Blue Bird at The Waiting Room, June 16, 2012.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Night Pirate, Omaha’s latest mix-and-match post-punk combo, debuted Saturday night at The Barley Street Tavern to a full room. So new is this band that they had lyrics taped to their microphones, having (apparently) just come up with the words. Turns out they didn’t need the cheat sheets as no one could understand what frontman vocalist/guitarist Jason Ludwick (of Bombardment Society fame) was yelling anyway, nor did they care. Theirs isn’t the kind of music that lends itself to intense cerebral examination. Rather, it’s all about angle and rhythm, riffage and beats and where the breaks lie. So yeah, this was as abrasive as anything that these guys have done before. Bassist Tim Feelger of Latitude Longitude pounded it out and even threw in a tasty vocal lead that was a tad closer to actual singing than Ludwick’s Gary Dean Davis-esque bark. Overall, the difference between this and the band members’ other projects were the songs, which more closely resemble something that could reasonably be mistaken for “rock” thanks to the riffage, as brutal as it was. As for drummer Steve Micek (of The Stay Awake), I will simply add that he’s probably the best drummer in Omaha. Will these guys ever play again? Who knows. Hope so.

Kite Pilot followed. Playing as a power trio, they continue to mix in proggy/arty material with the usual proto-punk scorchers, to ill effect. Artists must be artists, I suppose. That said, the band will always be known (and loved) for their five-song pop EP from earlier in the past decade, which they no longer play live (which is a pity). They still managed to roll out a few pop numbers that showcase frontwoman Erica Petersen-Hanton’s kickass guitar and bass chops. It’s called giving the people what they want, and we do want more.

Afterward, it was up the street to Blue Bird’s CD release show at The Waiting Room. Nice crowd of more than 100 were on hand to see this rather large ensemble whose primary focus is frontwoman Marta Fiedler. One guy turned to me and said “What do you think of the Jenny Lewis tribute band?” That description doesn’t necessarily fit, but I can understand why the comment was made, especially when Fiedler and the band strolled through some twangier numbers. Still, with her added C&W lilt, Fiedler has more in common with Loretta than Jenny. She has a good voice, along with two backup singers that know their way around a harmony. The highlight for me didn’t come ’til the end of the set, however, when Fiedler and the band played a couple songs that were less heartland and more rhythm-based, making me wonder what she would sound like if she stepped away from the Americana / C&W stuff and headed toward an indie sound. Just imagine the Jenny Lewis comparisons then…

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There have been rumors the last couple weeks that Morrissey was headed to Nebraska, this time to Lincoln. Today it was announced on his pseudo homesite True To You that he’ll be performing at the Rococo Theater Nov. 1. Having seen Moz play the Orpheum last time through, more than five years ago, I fully endorse this ticket purchase, especially with rumors of his impending retirement (though he’s doused those rumors as wishful thinking from music journalists (but not this one)).

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Tonight at The Waiting Room it’s the return of Maps & Atlases. The band came through last year in support of Perch Patchwork. Now they’re touring their latest release on Barsuk, Beware and Be Grateful. Opening is The Big Sleep and Suns. $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 © 2012 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

What’s it mean that there are still tickets available to tonight’s Hold Steady show at The Waiting Room? I figured this one would have sold out weeks ago. But maybe we’re seeing a College World Series effect? Or maybe the Hold Steady’s audience is starting to slip… The band hasn’t released a formal full length since 2010’s Heaven Is Whenever. Meanwhile, frontman Craig Finn released a solo album last year and came through town on a solo date at Slowdown Jr. For whatever reason, I’m more interested in seeing Hold Steady at TWR than Slowdown, maybe because the band will seem less disconnected to the audience (Slowdown’s big stage can seem a mile away some nights). I’ll likely be there… if there are any walk-up tickets left. Opening is gritty Siltbreeze band Mount Carmel, who sounds like a modern-day version of Montrose. Yeah, get there early. $18. 9 p.m.

Tomorrow night is the debut of a brand new Omaha band at The Barley Street (and you know how much I like debut performances). Called Night Pirate, the band is like a supergroup of O’Leaver’s veterans. The line-up: Tim Feelger (Latitude Longitude) on bass; Steve Micek (The Stay Awake) on drums, and frontman Jason Ludwick (Bombardment Society) guitar and vocals. Did I say supergroup? I meant super-duper group.  The band is opening for We Live in Sod Houses and headliner Kite Pilot, so you have to get there early early early. $5, 9 p.m.

Meanwhile, just up the street at The Waiting Room Saturday night is the Blue Bird album release party. Bone up on your Blue Bird knowledge prior to the show by listening to a stream of the entire album at bluebirdlovesyou.com. Also on the bill: Skypiper, Lonely Estates and The Big Deep. Your $7 cover will also get you a copy download of the Blue Bird disc. Show starts at 9.

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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.