The perfect pop “hook” is one of the most elusive elements in songwriting, but when it works? Nothing works better. Take for example this sugar pop hit from 1998, Jennifer Paige’s “CRUSH.” Everything is vanilla enough until we get to the chorus, and then? The combo platter of sensuality and groove leap out of this song like a freight train.
Plus, it doesn’t hurt that Jennifer Paige is easy on the eyes. While she hasn’t done much since this one-hit wonder (not counting 2002’s “Stranded”), she has performed for the Pope—which is more than you can say.
The best part of this video (besides that perfect hook): The Melrose Place vibe and Jennifer’s luminescent dental work.
The worst part: I don’t know who I despise more—the douchebag with the hat that she’s dating, or the douchebag she has a “crush” on!

CHORES, KLICKITAT, H IS FOR HELLGATE, FEROCIOUS EAGLE (Someday Lounge, 125 NW 5th) While pop acts like the Shins hog all the glory and roll playfully upon waterbeds filled with Cristal, bands like Chores are why Portland pop music is on the map. On the map? Hell, Portland pop is the map. No city boasts as many talented popsmiths as our fair burg, as we’ve established an assembly line of bands that whip up hook-heavy tunes with a comforting ease, and not a single ounce of rockstar pretension. Life Is Hard, the debut EP from Chores is an absolutely flawless gathering of pop songs that work in every setting—from the basement, to the stage, to that waterbed full of imported champagne—from a band that has perfected their craft. EAC

MP3:
Chores - Shopping

This is really sad, and I hate to drop a bomb like this on a Friday, but as a song I’ve been digging says “there’s never good times for bad things to happen.”

So here it is:

Canadian folk rock legend Neil Young said he has lost all hope that music can change the world, as he presented a documentary about his 2006 anti-war concert tour at the Berlin film festival on Friday.

“I know that the time when music could change the world is past. I really doubt that a single song can make a difference. It is a reality,” Young told reporters.

Read the full story here.

It’s a real sonnofabitch. Now, I understand Neil has his reasons. But I also know he’s a petulant old man whose view of the world has never been especially rosy.

I myself think music still has the power to change the world — maybe in more abstract ways than Neil hopes for. Sure, maybe a song like Young’s “Impeach the President” didn’t achieve what it set out to, but when has any song ever done something like that? It’s PROGRESSION NEIL! As Barack says, “change happens from the ground up”.

You go back to the civil rights days with all the folk singers and their “protest songs” and things aren’t really that different. Songs rarely lead to direct action, but they do strongly influence the under-currents of opinion — the tides of the times. And even when a message only reaches a small audience — an outpost if you will — it still matters. It matters even when just one person is influenced as it effects the way they deal with people and thought in their lives. Dammit, it matters. One small stone at a time. Fucking dominos. That’s how it is… Songs aint bombs.

Or maybe I’m just a blind, young idealist. And if I am, I wouldn’t have it any other way. May we never get old and cranky.

Undying love to Mr. Young, be he can go suck an egg on this one — a fucking dirty rotten one.

Now, to pad this sour news, scroll down and watch hilarious, non-political, pointless and awesome Flight of the Conchords video.

Don’t forget… you can always find more listings on Found It!

Friday
The Artistery–Michael Griffen Memorial Concert: Eric Ostrowsky, Arrington de Dionyso, Leif Sundstrom, Lars Holmstrom, Kelvin Pittman, Kathleen Keogh, Caroline Buchalter, Gabriel Saloman, Corey Brewer, Mark Kaylor, Paul Hoskin, Doug Theriault, 8 pm, $6, all ages
Crystal Ballroom–Rodrigo y Gabriela, 8 pm, $30-35, all ages
Doug Fir–Talkdemonic, Tu Fawning, Starfucker, 9 pm, $12
East End–Expressway to Your Skull: DJ Misprid, Cityrocker, 9 pm
Holocene–Party & Bullshit: DJ Hannukah Miracle, DJ Pretty Please, 9 pm, free
Hotel–Ovo, The Better to See You With, Silentist, Moodring, 8 pm, $5, all ages
Rotture–Neon: Atole, DJ Koolaid, Pocketrock-it, Tre Slim, 10 pm, $3
Satyricon–Limp Wrist, Lebenden Toten, PRF, Social Graces, 8 pm, $7, all ages
Slabtown–Paper Brain, No Go Know, Love That Dress, 9 pm, $5
Someday Lounge–Chores, Klickitat, H Is for Hellgate, Ferocious Eagle, 9 pm, free
Towne Lounge–Davis Redford Triad, Eternal Tapestry, White Rainbow, 9:30 pm, $6

Eartha Kitt on Saturday at the Schnitz: Meow!

