Relax, It’s Science at Lookout Lounge, April 30, 2016. The band plays Saturday at The Brothers.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

More information yesterday on the proposed $109 million music venue by way of Omaha World-Herald’s Kevin Coffey. Kevin answers 8 questions about the venue. There is no new “news” in the piece; rather it’s Kevin conjecturing as to what it all means.

As this weekend rears its ugly head, let me do some conjecturing of my own:

We don’t need more venues; we need better booking — i.e., better shows featuring better touring bands. Yes, acts are passing Omaha by, but the size and number of venues probably is the least of their reasons.

Here’s some questions: Are bands passing Omaha because no promoter, venue, etc., is willing to gamble on covering the guarantee — the contracted minimum fee paid for performing? How many quality indie bands on tour right now have reached out to an Omaha promoter or venue with an offer only to be passed on? How will that change with the addition of more venues?

I guess you can’t blame the venues and promoters, who have been burned in the past paying top dollar for very cool acts to play in half empty rooms. So let’s build more rooms?

Anyway… there are no touring indie rock shows at any of the major local clubs this weekend. What else is new?

Tonight at The Waiting Room, local roots/rockabilly band The Mercurys headline with The Pink Flamingos. $10, 9 p.m.

That’s it for tonight.

Saturday night, local double-bass-attack rock band Relax, It’s Science plays at The Brothers Lounge with Sioux Falls sludge/psych/instrumental rock duo Articles. Omaha post-hardcore act Mere Shadows opens at 9 p.m. $5.

Local power-pop / American a band The Broke Lose plays at O’Leaver’s Saturday with Lincoln’s Red Cities and Virgin Mary Pistol Grip. 10 p.m., $5.

Finally on Sunday, Omaha indie act The Regulation plays at The B Bar at 4330 Leavenworth. Joining them is Omaha ex-pat Mitch Gettman. Jake Norstadt gets things rolling at 8 p.m. No idea if there’s a cover here…

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.

White Mystery at Beerland Patio, March 18, 2015. The band plays at O’Leaver’s Sunday.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Daytrotter is free again, for the first time since 2011. To celebrate, here are three of my favorite Daytrotter sessions from folks you may know…

Neva Dinova — Oct. 17, 2008

Little Brazil — Oct. 16, 2008

Cursive — Sept. 22, 2009

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It’s the first Friday of the month and that means Benson First Friday. Tonight’s epic BFF show is once again at The Sydney where The Show Is the Rainbow a.k.a. Darren Keen is celebrating the release of his latest 12-inch. Past TSITR shows have been nothing less than epic/startling. What will Darren pull out his hat tonight? Joining him is Lincoln’s Halfwit and Unmanned. $3, 10 p.m.

Also tonight, Old 97’s return to The Waiting Room with Dan Tedesco. $25, 9 p.m.

Down at Slowdown Jr. it’s MiWi La Lupa with Edge of Arbor and Kait Berreckman (headliner). $7, 9 p.m.

And yes, for those of you wondering, The Little Gallery in Benson will be open tonight. It’s a command performance showing of Sophie Newell’s “Fragments.” Drop by from 6 to 9 p.m. and say hello. We’re in the east bay of the Masonic Lodge Building, just down the street from The Sydney.

Tomorrow night (Saturday) everyone’s headed to The Brothers Lounge for The Regulation (think low-fi Weezer with a Midwestern twang), The Hussies and the return of The Cuterthans (Who remembers 2002?). $5, 10 p.m.

Did you miss Joe Hertler and his band The Rainbow Seekers at The Slowdown a few days ago (or his Ten Questions article in Lazy-i last week)? Well Joe and his band are back Saturday night at The Waiting Room opening for Pigeons Playing Ping Pong. $15 Adv/$17 DOS. 9 p.m.

Finally Sunday night — or maybe I should say early Sunday evening — it’s another Sunday Social at fabulous O’Leaver’s, this time with White Mystery, Those Far Out Arrows, FiFi NoNo and A DJ set by Miss Alex White. This one starts early, at 5 p.m. $7.

And that 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 © 2018 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.