by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Two curious things about a press release that crossed my electronic desk yesterday…

First, when was the last time anyone thought of the Trashcan Sinatras? I bought a copy of their 1990 debut, Cake, solely on the strength of the band’s name. It turned out to be not a half-bad investment, though it’s not a disc that stands out in my mind. I would try to dig out my copy but Spotify has it, in all its jangly glory.

Now comes word of a new Sinatras’ album, Wild Pendulum, slated for release May 13 on Red River Records, which brings me to the second stand-out point from the one-sheet issued by PR firm Grand Stand. Our very own Mike Mogis is the primary sell point in the headline. I guess Chloe Walsh (formerly of Press Here PR) figures if you don’t remember the Sinatras you’ll at least be familiar with “Bright Eyes’ member/producer extraordinaire” Mogis. For a while now, Mogis has risen to the ranks as one of those producers whose name can sell a record, like an Albini or Phil Ek.

Anyway, check out a couple Mogis-produced Trashcan Sinatra tracks below:

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Some SXSW2016 coverage.

— Kevin Coffey of the Omaha World-Herald wrote about Har Mar Superstar meltdown at Maggie Mae’s last night. Wonder what really happened…

— Paul Trap of The Reader writes about Beach Slang and O’Leaver’s, here.

— Hear Nebraska will be live tweeting throughout the day from the Nebraska Exposed showcase. Here’s their first snapshot:

From the Hear Nebraska twitter account @hearnebraska Follow them for more.

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Tonight at Milk Run, rock giants Worried Mother opens for Silversphere. Also on the bill are Chalant and Blind Girth. $5, 9 p.m.

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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 © 2016 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

Looking down on Sixth Street from Maggie Mays at South By Southwest 2015. This year’s SXSW kicks off today.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

The annual South By Southwest music festival is kicking off in Austin today. I would be remiss in not saying it pangs me not being there this year, especially since they’re having 90-degree weather in Austin. The weather at SXSW has blown the past couple of years.

Lots o’ people from Nebraska will be down there. Taking my place (and Chris Aponick’s place) representing/reporting for The Reader is cartoonist Paul Trap. Paul is known first and foremost as the dude behind syndicated comic strip “Thatababy,” which I believe is carried in more than 100 newspapers nationally.

Paul also is a huge indie music fan. If you’ve gone to shows locally over the past few years you’ve probably seen him. When he told me he was going to try going to SXSW this year without a badge I suggested he get one from The Reader and be their correspondent. He took my advice (and so did The Reader), so you’ll be seeing Paul’s updates throughout the week, starting with this one. I’ll post links to more of his updates as they go online.

I can’t wait to see how he illustrates this year’s SXSW for the printed version of The Reader.

Of course Hear Nebraska is going to have a bevy of writers and photographers on hand this year as well. You can follow their hi-jinx at hearnebraska.org. No doubt they’ll be covering Lincoln’s Nebraska Exposed showcase, which takes place tomorrow.

And as always, the Omaha World-Herald‘s Kevin Coffey has conned his paper into sending him to Austin on their dime (and getting paid for it). Look for Kevin’s updates via his twitter feed @owhmusicguy. Oh, what a life.

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This week’s Live @ O’Leaver’s sessions just hit the ‘net. Check them out below. Lush Bruise Crew is David Nance’s band, BTW…

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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 © 2016 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

Captiva

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Well I’m back from south Florida — Captiva Island, Florida, to be precise, an isolated land mass east of Fort Myers and just north of Sanibel Island. The kind of place where people ride around on bicycles and golf carts, and you’re lucky to find an open bar past 10 p.m. Music consists mostly of guitar-and-steel-drum trios playing covers of Jimmy Buffett and John Denver ballads. It was a long-weekend getaway and about as far away from a SXSW-style spring vacation as you could get. Like Nixon after a long week at San Clemente, I return tanned, rested and ready to go…

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Nebraska Exposed at SXSW 2016

Speaking of SXSW, the folks that bring you Lincoln Calling and Lincoln Exposed have organized a Nebraska showcase at this year’s Austin festival. Consisting almost entirely of Lincoln bands, they’re calling it Nebraska Exposed.

