Lots o’ shows on this Valentine’s Day / Ash Wednesday, which is kind of odd but oh well, right?
Top of the list is the big UnValentine’s Day event at fabulous O’Leaver’s featuring a screening of Tim Kasher’s epic motion picture No Resolution. Director Kasher will introduce the movie to an inebriated, possibly high O’Leaver’s crowd and will play some “UnValentine’s Day” songs before hand. I’m not sure this means he’ll actually perform songs or that he’ll be manning the O’Leaver’s soundboard/DJ booth. No matter, either way it’s worth the price of admission, which, btw, is absolutely free. The fun starts at 9.
Also tonight a couple bands that usually play at O’Leaver’s are setting up cross town at Pageturners Lounge — Rusty Lord and Ocean Black. This is bound to be some “rough love” for all involved. This free show also starts at 9 p.m.
Meanwhile in Benson at Reverb Lounge Sam Martin tops a bill of singer songwriter bands that include Small Houses and Midwest Dilemma. $7, 8 p.m.
Finally, The Door, a new collaboration between Dereck Higgins and Aaron “Bird” Williams, will perform their debut album, Virgo, tonight at B Side of Benson Theatre, 6058 Maple Street (the old PS Collective space). Joining them is Johnna Dortch & Steven Kat Lanier. Your $15 ticket gets you a copy of Virgo. This early show starts at 7 p.m.
Tim Kasher’s big-screen directorial debut, No Resolution, is headed for a premiere on iTunes and Amazon streaming services Feb. 13, just in time for Valentine’s Day.
Those who pre-order the release can enter a drawing for a private screening with Tim. The promotion suggests maybe hosting the screening at a local bar or theater and inviting a ton of friends. If I won I’d prefer an uncomfortable one-on-one screening held in my living room, with Tim feverishly explaining every shot and edit decision while my dogs eye him suspiciously from a distance.
I got a press release telling me about Twin Peaks’ new collection of 7″ singles, Sweet ’17 Singles, which was released over the past six months via Grand Jury.
The press release says Twin Peaks are playing at Vega in Lincoln March 17, but we all know that’s wrong. That Twin Peaks show has been moved to the new Royal Grove, which is celebrating its grand opening tonight with an act named Darude, who I’ve never heard of.
Just glancing at their calendar, this Twin Peaks show will be the first national indie show at the new club. I’m tempted to go, except that it’s on St. Patrick’s Day (and I have a long-standing appointment at The Dubliner on that day). I might have to break it…
The May issue of The Reader, which I’m not certain has hit the racks yet, includes a feature/column focused on Tim Kasher, his new album No Resolution, and more specifically, his new record label, 15 Passenger, which he operates with Cursive bro’s Matt Maginn and Ted Stevens.
The story answers questions I posed about the label back in January, specifically why create a new label, how did you acquire the Cursive masters from Saddle Creek, will The Good Life be involved in the new label, and more. Kasher also talks his film No Resolution and how he hopes to screen it in the future.
Kasher did the interview via phone while he was in Omaha rehearsing for the tour that brings him to The Waiting Room May 12. You should get tickets to this one while you can.
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The Meat Puppets with Mike Watt are headlining tonight at The Waiting Room. According to TWR website, the band could “revisit the folk and singer-song writer nuggets Curt put out in 2005 on his solo masterpiece, Snow, as well as similarly veined tracks from Rat Farm (‘Sometimes Blue’).” The Jom + Terry Show opens. According to Wiki, Jom + Terry “was the backup band led by American punk legend Mike Watt (formerly of The Minutemen and Firehose) for tours of the USA and Canada in 2001 and 2002. The band, in addition to Watt on vocals and bass, included Tom Watson (Slovenly, Red Krayola) on guitar and vocals and Jerry Trebotic on drums.” $20, 8 p.m.
Also tonight….
Is it me or is The Brothers Lounge turning into a regular go-to spot for live music? In the past, Omaha’s most famous bar (with the best jukebox) hosted a live rock show maybe once a month, if that. These days they’re doing shows almost weekly. And anyone who knows the bar’s owners knows they know how to put on a rock show.
Tonight The Brothers hosts Omaha’s hardest working noise/garage rock band, David Nance Group. Also on the bill are a couple Los Angeles bands, psych-rock act Olga and dirge band Dimples. $5, 9 p.m.
