The poster for tonight’s Feel Tight EP release show at O’Leaver’s.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Another weekend without a touring band coming through town. What else is new? Chock it up to the time of year (I guess). I’m trying to think of the last show I hyped at The Slowdown… New Pornographers? It’s not like Slowdown doesn’t have shows coming up. New Lungs plays at Jr. a week from Sunday (Feb. 8, opening for Broncho), and there’s that long-sold-out Sleater-Kinney show Feb. 13. And then… nothing indie-wise until Retox March 2 and the just-announced King Khan BBQ Show March 10. T’was a time when there was at least one decent indie show at The Slowdown every weekend. Why the drought?  One reason could be that One Percent Productions, which historically has booked the better indie shows at Slowdown (New Pornographers and Sleater-Kinney are 1% shows), now has its bases covered with their own clubs: The Waiting Room and Reverb.  Another reason could be a general change in booking strategy…

Anyway… Let’s talk about this weekend, much of which will likely be spent at fabulous O’Leaver’s (Thanks to their booker, Craig D). Tonight, Feel Tight celebrates its EP release at The Bar That Mach Built. I have yet to see this latest project by Jason Meyer of Talking Mountain, but have been told their performances are cinematic spectacles. No doubt Meyer and Co. will be throwing out all the stops in front of the usual crowd of blasted degenerates. Opening is Des Moines’ Christopher the Conquered and Big Slur. $5, 9:30 p.m.

Also tonight, The Envy Corps plays at Reverb Lounge with Holy White Hounds and Field Division. $7, 9 p.m.

And if you’re in Lincoln tonight, check out Take Cover, a benefit for Hear Nebraska (of which I’m a board member). The rules are the same as last week’s Take Cover show at The Waiting Room — each band plays one original and one cover of a song by a Nebraska artist. The performers include Eli Mardock, Aaron Parker (Gordon), Spencer McCoy and Cole Keeton (blét), Tim Carr and Joe Humpal (Universe Contest), Günter Voelker and Joe Salvati (Jack Hotel), Cortney Kirby (FREAKABOUT), Churls, Rachel Tomlinson Dick (Hers, Manic Pixie Dream Girls, Miniature Horse), Mike and Kerry Semrad (The Bottle Tops), Chanty Stovall (Producers of the Word), Gerardo Meza (Mezcal Brothers), Max Holmquist (Oquoa), Mikey Elfers (THIRST THINGS FIRST), Zachary Watkins and Ishma Valenti (AZP) and Mary Lawson (Mesonjixx, Xion). The fun starts at 9 p.m. at The Bourbon, and your cover of $8, goes to a worthy cause.

Tomorrow night (Saturday) Lightning Bug returns to O’Leaver’s. Opening is Fontenelle and Low Long Signal. $5, 9:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, over at The Waiting Room Saturday night, The Strange Attractors headlines with The Decaturs. $7, 9 p.m.

Finally, at The Sweatshop Gallery in Benson, its an Fitness #000006. Featured performers include Channel Pressure (An electronic act that combines Todd Fink of The Faint with Graham Patrick Ulicny of Reptar), Ruby Block, Nick Holden and the infamous Superstar and Star. $5, 10 p.m.

That’s what 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 © 2015 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

The poster for tonight’s Feel Tight EP release show at O’Leaver’s.

The Lupines, Over the Moon (2014, Speed! Nebraska)

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Here we go.

Tonight at fabulous O’Leaver’s it’s a celebration of the release of The Lupines’ debut EP, Over the Moon (Speed! Nebraska Records). The six-song CD features John Ziegler (ex Brimstone Howl) on vocals/guitar, along with Javid Dabestani, drums; Mike Friedman, lead guitar, and Mike Tulis, bass. If you dug Brimstone’s brand of garage rock/punk, you’ll love this one just as much. Read the Hear Nebraska interview with Mr. Ziegler himself. Opening is Bullet Proof Hearts. $5, 9:30 p.m. Check out out opening track “Everlasting Man,” below:

Also tonight, Chicago artrock band Califone (Dead Oceans Records) headlines at Slowdown Jr. William Tyler (Lambchop, Silver Jews, Merge Records) opens. $12, 9 p.m. Check out a preview of Califone’s latest release, Stitches, below:

Tomorrow night The Waiting Room hosts a benefit for Habitat for Humanity Omaha called Band Build. Performers include Millions of Boys, Field Club, The Big Deep and headliner Voodoo Method. $12 Adv/$15 DOS. Starts at 8 p.m.

Meanwhile down in Lincoln, Hear Nebraska hosts Pt. 2 of its Take Cover series at Vega. Same rules as Omaha: Each artist will cover one song by a fellow Nebraska artist as well as play one original. Performers include Eli Mardock, Liz Hitt (The Terminals), Jon Taylor & Heidi Ore (Domestica), Aaron Parker (Gordon), Jon Dell (Universe Contest) and a tons more. $7, 9 p.m. More info here.

Also Saturday night, Lincoln punkers The Killigans play at Slowdown Jr. with Thirst Things Thirst, The Bishops and DJ Dan DeTour. $7, 9 p.m.

Finally on Sunday night Grammy winner Patty Griffin headlines at The Waiting Room with Anais Mitchell. $15, 8 p.m.

Did I forget something? Put it in the comments section. Have a good 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 © 2014 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.