Saturday and Sunday listings after the jump…

Saturday
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall–Eartha Kitt, The Oregon Symphony, 7:30 pm
The Artistery–The Online Romance, Lake, World's Greatest Ghosts, 8 pm, $6, all ages
Berbati's Pan–Climber, New York Rifles, Shane Tutmarc & The Traveling Miseries, 9 pm, $7
The Brass Monkey–White Fang, The Rainy States, The Newspapers, The Wires, The Estranged, 9 pm, free
Doug Fir–The Prids, Charmparticles, Reverse Dotty & The Candy Cane Shivs, 9 pm, $8
Green Dragon Bistro & Brewpub–The Reverb Brothers, 8 pm, free
Holocene–Atlas: DJ Anjali, The Incredible Kid, DJ E3, 9 pm, $5
Music Millennium–The Helio Sequence, 7 pm, free, all ages
Plan B–DIY Fair: Atom 13, 2 pm, free
Rererato–Paper Upper Cuts, Wooden Indian Burial Ground, Team Evil, DJ G-Dubyah, all ages
Rock n Roll Pizza–DJ Chill, Cool Nutz, Maniac Lok, Kenny Mack, Chef Boy R Bangers, Debonaire Boys, 97211, 7 pm, $10-15, all ages
Someday Lounge–Carmen with Opera Cinema: The Cavalcade of Beautiful Losers, DJ Brokenwindow, $15
Wonder Ballroom–Girl4Girl Dance Party: DJ Beyonda, DJ Mel, 9 pm, $15

Sunday
Crystal Ballroom–Rogue Wave, Metro Station, 8 pm, $9.47, all ages
Dunes–Eat Skull, Hornet Leg, Nodzz, 8 pm
East End–Seasons in the Sun: Vinyl Ritchie, 9 pm
Hawthorne Theatre–HorrorPops, The Pink Spiders, Rocket, 7 pm, $13-15, all ages
Holocene–Pop Tart: Ashleigh Flynn, DJ Ricki Leigh, Mr. Charming, Rose City Sirens, 5 pm, $5
Mississippi Studios–True Stories: Marc Acito, Stacy Bolt, Jim Brunberg, Chelsea Cain, Stephanie Schneiderman, Courtenay Hameister, Scott Poole, 7:30 pm, $8-10
Rock n Roll Pizza–E for Explosion, Dynamite Walls, Cicero, Eli Keller, 7 pm, $10, all ages
Valentine's–Go Go Simba, Purple Rhinestone Eagle, Dim Rocket Delta, 9 pm, free

Dear Girlfriend:

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. In the off-chance that you haven’t gotten me anything yet, might I suggest a gigantic gold chain with my face on the end of it, a la Rick Ross in this photo?

Or, you know, a Nerds Rope. It’s kind of a toss up.

Rob

My love for the UK indiepop outfit Hefner knows no bounds. Their brand of self-destructive break-up songs, chock full of both witty, self-deprecating lyrics and heart-on-sleeve romantics, are brutal, sentimental, and funny as all hell.

Categorizing their sound is a bit tricky, but calling them a Jarvis Cocker-less Pulp fronted by an overtly-British Stephin Merritt isn’t too far off, with “British” being the key word in that last sentence. Hefner wear their nationality like a (one-inch) badge, and because of it never really made more than a minor ripple in the US (even though they topped the indie charts in the UK). For the casual listener something might be lost in translation, but for those Anglophiles caught up on everything from Television Personalities to The Wedding Present, this band was made for you.

Here, enjoy their best song, and one that has been stuck in my head for a couple of weeks now.

