Gateway

Issue date: 4/24/07 Section: Arts & Leisure

"He's quoted here, there and everywhere because he's the local guy on the ground," Kaldahl said. "Because he does know everybody and he's put the time and energy into it … I don't know how he does it all, I really don't."

While he is humble about his site's success, saying it "only" gets 1,300 hits a day, there is no arguing that McMahan has become synonymous with the now national 'Omaha Sound.' And while critics may think McMahan is taking the easy route, covering chart-topping acts like Bright Eyes, he said they are missing the point.

"People forget, the point about [covering Saddle Creek] is that whether they like it or not, the city is developed by that label and its bands," he said passionately. "I don't think the Seattle Weekly ever asked 'What are we covering Sub Pop for? What's this Nirvana band?'"

At 44, McMahan isn't concerned with trying to catch his big break. If anything, he says his long-term goal is to keep focusing on the community and create a book chronicling Omaha's music scene from 1991 to the present.

And he said that commitment to local music came from a mantra he learned and followed while at UNO: telling the local story first.

"People all over the country are [covering Omaha's music] and it's in your back yard," he said. "Why wouldn't you cover what's in your back yard?"

You can access McMahan's Web site at lazy-i.com

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