Heavy Clippings at Goatfest, March 9, 2024.

By Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

This year’s honorary Goatfest goat, Linda, was a sort of goat-ette — a miniature version of a goat whose cuteness was amplified by the diaper it proudly wore as it walked around the room adjacent to Scriptown brewery’s main room. A steady stream of parents hurriedly led their own “kids” to see Linda, forced to walk in front of the bands, the childrend with their tiny hands over their tiny ears. 

Goatfest could become one of those quirky events that cities boast about in their Chamber of Commerce write-ups – a combination beer bust, rock show and livestock display, hosted annually just before St. Patrick’s Day. Or even better, they should hold it monthly on every Second Saturday as part of the new Blackstone pseudo event, that, by the looks of the crowds in the streets, is off to a roaring start. 

Heavy Clippings was already deep in their set when we arrived, playing behind a large crowd bunched in the back and circling Scriptowns enormous bar. The band consists of two former members of the band Yuppies — Noah Sterba and Jeff Sedrel — along with Vince Franco and Tanner Rogerson, or as one person described them, “guys who used to hang out at Almost Music.” Stylistically, they play hypnotic post-punk, a sort of Midwestern version of Lewsberg or The Feelies with Sterba providing just the right amount of coffee-shop folk drawl. 

I don’t believe the band has any recordings, or at least any online, which is a shame (Sterba, btw, has a cassette out on Chris Fischer’s Unread Records). They sound like they should be playing either at Grapefruit Records downtown alongside Simon Joyner or on the soundtrack to your favorite just-discovered indie film. Either way, I’d see them again tomorrow if they were playing somewhere…

Head of Femur at Goatfest, March 9, 2024.

On the other hand, you’ll be seeing a lot more from Head of Femur. Frontman Matt Focht announced that the band was playing a ton of new songs from their upcoming album, and I have it on good authority that the record will be released on a long-standing, proper indie label in the very near future. 

Playing as a five-piece with Focht in the frontman pocket, the band ripped into a fresh set of proggy post-punk rock songs that were equal parts tuneful and challenging. Focht has a lilting, mewing voice that rides atop the sometimes complicated rhythms and melodies that are unafraid to take a quick left turn in the middle of a jam. No doubt these songs will sound completely different when heard through headphones. 

Highlights included “Tomato Party” and “Gravitational F’s,” whose names I only know because the band had their boldly printed setlist lying on the floor in front of where they played. Focht is a long-time Linoma indie music veteran, known as much for his work playing drums with Bright Eyes in the early days as for his Head of Femur output. When will this new album be released? I’ll let you know when I know.

As for Goatfest, like I said, I’d love to see Scriptown make live music a regular weekend-afternoon thing. This gig always feels like a South By Southwest day party (in the best way), with the crowd enjoying good music along with Scriptown’s delectable beers and now also smoked meats from Lazy Buffalo BBQ. After meeting Linda, here’s hoping the BBQ place keeps goat off the menu.

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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 © 2024 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

By Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

A snow Friday in March? No, thank you…

Tonight (Friday) at The Sydney in Benson, Indian Caves headlines with Better in Eleven and Midwest Dilemma. The listing says 8 p.m., which is early for a Sidney show, so plan accordingly. $10.

The weather should turn around in time for Goatfest tomorrow afternoon (Saturday) at Scriptown Brewery in The Blackstone District. Great beer goes well with rock music, this time from the legendary Omaha/Lincoln/Chicago project Head of Femur. Joining them is a local indie supergroup Heavy Clippings that includes Noah Sterba and Jeff Sedrel of Yuppies with Vince Franco and Tanner Rogerson. I include my favorite Yuppies track below for reference purposes only. And, like last year, there will be goats! As well as smoked meats from Lazy Buffalo BBQ. Music runs 3 to 5 p.m. and the whole dang thing is free. 

