Random Notes: Saddle Creek keeps busy (new Land of Talk, Young Jesus, Document 12); new Uh Oh video…

Category: Blog — Tags: , , , , , — @ 1:24 pm July 20, 2020
Young Jesus at O’Leaver’s, Oct. 28, 2018. The band has a new album coming out on Saddle Creek Aug. 14.

The COVID-19 pandemic doesn’t seem to be slowing down Saddle Creek Records. My inbox is filling with news of new releases from our hometown record label despite the inability for bands to tour.

Top of the list is the new one by Canadian rockers Land of Talk, Indistinct Conversations, which drops July 31 (It was originally slated for release in May). This is the fourth album for the trio fronted by Elizabeth Powell, coming 12 years after their 2008 Saddle Creek debut, Some Are Lakes.

Last week the band released the fifth single from the album, a video for the song, “Now You Want to Live in the Light.” Check it, and preorder the album here.

Perhaps the label’s most way-out-there project, Young Jesus, announced Welcome to Conceptual Beach will drop Aug. 14 on Saddle Creek.

From the hype sheet: “This is Conceptual Beach, a place John Rossiter, vocalist/guitarist of Los Angeles-based Young Jesus, describes as his long-time mental refuge, where he imagines himself living—like a medieval, stigmata-wrought hermit—all his needs for okay-ness finally met. But for the first time, he’s opening up and inviting others to join him there.”

The first single, “Root and Crown,” is a gorgeous track that hopefully points toward where the band is headed on this album. Check it and order pre-order the album here.

Finally, the next installment in Saddle Creek’s Document singles series is the label’s first foray into drone metal.

The band, Divide And Dissolve, is “a heavy two-piece utilizing drums, guitar, saxophone & live efx music designed to decolonize & dismantle white supremacy,” according to their Facebook page. The duo from Kulin Nation (Melbourne) is “Takiaya Reed (Black & Tsalagi [Cherokee]) and Sylvie Nehill (Māori),” according to the one-sheet.

“RVR” b/w “8VA” drops Aug. 7. Check out the A-side below and pre-order here.

What else does Saddle Creek have up its sleeve for 2020?


And who else has been keeping busy?

Well, today local indie band Uh Oh released yet another video off their 2019 album Stay Close, this one for the song “True Blue.” Check it out below and download the album from their bandcamp page.

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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 © 2020 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

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Ah, the holidays… Uh Oh, Bayside Sunday…

Category: Blog — Tags: , — @ 1:10 pm December 20, 2019

Uh Oh at Take Cover Five at O’Leaver’s Jan. 30, 2016. The band plays Sunday night at Slowdown Jr.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Ah, the pre-Christmas weekend…

If you’ve looked at the various and sundry venue calendars you already know there ain’t nothing happening over the weekend except DJs, cover bands and benefits shows. I suggest using this down-time to pay a visit to The Brothers Lounge for some delicious jukebox punk rock and beer (I would have said “for an ice cold Rolling Rock” but The Brothers no longer serves Rolling Rock because (I’m told) I was the only person who drank it, along with one other guy, who died).

OK, there are a couple shows on Sunday.

Sunday night Uh Oh opens for Orca Welles and The Beeves at Slowdown Jr. Uh Oh has the proud distinction of having a song on the Lazy-i Best of 2019 comp CD. More info about that later. This $8 show will cost ya $8.

Also Sunday night, The Waiting Room is hosting a night of emo/pop-punk bands headlined by NYC band Bayside (Hopeless Records) with Capstan (Fearless Records) and Moonlighting. $24, 7:30 p.m.

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.

Lazy-i

Twin Peaks, Uh Oh, Bill Hoover (art), Ocean Black, Devendra Banhart, Black Belt Eagle Scout tonight; The Menzingers, Jocko Saturday…

Category: Blog — Tags: , , , , — @ 12:40 pm November 1, 2019

Twin Peaks at The Waiting Room, June 29, 2016. The band returns to The Waiting Room tonight.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Just like last weekend, it’s a loaded Friday night and a sorta thin rest of the weekend. Why can’t we get promoters to spread these shows over the entire weekend? I know, I know, it’s out of their hands. Anyway, choose wisely.

The biggest show of the night (Friday) is at The Waiting Room where Twin Peaks returns in support of their latest, Lookout Low. Yesterday the band shared the latest track from the album, the Beatle-esque “Our World.” Joining them tonight is a stacked line-up that includes Post Animal and OHMME. $20, 9 p.m.

