It’s time to plan your weekend business. What better way to start than planning your nightly shows. There’s always more to browse on Found It!

Friday

Ash Street Saloon–The Slants, Renegade, Hello Lobster, 9:30 pm, $5
Backspace–Ultimate Reality, Dan Deacon, DJ Hoop Dreams, 9 pm, $10, all ages
Copper Monkey Restaurant–Guidance Counselor, Starfucker, Fleshtone, DJ Gray Matter, 7 pm, free, all ages
Dante’s–Eek-a-Mouse, 9:30 pm, $18-20
East End–Spindrift, The Upsidedown, Highway, $6
Holocene–And Justice for All…: Boy Eats Drum Machine, The Antecedents, Atari Tuesday, 9 pm, $7
The Know–Sad Horse, Hungry Ghost, Night Mechanic, 7 pm
Olympic Mills Commerce Center–Paint-Off: Atom 13, Homonym, 5 pm
Rotture–Juicy: DJ Beyonda, DJ Ninjah, DJ Linoleum, 10 pm, $3
Twilight Cafe and Bar–The Curious Mystery, No Go Know, Widower, Late Night Curly, 9 pm, $5

Saturday and Sunday listings after the jump…

Saturday

The Artistery–Bryce Panic, Mirah, Arrington de Dionyso, James Beaton, Rebecca Pearcy, 8 pm, $6 (or $12 w/new Bryce Panic CD), all ages
Berbati's Pan–Paul Green School of Rock perform Jim, Jimi & Janis, 6 pm, $10, all ages
The Brass Monkey–Lasers All the Time, The Newspapers, Guidance Counselor, Cougar Punch, Royal, The Martyrs, 9 pm, free
Dante's–Fist of Dishonor, Cocktail Cabaret, Hello Lobster, 9 pm, $5
Doug Fir–Loch Lomond, Matt Sheehy, Johanna Kunin, 9 pm, $8
Goodfoot–Stevie Wonder Tribute: Joey Porter
Hawthorne Theatre–The Pack, Maniac Lok, Chef Boy R Bangers, Illaj, Mikey Vegaz, 8 pm, $10-12, all ages
Holocene–Ultimate Reality, Dan Deacon, Dat'r, Juice Team DJs, 9 pm, $10
Jean Vollum Natural Capital Center–Salmon National Artists Project: Jim Brunberg, Mariee Sioux, Hunter Paye, Dennis Hitchcox, Stack Sisters, Seth Samuels, Aspen Switzer, Dennis Lakusta, Geno Leech, Jon Middleton, David Densmore, Cassandra Robertson, Alexa Wiley, 7 pm
Kelly's Olympian–The Harvey Girls, Cars & Trains, Autotopia, 9 pm
Mission Theater–Miz Kitty's Parlour: Canote Brothers, Leapin' Louie Lichtenstein, Trashcan Joe, Yasmira, The Tune Stranglers, 7 pm, $12
Mississippi Studios–Fernando, Lael Alderman, 10 pm, $8-10
Slabtown–Yeltsin, The Ovulators, The Empty, The Vintage Media, 9 pm, $6
Someday Lounge–Golden: Reverse Dotty & The Candy Cane Shivs, DJ Copy, DJ BJ, 9 pm, $3
Tonic Lounge–Pierced Arrows, The Family Gun, The Wires, 9:30 pm
Towne Lounge–Citay, White Rainbow, Tres Gone, 9:30 pm, $6
Zach's Shack–Four Year Anniversary: Tye North, Carlton Jackson, Ida Viper, Syntac DJs, 4 pm

Sunday

Castle Greyskull–Folked Up V: The Ocean Floor, Love Menu, Conlan Murphy, Keeley Boyle, Bud, Glass Teeth, Will Carpenter, Dan Hubner, 3:45 pm
Holocene–Scream Club, The Gay Deceivers, Do N Dudes, DJ Girlfriends, 9 pm, $5
Revolver Studios–Spindrift, 9 pm
Valentine's–HER, Lemon Bear, 9 pm

The Reel Music Film Festival keeps truckin’ along this weekend (see nwfilm.org for deets), and Bogdanovich’s epic documentary on Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers screens tomorrow.

RUNNIN’ DOWN A DREAM: TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS

This four-hour, Peter Bogdanovich-directed documentary is most interesting during the early, hungry years, but there are plenty of full-length live performance clips throughout Petty & Co.’s three decades in the business. Record company trouble, band squabbles, divorces, drug overdoses, arson, Stevie Nicks—it’s all here, and so are some pretty damn great songs. The thing’s far too long to watch in the theater, but if you’re a Heartbreakers fan, you’ll probably want to get the DVD. NED LANNAMANN

It would be accurate to say I’ve been a Petty fan since I was 11 and heard “I Won’t Back Down” on the radio. He’s never been my favorite musician, but he’s provided a lot of simple, nourishing sustenance over the year. Kind of like hot dogs. While I never would say hot dogs are my favorite food, they are at the very least enjoyable, sometimes downright awesome. I don’t think I’ve ever turned one down. Sometimes you get ketchup, sometimes mustard, sometimes relish (if you’re a freak), and sure, they’re not necessarily good for you — but they’re dang easy to cook, they’re cheap as fuck, they’ll fill you up and they’re all-American.

