Destroyer at The Waiting Room, Feb. 3, 2018. The band returns to The Waiting Room Sunday night.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

The million dollar question: Will rock shows currently scheduled still happen this weekend? That’s what everyone’s wondering. Top of mind is the Destroyer/Nap Eyes show at The Waiting Room. There’s no indication the show is (or will be) cancelled, so one assumes it’s all systems go. (Wrong: Destroyer just CANCELLED).

The next question: Will anyone be at the Destroyer/Nap Eyes show? Omaha is a notorious walk-up city — as in a lot of people buy their tickets day of show (because with fees, there’s no advantage to buying advanced tickets unless you think the show will sell out in advance). I know people who have tickets and are on the fence about going, so afraid are they of COVID-19.

I had another person who works at a different club ask if I thought his venue should cancel shows for public health reasons. I said I thought the problem would solve itself — if no one goes to shows because of fear, it’s only a matter of time before venues temporarily shut their doors just to save operating expenses. And there’s the issue of bands cancelling their tours…

Anyway, as of now, the shows I’m listing below for this weekend are still on. Will they be an hour after you read this? Who’s to say?

The folks behind the Midtown Art Supply two-day closing festival have said their shows will go on tonight and tomorrow, and I have no doubt they will. Ten acts are scheduled to perform starting at 6 p.m. tonight at the venue, located at 2576 Harney St., including Effluvium, Las Cruxes and Histrionic. Sixteen bands are slated to perform tomorrow starting at 3 p.m., including Conny Franko and Digital Leather.

Tickets are $7 per day or $10 for a 2-day wristband. For more information, check out the invite at Facebook.

Tonight The Slowdown has its big sold-out Thundercat (of Flying Lotus fame) concert. Joining them are Guapdad 4000. 8 p.m.

Meanwhile, back in Benson tonight, punk trio Radkey is headlining at Reverb Lounge. Joining them are The Many Colored Death and Gallivant. $12, 9 p.m.

Nothing is holding back the fine folks at The Brothers Lounge, which currently has shows booked tonight and tomorrow night. Tonight’s show features Matt Whipkey’s poli-punk project Unexplained Death, who opens the show at 10:30. Laughing Falcon also is on the bill. $5.

Then tomorrow night (Saturday) Silversphere headlines at The Brothers. Our old friend Darren Keen (of The Show is the Rainbow fame) also is on the bill along with a tba. 9 p.m., and no price listed (but probably $5).

Finally, Sunday night is the aforementioned Destroyer show at The Waiting Room. Nap Eyes, who you read about yesterday, opens the show at 8 p.m. $22. THIS IS CANCELLED!

Now as I said, cancellations can happen in a moment’s notice. The only way to know for sure if the gig is still happening is to call the venue or check their website. If I hear of a cancellation, I will update this page with strikeout text over the listing and the word CANCELLED, so check back if you wanna.

Will I be at any of these shows?

Have a great weekend and WASH YOUR HANDS!

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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 © 2020 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

Relax, It’s Science at Lookout Lounge, April 30, 2016. The band plays tonight at Dr. Jack’s Drinkery.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Well, the Husker / Buckeyes game is taking its toll on the weekend. There are no rock shows Saturday night, at least of an indie-rock nature.

Instead, everything is happening tonight.

Top of the list is The Brothers Lounge where Las Cruxes opens the evening at 10 p.m. Read here about this hybrid of a Spanish-language punk bands with LA origins combined with three Omaha superstars — Little Brazil’s Landon Hedges, Digital Leather’s Jeff Lambelet and See Through Dresses’ Nate Van Fleet (that’s right, two drummers). As they say in the movies, it might get loud. New York singer/songwriter Brook Pridemore also is on the bill and local punk duo The Natural States headlines. $5, 10 p.m.

Also tonight, St. Joseph punk trio and Maha Music Festival veterans Radkey headlines at Reverb Lounge. Opening is our very own DROSS (members of Noah’s Ark was a Spaceship). $12, 9 p.m.

There’s an all-locals show at O’Leaver’s tonight with The Wake-Up, Fat Nap and Southpaw. $5, 10 p.m.

Two-basses-and-a-drummer punk trio Relax, It’s Science opens for metal bands Druids and Hollowed Oath at Dr. Jack’s Drinkery. $8, 9 p.m.

As I said, the Husker game pretty much obliterated all Saturday night action, though O’Leaver’s has another all-locals show with State Disco, Lonely Estates and Win/Win. $5, 9 p.m. (but I’d expect this to start late if the game’s still rolling (and it’s close)).

And that’s all I got. If I missed your show, put it in the comments section. Have a great weekend.

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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 © 2019 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

Satchel Grande at River’s Edge Park, May 27, 2013. The band plays at The Slowdown tonight.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Judging by the white tents that have risen from the concrete in the NoDo area around the ball park, it’s College World Series time again.

While I applaud the City of Omaha for continuing this fine collegiate tradition, I personally could not give two f—s about the CWS. But The Slowdown does, and who can blame them? Their complex, prime real estate just west of the stadium, hosts a large outdoor beer garden with a stage. Ah, but their live music almost always features cover bands. Because the folks who come to see the CWS care about as much about indie rock as I do about college baseball.

That said, tonight original music band Satchel Grande is playing on Slowdown’s outdoor stage starting at 9 p.m. If you can find a place to park — and you’re not afraid of the impending thunderstorms — the free concert could be crazy and weird. And Satchel Grande always is worth catching.

What else is happening tonight and this weekend?

There’s an interesting show at The Milk Run headlined by The Hollands. According to their Facebook page they’re “a 21st century nomadic family based in the US via Australia and frolic in the Americana, folk revival scene.” They count among their influences The Pogues, Carter Family and Woven Hand. Also on the bill: Madison Growler, Not Ben Shin, and Druce Campbell. $5, 9 p.m.

Fabulous O’Leaver’s is hosting Low Long Signal, Armful of Tiger Lilies, Barrows and Towering Rogue. $5, 9:30 p.m.

Lincoln singer/songwriter and former NYC scenester Scott Severin headlines at Barley Street Tavern tonight. Joining him are Deven Cadwell and Brikwondo. $5, 9 p.m.

Tomorrow night’s marquee event is The Joy Formidable at The Waiting Room. You remember them from Maha2016. Radkey, another Maha refugee, opens. $18, 9 p.m.

Believe it or not, that’s all I got for this weekend. If I missed your show, put it in the comments section. Have a good one…

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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 © 2017 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved