311 circa 1993. The band plays tonight at The Astro Amphitheater.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Get ready for the last hot weekend of the year…

Over at The Waiting Room tonight, Oklahoma City noise band Chat Pile headlines. A metal band at their core, I usually wouldn’t mention them on this blog, but there are times when something beyond the usual goon-rock growling slips through in their recordings that makes me think they might actually have a sense of humor. Frontman Raygun Busch is at his best on tracks like “grimace_smoking_weed.jpeg” and “Mask,” where he vacillates between spoken word and screaming over rhythm-heavy head banging, reminscent of Ross Farrar (Ceremony) or our old pal Tim Moss (Ritual Device). Their latest single was released on metal label The Flenser. Heavy stuff. Nerver and Nightosphere also are on the bill. $25, 8 p.m.

Meanwhile, tonight The Astro Amphitheater kicks into high gear with 311. I am shocked (shocked!) that this concert has not sold out… yet. Listen, since the band got its start in the early ‘90s, there has been a love/hate relationship with the Omaha music scene. I’ve always thought part of the animosity stemmed from their success prior to moving to Van Nuys (or wherever they live in California these days).

That animosity is captured in this 1993 cover story from The Note with the headline: “Sometimes it Pays to be an Asshole,” which you can still read online right here.

My take: They are/were a talented bunch of dudes, that SA was a better frontman that Nick, that P-Nut really can “beat that thang.” In recent years, drummer Chad Sexton has been under fire for being associated with various online right-wing conspiracies, which is more of a lessen about keeping your bandmates off social media. Do I listen to their music? No. But I did have fun at one of their Ranch Bowl shows around the time that article was published, or as the article goes:

I asked the guy next to me what he thought of the band. “I hate this kind of music,” he yelled, hurting my ear. “but I’ve got to admit, this is a blast.”

I wish them only the best. I hear Nick is now a part owner of the Omaha Union soccer club. AWOLNATION and Blame My Youth also are on the bill. 7 p.m. start time? Tickets range in price from $49 to $129 (and higher for VIP stuff). More at The Astro website. The Astro keeps its momentum front and center with The Gaslight Anthem tomorrow night.

Also tonight, local band Fox headlines at Reverb Lounge with Peach Paw and Matt Whipkey (joined on stage with guitarist extraordinaire Mike Friedman). $7, 8 p.m.

That’s not all. Tonight over at B-Bar, 4330 Leavenworth, NYC guy from Omaha, Stathi, is playing a “home team gig” that starts at 8 p.m. No price listed.

Pickings are much slimmer Saturday. The only show on my radar is Mesa Buoy at Pageturners Lounge. Mesa Buoy is a project led by guitarist James Schroeder, whose Covid-era debut album featured a plethora of the city’s finest talent including Kevin Donahue, Patrick Newberry, Megan Siebe, Colin Dockworth and Michael Overfield. Leaves Brown also is on the bill and the show is a benefit “to support Kupo’s daughter,” so no cover but $10 donation is suggested. Starts at 8 p.m.

Finally, Sunday is the annual Porchfest event held in the Gifford Park neighborhood at 33rd and California streets. The event is as it’s described — a series of performances hosted on porches throughout the neighborhood, but also with the Omaha Mobile Stage set up at Yates Illuminates. Every year the schedule and assortment of acts gets more diverse. This year includes Las Cruxes, Mitch Gettman, B.B. Sledge and a ton more. The full schedule and details are available at the Porchfest website.

And that’s all I got. If I missed your event, 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 © 2023 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

No national indie shows this weekend. Hey, we got Black Midi last weekend, right? Be thankful for at least a couple decent touring indie shows per month. (Who remembers the old days, when we were all stretched between multiple touring indie shows per night on weekends?). 

Tonight, local band Fox plays at Reverb Lounge. Who’s in Fox? Hard to say when they don’t have a website and the personnel or any information about the band isn’t listed on any of the online show promotion. No matter, I recognize Jessica Errett and Marta Fiedler in the promo photo. A little digging revealed that Jason Domonkas and Jesse Otterson also are in the band, but no idea what their music sounds like, except the description “We play love songs to ghosts,” so… take a chance? Also on the bill are Ojai and Ebba Rose. $8, 8 p.m. 

Similar situation tomorrow night (Saturday) where you’ve got Begonia playing at The Sydney. Who is Begonia? Hard to say. No description on any of the promo materials. I guess “for fans only”? Luckily, you have Lazy-i to dig around and find out for you. 

Begonia is an “indie pop powerhouse” launched into the Canadian music scene with her “critically acclaimed” 2017 EP Lady in Mind. OK, that doesn’t ring a bell. Her website says she’s “Canada’s breakout alt-diva” who has been nominated for a JUNO award. Opening is Seattle duo Dooms, which includes Katlyn Conroy, an ex-member of old friends Cowboy Indian Bear. There’s also a TBD on the bill. $12, 9 p.m.  

And that’s all I got. Hey, at least we got Black Midi last Saturday, right? If I missed your show put it in the comments section. Have a great weekend.

Speaking of nostalgia…

Ten years ago this weekend Judgement Day played at O’Leaver’s and I just happened to capture one of the songs. Enjoy.

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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 © 2022 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

We might as well get an early start on the weekend.

Tonight, singer-songwriter Mitch Gettman is headlining a gig at Slowdown Jr. The show is a celebration of his debut full-length album, We Are the Mad Ones, released in December 2011. Your $12 ticket will get you a copy of the CD. Joining Mitch tonight is NYC-based Omaha expatriate STATHI, who’s last album was the tasty Post-Truth EP. Show starts at 8 p.m.

Tomorrow night (Thursday) Spanish-language punk band Las Cruxes is hosting a cassette-release show at Pageturners. The band is earning a rep as one of the best new acts out of Omaha. How little ol’ Pageturners will contain them is a mystery. Joining them are fellow rockers Cat Piss and Nowhere. No price listed (this one may be free!), show starts at 8:30.

Also Thursday night, kicky Omaha indie act Ojai headlines at Reverb Lounge. The trio is fronted by singer/songwriter Michael Hulstein. I’m just now listening to their 2020 album View from the Chandelier and liking what I’m hearing. Also on the bill is FOX, and Mitch Gettman (probably playing the same set he’s playing tonight!). $7, 8 p.m.

Then comes New Year’s Eve — a night dedicated to amateurs, cover bands and those looking for drunken love. There is one show of interest — Smutthole Burpers, a Butthole Surfers cover band, is playing at fabulous O’Leaver’s. The band features members of The Natural States, Bokr Tov and Boner Killerz, according to the Facebook invite. There will also be karaoke and free headache-inducing champagne at midnight. Hey man, the whole thing is free, and starts at 9 p.m.

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And for those of you wondering where your copy of the Lazy-i Best of 2021 Compilation CD is, don’t fret. I didn’t forget you. It turns out that even little ol’ me is being impacted by supply chain issues. I won’t get my discs until sometime after the New Year, which means you won’t get yours until after that.

That gives anyone wanting to enter the drawing for a free copy even more time to enter! The collection includes songs by Hand Habits, Mdou Moctar, Nation of Language, Turnstile, Claud, Low, Sufjan Stevens, Parquet Courts, Brad Hoshaw, Spoon, Azure Ray and more.  The full track listing is here.

To get your name in the hat, merely send an email with your mailing address to tim.mcmahan@gmail.com. Hurry, contest deadline is Jan. 10.

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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.