MP3:
Hefner: The Hymn For the Cigarette

Great, right? The album this song is from, The Fidelity Wars, is getting the double-disc reissue treatment this spring from Cargo Records. Info can be found here.

Continue after the jump for a couple of videos, both of which include synchronized dancing!

Now, if you've ever seen a Hefner video, you know they love three things: running, male-nudity, and synchronized dancing. Don't worry, I'll spare you from the first two. Below are the videos for "Good Fruit" and "Christian Girls". Enjoy!

LIMP WRIST, LEBENDEN TOTEN, PRF, SOCIAL GRACES (Satyricon, 125 NW 6th) Oregon’s domestic partnership law went into effect Monday, triggering a healthy amount of line-waiting, pie-baking, blogging, and—drum roll, please—civil-rights sharing! If the law isn’t blocked again come Friday night, newly committed queer punks might want to head on over to Satyricon for the wedding band of their dreams (or nightmares, depending on musical tastes). Limp Wrist play bombastic hardcore with a twist: English lyrics (gotcha). Uruguay-born vocalist Martin Sorrondeguy is best known for his Spanish-screaming Los Crudos, the greatest band to emerge from the wreckage of mid-’90s Chicago punk. Limp Wrist carry the flame of Crudos’ partial-powerviolence, painting rainbow flags on their nukes instead of anarchy symbols. On second thought, this rare Portland appearance is like a bachelor party. So wait a week to get hitched. That way, you won’t feel so guilty when you’re rubbed in the mosh pit. MIKE MEYER

MP3:
Limp Wrist - I Love Hardcore Boys, I Love Boys Hardcore

“I love hardcore boys/I love boys hardcore!”

Limp Wrist is a fascinating band with a Portland connection (guitarist Scott Moore—I wish it was our former bearded newshound Scott Moore, but sadly it is a different guy—lives here) but unfortunately our interview with lead singer Martin Sorrondeguy fell through.

It’s a bit surprising that Limp Wrist is the first outed hardcore band, since the genre is gay gay gay gay! Hardcore shows are a closeted journey of sweaty man-on-man action, forced male bonding, Tom of Finland frontmen, no women whatsoever, and all sorts of other fabulous gay action.

I originally wanted to have a contest where the best user-submitted homoerotic hardcore band name (Girth Crisis! Husker Dude! Ten Inch Fight!) wins a prize, but I don’t have anything good here to give away. CDs? Nerf football? British Sea Power sticker? My desk is lame.

Okay, to be honest, I haven’t seen Juno. I’ve heard good things and terrible things. It sounds like the kind of quirky indie movie I might very well enjoy. Then again, it might make me puke. Let me put it this way. I deeply and truly loved Rushmore, and I hated, hated, hated the piece of retarded garbage that was Garden State.

Here’s where my beef with Juno comes in. It has to do with the soundtrack, or more specifically, the main character’s musical tastes. Now, don’t get yer Kimya britches all bunched up in your nethers. I don’t really have a problem with her. Don’t love her either, but that’s not the point.

THE POINT IS THIS, and I don’t know quite where I obtained this information, but I think I read online somewhere that our precocious little Juno namedrops a certain overlooked ’70s band not only to prove how cool she is, but how cool the filmmakers are. And this band is indeed a fucking FANTASTIC band. One of the very best. And YES, they are overlooked, and YES, they are deserving of a lot more attention.
But not like this. Not this way. Not through some cutesy faux-indie Hollywood fictional screenplay concoction, not through the casual shoehorning of their music onto a hit soundtrack of an uber-trendy movie, not through a retro-hip Natalie Portman photocopy removing her headphones and imploring with doe eyes, “Listen to this. It will change your life.”

Because this band is Mott the Hoople. The great, tragically spurned, eternal bridesmaids of rock. They have an absolutely tremendous catalog with some of the greatest rock music ever created. "Sweet Angeline." "Roll Away the Stone." "Angel of Eighth Avenue." "The Ballad of Mott." "Saturday's Kids." Fuck, that's just for starters. The list goes on and on.

