by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Onward to the weekend!

Tonight (Friday) there’s a sort of reunion of classic ’00s-era indie act Mal Madrigal at Pageturners lounge. Stephen Bartolomei and Mike Saklar, two of the band’s original members, have worked up 12 Mal Madrigal songs for tonight’s set. Will they do my favorite, “A Broken Window”? Headlining tonight is Wedding, a new project by Anna Schulte that includes Bokr Tov’s Colby Jenkins on bass, and Zachary Roland on percussion. Wedding will be recording at ARC next month with Nate Van Fleet (See Through Dresses) behind the knobs.  Poet Alina Nguyen also is on the bill. 9 p.m. Donations encouraged.

How about a night at the theater?

Tonight I’ll be checking out Ghost Brothers of Darkland County, the new production at the Benson Theatre. I think it’s a musical? I’m not sure, but apparently the play’s music and lyrics are by John Mellencamp based on a book by Stephen King. This is the last weekend for the show. Tix are $25, 7 p.m. curtain.

On to Saturday…

This week’s big touring indie show is Porches at Reverb Lounge. It’s a project by New Yorker Aaron Maine, whose latest album, Shirt, was released on Domino in September to mildly positive reviews. Maine went out of his way to rough things up this time and it’s a welcome improvement over the borderline emo-pop of his previous album, All Day Gentle Hold! (2021, Domino). Dreamy New Yorker sweet93 (very Mazzy Star) opens at 8 p.m. $30, 8 p.m. 

Meanwhile across town, fabulous O’Leaver’s is hosting their big Halloween show Saturday night headlined by tractor punk mavericks Wagon Blasters with In Tongues and Frankie Chiaro. Costume are “highly recommended!” This $10 party starts at 9 p.m. 

Back in Benson Saturday night, Chicago musical comedy duo Griefcat headlines at The Sydney. Music Connection described them this way: “Super hilarious lyrics coupled with very nice music and great vocals is a recipe for success.” You be the judge. $10, and no opener for this early 6 p.m. show.

Are these early shows going to become a thing? Sunday’s Bazile Mills show at Reverb Lounge starts at 5 p.m. with a set by Straight2Munich. $12.

Anyway, 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.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Steve Bartolomei returns to Omaha and brings the rest of Mal Madrigal with him for a showcase performance tonight at The Waiting Room for his Bocca Lupo label, which is celebrating two new releases: Orenda Fink’s “Mighty Mist” b/w “New Life” 7-inch and the duo of Kevin Pike and John Kotchian’s Pulse/Flow LP.

Each copy of the Orenda Fink 7-inch (limited to 150) includes original, unique handcrafted artwork by Fink and comes with a free download code. The Pike/Kotchian LP comes numbered in hand silkscreened jackets, featuring original art by New York painter and illustrator Lui Shtini. You can order both online here, but you can probably pick them up at tonight’s show, which features everyone on the Bocca Lupo label: Fink, Pike/Kotchian, Mal Madrigal and Before the Tea and Toast. $7, 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 © 2011 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

Karl Houfek of It’s True wrote to let us know that Seattle singer/songwriter Rocky Votolato (Barsuk) will be playing a living room show at the house he shares with Adam Hawkins on Saturday, July 17. Their house hosted Pedro the Lion’s David Bazan last year. Tickets go on sale today at 3 p.m. at http://www.undertowtickets.com/product/rocky-votolato-living-room-show-omaha-ne-july-17. Get yours while you can; seating is definitely limited. “For the record, we don’t make one damn cent off the deal…simply the enjoyment of hosting a pretty outstanding artist,” Houfek said. Simon Joyner currently is on a similar house show tour. Is this the new winning business model for singer/songwriters?

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Steve Bartolomei sent out a message from his new home in Manhattan, where he recently relocated shortly after last December’s release show for From the Fingers of Trees LP. “In the week between the release show and my departure, Mal Madrigal recorded a new full-length record at Mike Mogis’ incredible ARC studios in Omaha, NE,” Bartolomei said. “The album came in a fury of writing and recording prompted by the deadline of my relocating. It still needs to be mixed, but the band and I are excited to share it with you.”
No doubt the new album will be released on Bocca Lupo Records, the new label cooperative Bartolomei is spearheading. This week the label is releasing Before the Toast and Tea’s Methods of the Mad. BTAT is a project of longtime Mal Madrigal collaborator Ben Brodin. The album features contributions from Orenda Fink (Azure Ray), who lends harmonies alongside Jake Bellows (Neva Dinova).

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The Waiting Room is hosting a punk show tonight with Council Bluffs hardcore band Ties, Gordon Shumway and Lightning Bug. $5, 9 p.m. And right down the street at PS Collective Well Aimed Arrows is playing a set with a handful of bands I’ve never heard of: Conflict Between, Peace and Space and Crash Davey, $5, 8 p.m.