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers: Refugee (live)

Let’s face it. Petty’s got some fucking fantastic songs. “Even the Losers”? “You Got Lucky”? “The Waiting”? Are you kidding me? Sure, these songs have been played a bazillion gillion times on classic rock stations, but they still kick ass. But in thinking about his music, I keep arguing with myself. I mean, his music is so… ORDINARY. They’re just your basic guitar-based rock songs, no different from what Bob Dylan and the Byrds and the Beatles and the Animals did a million times over, many years ago.

Still, I admit I have great affection for this music, and despite his massive popularity I feel an individual connection to some of the songs. I mean, put on “American Girl” and I am THERE, singing along to every word with my heart in my mouth. And he kept his winning streak for a LONG time, I’d say more than 20 years (individual results may vary). That’s part of the reason I was so disappointed with his last two albums, The Last DJ and Highway Companion. These records aren’t just ordinary, they are boring. Oh well. I’ll just throw on Southern Accents and rock out to “Rebels,” digging the simple pleasure of a well-cooked tube steak.

Runnin’ Down a Dream: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers screens at 2 pm on Saturday, January 19 at NW Film Center’s Whitsell Auditorium, 1219 SW Park. It will be shown with a brief intermission because it’s really fucking long.

…about the weekend.

(Photo of Electrobus studio)

Here’s a odd, catchy lil’ collaboration from two local artists, Mikah Sykes (the high voice) and K Nelson (AKA 486 Kid, the low voice and producer).

The two cranked out the track maybe two years ago, but I find it’s still worth a listen. But more than just a cool song, there’s a cool story behind it:

“Shadow in the Valley” was written and recorded in one night on K’s Electrobus, a retired San Francisco city bus that K converted to veggie oil. At the time, I believe, K lived on the bus. He’d take it from place to place, and when he could find a place to plug the sucker in, he had a full recording studio onboard. But it isn’t your usual studio — the tools on the Electrobus are all kinds of crazy, circuit bent stuff and old thrown out junk that K is smart enough to refashion for recording (like old 486 computers that run DOS sequencers).

Here’s the track: Shadow in the Valley

Mikah Sykes, who spends most of his time performing stripped-down, finger-picked, eclectic indie-blues, just returned from a European tour which he said went “better than he could’ve imagined.”

K, meanwhile, continues to turn found sounds into pop songs, and has been working with old Gameboy and Nintendo synths (hacking them with ability to play them live). Check out his project, The 486 Kid. His version of The Beatles “Taxman” with Nintendo sounds is fucking awesome.

Apparently humor is not lost on Okkervil River frontman Will Scheff, since his appearance on the Black Cab Sessions (not to be confused with the Take Away Shows) sees him covering Big Star’s “Big Black Car”. Get it? He’s in a big black car. Singing about a big black car. Zing!

I’m not complaining though. Okkervil is great, Big star is great, and a great-big man-hug between the two is equally as great.

Now, here’s to hoping irony is not lost on this guy, because when his Black Cab turn comes around, he damn well better play this.

While it is true that the seductive local duo Tu Fawning—Joe Haege (of 31knots) and Corrina Repp (of Corrina Repp)—have doubled in size, it is not true that they did so by adding a couple plastic raccoons into the band. Nope, they went with actual human band members instead.

Liza Reitz (of Swords) and Toussaint Perrault (former Mercury contributor from way back when) have joined the Fawning fold, and the result is a brand spanking new EP with the fancy title of Secession. Recorded by Viva Voce’s Kevin Robinson, the six song recording will be released by local label Discourage Records (wow, what a website!) in mid-March.

The super-sized Tu Fawning will be playing January 25th at the Doug Fir with Cave Singers, and on February 8th again at the Doug Fir (but they were just there!) with Talkdemonic and Starfucker.

MP3:
Tu Fawning - I’m Gone (demo)

Photo by Alicia Rose

Dear Inbox-
Thank you for bringing me the great news that the big dick daddy, mean mugging emcee, Brother Ali is coming to Portland on March 11th at the Hawthorne Theater.

One more thing, Inbox, keep those V1ag5a emails coming. Your constant updates on the low low prices of Canadian pharmacies is very important to me. Very important.

Brother Ali - “Uncle Sam Goddamn”

Just in case you missed it last night at its Holocene premiere, here is the video for “Whales Sing” by the Shaky Hands.

Somewhere between a lost episode of The Monkees or an ad for American Apparel California Fleece Raglan Sweatshirts, the clip shows the Shaky crew having way too much fun on the beach.

Someone call a lifeguard to put an end to all this damn horseplay!