Okay, says I. Calm down, kind sir. Well, I'll just poke over to Amazon and take a looksee at the soundtrack listing, to find out what magnificent tune is being perpetrated onto the unsuspecting masses. Surely people will be educated and some good will come of this, right? Oh, here's the song listing, and here's the Mott track, and it's..... WHAT? Are you fucking kidding me? "All the Young Dudes"? The one lousy Mott the Hoople song that gets played on crappy classic rock radio every fucking half-hour? The one Mott the Hoople song everybody knows by heart, and is in every karaoke playbook known to man?

It's an insult. It's an insult to the band; they have numerous songs of equal or higher quality. It's an insult to Ian Hunter; he is one of the greatest songwriters of all time, and is underrated if not entirely forgotten; Hunter wrote many of Mott the Hoople's masterworks, but "Dudes" was the one song that David Bowie wrote - and lord knows he's not hurtin' for royalties. It's an insult to moviegoers, and the American public at large, to deny them easy access to Mott the Hoople's broad catalog of delight, instead barricading the way by playing the same song they've heard over and over. And it's an insult to you. Yes, you.

So, in order to atone for the sins of the foul filmmakers of Juno, I present to you some cleansing, healing Mott. Listen and behold.

MP3:
Mott the Hoople: All the Way from Memphis
Mott the Hoople: I Wish I Was Your Mother

Okay. I feel better. Have a nice weekend, everybody! Why not take in a movie? I hear that Juno movie is delightful! All the kids are talking about it!

First, Start by Cranking up: “Trades and Tariffs” by the Dodos.

Then quickly, let me explain what constitutes a Song of the Week: It doesn’t have to be new – just new to you. Hell, it can even be something you’ve rediscovered. And it’s the kind of song you just can’t stop cranking up – in the morning as you crawl out of bed, ripping down the freeway with the windows open and the volume jacked, something to flip your mood when it’s grey, words that sum up where you (or the world at large) are at, and a melody that wraps around your mind like a pair of vice grips.

(And for the record, my Song of the Week doesn’t reflect the opinions of the rest of the End Hits staff, though I’m sure my selections are WAY better.)

Alright. So let’s cut the fucking around and if you haven’t already, listen to my Song of the Week: “Trades and Tariffs” by the Dodos, a radical two-piece from San Francisco, whom I became aware of as they shared a bill with Les Savy Fav.

I jumped at them because Les Savy Fav are, far and away, the greatest band in rock and roll today – cobras in the land of cats. Fresh poison. I say this without hesitation – they ARE the sound of modern rock and I trust their taste. But let’s not get carried away here – I’ll save the LSF Love In for another post. This is about the Dodos.

Meric Long is a mean ragtime finger-picker who somehow manages to make the sound modern. His lyrics are literary, soulful and heartfelt, and his melodies are keen. Drummer Logan Kroeber plays a minimal kit with aplomb. He beats the holy shit out of his few drums in highly syncopated, tight beats that twist the dynamics of otherwise basic rythms.

The band is barreling toward the release of their second full length (and first for French Kiss records — owned by Les Savy Fav). It’s due March 18th. In the meantime, there’s a whole lot of stuff on the internets to keep those salivary glands gushing. (Perhaps make your own CD in the meantime?)

Five live songs recorded by Daytrotter.

Plus a bunch more on the Dodos own website.

Also, a pretty simple, yet visceral and totally kickass music video.

Go Dodos!

DJ JOHN BOURKE, DJ JOEEIRWIN, DJ FURPURSE, DJ KOOLAID (Branx, 320 SE 2nd) John Bourke is a master of dirty electro-house. His DJ sets are made up almost exclusively of giant peak-hour tracks with pulsating bass and lower- than-low buzz-saw synths. Imagine Justice mixed with MSTRKRFT mixed with Simian Mobile Disco mixed with whatever else just came out on Kitsune Records. Bourke’s original productions are along the same lines as his influences, with Italian disco accents added to the high-energy robot-rock sound. His reputation for playing nothing but the dance floor hits along with his project Trash Yourself (with sexy vocalist Heidi Cannon) have put him on the radar of electro fans everywhere, and should go over quite well in Portland, where the neon-loving nu-rave craze shows no sign of fading. AVA HEGEDUS

Night at the Roxbury fans, don’t say I never did anything for you…

MP3:
John Bourke - What Is Love (remix)

Another week, another Mercury music section to read while you wonder what to do with all the Romney Microfleece Pullovers you just ordered.

