The benefit shows and unusually large amount of CD release parties that have been keeping the bodies in the bars during this slow time of the year are now on the books. The final two weeks of 2008 will find many of Omaha’s most popular and established bands taking the stages as usual in an attempt to grab some of our former residents who are visiting for the holidays and to celebrate this time of year. This year’s holiday run is light on the typical reunion shows but will find many bands that rarely play in town finding their way back into Omaha’s venues. This week we will take a look at the week before Christmas and next week we will look at the large amount of shows happening post Christmas and on New Year’s Eve.

The final 12-day run of 2008 starts a day early with Omaha music legend Dereck Higgins taking the stage and playing his own music at the Barely Street Tavern on Thursday (Dec. 18). It’s been a banner year for Higgins, as he seems to have been involved with more projects than ever, most notably joining Son, Ambulance and touring the country with them. Higgins will be playing with his full ensemble on Thursday and will be joined by Drakes Hotel and Sleep Said the Monster.

The big shows for the weekend are of course the pair of the Faint shows happening at Sokol Auditorium on Friday and Saturday. Opening Friday’s sold out show is Brimstone Howl and the Show Is the Rainbow. As of this writing tickets are still available for Saturday’s event, which will feature Son, Ambulance and Capgun Coup. Other Friday shows include popular local band Anchondo playing a rare Omaha show at the Waiting Room with John Henry and the Engine and the Curtain Calls. Omaha favorite Chris Saub will take to the stage at Mick’s that same night with Jared Stock and Tim Halperin. The Barley Street Tavern will host the Big Al Band, Goodbye Sunday, and Scott Severin and the Milton Burlesque. Also on Friday, Lincoln band Remedy Drive will celebrate their major label signing with Warner Brothers Records with a show at St. Timothy’s Church at 510 N. 93rd St. The four brothers have been touring for many years and have signed with Warner’s Christian offshoot label Word. This show will also feature Benjamin Shafer.

Saturday (Dec. 20) will see Frostival, a benefit for the Omaha Food Bank, happening at the Slowdown and featuring jam bands Blue Martian Tribe, Polydypsia, Funk Trek Voyager, Andrews Ave. and Vinyl Haze. The Whipkey Three make a rare stop by the 49’r to play with the Filter Kings on Saturday. The members of those two bands on the stage at the 49’r during the holiday season is very much a tradition in town. Popular touring band, and one time Omaha transplants, Pomeroy, return to town to play at the Waiting Room on Saturday with longtime Omaha favorites Old Boy Network and a reunion of Clever. The Saddle Creek Bar will feature Bullets For Baby, Porkbelly and Tendead on that night.

The Omaha Blues Society will celebrate Christmas on Sunday (Dec. 21) at Barfly with one of their favorite touring bands the Bel Aires. The rock-a-billy roots band will have an early start of 7 p.m. The party will continue with popular Lincoln blues act the Kris Lager Band at 10 p.m. Also on Sunday Omaha indie band the Oui Bandits (see page 29) will be having a vinyl release party at the Slowdown with the Contrails and Adam Robert Haug.