Spindrift. Yeah, I know, it sort of sounds like a washing machine setting. Or the sequel to this movie. Instead, Spindrift is a band from Los Angeles with one helluva new record, The Legend of God’s Gun. Here’s what I wrote about them in this week’s issue.

The Legend of God’s Gun soundtrack borrows from the Ennio Morricone playbook; grizzled renegade cowboys light matches across their coarse stubble on their way to some dusty shootout in the ol’ corral. Except in Spindrift’s world, things are really trippy. It’s like a shootout at Burning Man, or dueling with Gram Parsons at Joshua Tree. The stark tumbleweed and dust are present, but they’re trumped by the synapse-frying effects of all those psychedelics you just took.

Spindrift’s songs feel downright vintage in nature and each instrumental track builds with frantic recklessness, before dropping out completely into softer, nearly ambient, tones. The songs of God’s Gun transition from guns-a-blazin’ shootouts to mellow tripping, all within a few minutes. The lows are so low they might as well re-title the film A Fistful of Downers. Meanwhile the highs swell with a natural machismo that begs for a cinematic moment to match their brilliant nature. A villain ominously standing in the swinging doors of the saloon? A knife fight over some stolen horses? The options are endless.

MP3:
Spindrift - Preacher’s Theme

PURCHASE:
Spindrift - The Legend of God’s Gun

Spindrift perform tonight at East End (203 SE Grand), and at Revolver Studios (532 SE Ankeny) on Sun Jan 20.

Sometimes flipping through the channels at 4am you see remarkable things. Especially on the Country Music channel.

I saw this one last night and it opened up my skull and took a huge, horrific shit — a country music song about the internet.

“Myspace” should never, ever, under any circumstances be used as a lyric — in country music or anything else — much less as a song’s central theme. (The same goes for Cellphones, Voicemail, and any other passive aggressive crap. Oh, and Gucci. No more songs containing makers of designer hangbags.)

But that’s not all. This video features some of the crummiest wet-fart guitar wankery of recent memory, plus cameo’s from William Shatner and George Costanza’s mom. Stranger yet is the leading nerd-role. I spent the entire time wondering if in fact it was George Costanza, or some look-a-like. I’m pretty sure ol’ Georgey has a little something better than to do this video, and since he doesn’t ever take the glasses off, I’m pretty sure it aint him. Or at least, last night I was. But I aint positive.

Oh, and Paisley plays his concerts in the Matrix.

Here it is, Brad Paisley’s unmercifully terrible “Online”:

I know, I know. I’m about to lose about eighteen cred points for this, but I don’t care. I’m not saying it’s the best thing ever, but I never thought there would be a song from Lil Miss Hannah Montana that wouldn’t make me want to stab something.

Commence the nasty, “you’re so effing lame OMG” comments NOW.

DOUBLE DOUBLE—The Double Double Video Video Premiere Premiere brings you new music videos for local beloveds the Shaky Hands (“Whales Sing”) and Swan Island (“Night Owl”). Be among the first to witness their glory, as well as sets (both live and DJ) from the newly be-videoed bands. MS Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison, 9 pm, FREE

Well, you would be the “first to witness their glory” if a certain other publication in town (no, not this one) didn’t go and piss all over the birthday cake and ruin the surprise by posting the Shaky Hands video before tonight’s proper video release party.

Here’s hoping they post detailed spoilers about Cloverfield before we all see it. Boooooo.

Tonight is also Swan Island’s final show ever. You can read more about their breakup right here.

Following yesterday’s post, Nina Simone getting Funkier Than a Mosquita’s Tweeter, we unearth the original, from Ike and Tina Turner’s Workin’ Together. Be sure to listen to both, because they’re so drastically different and yet, equally awesome. Which one do you prefer?

Here’s Nina Simone’s Cover.

And here’s the Ike and Tina original.

The song is credited to Aillene Bullock, which is Tina’s real name. Sort of. It’s actually Anna Mae Bullock. So there you go, a little trivia as well.

As coincidence would have it, there was some Ike news in the papers today. You may well know, ol’ Ike passed away in December. Well, the San Diego medical examiner’s released their report, which listed the cause of death as an “accidental cocaine overdose”. He was 76.

Take a second and ponder that.

Ike was 76 and he was still ripping lines. Wow. Dude was one bad motherfucker. Put’s any of those other so-called party monsters like Rick James or Keith Richards to shame.

RIP Ike. I hope you’ve finally found some peace.

I checked out Castanets’ set at Someday Lounge last night. As he is wont to do, Ray Raposa assembled a local pick-up band for the gig. Last night he was joined by Tara Jane O’Neill on guitar and vocals and some dude on bass whose name I forget. (He was really good, and looked real familiar. Somebody help me out here?) The songs were faint wisps that sometimes disintegrated, but as the set gained momentum and the audience settled in, the music grew in power.