The strange journey of Baby Dee. And I do mean strange.
MP3: Baby Dee - Teeth Are The Only Bones That Show

Remind me to never play pool with the dudes in Zoroaster. Also, spark one up and enjoy this epic (over 11 miniutes!) jam.
MP3: Zoroaster - The Book

Super Furry Animals: Loved by the citizens of Wales, and confused followers of the Furries movement.
MP3: Super Furry Animals - Run-Away

Strap on your Power Glove and get ready for the 8-Bit Disco revolution.
TRAILER: 8-Bit Generation (the film)

Baby Dee photo by Olivier Naudin

It’s no secret that my love for the E-M-O runs deep and true. Much like any fickle connoisseur, I am particular in what bands I choose to adore, and which I cast away as mere enemies to the genre. Except, of course, when the genre itself is a complete mess, and little more than a poor teenage demographic and local news scare topic.

But Weatherbox is different. I welcome them with open arms, for (possibly unwillingly) shattering the quaint emo aesthetic on their debut long-player, American Art. Much like their peers in Say Anything and Brand New—and that’s about it, the emo landscape is a scary, barren, place to rest your head—Weatherbox do a stellar job of borrowing lightly from seminal bands like Failure and Jealous Sound, without alienating those Hot Topic shoppers with hoodie money to burn. I wrote a whole rambling piece on the band this week, but for the sake of a quick blog post, I’ll let the MP3 do the talking.

Some jagged No Knife guitars. Bratty youthful voice. Frozen corpse in the snow.
SOLD!

MP3:
Weatherbox - The Clearing

Weatherbox perform at Satyricon tonight.

There’s no shortage of shows tonight. Sniff out more listings on Found It!

Alberta Street Public House–Porches, Levator, Autopilot, 9 pm, $5
Berbati’s Pan–The Coup, Debaser, Mic Crenshaw, Living Proof, 9:30 pm, $15
Branx–DJ John Bourke, DJ Joeeirwin, DJ Furpurse, DJ Koolaid, 10 pm, $5
Crystal Ballroom–Rodrigo y Gabriela, 8 pm, $30-35, all ages
Dante’s–The Blakes, Magic Bullets, The Village Green, 9 pm, $5
Doug Fir–Matt Costa, Delta Spirit, 9 pm, $15
Dunes–Dinosaur Heart, Joey, Chainsaw Hawkins, Afternoon Brother, +CNCTD, 8 pm
Gerding Theater–Wisely, Per Se, 5:30 pm, free
Ground Kontrol–Fun World: Glass Elevator, Delightful Young Man, Root Beer & French Fry, 10 pm, $4
Hawthorne Theatre–The Meteors, Kat Killers, Nekronotz, 7 pm, $15, Holocene–Future Arts Festival: Glass Candy, Fleshtone, DJ Linoleum, DJ Automaton, DJ Bonaparte, DJ Girlfriends, Rose City Sirens, 9 pm, $8
Kelly’s Olympian–Junkface, Team Evil, Pirate Radio, 9 pm, $3
Rotture–Pan-Zen Konspiracy Nettwyrk: Camino Acid, Try My Cabbage, Rudement, Something’s Burning, Mutant Assembly, 9 pm, $5
Satyricon–Asphalt Thieves, The Lives of Famous Men, Weatherbox, Jet Lag Gemini, Eli Keller, 7 pm, $8, all ages
Valentine’s–Al James, 9 pm, free
Wonder Ballroom–North Mississippi All-Stars, Alving Youngblood Hart, 9 pm, $17, all ages

So the full list of SXSW bands has been released. It’s a little dizzying to look at such a long list—it’s even worse in person with a half dozen Lone Stars in your belly—of performers, but this year’s festival looks pretty impressive.

Included in this endless parade of performing acts are a whole lot of Portland bands.

