So the holidays are officially over. (And, seriously, that means you’re not allowed to say “Happy New Year” anymore. Period. End of discussion.) That also means there’s actually stuff to do! Too much stuff, really. We mentioned some of tonight’s events earlier in the day. (Scroll down to check out those earlier posts.) But there’s more! So much more.

The Reel Film Festival kicks off tonight with a couple of flicks about Bob Dylan:
65 Revisited at 7:00
Bob Dylan Live at Newport at 8:30
NW Film Center’s Whitsell Auditorium (1219 SW Park). More info here.

Also, a rockin’ show’s taking place at Slabtown, with Castle, Dr. Moss and Plan Vs. Sea.

Be sure to check out the fine tunes Castle has posted on their Myspace page here.
9 pm, Slabtown, 1033 NW 14th, $5

What’s more, Ohioan & Native Kin, Alan Singley, and Church perform tonight!

It’s taking place at PSU’s all-ages venue The Modern Age (in the basement of the Smith Center at SW Broadway & Harrison, 9 pm, $3-5).

…AND, in what’s sure to be the cultural event of the season, My Little Pony Live! is appearing at PCPA’s Newmark Theater this weekend.

I’ll be there! (Really, I will.) Hey, it’ll be like smoking crack, except without all the crack!
(Newmark Theater, 1111, SW Broadway. More info at PCPA’s website)

(photo: one of Darius Miles’ whips)

MotherFucker! He’s done it again.

Oprah Magazine writer Oregonian “Sports” columnist John Canzano filed another one of those stories that made me spit out my morning coffee. And Jesus, then the coffeeshop dog came over and lapped it up. Gross.

Now, “this is a music blog” you’re saying. Yeah. Well check this, Canzano writes:

“Lupe Fiasco is the hip-hop version of the Trail Blazers.”

Ok, Johnny boy, whatever you say. Sure, Lupe is a somewhat palatable hiphop posterboy for repressed white people like yourself, but come on. If you were going to make a blazers-music analogy wouldn’t you want to choose a BAND? You know, beacuse it’s WORKING TOGETHER that makes them good.

Maybe like, oh, I don’t know, Dannity Kane or something? They like, fought to make the team, and, uhh, rely on one another. Whatever. Who cares. Music-sports analogies are stupid.

But so is Canzano’s painting the picture that the new Blazers all listen to nice-boy music like Lupe. This, I happen to know, isn’t the whole truth. Last year I interviewed a bunch of Blazers about what they liked, and it wasn’t a bunch of weak sauce.

Sure, Travis Outlaw is good kid, but that doesn’t keep him from bumping the Birdman (“I’mma Fuck Around And Put That Boy Brains On The Table
Pick ‘em up, fuck ‘em Let ‘Em Lay”).

Yeah, Brandon Roy’s a stand up guy, but the last concert he went to then was E-40 (“You got a mean throat game and your coochie is serious/ Pussy so good I fuck you on your peroid”).

And though he may not slurp the syrup, babyfaced sweetheart Martell Webster does enjoy himself some Lil’ Wayne (“Money over bitches and flowers over snitches” — and Lil’ Wayne is the Best Rapper Alive, by the way).

What does it all mean? Easy: the music you listen to says little about your character. Chew on that Canzano, you insufferable sot.

Alright, now we’re moving on to a sports tirade, so follow along if you like.

It's way past time for Canzano to quit invoking the Jailblazer era (something I believe he helped create). The same core of guys were selling plenty of tickets before that Game 7 against the Lakers broke their backs.

The reason Portland fans started giving up on the team was because THEY WERE SUCKING. Had they beat the Lakers that year and went on to win the title could you honestly say that the team would've been dismantled because of petty offenses?

Nah brah.

So there you have it. I have much, much more to say on the matter, but this is neither the time or the place. But before we go, let's share one of the real gems from Canzano's bullshit-hall-of-fame. This one's about why you shouldn't take the Greg Oden injury too hard because some dude named, yes, Birdman(!!!) is homeless. This was published in the Sports section, not next to Ann Landers.

Ugh.

