by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Well, folks, we’ve officially entered the “cold, dark days of January.” It’s more than just a comment on the weather. There are only two touring indie shows this month (Bad Bat Hats at Reverb Jan 24; Pile at The Slowdown Jan. 28). 

We’re not alone regarding the lack of shows. It’s frickin’ cold out. Bands don’t want to tour in the midwest and risk dying on the highway or getting snow-trapped and being unable to continue a tour. A glance at the Minneapolis concert schedule for January shows they’re in the same boat (although they do have shows slated with Been Stellar, Jamie XX, Christian Lee Hutson, Frank Black, The Vaccines and The Get Up Kids (The Get Up Kids don’t circle back to Omaha until Feb. 21). 

We’ll just have to suck it up. And there will still be the occasional local show worth hitting. 

Tonight (Friday) Haunted Gauntlet plays at The Sydney in Benson with S1Sw and UK DJ. $10, 9 p.m. start time (by Sydney TIme). HG just released this new single on Bandcamp today. Check it out:

Also, it’s the first Friday of the month, and that means Benson First Friday! Galleries and businesses up and down Maple Street will be celebrating new artists’ openings tonight, including at Ming Toy Gallery, 6066 Maple Street, where artist Brad Marr’s “Murmurations” opens. Come on by between 6 and 9 p.m., have a drink and a snack and say hello!

Tomorrow night (Saturday) at Reverb Lounge, dust off your cowboy hat for some local C&W by way of The Filter Kings and Clarence Tilton. FK’s “Hundred Proof Man,” off their 2008 self-titled album, is nothing less than an American Classic. Omaha C&W stars Clarence Tilton has dropped singles with Marty Stuart and Presley Tucker, and on Jan. 10 they drop yet another new single, “Friant,” from their forthcoming full-length, Queen of the Brawl. The band is “all in” on this one. Get a sneak preview Saturday at Reverb. Ryan Osbahr kicks things off at 8 p.m. $10. 

And that’s all I got. If I missed your show, put it in the comments section. 

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Also… those of you who have requested a copy of the Lazy-i Best of 2024 compilation (and the rest of you on “the list”), the discs should arrive from the printer Wednesday and will be in the mail shortly thereafter.

Here’s the track list:

1. Cindy Lee, “Diamond Jublilee,” from the album Diamond Jubilee (Realistik) 
2. Sasami, “The Seed,” from the album Blood on the Silver Screen (Domino)
3. Kylie V, “Lucky Streak,” from the album Crash Test Plane (Royal Mountain)
4. Adrianne Lenker, “Sadness as a Gift,” from the album Bright Future (4AD)
5. MJ Lenderman, “”She’s Leaving You,” from the album Manning Fireworks (-Anti)
6. Neva Dinova, “One More Mile,” from the album Canary (Saddle Creek)
7. David Nance and Mowed Sound, “Credit Line,” from the self-titled album (Third Man)
8. Rosali, “Rewind,” from the album Bite Down (Merge)
9. Cola, “Pulling Quotes,” from the album The Gloss (Fire Talk)
10. Cursive, “Dark Star,” from the album Devourer (Run for Cover)
11. The Last Dinner Party, “Sinner,” from the album Prelude to Ecstasy (Universal)
12. Fontaines D.C., “Bug,” from the album Romance (XL)
13. Mannequin Pussy, “I Don’t Know You” from the album I Got Heaven (Epitaph)
14. GIFT, “Wish Me Away,” from the album Illuminator (Captured Tracks)
15. Charlie xcx, “Von dutch,” from the album Brat (Atlantic)
16. Real Estate, “Flowers,” from the album Daniel (Domino)
17. Carver Jones, “Crazy 24,” digital single
18. Kim Deal, Nobody Loves You More, from the album Nobody Loves You More (4AD)
19. Major Murphy, “Fallout,” from the album Fallout (Winspear)

The playlist also is available in Spotify (with the first two songs missing). Simply click this link or search “Tim McMahan” in Spotify, then select Profiles, then Public Playlists. You’ll find it, along with a few from past years.

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 © 2025 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Lincoln Calling released an updated line-up a few days ago. There’s a couple new names and Criteria has been moved to an already-packed Friday night schedule. If you’re only going to drive to Lincoln one night, Friday’s as good a target as any.

