by Tim McMahan,  Lazy-i.com

This morning Neva Dinova’s publicist, Terrorbird Media, sent out links to the band’s latest video, which also happens to be the last-ever Love Drunk-produced video. Love Drunk mastermind, Django Greenblatt-Seay, is ending the series with No. 150.1, a video for Neva Dinova’s “Edge of Something.” 

Love Drunk got its start way back in June 2010 when Django shot a one-take video of Portland singer-songwriter Nick Jaina. A year later, I wrote about Love Drunk for my column in The Reader, which you can still read online here in Lazy-i. 

Love Drunk produced videos fast and furiously over its first five or six years for bands including many of Saddle Creek Records’ stable of artists (Cursive, Criteria, Orenda Fink, The Mynabirds, among others) and other national acts like The Menzingers, The Photo Atlas and Cymbals Eat Guitars. But Love Drunk’s bread-and-butter was videos for Nebraska artists, and just about every great band from that era was represented. You can check out the entire Love Drunk video catalog at the Love Drunk YouTube channel.

So why is Django hanging it up? “I don’t need the project as much as I did when I was in my 20s and early 30s,” he said. “I put all that work in, and reaped the benefits, but I no longer have the drive to own it.”

Instead, Django’s in conversations with some younger people interested in building something similar to Love Drunk but that could end up being more like a KEXP’s or the Tiny Desk Concert video series. More to come!

When I went to the Love Drunk channel I discovered that in addition to the “Edge of Something” video there’s also a new video for Neva Dinova’s “Someone’s Love,” which also went online today. Both are below. 

Neva Dinova via Terrorbird also announced a couple new rock show dates, including a headlining gig Sept. 13 at Slowdown. They’ll also be playing Sept. 17 at Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn. 

The new Neva album, Canary, drops Sept. 27 on Saddle Creek Records. Pre-order your copy here. 

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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.

The Unexplained Death cassette…

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

The debut recording of Matt Whipkey’s new poli-punk project, Unexplained Death, dropped last Friday in cassette and digital formats. I’m seeing more and more artists opt for cassette releases, I assume because it’s a physical format (other than CD) that artists can create themselves. The cassette is a run of 100, each with unique, hand-made cassette sleeves comprised of altered versions of classic ’80s album art. Just look what Matt did to Robert Plant.

The songs represent a sort of new direction for Whipkey. Though he’s known mostly as an Americana folk-rock guy, Matt always punctuated his albums with a few heavier rock songs. This collection is his take on punk — fast and hard and purposely distorted/low-fi — with lyrics about the current state of local and national politics. Whipkey said it was because of the songs’ timliness that he didn’t shop the recording to labels — he wants to get his message to the masses now.

The full album is being streamed here at Bandcamp, where you can order a copy of the cassette for $10 (comes with download key). And look for the band’s stage debut sometime next month…

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Love Drunk, the live one-take video project helmed by Django Greenblatt-Seay, is back and better than ever. Django dropped video #141 last Saturday. It features Lincoln punk band Bogusman performing “Magic Hands” at the VS. Arcade Bar in Lincoln. I’d heard of neither Bogusman nor VS. prior to this video and now I want to check ’em both out. Now maybe someone can get Bogusman to play in Omaha? Check it below.

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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 © 2019 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

A screen capture from the new See Through Dresses Love Drunk video.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

A month or so ago Django Greenblatt-Seay announced he was bringing back his Love Drunk video series, but this time, like Frank Sinatra, he was going to do it his way. And by that he meant his focus would now only be on bands he knows and/or loves.

If you don’t know the history of Love Drunk, read a very brief history here or check out the channel on YouTube. 

Django’s first new project is a video for See Through Dresses and their song “Catacombs,” shot in its entirety in Django’s camper van. You’ll not only be impressed by the performance but also by the van’s surprising spaciousness. 

“Catacombs” is off STD’s 2017 album Horse of the Other World. Here’s hoping the band is also working on new material (and a new album). 

