Live Review: Well Aimed Arrows; Cloud Nothings, Nap Eyes, David Nance tonight…

Category: Reviews — Tags: , , , — @ 1:40 pm November 13, 2018

Well Aimed Arrows at O’Leaver’s Nov. 10, 2018.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Catching up on this past weekend…

Saturday night I swung by O’Leaver’s to see the return of Well Aimed Arrows. The band hasn’t played on stage in a couple years, and life being what it is, experienced a line-up change — to a trio, consisting of frontman/drummer Koly Walters, guitarist Clayton Petersen and bassist Brian Byrd.

The new stripped down version didn’t sound a whole heckuva lot different than the old version, with Walters’ flat basso vox providing the perfect counter to the band’s simple, jangular post-rock arrangements. I’ve said before they remind me of ’80s-era indie bands like Pylon, Wire and early R.E.M., if not in sound than in spirit.

Rumor has it they’re working on their next record, we’ll (likely) be seeing more of these guys in the near future. If you get a chance, do yourself a favor…

* * *

Tonight’s Cloud Nothings show at The Waiting Room is as stacked a line-up as you’re going to find on a Tuesday night.

You read about Cloud Nothings yesterday here. Based on this Daily Trojan review, expect tonight’s performance to be heavy and loud, focused on songs off the new album augmented by a few oldies.

You might remember that opening band Nap Eyes played with Fleet Foxes last year at an outdoor Benson show. Their latest, I’m Bad Now (2018, Jagjaguwar), reminded me of The Feelies, thanks in part to lead vocalist Nigel Chapman’s drab, nasal delivery that matches Feelies’ Glenn Mercer; though energy-wise Nap Eyes is much more laid-back.

Opening the show at 8 p.m. is our very own David Nance Group who is smack dab in the middle of a tour. You’ll want to get to The Waiting Room early to catch these guys. This show has a “nice price” of just $15. See you there.

* * *

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

Cursive Lite unplugged (via Stereogum); Jeremy Messersmith, Mynabirds tonight; Well Aimed Arrows Saturday; Shy Boys Sunday…

Category: Blog — Tags: , , — @ 1:41 pm November 9, 2018

Jeremy Messersmith at Swan Dive at SXSW 2014. Messersmith plays tonight at Reverb.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Hey, it’s snowing out…

A new three-song “unplugged” performance by a stripped-down version of Cursive (Tim Kasher, Megan Siebe, Patrick Newberry and featuring Pat Oakes on drums) dropped at Stereogum Wednesday. It was recorded as a Facebook Live performance, which explains the 3-minute countdown clock at the beginning of the video (Just skip over it). Watch it here.

You get two songs from Vitriola — “Remorse” and “Ouroboros” — and “The Recluse” from The Ugly Organ. It’s interesting to hear these songs interpreted acoustically. FYI, Cursive plays The Waiting Room Nov. 18 with Meatwave and 15 Passenger labelmate Campdogzz

Onto the weekend…

An old favorite, Minneapolis singer/songwriter Jeremy Messersmith rolls back through town tonight at Reverb Lounge. I’ve been a fan of Messersmith since his 2008 album The Silver City (read a Lazy-i interview with Jeremy from 2010). His latest, Late Stage Capitalism, was released on Glassnote. Locals Garst opens at 9 p.m. $16.

There’s a fundraiser tonight for OutrSpaces, 1258 S 13th Street. “OutrSpaces provides shared workspace for performing artists to rehearse, perform, develop their careers, & engage surrounding communities in an accessible and inclusive environment,” according to their mission statement. The fundraiser includes performances by The Mynabirds, DJ Brent Crampton and Tbd. Dance Collective, among others. Tickets are $50 or $15, depending on your financial position. Program starts at 7 p.m. More info here.

Also tonight, Tragic Jack plays at The Harney Street Tavern. Matt Whipkey opens at 9 p.m. This one’s free.

The rest of my weekend will be spent at fabulous O’Leaver’s.

