Liz Phair plays tonight at the Holland.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

There are plenty of tickets still available to tonight’s Liz Phair concert at the Holland Performing Arts Center. 

The “Guyville Tour” celebrates that album’s 30th anniversary and the band will perform it in its entirety. I’m a big Liz fan and count Exile in Guyville among my all-time favorite albums. And yet, I’m not shelling out for this one because I don’t want to see Phair and her band play a seated show in a performance hall designed for orchestras. 

Aren’t shows like this one the reason Omaha Performing Arts built Steelhouse? I’m sure there’s a story behind why this is being held at the Holland. Maybe Phair and the promoters insisted on a seated venue (though O-pa has held seated shows as Steelhouse before). 

The last time I saw Liz Phair was at Sokol Auditorium back in December 2005. The Admiral would have been a nice option, but we all know that O-pa and One Percent Productions (who runs The Admiral) are competitors… 

 Charlotteville singer/songwriter Kate Bollinger opens at 7:30 p.m . Bollinger’s 2022 EP, Look at it in the Light, was released on Ghostly International. Ticket prices range from $40 to $80.

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Speaking of One Percent, tonight Cincinnati indie band Motherfolk headlines at Reverb Lounge. I’ve not heard of these guys, but I have heard of opener Kevin Devine, formerly of the band Miracle of 86. Devine has toured and recorded with Manchester Orchestra. $22, 8 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 © 2023 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

Tim Heidecker plays The Admiral tonight.

by Tim McMahan. Lazy-i.com

Other than yesterday’s news about The Astro’s delays in opening, it’s been pretty quiet news-wise.

Yesterday, Omaha Performing Arts announced Liz Phair will be performing her debut album, 1993’s Exile in Guyville, in its entirety in honor of the 30th anniversary of its release on Matador Records. It is definitely among my top-20 all-time favorite records.

However, the performance, Dec. 5, is happening at The Holland Performing Arts Center, which means it’s a sit-down show. This, after O-pa opened the $100 million+ Steelhouse Omaha general admission standing-room rock palace. No doubt Phair and/or her people were involved in the venue choice, perhaps as a money grab, who knows. It’s a shame. Holland is great, but not for rock concerts. Last time I saw Liz Phair was the show she played nearly 20 years ago (Dec. 8, 2005, to be exact) at Sokol Auditorium that commemorated 1% Production’s 500th show.

Unlike her fall tour where Blondshell opened, this one has Kate Bollinger in the opening slot. Tickets likely go on sale Friday… 

A few other shows worth mentioning recently announced:

• If you missed The Good Life at Outlandia, good news – they’re playing Reverb Lounge Oct. 6. This is their Album of the Year tour, so it’ll be a special night, and considering the size of Reverb, will no doubt sell out despite the $29 ticket price (with fees). 
• – And “An Evening with The Church” has been announced for Oct. 9 at The Waiting Room. Always a good show. Tickets are $37 (with fees). 
• – Red-hot Omaha punk band BIB is the headliner for this year’s Farnam Fest Oct. 14. The rest of the line-up includes Bad Self Portraits, David Nance Band, M34N STR33T and The Real Zebos. Quite a lineup for just $10. 
• – Not sure I mentioned this before but Speedy Ortiz is playing The Slowdown with Space Moth Nov. 17. Tickets are $20.48 (with fees).
• – In case you missed it, that Sept. 20 Yo La Tengo show at The Waiting Room has been postposed due to drummer/vocalist Georgia Hubley’s knee surgery (Hey, we’re all getting older). No new date has been announce as of yet. 

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Tonight comedienne / rock star Tim Heidecker is performing at The Astro. The show will feature one set of comedy followed by a  second set of Heidecker’s original music. I’ve not heard his comedy act before, but I’ve listened to his recent album, High School (2022) and it’s a big-melody throwback album that’s kind of a cross between upbeat Wilco and Jimmy Buffett and has received a lot of love from Pitchfork and Paste. 

This is a seated show, apparently, and the lowest priced tickets are around $50 (with fees). Starts at 8 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 © 2023 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.