Raposa played somewhat gingerly, as if he was uncomfortable with the guitar, and it wasn’t until he explained that he lost his guitar strap that I understood why. He’d been holding the damn thing up while he was playing! This is not easy to do. (Could someone lend the guy a friggin’ guitar strap, please?) Of note: Raposa and friends played not one, but TWO Tom Petty covers — “You Got Lucky,” which was absolutely incredible, and “Honey Bee,” which was slightly less so.

He also mentioned that he guesses that he lives here now. (He didn’t sound certain). He said, “If you see me walking down the street, I’ll probably be in a bad mood. Not because of Portland, just because…. it’s okay. Really, you should say hi and we’ll go get some tequila.” No response from the crowd. “Did I just get turned down for 60 dates all at once?”

By the last song, he had left the stage and was singing into the mic while wandering through the crowd. It seemed really important to him to make a connection with the people in the room. Raposa’s music was elusive, spectral, at times barely coming to a boil. When it did, though, Castanets was captivating.

Sure, the song isn’t all that great, and doesn’t need to appear anywhere near a greatest hits album, but damn if my teenage self doesn’t love some Morrissey hugging.

If you love this video but miss the Morrissey of yesteryear, might I suggest the Dallas ‘91 video, which combines classic Moz plus so much on-stage hugging that it’s really laughable.

Another week, another Mercury music section to read while you think about the UFOs hovering over Texas. “Are they drunk?”

Dan Deacon tells us all about his trip to Europe. Oh sure, when I went to London when I was 16 and my girlfriend dumped me hours after getting off the plane, no one published my journal about it. Then again, that’s probably a good thing.
MP3: Dan Deacon - Lion with a Sharks Head “demostration version”

Although he didn’t say it, Jeremy Enigk would like to apologize for unleashing the snarling beast known as “emo” upon the masses. He is very sorry. He was so young back then, and he needed the money.
MP3: Jeremy Enigk - Canons

Could there be a better way to live than spending yours days playing dooming metal and smoking weed? I’m sure OM do more than that, they probably mix in some Xbox or something.
MP3: OM - To the Shrinebuilder (Live in Toronto, 2006)

This is a bit odd…

So unless you are this guy, you know that Apple just launched a new laptop, the ridiculously slim MacBook Air. The thinnovative (their world, not mine) laptop is supposedly able to slide into a standard manila envelope.

That is where local musician YACHT (his mom calls him Jona Bechtolt) and his special lady friend, Claire L. Evans, come into the picture. The two launched their own model of carrying case for the MacBook Air, it’s called AirMail, and it has taken off, so to speak. Their basic looking case has generated tons of press here, here, here, oh, and here as well.

I’d gladly test out AirMail on my new MacBook Air, but sadly I do not have one. The Mercury makes me work on this laptop.

So how did Bechtolt and Evans celebrate their newfound success in the world of Apple accessories? Like anyone else would, they moved to Marfa, Texas. There, Bechtolt is “working on two new albums over the next two months. Then we come home to Portland before touring more.”

CASTANETS, ADAM GNADE, WHIP (Someday Lounge, 125 NW 5th) Over the course of three albums on Asthmatic Kitty, Castanets has been the outlet for Ray Raposa’s explorations of sonic contrasts and philosophical debates. He does so in a gripping style, based at times in folk and at times in something more experimental. Last year’s In the Vines found the ideal synthesis between his more traditionally rooted impulses and the burgeoning, electronics-heavy elements that occasionally surfaced in the earlier Cathedral and First Light’s Freeze. Live, Castanets can be transcendent, a shifting array of musicians alternating impassive drones and rock chops while Raposa’s voice cracks the surface with his narratives—sometimes oblique and sometimes buoyant with clarity. TOBIAS CARROLL

MP3:
Castanets - Sway

The folks over at the LA Times have a partial list up of acts expected to play Coachella ‘08.

More importantly, though, they say this band won’t be playing. You know what that means? I’m not going.

1.

2.

3.

4.

Sure, the Gin Blossoms were masters of rock-lite, creating radio-friendly pop hits that should inspire nothing except ambivalence, but I don’t care: this album is a gem. There is just something so remarkably catchy about their jangle that keeps me revisiting them on a near-regular basis.

What’s that? You sold your copy of New Miserable Experience? Don’t fret! You can pick up a copy at Amazon for the low, low price of $0.01.

JARED MEES & THE GROWN CHILDREN, CASTLE, MINMAE, FALL OF SNOW
(Hawthorne Theatre, 1507 SE 39th) Much like Cassadaga, the latest from Conor Oberst and his moniker of Bright Eyes, Jared Mees does a damn fine job of combining his emoting and confessional lyrics with a dignified, back porch-stomping swagger. Mees is a confident frontman who doesn’t bother pandering to the emo set, nor does he sing with that faux-Nashville twang; instead, his voice mumbles with a wonderful stoner drawl, like a slightly more ambitious, less marble-mouthed J Mascis. Meanwhile, the charismatic Fall of Snow—the nom de plume of one Stephanie Casey, who traded the glitz and Botox of Hollywood for Portland, a Telecaster, and an army of delay pedals—opens the show. It doesn’t hurt that she has a disarming voice that is both sweet and a wee bit dangerous, and a bevy of well-penned songs. Odds are, Casey won’t be opening shows for too much longer. EAC

I’ve really warmed up to the songwriting and melodies of Mees, a performer I originally dismissed when I first heard him. The addicting melody of “Suicide Squeeze” has been rattling around my brain for the past week, and there are no sings of it leaving anytime soon.