The second single off Tim Kasher’s upcoming debut on Cursive’s new label, 15 Passenger, hit the internet yesterday. “Break Me Open” is a gorgeous heart-break pop song that floats on a cushion of lovely strings. Kind of reminds me of “From the Hips,” not sure why. Check it out below. Tim’s doing the presale at Bandcamp for No Resolution; the album comes out March 3.
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Word went around yesterday that The 21st Saloon on south 96th St. is now closed. The venue focused on blues shows and “while blues shows were generally well-attended, it was not enough to pay the bills.” Sounds like Blues Society of Omaha is moving some of its series to Chrome Lounge on 85th and Park Drive. 21st Saloon had been around since 2012. Any time a club that features live music closes it’s not a good sign for the health of the city’s overall music scene…
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It’s been awhile, but there’s actually a touring indie rock band playing tonight at Slowdown Jr. California garage band Cherry Glazerr got its start on Burger Records, while their latest, Apocalipstick, is out on Secretly Canadian. Opening is LA-based indie band Slow Hollows (Danger Collective Records). $14, 8 p.m.
Also tonight, The Milk Run has Young and Heartless (Hopeless Records) with Kississippi (Soft Speak Records) and Museum Mouth (Equal Vision). $10, 9 p.m.
Presumably one of the people in this photo is Tim Kasher filming a scene from his new film No Resolution, which will have its premiere right here in Omaha.
Watched the Grammy’s last night. Somewhere, David Bowie is spinning in his grave. That, and Courtney Barnett got robbed. But who (other than Kanye) gives a shit about awards, anyway?
Some news:
Saddle Creek Records yesterday announced they’ve signed a new act to the label: Brooklyn band Big Thief. The project is helmed by singer/songwriter Adrianne Lenker, whose last known musical product was a solo album that came out in 2014 (embedded below). Pretty stuff.
No doubt Big Thief will be a departure from her more winsome acoustic material. The first song off the debut, “Masterpiece” (also embedded below) is a full-out four-on-the-floor indie rocker that reminded me of Centro-Matic and whose video features the band’s adorable dog. I do believe the Creek might have another hit on their hands. When combined with Hop Along, they make a matching set of salt-and-pepper hit makers.
The band is out with Eleanor Friedberger right now and will be swinging through Omaha April 3, opening for Yuck at (wait for it) Lookout Lounge. Big Thief also will be at SXSW this year, but alas, I won’t be there to see them (after last year’s nightly riot-squad 6th St. beat-downs I declared myself “too old for this shit”).
Check out Ms Lenker’s new and old stuff below. Welcome to the big leagues, kid…
Saddle Creek has been keeping themselves pretty busy this year. In addition to that Big Thief release, they’re reissuing Hop Along’s debut, Get Disowned, March 4, and they’ve got a new Thermals album, We Disappear, coming out March 25.
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Over the weekend the Omaha Film festival announced that Tim Kasher’s feature film debut, No Resolution, will be screened at this year’s festival (specifically March 11 at 6 p.m. at Village Point Theater).
From the press release:
The debut feature film by songwriter Tim Kasher (Cursive, The Good Life), No Resolution explores the relationship of never-was musician Cary and his newly pregnant fiancé Jean as they struggle with concepts of family and settling down. New Year’s Eve becomes a fitting backdrop for the disparity of their combined future; Jean longs for a nice night staying in, but the temptations of a decadent evening are too much for Cary to avoid. The engaged couple reaches a boiling point of anger and resentment as their upstairs neighbors stoke the flames with a raging New Year’s party.
The film stars Maura Kidwell of the USA network TV series Sirens, who also appeared in a couple episodes of Chicago Fire. And Erin O’Shea, who in addition to acting in two episodes of The Dreamers TV series is listed in IMDB as having appeared in an episode of Iron Chef America as the sous chef for challenger chef Michael Solomonov!
Mr. Kasher also wrote a soundtrack for the film (He’s a regular John Carpenter!) that he says he’ll be releasing toward the end of the year.
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Big show tonight at fabulous O’Leaver’s. Athens band Mothers headlines. The band was rumored to have been courted by some high-falutin’ labels, including one that’s near and dear to all our hearts. I asked the band via their publicist if that rumor was true, but didn’t hear back (probably because I didn’t ask until last Friday). BTW, Grand Jury Records will have the honor of putting out Mothers’ debut, When You Walk A Long Distance You Are Tired, Feb. 26. Opening tonight is Thick Paint and Eklectica. $7, 9 p.m.
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