by Jordan Minnick
As a proclamation of sorts, Maha announces tonight that joining Matisyahu, Guided by Voices and Cursive on the main festival stage are: indie alt-rock frontman gone solo, J Mascis, and chaotic rockabilly riffer, The Reverend Horton Heat. The third-annual Maha Music Festival takes place at Lewis and Clark Landing August 13. Tickets are currently available through Etix.com for the flat rate of $30.
J Mascis, best known as Dinosaur Jr's founder/lead singer/songwriter/guitarist, dropped his solo record Several Shades of Why in March on Sub Pop Records to much positive acclaim.
Free downloads of this track and "Not Enough" are available over at Sub Pop's site (right click to download!).
The Reverend, aka Jim Heath, backed by his band bring the genre of psychobilly, or "country-fed punkabilly," as its been called, once again to Omaha after playing last November at the Slowdown. If you didn't catch the band's live show then, take a peak at this video for enlightenment.
Along with the main stage announcements come three of the five acts for the local stage. Each of the three bands will play a slocal showcase that's cosponsored by Hear Nebraska. Those acts are: Noah's Ark Was a Spaceship and The So-So Sailors out of Omaha and Lincoln's The Machete Archive. HN editor Andrew Norman explains how Maha (along with HN) involved local venues the Slowdown, the Waiting Room and Duffy's in deciding local stage acts and how the remaining two acts will be chosen in his recent editor's column. As in Maha years past, an OEAA showcase will decide one of the local acts. That will be taking place in Benson July 8-9. Interested bands can contact Marq Manner at marq_manner@yahoo.com.
The wait for Maha may seem long, but they're are some nice, FREE Maha showcases throughout the summer to stave your indie festival hunger:
Waiting Room — Wednesday, June 22
Duffy's Tavern — Thursday, June 30
Slowdown — Thursday, July 28
Catch Noah's Ark at the Waiting Room before they leave for tour Thursday, June 9 with The Fucking Party and Dads.