THE PRIDS, DJ MISPRID, CITYROCKER (East End, 203 SE Grand) Time to check in on our fave goth-pop trio, the Prids. To the Goth Cave! It’s been a long run for the Prids—their first record came out over seven years ago—but their dance card for 2008 has already filled up quite nicely. Says bassist Mistina Keith, “We’re touring Europe this year, planning another couple epic US tours (in 2006 we were out three months straight, some of that with Built to Spill), and David [Frederickson, guitarist to the Prids, ex-husband to Keith] and I have been talking about going full force with our own label, and releasing our records ourselves and keeping it more DIY than ever.” If all those ambitious goals aren’t enough, Keith is also hosting (and DJing) her own night at East End. Called “Expressway to Your Skull,” the evening will find Keith spinning records from “unsucky bands,” in addition to the occasional live act as well. EAC

MP3:
The Prids - Molest the Outer Heart

Purchase:
The Prids - Something Difficult

When 1999’s “Summer Girls” by LFO was originally released, I thought I would blow my head off if I ever heard it again. HOWEVER! Now that some time has passed, my view has softened somewhat, and I am now prepared to declare it “BRILLIANT.” But first the pros and cons:

CON: Their name is LFO which stands for “Lyte Funky Ones.” UGH! Together they look like every single douchebag you ever hated in high school. Plus they’re white, and they “rap.” And their lyrics were apparently written by a fourth grader who is still recovering from a diving accident where he received massive brain trauma.

PRO: Viewing it now, not only is this song HILARIOUS, but it’s absolutely adorable in a “these guys are so washed up now, they pose absolutely no threat” kind of way. Plus the lyrics, dumb though they may be, give me that same giggly joy as a Ramones song. Check out a sampling.

Stayed all summer then went back home,

Macauly Culkin wasn’t Home Alone

Fell deep in love, but now we ain’t speaking

Michael J Fox was Alex P Keaton

When I met you I said my name was Rich

You look like a girl from Abercrombie and Fitch

Wait… WHAT?! Anyway, watch the video, and tell the truth: ISN’T IT KIND OF FREAKING AWESOME?

HIPSHAKERS - After a long-term hiatus, Chico’s the Mother Hips popped back up last year with a surprisingly strong new album, Kiss the Crystal Flake, which wove together strands of psychedelic jamming, meat ‘n’ potatoes FM rock, and folkie California harmonies. Tonight, they bring these elements to a live show that’s made them touring favorites up and down the West Coast. w/Weinland; Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E Burnside, 9 pm, $13-15

Militant Vegans.
Straight Edged Thugs.
(Supposedly) Pro-Life.

What isn’t there to love about the cuddly boys from Earth Crisis? Hardcore’s most talked about band has reunited and is leaving their home (actually, it’s their mom’s basement) in Syracuse to tour the world. Hey, lucky us!

Want a sample of the happy times that go down at an Earth Crisis show?

You have to love any YouTube concert video that contains a lecture about a beer can being tossed onstage and the description, “right around the 6 min mark is when someone jumps on stage in a fur coat and all hell breaks loose.” Hardcore concert riots are downright adorable.

Loosen up your pitching arm and get those frosty cans of PBR ready, Earth Crisis will be at the Hawthorne Theater on March 10th.

Note: End Hits does not condone throwing objects at any band, unless of course it’s a pair of sexy panties being tossed at this glistening fellow. Hot.

The 2006 self-titled debut from Baltimore duo Beach House is one of my favorite albums of recent memory. You know how people sometimes use “warm blanket” as a descriptive term for music? Well, Beach House are a cold blanket: icy, chilling, covering, and you know if you lay under it long enough your body heat will warm that sucker up.

There’s just something so haunting about the way singer Victoria Legrand’s voice melts with the music. Garnering comparisons to sparse, shoegazing masters like Mazzy Star and Galaxie 500, if “Gila” is any indication, their new album Devotion (out February 26th on Carpark Records) will easily be one of the best of ‘08, no doubt showing up near the top of more than one critic’s year-end list (myself included).

MP3:
Beach House - Gila

You know what I love almost as much as the music John Darnielle makes with the Mountain Goats? His music writing. And, if you’re a regular visitor to his Last Plane to Jakarta blog, you know that one thing he loves more than just about anything else is metal (30 Short Poems About My Favorite Black Metal Band, anyone?).

That’s why I was so excited to initially hear that he would writing an installment for the always fun 33 1/3 book series on Black Sabbath’s classic Master of Reality. Not only is the book currently up for pre-sale on Amazon, for a limited time only if you email sabbathsampler@yahoo.com you’ll receive a ten page sampler of the book, which I highly recommend you do since there’s only about a .001% chance of this book being anything less than great.