Meanwhile, just across the street and down a ways, indie pop band Uh Oh is among the five bands playing a #BFF/OEAA show at Burke’s Pub. In addition to Uh Oh you get Liz Gre, Diego Danger, Rey Styles, Chad Stoner, Mace Hathaway and Names Without Numbers. Uh Oh goes on at 8:40. It’s part of the OEAA Fall Nominee Showcase. Your $10 entry gets you into all the participating venues (What those are, I’m not certain).

Check out the just-dropped new Love Drunk video for Uh Oh’s “Time Zones,” shot at Joslyn Castle.

Did I mention it was Benson First Friday? If you’re wandering around Benson tonight taking in the art, drop on into the Little Gallery, 5901 Maple St. (the east bay of the Masonic Lodge Building), for the opening of Bill Hoover’s one man show, Lost and Found and Lost. Bill’s exploring the use of collage, paper sculpture and other materials. We’ll be there from 6 to 9 p.m. Come say hello!

What about outside of Benson tonight?

Well there’s a banger of a show at fabulous O’Leaver’s Friday night with Omaha’s favorite stoner-metal band Ocean Black and Omaha’s favorite alt-country band Clarence Tilton. That’s two favorites in one for $7. Starts at 10 p.m.

Meanwhile, downtown is a real sleeper of a show — freak folk singer/songwriter Devendra Banhart headlines in the main room at The Slowdown. Joining him is one of Saddle Creek Records’ brightest new acts, Black Belt Eagle Scout. Tickets range from $26 to $36, and showtime is 8 p.m.

Holy shit that’s a lot of stuff going on in one night. Tomorrow (Saturday) you’re down to two shows.

Back down at The Slowdown, punk band The Menzingers headlines in the main room with Tigers Jaw and Culture Abuse. Tickets are $20-$25; show starts at 8 p.m.

Also Saturday night O’Leaver’s has Conny Franko, Satanic Abortion and Jocko. $5, 10 p.m.

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.

Lazy-i

Clarence Tilton CD release show tonight; Uh Oh album release show, Simon Joyner, Jason Steady goodbye Saturday…

Category: Blog — Tags: , , — @ 1:08 pm August 23, 2019

Clarence Tilton at The Waiting Room, Dec. 23, 2018. The band celebrates the release of its new CD tonight at Reverb Lounge.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Two big album release shows this weekend and a handful of other things going on musicwise…

Tonight at Reverb Lounge Clarence Tilton celebrates the release of Start Already Lost (Sower Records). The band always gets bunched in with alt country bands by people like me because of the omnipresent twang that bounces throughout their tunes. You can’t deny the urge to do a two-step when you hear songs like “First One Home,” off the new album.

But it may be more accurate to compare them to power-pop bands like Alex Chilton, The dB’s, Big Star and The Soft Boys on tracks like “High Water” and opening track “No One.” But at the same time, you wouldn’t be off base comparing them to, say, The Silos or The Jayhawks, especially on outlaw countrified songs like “B.A.W.” and slow-dancer “Tears Land.” Either way, it’s good company to be in, and on the new album (as well as their debut) it’s apt. Fact is, the songs off Start Already… aren’t much of a departure from their last couple releases. It’s like getting the next chapter of a novel you can’t put down. Minne Lusa opens the show at 9 p.m. $10.

Then tomorrow night at Slowdown, Jr., it’s Uh Oh’s turn.

Their new one, Stay Close, is a collection of old-school indie anthems that recalls acts like The Promise Ring, Sunday’s Best and Knapsack — i.e., acts that were bunched into the emo category in the ’90s. That said, I wouldn’t consider Uh Oh an emo band but more in line with power-pop indie acts like Little Brazil or Lincoln’s Domestica. At the core is jangling, soaring guitars, bombastic drums and Joe Champion’s nerdy vocals singing lovable loser songs rooted deeply in the Midwestern soil. I think I told Joe album capper “We’ll Laugh Again” was my favorite because I’m a sucker for epic closers, but actually it’s the shuffle-beat rocker “Hang On” that will make it onto my annual comp CD if only for its sing-along chorus and Champion’s message of hope for all of us fellow travelers stumbling around in the dark. Stay Close is a familiar light to help lead the way.

Anyway, Uh Oh will be celebrating the release of that album Saturday night at Slowdown Jr. with Histrionic, Eric in Outerspace and Second String. 8:30, $7.

Also happening Saturday, Simon Joyner kicks off his national tour with a house show (at his house, no less). Joining Simon and The Ghosts are Jim Schroeder and David Nance. The show starts at 8 p.m. To find out the address, you’ll need to reach out to Joyner via Facebook and ask! Entrance is a donation ($5-$10 or whatever).