MP3:
Jared Mees - Suicide Squeeze

Are you ready for some bad motherfuckin’ shit?! It’s time to break End Hits’ string of bashful white indie-rock with some beautiful blackness.

Crank up Nina Simone getting Funkier Than a Mosquita’s Tweeter.

It’s a cover. Tomorrow I’ll post the original, which sounds completely fucking different, but in every way just as fierce. See you then.

The new Magnetic Fields album Distortion was released yesterday, and it revisits the fuzzed-out candy pop of some of their older work, specifically Holiday. It’s actually kind of a pleasant shock, coming after the mannered Broadway-leaning pop of songwriter Stephin Merritt’s recent work. This is the right decision; after the landmark 69 Love Songs, there was nowhere further to go in that direction, and i (the last MF album) floundered and failed to gain purchase on this listener’s ears.

Regarding the new record - the whole thing was streaming at their Myspace; it’s since been taken down, but a few songs are still up for enjoyment. Opener “Three Way” resembles an instrumental surf rock tunes (complete with the song title chanted at appropriate intervals), filtered through the distorto-glam of the Jesus & Mary Chain. “California Girls” is another fun song with vocals courtesy of Claudia Gonson. “I’ll Dream Alone” takes some of the familiar, moody elements of Merritt’s innumerable heartbreak songs, but pumps it up with grandeur worthy of Phil Spector. It sounds like Merritt is having a lot more fun these days, or at least is taking the Magnetic Fields thing less seriously.

For two people, Baltimore’s Wye Oak sure do make a hell of a lot of noise.

The band formerly known as Monarch has recently signed to Merge Records, and “Warning” is the lead single from their forthcoming album If Children. With a frantic, hurried update of the jangly twee side of shoegaze, Wye Oak mix rich and sweet vocals perfectly with feedback-driven, poppy guitars, and end up sounding like a mix between Velocity Girl and Darling Buds.

The band will be playing the Doug Fir on January 27th with Velella Velella and Team Evil.

MP3:
Wye Oak - Warning

In honor of their upcoming Doug Fir show on Saturday, January 26, the kind souls of Point Juncture, WA have sent over a couple tracks from their brand new album, Heart To Elk.

This is some damn exciting stuff.

No word on when the record is coming out, or who is releasing it, but once we know these things, we’ll let you know.

MP3:
Point Juncture, WA - Sick on Sugar

Point Juncture, WA - Rocks and Sand

I’m starting to really fall for La Blogothèque.

Last week I blogged about their great video of Jens Lekman crooning in an empty Someday Lounge, and now they post some fantastic clips of Alela Diane singing in front of the Notre Dame de Paris. My favorite video (there are three total) is posted below, and it’s pretty damn charming to see the ex-Portlander (she relocated to Nevada City last year), singing to an audience of one, a small child who is absolutely fascinated by her.

Alela Diane - “The Rifle”

Thanks to Cary for the tip.

When I was sworn into the position of Music Editor here at the Mercury—yeah sort of like this—I promised to cover all Decemberists related news, all the time. No matter what.

My motto?
Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers this writer from the swift completion of their appointed rounds Decemberists coverage.

Ye ‘Ole Pitchingfork is reporting that Decemberists frontman Colin Meloy will be releasing a live—and solo—record via Kill Rock Stars. Entitled Colin Meloy Sings Live!, the CD (and fancy gatefold double LP) will feature Meloy performing songs from the Decemberists, his long-forgotten debut band, Tarkio, plus some covers as well. It hits the streets April 8th.

The Decemberists are also making up their mysteriously canceled Portland shows early next week. Good to see the band has curbed that nasty huffing habit that forced them to cancel all those shows.

That shit is dangerous.

This is the year-end list you’ve been waiting for (sorry Pitchfork!). For the second year in a row, Idolator collected ballots from a number of music critics (451, to be exact) and asked them to name their top albums, top singles, top reissues, and top artists of 2007.

You can view the results, and a few superb essays, at the Idolator Pop ‘07 homepage. And hey, while you’re at it, feel free to make fun of me for my terrible taste in music.

It’s been quite some time since Atmosphere and I saw eye to eye. Sure, back when Slug was berating his ex in “F*@k You Lucy” I was all about the Minneapolis duo. But over time, and the machismo of numerous Atmosphere live sets, I sort of just clocked out.

But I have to give it up to Atmosphere and Rhymesayers for giving away a free record, Strictly Leakage. No catch, no pay what you want, no email list to sign—just a free record. You can download it here, or get a taste below.

