Download this!

The War on Drugs - Future Weather
EP, 8 tracks
out on Secretly Canadian
mp3: "Comin' Through" and "The History of Plastic" 

Avey Tare - Down There
LP, 9 songs
out on Paw Tracks


Dave Portner, aka Avey Tare, is also a member of Animal Collective. This is his first official solo full-length.

Before Dawn: the playlist

Before Dawn is a radio show on KZUM 89.3 by Dylan Bliss. I was lucky enough to co-host this morning. Check out the playlist.


:: Belle & Sebastian - I Want the World to Stop :: Kings of Leon - Pony Up :: A.A. Bondy - Oh the Vampyra :: Little Joy - Brand New Start :: No Age - Fever Dreaming :: Cloud Nothings - Can't Stay Awake :: Japandroids - No Allegiance to the Queen :: Tegan and Sara - You Wouldn't Like Me :: Mason Jennings - Something About Your Love :: MGMT - Brian Eno :: Benji Hughes - Jubilee :: Noah's Ark Was a Spaceship - Adult Sized Skeletal :: Toro Y Moi - Blessa :: White Denim - I'd Have it Just the Way We Are :: Tennis - Baltimore :: Wolf Parade - I'll Believe in Anything :: Wilco - Hate it Here :: Blitzen Trapper - Country Caravan :: Dom - Jesus :: Avi Buffalo - One Last :: Department of Eagles - Phantom Other :: Pinback - Fortress :: Tallest Man on Earth - Troubles Will be Gone :: Sufjan Stevens - Arnika :: Beirut - Elephant Gun :: Menomena - TAOS:: The National - Gospel :: Tally Hall - Smile Like You Mean It ::

"Philadelphia makes, the world takes"

Some photos from Here We Go Magic and Dr. Dog at the Waiting Room last night. All photos by Dylan Bliss.

Dr. Dog

Here We Go Magic goes from one to five, getting collaborative on new album 'Pigeons'

[Dr. Dog w/ Here We Go Magic] [today, 9 p.m.]
[Waiting Room, Omaha] [$14 in advance, $16 at the door]

mp3: "Collector" and "Casual" from their new album "Pigeons"

as seen in the Daily Nebraskan
Within a few years, the dynamic of the Brooklyn, N.Y., band Here We Go Magic has gone from one guy, Luke Temple, to a "collaborative" band.

The band's first self-titled record was written and recorded by Temple with minimal instrumentation. Their new sophomore album "Pigeons," released this past summer, was something he and four other band members worked on together, with Temple still taking lead writing all the tracks.

Now the band has really "hit its stride," Temple said, being on the road together. HWGM is out on tour with Dr. Dog right now, stopping Monday in Omaha at the Waiting Room.

I was able to chat with Temple while out on tour.

Dr. Dog brings it on home with 'Shame, Shame'

[Dr. Dog w/ Here We Go Magic] [Monday, 9 p.m.]
[Waiting Room, Omaha] [$14 in advance, $16 at the doors]

as seen in the Daily Nebraskan
Philadelphia quintet Dr. Dog has been making albums on its own since its beginnings in 1999.

But recently, with its sixth album "Shame, Shame," released this past spring, the group decided to leave its comfort zone.

The guys put off recording at their home studio to record with Rob Schnapf, a producer who had previously worked with Beck and Elliott Smith.

The band was able to take songs written by Scott McMicken and Toby Leaman to a "clearer" sound level with the professional studio production.

A little inspiration from home also crept its way in.

"Philly has been such a big part of our lives, and I feel like on this record it finally took over and made its way into our music," McMicken said.

McMicken attributes the single from the album "Shadow People" as being "a full-on West Philly diary."

I was able to talk more about the new album and the tour with Leaman while the band was out on the road.

White Denim is rock, says the mind-behind James Petralli

[Portugal. the Man w/ White Denim] [Today, 9 p.m.]

[Waiting Room, Omaha] [$13 in advance, $15 at the doors]

mp3: "Mirrored and Reverse"

Download "Last Day of Summer" at their band website. 

Proceeds make their tour happen!

as seen in the Daily Nebraskan

Austin's White Denim is a rock band, but its sound is more than just rock.

Its sound is a lot of things, really. It's punk and funk, country and jazz. But for the sake of their families that ask, lead singer-songwriter/guitarist James Petralli will call it "rock." Confusion among grandmothers avoided.

The guys, including Petralli, drummer Josh Block, bassist/vocalist Steve Terebecki and their new guitarist Austin Jenkins, have been very busy with recording as of late. They released what basically turned out to be an album while recording their actual album, a compilation called "Last Day of Summer."

The "real" album is set for release next spring, and the band is out on tour to promote it. Today's stop is in Omaha opening for Portugal. The Man at the Waiting Room.

I was able to catch up with Petralli, who was running across streets mid-interview, a couple days before starting their tour to discuss the new record, South by Southwest and more.