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If you’re wondering what I’ve been up to the last couple of days, well tomorrow I’ll be posting a 2,000-word Q&A with Cursive’s Tim Kasher in anticipation of the band’s Saturday night show at Winchester.  I’ve also been working on the annual Reader Top-20 bands list and a column that looks back on the 2008 list in a where-are-the-now sort of fashion.  More to come… 

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Chicago indie band Ohmme (Joyful Noise Recordings) headlines tonight at Reverb Lounge. These folks have worked with Jeff Tweedy and Chance the Rapper, but by themselves they’re classified in the art rock category. Tracks off their 2017 release Parts are playful, fun. Our own Dirt House (tonight, Annie Dilocker solo) opens at 8 p.m. $10. 

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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 © 2019 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

After last week’s barrage of news I’m scraping to fill an update this week.

Let’s start with this new Love Drunk video featuring The Good Life performing “Flotsam Locked Into a Groove” of the band’s last album, Everybody’s Coming Down. The video was shot on Slowdown’s big stage last November. This info comes courtesy of Roger Lewis, who says he’s in Iceland (presumably visiting Bjork?) before heading to Europe to start the band’s next tour alongside Big Harp. It just never ends.

What else…

One Percent Productions came out with their weekly shows announcement. Notable among the new listings are Foxing March 3 at Slowdown, Kurt Vile and the Violators April 9 at The Waiting Room and Brian Jonestown Massacre May 15 at The Waiting Room.

Brooklyn Vegan reported that Anton Newcombe and Co. are spending a month stateside including an appearance at Levitation Festival in Austin April 29-May 1. Perhaps an alternative to SXSW?

Also playing Levitation is the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson, performing Pet Sounds, and it just so happens that Mr. Wilson also will be rolling through our area, playing Stir Cove July 17. Tix go on sale Friday.

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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 © 2016 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Time for the weekend.

Tonight (Friday) there’s a special Love Drunk Music Video Showcase at an Airbnb Pop-up Shop at 12th and Jackson (I have no idea what building it’s actually in. Look for signs!). Love Drunk, in case you didn’t know, is a one-take video project helmed by Django Greenblatt-Seay. Django’s shot 128 of these one shot videos (which you can see here) including for two folks who will be performing at tonight’s showcase — singer/songwriter Patrick Mainelli and James Maakestad, who you might remember from Bear country and Gus & Call. This one starts at 6. Free entry. Free booze.

By the way, it’s Benson First Friday.

Saturday night Bloodcow headlines at The Reverb Lounge in Benson. No, this is not the band’s album release party for Crystals & Lasers — that’s not until next month. This is just another reason to blow off some metal steam. Also on the bill are All Young Girls Are Machine Guns and Lincoln art rockers Universe Contest. $7, 9 p.m.

Also Saturday night 1980s-era punk band The Queers play at The Hideout on South 72nd. I’m told The Hideout is now under new management! Also on the bill are Masked Intruder, Direct Hit and The Ridgeways. Tickets are $12 in Adv., $15 DOS. The show starts at 8 p.m.

Meanwhile, over at Fabulous O’Leaver’s its a full bill headlined by Sean Pratt and the Sweats with Annalibera, Mike Schlesinger, and Manic Pixie Dream Girls. $5, 9:30 p.m.

Did I forget 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 © 2015 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

The Faint, circa now.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

I read it early this morning on Faintbook: The Faint have a new album coming out. Titled Doom Abuse, the new record hits the streets April 8 on SQE Music, home to CSS, Johnathan Rice, Desert Noises, among others.

According to the SQE website: “In the spring of 2013, The Faint existed again. Anxious to make new music the band recorded a 4-song white label 12” they referred to as ‘Preversions.’ That music, primal and punk rock in its approach, became the unplanned blueprint for Doom Abuse.  The band booked time with longtime collaborator Mike Mogis to mix the album before even really having songs written.”

The entire album took three months to make, according to SQE. “Since much of Fasciinatiion was made sitting behind computers, the musicians wanted to embrace a live sensibility and collective rawness. A lot of the record was created live in the room, with first takes and first ideas taking precedent.”

Read the whole SQE write-up here.  Fans can pre-order the record right now on iTunes for $7.99 and can immediately buy and download the first single, “Help in the Head.” Needless to say, a tour will follow.