MP3:
Atmosphere - The Things That Hate Us

Be on the lookout for Atmosphere’s new record, When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold, out on April 22.
And no, it’s not going to be free.

Photo: Dan Monick

Here’s one you didn’t see coming. A number of famous rappers including 50 Cent, Timbaland and Wy-is-he-still-popular-clef Jean have been implicated in a steroid probe.

So if you needed any further proof that mainstream rap is decadent, imaginary garbage, there you go. (Ok, but the Roc Boys cut from Jay-Z’s American Gangster is hot, but all credit goes to the Dap Kings for the backing track.)

What I wonder though, is how we can take this thing further… It’s time for some big-timer to put rims on his Segway (50, I’m lookin’ at you. I know you have one). Or maybe Lil’ John could get his bones chromed? Perhaps, more simply, Jay-Z could come out and say that he only eats food containing gold.

Now, I get how some performers need to keep things nice and tight (Beyonce), but guys like 50 Cent make music for DUDES. So what the hell? Penis on the cover anyone? (Shit, that would be groundbreaking.)

But before this response spirals too far out of control, check out this excerpt from the original story:

“For 50 Cent, in particular, the news could affect his business. A former boxer, he has long promoted himself as fit and abstemious. He also has a line of vitamin water sold through Glaceau, which was bought by Coca-Cola last year for $4.1 billion.”

SOLD FOR $4.1 BILLION!? And he should worry about what’s bad for business?!? Jesus. Business don’t matter no more. Now this all gold diet is looking like a reality…

I am a little sad though, about the rumors that 50 has been juicing. I thought when the motherfucker was upside-down situps from the roof in the In Da Club video he was so wound up on PCP that the only thing holding him up was his cranked out toes dug into the ceiling. Oh well.

BREAKING NEWS: T-Pain to get vocoder implanted in larynx…

Respect Yourself: The Stax Records Story plays tonight as part of the NW Film Center’s Reel Music Film Festival. The film’s fine; you can read my take on it here. Now, some of the absolute greatest music ever made came out of the Stax recording studio in the ’60s. Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Rufus Thomas… the list goes on and on. But what frustrated me about the movie, and I guess there’s no way around it, was that it only showed excerpts of AMAZING live performances before going back into more interviews. So, I thought I’d dig around YouTube to see if I could find some uncut gems.

Here’s footage of Booker T & the MGs, Stax’s legendary house band. Fellow Mercury podcaster Matt Slessler has suggested that the greatest American band of all time was Sly & the Family Stone. I’m casting my vote for Booker T & the MGs, who were tight, versatile, and one of the very first black/white integrated groups.

Booker T & the MGs - Green Onions

And here’s Sam & Dave, who have more fun onstage than anyone else who’s ever been on a stage EVER. (Yes, that’s Booker T & the MGs backing them up.) Check out the sweet dance moves.

Sam & Dave - Hold On, I’m Comin’

And if you’ve never soon footage of the phenomenal Otis Redding in action, this speaks for itself:

Otis Redding - I’ve Been Loving You Too Long

Respect Yourself: The Stax Records Story, screening tonight at NW Film Center’s Whitsell Auditorium, 1219 SW Park, 7 pm

Never mind the awful video: it’s the best I could do. Turn the volume up, minimize your browser window, and let the smoothing sounds of Pavement take you away…

I’ve always been a Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain man myself. If I were to pick my top ten albums of all time, it would be on there. Hell, it might even make top five. It was the first Pavement album I ever heard, and therefore the first I fell in love with. Comparatively, thier first album Slanted & Enchanted (from which the above clip is taken) has always just seemed a little flat: a few of the songs seem too destined to fall apart on themselves, and the pop numbers are so good that the noisier tracks are a bit of a letdown. I imagine that if I were ten years older my tune would be a little different, since it seems like to fully understand the greatness of Slanted it really has to be taken in the context of what an impact it had in ‘92.

That being said, the above song, “Zürich is Stained”, is perfect. I’d go so far as to say it’s the best under a minute and forty-five second song ever that isn’t this.

The ‘Couve’s most threatening band, blowupnihilist was in a nasty van accident this past weekend. Thankfully everyone is alive and in good health, but the “21st Century grind” band was forced to cancel their current tour due to the $6000 tab on repairing their van (in addition to all the equipment they lost).

The full MySpace blog comments are after the jump, and if you want to contribute by purchasing a CD, go here, or here.

MP3:
blowupnihilist - Ataxia

Photo by brizbomb

Saturday night at around 5:57pm in a snowstorm on I-84 Eastbound; on the way to a show in Boise later that evening, my van flipped and rolled three times.

In the vehicle were myself (Andre), David Mullis and Jon Wayne Rebello; tour manager and Roadie extraordinar, respectively.

Doing 40mph in the right hand lane we felt the rear end swerve to the right, I turned into the slide, it slowly shifted to the left and then we were sliding on black ice in the middle of the two lanes going straight. Things seemed to be doing well. Suddenly the rear spun around which had us sliding backwards to which we then flipped and rolled three times into the ditch in the center of both lanes.