Also Saturday night, The Sydney has Pacific Northwest grunge masters Reignwolf with King Nun. $20, 9 p.m.

Finally, it’s with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to Jason Steady Saturday night at The Brothers Lounge. Jason is headed to the California desert to commune with some cacti. You can bid him adieu at this performance, which also includes sets by M34N STR33T and Haunted Gauntlet. Cover is $5, start time is 10 p.m., tears are free.

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.

Lazy-i

Domestica, Uh Oh (Femme Fest), BFF tonight; Leafblower, Buck Bowen Saturday…

Category: Blog — Tags: , , , , — @ 12:53 pm September 7, 2018

Leafblower at O’Leaver’s, July 30, 2017. They’re playing there again Saturday night.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

I’m back from New York.

Actually, I’ve been back since Wednesday. It was the usual fun of US Open (Federer won!), Yankees (They lost!) and Broadway (Dear Evan Hansen!). As with every trip to NYC there were celebrity sightings. The first was Saturday Night Live “featured player” Mikey Day (the guy who plays Donald Jr.), who we spied sitting under a tree with a young lad (his son?) outside Yankee’s stadium prior to the game. The second was an almost unrecognizable Sandra Bernhard sitting across from me on the No. 1 train headed downtown. She got off a couple stops before 28th St. Celebrities, going about their lives like the rest of us.

Anyway… looks like I got back just in time for the weekend.

Tonight marks the return of Femme Fest, the annual celebration of women in rock, Omaha edition. This year’s festivities seem to have been limited to one Benson venue, the Waiting Room. The line-up: SAS, Domestica, Uh Oh, La Guerre, Jocelyn, Histrionic and Queerniverse Burlesque. The show starts at 6 p.m. and costs $10.

It’s also Benson First Friday (#BFF). So if you’re in the neighborhood come on by the Little Gallery, 5901 Maple St. (bottom fo the Masonic Lodge building) and check out this month’s show: Ricky Powell Jr.’s portraits of Wonder Women of Omaha. We’re there from 6 to 9 p.m. Booze and food. Yum.

Tomorrow night (Saturday) it’s back to fabulous O’Leaver’s for Leafblower with In the Whale and DROSS. 10 p.m., $5.

Also Saturday, Omaha hip-hop artist Buck Bowen celebrates the release of his new book(!) at Reverb Lounge with a handful of artists including Microphone Elements, Ryan Lucas and The Wolfman. $8, 9 p.m

That is 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.

Lazy-i

Lucy’s Pub featured in new Uh-Oh video; House Fest next weekend…

Category: Blog — Tags: , , , — @ 1:55 pm March 8, 2017

House Fest is March 17-18

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Sorry for the outage the last couple of days. Crazy work, ya know. While I’ve been away, the fine folks of the band Uh-Oh released a new video for the tune “Songs in the Kitchen” from their latest album You’re Not Dead. The vid is embedded below.

Directed by Matt Mejstrik and Ian Snyder, the video captures a night at Lucy’s Pub, 8932 Blondo St. which isn’t a pub at all, rather it’s the location for house shows, including the one captured last December in this video. Mejstrik has made videos in the past for the likes of Universe Contest, Bogusman and The Way Out. The video feels like a modern-day John Hughes movie (or at least the party sequence from one) supporting a song that sounds like sounds like a mash-up of alt country, indie and emo (Uncle Tupelo emo?).

If Lucy’s Pub looks like a fun place to hang, you can find out for yourself next weekend, when the house hosts Houses Fest in conjunction with We’re Trying Records. The festival, which runs March 17-18, has a deep schedule of performances. Consider it your alternative to SXSW (which will be happening at the same time in Austin). Check out the line-up below.

Entry is $5 per night, but all proceeds go to Planned Parenthood!

March 17 @ 7p-12a

7 p – Doom Lagoon \\ Omaha, NE \\ Pirate Battle Funk Jazz

7:45 p – Low Long Signal \\ Omaha/Lincoln, NE \\ Space Rock

8:30 p – House Vacations \\ Lincoln, NE \\ Swamp Rock
http://www.housevacations.bandcamp.com/

9:15 p – No•Getter \\ Omaha, NE \\ Indie/Punk
https://nogetter.bandcamp.com/

10 p – The Way Out \\ Ashland, NE \\ Shoegaze/Indie Rock
http://music.thewayoutband.com/

