by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

So what’s going on musicwise on this 3-day weekend?

Well Aimed Arrows, Adult Entertainment (2012, self released)

We’ve been hearing about the release of Well Aimed Arrows’ debut, Adult Entertainment, for a long, long time. Well, tonight’s the night. The band is having its official vinyl release show at Slowdown Jr. with Millions of Boys and Dads. $7, 9 p.m. Before you go, check out the entire WAA album right here on their Bandcamp page.

Also tonight, The Drowning Men play a free show at The Sydney with Lightning Bug. Drowning Men is the latest in a long line of Arcade Fire-inspired bands, this time from Oceanside, CA.  Check out “Get a Heart” via SoundCloud below. BTW, The Sydney has been ramping up its live show calendar lately, including a Dave Dondero show booked for June 2.

The Drowning Men, “Get a Heart”:

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/9159544″ iframe=”true” /]
Saturday night is that big Rebates reunion show at The Brothers, which I told you about last week. A brief refresher: The Rebates is considered by some to be Omaha’s first punk band, whose members included Dave “Stinky LePew” Wees, who would go on to become a member of Buck Naked and the Bare Bottom Boys. Stinky, will join fellow Rebates Steve Warsocki and Tim Drelicharz (later of The Click) for the Brothers gig, which is a warmup for a show Sunday at The Joyo Theater in Lincoln with Pogrom/Ex-Machina, The Spastic Apes, Sacred Cows, Informed Dissent, Lon’s Garden and Battle Ship Gray. Joining The Rebates at Saturday’s Brothers gig is Bullet Proof Hearts and The Bob Garfield Experience. $7, 9 p.m., once in a lifetime event…

Also Saturday night, Kite Pilot returns to fabulous O’Leaver’s with Video Ranger and I Am the Navigator. $5, 9:30 p.m.

If that wasn’t enough, Gus & Call have scored a play for the Great Plains Theatre Conference, which will be performed on the opening night of the conference Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. at House of Loom. Titled Muazzez, the play was written by Mac Wellman and directed by Elena Araoz. More info here. While your at the website, check out the Playfest schedule, which features local musicians including Shane Aspegren (the Berg Sans Nipple), Pearl Boyd and Bill Hoover, David Downing, The Answer Team, George Walker and  Gus & Call.

Finally, Austin-based indie band Nelo plays at Slowdown Jr. Find out more at their very cool website. $11, 9 p.m.

Finally Sunday night The Heartless Bastards perform at The Waiting Room with These United States. 9 p.m. Save a couple bucks and get your tix today: $12 adv./$14 DOS.

Have a fantastic Memorial Day.

* * *

Howard at The Slowdown, April 13, 2012.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

There was a respectable crowd of nearly 200 on hand for last Friday night’s Omaha Girls Rock (OGR) benefit at Slowdown, performed on the club’s “big stage.” When I arrived, most of the stage floor was filled for Howard. The most notable thing about the trio is frontwoman Anna McClellan, a little pixie with an ’80s bowl cut, oval glasses last seen in the movie “Tootsie,” and a big voice that’s a cross between Ethel Merman and Morrissey. With keyboards, guitar and drums, you could argue the arrangements were a bit spare, but McClellan filled the void with that booming voice of hers. Howard is getting people’s attention. From what I was told, the crowd was at its zenith during their set.

Gus & Call at The Slowdown, April 13, 2012.

The numbers waned slightly before Gus & Call went on stage, a pity since the band sounded like it was playing mostly new material — I didn’t recognize any of the songs. The set reflects a change in course for a band that used to be characterized by its slow, droning, electric-prairie style (call it boot-gaze). Friday night the songs were all upbeat and roaring and steps away from the the rural/roots style they’d been known for. The extended jams bordered on psychedelic, even prog, though G&C doesn’t play around with awkward time or key changes (thank god). G&C is one of the most promising acts from the area and deserves national attention. So how do they get it?

BTW, as noted, Friday’s OGR event also was a contest among all four performing bands (Sun Settings and The Betties played first). Each act had a week to write an original song based on the theme “superstition.” The crowd was polled for the best, and the winning band was Sun Settings. Their prize — they get to send one lucky girl to OGR camp. Congrats, SS. Too bad I wasn’t there in time to catch your set…

* * *

The MAHA Music Festival folks began selling $20 discount tickets to the Aug. 11 event this morning, and though they haven’t even announced a line-up, they sold out by noon. $35 ticket/t-shirt/poster combos are still available. Go to mahamusicfestival.com or their Facebook page for more info and check out their sweet new logo via Oxide Design. Look for a MAHA lineup announcement Sunday.