Thursday Sept. 20

Japanese Breakfast, Waxahatchee, Joey Dosik, Ought, Rad Trads, Kind Country, Dead Horses, Jared and The Mill, Keli, Emily Bass, A Ferocious Jungle Cat, Matt Whipkey, Hammersaw, Anna St Louis, Night Shop, Twinsmith, FREAKABOUT, Couch Jackets, Evening Glow, Stacey Barelos, Quince Ensemble, Sam Scrabton, Rangbrook Ensemble, Mighty Vitamins, Blet

Friday Sept. 21

Parquet Courts, Ron Gallo, The Nude Party, Criteria, Radio Galaxy, Ohmme, Hyborian, Jim Schroeder Band, Juiceboxxx, Cesar Comanche, BXTH, Christopher the Conquered, Universe Contest, Stephen Sheehan, Jack Hotel, The Bottle Tops, Matt Cox, Seasaw, Hi-Lux, Dilla Kids, Halfwit, Bogusman, Le Grotto, Better Friend, Gymshorts, Laughing Falcon, Lip Gym, Bryan Day, Jay Kreimer, Darkwood, Gerardo Meza and the Dead of Night, Kenny Barz

Saturday Sept. 22

Lion Babe, Leikeli47, The Kickback, The Grahams, REYNA, Alfred Banks, Adam + Kizzie, The Lagoons, Mad Dog and the 20/20s, Ronnie Heart, Disastroid, Mesonjixx, Dan McCarthy, Bonehart Flannigan, Dr. Joe, Harry Paradise, Y god Y, Digisaurus, Staffers, Sweats, Adam and the Figurines, Moodie Black, Pixel Grip, Ro Hempel Band, Evan Bartels and the Stoney Lonesomes, I Forgot to Love My Father

LC says venues and times will be announced in mid-August, but I’ve heard there will be a couple large outdoors stages (behind Duffy’s and at The Zoo) that will handle some of the larger acts in an effort to make sure people can see as many bands as possible. Nothing sucks more than having two bands you want to see play at the same time.

There’s been talk for years about setting up a SXSW-style festival somewhere in Nebraska. Lincoln Calling has evolved into something that’s pretty close. The difference is that at SXSW some acts play as many as seven times during the week in an effort to make sure as many people as possible can see them. It doesn’t look like that’s going to happen at LC, but wouldn’t it be great? If you missed The Nude Party or Gerardo Meza or Parquet Courts on Friday night, you could always catch them somewhere the next day. I have no idea how something like that would evolve, however. Are bands that play seven showcases at SXSW getting paid for seven gigs?

Anyway, tickets can be purchased at lincolncalling.com. $35 discount tickets end July 31, so you may want to get on it right now.

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Haunted Gauntlet drops its new cassette today titled OM3G4 G3N3SIS. The credits read: Composed, Written, Performed, Produced, Mixed, Mastered, Designed and Manifested by HAUNTED GAUNTLET
FT. Conny Franko, S1SW(r0t), Keii, Jason Steady, Vahnevants, Sleep Sinatra, Misiu, Cousin Kyler & INFNTLP & Many Other Cousins of Blessence.

Purchased the cassette or digital album at the Haunted Gauntlet Bandcamp page through Aug. 7.

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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 © 2018 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Well, it’s Halloween weekend and you know what that means. Actually, Halloween is next Tuesday, but everyone will be celebrating it this weekend, which means limited rock shows because bars/venues are making way for costume parties. Halloween has turned into St. Patrick’s Day which turned into New Year’s Eve…

But it’s not like there are no show at all this weekend.

Tonight is the big Bemis Art Auction down at Bemis Center, and as reported, the After Party this year features Cults and Cloeseness. Read Cults’ Ten Questions interview right here, then head on down at 9:30 for the show. It’s taking place across the street from the Bemis, actually, at the Okada Sculpture & Ceramics Facility. Tickets are $32 at the door.

Also tonight, a big show at Brothers Lounge: The Boner Killerz celebrate an EP release with Muscle Cousins, Lincoln legends Domestica and Zero Trick Pony. No price listed, but it’s probably around $5. Starts at 9.

And lest we forget, tonight is Spewfest 3 at fabulous O’Leaver’s and the official release of Haunted Gauntlet’s Blessed Possession VHS tape. HG performs along with Glow In the Dark and You Had to Be There. $5, 9 p.m.

Saturday night, Pet Shop Gallery in Benson is presenting a Milk Run show headlined by Boston indie trio Vundabar. Stathi opens. $10, 8 p.m.

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 © 2017 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.