KULTURSZENE: KATE SIMKO, M. QUIET, 31AVAS (Branx, 320 SE 2nd) Based out of Chicago, Kate Simko is at the forefront of a new generation of techno DJs that prefer to reel in the ridiculous excesses of the genre, in exchange for some intelligent mixes and restrained DJ flair. Simko’s work behind the tables relies on a foundation of stylish, minimalistic beats, tempered rhythms, and enough thumping bass to keep things bumping all night long. Consider her the thinking woman’s DJ, one who keeps the dance floor moving without ever dumbing it down. For her DJ work, and collaboration with Chilean Andres Bucci in Detalles, Simko has assembled a bevy of cooing press clips, this preview being just one of many. EAC

Whaaa? This isn’t white dude indie rock. Electronic music on a Mercury blog? What’s next? Tornadoes in Vancouver?

MP3:
Kate Simko - Live at Techno Sol, Portland, OR (1/25/07)

The Holy Modal Rounders documentary screens tonight at the Hollywood (check out the preview above). Here’s the write-up from this week’s paper:

The Holy Modal Rounders: Bound to Lose

Emerging from the West Village folk scene of the early ’60s, the Holy Modal Rounders took a shitload of drugs, landed a tune on the Easy Rider soundtrack, and made generally awful music for years and years. This documentary brings us up to date with the burned-out hippie-comedian-folksinger-pranksters. Sounds unbearable, right? It’s actually fascinating. The Rounders’ two primary members diverged in the ’70s: Peter Stampfel redeemed himself with work and family, while Steve Weber persisted with drugs and booze. (His grizzly, beer-bloated carcass becomes a remarkably compelling screen presence.) The film builds to their 40-year reunion show at the Crystal Ballroom, at which point Weber literally vanishes into the ether. It’s a story of how so many things can stay the same over the years, and how some things absolutely need to change. NED LANNAMANN Hollywood Theatre.

There are lots of colorful characters in the film, including a guy named Lonesome Wayne, who is like an R. Crumb drawing come to life. The film will be followed by a live performance by the Freak Mountain Ramblers, which contains some members of the Rounders. From watching the film, I learned there actually IS a Freak Mountain; it’s located not too far outside of Portland, and a bunch of hippies apparently still live there on property they don’t own or pay rent for. Far out, man.

Nick Jaina has one hell of a new record coming out March 4th on Hush Records. It’s called Wool and it’s not a stretch to say that these 14 songs (that is, if you count the various “Interludes” that pop up throughout the album) are easily his best work to date.

Jaina’s vivid songwriting beams with a newfound sense of confidence, and his deliberate pace and structure of the songs allow for each and every word to wield their substantial emotional weight. To be honest, it’s a little staggering to realize how grand Wool really is.

Not known for slacking, Jaina is doubling up on the CD release shows. He’s playing a pair of shows in one night, February 22nd, at Mississippi Studios. For now, enjoy your first peak at Wool…

MP3:
Nick Jaina - Power

photo by Craig Koozer

EGYPTIAN LOVER, SAD MUSIC FOR HAPPY HUMANS, WHO CARES (Tonic Lounge, 3100 NE Sandy) You may not be on a first-name basis with Egyptian Lover, and you may have a hard time naming any one of his songs, but when the first few bars of “Egypt, Egypt” (his 1984 club hit) come in, all unfamiliarity will go out the window. And why is that? Because “Egypt, Egypt” is to electro-heads what New Order’s “Blue Monday” has always been to budding hipsters and ’80s-themed dance nights. The song is inescapable, and whether you can name it or not, it’s been played by a DJ somewhere, every day, for the last 24-plus years. But don’t worry, the dude is more than a one-trick Lover, and if nothing else, he is definitely going to bring the jams and the party. ROB SIMONSEN

MP3:
Egyptian Lover - Egypt, Egypt

For the music lover on the go…

No longer will you need to interrupt the hot new Low/T-Pain jam to incapacitate muggers and rapists!

It comes in leopard print, too.

Somewhat strange and stupefying news from the dying Record Industry today: Radiohead’s In Rainbows was #1 in sales last week. Yup. 122,000 copies (and that’s just in the US).

Now, as you already know, the band offered the album on their website for whatever you wanted to pay (read: free). It was a genuine cultural moment and a brilliant PR move (I downloaded the album just to be a part of it. Still haven’t listened to it…).