* * *

Tonight at The Waiting Room it’s NYC band Caveman, whose new record, CoCo Beware, was released this year on Fat Possum. With Betsy Wells. $10, 9 p.m.

* * *

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 © 2012 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

Gus & Call at Slowdown Jr., Dec. 1, 2011.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Last night. Slowdown. First of the series of Gus & Call “residency” shows. But last night’s show also was the band’s CD release show for Will Wait ‘Til the Weather Breaks. And as everyone knows, the two best crowds most bands ever see are their debut CD release show and their “farewell” show. Scratch that. Make it three. The third is the inevitable “reunion” show.

Nik Fackler of InDreama at Slowdown Jr. 12/1/11.

So the crowd was pretty good last night at Slowdown, with everyone in place around the stage for opening band InDreama, a band that has grown to six players, all centered around frontman wunderkind Nik Fackler. InDreama is Fackler’s vision, a vision that’s constantly evolving, if last night is any indication. His set’s initial few songs were very quiet, very withdrawn and very trippy, with Fackler practically whispering into the microphone repeated lines like (and I’m paraphrasing here), “I think I’ve fallen in love again” while his band made droning psychedelic sounds. Included in that band is Omaha legend Dereck Higgins on keyboards and bass, human wildcard Sam Martin on guitar and a guy that played what I guess was a synthesizer in the form of a knock-off iPad, with a cord running from it — there is no “cool” way to play something like that, instead it looked like he was checking his email or Facebook news feed.

Their set’s centerpiece is (surprise!) “Reprogram,” the proggy, thick-beated head trip that was released as part of a 4-song split 7-inch earlier this year. Judging by the crowd response from the song’s opening synth drones, people are beginning to recognize it. It’s a good song.

But the best moment was the set closer, a new tune that Fackler said was the first that represented a collaborative effort by everyone in the band — a band effort — and as such was the most complicated, surreal performance of the evening. Fackler and Co. seemed to be channeling Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd psych rock combined with ‘60s and ‘70s prog from the likes of King Crimson, ELP, Yes, Genesis, Colosseum and Tomorrow, strange and wonderful with odd breaks and time shifts and pointed guitar lines. Where is this all coming from?

One final note: There were no video or lighting effects like in past InDreama shows. I guess Fackler and the band are finally getting comfortable with letting the music speak for itself.

They were followed by Gus & Call, and here I’m going to make what could be an unpopular comment. Their new album — as good a collection of wintry, reflective mood-folk and slide-guitar-fueled southern rock as you’ll fund anywhere — misses in terms of capturing the band’s live energy. I know, that’s not an uncommon problem. And it’s not as noticeable on golden-light autumnal tracks like “Grey Blues” or the delicious harmonies on “52nd,” in fact, you can hear their pretty words better on the record than you could in last night’s mix.

But when it came to the heavier stuff, specifically their showcase number, “To the Other Side of Jordan,” the recording can’t match the live version. I’ve seen these guys perform that song four or five times now, each performance was unique, all had an unbridled exuberance that flat-out can’t be heard on the record (and wouldn’t it be great if someone secretly recorded one of those live performances and released it as a 45?). Doesn’t mean the recorded version is bad, but when you hear them play it on stage it’s the second coming of the Allman Brothers Band.

Anyway, great set and great night of music. How will G&C change it up next Thursday when the theme is “Surf and Sand” and their special guests are Capgun Coup and Sun Settings? We’ll just have to wait and see.

* *

Onward to tonight and the weekend…

One of the evening’s highlights is the 9th Annual Lash Larue Toy Drive at The Waiting Room. According to the 1% website, “Since 2003, Omaha musician Larry Dunn has organized a toy drive for the children of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Pine Ridge’s Lakota Sioux community is one of the most poverty stricken communities in the United States. The children of the reservation are desperately in need of some sunshine and cheer, especially during a time of cold, harsh winds and immense desolation like winters on the reservation can be.”

Featured performers include The Filter Kings, The Mercurys and Black Top Ramblers. That’s a lot of boot-scootin’ fun for just $10 or a new, unwrapped toy of equal value. Show starts at 9 p.m. Open up your heart, fercrissakes, it’s Christmas.