The showcase is Wednesday, March 16, at Cheers Shot Bar, which those familiar with the layout will remember is located a block and a half west of Red River Road on 6th Street — a red-hot location. Hats off to Jeremy Buckley and his pals for pulling this off with the help of a sponsorship by Nebraska Tourism.

The day party begins at noon with Oketo, followed by BOTH, Bonehart Flannigan, AZP, Universe Contest, Freakabout, Laughing Falcon and closes at 7 p.m. with Josh Hoyer and Soul Colossal.

I’d love to see someone organize a showcase like this that featured Omaha acts. In the past, Saddle Creek Records have sponsored showcases that included one or two Omaha bands, but not this year.

My dream Nebraska SXSW showcase would feature one of Saddle Creek’s crown jewel acts along with Miniature Horse, See Through Dresses, Little Brazil, Digital Leather, Bloodcow, Brad Hoshaw/7 Deadlies, Lupines, Simon Joyner and Whipkey (for starters). Get to work on this for next year, Hear Nebraska.

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From the pages of this month’s Encounter Magazine.

If you’ve ever wondered what I look like, you can find out in this month’s issue of Encounter Magazine. Writer James Walmsley wrote the feature, that talks about my history writing about the Nebraska indie music scene along with some opinions about the current state of the indie ’round these parts. The portrait is by the amazing Bill Sitzmann, who has quite a history of his own shooting Nebraska bands. Look for your copy ’round town and in the Old Market. It’s not online yet. When it does go online, I’ll include a link.

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This being Super Tuesday, I figured it was as good a time as any to post my Over the Edge column from this month’s issue of The Reader focused (again) on Trump. The paper probably won’t hit the news stands until later this week, or maybe later. By then, the election on the Republican side (and likely the Dems, too) will be all but over. Trump is riding an unstoppable wave. Rumors of a secret New York Times recording of Trump speaking off the record support one of the points made in my column. In the end, it won’t matter, because his followers aren’t electing a politician, they’re electing a right-wing dream merchant, and nothing less than being convicted of murder is going to stop his ascension to the top of the GOP ladder, where Hillary awaits to knock him off… probably. Read the column here.

It’s good to be back.

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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 © 2016 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

Dirty Dishes at O’Leaver’s, Feb. 20, 2016.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Yes, that was indeed a Bart Simpson sweater Dirty Dishes frontwoman Jenny Tuite sported on the O’Leaver’s stage Saturday night.  Mad-cap apparel for a mad-cap night of music played to a more-packed-than-normal house.

Actually, the music itself — not so mad-cap. Dirty Dishes plays rather dark, grinding indie rock — that slow-burn rolling-bass stuff you remember from the ’90s updated for a modern world by Tuite’s glowing guitar and her dreamy, Bjorkian yelp. The trio’s guttural power came from the rhythm section — dynamic bass work by Alex Molini both acting as the foundation and a second fuzz-toned melody (and pounding out keyboards on a couple numbers), and the drummer, who’s name seems to be missing from all the usual online sources. His stick work was nothing short of amazing.

Dirty Dishes releases music on the Exploding in Sound label, though they’d be just as home on 4AD (4AD band Daughter has a similar though more shoegaze-y quality). They remain under the Pitchfork radar, who knows for how long. Pitchfork would be wise to pay attention to them instead of wasting time throwing bouquets at Kanye.

I caught a few songs by opener Misers — dense sound collages, huge, pounding waves of noise created by guitars, cello, drums and synths. There were no vocals, at least on the three songs I heard.  Call it experimental if you want to. Though they self-identify as improvisational, there was a method to their madness. Brutal.

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One of the executives at Saddle Creek Records confirmed last week that the label will not be hosting a  showcase at this year’s South By Southwest Festival in Austin.  You gotta take a year off once in awhile. That said, the label’s latest recruits, Big Thief, will be there.

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It’s gonna be a short week for me. I’ll be out of town starting Wednesday. I’ll do what I can tomorrow to list the can’t-miss / don’t-miss shows that’ll be playing throughout this week and 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 © 2016 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.