Saturday night at O’Leaver’s sees the return of Well Aimed Arrows (ex-Protoculture). Stephen Bartolomei and Stathi open at 10 p.m. $5.

I would be remiss in not mentioning The Urge show Saturday night at The Waiting Room. I’ve never been a fan, but I know they’ve got lots of them in Omaha. Local ska band The Bishops opens at 9 p.m. $25.

Then Sunday night back at O’Leaver’s it’s the return of Kansas City’s Shy Boys (High Dive Records). Ojai and Candy Boys (John Klemmensen’s latest project) open at 6 p.m. (remember, Sundays are early at O’Leaver’s). $10.

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 © 2018 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

Lazy-i

Live Review: Shannon & the Clams on the river, Halfwit; Ten Questions with A Giant Dog (at Milk Run tonight)…

Shannon & The Clams performing aboard The River City Star, May 15, 2016.

Shannon & The Clams performing aboard The River City Star, May 15, 2016.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

I’m growing tired of this cold weather. I imagined how much more pleasant last night’s “Sailin’ and Wailin’ Boat Cruise on the River City Star” would have been had the temps been 20 degrees warmer. Instead, it was cold and windy and I’m happy I wore my insulated hoodie.

Weather issues aside, Perpetual Nerves has a hit on its hands if it decides to do more of these River City Star concerts, because last night’s was a blast. The cruise couldn’t have gone smoother. If you weren’t on board by 6:55 you were left standing on the shore. In fact, I know one party of people, only seconds late, who had to practically fight their way to the deck (heroically saved by booker Sam Parker).

The River City Star is a small two-story river boat that launches from Freedom Park near the Gallup campus. The festive bottom deck was where the free keg and cash bar were located. Those standing in line were serenaded by the finest party music (from Prince to  Tom Tom Club) via a DJ. With drink in hand it was up to the top deck where Nathan Ma and The Rosettes were already performing as the boat drifted away from the dock. I recognized among the band mates Sarah Bohling of Icky Blossoms adding vocals. Their music was a mix of garage and indie, including a cover of The La’s “There She Goes” that got the loudest applause.

They were followed at 8 p.m. sharp by Shannon and the Clams, an Oakland-based four piece that played early ’60s-style garage rock with doo-wap and surf elements. It felt very much like a very hip sock hop played on a drifting dance floor, all the while floating past either Deliverance-style river-bottoms foliage or urban industrial decay. For every bit of picturesque wildlife (geese, flying fish) there was a reminder that you were adrift on a river of dark brown sewage.  Floating up and down the Missouri River, we were met time and time again by a large white half-submerged floating upright refrigerator. Was there someone inside it, traveling to the Gulf of Mexico? We’ll never know.

The sound, by the way, was amazing. No doubt the river people, who were either fishing or dumping garbage along the shore, could easily hear the bands, and wondered who those lucky bastards having the time of their lives?

The obvious question on everyone’s minds: Why doesn’t Perpetual Nerves book these cruises all the time, or at least once a month during the warm months? Especially considering it sold out the same day it was announced (within hours of the announcement).

Halfwit at O'Leaver's, May 13, 2016.

Halfwit at O’Leaver’s, May 13, 2016.

Friday night I caught Halfwit at O’Leaver’s. The Lincoln band fronted by Dan Jenkins of Ideal Cleaners and including bass-playing madman Saber Blazek crushed the crowd with heavy rock that bordered on proggy metal. The guitar interplay between Jenkins and guitarist Kevin Waltemath was next level amazing. Unfortunately the usually high-flying Blazek was seated for the performance, a victim of some sort of foot injury judging by the massive isolation boot he was wearing. I tried to imagine him at full thrash. Probably would have take out a wall or two. I’m told the performance was recorded for a possible future Live at O’Leaver’s set. Keep your fingers crossed.

Well Aimed Arrows at O'Leaver's May 13, 2016.