10:45 p – Uh Oh \\ Omaha, NE \\ Rock & Roll
http://www.uhoh.bandcamp.com/

11:30 p – Walk By Sea \\ Lincoln, NE \\ Indie Rock
http://www.walkbysea.bandcamp.com/

12:15 a – No Thanks \\ Omaha, NE \\ Punk
https://no-thanks.bandcamp.com/

1 a – Remo Drive \\ Minnesota \\ Dance Punk

March 18 @ 12p-12a
Basement Stage
12:40 p – Timecat \\ Omaha, NE \\ Midtown Moon Rock
http://timecatne.bandcamp.com/

2 p – Bed Rest \\ Omaha, NE \\ Sleepy Rock
https://bedrestomaha.bandcamp.com/

3:20 p – Bogusman \\ Lincoln, NE \\ Punk
http://bogusman.bandcamp.com/

4:40 p – Salt Creek – NE \\ Lincoln, NE \\ Indie Rock
https://saltcreekne.bandcamp.com/

6 p – Idlefox \\ Omaha, NE \\ Fox Rock
http://idlefox.bandcamp.com/

7:20 p – Pelafina \\ Chicago, IL \\ Midwest Emo
https://pelafina.bandcamp.com/

8:40 p – The Morbs \\ Lincoln, NE \\ Synth Garage
https://themorbs.bandcamp.com/

10 p – Leftmore \\ Denver, CO \\ Indie Rock
http://leftmore.bandcamp.com/

11:20 p – Hideaway \\ Custer, SD \\ Shoegaze/Indie Rock
http://hideawaysd.bandcamp.com/

12:40 p – Riala \\ Kansas City, MO \\ Cinematic Ragamorales
https://riala.bandcamp.com/

Garage Stage
Noon – Employer \\ Kansas City, MO \\ Garbage Rock
http://thisisemployer.bandcamp.com/

1:20 p – Chess Club \\ Lawrence, KS \\ Emo/Math Rock
https://chessclubband.bandcamp.com/

2:40 p – Kill Vargas \\ Wichita, KS \\ Alternative
https://killvargas.bandcamp.com/

4 p – Lulay \\ Omaha, NE \\ Pop Crunch
https://lulay.bandcamp.com/

5:20 p – This Machine Kills Vibes \\ Lincoln, NE \\ Dream Punk
http://thismachinekillsvibes.bandcamp.com/

6:40 p – The Ambulanters \\ Lincoln, NE \\ Sad Rock
https://theambulanters.bandcamp.com/

8:00 p – Super Ghost \\ Omaha, NE \\ Rock
http://superghostnoise.bandcamp.com/

9:20 p – I Forgot To Love My Father \\ Lincoln, NE \\ Party Emo
http://iforgottolovemyfather.bandcamp.com/

10:40 p – Better Friend \\ Lincoln, NE \\ Punk
https://betterfriend.bandcamp.com/

Midnight – Staghorn \\ St. Louis, MO \\ Post-Rock
http://staghorn.bandcamp.com/

1:20 p – Lobby Boxer \\ St. Louis, MO \\ Heavy Pedal Leopard Thunder
http://www.lobbyboxer.bandcamp.com/

More info here.

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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 © 2017 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

Lazy-i

Hey, I’m Back! Those Far Out Arrows tape release, Uh Oh EP release, See Through Dresses tonight…

Category: Blog — Tags: , , — @ 6:45 pm December 17, 2016

Those Far Out Arrows at O'Leaver's, March 26, 2016. The band plays Saturday night at The Brothers Lounge.

Those Far Out Arrows at O’Leaver’s, March 26, 2016. The band plays Saturday night at The Brothers Lounge.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

It’s been a brutal last few days. I hope to never have to speak to Network Solutions’ customer service ever again (or Cox Cable tech support, who hasn’t a clue how their own servers work). I’ll leave it at that.

So, here’s a trio of hows worth heading out to on this frigid Saturday night…

Tonight at The Brothers Lounge Those Far Out Arrows host a cassette/EP release party for their new one, Where Are You. It’s more groovy, psych-flavored garage rock in that Brian Jonestown Massacre tradition. The highlights are the Monkees-esque “Jump to Your Feet” and “Living Today,” which sounds like something off the first Galaxie 500 album (a reprise version of “Living Today” is Galaxie 500 crossed with The Feelies). Joining The Arrows are Lazy Wranglers and Big Slur (Dan Scheuerman of Deleted Scenes). $5, 9 p.m.

