MAHA Festival '25: PIXIES, WAXAHATCHEE, MAGDALENA BAY, BAND OF HORSES, more / ALL ACCESS (VIDEO)

This week, I am reviewing the return of the MAHA FESTIVAL. Maha is an indie music festival that takes place every year in Omaha. Except for 2024, when it took the year off to re-organize.

This year, the festival was moved to downtown Omaha, and took place at the Heartland of America Park. The park is situated next to the Missouri River. There was a great crowd, the weather cooperated (for the most part), and every band was spectacular.

This year's line-up:

PIXIES

WAXAHATCHEE 

BAND OF HORSES

MAGDALENA BAY

SILVERSUN PICKUPS

LITTLE BRAZIL 

I have photos and video of all the bands that played.

Concert Recap: Criteria / Little Brazil / Healer at Waiting Room (VIDEO)

Hello and welcome to my latest video. This week, I am recapping the recent Criteria show at Waiting Room. Criteria played its annual (?) holiday show over Thanksgiving weekend. They were joined by Little Brazil and Healer.

For more information on the bands:

Criteria: https://www.instagram.com/criteriarocks/

Little Brazil: https://www.instagram.com/littlebrazilband/

Healer: https://www.instagram.com/healer_band/

Criteria / Little Brazil / Healer LIVE at Waiting Room 11/25/23 (PHOTOS)

 

Annual Thanksgiving weekend show with Criteria, Little Brazil, and Healer

Healer opened the show with a sound that reminded me of 90s alt-rockers, Hum, mixed with a little Jawbox. The band actually did a Jawbox cover in the set. All of the band members are scene veterans - including Cursive drummer Pat Oakes and John Svatos from Noah's Ark Was a Spaceship. 

Next up was Little Brazil. I've seen this band dozens of times over the years, and their Superchunk meets Built To Spill indie rock sound rarely disappoints. The band played an energetic set featuring a couple of brand new songs.

Steve Pedersen and Criteria closed out the show. Caught these guys last Summer at Outlandia, and they were a highlight of the festival. Another great set from a band that is so good it seems impossible to believe that they only play once or twice a year!

For more information on Healer, check out their Instagram.

For more information on Little Brazil, check out their Instagram.

For more information on Criteria, check out their Facebook page.

Little Brazil/Digital Leather TONIGHT at Harrah's

I just found out about this show, so sorry about the late notice. Little Brazil and Digital Leather are performing tonight at Harrah's Casino in Council Bluffs. The show is at the Stir "Live and Loud" Club inside the casino. The show is a mere $5, and it starts at 9 pm. See you there.

FINALLY!! The Music Returns

At long last, live music returns to Omaha. Granted, it was only "gone" for a few weeks. But those were some hella long weeks, amigos. So, tomorrow night is the re-opening of The Waiting Room, and to celebrate, the club is offering a free show from Little Brazil. Not too shabby. Also on the bill are Little Black Stereo, Ground Tyrants, & Kyle Harvey.

While that free show is quite cool, personally, I'm more excited about Saturday night's show at Slowdown with The Life and Times. The show is a mere $8. Opening are Techlepathy & At Land. I haven't seen either opener, but have heard good things about Techlepathy. I have, however, seen The Life and Times on more than one occasion, and they are freakin' amazing. This band hits every right note with me as far as influences and overall sound goes. To say that the band is like Swervedriver crossed with an early 90s Touch & Go recording artist is a decent description, if I don't say so myself. Last time they played at Slowdown, it was one of the loudest shows I've ever seen. Bring earplugs if hearing retention is an issue for you.

Slow Next Few Weeks For Shows

I suppose it was an inevitable slow down. I mean, we've had a few feet of snow this winter, plus temperatures below zero. This month's concert schedule is pretty weak. The Waiting Room will be closed for the next few weeks while it undergoes some renovations, and no place appears to be picking up the slack. That's ok, I guess. It will just be that much better when TWR opens up on Jan 22 with a Little Brazil show.

New Little Brazil Video - "Separated"

New video from Omaha boys, Little Brazil, for the song "Separated" from their excellent third album, Son.

Little Brazil's "Separated" from Little Brazil on Vimeo.

It's True Carries On Omaha's Strong Indie Music Tradition

Earlier in the decade Omaha was on the cutting edge of independent music and the city produced some internationally recognized artists like Bright Eyes, Cursive, and The Faint. While those artists are still going strong, many outside of the Omaha scene have been wondering if the city would be delivering any other artists of that quality, and with that possibility for commercial success. So far, there have been some top quality artists, but none have had the national or international impact that the original three have had.

Currently there are a number of great bands making a name for themselves in Omaha. One band in particular is beginning to make waves with the local music establishment and its taste makers. That band is called It's True. I have now seen the band twice (including last Saturday night at Waiting Room) and can report that, in this case, you should believe the hype.

I am almost completely at a loss as to how to describe the band's sound or who I would compare them to. It's True mixes the best elements of noisy shoegaze rock with more quiet singer/songwriter type material. Guitarist/vocalist Adam Hawkins has a high, sweet voice which contrasts nicely with the louder parts of their songs; yet it can also stand virtually alone when the band quiets down to near silence and Hawkins sings almost a capella. The rest of the band members are all excellent musicians especially lead guitarist, Andrew Bailie.

