The Gotobeds at The Down Under Lounge, Nov. 18, 2014.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Sometimes bars start booking live music as a way to get people in the door to check out the place. That’s what I have to believe is happening at The Down Under Lounge. The bar, located off 38th and Leavenworth, is not in any way designed for live music. You could say the same thing about O’Leaver’s, but through persistence, technology, investment, know-how and years of booking shows, O’Leaver’s has become recognized not only as a viable alternative for touring bands, but as one of the better sounding rooms in Omaha.

The Down Under has a long way to go before it gets to that level, if it every does. But if the goal was to get people to discover the place, job well done. With its nautical theme, low ceilings and round windows, the bar (which I’ve driven by for decades without stopping in) felt like being down in the hull of a boat… almost. Actually, it felt more like being in someone’s basement that’s been made to feel like being in the hull of a boat. The room is cozy, even though it has its share of neon signs, flat panel TV and Husker shit nailed to the wall.

What it doesn’t have is any sort of stage. The Gotobeds set up in a corner opposite the door and did their thing surrounded by a few dozen guys holding tallboys. The band’s music clearly was influenced by early Pavement but has an additional layer of abrasion supplied by duel guitars that trade riffs and other distorted noises. No idea where the bar got that PA, but it was as rustic as I’ve heard in any public gathering. The vocals sounded like they were being blown from a bullhorn, which in the case of this music, was oddly appropriate.

I got to the bar at the top of Gotobeds’ short set, apparently after some unintentional pyrotechnics involving that PA (I was told the speaker only smoked, no actual flames were emitted). The band played about a half-dozen songs including highlight “NY’s Alright.” The set ended with both guitarists on their backs, feet slid up one of the room’s support poles. Very rock and roll.

So as not to be “Omaha’d,” Gotobeds played second, making New Lungs the headliner. DMax and company riffed though a fun, heavy set. Moving Cory Broman over to a Korg keyboard was a good idea — the sounds he was making added a cool element, especially on a couple new songs (or at least ones I hadn’t heard before). Again, vocals were fuzz/mud/squelch quality.

Like I said, this isn’t the best place to see a show, at least not the way it was set up last night. But the Down Under definitely feels like a cool place to have a beer or three.

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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.

Junkfest #20 is Nov. 7-8.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Eclectic tape/record label Unread Records, owned and operated by Nebraska ex-pat Chris Fischer, yesterday announced its “annual festival of grand musics and art,” Junkfest #20.

The epic two-day festival takes place at Sweatshop Gallery Nov. 7 and 8 and includes performances by Simon Joyner, Church of Gravitron, Lonnie Methe, Ramon Speed and lots more. In addition there will be art by Dennis Callaci, Charlie McAlister and others along with “large amounts of pickled eggs and BBQ and hot dogs and shit like that just cause,” Fischer announced. More info as it’s provided. This cotillion has become the must-not-miss social event of the fall…

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Everyone’s favorite audio chaos vendors Pro-Magnum just dropped a new self-titled LP on Bandcamp.  The album was recorded by Ben Brodin at ARC Studio. Says P-M frontman John Vredenburg, “We’re currently in the process of shopping labels and getting ready to press our records.” But you don’t have to wait for some label exec, simply download the LP now right here from Bandcamp.

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New Lungs also dropped a new single yesterday via Bandcamp. The release includes two versions of new song “You Look Lost” — a studio version recorded at Matt Carroll’s Little Machine Studio (and tape mastered by Mike Saklar), and a live version recorded at O’Leaver’s by engineer Ian Aeillo.

In other New Lungs news, the band recently welcomed new drummer Tab Tworek, as Corey Broman now is shifting to keyboards. Of course the band is fronted by Danny Maxwell and rounded out by bassist Craig Fort.

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Tonight at Reverb Sub Pop band Avi Buffalo takes center stage. The band’s recent album, At Best Cuckold (2014, Sub Pop) got a big ol’ 7.2 on the Pitchfork meter. Something about the band’s upbeat indie sound and Avi Zahner-Isenberg’s voice reminds me of super-early Built to Spill or some other PNW band from that era. Staffers opens. $12, 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 © 2014 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

New Lungs play at O’Leaver’s tonight…

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Trying to think of some news to pass along… The new Prince records? Not feeling it. The new Thom Yorke? Nope. If you’re looking for something noisy and weird, you could do worse than checking out Useless Eaters LP Bleeding Moon (Castle Face). Modern, spiked garage rock. Or maybe not.

