Parquet Courts performing at Lincoln Calling last Friday night. Photo courtesy of Lincoln Calling.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Spencer Munson, one of the chief organizer’s of this year’s Lincoln Calling (which took place over the past weekend) sounded quite pleased with the attendance numbers, which were 2,000 on Thursday; 3,500 on Friday and 3,000 on Saturday for a combined total of 8,500.

“All shows were packed,” he said, “especially Japanese Breakfast, Fantastic Negrito, Waxahatchee and Evan Bartels. Every closing show at Duffy’s Indoor was nuts. Ron Gallo and Leikeli47 filled out the street/night market stage.”

The only issue that he cited during the three-day festival was running out of wristbands and having to use leftovers from last year’s fest. “Part of our sustainability and recycling programs, I guess,” he said.

Munson said Parquet Courts were cool, as were Ron Gallo and Nude Party. “Lion Babe was an amazing performer and her duet with Leikeli47 was a highlight. Dan McCarthy at the piano at Zoo Bar was amazing. He started playing and then so many people gathered around and on top of furniture he was startled when he turned around.”

Munson added that his team was amazing and the night market was vibrant and fun. “Artists emailed thanking for the great hospitality” he said. “Credit to Hear Nebraska for giving us the tools the last few years to be successful.”

Now onto Lincoln Calling 2019.

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Tonight SideOneDummy Records band Mom Jeans. (yes, there’s a period in their name) plays at The Waiting Room with Just Friends and Shortly. It’s emo-tastic. 8 p.m. $14.

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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.

Ron Gallo at Slowdown Jr., Aug. 8, 2017. He’s playing tonight at Lincoln Calling.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Tonight is the sweet spot for Lincoln Calling 2018. The full sched is online right here.  The highlights:

Parquet Courts at Duffy’s Backlot (midnight) — The NYC indie act’s fourth album Wide Awake! (2018, Rough Trade) sees them evolve into a dance-rock outfit with a collection (produced by mega-talent Danger Mouse) that scored a massive 8.0 from tastemaker website Pitchfork.

Ron Gallo at the Night Market (11 p.m.) — The red-hot Philly rocker’s fuzzy garage sound has landed him slots on some of the nation’s biggest festivals, including Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits and Governer’s Ball.

The Nude Party at Duffy’s inside (9:30 p.m.) — Boone, NC, band calls their sound “Rock ‘n’ Roll Boner Pop” for good reason. They actually sound like a modern version of a ’60s garage band rife with guitars and keyboards, kind of a cross between King Tuff and The Kinks. Their 2018 debut came out on New West.

Criteria at Duffy’s Backlot (10 p.m.) — Nebraska’s emo-rock heroes return, and I’m told they’ve got a whole album’s worth of new stuff about to drop on 15 Passenger. Get a sneak preview tonight.

Fantastic Negrito at The Bourbon (9:30 p.m.) — This is the kind of rock Jack White could only dream of replicating (but never will). Heavy funk with lots of guitar. On Cooking Vinyl Records. You’re gonna love it.

Stephen Sheehan at Duffy’s Backlot (6:30 p.m.) — Frontman to legendary late-’80s early-’90s post-ambient band Digital Sex. He’s got a murder’s row of stars backing him: Dan Crowell, Randy Cotton, Donovan Johnson and Mike Saklar.

Also worth catching: Staffers at Duffy’s Indoor at 10 p.m.; Halfwit at 1867 at 9 p.m., and Dilla Kids at Bodega’s at 8 p.m.

Saturday’s Lincoln Calling sched is online here. Highlights include Lion Babe at Duffy’s Backlot and Leikeli47 at Bodega’s. Full details about LC tickets are online at lincolncalling.com. And read more about how Lincoln Calling 2018 came together in my article in the September issue of The Reader.

Lincoln Calling isn’t the only festival going on, though…

O’Leaversfest kicks off tonight at The Club and runs all weekend. Tonight’s line-up is strong, with Wrong Pets, Noah’s Ark Was a Spaceship and the return of Ladyfinger. $7, 9 p.m. Tomorrow night it’s The Natural States, Dirt House and MiWi La Lupa, again $7, 9 p.m. And Sunday night LA psych-rock band Send Medicine headlines, with Son Ambulance and Putter & Co., and an early 6 p.m. start time (but the same $7).