Though I probably wasn't supposed to hear it yet, I was able to hear a couple of tunes from the band's forthcoming full length album. What I heard was very impressive -- much better than almost any comparable new band. The performance and production were first rate, and some label (if they still exist) would be wise to snatch this band up.

Right now, for me, the local scene is best represented by Little Brazil and It's True. I wish there was some way to share some of that great studio music I heard, but there isn't. For now, you'll have to make due with some older recordings and some live ones on It's True's Myspace page. Check it out, and if you can think of who they sound like, please drop me a line or leave a comment. It has been driving me crazy for weeks!

Ace Frehley Show Wrap Up / Pixies on Tonight Show / Meat Puppets at Waiting Room

Former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley kicked of the world tour in support of his newest album, Anomaly, last night at Whiskey Roadhouse in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Naturally, I was there front and (almost) center. Thankfully, I missed most of the openers. I did catch the last few songs from the second band - doing a Pantera cover - and was very glad that I arrived when I did.

After a brief wait, Ace and his band (the same band he was with two years ago) hit the stage and opened the set with the KISS classic "Shout It Out Loud." Ace traded off verses with the drummer, but strangely, it seemed like the drummer knew the lyrics better than Mr. Frehley, who seemed to struggle with them. Ace similarly struggled with lyrics to some of his own songs as well, most notably on "Speeding Back to My Baby" from 1978 KISS solo album.

Despite flubbing the occasional lyric, Ace seemed in good form and good spirits. There were some technical issues at the beginning of the show, and Ace nearly tripped and fell into the crowd during "New York Groove," but opening nights on tour are usually filled with such things.

As far as song selection went, I was surprised that Ace chose to go with some KISS songs that he didn't write ("Love Gun" and "Love Her All I Can") as opposed to ones he did like "Talk To Me" or "Hard Times" or even any of the Frehley's Comet period stuff (87-89). Ace's new record was covered pretty well, as was his 78 solo album, of course.

I probably enjoyed the show two years ago slightly more than I did last night's show; but that may have been due to it being the first time I had seen him in a club. This time, I knew what to expect.

I would assume that as the tour progresses, Ace and band will work out some of the kinks in the show and play around a little more with the song selection. I would still recommend going to the see him if he plays in your town, especially if you are a KISS fan. It's not often that one is able to see a legend like Ace Frehley in a small club setting.

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Also of Note: Set those DVRs for The Tonight Show with Conan tonight to see Pixies perform "Here Comes Your Man." And Saturday night marks the return of Arizona's psychedelic punkers, Meat Puppets. In all my years of seeing bands, I have never seen Meat Puppets in concert, so I am looking forward to tomorrow's show. Opening the show are local boys Little Brazil and Atlanta's Winston Audio. Tickets are $13.

Life and Times TONIGHT at The Sydney

Kansas City band The Life and Times will be making another stop in Omaha tonight, this time at The Sydney (59th & Maple). They are opening for Little Brazil. Tickets are $8 at the door.

Though I love both bands, I think I'm probably going to end up skipping tonight's show. I have some work to do on the next podcast, and I just saw these two bands play together a few months ago. But don't let that stop YOU from going...

Last Minute Show Announcement! Little Brazil and Ladyfinger!

I just got off the phone with the folks from The Waiting Room. There is a great last minute show happening there tomorrow night. Two of the premiere local Omaha bands, Little Brazil and Ladyfinger (ne) will play Wednesday, March 14 at 9:00 pm at Waiting Room (6212 Maple). No word on cost or anything like that.

Ambulette at Sokol Wrap-Up

Turnout was a little light at the Ambulette / Little Brazil show last night - real light. I was suprised more people didn't turn out for Little Brazil at least. I think it has something to do with the fact that Bright Eyes and The Faint are playing the next three nights.

Still, the small crowd did not keep me from enjoying every minute of the Ambulette show. I saw Maura Davis briefly before the show and chatted her up regarding the new album. She looked great dressed all in black -- black jeans, t-shirt, and a ball cap -- and seemed to be in a decent mood. When the band got on stage to play around 11:00, I rushed to the front so I could be as close to Maura as possible (without appearing like a stalker, of course).

The band was tight as always. They played a few tunes from The Lottery CD, but most of the set was brand new material that will appear on their next album. The show's closer was definitely the best song of the night. "If You Go Away" is a seven minute slow song that gradually builds into a loud, crashing rocker that brought to mind Led Zeppelin's "Since I've Been Loving You." It was nearly that intense. For a while there it seemed like Maura was singing right to me while she was belting out this all-consuming tale of a desperate love that may never be. I felt like we were sort of bonding in a way. But then the song ended and I snapped back into reality. What a harsh comedown. I'll get you next time Maura Davis!

Openers Little Brazil got going a bit late, but they played a good set. Lots of new songs from their forthcoming new album. Most of them sounded like mid-90s Superchunk, which is pretty much what the bands older material sounded like also. Still, I like mid-90s Superchunk, so I guess that's why I like Little Brazil.

I did not see any of the first band Artsy Golfer. I think that one would have to know the guys in the band to really care. I don't and I didn't.