I guess we kind of knew this was coming all the way back in 2011 when this article came out (followed by this article). Everything seemed to be in place for the band to continue on without Joel Peteresen, and thankfully it has. So can The Faint pick up where they left off six years ago? And what about Digital Leather, Todd Fink’s other band, which is scheduled to perform at SXSW in a few weeks (at at O’Leaver’s this Friday night)? And finally, is there a place in The Faint’s future for Saddle Creek Records, the band’s original label? It seems unlikely, but you never know…

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Speaking of old-time Saddle Creek acts, Cursive just released a new live performance video of Ugly Organ staple “A Gentleman Caller,” via LoveDrunk. The video was shot around the same time as the December trio of live shows at The Waiting Room. Take a look:

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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 © 2014 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

See Through Dresses at The Waiting Room, Nov. 30, 2013.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

I guess I should have bought a copy of See Through Dresses’ debut album at last Saturday night’s CD release show because I can’t find it online anywhere. Their Bandcamp page doesn’t offer downloads or even album streaming (except for two songs). And they don’t have a “proper website” (fewer and fewer bands do these days). Savvy marketing? Maybe (though I’m probably just missing the link).

Without a copy of the record to relive the memory of Saturday night’s show at The Waiting Room, I’ll just have to listen to Dinosaur Jr. and the most recent Thurston Moore solo album. Or maybe pull out dusty records by The Church or Dream Academy — all bands that STD’s sound resembles.

The band isn’t exactly bashful about their influences. Co-frontperson Sara Bertuldo introduced one song by saying (and I’m paraphrasing here), “Here’s one that will remind you of the mid-2000s,” and two more by saying “These ones sound like the ’80s, a time when I just barely existed and Nate didn’t exist at all.” Or something like that.

No doubt rock music by its very nature constantly eats itself. For about a year every new local band sounded like the second coming of The Cure or Pavement. Recently Sonic Youth has (again) become a favorite for emulation. The difference is that STD doesn’t sound like any one band, but rather like a band influenced by an era, which makes their music both unique and familiar. Their heroes are easy to spot, though See Through Dresses’ sound is purely their own.

And it rocks. Most of the vocals are handled by Matt Carroll, who has a soothing croon that lies somewhere between Thurston and J. Mascis. It’s countered by Bertuldo’s twee, childlike voice that’s straight out of K Records territory. It’s easy to bury Sara in the mix, but the sound Saturday night was pristine enough so that the (estimated) crowd of around 120 could catch every note. Nate Van Fleet’s throaty drumming was another highlight, as was Robert Little’s bass work (a little bird tells me Little is leaving the band).

Now if I could only get a copy of their CD…

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Speaking of Bertuldo, that’s her on bass in this just-released Love Drunk video for Tim Kasher song “A Raincloud Is a Raincloud,” shot (ironically?) at Countryside Community Church.

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The early head’s up for this week’s shows:

John Klemmensen and friends Wednesday at The Waiting Room.

Cursive Thursday at The Waiting Room.

OEAA Showcase Friday in Benson.

So-So Sailors and Brad Hoshaw Friday at O’Leaver’s.

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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 © 2013 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

The Love Drunk storm team is spending one last night in Omaha before the crew heads to the East Coast for their 2012 Tour. In addition to Tuesday’s announcement, you can read all about the tour and its fearless leader, Django Greenblatt-Seay, in my column in this week’s issue of The Reader, or read it online at The Reader‘s website, right here.

Before they hit the road, The Sydney in Benson is hosting a fundraiser tonight to help cover some of the tour’s costs. Featured bands are Honeybee and Hers, Jasong Mountain (Talking Mountain) and Bazooka Shootout. $5, 9 p.m. More info here.

And as part of this last day in Omaha, Love Drunk also is asking local bands and businesses to donate CDs, T-shirts and other promo material that they can distribute to each band they shoot on the tour, “providing just one more reason to add Nebraska cities to their tour schedule, and helping to build ties across the country.”

Bands and businesses can drop their shit off at The Sydney tonight after 6 p.m. More info about the merch collection here.

The fundraiser isn’t the only thing going on tonight.

Down at Slowdown Jr., Red House Records artist The Pines plays with Midwest Dilemma and Matt Cox. $8, 9 p.m.

Meanwhile, over at The Barley Street Tavern, Millions of Boys plays with The ACBs and Ghosty. $5, 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 © 2012 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.