But anyway, two interesting things came out of this story. Here’s one:

“Some retailers viewed the Radiohead figures as a sign of the continuing market for so-called physical products in the music business…”

What an interesting, idillic, and totally flawed idea. Radiohead are like a cult. Their fans are rabid, obsessed crazies. Thom Yorke haunts both their dreams and their journals. So anything and everything the band puts out, their fans will buy in droves. They are not the average consumer.

But still, there is some truth to the notion that people do still care about owning an album in it’s physicality. I myself have downloaded albums only to buy the real thing later. But if we really want to see where regular consumers stand on this one, let’s try the same model with, oh, I don’t know… 50 Cent. (Dude can afford it if it goes wrong, trust me — I’ve seen his Crib.)

Here’s the story’s second piece of fat:

“Sales of the plastic and vinyl versions of the album also received a boost from digital services like iTunes, where the album sold about 28,000 copies.”

Yeah, let’s read that again: RADIOHEAD SOLD 28,000 COPIES OF IN RAINBOWS ON iTUNES!

Jesus, how criminally stupid is that? Who are these people!? Why are they here? They must be rounded up a beaten severely with bags of heavy books! If you’re going to buy the album online, BUY IT FROM THE BAND! Cut OUT the middle man…

OK, that’s it. Now I’m all worked up. DAMMIT!

THE SECTION QUARTET, PSEUDOSIX (Dante’s, 1 SW 3rd) The Section Quartet are billed as “the loudest string quartet on the planet.” Wait, is that a good thing? I’m all for ambitious descriptions, but I hardly associate a string ensemble’s quality with their ability to reach an extreme level of volume. Granted, maybe if a band claimed to be “the loudest black metal band in the Nordic fjords,” I’d take a bit more interest, but when it’s a quartet of band nerds from California clutching stringed instruments, it just ain’t the same. Regardless, the Section Quartet perform rock songs on the cello, and while their Fuzzbox recording is a bit forgettable, they seem like an act that begs to be witnessed in the live setting, on stage, bows in hand. Tonight, they’ll tackle their own material in addition to covering songs from Radiohead’s OK Computer, all the while heavily squinting as they pay homage to Thom Yorke’s lazy eyelid. EZRA ACE CARAEFF

The Section Quartet - “Black Hole Sun” (live)

Child singers: While they are almost always annoying to a certain degree, they are at least bearable. That is, until this little a-hole came along. Join me in viewing this cringe-worthy video of a kid on the Ellen show singing a note-for-note karaoke version of Aretha Franklin’s “Respect.” Sure, he can sing fine, and yet? I want to take a brick and never stop smashing him in his face. (Wow. It’s hard to believe I just wrote that, and… Wow. I still want to smash him in the face with a brick.)

Whew! Everyone breathe a sigh of relief. The lawsuit filed by power-popsters the Rubinoos claiming Lavigne ripped them off has been settled out of court. From the Canadian Press:

Punky pop star Avril Lavigne has reached a settlement in a lawsuit that accused her of plagiarizing her summer hit single, “Girlfriend.”

As a result, claims that ’70s rock band the Rubinoos were ripped off have been dropped. Songwriters Tommy Dunbar and James Gangwer charged that Lavigne’s boppy track sounded suspiciously like their 1979 single, “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend.”

Great. Now we can all get back to listening to one of the best songs of last year, the “Girlfriend” remix featuring Lil Mama.

Why? Why had I never heard Sloan until about a month ago? Easily my new musical crush, the band is huge in their native land of Canada but never really broke in the US, despite a few attempts. Granted, their first album, Smeared, came out in 1992 on Geffen, and I think at that point the label had their hands full (see: Nirvana).

Really though, in the post Nirvana grunge-boom, tons of bands had the access to MTV and had the opportunity to make it big. Sloan just somehow never quite stuck (because they’re Canadian?). Despite turning into a sheer, glimmering power pop band, Smeared remains a monstrous debut full of Sonic Youth-like distortion, shoegazing noise, and some serious melodic hooks. It’s a bit chaotic at times, but still about as good as any debut that came out in the alt-rock ’90s.

The best part? You can head over to Amazon and pick it up for only a penny. Seriously. If you have a soft spot in your heart for bands like the Lemonheads or Sugar, you owe it to yourself to start loving Sloan as well, and this is as good a place as any to start.

Need proof? Check out this awesomely low-budget video for their song “500 Up”.

Remember when every video used to consist of a band playing live to some wacky camera angles? Yeah, those were good days.

