by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Tickets for the Maha Festival go on sale this morning at 10 a.m. The pricing for the one-day event Aug. 2 at Heartland of America Park/RiverFront, according to the etix website:

• – General Admission: $79
• – VIP: $139

What do you get for the VIP? Access to the following “exclusive amenities”:  

• – AC Restrooms
• – Upgraded Food Options
• – Private Bar
• – Exclusive Viewing Area

In my personal experience, the VIP tickets are worth the additional $40, especially if you dig the line-up and intend to be there all day. Unlike past Maha Festivals, this 6-band bill will bring people to the park early and keep them all day.

Read more about the line-up in yesterday’s blog post, and get yer tickets at mahafestival.com. 

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If you missed out on tickets to that long sold-out Riley Kiley show slated for Sept. 17 at The Astro, you’re in luck. Mammoth Productions announced this morning that they’re moving the show to the larger Astro Amphitheater. Purchased General Admission tickets from indoors will now be honored for General Admission Lawn Access outdoors. Reserved seats from indoors will be relocated to seats in Sections 101-107 outdoors.  Hope it doesn’t rain. 

As a result, tickets are again on sale for this show. 

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This will be a quick weekend look ahead as only one show is on my radar. Two Chicago-based post-metal instrumental bands are playing at Slowdown tonight. 

The trio Russian Circles has been at it since 2004 and made a big splash with their 2008 album Station (Suicide Squeeze) that kinda/sorta defined a high-energy post-rock style more driving and less cinematic than, say, a band like Mogwai. They carry on guitar-fueled noise rock on their latest album, Gnosis (2022, Sargent House). Head-waggin’ metal instrumentals, too smart and fast for the doomies out there.  

Chicago brethren Pelican is more of the same – buzzing metal instrumentals, though from my casual listening seems to have more variety and “wandering” in their compositions. As such, they’ve been thrown into every loud category, from post-metal to stoner to doom. The two tracks from their new album, Flickering Resonance (out this May on Run for Cover Records), actually have a post-grunge vibe. Lots o’ “post-s” with these bands. 

Both bands with have room to roam on Slowdown’s main room stage. 8 p.m. $34.50. 

And that’s all I got. Pretty quiet around here these days. Things are looking up in April, though. 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 © 2025 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Well I’m heading out on the road again, which means Lazy-i very likely won’t be updated until next week. Usually when I’m out of town, I’m not missing anything. That ain’t the case this time. There’s a boatload of shows happening this week that you’re going to want to hit.

One of the best is tonight at fabulous O’Leaver’s where Sub Pop Records act Moaning is headlining. The LA trio plays an abrasive style of post-punk reminiscent of acts like Iceage or Preoccupations (Viet Cong). Their self-titled debut was released earlier this month. Also on the bill is Chicago multi-instrumentalist Nnamdi Ogbonnaya. Dirt House and Ryan Menchaca & the Invisible Horses round out this four-band bill. $7, 9 p.m.

Thursday night you have two shows to choose from.

Down at Slowdown it’s Austin psych-rock act The Black Angels who are on the road supporting their first full-length in four years, Death Song (Partisan, 2017). Joining them is the always erratic garage rock of Atlanta’s Black Lips, who’s on the road supporting Satan’s Graffiti or God’s Art? (Vice, 2017). 8:30 start time, $22 Adv/$25 DOS.

Meanwhile, Thursday night The Waiting Room is bringing the hard stuff with Russian Circles. The Chicago trio’s latest is Live at Dunk! Fest (Sargent House, 2017). Opening is our very own Pro-Magnum. $15 Adv/$17 DOS, 9 p.m.

Then comes the weekend, which to tell you the truth, is looking mighty slim. I don’t see a single decent indie show (national or local) going on Friday through Sunday.

I take that back. Petshop has a weird little show going on Saturday night feating Minneapolis act Internet Dating, Kansas City’s Sugo, and Omaha acts House Vacations and The Natural States. That’s a strong line-up for $5. Starts at 9.

If you skipped the weekend, that means you’ll have plenty energy for Monday night, when you have two shows to choose from.

At Reverb Lounge Detroit multi-instrumentalist Olivia Jean (Third Man Records) headlines. She’s worked with a ton of folks including Jack White, Wanda Jackson, Karen Elson, Kate Pierson and The Secret Sisters. Opening is our very one David Nance. $10, 8 p.m.

Meanwhile over at The Brothers Lounge it’s Minneapolis trio Candace (formerly known as Is/Is), who just released a new one called New Ruins

. Saddle Creek Records act Son Ambulance opens. $5, 9 p.m.

That’s what I’m seeing over the next few days. If I missed your show, put it in the comments section. Have a great week and weekend and I’ll see you on the other side.

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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 © 2018 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.