Carrying the Torch

by B.J. Huchtemann

Two tributes to longtime Lincoln resident and Chicago blues legend Magic Slim take place this week. Magic Slim, also known as Morris Holt, passed away Feb. 21 in a Pennsylvania hospital after a brief illness.
Magic’s son Shawn Holt is now fronting Slim’s legendary band The Teardrops. The younger Holt has brought another Lincoln musician, Levi William, on board with him as an official Teardrop....

Rising Up North

by Chris Aponick

The set-up for Hayes Carll's return to an Omaha stage is prefectly suited.

It's fitting that the Texas songwriter who wrote "She Left Me For Jesus", a too-good-to-be-a-novelty story song about a guy heartbroken by a born-again, would return to an Omaha stage on the night of Easter Sunday.

Carll says he hopes that the show will enter into the post-church plans of a good portion of Omaha's...

Making Wavves

by Kyle Eustice

 By now, everyone knows that Best Coast’s Bethany Cosentino and Wavves’ Nathan Williams are an item. They appeared on the cover of Spin together and can often be found doing joint interviews. It makes sense. Both of their bands make straight up California dreamin’ beach bum music. Wavves’ last album, King of the Beach, was full of surf-pop tracks like “Green Eyes,” “Idiot” and the title track,...

Outlaw Con Bandana, Matt Whipkey raise Kickstarter funds

by Chris Aponick

* Outlaw Con Bandana is raising money via Kickstarter.com to publish and press an ambitious overview of the art, writing and music from the band's back catalogue. The band, led by Brendan Hagberg, is looking to publish Ticks and Trips, which is a book of art and writing by Hagberg and a double-LP compilation of tracks from the band's previously released eight albums. The fundraising campaign...

Blues Challenge, Sin City, Zito

by B.J. Huchtemann

Round One of the Blues Society of Omaha’s Nebraska Blues Challenge kicks off at Lincoln’s Zoo Bar on Sunday, March 24. Performing are Crimson Dawn (3:30 p.m.), Thrift Shop Radio (4:40 p.m.), Lou DeLuca & The R&M Blues Band (5:50 p.m.) and Josh Hoyer & The Shadowboxers (7 p.m.). Rounds Two and Three take place April 7 at Gator O’Malley’s and April 21 at McKenna’s with a total of 14 bands...

Pleasure Adapter unveils two songs

by Chris Aponick

* Synth punk act Pleasure Adapter now has two songs online. The band recorded "Slaves of the New World" and "Everything Has Been Erased" with Mark McGowan at Suitcase Omaha earlier this year. Check out the tracks at pleasureadapter.bandcamp.com.

* Local acoustic pop artist Daniel Christian has released a new collaborative EP with Mark Adams. The release, A Moment Vanishing, is now available...