Well Aimed Arrows at O’Leaver’s May 13, 2016.

Last up was Well Aimed Arrows playing their usual brand of stripped down, minimalistic post New Wave music that combines almost atonal vocals with intricate rhythms. People who “get them” love them, and those who don’t are left scratching their heads. Their loss. If you grew up with very early REM or Wire — of if you’re old enough to remember groundbreaking ’90s Omaha band The Protoculture — seek them out immediately.

* * *

A Giant Dog plays at Milk Run tonight.

A Giant Dog plays at Milk Run tonight.

Tonight at Milk Run Austin indie band A Giant Dogs perform. Just this second, I received back a Ten Questions response from the band. Here it is:

1. What is your favorite album? 

A Giant Dog: Sparks,  Angst In My Pants. This is one of our favorite albums and we have been doing a cover of “Angst In My Pants” at our shows recently. Sparks had a big influence on us when recording the new record, PILE, and this album is on repeat while driving on tour.

2. What is your least favorite song?

It’s a never ending list. Nothing in particular comes to mind.

3. What do you enjoy most about being in a band?

We started our band as a way to have fun, make music and hangout with other bands in Austin and around the country. We’ve also been close friends since high school and played in different bands together. So it’s great being able to play music and travel with your long time buds. Aside from that aspect, we’re generally unsettled with how repetitive, boring and predictable rock music can be. One of the best things about being in a band is considering the bleakness out there and then finding ways to make a song more creative, interesting and against the grain. I’m not sure how well we do that, but it’s something we enjoy trying to do.

4. What do you hate about being in a band?

The music biz is tough right now and that is a constant frustration we and other bands have to work around. Music has always been tough, but I think it’s okay to say there is a lot less money now than in the early 2000’s pre-Napster. There is a bad gap between good music and getting it to people who will appreciate it. I hope streaming can get its shit together, and this is a problem they need to solve. I know that journalism and film are in the same boat.

5. What is your favorite substance (legal or illegal)?

Mostly weed and more legal substances these days to keep our voices in tact and be able to keep up with the fast pace lifestyle we live. It’s been most interesting buying weed across the U.S. in the last two years. It’s funny buying it in Colorado and then sneaking it through Utah like you’re still at your parents house and sneaking in past curfew.

6. In what city or town do you love to perform?

Minneapolis, Chicago, New York and any town with a passionate promoter who knows how to put together a cool show. The funny thing about live music is that any town can be killer for shows. You just need one guy or gal who loves putting on shows and knows what bands are good.

7. What city or town did you have your worst gig (and why)

Pittsburgh. We showed up to a DIY space that was had the right elements for a good show – big empty house with a good turnout and decent bands booked. But the place was run by kids in pajamas eating ramen. There was a thunderstorm that day and they were afraid of the thunder thinking the show should be canceled. We bought them a six pack and passed on the show.

8. How do you pay your bills?

We work part time or remote jobs in addition to making music. Andrew (guitar/vocals) is a door guy, Graham (bass) makes pizza, Danny (drums is a waiter, Sabrina (singer) works at a Ramen place and has an Airbnb and Andy (guitar) is a software consultant. Multiple incomes is the main way we get by and it’s well worth the time and effort to be able to tour and keep making records.

9. What one profession other than music would you like to attempt; what one profession would you absolutely hate to do

Sabrina was talking about becoming an acupuncturist the other day. Eastern medicine in general is interesting and it seems that could be a rewarding job.

10. What are the stories you’ve heard about Omaha, Nebraska

Nothing yet. Friends have said the Milk Run is cool and a good place to play. Let’s see what stories come from the show tonight.

A Giant Dog performs with Kitten Forever, No Thanks and Worried Mothers tonight at Milk Run, 1907 Leavenworth St. Tickets are $8, show starts at 9 p.m. 