They are (in alphabetical order):
A Weather / Blitzen Trapper / The Blow / The Builders and The Butchers / Castanets / Eat Skull / Laura Gibson / The Helio Sequence / Kaddisfly / Lifesavas / Little Claw / New Bloods / Old Time Relijun / Panther / Red Fang / Sleep / To Live and Die in LA / Valet / White Rainbow / YACHT / Larry Yes

This is more than last year (I believe it was 17 last year), and there just might be more local bands added as the festival draws closer.

The blogosphere, and Pitchfork, and just about everybody, has a lump in their pants for New York’s Vampire Weekend. They’re a bunch of well-to-do, Topsiders-wearing university lads, making Afro-influenced pop songs. The self-titled album is garnering rave reviews, and the band has generated a hailstorm of hype.

Sooo, fair End Hits readers, we present you with the evidence in the form of two YouTube videos, one a video made from a studio recording, and the other an impromptu live performance. What sayest you about Vampire Weekend? A by-product of marketing and spin? Or a genuinely good band?

Exhibit A:

“A-Punk” video

Exhibit B:

“Oxford Comma,” live on MTV Sessions

Further evidence can be gathered at the band’s show at Doug Fir on March 25th. In the meantime, post your thoughts by clicking on the little “Comments” box, just there.

If you’re a male between the ages of twenty and forty, chances are you have, at one point or another, had a major crush on Kim Deal, so I’ll save you all the “OMG I love her so much LOL” statements.

I will not, however, be able to contain my excitement for the fact that The Breeders are coming to Portland. Thanks to Pitchfork, I can now add this date to my calendar:

05-25 Portland, OR - Berbati’s Pan

Even though Last Splash went platinum, and even though I’d be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t love this band, I’d still argue they are criminally underrated. Why they are not name-checked as much as the Pixies I will never know.

Here’s a live video for “Huffer” off of their excellent, and overlooked, Title TK. This is so much better than that Pixies reunion it’s not even funny.

THE COUP, DEBASER, MIC CRENSHAW, LIVING PROOF (Berbati’s Pan, 10 SW 3rd) Subtlety is not the Coup’s strength. The radical hiphop group has been hammering home their anti-capitalist and anti-racist message for almost two decades on the strength of rapper Boots Riley’s Oakland twang and wry sense of humor. Boots might be the only active rapper who can invoke revolution without inducing nausea. And although the oval ’fro and generous sideburns suggest the past, the Coup crank out painstakingly crafted songs for the moment, which is atypical of so many veteran political rappers. Sadly, DJ Pam da Funkstress—a rare female face behind the decks—doesn’t tour with the crew anymore, but the Coup’s tireless years on the road and smart snappy songs still ensure a rallying experience. JALYLAH BURRELL

It’s a bit ironic that in less dire political times—the Clinton era—I was a rabid fan of The Coup. I had never heard anything quite like their funk-heavy, East Bay style, plus Boots’ social lyrics added an element of great importance to every word he rhymed. But as things got worse—Bush era—The Coup seemed to fall off a little. Or maybe it’s just me becoming a bit more callous. Regardless how indifferent I am to their latest album (2006’s Pick A Bigger Weapon), I’ll always have a place for anyone who can write a song as great as this…

The Coup - “Me and Jesus the Pimp in a ‘79 Granada Last Night”

Interesting story today: There are a whole lot of drugs in pop music.

“The report of a team led by Dr. Brian Primack of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and released on Monday calculated that Americans from ages 15 to 18 listening to 2.4 hours of music a day hear 84 references to substances daily and more than 30,000 annually.”

That’s more than I would’ve thought, but this was stranger:

“Some genres, like rap and country in comparison with pop, have more references than others.”

Rap I get, but country? Country makes drug references? Does some dumbass croon about Grandpa makin’ Moonshine count?

Fuckin’ weird.

As for the rest of it, I really have little to say. The Great Doctor Thompson put it best:

“I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence or insanity to anyone, but they’ve always worked for me.”

The Doctor of Divintiy also dropped this drug-related gem, explaining that without drugs, “I’d have the brain of a second-rate accountant.”

And for the irony of this news, the story right below it confirmed that drugs killed rapper Pimp C.