If that weren’t enough for your weekend…

Reality Tbd., which you read about here on Wednesday, is being screened/performed tonight and tomorrow night at Kaneko. Film by Nik Fackler, dance by tbd. collective and music by Graham Ulciny. What more do you want? Performances tonight and Saturday night at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. $10. More info here.

A new art space is opening at 2580 Harney Street tonight called The Hug Center. The debut show, called Bang, Bang, features art from seven local artists including Shawn Foree (Digital Leather) and Genie Molkentine (Sucettes) and performances by Cult Play and Dojorok. This one’s free and runs from 6 to 10 p.m. More info here.

Tonight at The Sydney Chicago electro-dance act Pixel Grip headlines with Cult Play, Denver’s Tyto Alba and Kobrakyle. $5, 10 p.m

Charlie Burton and Or What?! return to The Barley Street Tavern tonight. $5, 9 p.m.

Saturday night Clarence Tilton opens for locals Pony Creek at Slowdown Jr. Sack of Lions also is on the bill. $5 Adv./$7 DOS, 9 p.m.

And that’s all I got. If I missed your show, put it in the comments section. Have a great first weekend of fall…

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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.

Japanese Breakfast is among the acts playing Night 1 of Lincoln Calling.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

It’s night one of Lincoln Calling. I know it officially started yesterday, but tonight is when they roll out the big guns.

But first — a schedule change: Do to the threat of thunderstorms, events scheduled for Duffy’s Backlot have been moved to Bourbon Theater. That’s significant because two of tonight’s biggest names were slated to play at the backlot.

Japanese Breakfast (now at Bourbon) is Philadelphia musician Michelle Zauner and her band, whose Soft Sounds from Another Planet (2017, Dead Oceans) was something of a breakout release, thanks to singles like “Road Head” (currently more than 7 million spins on Spotify alone) and “Boyish” (3.7 million plays).

Ought (also now at Bourbon) is a Montreal band that sounds influenced by acts like Joy Division, Cure, Gang of Four and current-day Ceremony. Their last album, Room Inside the World (2018, Merge), is a jangling post-punk corker. Great stuff.

The other big name on tonight’s festival bill is Waxahatchee playing at the smallish 1867 venue. If you’re wondering if this is going to be a Katie Crutchfield solo show, you’d be right, as she’s out supporting the acoustic Great Thunder EP, released earlier this year on Merge. Those VIP passes will come in handy getting into this one.

You’ve also got Matt Whipkey at Bodega’s and Twinsmith at Duffy’s (inside). Full sched and ticket info at lincolncalling.com.

And read more about how Lincoln Calling 2018 came together in my article in the September issue of The Reader.

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Something tells me tonight’s Clarence Tilton gig slated for the beer garden at fabulous O’Leaver’s also is going to get moved inside due to inclement weather. If not, you may want to bring an umbrella. This is an early show, starting at 6 p.m. $5. CANCELLED due to rain and Jeopardy.

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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.

Is Lincoln Calling the next SXSW?

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Here’s the nut graph to my Lincoln Calling preview article in the current issue of The Reader:

With more than 70 national, regional and local acts, Lincoln Calling has the makings of the first Nebraska-based festival with a vibe that could be compared to the early days of Austin’s South By Southwest Festival.

Yeah I know, a bold statement, but when you look at the line-up of up-and-comers, there’s no question that Lincoln Calling is the most cutting-edge of local music festivals.

Lincoln Calling organizer Spencer Munson talks about how he and his team booked the bands, the schedules and the non-music activities, as well as how he’s made this year’s event as relevant as last year’s while having access to a much smaller overall budget.

You can read the article online right here at The Reader website or in the September issue, which is on newsstands now.

The full Lincoln Calling venue schedules finally have been uploaded to the Lincoln Calling website. Here’s each day:

• — Thursday, Sept. 20
• — Friday, Sept. 21
• — Saturday, Sept. 22

If you’re only driving down for one day, Friday is likely the sweet spot, with Parquet Courts, Criteria, Ron Gallo, Nude Party, Fantastic Negrito and Stephen Sheehan among the choices. That said, Thursday’s and Saturday’s lineups are nothing to sneeze at. Full ticket/schedule info at www.lincolncalling.com.

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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

Lincoln Calling is Sept 19-23.