Also tonight is the Dirty Flourescents CD release show at O’Leaver’s for their debut album, Cut the Line. The band — Shawn Cox (guitar, vocals), Cricket Kirk (bass) and Dave Hynek (drums) — calls their sound power trio guitar-driven ‘90s rock, and that’s a pretty apt description. Also on the bill are The Butchers, Comme Reel, Ben Brodin (who recorded DF’s album) and Melissa Dundis. 9:30 p.m., $5.

Meanwhile, down at Slowdown Jr., it’s Dangerbird recording artist The Fling with Yukon Blonde. $10, 9 p.m.

Tomorrow night’s big event is the CD release show at The Sydney for Hear Nebraska Vol. 1, of which you can read all about here. The line-up: Digital Leather, The Wagon Blasters, Domestica, Dim Light and Masses. Huge. Show is $5, starts at 10 p.m., and is the place where you can pick up copies of the limited-edition comp for just $15, all proceeds of which will benefit hearnebraska.org.

Also Saturday night, Pony Wars and Minneapolis band Idle Hands are playing at The Brothers Lounge. 10 p.m. and probably $5.

* * *

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 © 2011 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

Anonymous American perform The Replacements at Slowdown Jr., Nov. 30, 2011.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

We’ll get to the above photo in a sec, but first…

A tradition at The Reader, the writing staff has put its collective head(s) together and developed the annual “Top 20” bands list, followed by the “Next 15,” a designation that can be interpreted any way you wish. Some might say that these are the writers’ favorite bands; others might say these are the bands that made the biggest impact in 2011. I would say the list is a combination of both. No one said anything about these being the “best” local bands in 2011.

So if you pick up a fresh copy of The Reader, you’ll see the Top 20 list along with brief descriptions of each band, a limited discography and personnel. What you won’t see is the Next 15 because for reasons unbeknownst to everyone involved The Reader didn’t print them. But fear not faithful reader, because I have both lists below. Before I get to them, the usual caveat: This list is purely for fun and, of course, means nothing. It should mean nothing to those who are on or not on the list. That said, I know being excluded can sting (last year or the year before, Dan McCarthy did a playful riff on not being on the list that ran throughout an entire set at The Waiting Room. Needless to say, I’ve always included Dan on my list…).

So without further ado, below is The Reader‘s Top 20 and Next 15:

Top 20
Tim Kasher
Bright Eyes
All Young Girls Are Machine Guns
Darren Keen/The Show Is the Rainbow/etc.
Simon Joyner
Noah’s Ark Was a Spaceship
Digital Leather
Magic Slim
Emphatic
Skypiper
Conduits
Brad Cordle Band
Matt Cox
Kris Lager Band
Mynabirds
Brent Crampton
Somasphere
Yuppies
Depressed Buttons
McCarthy Trenching

Next 15
Travelling’ Mercies
Rock Paper Dynamite
Mitch Gettman
Millions of Boys
Lil Slim
Eli Mardock
Answer Team
Icky Blossoms
So-So Sailors
Voodoo Method
Back When
Machete Archive
Funk Trek
Baby Tears
Conchance
DJ Kobrakyle

And now, in the name of full disclosure, here is the Lazy-i Top 20 / Next 15 (i.e., my initial list submitted The Reader):

Top 20

Bright Eyes
Conduits
So-So Sailors
Icky Blossoms
Darren Keen
McCarthy Trenching
Simon Joyner
Tim Kasher
Digital Leather
Noah’s Ark Was a Spaceship
Skypiper
It’s True
Brent Crampton
Yuppies
Mynabirds
Eli Mardock
Gus & Call
Matt Cox Band
Ideal Cleaners
Little Brazil

Next 15

Con Dios
Fizzle Like a Flood
InDreama
Watching the Train Wreck
Peace of Shit
AYGAMG
Tilly and the Wall
Honeybee & Hers
Thunder Power
Baby Tears
Depressed Buttons
Millions of Boys
Satchel Grande
The Answer Team
Capgun Coup

*  * *

So who won last night’s Replacement challenge at Slowdown? I’m happy to say that it was a tie. As expected, Anonymous American came out of the gate with guns a-blazing, ending their set with a sweet cover of “Left of the Dial” Then on came Witness Tree. I’ve never seen these guys before, and dug what I heard (though I have no idea what their actual music sounds like). Travelling Mercies’ two songs were muddled and off-kilter. A post on Facebook this morning indicated last night’s performance may have been their last show ever. Opener Aaron Parker gets the Guts of Steel Award for his two solo acoustic numbers. It takes cajones the size of melons to go on stage first after a 123-minute tribute to The Replacements and play covers alone in front of a room filled with die-hard Replacements fans. Unfortunately, Peace of Shit and Well Aimed Arrows were no shows.

