Tim McMahan

Teen Mortgage, The Pond, Vera Devorah tonight; Lodgings Saturday; The Faint Sunday… - Lazy-i This should be a big-ass multimedia event as the band brings their roadshow to Omaha.

'...Finally, Sunday night it’s The Faint at The Admiral. This should be a big-ass multimedia event as the band brings their roadshow to Omaha. They played a sold-out show earlier this past April at The Waiting Room and now they’re back for more...'

Live Review: Ryan Davis brings indie-country swagger; Maria Taylor, Las Cruxes tonight… - Lazy-i Davis’ songwriting is sort of a combination of Silver Jews urban storytelling and twangy country-blues-rock that makes “roadhouse” an apt moniker.

'...It took a couple songs, but Ryan Davis and the Roadhouse Band got into a groove last night at Reverb Lounge in front of a packed but not sold-out crowd...'

Interview: After 31 years, Swearing At Motorists’ Dave Doughman still finds meaning in the Minor Leagues… - Lazy-i Swearing at Motorists' Dave Doughman reflects on 31 years in the minor leagues - both on vinyl and in real life.

'...“It’s almost as if we are a new band,” he said. “What I’m most mystified about is how to find people and connect with them, because it isn’t like it used to be.”...'

Preview: Ryan Davis keeps David Berman's spirit alive; new Las Cruxes; Lodgings farewell... - Lazy-i If you’re a Silver Jews fan, it’s worth your time to check out the show tomorrow night at Reverb Lounge.

'...If you’re a Berman fan, it’s worth your time to check out the show tomorrow night at Reverb Lounge...'

Live Review: Even on game night, David Nance, Head of Femur pack The Sydney… - Lazy-i by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com Husker football still has an obvious overhanging effect on rock shows regardless of the team’s success because, well, we were raised on it. There’s no avoiding the lull in s...

'...Nance and Co. at times leaned into ‘70s-era southern rock territory a la latter-day James Gang or twangier electric Dylan/The Band, but with a modern twist...'

Balloon Framing tonight; David Nance & Mowed sound, Head of Femur Saturday; Color Green Sunday… - Lazy-i Halloween weekends are usually a live-music dead zone as those still able and willing to go out to clubs are more concerned with getting blasted while showing off their ironic costumes than hearing li...

'...Why Shawn Foree named his latest musical project Balloon Framing remains a mystery. Foree, the mastermind and frontman of electro-punk project Digital Leather, said the one-off performance will feature “some local pros.” Find out who they are tonight at 9 at Pageturners...'

Saddle Creek Records rebrands; new Neva Dinova single; Earth, Leafblower tonight… - Lazy-i Our hometown record label, Saddle Creek Records, is rolling out new corporate branding this week.

'...Our hometown record label, Saddle Creek Records, is rolling out new corporate branding this week. The new logo, pictured above, reminds me of art used on ‘70s T-shirts and conversion vans, but likely represents a map of a winding creek consisting of record grooves forming an “S” and “C”....'

New Faint music; Pagan Athletes tonight; Sir Chloe Sunday… - Lazy-i Seemingly out of the blue yesterday, The Faint dropped a new track on streaming services including a free download on Bandcamp.

'...Seemingly out of the blue yesterday, The Faint dropped a new track on streaming services including a free download on Bandcamp. “Projector Project!” sounds like vintage Faint...'

#TBT: Remembering Ester Drang, Early Man, Eagle*Seagull, Acid House Kings, Sufjan Stevens, My Morning Jacket… - Lazy-i For Throwback Thursday, I reprint a column written in October 2005 where I randomly reviewed a handful of new releases.

For Throwback Thursday, I reprint a column written in October 2005 where I randomly reviewed a handful of new releases. What did they sound like? Where are they now? Does anyone care? All will be answered below.

Elvis Costello and the Imposters, Pixel Grip, Psymon Spine tonight… - Lazy-i Elvis Costello and The Imposters concludes their “Radio Soul: The Early Songs of Elvis Costello” tour tonight at Steelhouse Omaha.

'...Elvis Costello and The Imposters concludes their “Radio Soul: The Early Songs of Elvis Costello” tour tonight at Steelhouse Omaha...'

New B.B. Sledge, Las Cruxes, Kyle Harvey; updated touring indie calendar… - Lazy-i Happy Tuesday. Here are a few new local releases that might pique your interest...