Busy Wednesday show-wise…

It’s a night of fine, fine rock at fabulous O’Leaver’s this evening. Been awhile since I’ve seen the crew from New Lungs. I believe D-Max and Co. have been working on some new stuff.  Opener Athens band Little Gold plays gritty, harmonica-infused indie rock. They kind of remind me of Centro-matic crossed with D. Jr., but only because of lead guy Christian DeRoeck’s gravel voice. Check out the tracks below. Swamp Walk kicks it off at 9:30. $5.

Tonight at Slowdown Jr. Columbus Ohio band Saintseneca headlines. The band recorded their latest album, Dark Arc (ANTI-) with Mike Mogis at ARC Studios, just up the street from the new Panda Express. It’s straight-up acoustic indie rock. Pretty. Bloomington’s Busman’s Holiday and our very own McCarthy Trenching open. $10, 9 p.m.

I typically don’t write about Lincoln shows because, well, they’re in Lincoln. And I’m in Omaha. And the chances of me driving to Lincoln during the week (or even on the weekend) are pretty slim. If I had chutzpah, I would make the drive tonight for Beach Fossils at Vega. This show is really a Captured Tracks showcase featuring label mates Heavenly Beat and Axxa/Abraxas. Captured Tracks has it going on. You should check it out. $17, 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 © 2014 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Might as well just get right into the weekend.

Tonight at O’Leaver’s Noah’s Ark Was a Spaceship headlines a gig with Ego Death (the band formerly known as Sun Settings) and Killer Blow. $5, 9:30 p.m. Get there early for KB.

Also tonight, a special Slow Burn Productions $2 showcase at Slowdown Jr. headlined by Omaha hip-hop artist Conchance with The Fucking Party, La Brood and Radkey. All for just $2! I just listened to The FP’s 7-song debut EP again this morning. There is something inherently bleak and unsettling about this music. Let it disturb you. Show starts at 9.

Finally, over at The Barley Street Tavern, The Ground Tyrants headline tonight with Ft. Collins band SHEL and Daniel Christian. $5, 9 p.m.

Saturday night’s all right for CD release shows, and there are two to split your attention.

Over at O’Leaver’s, it’s a party for New Lungs’ debut 5-song EP You’re Not Gonna Recognize Me. New Lungs is Danny Maxwell (vocals, guitar), Craig Fort (bass), and Corey Broman (drums). The EP was recorded throughout the course of 2012; engineered and mixed by Matt Carroll at Little Machine, and tape/tube mastering was completed by Mike Saklar at Ant-Records. The band says they dial in their sound from the heyday of Archers of Loaf, Pavement, Dinosaur Jr. and Polvo, and I’d say that’s pretty right on. This is a fantastic debut. Headlining is our old friends The Photo Atlas. See Through Dresses rounds out the bill. $5, 9:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, over at The Waiting Room, UUVVWWZ celebrates the release of its sophomore Saddle Creek release The Trusted Language. You either get UU or you don’t. With the demise of Beep Beep, it’s easily the most challenging music on the Saddle Creek roster. That said, this new record is more accessible (and less dissonant) than their debut. Opening is The Renfields and Touch People (Darren Keen, formerly of The Show Is the Rainbow). $7, 9 p.m.

If Lungs’ indie/math/slacker rock and UU”s art rock ain’t your thing, check out the black-leather rock of Bullet Proof Hearts at The Brothers Saturday with Chromafrost. $5, 9 p.m.

Ty Segall, Twins (Drag City, 2012)

And then comes Sunday and the show of the weekend (maybe the show of the year?): Ty Segall headlines at Sokol Underground. This show is part of Ty’s first full U.S. tour in support of Twins, his third full-length of 2012, which was released via Drag City last October. Check out Kyle Eustice’s interview with Segall in this week’s issue of The Reader or online right here.

Right before Segall, it’s Digital Leather as you’ve never seen or heard Digital Leather before. I have a feeling we’ll be talking about this set all next week. First band of the night is Micro Knife (members of Sun Settings and Capgun Coup), followed by Chicago thrash metal band ZATH (Captcha Records) and Goner Records garage heroes Ex-Cult, who have been on the road with Segall throughout this tour. Tickets are $13, show starts at 8.