Than later Saturday night, DIY venue The Blindspot, is hosting Rapid City “country band for the gays and theys,” Diaphane. The project of singer/songwriter Kyle Blessing wasn’t always a cowboy outfit. 2022’s Portraits (Bathtub Records) was a stylistic indie record, which is why I include two clips from these folks. Also on the bill is Lincoln “alternative garbage roots” band Wicked Bones. Des Moines indie duo Munk Rivers opens at 7:30 p.m. The Blindspot is located at 619 So. 20th St. Isn’t it time you checked it out? Tickets are $10. 

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 © 2024 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

It’s been a long, strange week. Anyway… onto the weekend, and it starts with a couple shows tonight and a “fest” (of sorts) tomorrow. 

Two new touring indie bands I’ve never heard of are playing tonight at Reverb Lounge. The Collection is an indie-pop six-piece from Saxapahaw, North Carolina, whose last EP, Rose Colored Glasses, was released on Nettwerk this past January. Not a shitload of information about them anywhere, yet here they are, on tour. 

Opening the show is Mom Rock, an indie-pop trio that formed at Boston College and was featured as a “hot band” in the 2022 Rolling Stone “Hot Issue.” Hey, that’s got to be worth something, right? Latest single, “Bullseye” was released this past February. $15, 8 p.m.

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Also tonight, Durham, NC, band The Pinkerton Raid is playing at Kinkaider Brewing Co., 2279 So. 67th St. in Aksarben Village. I didn’t know this new brewery was even hosting live shows. The Spill calls the band “a towering forest of indie rock with a timbre of folk that shadows Langhorne Slim, Cold War Kids and The Killers.” Actually, they kind of remind me of early Okkervil River. Singer/songwriter Aage Birch and Cincinnati’s Nicholas Johnson open at 8 p.m. And it’s free, which leaves you more cast to buy Kinkaider beer. 

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Tomorrow (Saturday), of course, is GoatFest at Scriptown Brewery in Blackstone. Think of it as your very own SXSW day party as it’s going on in the afternoon, starting at noon (with food for sale from Lazy Buffalo BBQ), a new seasonal beer on tap (along with others) and, reportedly, goats (yes, goats), and best of all, music from psych-rock garage marvels Those Far Out Arrows and hot-as-a-blister Bad Bad Men. It’s free and music starts at 3 p.m.

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Saturday night it’s the Celtic-punk of LA’s Flogging Molly at The Admiral. The band is fronted by former Fastway frontman Dave King and has been making every day St. Patrick’s Day since 1993.  Their latest single, “’Til the Anarchy’s Restored,” was released this past February on Rise Records. Punkers Anti-Flag and Skinny Lister also are on the bill. $45, 8 p.m.

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Also Saturday night, a rare live show at fabulous O’Leaver’s with B.B. Sledge, The Bedrock (“Like an overall-clad Moses descended from a mountain top, barefoot and grisly, songwriter Edward Spencer delivers heavy truth in his lyrics. Combine that with his Morrison-esque baritone and flashes of a 70’s-era Springsteen howl and it’s showtime.”) and Saltwater Sanctuary (Justin Wallin w/effects pedals). Look, I don’t really know who these bands are, but it doesn’t really matter because if you’re considering a show at O’Leaver’s, you’re probably already drunk. $10, 9 p.m.

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Also Saturday night, The Slowdown is hosting a four-band emo show headlined by Nashville band Free Throw (Triple Crown Records) with Can’t Swim, Equipment and Early Humans. Strangely, all the bands’ frontmen have that same snarky emo voice that emo fans seem to love. Still, I’d rather go to this show than to an “Emo Night.” $25, 7:30 p.m. 

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And finally Sunday night, The Sydney in Benson continues their late-shows-on-school-nights series with self-proclaimed queer rock band Rodeo Boys, who “combine Southern twang and 90s grunge in true lonesome and ornery fashion.” They’re from Lancing, by the way. Hussies open at 8 p.m. $10. 

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 © 2023 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.