O'Leaver's beer garden is deceptively large compared to how it looks from the parking lot. You can easily get 30 or 40 people out there if you stand them up and lean them against the railing. It's so inviting that there were more people outside drinking and smoking than were inside Saturday night while the bands played. Opening was The Third Men, sounding solid despite having not performed in months.� Domestica were their usual amazing selves, playing all the hits including songs off their new Mommyhead 7-inch (pressed on luscious orange vinyl, available from Speed! Nebraska Records). There's not much more to say about their performance other than Jon Taylor could have turned his amps up louder (He finally did at the end of the set). I don't remember seeing the old Mercy Rule floor-floodlights the last time they played. It's good to see them back, illuminating Jon, Heidi and Boz like a trio of rock 'n' roll ghosts.�

In other O'Leaver's news, I'm told that Worker's, Chris Machmuller's new sandwich shop located right next door to the bar, is slated to open today. I'm also told the weekend hours could be as late as 2 a.m., meaning that I'll no longer have to drive through Taco Johns for grub after the bar closes.

***

Tomorrow night (Tuesday) at Lauritzen Gardens, it's a special 6 p.m. outdoor concert featuring Orenda Fink and Brad Hoshaw. Concert-goers are encouraged to bring their own chairs, blankets, food and blankets (and booze, which is permitted). The $7 charge also gets you into the gardens, which are open for roaming until 8:30.

Also Tuesday night, it's Reagan Roeder, Tomato a Day and Tina Sparkle at O'Leaver's. $5, 9:30 p.m.

And yes, I didn't forget, My Morning Jacket plays Tuesday night at Stir Concert Cove. 7:30, $26. I doubt the show will exceed their performance at Sokol Underground in May 2004. Still, this has all the makings of being one of the best shows of the year.

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