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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

Yesterday Desaparecidos announced a new two-song double-A single, “Anonymous” b/w “Left is Right.” You can listen to a stream of the songs below, then order your copy of the limited edition 7-inch from desaparecidosband.com. ($5 for the mp3, $10 for the vinyl). Brutal, anthemic rock, not sure I’d call it punk, though the themes touch on revolution, which is an old punk theme. “Anonymous,” the harder-edged of the two, reminded me of early Strike Anywhere, another band around at the time Desa first came on the scene. Check it out below.

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The press release announcing the new Liars video for “WIXIW” reminded me of a Netflix moment I had over the weekend. Going through the queue, I watched “Kill Your Idols,” a 2004 documentary that looks at the New York City No Wave movement of the ’70s and early ’80s and includes interviews with Lydia Lunch, Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, DNA’s Arto Lindsay, Swans, Glenn Branca, Sonic Youth and others.

It then kind of compares it to the so-called NYC No Wave scene of 2004, with interview with Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Black Dice and, to my surprise, Liars. There on the screen were Liars’ Pat Noecker (ex-Opium Taylor, These Are Powers, RAFT) and Ron Albertson (ex-Mercy Rule, Ron Wax), along with Aaron Hemphill and Angus Andrew. The film was made before Pat and Ron left the band under circumstances that are still unexplained (to me at least). Still, it’s interesting to see those two briefly talk about the band and moving from Lincoln to the big city. The film concludes with the older artists, including Lunch, lambasting the new kids on the block. Actually, I’m not quite sure who they were targeting. As a whole, the documentary kind of sucked… but worth it if you have Netflix and 90 minutes to kill…

Here’s that new Liars video. I lost interest in this band after Pat and Ron left and it turned into something else.

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Speaking of videos, here’s the new Love Drunk video of New Lungs performing “New Lungs” at the New BLK. New Lungs have a self-released EP coming out Feb. 9 called You’re Not Gonna Recognize Me that is being celebrated at a release show this Saturday at O’Leaver’s. Be there.

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This week’s column focuses on feedback I got from that gun control column I wrote a few weeks ago. One guy wasn’t too pleased, as you’ll read. It’s in this week’s issue of The Reader or online right here.

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At Slowdown Jr. tonight there’s a benefit for Gary Kurtz. I don’t know who Gary is, but he has some super-talented friends who will be performing to help raise money for his battle with cancer. Among them: The Brigadiers, Video Ranger and Gordon. $8, 7 p.m. start time. More info here.

There’s also a couple hot shows going on tonight in Benson.

Over at The Sydney John Klemmensen and the Party headline with The Love Technicians. Opening are performances by Reagan Roeder, Aly Peeler, Jeremy Mercy, Jon Jerry and John Larsen. 8:30 start time. No idea on cost.

Meanwhile, over at The Barley Street Tavern, Pleasure Adapter headlines with Millions of Boys and Dads. $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 © 2013 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Strange start Friday night at O’Leaver’s. Amidst the noise and chaos I didn’t get the memo as to why a guy was sitting on stage during New Lungs’ set wearing swim trunks, sun block and sun glasses reading a copy of the OWH. Irony? Maybe, considering the impending snowstorm. A living advertisement for the Men of O’Leaver’s 2012 calendar? I good idea, except I don’t think the guy is actually in the calendar (which you should check out if you haven’t, especially you ladies and you gay and/or bi-curious fellows). Unless you were in front of the mob or off to the side by the head (as I was) you never saw the guy anyway. Yeah, it was that crowded. The biggest crowd I’ve seen at O’leaver’s in a long time.

New Lungs is a fantastic band that lives off the soul of a ’90s West Coast SST hassle-core punk vibe mixed with its own Midwestern ’90s punk heritage. As cliche as it sounds, they get better and better every time I see them. Frontman Danny Maxwell is gaining more confidence with every performance. Call it swagger. Call it hubris. Call it I-don’t-give-a-fuck moxie. I like it, along with the band’s bone-rattling energy. I’m told the band has been working with Matt Carroll at his Little Machine recording studio putting down tracks for a debut album. How long must we wait for this?

So crowded was the room that I eventually found my way by the soundboard in the back, where you can move around and get a fresh Rolling Rock as needed, but behind the grand mob that stood in front of the band. As a result I heard rather than saw Digital Leather perform what (to me) was one of their longest sets, conceivably to work out the kinks before they head off on the road tomorrow for a West Coast/Texas tour.