As for the film: I was sort of dreading having to sit through more than two hours of talking-head interviews by people I (mostly) didn’t know (The movie contains no music or footage of The Replacements). I was afraid I wasn’t going make it to the end. But director Gorman Borchard’s editing style kept things moving right along. The film hit its sweet spot about 60 minutes in when we started getting more detailed info about the band’s history from those who were there. Unfortunately, a series of “fan” interviews brought the film to a crawl toward the end, including an in-depth interview with some guy who grew up isolated on a farm who developed an almost cult-like love for the band’s music. So much time was spent on this guy that it took away from the film’s real focus — the band. If I were Borchard I’d cut all the fan interviews and trim the film to around 90 minutes. If he wants to land a distributor, he’s going to have to make about 30 minutes of cuts anyway.

By the way, nice crowd, at least 100.

* * *

There’s one band on my Top 20 list that you won’t find among The Readers‘ 35 — Gus & Call. Those other editors at the newspaper who mocked my inclusion will shrivel at their oversight this time next year, when Gus & Call are the “special musical guest” on Saturday Night Live. Or tonight, when Gus & Call celebrates the release of their debut album, Wait ‘Til the Weather Breaks, at The Slowdown.

The event also marks the first week of Gus & Call’s month-long residency at Slowdown. Joining them tonight are InDreama and Honeybee & Hers. Tickets are $5, but tonight if you pay $20 you get admission to all five G&C residency shows in December and a copy of the new CD.

Also tonight, ’80s punk legends The Queers are playing at The Waiting Room with Knockout, North of Grand, Cordial Spew and DSM5. 8:30 p.m., $13.

* * *

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 © 2011 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

Gus & Call at Slowdown Jr. back in March.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

The news yesterday that Gus & Call (former members of Bear Country) will have a residency at Slowdown throughout the month of December was, by itself, a big deal.

Add to that the band’s announcement that the first night of its residency, Dec. 1, will also be a CD release show for Will Wait ‘Til the Weather Breaks, their debut album recorded and mixed by AJ Mogis at ARC Studios in spring 2011.

If that wasn’t enough, the band’s residency will actually be a weekly concert series curated by Gus & Call, featuring some of the best bands in the area. Each night will have a different theme, which will influence Gus & Call’s set. Here’s the sched:

Dec. 1: Gus & Call CD release show, featuring InDreama and Honeybee & Hers.

Dec. 8: Surf & Sand, featuring Gus & Call with Capgun Coup and Sun Settings.

Dec. 15: Carmina Novum, featuring Gus & Call, Dim Light, Laura Burhenn (of The Mynabirds) and Howard.

Dec. 22: Light it Up, featuring Gus & Call, Ladyfinger, UUVVWWZ and comedy.

Dec. 29: By the Hearth & Vocalise, featuring Gus & Call, Simon Joyner & The Parachutes and one more TBA band.

And if that still wasn’t enough, famed DJ Tyrone Storm will be on hand each evening to fill the void when the stage is empty. Want a sneak peek of the new Gus & Call record? Check out classic boot-gaze Low-flavored droner “Suey,” below:

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/24551056″]

* * *

Speaking of concert series, the fine folks at Black Heart Booking are dead set on turning The Sandbox, 2406 Leavenworth St., into a regular option for rocks shows. They’ve got gigs booked there throughout the rest of the month, including tonight, when local boys Sun Settings take the stage with Chicago indie pop band Pet Lions, and a couple Omaha acts I’ve never heard of: Guts and Bones (described as “noise/spoken word”) and Smiths Guilty. All ages, 8 p.m., $8.

* * *

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 © 2011 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

The Show Is the Rainbow's Darren Keen at Dundee Day, Aug. 27, 2011.