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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

Live Review: Well Aimed Arrows, The Dad; Loverboy, Pat Benatar, Camera Obscura, Chromafrost tonight; Bullet Proof Hearts, Travelling Mercies Saturday…

Category: Blog,Reviews — Tags: , , , — @ 12:50 pm June 28, 2013
Well Aimed Arrows at The Waiting Room, June 27, 2013

Well Aimed Arrows at The Waiting Room, June 27, 2013

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Describing what Well Aimed Arrows sounds like — not an easy task. Most definitely post-punk. Precise. The epitome of the ill-used term “angular.” But the simplest comparison (to me) is that listening to WAA reminds me of a documentary that came out in 1987 called “Athens GA Inside Out.” The film records the city’s music scene at its height, and includes interviews and performances by Pylon, Flat Duo Jets, Love Tractor and, of course, R.E.M. WAA’s music bears a resemblance if not to those Athens’ bands’ music than certainly to their spirit.

The above preamble is a long-winded way of saying if you haven’t checked out Well Aimed Arrows before — and you’re even remotely interested in post-punk — do yourself a favor. Last night’s set at The Waiting Room was the most enjoyable I’ve ever seen/heard from this remarkable four-piece that mixes chopping guitar, tight-as-a-tick rhythms and dueling, harmonized punk vocals. The sound is both narrow and uplifting, full yet stark, and always mesmerizing.

So here’s an idea: We’ve got all these people around town shooting videos for bands. What we need is someone to create a documentary (kind of like Inside Out) that mixes live performances with current Omaha rock bands along with interviews where they talk about living in the aftermath of when Omaha was the “new Seattle.” The current generation of bands — bands like The Dad (who opened for WAA last night) — are so young that they weren’t around (or aware) when Saddle Creek was at its apex circa the early- mid-2000s. Call the documentary: “Omaha: Hear and Now.”

The Dad at The Waiting Room, June 27, 2013.

The Dad at The Waiting Room, June 27, 2013.

Most certainly The Dad would be among the bands featured. A smart opener for WAA as the four-piece also has a modern post-punk sound that’s been welded to a current-day garage band style. Their music is on one level intentionally sloppy, on another level purely orchestrated — each member (guitar, bass, keyboard, drums) bringing something original to the table. One highlight was the guy on bass, who looked like a super-young version of David Byrne slapping/striking the strings as if he was doling out a spanking. I picked up a copy of their Unread Records 7-inch “7 A.M.,” “Second Best Friends” b/w “Getting Worse ,” which captures their chaos in a low-fi glory that isn’t necessarily reflected in their more pro stage renditions. Sublime nonetheless.

* * *

Well, my plan was to go to Camera Obscura at The Slowdown tonight after the Memorial Park wankfest featuring Loverboy and Pat Benatar. Seeing as I live a few blocks from the park, I feel obligated to be there if only to protect my home from potential looters.

Unfortunately, I just discovered that the Camera Obscura show has an early 8 p.m. start time, and only one opener — Talking Mountain — which means by the time I got downtown post-Memorial Park chaos the show would (could) be over. For those of you who won’t be reliving their ’80s cock-rock memories in the park, Camera Obscura is a must see, especially for a mere $15. Go and tell me how it was.

Also tonight Chromofrost plays at fabulous O’Leavers with the M Saklar Sun-Less Trio and Seer States, the duo of Eric Baughman and Greg Rohde. $5, 9:30 p.m.

Tomorrow night (Saturday) rock band Bullet Proof Hearts celebrates the release of their “American Custom” 7-inch at The Brothers Lounge with Lincoln band SkullSkowSki. $5, 9 p.m. Check out the single below:

Also Saturday night, Travelling Mercies plays at The Sydney with The Betties and Moses Prey. $5, 9 p.m.