Windows busted out; snow was inside; most of the gear was destroyed or damaged; including a lot of the merch I just had made for this tour; personal belongings, etcetera. We three however are alive. Thank fuck.

The van is totaled and bills are at upwards of $6,000.

To some this might not be that big a deal. I however don't make that much in a single year. Disabled cats like myself seldom do. Tour is over.

Though I hate this to sound like a handout, I've known this to work for some bands/people at times of crisis like this; so I've set up a paypal account (at) excommunicate@gmail.com in hopes to possibly help recover some of the loss. God damn it, that's just what it looks like as I type this.

I've got over 6,200 "friends" on this social culture/teen popularity site, and if half of them sent $1.00 or so, things would be much better for the future of Blowupnihilist. As of now, live performances and recordings aren't happening.

Sending more, I'd include copies of my new periodical (and/or) my CD's I have left, tee-shirts and other weird shit I know you'd love.

If you don't feel like 'donating' Relapse and Interpunk have several copies of my album still available.

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To the promoters and bands who helped me set this tour up, I thank you and am ever so sorry for this inconvenience this may have caused you.

Lock up your daughters—hell, lock up your sons—the sinful Gutter Twins are making their first appearance in Portland on March 3rd at the Wonder Ballroom.

The duo of Greg Dulli (Twilight Singers, Afghan Whigs, all-around badass) and Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees, will drink you under the table) will be making their “Maiden Voyage” for their debut album together, Saturnalia, due out March 4th.

I’m not going to post the leaked single (booooo!), so instead enjoy this shaky-hand video footage of the duo live on stage.

Photo by Sam Holden

Friend to End Hits, and stray cats, 94.7 Alternative Mornings host Greg Glover recently interviewed Radiohead guitarist Ed O’Brien. Turns out, O’Brien (like all Brits) is a huge fan of our dear PDX and mentioned that he’d not only want to perform here with his Radiohead mates, but he’d like to do a week of shows in Portland.

But what about all those tour dates the band recently announced that don’t include our city?

Good question.

So Glover chatted with the band’s management and it was decided that the best way to get Thom and company to roll into town was to start a petition. So he did just that, and in less than a full day there has been close to 500 emails from Portland residents demanding their Radiohead.

It’s easy as that. Email your request for Radiohead to play Portland, and Glover will directly pass it on to the band’s management. It can’t hurt…

While he definitely shares a few quirky sensibilities with Jonathan Richman, the songs of Seattle solo artist Kazutaka Nomura (under the moniker Pwrfl Power) have no trouble standing on their own. Simply constructed, his material feels like an outsider’s take on pop music. It’s raw, it’s real, and throughout these softly strummed songs, it’s downright addictive. Pwrfl’s debut full-length will be out in a few months, so enjoy tonight’s sneak peek. EAC w/Mattress, Ah Holly Fam’ly; Someday Lounge, 125 NW 5th, 9 pm, $5

Also, be on the lookout for Nomura to star in his very own Esurance commercial sometime soon. He’ll be animated and wearing pants that make him look like a “douchebag.”

His word, not mine. I think he looks quite nice for a guy in an auto insurance cartoon.

MP3:
Pwrfl Power - It’s Okay

British Sea Power’s “Atom” is a Wake Up! song. A real bright burner — the kind of thing you crank on first thing in the morning to get the blood flowing again. Coffee you can pour in your ears.

I just can’t stop listening to this track, and the whole new Krankenhaus? EP — certainly my Jam of the Week. Got a good feeling about the forthcoming album…

Get a load of the opening line from “Atom”, a real sonnofabitch:

“I’ll be the first one to admit this is a bright but haunted age”

If you’re not feeling that, might I suggest that you’re dead?

Listen to it. Loud.

The new Black Mountain album is released next week (Jan. 22), and here’s a taster for you. It’s more stoner-metal-prog from the Vancouver band. The song travels through a few different movements, so there’s bound to be a part that you like.

Black Mountain plays on February 2 at the Doug Fir with Howlin’ Rain.

MP3:
Black Mountain - Tyrants

I know I’m not the only End Hits writer who unabashedly loves Jamie Lidell, which means I’m not the only one freaking the hell out over this Youtube video of Lidell and Co. performing a new song live in the studio.

A bit funkier than anything off 2005’s Multiply, this new song still sounds like it has the ability to dwarf any and all of the current neo-soul revivalists (sorry Amy Winehouse, there’s a better white Brit on the block). He still doesn’t have a release date for the new record (or any info, really), but that doesn’t mean it isn’t one of my most anticipated albums of ‘08.

1) That the almost always amazing Goldfrapp is releasing “A & E”, a soul-sucking, god-awful, and all around horrendous song, as the lead single from her new album Seventh Tree?

or

2) Even though the song is one of her worst yet, the video is so fantastic she’s surely going to find herself in the midst of a Feist-like popularity boom?

