by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Variant Lazy-i logo. Collect them all…

The latest episode of the Lazy-i podcast is online right here at thereader.com. The installment includes a scintillating interview with Sarah, Nik and Derek of Icky Blossoms. The band talks about next week’s South By Southwest Music Festival in Austin, where they’ll be performing. I asked what they like and don’t like about SXSW, and why the festival is still important to a band that’s already signed to a record label. The discussion is unbridled!

By the way, Icky Blossoms is playing a send-off show Friday night at Slowdown Jr. and the band says it’ll be performing at least five songs from their upcoming Saddle Creek Records release, Mask. Why are they playing in Slowdown’s small room instead of the big room (like they did when they played their last SXSW send-off show)? Because they want a packed house, which no doubt they’ll get — though their show will be competing head-to-head against White Mystery/Digital Leather at Reverb Friday night.

Other stuff in this week’s podcast includes leaks from Big Harp and Hop Along, Saddle Creek reissue news, a look (or listen) back at The Carsinogents, a live review (and soundbite) from last weekend’s Boodcow/Universe Contest show at Reverb, and a rundown of what’s happening this weekend indie-musicwise. The whole thing runs just under 20 minutes…

The plan for next week’s South By Southwest coverage is podcasts — with plenty of soundbites and interviews — though I’ll post photos (here at Lazy-i) and daily summaries (over at thereader.com).

Once we get past next week I’ll probably retool these podcasts, perhaps make them shorter. Fifteen to 20 minutes per podcast feels a bit excessive. So I’ll take another look at the format and see what adjustments need to be made. Big thanks to everyone who has provided feedback. I’ll figure it out…

* * *

Tonight at Reverb it’s self-described emo/indie band Dowsing from Chicago, Illinois. Based on the track below, the description is apt — pure ’90s sound reminiscent of Sorry About Dresden. They list among their influences “feelings” — does it get anymore emo than that? Opening is Free Throw and Super Ghost. $8, 9 p.m.

* * *

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 © 2015 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

The new episode of the Lazy-i Weekly Podcast is online right here. In this week’s episode:

— Is vinyl just a fad? Homer’s General Manager Mike Fratt chimes in about how vinyl is a big part of today’s music business.
— New music from Criteria — the first in eight years.
— Reviews of Matt Whipkey, John Klemmensen, Fire Retarded and Dumb Beach, including a live music samples from the performances.
— News from Father John Misty, and the Hear Nebraska Vol. 3 Kickstarter
— A list of the hottest shows happening this coming weekend.

It’s 28 wasted minutes of your life you’ll never get back, but who cares, it’s free. Check it out.

* * *

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 © 2015 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

I received lottts of feedback on the Lazy-i Weekly Wrap-Up podcast, and welcome more if you feel like sharing. Recording these things ain’t easy. If you haven’t checked it out yet, the podcast is below.

No. 1 complaint was that I don’t sound like “me” on the podcast. One person said I sound like an old lady. Another said I sound like a hedgehog wearing glasses (great idea for a podcast mascot). Someone pointed out that I sound like I was reading something. That’s because I was. Fact is I’m trying to put these together as easily as possible, grabbing items that appeared in the past week’s Lazy-i entries, along with audio clips recorded at shows. I’m never going to write a brand new, 3,000-word script every week.  It’ll evolve… probably.

What else…

I was bummed when I went to buy my ticket to the April 8 Father John Misty show at The Waiting Room and discovered it was sold out. But fear not. One Percent moved the show to Sokol Auditorium, and $20 tickets are now on sale once again. It would be quite a feat if he sold out a venue that size.

I went recently ’round and ’round with someone about Misty’s new album, I Love You, Honeybear, which came out a couple weeks ago. The other guy didn’t like it. He said it was over-produced and too mainstream. And while I agree there is an abundance of strings on some tracks, I still dig the record. Misty a.k.a. J. Tillman is one of the better lyric writers out there these days, and this album showcases that talent in a way can only be described as “nostalgic.” The record sounds like it was produced four decades ago. It sounds like music  they used to play on KFAB in the ’70s, the kind of music they now play on (the still operating) Magic 1490 AM — lush, tuneful, old-fashioned and familiar.

To me, Misty/Tillman sounds like a cross between Grant Lee Buffalo and ’70s-era Elton John mixed with modern-day songsters such as Iron & Wine or Shearwater (though Tillman is much funnier than those two rather stoic outfits). He’s been compared to Nilsson, which I get. Is the new record as good as his last album? Who knows, but it’s definitely worth checking out, and worth buying tickets to the show.

Check out his recent Letterman appearance, singing my favorite song off the new record.

* * *

Speaking of shows, there’s only one show worth mentioning tonight: The Barley Street Tavern is hosting a Tribute to Johnny Cash. Among the performers are Lash LaRue & the Hired Guns, Pat Gehrman, Brad Hoshaw, Michael J. Fillmore, Joe Watson, Josh Watson, Stephanie Krysl, Travis Sing and Daniel Burns. It’s worth going out in the cold. $5, 9 p.m.

* * *

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 © 2015 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Put together a weekly podcast? Sure, I’ve got nothing better to do with my time.

By popular demand, I present to you the Lazy-i Weekly Wrap-Up Podcast — a collection of local indie music news, comments and reviews from the web pages of Lazy-i.com, plus music samples from live shows and upcoming releases, as well as a look at the best shows happening in the coming weekend, and beyond, all hosted by yours truly.

Featured in Episode 1:

— New music by For Against’s Jeff Runnings, including a sample from the upcoming album.
— Reviews of Take Cover, Dumb Beach and Bass Drum of Death, including a live music sample from Sweatshop Gallery.
— News from Desaparecidos and All Young Girls Are Machine Guns
— A live review of last weekend’s Sleater-Kinney concert, with a live music clip.
— And an interview with Matt Whipkey about his new album, Underwater.

It’s 20 wasted minutes of your life you’ll never get back, but who cares, it’s free. Check it out right here at The Reader‘s website.

God help us all.

* * *

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 © 2015 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.