Enjoy the weekend…

* * *

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 © 2013 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

Lazy-i

Live Review: Kite Pilot, Well-Aimed Arrows; Good Old War, Seashell Radio tonight…

Category: Blog,Reviews — Tags: , , — @ 1:05 pm April 9, 2012
Well-Aimed Arrows at The Barley Street Tavern, April 7, 2012

Well-Aimed Arrows at The Barley Street Tavern, April 7, 2012

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

No photos from Saturdays show because my Mac’s OS is being rebuilt again. What a pain in my ass. Maybe it’s time to get a new computer? I was way in back of a crowded Barley Street Tavern anyway and the photos weren’t exactly primo, as you can see by the crappy, off-kilter pic of Well-Aimed Arrows, above. WAA followed the very good six-piece known as We Live In Sod Houses, who opened the show, a rousing Americana punk band, sort of Decemberists meets Neil Young meets ’90s indie rock from somewhere in southwest Iowa. I only caught their last four songs, and was told that they’d been on for about 45 minutes before I got there — super long set. Sorry I missed the first part.

Well-Aimed Arrows’ set was the usual 30 minutes of angular post-punk that harkens back to greats such as Gang of Four/Wire/Minutemen/Fugazi. I love this band (as you know), whose members include Clayton Petersen and Koly Walters of The Protoculture (Erica Hanton of Kite Pilot, then Erica Petersen, also was in the band). Their album, Adult Entertainment, reviewed last July, will be the subject of a vinyl-release show May 25 with Millions of Boys and Dads at Slowdown Jr. Mark your calendars.

Finally, it was Kite Pilot reborn as a power trio featuring Todd and Erica Hanton and drummer Jeremy Stanoschek. Their new sound is much more post-punk and less poppy than the old version that was kicking around last decade. Todd’s trumpet is gone. Instead, he’s busy on keyboards and the occasional bass and providing very tasty vocal harmonies, while Erica’s bass and guitar work never sounded better. Performing all new material, their finest moments were ripping full-bore into blistering rockers that were among the best things I’ve ever heard them play, but they floundered when they tried their hand at arty, experimental prog, which suffered from awkward time changes and poor arrangements. As a whole, the trio has entered into an exciting new stage in their career despite the fact that they’re still trying to define this new sound.

* * *

Tonight at The Waiting Room it’s Americana rockers Good Old War with The Belle Brigade and Family of the Year. $12, early 8 p.m. start.

Also tonight at fabulous O’Leaver’s it’s Tucson band Seashell Radio with The Debts. $5, 9:30 p.m.

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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 © 2012 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

Lazy-i

Well Aimed Arrows release Adult Entertainment (finally); Jake Bellows new track/record update; Malkmus to return to Slowdown…

Category: Blog — Tags: , — @ 1:45 pm January 11, 2012

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

Well Aimed Arrows, Adult Entertainment (2012, self released)

Well Aimed Arrows, Adult Entertainment (2012, self released)

Clayton Petersen of post-rock band Well Aimed Arrows dropped me a line this week to let me know that the band’s debut recording, Adult Entertainment, is finally available, at least digitally. “The first track is free to wet your appetite or the whole album (8 songs) is only five bucks,” Petersen said. You can access the recording from their bandcamp page.

Recorded by Steve Micek at The Robot Factory and mastered by the venerable Doug Van Sloun, I reviewed the album way back in July, figuring that it would never get “released.” Back then I described it as “Intelligent punk with big-shoulder swing, dissonant male/female harmonies, jangling ringing electric guitars, sing-along choruses and a straight-four beat. Best lyrics of any band going, period.” I stand by those words. Check it out.

* * *

Speaking of new releases, Jake Bellows tweeted yesterday that he’s just placed a new track online called “Blackest Heart (acoustic).” You can buy the song for $1.29 at jakebellows.com, where Jake also provides an update on the new record he’s making with Ben Brodin, Ryan Fox, Todd Fink and Heath Koontz. “We are currently in the mixing phase of this record and expect to have it mostly finished by spring at the latest!” No doubt a tour will follow.

* * *

And finally, the first interesting concert announcement of 2012: Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks are returning to Slowdown Feb. 17. $15 tix go on sale Saturday. More info at the show page on the Slowdown website.