'...The band had a record release party for their new album, Any Old Train, at Pageturners last weekend. It’s an eclectic collection of prairie-flavored indie rock that reminds me of bands like, well, The Band...'

Preview: Shiner, Frogpond tonight; Doom Gong Saturday; Fizzle party Sunday… - Lazy-i It’ll be just like old times tonight when KC legends Shiner take the stage at fabulous O’Leaver’s.

'...Back in the day, Shiner’s edgy guitar-fueled post-punk was considered “math rock,” or at least that’s how it was described in this interview written in support of the band’s Sokol Underground show with fledgling band Death Cab for Cutie, that took place just a month after the 9/11 attacks...'

Interview: Fizzle Like a Flood’s latest audio thrill ride debuts Sunday at Reverb Lounge… - Lazy-i A kaleidoscope of noise, sound, samples and screams swirl into and around the record’s eight songs.

On Golden Sand, Kabourek was truly a one-man show, playing all the instruments and doing all the production on the multi-track opus. For this record, he got help from friends as well as studio legend Kenny Aronoff...

Preview: Goon, Beaming tonight at Reverb Lounge… - Lazy-i Their new album, aptly named Dream 3, is a shimmering collection of mid-tempo indie rockers that attempts to capture the chaotic dread of a disintegrating marriage.

'...Their new album, aptly named Dream 3 (2025, Born Loser Records), is a shimmering collection of mid-tempo indie rockers that captures the chaotic dread associated with Becker’s disintegrating marriage...'

Live Review: Petsit, Farnam Fest and Blackstone Alley; Marc Rebillet at Steelhouse tonight… - Lazy-i The only thing that was missing (other than a big crowd) was shade.

'My immediate reaction upon entering Farnam Fest: “Why don’t they do this sort of thing every week?” I was quickly corrected that people would get bored if it happened weekly. I’m not so sure...'

Preview: Under-the radar indie bands take the stage at Farnam Fest... - Lazy-i This could be one of the most interesting gatherings of under-the-radar national indie acts we’ve seen in Omaha on one bill.

'...But upon doing research, I’m convinced this could be one of the most interesting gatherings of under-the-radar national indie acts we’ve seen in Omaha on one bill...'

New Bright Eyes EP gets Pitchfork-ed and Christgau-ed and my 2 cents… - Lazy-i Pitchfork, the once-arbiter of hipster taste, this week published a review of the new Bright Eyes EP, Kids Table, giving it a generous 5.8 rating.

Lyrically, there’s a world-weary quality to much of his lyrics, and Oberst sings with an energy to match...

Live Review: Cursive looks back without slowing down at The Waiting Room... - Lazy-i The program featured the once-from-Omaha legends playing two of their most admired albums recorded early in their 30-year career.

The band took the stage at 8 p.m. to the opening strains of “The Casualty,” the first song off Domestica. The Peter Pan-esque Tim Kasher was in his usual fine voice, sporting a haircut that made him resemble Conor Oberst circa 2003.

Preview: Cursive begins two sold-out nights at The Waiting Room... - Lazy-i The shows were announced months ago as warm-up gigs for Cursive’s performances at this year’s Best Friends Forever Festival in glittering Las Vegas.

The two nights of shows at The Waiting Room will allow the band to hone their chops, so to speak, playing songs from two albums released more than 20 years ago..

News: The Bay breaks ground on multi-million dollar Benson youth center… - Lazy-i Nebraska-based youth-focused nonprofit The Bay held a ground-breaking ceremony last Friday afternoon for its $20 million makeover of the former Larkin’s Parkin’ building.

The 40,000-square-foot, three-level youth center will house an indoor skate park, electronic-sports arena, music venue, creative labs for media, textiles and emerging technologies, and multiple classrooms. It’s expected to open in “early 2027” according to the press release.

VV Vol. 1, #BFF tonight; French Police, Matt Whipkey Saturday; Porchfest 2025, Sunday Mourners, Starcrawler Sunday… - Lazy-i It’s a super-busy weekend of shows and events, including some very interesting touring indie bands coming to town.

'...Formed in 2018, the synth-fueled project has the usual New Order/Joy Division sonic tropes with a gothic edge and lyrics in both English and Spanish by way of frontman Brian Flores...'