THIS BIKE IS A PIPE BOMB, DRUNKEN BOAT, VENA CAVA, P.O.P., DESTROY NATE ALLEN (Satyricon, 125 NW 6th) Remember before you were jaded? This Bike Is a Pipe Bomb remembers. For almost a decade, they’ve been playing the sort of reckless, raucous, earnest-yet-immediate folk-punk you used to listen to before you became such a hyper-judgmental, post-ironic hipster jerk. But while you got snide and way too cool for school, TBIAPB managed to stick to their guns (all-ages shows, rare interviews, their DIY collective-run record label Plan-It X) and put on fun, kick-ass shows, all without a single ounce of pretension. If you ever listened to Operation Ivy without shame, still listen to early Mountain Goats, or if you’ve ever thrown a house show, it’s impossible not to love This Bike Is a Pipe Bomb. HANNAH CARLEN

MP3:
This Bike Is a Pipe Bomb - Of Chivalry and Romance in a Dumpster

Purchase:
This Bike Is a Pipe Bomb - Dance Party

Photo by Clay Heximer

No longer just the work of one Charles Salas-Humara, Panther has literally doubled in size. And no, he didn’t clone himself.

(Ugh, first day of this blog and already a mention of Multiplicity, things are going downhill fast. “A music blog? They’re all going to laugh at you!” That’s what my mean old mom said. Oh, I’ll show her. I’ll show you all!)

Now where was I? Oh yeah, Panther.
Last year Salas-Humara recruited Joe Kelly (former Merc contributor from way back when, and onetime drummer for 31knots, among others) to add some live drums to the Panther experience. Best thing he’s ever done.

Their latest, 14 kt. God (Kill Rock Stars), is a total blast, and will hit the store shelves on February 19th. Panther’s spastic and jittery dance tunes are fleshed out by Kelly’s work behind the kit, which was definitely evident by their scorching set this past weekend at the Children of the Revolution festival.

MP3:
Panther - Puerto Rican Jukebox

Are you excited for the The Portland Music Awards?
What’s that? You didn’t know there was a Portland Music Awards?

Nor did I.
That was until I got the email press release, the majority of which I have posted below. It’s not a good sign when the subject of the email read: The 2008 Portalnd [sic] Music Awards, January 28th at Roseland Theater.

Yay Portalnd!

My problem with this event is not the involvement of the shady Craig Marquardo—WW has already done a fine job of skewering the guy, so I’m not going to pile on—but it’s just that this concept is so flawed on so many levels.

With a rich, illustrious music scene, one that has spawned platinum artists, indie stalwarts, and world acclaim, Portland, Oregon has long been overdue for an awards show to celebrate said music scene.

Overdue? No, this music scene is overdue for reformed all-age restrictions. Overdue for a new OLCC voting board. Overdue for independent music retailers who can keep their head above the water. Overdue for a living wage for musicians. But an award show? We do not need one.

The 2008 Portland Music Awards are best described as a Grammy-style event with twenty-two awards being presented, including Album of the Year, Best New Artist, Best Music Venue, Pioneer and Legends Awards, and more. Much like the Grammys, the awards presentations will be interspersed with musical performances by some of the most innovative acts in Portland across almost every genre (rock, indie, jazz, blues, pop, country, bluegrass, classical, hip-hip, world music, Latin).

Fair enough. But who decides the winners? Marquardo? Lord, I hope not. Also, if you care so much for Portland’s “illustrious music scene,” I doubt it helps things to hand over a trophy to any band declaring them Portland’s Best (fill in the blanks).

The artists currently scheduled to perform include: The Dimes, Josh Hodges (from Sexton Blake), Debra Arlyn, Ohmega Watts, Obo Addy, and Derby. As well as Ashleigh Flynn, Caleb Klauder & Sammy Lind, Climber, Echo Helstrom, Sound Spell, Key Of Dreams, The Rose City Chamber Orchestra, and Music Spectator Magazine’s own Craig Marquardo (with the Vega Dance Lab and joined by the NW Gospel Choir).

Granted, there is some great talent there, but it’s not worthy of a $30 cover. “Grammy-style” or not, that is a whole lot of money to drop at the door. Also, I don’t mean to keep poking fun at the fellow, but notice how Marquardo is also performing? That makes the award show trifecta—promoting, hosting and performing—for Marquardo. You know he is probably going to win an award as well. Best Portland Latin Band? Sure, why not? He can win that. It’s not real anyway.