Column 339: Dancing in the Street

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Below is a handful of images from this past weekend’s festivities. Look for a full review in this week’s column. Until then…

Mister Heavenly at The Slowdown Block Party, Aug. 26, 2011. The "indie supergroup" was more Man Man than The Shins or Modest Mouse.

The Hold Steady at The Slowdown Block Party, Aug. 26, 2011.

The Hold Steady's Craig Finn makes a point during The Slowdown Block Party, Aug. 26, 2011.

Gus & Call at Dundee Day, Aug. 27, 2011. Is this the best band on the Slumber Party Records roster? (Yes)

Digital Leather plays a rapid-fire set at Dundee Day, Aug. 27, 2011.

The Show Is the Rainbow's Darren Keen in the crowd at Dundee Day, Aug. 27, 2011.

The Show Is the Rainbow ends Dundee Day on a high note.

* * *

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 © 2010 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

Solid Goldberg at The Barley Street Tavern, May 13, 2011.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

The hype was true.

Solid Goldberg is a spectacle of most-groovy proportions. A musical head trip featuring one of the area’s — nay, one of the country’s — most ingenious musical talents. The set-up is deceptively simple: Two keyboards, a battery of effects pedals and amplifiers, a digital projector and colored lights, and Dave Goldberg. You may remember him from Full Blown or the Carsinogents or The Terminals or most recently, Box Elders. Now all by his lonesome (and loving it that way) Goldberg is free to make the music he’s always wanted to, and there’s no one to blame (or praise) but him.

Not surprisingly, he pulls it off. The core sound is a simple electronic beat layered with dense Goldberg-style psychobilly/garage/punk keyboards and his distorted, twisted, howling vocals that are part caged animal, part Elvis, part Jon Spencer. It’s groovy; as groovy as the psychedelic lighting effects that include floating dollar signs and the letter ‘g’ blasted right into Goldberg’s face. Ask Dave and he’ll tell you it’s all about the performance, but it’s the music that makes it work, driven mostly by a left hand that provides all the bottom end he needs, and more than enough to get all the other bottoms in the room shaking. Imagine Solid Goldberg leading a dance party from on top of a huge festival stage. Too bad none of the local fests have the cojones to give it a try.

Goldberg set up his rock ‘n’ roll space station not on the Barley Street Tavern’s stage, but in the back of the room, across from the soundboard. With the tables and chairs stacked up against the wall, the room felt like a rock club. Sure, the table/chair set-up is fine for acoustic gigs, but cleared out like it was Friday night, I get the feeling that they could host some sizable shows if they wanted to. The cleared-out set-up also worked well for twisted electronic metal-heads Cloven Path, who took the opportunity to shred right in the middle of the crowd.

* * *

Brad Hoshaw and the Seven Deadlies at Jake's Block Party, May 14, 2011.

Could the weather Saturday have been worse? Sure, it could have been raining or drizzling or snowing. Instead it was just overcast, windy and bone-chilling cold, made all the more painful by the prior weekend’s 90+ degree heat. The cold was almost too much to bear as I stood along with about 40 others, bent forward into a north wind that blew through Military Ave., at Jake’s “just because we can” Block Party.

By 6 p.m., Brad Hoshaw and the 7 Deadlies were rifling through a set that included some new tasty material, and closed with Hoshaw’s solo-acoustic rendition of Alanis Morissette’s “Ironic,” which he made thoroughly his own.

Matt Cox performed as a trio without a drummer, which he didn’t miss at all. I’ve been told he’s a blues guy, but he didn’t play any blues Saturday afternoon, more like C&W-inflected Americana, Hank Williams Sr./Jr. meets John Prine and a double-shot of bourbon. Word is he has a new album coming out. Looks like I’m late to the party (again).

Despite wearing an insulated wool peacoat I only had enough left to make it through one more band — Gus & Call — who continue to define their unique brand of alt-country that mixes twang with drone and feedback, or “Bootgaze” as I like to call it. I left right after their set at around 8 p.m., just as the crowd was beginning to show up. Here’s hoping the weather is better for this Saturday’s Dundee Spring Fling…

* * *

Watch your MAHA Music Festival Feed (facebook.com/MahaMusicFestival) tonight at around 9 as they announce two more main stage acts and three local bands who will be performing on the side stage, as well as all the details regarding their local showcase events. If you’re a Guided By Voices fan, chances are you’ll dig one of these main stage acts, a definite classic.