* * *

Tomorrow: Future Tense: 2012 Music Predictions, Pt. 2 (the Lightning Round) — the conclusion of my annual predictions columns, and boy, this one’s a doozy.

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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 © 2011 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

Lazy-i

Live Review: The rise of Gus & Call, Simon Joyner, Well Aimed Arrows…

Category: Blog,Reviews — Tags: , , — @ 12:48 pm March 15, 2011
Gus and Call at Slowdown Jr., March 12, 2011.

Gus and Call at Slowdown Jr., March 12, 2011.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

At first glance, there’s not much difference between Bear Country and Gus & Call. Most of the folks on stage Saturday night at Slowdown Jr. looked familiar, though vocalist Susan Sanchez was gone, and I’m sure there were other personnel changes that I missed at what was their debut performance in front of a rather healthy crowd of at least 100.

They started out in yee-haw territory, real bucket o’ chicken-style country rock that made one guy in the back of the room who hadn’t seen them before snipe “This is what I’ve been missing?” The tune did sound more hoe-downish than your typical empty-prairie-at-dusk-in-the-depths-of-winter Bear Country tune; I expected someone in the crowd to start bucking around the dance floor on an imaginary horse, slapping his ass.

But as the set wore on, the band toned down its C&W and turned up the feedback, creating a new form of psychedelic, droning, alt country. Instead of “shoegaze,” call it “bootgaze” — a slower, denser sound that still held a hint of twang. I was reminded, again, of those forlorn Cowboy Junkies’ Trinity Sessions (I wonder if the band ever looked up that album after we talked about it back in December ’09). The five members formed a circle on stage and spent most of the set intensely watching each other for visual cues, a sort of human symbiotic organism formed around a nucleus of rhythm. What kept them from drowning during the quietest moments were the vivid lead vocals shared by guitarists Mike Schlesinger and James Maakestad, each with his own earthy style.

And then toward the end of all this, the band tossed a stick of nitro into the crowd called “To the Other Side of Jordan,” which is hands down the best new “rock” song I’ve heard from an Omaha band (actually, from any indie band) in a long time. Think of it as a retooling of all your favorite ’70s Ameri-rock into a crisply pressed indie package. The song started with a slide guitar part that mimiced the opening of Led Zeppelin’s “In My Time of Dying” before shifting gears with a riff that’s pure Allman Brothers meets Lynyrd Skynrd. It will make even the most stone-hearted indie music fan grin. In fact, I was looking across the crowd at one local musician notorious for his barbed shots at just about every local band that doesn’t play math punk — most of you know him, some have recorded with him — and even he couldn’t control himself, letting out a “Whoop!” toward the end of the tune along with the rest of the usually laid-back Slowdown crowd. It was an electric moment, a complete surprise, the highlight of the evening, and I was happy I was there. Welcome to the party, Gus & Call.

Simon Joyner and the Parachutes at Slowdown Jr., 3/12/11.

Simon Joyner and the Parachutes at Slowdown Jr., 3/12/11.

Simon Joyner always surrounds himself with great musicians, and his new lineup, called the Parachutes, is no different. The six-piece band included a violin/cello and one of the city’s most under-rated guitarists, Mike Friedman, on pedal steel. Simon’s usual blonde-straw cowboy hat was appropriate for a set of old-style folk-country ballads that would fit on the Opry stage, but still had that classic, desolate Simon Joyner quality that’s one part broken and two parts lonely. This was the first time I’d heard most of these songs before, and as such, they demand further examination. In some ways, the tunes reminded me of the last record (Out Into the Snow), but were shorter and more to the point, less apt to wander. In the crowd were two professional videographers, I assume a pro film crew doing a piece on Simon…

Well Aimed Arrows at Slowdown Jr., 3/12/11.

Well Aimed Arrows at Slowdown Jr., 3/12/11.

