by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Shortly after the conclusion of the scorching opening set by Heavy Clippings Friday night at Reverb Lounge, a concerned-looking man in his 30s walked up as I perused the merch table and asked who just played. 

“They’re Heavy Clippings. They’re from here,” I said. The guy nodded and asked if they had an album and if he could buy it. I’m not sure why he was asking me, but I said the band indeed had a new album, but they don’t have physical copies that I was aware of. “It’s on Bandcamp, and probably on Spotify,” I added.

He nodded again, then walked away. I noticed other folks examining the unmanned merch table, likely also looking for a copy of a record that didn’t exist. 

This prompted a discussion with another band on the bill, wherein I asked when they were going to put out their next record. The band member simply asked, “What’s the point?”

It’s a good question, especially if you’re at a certain level of the indie music food chain or a local band with few or no aspirations of “making it big” and/or “getting to the next level” and/or making any real cash playing music. 

For them, the live performance is the heart of their artistic passion; and while it would be great to record physical formats — vinyl, CD or (ugh) cassette — doing so is almost always a big money-loser at a time when money is becoming harder to come by. For the most part, vinyl albums are for collectors; most people listen to recorded music via streaming or downloads. 

This is the point in the review where I should be writing “despite that, I would have bought a copy of Heavy Clippings’ new album, Dog & Bird in Grass.” But that would be a lie. I wouldn’t buy a copy, not because the album isn’t awesome (it is, along with their performance Friday night), but because I don’t have the money or space to keep buying vinyl. 

However, bands still need to keep recording and releasing recorded material, even if it’s only digitally. As I told Mr. “What’s the Point?” — how else will anyone hear your music other than going to your infrequent shows? We gotta have new music, and bands need to document their creations. And while we all know Spotify and Apple Music are hardly revenue distributors, we can still support bands by buying digital downloads from Bandcamp, which everyone who doesn’t buy physical media should do. 

So… back to the show. I only caught the last 20 minutes of Heavy Clippings’ set, but I’ve seen them at least three times in the past, and Friday night’s performance was right up there. The band consists of two former members of the band Yuppies — Noah Sterba and Jeff Sedrel — along with Vince Franco and Tanner Rogerson. Their new album was produced and recorded by Jim Schroeder of Mesa Buoy and David Nance and Mowed Sound.  They sounded “heavier” than their usual hypnotic post-punk – which is sort of Midwestern version of Lewsberg or The Feelies with Sterba providing plenty of folkie drawl — good stuff.

Minne Lussa, who followed Heavy Clippings, is easily the best dream pop / shoe-gaze band from ‘round these parts. Dense and dreamy, they remind me of early Galaxie 500 or Luna, with warm, glowing instrumentals that add an Album Leaf flair. The guitar interplay between frontman Matt Rutledge and guitarist/vocalist Eric Bemberger (ex-Beep Beep) is masterful and otherworldly, but Friday night the band introduced new member, Zoie, who added yet another shimmering layer of guitar as well as vocals on a new song she wrote. The band appropriately ended with a gorgeous cover of “Alison” by Slowdive that left the crowd wanting more. If you haven’t seen Minne Lussa in a while, it’s time to get reacquainted. 

Closing out the evening was Matt Focht and his band Head of Femur, a project that has been around for well over 20 years. They started as a four-piece and have since expanded to as many as eight players, though Friday night there were only six on stage. 

Combining guitars, keyboard and other assorted instruments including violin and bongos, their unique sound touches on a variety of styles, from ‘70s prog acts like King Crimson and Moody Blues to post-punk bands like early Talking Heads to modern-day progressive indie acts like The Dear Hunter or Panda Bear. 

Focht’s energy ignites the band into an exuberant celebration that naturally invites the audience to come along for the ride, and most of the around 50 on hand certainly did. Halfway through the set, Focht and company threw out a tasty, unexpected cover of the Bee Gee’ “Nights on Broadway” that fit right in with everything else they were doing, and added to what was another very fun evening at Reverb Lounge.