Want a pair of free tickets to see the talented Matt Costa tomorrow night at Doug Fir?

Well, duh, who doesn’t?

My friends, End Hits is here for you, and we’re giving away two tickets to see the pro-skater-turned-pro-rocker. Costa is touring on his new record, Unfamiliar Faces, and judging by the video below, he can do the one-man-band thing better than Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins.

But not as good as this guy. Wait. What language was that in?

Matt Costa - “Mr. Pitiful”

To win the tickets, just post a comment below explaining why you (and no one else) deserve the tickets. Best post before tomorrow at 9am wins the tickets. Good luck.

You’ve never heard the Pretty Things? Have you listened to David Bowie’s Pin Ups? He covers a couple Pretty Things tunes on that album. The Nuggets 2 box set? A handful are on there. But if you’re totally in the dark, I really recommend going out and getting your hands on a copy of their 1968 album S.F. Sorrow. It is the greatest psychedelic album of all time (really, it is), and quite possibly the first story-concept-album, just beating out the Who’s Tommy. The CD version has a couple of great singles tacked on as bonus tracks, some of their best songs: “Deflecting Grey,” “Walking Through My Dreams,” “Talking About the Good Times.”

Or just go to the band’s MySpace and listen to some old goodies.

But today’s post is no history lesson! No sir, because the Pretty Things are touring! Yes, they’re back, and they’re visiting Portland on March 24th, with a show at the Wonder Ballroom. This is the same day that Jens Lekman and Bon Iver have shows in town–which sucks, but I’m gonna have to skip those potentially terrific shows in favor of a rare chance to see one of the greatest bands of all time. And it’s pretty close to the original line-up! You’ve got Phil May and Dick Taylor, which is absolutely neccessary, then you’ve got Jon Povey and Wally Waller, who each joined the band in ‘67. And according to the MySpace page for their new single, Skip Allan (who replaced original wildman drummer Viv Prince in 1965) is onboard as well.
Nothing says class like pairing sandals with a suit.

“Wait. New single?” you ask.

MP3:
The Pretty Things - All Light Up

The song is not bad. It’s actually halfway decent! It’s a damn sight better than anything from the most recent records of the Stones or the Who, or any members of the Beatles for that matter.

But what is “All Light Up” about? (A quick visit to alllightup.com with tell you.) It’s a protest song! Against what? The ban against smoking in the pub! That’s right! We’re not going to take this oppression from Big Brother any longer! Light up a ciggie and Fight the Power!
Yes, it’s a ridiculously shrill and stupid argument. Still, the Pretty Things are back! And they’re coming to Portland!

EDITORS, HOT HOT HEAT, LOUIS XIV (Roseland, 8 NW 6th) There is nothing extraordinary about Editors. Hailing from ye olde Britannia, Editors’ indie rock is solid enough, punchy and quick, with head-nodding guitar/drum-driven hooks. Probably the best way to put it is that it’s good music for driving, especially a.m. commutes and the like. Their sound is good and rich and somewhat melancholy when played early and loud, as the too-bright sun filters through the struts of the Steel Bridge and flickers across one’s windshield. Another way to put it is that a year or two ago, when a comp copy of their album The Back Room showed up at the Mercury office, the disc spun around in my Jeep’s CD player for a good two months before it was replaced by something newer or better. I lost the disc somewhere, but no matter. I haven’t thought of the Editors since. Then comes word that they’re coming to town, and they’ve got a new album, and not to sound overly dismissive, but I suppose if a free copy arrived at the office, I’d give it a listen. I always need new music for my car. ERIK HENRIKSEN

Editors - “The Racing Rats”

Also, how bad has Hot Hot Heat fallen off? Remember back when they were the ultimate permed-party band?

Molten

Add to My Profile | More Videos

Much like the excellent Los Campesinos!, Sky Larkin are a young UK based band that are making a ton of noise right now.

“Molten” is a beast of a single that deserves to blow the hell up. The video is totally cute (if not a little obvious), and the band gets tons of bonus points for the funny colored Scrabble board.

And hey, if you happen to be in London on Feb. 27th, they’ll be playing with Portland’s very own Menomena.

