by Chris Aponick

* Stir Cove concert organizers have set the bar high in advance of their summer lineup announcement this Thursday. A July 5 Black Keys show is already sold out and now the Harrah's Casino concert series is bringing Grammy-nominated folk rockers Mumford & Sons in for a June 14 show. Tickets for that one, on sale Friday, are $35. *Check out Delicate Steve Wednesday, April 14 at the Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. The five-piece indie rock band couple the deconstructed experimental rock of Grizzly Bear, Animal Collective and Akron/Family, but with some classic ‘60s guitar pop signifiers. The Luaka Bop-signed act taps directly into its hooks, using off-kilter percussion and arrangements to add dimension to mostly instrumental songs. Songwriter Steve Marion checked in with the Reader via phone to talk about the band's longest tour yet and how they got on the label founded by Talking Head's David Byrne, which re-released Delicate Steve's Wondervisions this year. The album, recorded in Marion's home studio, came from a creative streak that saw Marion using equipment left in his space by friends, Marion says. Writing lyrics or singing never entered into the creation process, as Marion says he didn't feel like he had anything to express vocally. Eventually, a band coalesced around the songs. Marion then sent out recordings to labels he thought might be a good fit, until an ex-Luaka Bop employee suggested the label after seeing the band live. “I felt kind of aimlessly trying to make something happen,” Marion says, adding that things quickly fell into place after he reached out to Luaka Bop. Delicate Steve's Omaha show is $8. Bad Speler and DVH open. * Instead of attending Friday's crush-mob It's True CD release at the Waiting Room, I checked out three different weekend shows at the Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. Sunday was the best bet, as Wye Oak's Jenn Wasner and Andy Stack delivered big guitars, Wasner's soaring vocals and Stack's economical drumming. Opener Callers were a laidback, stripped-down noir-rock act perfect for a Sunday night. Thursday, Old 97’s played a set that overcame early-tour slop with big, countrified hooks. Saturday, Toro y Moi teased its indie-dance crowd with ‘80s moodiness, but let them down with a too-short set.

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