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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

Today begins another College World Series – the time of year when The Slowdown constructs its white tents, slaps on the eye black, and reopens the secret basement money-counting room in a vain effort to keep track of the avalanche of greenbacks pouring through their doors from the nation’s college baseball fans. 

It also means Slowdown won’t host any significant indie music for the next two weeks. Actually, the next significant indie show at Slowdown isn’t until Laura Jane Grace & Band plays the main room on Aug. 2 (the same day as the Maha Festival, btw). 

If you’re not a baseball fan, it’s best to swing wide of downtown Omaha for the next couple weeks to avoid the mayhem (though to be honest, the Old Market turns into a ghost town during the actual games).

So what’s in store for the rest of us this weekend? Well, the two biggest shows feature local acts. 

Tonight’s big show is Head of Femur at Reverb Lounge. I’ve been told the band has an entire album in the can that they’ve yet to release, which means we’ll likely get to hear some of that new material this evening. This is a loaded bill with Minne Lussa and it’s also a sort of album release show for opener Heavy Clippings as their new album, Dog & Bird in Grass, was released last Friday. Heavy Clippings is fronted by indie veteran Noah Sterba with Vince Franco, Jeff Sedrel and Tanner Rogerson. Their new album was recorded and mixed by Jeff Schroeder. The show starts at 8 and is $10. This one will be crowded!

Tomorrow night it’s back to Reverb Lounge for headliner Bad Bad Men, who I’m told will also be rolling out a batch of new tunes (is a new album imminent?). Joining them are rock grinders Million Dollar Veins and Nathan Wolf’s new prog outfit Titus Groaners. Loud, violent, you know the drill. 8 p.m., $10. 

Finally, the only notable out-of-town show this weekend Saturday night at The Sydney where Minneapolis electronic-dance duo E.T. performs. They sound heavily influenced by acts like Sextile (you’ll recognize the synth lines). $10, 9 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 © 2025 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Before we get to this weekend’s rock shows, a reminder that it’s the first Friday of July which means Benson First Friday (#BFF). Galleries and other businesses up and down Maple Street will be celebrating art openings tonight. Among them, our very own Ming Toy Gallery, which this month features the amazing art of Jenna Jaffery. Read my feature profile on Jenna and stop by the gallery (located at 6066 Maple Street, right door to Legend Comics and Coffee) between 6 and 9 p.m. to check out her art, have a drink and say hi. See you there.

After you swing by Ming Toy, head on over to Reverb Lounge for the GRRRL Camp showcase headlined by LinOmaha noise-rock band Size Queen. KC self-described “queer dark-pop band” Boxknife is also on the bill. Lincoln’s Ghostlike opens the festivities at 8:30 p.m. $10. BTW, GRRRL Camp is right around the corner – July 19-20 at Falconwood Park. More info here.

Saturday night it’s back to Reverb Lounge for another three-band bill this time with local, laid-back indie from Bazile Mills, Minne Lussa and Fox (Jessica Errett, Marta Fiedler and Co.). $15, 7:30 p.m. 

Also Saturday night, fabulous O’Leaver’s continues its free concert series with Radical Sabbatical and Aircraft Grade. 9 p.m. and, uh, FREE.

And then along comes Sunday and two competing shows in Benson.

On top of the list is the last hurrah concert by Los Angeles first wave band, X. This concert features the original line-up — Exene Cervenka, John Doe, Billy Zoom and DJ Bonebrake — in what we’re being told will be their last tour ever. Opening is Jesse Ahern (Dummy Luck Music/PIAS). This is it, folks, last stop on the X train. I’m a little surprised it isn’t sold out yet. $40. 8 p.m. 

Meanwhile, around the corner at Reverb Lounge, Seattle shoegaze band TV Star headlines. These guys sound like they grew up listening to Teenage Fanclub for sure. This ticket line-up, again, is loaded with local noise-punk bands Heavy Clippings and Cupholder. $10, 8 p.m. Choose wisely.

And that’s all I got. I’m praying to the rock gods that we don’t get any hailstone/flooding weather this weekend so I can go to these shows! If I missed yours, 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.

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.