by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

This might be the busiest post-COVID weekend since, well, Maha (OK, ok… I know we’re actually still very much in the heat of COVID. If you’re vaxxed, enjoy the weekend; if you’re not, just stay home and enjoy your conspiracy theories).

Tons happening tonight.

Firstly, it’s Benson First Friday (#BFF), which means the art will be flying throughout Benson. The Sydney has a mighty line-up tonight, headlined by the one and only Solid Goldberg. Joining him is one of my favorite local bands, No Thanks, whose last album, Submerger (2020, Black Site Records), was one of the best from last year. Opening is singer/songwriter Ben Eisenberger. $10, probably 10 p.m.

Also tonight in Benson, Reverb Lounge is hosting PROBLEMS (Darren Keen of The Show is the Rainbow fame, doing his one-man thing) with Goth Martin (aka lowercase tres) and W. Groves. Free before 10 p.m., $5, after 10 p.m.

Meanwhile down Slowdown Jr., Bach Mai is hosting its album release show for What You’ve Given, which came out in January, and includes a huge supporting cast and was mixed, recorded and engineered by Rick Carson (Make Believe Studios). Joining him are J. Crum and Steady Wells (Jordan Smith from Twinsmith). $10, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Omaha Under the Radar is happening throughout the city at spaces like Kaneko, Joslyn, OutrSpaces and The Trap Room. Among those performing are Dereck Higgins, who has a new album out today called Future Still. Events are happening throughout the day. No idea on costs. More info here.

Finally, Sunday night at “Waiting Room Outdoors” — which is a blocked-off Military Ave. outside of Reverb Lounge — is Black Pumas with Neal Francis. Gates at 6 p.m., show at 7 p.m. $40. Expect a crowd.

Also, today is Bandcamp Friday, which means Bandcamp is waiving its fees for purchases from its site today only. So go to all the above Bandcamp pages and make some purchases, like the new one by Big Nope, “Mt. Baker.”

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 © 2021 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

Better Oblivion Community Center at The Slowdown, March 21, 2019. The band’s album has been nominated for an AIM Independent Music Award.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Pretty quiet news-wise lately…

The UK’s Association of Independent Music (AIM) announced nominees for the 2019 AIM Independent Music Awards, and up for Best Album is Better Obliviion Community Center’s debut album, featuring Conor Oberst and Phoebe Bridgers.

AIM has been around for 20 years and handing out prizes for the the past eight. The awards ceremony will be Sept. 3 at The Roundhouse in Camden. BOCC will be up against Christine and the Queens, Chris; Dave, Psychodrama; Fontaines D.C., Dogrel; Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, End of Suffering; Jade Bird, self-titled; Jordan Rakei, Origin; Little Simz, GREY Area; Snapped Ankles, Stunning Luxury and Swindle, No More Normal. 

I think maybe I’ve heard of three of the other nominees…

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Omaha Under the Radar is currently in full effect.

A reminder of their mission: Omaha Under the Radar is an annual performance festival in the Midwest. We celebrate independent artists with performances and workshops throughout the city of Omaha. Since the first festival, held in 2014, Omaha Under the Radar has presented over 300 artists of divergent backgrounds and disciplines. We work to represent a multiplicity of genres, ideas, and identities through performances, talks, group discussions and educational opportunities. 

The festival’s schedule is here, and events are happening all over the city tonight at Kaneko, Joslyn, Bancroft Street Market, Petshop Gallery and Slowdown, and throughout the weekend at the above plus OutrSpaces, Project Project and The Holland Center. 

This is more of art / fine arts / experimental music festival, and other than Dereck Higgins, who’s performing at Saturday’s closing event at Holland Center, I’ve heard of nary any of the artists — guess that’s why they all it Under the Radar.

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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.

Garbage at very rainy Maha Music Festival 2012. The band plays tonight at SumTur Amphitheatre.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Surprisingly a lot of shows this weekend, though many are “under the radar”…

Biggest show of the weekend is tonight at SumTur Amphitheater in Papillion where grunge-era British band Garbage will headline. You remember them from Maha 2012. Opening is Kristen Kontrol (Dee Dee from Dum Dum Girls’ new project). Check out her Ten Questions interview. Tickets are $35 general admission, $45 reserved. The show starts at 7:30 p.m.

It’s also Under the Radar weekend. I mentioned the highlights a couple days ago. Tonight’s UtR show of interest (to me, anyway) is at Milk Run where they’re showcasing a gaggle of electronic performers: Ammie Brod, Thomas Snydacker, Jared Brown, Jim Fusik and Big Slur (Dan Scheuerman of Deleted Scenes). Tickets are $10, show starts at 8 p.m.

It’s punk rock night at fabulous O’Leaver’s tonight with SHEdiots, Austin act All Opposed and Westside Proletariat. I’m not seeing a price for this one, but it’s probably $5, 9:30 p.m.

Also tonight, MiWi La Lupa opens for the Hottman Sisters’ EP release show at Reverb Lounge. I’ve been dying to catch MiWi’s set. Maybe tonight? Also on the bill are Walk By Sea. $7, 9 p.m.

Tomorrow night (Saturday) Relax, It’s Science opens for Lodgings at Barley Street Tavern. Dirty Talker and KC band Dark Satellites also are on the bill. 9 p.m., $5.

Meanwhile, O’Leaver’s is hosting Saturn Moth, Mint Wad Willy and Muscle Cousins. $5, 9:30 p.m.

Under the Radar shifts to The Slowdown Saturday night with a huge lineup that includes tbd Dance Collective, Radical 2, Bus Gas, Terrence McManus, Owen Weaver and Rosalyn Nasky and Les Moutons de Panurge. 7:30 p.m., $10.

Finally, there’s a gem of a show Sunday night at Reverb where Boston singer/songwriter Marissa Nadler headlines. She’s released albums on Kemado and Bella Union. Her latest album, Strangers, is out now on Sacred Bones. Pitchfork gave it a 7.6 saying she retains “her grey-skies aesthetic while bringing in a more spacious and rock-oriented sound.” Wrekmeister Harmonies & Muscle and Marrow also perform. Tickets are $12 now, $14 DOS. Show starts at 8 p.m.

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 © 2016 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.