MONO at The Waiting Room, Sept. 25, 2012. The band returns tonight to The Waiting Room.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

The NOmaha Alerts caught the attention of readers who pointed out that Alvvays, Slowdive and Pinegrove all are bypassing Omaha on upcoming tours. Of those three, the Pinegrove tour is the most surprising miss, though they played Milk Run last July. Alvvays played Maha in 2015. Getting Slowdive would be a feat I’d never expect to happen (but stranger things have).

Add to those NOmaha additions Thee Oh Sees — or just Oh Sees, as they’ve officially changed their name. Oh Sees has consistently bypassed Omaha for years, and one has to assume there’s a story behind it. Why else would the band avoid us? Here’s the closest pass to Omaha on Oh Sees’ upcoming tour:

11-18 Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom
11-19 Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall
11-23 Missoula, MT – Stage 112

It doesn’t take four days to drive from Chicago to Missoula.

Today’s NOmaha Alert:

“Joseph will kick off a fall headline tour on Sept. 13 at the 9:30 Club in Washington, DC. Produced by Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes, Jenny Lewis), I’m Alone, No You’re Not (ATO) spent two weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Heatseekers Albums chart.”

9/22 – Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall *
9/23 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue *
9/24 – Franklin, TN @ Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival
NOmaha

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So who is actually playing in Omaha tonight?

Japanese 4-piece instrumental prog rock band MONO returns to The Waiting Room. I saw them open for The Album Leaf in 2012. From that 2012 Lazy-i Review: “MONO is a four-piece ambient rock band from Japan that plays soaring all-instrumental compositions that are equal parts majesty and sorrow. The recipe is two guitars, a bassist who doubles on keyboards, and drums. It’s gorgeous, lush music that tries to replicate the density of orchestral music using rock instruments, and at its best moments, succeeds.”

But there was a flaw to their performance, which you’ll have to go hear to read about. Opening for them tonight is our very own Thick Paint. $15, 9 p.m.

There’s also a house show at West Wing tonight (according to Facebook) with Springfield IL band Livin’ Thing, Champaign, IL’s Dream Probe and our very own BIB. $5, 9 p.m. More info 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 © 2017 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

The Album Leaf at The Waiting Room, Sept. 25, 2012.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

MONO is a four-piece ambient rock band from Japan that plays soaring all-instrumental compositions that are equal parts majesty and sorrow. The recipe is two guitars, a bassist who doubles on keyboards, and drums. It’s gorgeous, lush music that tries to replicate the density of orchestral music using rock instruments, and at its best moments, succeeds. A few songs sounded like the score from a 70 mm WWII epic, underlining scenes of burning buildings, diving airplanes, marches to victory and acres of graves. The music was dark and beautifully dismal; sad movements that combined to make an epic rock symphony.

While startlingly beautiful, MONO took the stage at around 9:30 and played for 90 minutes, which was about 60 minutes too long. Every song repeated the same quiet, build, crescendo formula, which fooled the audience into thinking “Well this has got to be the big finale,” only to have them start all over again. Since three of the musicians were seated and there was no variety in stage lighting, there wasn’t anything to see. After about 40 minutes I was in the back room playing No Fear pinball, with MONO providing the perfect heroic soundtrack as I hit one ramp after another.

Headliner The Album Leaf didn’t come on until after 11. I remember these guys from their shows at Sokol Underground nearly a decade ago. For the most part, their sound hasn’t changed much, though these days they sport a violin and frontman Jimmy LaValle provides vocals on a few of the songs. Their sound is still driven by the rhythms, whether electronic or created by drummer Dave LeBleu, who was amazing. Call it ambient rock if you want, there is a jazzy quality to what they do, though no one was improvising. Each song was like an individual set piece colored in shades of amber and gold.

Adding to the performance was film projection — sometimes video effects, a few found-film pieces — and LED bars that pulsed and changed colors in synch with the music. But in the end it was the musicians that made the show.

Remember when this kind of instrumental rock seemed fresh and exciting (who remembers Tristeza?)? It may no longer seem risky, but it’s no less enjoyable (in small doses).

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This solid week of rock shows continues tonight at Slowdown Jr. when Tennis returns, with Landing on the Moon opening. $12, 9 p.m.

Also tonight, Pueblo’s The Haunted Windchimes opens for John Klemmensen and the Party at The Sydney. First up is Underwater Dream Machine. 10:30, $5.

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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.