I’m not sure what’s left to say about Digital Leather that I haven’t already said a dozen times. As a recording entity, Shawn Foree creates some of the best modern rock music heard out of Omaha (or anywhere, for that matter). I spent Sunday listening to my copy of Infinite Sun (which I finally got Friday night). Seven guitar- and keyboard-fueled rock songs that turn their back on the futility of living in these days when an infinite sun seems only to cast long shadows before dusk. That music, along with the songs on just-released cassette, Sponge, and the couple new songs off Modern Problems (which I didn’t buy Friday as I ordered a copy from the label’s website a few weeks ago — a mistake, apparently), have a playful post-apocalyptic groove that are lively and deceptively upbeat.

On recordings, Digital Leather casts an electronic sheen with the addition of synths. Live, DL is a punk three-piece — all leather, no digital. This has startled a few people who are only familiar with the recordings, me among them. But I’ve since seen the error of my ways. Last November on his It’s a Digital World blog (http://itsadigitalworld.blogspot.com/), Foree explained once and for all the difference between recorded and live Digital Leather (the lowercases are his, or as they say in the trades, “sic”):

“when you put on a record or play an mp3 or tape it’s a one on one situation: you and the artist. that’s why i make my recorded sound more intimate. when i play live, there’s a different dynamic. the music becomes a dialogue between a living audience and myself. therefore, these two sides of music, while having comparable aspects, will always contrast, rather (than), complement each other.“

But the real difference to me is the addition of the rest of the band. DL is a different sort of monster when its powered by the rhythm section of bassist Johnny Vrendenburg and drummer Jeff Lambelet. It’s a clean, powerful, breakneck sound that let’s Foree spread out on guitar and vocals in a way that he couldn’t if he were trapped behind a keyboard like he used to be. I never could hear those keyboards live, anyway, no matter who played them. There’s a reason why Foree has stuck with Vrendenburg and Lambelet over the years, a very good reason.

Anyway, I’ve been indoctrinated in the difference between the recorded and live Digital Leather. And as the band continues to tour, more and more people will be as well, but until then, there’s going to be a certain amount of shock, surprise (and disappointment) by those who have listened and loved the records and expect to hear those synths on stage. In fact I was texted by someone who was watching them play in Chicago late last year, asking me where the fuck were the keyboards. I told him that this is what you get with live Digital Leather. Suck it up, and listen.

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Point of CLARIFICATION regarding tomorrow’s launch of Saddle Creek Shop’s new series called “Record Club at Shop.” I said last Friday that Cursive would be there. Cursive will not be there. Let me repeat: Cursive will not be in the house.

I thought I was supposed to moderate a Q&A with a member(s) of Cursive. In fact, the Club’s concept is for music fans to get together and talk about a specific album, in this case, Cursive’s I Am Gemini. To be honest with you, I’m not exactly sure what my role is. Maybe to just sit and listen. Regardless, we’ll all find out tomorrow. The event starts at 7 p.m. with the playing of I Am Gemini in its entirety inside The Saddle Creek Shop. Discussion will follow afterward, and copies of the album will also be available for purchase — two weeks before its street date! If anything, just go there to pick up a copy of the vinyl, which I’m told is spectacular.

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Over the weekend, O’Leaver’s announced a special last-minute show that’s going on TONIGHT. It’s the long-awaited return of Ladyfinger to the house that booze built, along with Great American Desert. $5, 9:30 p.m. Call in sick tomorrow and go.

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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.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Des Moines 80/35 Music Festival announced its final line-up for its July 2-3 event. Overall, it’s a pretty strong collection, however some of the best main stage acts have come through Omaha within the last six months. Among them Titus Andronicus, Okkervil River, Of Montreal, and Girl Talk. Other than Handsome Furs, I didn’t recognize most of their “second stage” acts. And two Omaha regulars — Poison Control Center and The Envy Corp — are closing out their local stage. Tix are $60 for a two-day, $35 for a one-day, $40 DOS. More info at 80-35.com.

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Fizzle Like a Flood is back. Doug Kabourek’s signature project made a splash a decade ago with the amazing landmark concept album Golden Sand and the Grandstand (You can still read about that project online here). After a few more albums, Fizzle disappeared. Kabourek has played some solo shows since and has a new rock band called At Land. And now The Fizzle is back, opening for Grant Hart June 30 at The Waiting Room. Will he unveil new material? Will he play songs from Golden Sands? We’ll just have to wait and see. Fizzle Like a Flood also is playing July 9 at The Sydney as part of the OEAA Summer Showcase.