* * *

Speaking of classics, TSOL is playing tonight at The Waiting Room w/ Shot Baker, Bullet Proof Hearts, RAF and Cordial Spew — maybe the best full-out punk show of the year. $14, 8 p.m. (early start). Bring your earplugs!

Just as classic is Lucinda Williams tonight at The Slowdown. This also is an early start — 8 p.m. — with no opening act, so you better get down there on time. $30.

* * *

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 © 2011 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

Gus and Call at Slowdown Jr., March 12, 2011.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

At first glance, there’s not much difference between Bear Country and Gus & Call. Most of the folks on stage Saturday night at Slowdown Jr. looked familiar, though vocalist Susan Sanchez was gone, and I’m sure there were other personnel changes that I missed at what was their debut performance in front of a rather healthy crowd of at least 100.

They started out in yee-haw territory, real bucket o’ chicken-style country rock that made one guy in the back of the room who hadn’t seen them before snipe “This is what I’ve been missing?” The tune did sound more hoe-downish than your typical empty-prairie-at-dusk-in-the-depths-of-winter Bear Country tune; I expected someone in the crowd to start bucking around the dance floor on an imaginary horse, slapping his ass.

But as the set wore on, the band toned down its C&W and turned up the feedback, creating a new form of psychedelic, droning, alt country. Instead of “shoegaze,” call it “bootgaze” — a slower, denser sound that still held a hint of twang. I was reminded, again, of those forlorn Cowboy Junkies’ Trinity Sessions (I wonder if the band ever looked up that album after we talked about it back in December ’09). The five members formed a circle on stage and spent most of the set intensely watching each other for visual cues, a sort of human symbiotic organism formed around a nucleus of rhythm. What kept them from drowning during the quietest moments were the vivid lead vocals shared by guitarists Mike Schlesinger and James Maakestad, each with his own earthy style.

And then toward the end of all this, the band tossed a stick of nitro into the crowd called “To the Other Side of Jordan,” which is hands down the best new “rock” song I’ve heard from an Omaha band (actually, from any indie band) in a long time. Think of it as a retooling of all your favorite ’70s Ameri-rock into a crisply pressed indie package. The song started with a slide guitar part that mimiced the opening of Led Zeppelin’s “In My Time of Dying” before shifting gears with a riff that’s pure Allman Brothers meets Lynyrd Skynrd. It will make even the most stone-hearted indie music fan grin. In fact, I was looking across the crowd at one local musician notorious for his barbed shots at just about every local band that doesn’t play math punk — most of you know him, some have recorded with him — and even he couldn’t control himself, letting out a “Whoop!” toward the end of the tune along with the rest of the usually laid-back Slowdown crowd. It was an electric moment, a complete surprise, the highlight of the evening, and I was happy I was there. Welcome to the party, Gus & Call.

Simon Joyner and the Parachutes at Slowdown Jr., 3/12/11.

Simon Joyner always surrounds himself with great musicians, and his new lineup, called the Parachutes, is no different. The six-piece band included a violin/cello and one of the city’s most under-rated guitarists, Mike Friedman, on pedal steel. Simon’s usual blonde-straw cowboy hat was appropriate for a set of old-style folk-country ballads that would fit on the Opry stage, but still had that classic, desolate Simon Joyner quality that’s one part broken and two parts lonely. This was the first time I’d heard most of these songs before, and as such, they demand further examination. In some ways, the tunes reminded me of the last record (Out Into the Snow), but were shorter and more to the point, less apt to wander. In the crowd were two professional videographers, I assume a pro film crew doing a piece on Simon…

Well Aimed Arrows at Slowdown Jr., 3/12/11.

Opening the evening was Well Aimed Arrows, who played most of the songs off their forthcoming album, Adult Entertainment (which I’m told will be available sometime in May — keep your fingers crossed). WAA is a band that you can’t help but cheer for. With a sound clearly derived from post-punk bands like Fugazi, Jawbox, Wire and Gang of Four, the thinly layered four-piece takes away any scrap of excess, ratcheting their tightly honed math equations to bare white bone for a sound that’s as angular and dissonant as it is strangely infectious. When all four join together to yell out a chorus (on songs like “International Debut”) you want the crowd to yell along, too, and they probably would if they only knew the words. Maybe they will after their new record blows up.

* * *

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 © 2011 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.