The event will be co-hosted between Marquardo and a female celebrity host.

Storm Large, right? It has to be. If not, it better be Marquardo in drag, co-hosting with himself. “And the winner is… me!”

When asked about his ultimate goal for the 2008 Portland Music Awards, Marquardo states that, “All the years I have been here, I heard the talk about the rich and vibrant music scene Portland has to offer, but the only validation came from their success elsewhere. These awards are hopefully a major step towards this city honoring their own.”

Yes, and nothing says “success” and “validation” like a shiny trophy from a fake award show.

Here’s an interesting article from Wired Magazine’s blog.

RIAA Believes MP3s Are A Crime: Why This Matters

Basically, the gist of the article is that the RIAA doesn’t really consider ripping an MP3 from a CD to be okay. It’s not something for which they’d prosecute in and of itself, but it’s something they’ve tacked onto existing cases for those who are being charged with some other kind of infringement.

I wonder if there’s some sort of consumer advocate bureau for music listeners (there really should be), because the RIAA is not, and never has been the friend of any music lover. It’s nothing more than a hired thug out to protect the interests of the crippled, flailing major labels.

We’re proud to share with you this stellar opening track from the upcoming self-titled record from The Battle Of Land And Sea, due out next Tuesday on Brooklyn’s Notenuf Records (home to the much-hyped A Sunny Day in Glasgow). Relocating to Portland from California (nooooo!!!!), the soft-voiced Sarah O’Shura brings to mind the hazy whisper of Mazzy Star, or perhaps a more delicate Cat Power.

No word on a proper Portland CD release show (it’s all East Coast and UK tour dates for now), but according to TBOLAS’ (!) label, there will be something in town during “late February/early March.”

Until then…

MP3:
The Battle Of Land And Sea - Saltwater Queen

Purchase:
The Battle Of Land And Sea - self-titled

photo by jacob golden

“We’re Talkdemonic from Portland, Oregon”

Damn straight you are.

With the excitement building for Talkdemonic’s brand new full-length, tentatively titled Eyes at Half Mast, which, according to Greg Glover at Arena Rock Recording Co., will be out “June-ish” of this year. Ah, my favorite month of the year-ish.

Anyway, to hold you over, here is a fantastic live track from the band. Recorded live in the dirty dirty, this song was a B-side to their UK single, out this past Fall on the other side of the pond.

MP3:
Talkdemonic - “Manhattan ‘81” (Live in Atlanta, June 13th 2007)

Purchase:
Talkdemonic - Beat Romantic.

Another week, another Mercury section to read while you mourn the defeat of Joe Biden in ‘08. Come on Joe! You got one percent of Iowa caucus voters, that means you’re only 99% away from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Quitter.

Lupe Fiasco is a superstar. Need proof? How about his hit single of the same name? No, not enough? What about that extreme close-up promo photo? Or how about when he totally gleams the cube. Gleam it!
MP3: Lupe Fiasco - Superstar (Ft. Matthew Santos)

I can’t believe I wrote an entire article on Carcrashlander and didn’t mention Three Mile Pilot. Usually when a band sounds anything remotely like TMP (a band whose logo I nearly got tattooed on myself when I turned 18), I got nuts. I’m slipping.
MP3: Carcrashlander - Gold Sunset

Seattle’s Gabriel Teodros takes it way way way back to the so-called Golden Age of Hiphop. I personally think this is the real Golden Age of hiphop, but what do I know?
MP3: Gabriel Teodros - Do U (feat. Jerm)

Bang! Bang! Bang! Well, if it isn’t the Last Regiment of Syncopated Drummers and their assault on our tender eardrums. Did you guys (and gals) ever think about using brushes? What about some nice drum pads?
MP3: Last Regiment of Syncopated Drummers - Rock Out

Oh great, another spinoff blog.

If Blogtown is Happy Days, then MOD is definitely Laverne & Shirley, so I guess that makes End Hits, the brand new Mercury music blog, the equivalent of Joanie Loves Chachi.

That sounds about right.

Anyway, End Hits makes its glorious debut today. There will be new/rare/live MP3s from some of Portland’s best bands, previews of upcoming shows, random musical observations, and all sorts of other things worthy of a home in your RSS feed.

And since I am dedicated to turning this paper into my high school fanzine (see naming our music blog after a Fugazi record from 1998), here is something from the original End Hits…

MP3:
Fugazi - Break

End Hits - The Mercury Music Blog