New Fizzle Like a Flood, Dead Poets, Kyle Harvey; Gary Numan, Thyroids, Leafblower tonight… - Lazy-i Yesterday’s Las Cruxes post generated a couple emails letting me know about other new music that dropped in the past few days - something to keep in mind with Bandcamp Friday happening again tomorrow.

Yesterday’s Las Cruxes post generated a couple emails letting me know about other new music that dropped in the past few days – something to keep in mind with Bandcamp Friday happening again tomorrow.

New Las Cruxes single drops on Oberst’s Million Stars label; new Bright Eyes EP… - Lazy-i The project’s been around for years, recording their first EP, Casa, in 2017. And now they’re the latest addition to the Million Stars Records roster, the label run by Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes.

The project’s been around for years, recording their first EP, Casa, in 2017, released via AFONICO and Monterrey’s CITAS, followed by their full-length debut in 2018. And now the band is the latest addition to the Million Stars Records roster, the label run by Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes.

Nation of Language, Greet Death, Samia tonight; upcoming touring indie rock shows… - Lazy-i Brooklyn synth-pop trio Nation of Language is one of the hottest indie acts on the road these days, so it’s a bit of a surprise that tonight’s show at The Slowdown hasn’t sold out.

'...Brooklyn synth-pop trio Nation of Language is one of the hottest indie acts on the road these days, so it’s a bit of a surprise that tonight’s show at The Slowdown hasn’t sold out...'

The weekend: House of Harm, Sculpture Club Saturday; Swans Sunday… - Lazy-i Boston electronic trio House of Harm have been pigeonholed as a goth group, but a brief listen to any of their most popular songs and you’ll spot the obvious influences - primarily Depeche Mode but al...

'..They’ve been pigeonholed as a goth group, but a brief listen to any of their most popular songs and you’ll spot the obvious influences – primarily Depeche Mode but also New Order and The Cure. They also cite early 4AD bands, The Chameleons and early Interpol...'

Live Review: They Might Be Giants ‘Flood’ The Admiral with plenty of deep cuts… - Lazy-i Last night’s show at The Admiral was a kaleidoscope of happy (giddy) moments, a celebration of smartness shared by five or six hundred fans all in on the same inside joke.

'...Last night’s TMBG show at The Admiral was a kaleidoscope of happy (giddy) moments, a celebration of smartness shared by five or six hundred fans all in on the same inside joke...'

Preview: They Might Be Giants tonight at The Admiral; Michael Beach, Cowgirl Eastern… - Lazy-i Titled “The Big Show Tour 2025,” the performance will feature their Beast of Horns Brass Section. And while I usually link to the most recent setlist, this tour promises “wildly different shows each e...

'...Titled “The Big Show Tour 2025,” the performance will feature their Beast of Horns Brass Section. And while I usually link to the most recent setlist, this tour promises “wildly different shows each evening.”...'

Bad Self Portraits drop debut with help from Wichita nonprofit; at Slowdown Saturday… - Lazy-i Members of Bad Self Portraits explained Midtopia and the organization’s “Buy Before You Stream” initiative from their van while driving to Wichita as part of a small Midwest tour that brings them to S...

Members of Bad Self Portraits explained Midtopia and the organization’s “Buy Before You Stream” initiative from their van while driving to Wichita as part of a small Midwest tour that brings them to Slowdown Saturday night....

Live Review: Rilo Kiley returns with arms outstretched; Simon Joyner, Leah Senior tonight… - Lazy-i It was a night of nostalgia that included a lot of familiar faces in the audience from Omaha’s Golden Age of Indie circa 2002.

'...It was a night of nostalgia that included a lot of familiar faces in the audience from Omaha’s Golden Age of Indie circa 2002. Rilo Kiley performed some of the key hits from that era’s soundtrack...'

Preview: Will rain fall on Rilo Kiley Wednesday in La Vista?… - Lazy-i Based on the set list from Sunday’s show in Grand Rapids, over half the 17-song set will come from that record and the follow-up, 2004’s More Adventurous (released on Brute/Beaute/Warner Bros).

'... if you were around and in the middle of it, you remember how Rilo Kiley amplified an already burgeoning indie scene that, at the time, was riding high on breakthrough albums by the label’s crown jewel artists – Bright Eyes, The Faint and Cursive...'