Opening the evening was Well Aimed Arrows, who played most of the songs off their forthcoming album, Adult Entertainment (which I’m told will be available sometime in May — keep your fingers crossed). WAA is a band that you can’t help but cheer for. With a sound clearly derived from post-punk bands like Fugazi, Jawbox, Wire and Gang of Four, the thinly layered four-piece takes away any scrap of excess, ratcheting their tightly honed math equations to bare white bone for a sound that’s as angular and dissonant as it is strangely infectious. When all four join together to yell out a chorus (on songs like “International Debut”) you want the crowd to yell along, too, and they probably would if they only knew the words. Maybe they will after their new record blows up.

* * *

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 © 2011 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

Lazy-i

Live Review: Tennis, Cabana Boys…

Category: Reviews — Tags: , , — @ 1:58 pm August 17, 2010
Tennis at Slowdown Jr., Aug. 16, 2010.

Tennis at Slowdown Jr., Aug. 16, 2010.

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

There continues to be a trend in indie music toward ’50s and ’60s-style doo-wap rock. Denver band Tennis, who played to around 50 at Slowdown Jr. Monday night, certainly fits into the category. Consisting of husband and wife duo Patrick Riley (guitar) and Alaina Moore (keyboards/vocals), they played a set of easy-going throwback rock featuring Riley’s glowing Telecaster that sounded like it was transported out of a jukebox from Happy Days. Moore’s voice had that uneasy Natalie Merchant lilt (when it was in key).

Cabana Boys at Slowdown Jr., Aug. 16, 2010.

Cabana Boys at Slowdown Jr., Aug. 16, 2010.

Opening with their usual solid set of yell-along punk songs were the anglers from Well Aimed Arrows, who ratcheted up their enthusiasm despite having to stare at a sea of seated patrons (Come on, folks, get out of your chairs, ferchrissake). Last night also was the world premier of Cabana Boys, a new trio featuring bassist Annie Dilocker (Digital Leather), drummer Kit Carson  (La Casa Bombas), and guitarist Kevin Cline (Watching the Train Wreck). You could call their sound “drunken garage rock slacker surf,” except that none of them appeared to be drunk. More to come, please…

* * *

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 © 2010 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

Lazy-i

Live Review: The Prairies, Well-Aimed Arrows…

Category: Reviews — Tags: , — @ 12:35 pm May 10, 2010
Well-Aimed Arrows

Well-Aimed Arrows at O'Leaver's, May 7, 2010.

Friday night at O’Leaver’s. The usual crowd.

I was told by one of my network of spies that The Prairies are part of a new clique/cult of bands whose members hang out at The Antiquarium and who all have a deep-seated love for Times New Viking. The TNV influence is very real, but not definitive, not for these guys. TNV plays blown-out post-wave punk that’s low-fi, brutally primitive and yet, strangely catchy. Prairies have a lot of those same characteristics, but sprinkle in bits and pieces of fun-loving garage rock flavor. The result is a band that sounds like a combination of early, noisy Pavement cross-bred with Box Elders. I dug it, and so did the 12 people in O’Leaver’s Friday night, thanks in part to their giggly (i.e. drunk?) stage banter that pitched back and forth whenever the line-up changed instruments — everyone played drums at some point in the set, actually everyone seemed to play everything once, and sing. Impressive, especially considering that they’d played a set just an hour earlier down at Slowdown.

Well-Aimed Arrows just keep getting better. As I said the last time I saw them, the band has the Protoculture‘s same dissonant song structures driven by punchy rhythms and frontman/drummer Koly Walter’s flat, barking voice. Michelle Petersen provides a slightly atonal counter vocal that borders on harmony (or necessary dissonance). Clayton Petersen continues with his trademark jitter-rhythm, angular guitar. Why it works so well? The rhythm section, balanced out by free-wheelin’ hat-wearin’ bass player Brian Byrd; and arrangements that call for hands-off-the-instruments repeated choruses that sound more like angry punk chants than songs. Just think how high those songs will fly once the crowd learns the words (or learns how to Pogo).

Lazy-i