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The MAHA / Hear Nebraska Showcase is tonight at The Waiting Room. This is first of three such showcases where a local band selected to play on the MAHA local stage during the festival Aug. 13 (location still unknown) has been charged with curating — i.e., selecting the opening bands. MAHA Selection Noah’s Ark Was a Spaceship picked noise-punk act Ketchup and Mustard Gas and hot new indie rockers New Lungs, led by Little Brazil’s Danny Maxwell.

BTW, you can read an interview with D-Max here, wherein the author compares me with Emperor Palpatine from Star Wars, a strange comparison as Palpatine is first and foremost the source of all evil in the universe. Actually, some bands might say that’s pretty close to the mark. I replied to the author saying that I narcissistically preferred to be compared to Khal Drogo, which fell flat because he obviously doesn’t watch (or hasn’t read) Game of Thrones. Anyway, read the Q&A with Danny here and go to the show tonight at the Waiting Room. There’s no cover, the show starts early, at 8 p.m.

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Tomorrow: The Story of The Shanks.

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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.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

I have no photos from Saturday night’s O’Leaver’s show because I couldn’t get close enough to the band to take pictures. It was an old school crush mob of gigantic proportions, and I was lucky to find a place to stand out of the way back by the “soundboard.” The main attraction was New Lungs, a new band that features Danny Maxwell of Little Brazil on guitar and vocals backed by returning drummer Corey Broman and the ubiquitous Craig Fort on bass. The trio blazed through SST-style ’90s punk rock anchored by Maxwell’s earnest, earthy howl — he can now count himself among the top Omaha frontmen, all he needs is a pair of leather pants.

Someone compared them to Polvo, and I nodded. Another mentioned faster/angrier Dinosaur Jr., and I nodded again, but none of those comparisons really fit. There were moments that reminded me of Archers of Loaf, Minutemen and classic Mission of Burma, but I could never convince myself that that’s what DMax and Co. were after. There’s a unique purity about their dark rock that defies comparisons. This was only their second show, and they only had five or six songs (though they were longer jams than your standard punk rock tune). Imagine the places they’ll go if they decide to stick together…

I chatted with one of the many local celebrities in the crowd throughout most of headliner Poison Control Center’s set and was rewarded both with deep knowledge and righteous tuneage. Whenever I looked toward the dirt-spot “stage,” the only thing visible was the guitarist/vocalist’s feet, which he’d kicked in the air from his position lying on the floor — in other words, it was your typical PCC show. The band has a new album coming out June 7 on Afternoon Records called Stranger Ballet that could push them to a new level. Let’s hope it doesn’t make them too big for O’Leavers.

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During our PCC discussion, the local celeb passed along some interesting news, which I ran home and verified as well as I could. If you look at the April 16 entry of The Barley Street Tavern music calendar you’ll see that the bands listed are The Beat Seekers, Blue Bird, Traveling Mercies and… Kite Pilot. That’s right, apparently Kite Pilot is back, including Austin Britton. The band’s 5-song EP was one of the best local releases of 2004. I don’t know the particulars, but I have a feeling this could be a crowded show — I mean, who doesn’t want to hear “Tree Caught the Kite” again?

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Amazon today announced that it’s launching its new “Cloud Drive” music service, which allows users to upload their music to a “cloud server,” which they’ll be able to access from any web-connected computer or Android phone. This is similar to what Lala.com used to offer, though Lala’s service was much more streamlined than Amazon’s clunky browse-to-upload process. Nonetheless, Cloud Drive facilitates access to your music library from anywhere including a smart phone. Can the iTunes’ version of the cloud music service be far behind? Those of you wondering about the significance of this development, re-read the Lazy-i 2011 Predictions Column. In summary, this could be the first step to something that could change everything.

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It’s a busy night for a Tuesday show-wise. At The Waiting Room, Landing on the Moon unveils its new line-up minus guitarist Matt Carroll (Honey & Darling). Expect to hear some surprising new tunes. Also on the showbill is Bazooka Shootout, Birds & Batteries and No I’m The Pilot. 9 p.m., $7.

Meanwhile, down at Slowdown Jr., Capgun Coup headlines a show with Cleeman, Platte River Rain and Nicole LeClerc. Cleeman is the out-of-town act and features Copenhagen-based singer-songwriter Gunnar Cleeman and a band that includes legendary Omaha bass player Dereck Higgins (InDreama, Digital Sex). $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 © 2011 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.