping a stellar line-up that includes Brad Hoshaw and Ted Stevens Unknown Project. Dondero is on the road supporting his latest album, This Guitar, which was just released on vinyl by Unrequited Records. $7, 9 p.m. O’Leaver’s is  selling tickets to this one, which you can buy online right here.

Meanwhile, over at The Sydney, Mark Stuart and the Bastard Sons performs with The Willards and Randy Burk. $5, 9:30 p.m.

Saturday’s highlight is Junkfest #19 at The Sweatshop Gallery. The 11-band line-up is a celebration of Unread Records, which you read about in detail here. Among the performers: Furniture Huschle, Ramon Speed, David Kenneth Nance, Spirit Duplicator, I Am the Lake of Fire, William Wesley & the Tiny Sockets, Simon Joyner, Charlie McAlister, Hossflesh, Church of Gravitron and Nathan MA. 6 p.m., $7. Come celebrate the cassette culture and some fine, fine music.

Also Saturday night, Snake Island plays at O’Leaver’s with Ex Nuns and Pisswalker. $5, 9:30 p.m.

Oh yeah, one more thing… They’re calling these folks the return of emo, and judging by their name, I can see why. Sunday at Slowdown Jr. it’s The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die (yes, that’s the name). Pitchfork compares their new album Whenever, If Ever (Top Shelf) to Bright Eyes and Arcade Fire in this 7.8-rated review. Opening is Better Friend and I Forgot To Love My Father. $8, 7 p.m. Bring a hankie.

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The latest clue regarding O’Leaver’s Black Friday concert…

Speaking of O’Leaver’s, I receive yet another clue about their mysterious Black Friday show in the form of the graphic on the left. No idea what it means. I did receive some other data regarding this show last night, basically confirming that no, this is not a warm-up show for Cursive’s December residency at The Waiting Room, nor is InDreama on the bill. Others have speculated (correctly) who one of the bands will be. See if you can figure it out.

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Did I leave anything off the list? Put it in the comments section. Have a fine 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

In the Better-Late-Than-Never Department…

Tonight at The Waiting Room it’s the official release show for the motion picture soundtrack to the film Flyover Country.  While I was unwilling to weigh in with an opinion of the film in this write-up in The Reader, I will tell you that my favorite part of this film is its soundtrack, specifically the work of legendary Omaha musician Dereck Higgins.  Dereck provided the primary score, which is upbeat, moody, an experience in itself.

But in addition to Dereck, the soundtrack features the following songs and artists, making the Flyover Country soundtrack one of the better local music comps I’ve heard in a long time:

“Give Me Light” BLUEBIRD; “Enzymes” DIGITAL LEATHER; “Shine” DOMESTICA; “Airplane Over Me” SUZY DREAMER & HER NIGHTMARES; “Try Too Hard” MITCH GETTMAN; “Hanging Out” GREEN TREES; “Cruel Heart” THE KARMA LOGS; “Details” LONELY ESTATES; “The House” LOW HORSE; “Can’t Get Off That Train” MEZCAL BROTHERS; “Blue View” SPIKE NELSON; “Just You Wait” THE RENFIELDS; “Drinkin Boots” ROCK PAPER DYNAMITE; “Do What You Feel” EVAN SCOTT; “Symptoms” THE SEEN; “Oh Lord” SNAKE ISLAND; “Till Death” TARA VAUGHAN

According to One Percent Productions, tonight’s album release show will feature performances by Dereck Higgins, Snake Island, Blue Bird, Rock Paper Dynamite, Lonely Estates “and more.” $7, 8 p.m.

But that’s not the only thing happening tonight. Down at Slowdown Jr., New Jersey punkers Screaming Females (Don Giovanni Records) headlines a show with one of my favorite new local bands, Gordon. $10, 9 p.m.

Check out some Screaming Females below:

Finally, over at fabulous O’Leaver’s Denver party-electro-spazz-funtime-party rockers The Photo Atlas returns with John Klemmensen and The Party and The Knew. $5, 9:30 p.m.

Check out some Photo Atlas:

Let the weekend begin a day early, I say…

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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

It’s Halloween which is usually a night to avoid the bars for obvious reasons, not the least of which is that most clubs celebrate with bad cover bands and costume contests. Thankfully, most of that took place last weekend, and as a result, there’s actually some fun stuff happening tonight that doesn’t involve dressing up like a zombie (Show of hands, who’s getting sick of the zombie bullshit? That’s what I thought. “Zombie walks” are this generation’s renaissance fairs).

Tonight, House of Loom is hosting “Solid Plackout” — a show featuring Digital Leather, Lincoln geek-rocker Plack Blague and the incomparable Solid Goldberg. Added to the bill is Superstar + Star, a one-man dance explosion (check out the video below). All for $8, or $5 with Facebook RSVP (go here for that). The fun starts at 9.

I’m told by promoter Chris Aponick that you’re not required to wear a costume to attend the Loom show. Chis is calling it a “can’t be bothered with costumes” event. On the other hand, if you feel the need to wear a costume, Chris tells me that none of the bands will make fun of you from stage. I will go in my traditional costume — off-duty cop.

Also tonight, ’80s MTV icons Living Color plays at The Waiting Room. You remember “Cult of Personality,” don’t you? How could you forget? The song was on heavy rotation on rock channels and MTV for about five years (along with Aerosmith’s “Love in an Elevator” — often played back to back). Voodoo Method opens. $25, and don’t be surprised if it sells out because Omaha loves its legacy acts.

There also are parties at The Sydney and Barley Street, and Boo Goo (with M34N ST33T) at The Slowdown.

Whatever you do, remember it’s amateur night. And expect cops…

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In this week’s column, a look at what’s involved with making a local independent film from the viewpoint of a producer. You can read it in this week’s issue of The Reader or online right here.

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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.