Omaha's Slumber Party Records uses local footing and a little help from their friends to thrive

Slumber Party Records band Noah's Ark Was a Spaceship has a new single out, "Warm Eyes," available for download at the label's site. The band will be releasing an album late January/early February 2011.

Check out their show next week:

[Holy Fuck w/ Indian Jewelery & Noah's Ark Was a Spaceship]

[Thursday, Oct. 21, 8 p.m.] [Bourbon Theatre, Lincoln]

[$13 in advance, $15 at the doors]

mp3: "Adult Sized Skeletal" 
from their 2009 EP "My Name Is What Is Your Name"

as seen in the Daily Nebraskan

The Slumber Party Records label out of Omaha can't say that business has always been smooth. But when it comes to support from the local music community and friends, you could say it's been smooth sailing.

It's the "people who go to shows and buy the records locally" that help keep the label going, owner Aaron Markley said. 

Saddle Creek Records in Omaha is also a "huge supporter of the label," Markley said. The greater Omaha label distributes Slumber Party's records through ADA (Alternative Distribution Alliance), one of the largest independent music distributors in North America.

ADA distributes both physical and digital music copies for their affiliate labels that showcase bands from known bands like Arcade Fire and Weezer to lesser-knowns like Slumber Party's roster.

Slumber Party's signed talent seems to showcase the diverse music that can be found in the Omaha area.

The label currently has eight active bands including Noah's Ark Was a Spaceship, Outlaw Con Bandana, Conchance, Honeybee, Talking Mountain and Thunder Power, to name a few.

Tennis' Patrick Riley talks sailing and music

[The Walkmen w/ Japandroids & Tennis] [Saturday, 9 p.m.]
[Waiting Room, Omaha] [$13]

mp3: "Marathon"
Listen to their Sept. 23 session on Daytrotter

as seen in the Daily Nebraskan

Husband and wife Patrick Riley's and Alaina Moore's lives changed radically when they decided to write music together on an eight-month sailing trip along the Atlantic coast.

Because, well, they got a record deal out of it.

Oh, the suspense!

photo by Bea Huff

Thanks to friend Andrew Dickinson, some new faces/friends of friends rolled into the Lincoln college party scene. The Paper Suspense came to town to film a house show music video. 

Too bad the cops had to make an appearance. I think we're all sorry that had to happen. 

Look out for these guys' music video sometime in the near future. 

Tennis debut album due out in 2011

mp3: "Marathon"

Denver husband/wife duo Tennis recently announced the expected release of their debut LP with Fat Possum Records in 2011. 

The band released a 7-inch with Underwater Peoples that featured their tracks "Baltimore," "Cape Dory" and "Marathon."


According to band member Patrick Riley, the new album will feature those three tracks, re-recorded, and more new tracks as apart of a concept album with work inspired from an 8-month sailing trip the two took along the Atlantic coast.


My interview with Patrick will be in the upcoming week's Daily Nebraskan.


Tennis is opening with Japandroids for The Walkmen on Sat. 16 at the Waiting Room in Omaha. Check 'em out. 

Fang Island keep touring non-stop, only one van stolen

[Coheed & Cambria w/ Fang Island & After The Fall] [Monday, 8 p.m.]
[Sokol Auditorium] [$25 in advance, $30 at the doors]

mp3: "Daisy"

[as seen in the Daily Nebraskan]
The guitar is usually an essential part of the 'rock band,' but for Fang Island, the guitar gets taken to a new degree of importance with three-fifths of the band accounted for in their guitar playing.

The Brooklyn, N.Y., band needs little excuse to have fun, and you can really see it in their music with the hand-clap here or there, even a firework intro on their newest self-titled album released in February.

The praised self-titled LP was enough to launch Fang Island to stable touring gigs and far from the thought of ever returning to art school.

The band came together as a school project at the Rhode Island School of Design, where bands like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Les Savvy Fav and the Talking Heads also formed.

I was able to catch up with Fang Island guitarist Jason Bartell while on tour with Matt & Kim.

Film School's Greg Bertens talks new album "Fission"

[Film School w/ The Depreciation Guild] [Monday, 9 p.m.] 

[Waiting Room, Omaha] [$10]
mp3:  "Heart Full of Pentagons"

[as seen in the Daily Nebraskan online]

When it comes to being a band, it's not too uncommon to see members come and go.

At least it isn't for Film School's lead singer and guitarist Greg Bertens.

The L.A. band's been through a few lineup changes - each can be accounted for on Film School's four albums that have been released over the decade: "Brilliant Career" in 2001, "Film School" in 2006, "Hideout" in 2007 and their latest, "Fission," released in late August.

"It's going to affect the product, but I think in the end what happens is we're looking for what is a Film School song, what isn't a Film School song, and we're not just throwing on any song that comes about," Bertens said.