Here’s what I know about Lift to Experience.

They were proudly from Denton, Texas, and believed in the following:
- The Lord above.
- Guns.
- Delay pedals.
- Possibly the use of mind-altering drugs.
- And most importantly, they were convinced that the USA was the heart of Jerusalem, or as they referred to it, JerUSAlem.

Um, ok.

Continue after the jump for more on one of my favorite bands ever…

Lift to Experience's history was short-lived, seemingly not much longer then one of their epic and sprawling songs. The band imploded shortly after the release of their debut—and lone—full-length, the absolutely perfect The Texas-Jerusalem Crossroads (2001). A massive double-disc (a bold move for a seemingly unknown band with a pair of members who had only recently left their home state right before the album’s release), Texas-Jerusalem is the ambitious, and painstakingly accurate, evolution of the swirling mass of sound made famous by My Bloody Valentine on Loveless. To me, it’s a far greater, and warmer, gesture than Loveless, as Texas-Jerusalem is a record that is (still to this day) mesmerizing, absolutely bizarre (the whole Jesus hearts Texas thing) and endlessly addictive.

Prior to not knowing much about the band, I crossed paths with frontman Josh T. Pearson in Denton. I stayed in his home, slept beneath a mammoth American flag, and visited the tall, thin, bearded, Pearson at his job, as a woodworking carpenter. He was a real life rock star American Jesus, an imposing figure with a gentle voice, the love of the Lord in his heart, and just like a Texas Jesus should, he wore leather cowboy boots instead of sandals. Here is a recent photo of him in concert, just in case you think my Jesusization of the man is not accurate. To me, Pearson was friendly and intimidating at the same time, and if that dry Denton summer had any standing bodies of water, I half expected him to walk on them.

But where are they now?
Judging from his MySpace page, bassist Josh "Bear" Browning is still in Texas and loves himself some Ron Paul. In an odd twist of fate, drummer Andy Young, now lives in Portland and freelances for the Mercury, among other publications. While it would seem that Young could shed light on the numerous mysterious rumors about the seldom-interviewed band (drugs, overdoses, fights, was someone mailed a boot to signal they were kicked out of the band?), I don’t really want to know. To me, the myth of Lift to Experience is greater than the truth could ever be. In an age of confessional band blogs, MySpace pages spilling ever known secret of each member, and publicity bios getting a little too personal, it’s nice to not know a damn thing about a band.

I just interviewed Jeremy Enigk this past week and was discussing with him how Sunny Day Real Estate was better when no one knew a thing about them. He didn’t really agree (I can’t blame him, it was sort of a rude comment on my end, one that I regret sharing with him), but sometimes the mystery of a band, and not knowing the truth, is the best part. I know that the Lift to Experience that exists in my head is far greater than the real thing every was.

Seeing how Lift to Experience was well-received in the UK, and ignored here in the States, (their label, Bella Union, was based out of London) Person still remains a respected, if not cultish, artist overseas. He contributed to one of my favorite records of last year, Bat for Lashes’ Fur & Gold, and there are rumors of a much-delayed solo record coming sometime soon.

Perhaps he'll have it before Jesus comes back to Texas.

It’s almost nine minutes long, but I’m convinced that this song can convert any listener to the ways of Lift to Experience.

MP3:
Lift To Experience - These Are The Days

“Because we’re simply the best band in the whole damned land, and Texas is the reason.”

Purchase:
Lift To Experience - The Texas Jerusalem Crossroads

This is wrong on so many different levels it’s almost hard to keep track. In case you’re curious about what the above image is, it’s a copy of the new Ringo Starr album Liverpool 8. On a fashionable Live(rpool)strong bracelet. Here’s what Ringostarr.com has to say about it:

“In addition to being released on CD and digitally, Liverpool 8 will be available as a pre-loaded USB wristband including the entire album, a personal video message, interview and track commentary from Ringo Starr, behind-the-scenes making-of footage from the recording sessions, ringtunes, photos and more.”

This idea is almost as laughable as the word “ringtunes”. I know the record industry is dying and all, but do you think maybe they could be focusing their energy somewhere other that kitsch-heavy novelties? Yes, Radiohead changed everything blah blah blah, and the new model is anything but CDs, but is the idea of wearing a bracelet by your favorite band really that much of an improvement on shiny plastic discs? I mean, you know the only people who are going to buy this are those same jerks who, in high school, wore those stupid, nondescript plastic admissions bracelets for weeks after going to their first concert just to prove they were there. You know what? Screw those people.

This is just further proof that the major label dinosaurs have no clue what’s going on. They are so desperate to do anything but adapt to shifts in the culture that they’re busy throwing money away on stupid schemes like this one. Yes, digital music is not just a passing fad, and they sure blew it getting on the boat with that one, so to try and catch back up they’re…releasing a bracelet?! Sorry major labels, bracelets are not the future of music.

Happy Birthday LL Cool J, you are 40 years old today.
You truly are the G.O.A.T..