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

I’m sure you’ve already seen the initial line-up for Lincoln Calling 2018. I’m not going to list all the bands. You can see the full line-up at lincolncalling.com, but the highlights (for me, anyway):

Parquet Courts — Break-out indie band from Brooklyn on Rough Trade. They’ve been through here a few times, including a gig at Sweatshop Gallery.

Waxahatchee — Very cool indie singer-songwriter. Gorgeous stuff.

Japanese Breakfast — On rotation at Sirius XMU, another indie singer-songwriter.

Ron Gallo — Blew it up at Slowdown Jr. last year.

The Nude Party — North Carolina indie band will be touring with Sunflower Bean in June.

Ought — On Merge Records, Pitchfork darlings.

That’s some quality shit. Alone, none could sell out The Slowdown, taken together and we’re talking the stuff of an epic SXSW day party.

Add a ton more nationals and a strong collection of locals and you’ve got a nice little festival on your hands. Remember, this is only the “initial announcement” — there’s more to come.

The event takes place Sept. 17-22. The venues are the usual LC suspects: Duffy’s (inside and out), The Zoo, Bodega’s and 1867, plus 14th St. for a night market. Missing is The Bourbon Theater, which I’m told currently is on hold. Bourbon hosted major acts at LC in years’ past.

Tickets start at $35 and go up to $75 for VIP. One price gets you into the shows all week. Cheap! The performance schedules aren’t online yet. If you’re like me, you’re not driving to Lincoln more than once, so that schedule will be crucial…

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Speaking of schedules, the Maha Music Festival line-up is scheduled to be announced tonight. The embargoed press release says hold until 7 p.m., but I’m guessing Maha will leak the names prior to that time.

Yes, I’ve seen the line-up. My only hint: I haven’t seen any of the three primary headliners perform live before. Considering the thousands of bands I’ve seen live, take that for what it’s worth. The main headliner will likely cast a wide net. Stay tuned…

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Two good shows are happening tonight:

At The Waiting Room tonight it’s an evening with Cigarettes After Sex. The El Paso dream-pop act has been getting some serious Sirius airplay with their self-titled debut, out last year on Partisan. No opener listed. $20, 8 p.m.

Also tonight New Haven psych-rock band Headroom headlines at The Brothers Lounge. Joining them are David Nance Band, Alcools and Systematic Development Band (a four-band bill on a Tuesday night?). $5, 10 p.m.

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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.

Marie/Lepanto (yes that’s Will Johnson on the right) is playing a house show tomorrow night…

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

I just found out today about this living room show with Marie/Lepanto tomorrow night, and I mention it here because it probably has had zero promotion.

Whereas I like the idea of these traveling troubadours doing living room shows across the country (I think Eric Bachmann might have one coming up?) they’re not booked through a promoter or a club so it’s hard to find out about them. I’d hate for this duo — Will Johnson (of Centro-Matic fame) and Justin Peter Kinkel-Schuster — to play to an empty room, so here’s the link to the show info. I have no idea who’s hosting, but it’s probably someone cool.

It’s gonna be tough sledding because it’s already is a pretty crowded weekend for shows.

* * *

I mentioned the Maha Festival yesterday, I feel I should mention Lincoln Calling 2018 today. The 15th annual concert series is slated for Sept. 17-22, and this year is being presented by Allo and Evol Empire Creative. Last year it was a Hear Nebraska joint, but that org has stepped away.

The big question: Who is booking the festival this year? Last year’s stellar line-up was the result of hard work from Sam Parker, who as reported last week, don’t live here no more.

Anyway, the initial LC line-up will be announced April 16, with a second line-up announcement July 16.

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Q1 2018 CD reviews continue. Read them all here at The Reader website.

Car Seat Headrest, Twin Fantasy (2018, Matador)

Car Seat Headrest, Twin Fantasy (Matador) — The first time I listened to their last album, Teens of Denial, I had the lyrics sheet resting on my lap and followed along word-for-word. It made for a satisfying hour of headphone bliss, like reading a series of depressing short stories written by a precocious, bashful teen outsider who doesn’t have enough to complain about. I don’t have the lyrics sheet for Twin Fantasy, which actually is a re-recording of an earlier CSH album. As a result, it’s hard to stay focused for the hour-plus collection of dense lyrics and power chords. Will Toledo could be this generation’s Elvis Costello, but a much more unsatisfied one.

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Tonight at Reverb Lounge The Show Is the Rainbow headlines. Cult Play and John Friedel open. $8, 9 p.m.

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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.