by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Bit of a rough day for everyone yesterday, eh? Just when you get busy doing something and forget – *bam!* – you suddently remember what happened election night and start all over again.

How about some music tonight to take your mind off things?

Tonight at The Admiral, Pedro the Lion a.k.a. David Bazan, is doing a solo set before City and Colour’s headlining gig. I reversed the order here because I prefer Bazan’s music over Dallas Green’s (he’s the Canadian dude behind City and Colour, who are out supporting their latest album, The Love Still Held Me Near (2023, Still Records). Green’s also known for his work in post-hardcore and Alexisonfire. 

I’d be surprised if anyone who goes to see City and Colour has even heard of Pedro the Lion or Bazan, though anyone who’s been involved in the indie music scene in Omaha throughout the 2000s-2010s knows exactly who he is. He’s played Omaha countless times, from Sokol Underground to people’s living rooms. 

Pedro the Lion’s latest, Santa Cruz, was released by Polyvinyl this past summer. I would not be surprised if he sings the first track, “It’ll All Work Out,” which lyrically sounds like it was written for all of us after the results of Tuesday’s election. Bazan opens this show at 8 p.m. $46.

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Also tonight, Omaha hardcore band Nowhere celebrates the release of their new LP, New Pain, at Reverb Lounge. Joining in the celebration are Nebraska indie punkers Size Queen and Western Haikus. $12, 8 p.m.

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And Iowa City via Chicago singer/songwriter Elizabeth Moen headlines at The Sydney in Benson. Moen is a past Lincoln Calling performer and has had luck placing songs on TV shows like Shameless and Roswell New Mexico, which is impressive considering most of her music appears to be self-released. Opening is Wedding, a new project by Anna Schulte that includes Bokr Tov’s Colby Jenkins on bass, and Zachary Roland on percussion. $15, 8 p.m. (Sydney time).

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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

Ah, life is filled with difficult choices. Tonight is no exception as you have two blue ribbon indie rock shows to choose from. Which will you choose?

Over at The Waiting Room, Pedro the Lion a.k.a. David Bazan and his band, returns, this time performing two of his classic albums. It’s Hard to Find a Friend is the band’s debut, released in 1998 on Jade Tree records. I honestly have never listened to that record, having discovered Pedro the Lion two years later with the release of Winners Never Quit, but. strangely, Bazan is skipping over that record and instead also performing 2002’s Control tonight. I’m sure there’s a reason behind it and if you’re curious you can ask Bazan yourself as he usually takes questions during his set.

Opening is Seattle singer/songwriter Erik Walters, who has played guitar for a number of artists including Telekinesis!, Perfume Genius and tonight will be performing as part of Pedro the Lion. 

This is the tour kick-off (Hurray!). $28, 8 p.m. 

Also tonight, The Slowdown welcomes back The Mountain Goats. John Darnielle and his band continue to tour their latest studio album, Bleed Out (2022, Merge). There was some question (in my mind, anyway) if this show was going to happen as one of the band members came down with COVID last week, but here they are. Judging by the setlist from their April 4 Baton Rouge show (the last before the break), this will be a greatest hits set with a few songs from the new album thrown in. 

I’ve seen these guys a few times over the years and the band puts on a very entertaining, fast-paced show. Knoxville singer/songwriter Adeem the Artist opens at 8 p.m. $45. 

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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 © 2023 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.