by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

It’s the first Friday of April and that means Benson First Friday (#BFF). If you’ve driven down Maple Street over the past few days you already know the entire length of Downtown Benson is coned for road construction. The city is replacing the old metal curb ramps with new ramps, and decided to do it during the district’s busiest day of the month both for car and foot traffic. Coincidence? 

Anyway, the parking situation is essentially the same, just drive around the cones and construction equipment. 

ADDENDUM: The city has cleared the cones! Proceed with confidence…

BFF highlights local artists in galleries and other businesses up and down Maple Street tonight. Among them is the opening at Ming Toy Gallery, 6066 Maple Street, with feature artist Karen Linder. Drop by, say hi, grab a beer/wine and check it out. The opening runs from 6 to 9 p.m. See you there.

As part of BFF, The Sydney in Benson is hosting Pasadena duo System Exclusive along with Madison Wisconsin electronic artist Carrellee and Omaha’s Jeff in Leather and Specter Poetics. $12, 9 p.m. 

Saturday is noise rock day in Benson.

Starting in the afternoon (3 p.m.) and running into Saturday night is ClüsterFüst 2, a metal/noise concert at The Waiting Room with 15 bands, headlined by local heroes BIB and including acts Ex Lover, Cult Play, Prolapse (Dave Goldberg metal odyssey) and Nowhere, among others. “15 bands playing 15-minute sets.” All for $15, with proceeds going to Youth Emergency Services Omaha. More info and full lineup, here.  

Also Saturday night, Omaha double-bass noise-core band Violenteer headlines a four-band bill at Reverb Lounge. Word on the street is Violenteer has a new album coming out soon, with recorded tracks already in the can. Maybe we’ll get some of the new stuff Saturday. Joining them are Leafblower, Radical Sabbatical and Aircraft Grade. This show is sort of being held in conjunction with ClüsterFüst 2 in that entrance is only $5 with a Waiting Room wristband – smart marketing! Otherwise, entrance is $10. Starts at 8:30.

Also Saturday night, there’s a three-band bill at fabulous O’Leaver’s with Jar, Box Eats Miah and Pretty Beige. Box Eats Miah is sort of emo-ish? Not sure on the others. This one starts at 9 and is absolutely free. 

Sunday night Tommy Prine headlines at Reverb Lounge, and yes, he is the son of legendary singer/songwriter John Prine. They call his music “alt country,” but it leans more toward the Americana spectrum (though there’s plenty of twang on his latest LP, This Far South (Thirty Tigers)). In fact, if you squint your eyes it sometimes sounds like Mystic Valley Band music. Opening for Prine is Kiely Connell. $22, 8 p.m., and I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if it sells out the smallish Reverb. 

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 © 2024 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Why the sudden uproar against Record Store Day? “It’s a money-grab!” “It’s white privilege!” “It’s nothing but old guys with too much money to burn!”

Maybe it’s only on my Facebook news feed, but a lot of people are suddenly complaining about Record Store Day, as the next installment takes place this Saturday. I don’t get the angst.

RSD started as a promotion by independent record stores to get people into their shops at a time when people weren’t coming to their shops. Now post-pandemic (or pretty close, hopefully), record stores seem to be doing pretty well. I read an interview with Homer’s Mike Fratt where he said business was great last year and looked like would be even better this year. If you’re a music fan, you should be thrilled.

I have only a modest collection of records — maybe 500? — consisting of stuff I’ve purchased beginning in 1976. I bought Boston’s debut album at age 10, and thought it was so cool when my older brothers asked to borrow it. Of course I still have that album, along with all the others, though I rarely have time to play them. Like the vast majority of music listeners these days, I do most of my listening via streaming, either from my phone, my computer, or my car’s satellite radio. So, it’s been awhile since I bought any vinyl.

When RSD started, it seemed like more of a nerd convention for music collectors who had a day dedicated to their vinyl fetish needs. But as this Axios story indicates, a lot of people are buying vinyl these days, bringing in over a billion dollars in revenue last year vs. just $119 million 11 years ago.

Now it’s not just the nerds buying “collectable” copies of limited-edition vinyl releases, it’s a broad swath of music fans. And just like everything else, once the unwashed masses get involved, it’s no longer “cool.” I highly doubt Fratt cares if it’s cool as long as it brings people to his store.

I will make it a point tomorrow to buy at least one album. I don’t know what it will be yet, but I’ll go home with something and let you know Monday. I’m sure it won’t be as cool as that first Boston album…

Check out the RSD titles here. Most stores open their doors at 10 a.m. And if you’re headed to Homer’s tomorrow morning, Fratt and Manner will have coffee and donuts for you to enjoy as you wait in line, nerd.

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BTW, wouldn’t it be cool if an artist released something on vinyl that does not and will not ever be available online? I know that goes against this whole we-are-the-world music-is-for-sharing mentality, but man, it would really give you a reason for buying that album.

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Tonight at The Sydney in Benson LA post-punk synth band System Exclusive headlines. The duo consists of Ari Blaisdell and Matt Jones, the guy behind Castle Face Records. This is pure ‘80s first wave synth pop at its finest. Opening is Specter Poetics and Omaha’s best DJ, Tyrone Storm. $10, 9 p.m.

Believe it or not, that’s it for the weekend. If I missed your show, put it in the comments section. Have a great 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 © 2022 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.