Across town at The Barley Street indie rockers Uh Oh are celebrating the online-only release of You’re Not Dead. You can get a preview of the whole dang thing below and buy your download copy here. Something about these guys reminds me of Too Much Joy, a reference that probably predates most of you (but definitely worth checking out). Joining them tonight are White Wolf T-Shirt, Skyloft and Jesse Hunter. $5, 9 p.m.

Finally, there’s the massive River City Toy Drive at Milk Run tonight featuring seven bands: See Through Dresses, Cult Play, Nathan Ma & The Rosettes, Bien Fang, Jocko, Dilute and Crease. This one starts early — 6 p.m. — and is $5 or free with a new toy donation.

All three sound like fun, but goddamn, why does it have to be so cold out?

Have a great rest of the 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.

Lazy-i

Simon Joyner, David Nance, Uh Oh tonight; Dolores Diaz (Conor Oberst and Co.) Sunday…

Category: Blog — Tags: , , , — @ 11:41 am January 2, 2016

Simon Joyner and The Ghosts at Slowdown Jr., April 4, 2015. The band plays tonight at Almost Music in Benson.

Simon Joyner and The Ghosts at Slowdown Jr., April 4, 2015. The band plays tonight at Almost Music in Benson.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Time for another very special Saturday edition of Lazy-i. Hope you had an eventful New Year’s Eve/Day.

Only Love Can Bring You Peace, Simon Joyner (Magic Helicopter, 2015)

Only Love Can Bring You Peace, Simon Joyner (Magic Helicopter, 2015)

Omaha’s unofficial poet laureate Simon Joyner celebrates the release of his book, Only Love Can Bring You Peace – Selected Lyrics (1990-2014) — published by Magic Helicopter Press, tonight (Saturday) at Almost Music in Benson. It’s the first selection of Simon’s lyrics (assembled and edited by Simon and his wife, Sara) to appear in book form, showcasing the images and characters of more than 15 albums, EPs, and rare releases, according to the website, where you can purchase your copy for $16 + s/h. But why spend more when you can buy your copy at the cover price tonight at Almost Music, and if you’re really nice, Simon might even sign it for you.

Joining Joyner and the Ghosts are L. Eugene Methe  and The David Nance Band. Your $6 cover charge can be applied to the cost of the book. In addition, Solid Jackson Books is offering 25% off any and all additional books when you buy a copy of Simon’s book. Music starts at 8 p.m.

Also tonight, Lincoln band No Tide headlines a show down at Slowdown Jr. Opening is one of Omaha’s big surprises for 2015, Uh Oh. The band’s 5-song EP, In the Glow, was a pleasant surprise — a mix of indie, pop-punk and sing-along anthems that’s sort of a throwback to a kinder/gentler time in Omaha’s alt rock past. Slacker-rockers Mint Wad Willy kicks things off at 9. $8.

Also tonight (Saturday) local punk rock legends The Shidiots play at O’Leaver’s with The Hemorrhoids and Megaton. $5, 9:30 p.m.

Then Sunday night is the big Dolores Diaz & the Standby Club show at fabulous O’Leaver’s.  The country cover band’s all-star line-up includes Matt Maginn (Cursive), Dan McCarthy (McCarthy Trenching), Ben Brodin, Phil Schaffart (Con Dios), Miwi La Lupa, Roger Lewis (The Good Life), Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes) and Conor Oberst. Of course the real mystery is: Who is Dolores Diaz? You’ll just have to find out Sunday night. Indie superstar Johnathan Rice opens along with Anthony D’Amato (New West Records), who has worked with Bon Iver and Megafauna, among others.

One assumes this will be a madhouse, but you never can tell. If you’re interested, I suggest you get there well before the 9 p.m. start time. Price of admission is the usual $5.

And thus ends the holidays, but not quite yet…

Lazy-i Best of 2015!

Lazy-i Best of 2015!

First, you must enter to win a copy of the Lazy-i Best of 2015 comp CD. The collection includes my favorite indie tunes I’ve come across throughout last year as part of my tireless work as a music critic for Lazy-i. Among those represented: Algiers, Sam Martin, Sufjan Stevens, Clarence Tilton, Beck, The Chemical Brothers, Freedy Johnston, The Mynabirds, and even the aforementioned Simon Joyner, plus lots more. The full track listing is here. Entering to win a copy couldn’t be easier, either: 1. Send an email with your mailing address to tim.mcmahan@gmail.com, or 2) Write a comment on one of my Lazy-i related posts in Facebook, or 3) Retweet a Lazy-i tweet. You also can enter by sending me a direct message in Facebook or Twitter. Hurry, contest deadline is midnight Jan. 4!

Have a great rest of the weekend…and 2016…and rest of your life!

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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.

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