The kids are alright!

MARY GAUTHIER, MARC OLSON (Lola’s Room, 1332 W Burnside) When making music as a solo artist, a distinctive voice is key. Listening to anything from Mary Gauthier’s recent Between Daylight and Dark makes this immediately clear. There’s weariness aplenty, but it’s balanced by a deep-seated anger that never quite goes away. Or, to phrase things differently, hers is a voice that fits equally well beside a tautly played acoustic guitar or an expansive Van Dyke Parks arrangement. Her delivery of a line as archetypal as “Oh Lord, what have I done” (from “Snakebit”) is just about perfect: Its halting cadences sound fresh, and yet the words as they are sung fit perfectly within the context of the song around it. Gauthier’s music, which draws from country and folk without falling neatly into either category, stays both grounded and propulsive, and it’s hard to turn away. TOBIAS CARROLL

Much like Lucinda Williams, Gauthier has that smoky, Marlboro-damaged, voice that—when mixed with a gentle Southern accent—is pretty damn irresistible. Meanwhile, sharing the bill is former Jayhawks frontman Mark Olson. Take a trip in the way way back machine and enjoy his former band’s (surprising) hit, “Blue.”

MP3:
Mary Gauthier - Soft Place to Land

One word: Robyn.

The above video is from her first ever live show in the US last night in New York. Unfortunately, the closest she’s coming to Portland is San Francisco (and yes, I considered making that drive), but she’s slated to play SXSW this year. First Okkervil River and Roky Erickson, and now Robyn.

Can it be March already?

In this episode of “Your Friend, the ’90s” we take a look back at pseudo riot grrls VERUCA SALT (still love the name) and their 1994 hit, “Seether.” Named after that snotty rich girl in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Veruca Salt was formed by Chicago pals Louise Post and Nina Gordon who were originally introduced to each other by actress Lili Taylor. (Remember that one for trivia night.)

This song still holds up remarkably well, and is a surefire ponytail rocker for those road trips to the hot springs with your girlfriends. Best parts of the video? All of it—that is, if you like kittens and videos with that whole Reality Bites vibe. Most disturbing part? The very end where they just silently eat burritos. That creeps me the fuck out.

All around bad-ass Tom Jones has had his chest hair insured for $7 million dollars. And no, I’m not joking. Every single hair on that man’s luscious chest is worth more than my life.

From the New York Daily News:

Ageless heartthrob Sir Tom Jones has reportedly insured his chest hair for almost $7 million.

Though the 67-year-old crooner’s management told a British tabloid that Jones has been “working far too hard in the recording studio” for such frivolity, media reports have confirmed the policy was taken out with the world-renowned Lloyd’s of London.

The prestigious insurance house has a history of catering to strange celebrity requests.

Lloyd’s of London has insured the legs of Fred Astaire, Angie Dickinson, and supermodel Heidi Klum, the hands of pianist Liberace and the fingers of Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards. The most famous rear end in the world - the one belonging to Jennifer Lopez - is also said to be insured by the London-based insurance house.

Morrissey is totally kicking himself for not thinking of this first.

It was late. Real late. The end of another in a string of too long days was coming to a close. But sometimes, no matter how tired you are, the sleep doesn’t come.

Well, there we were… the streets were soaking wet with rain and the brain soaked with drink, on a cold January night, listening to records.

Usually you miss things like this — they float right by. But this song caused me to stop.

“A pen!” I shouted. “I need a pen.”

Then some loose paper — a recipt of some sort. Wrote down her name: Karen Dalton. And the name of the song, “Something on Your Mind.”

And then, when I found it crumpled up in my pocket and sought it out, the sounds and the feeling were just as potent as I had remembered.

Sure, maybe it’s a place and a time and a state of mind… Or maybe it’s just a realy good song. You decide.

Listen to Karen Dalton’s “Something on Your Mind”

Jesus, that amber voice… Such timbre. *Thanks to James E for playing it.

(And, as I told Ezra a moment ago, this song might be one hell of a soundtrack to tomorrow if Barack Obama doesn’t show well in Super Tuesday… but I have faith that we’ll be cranking a party song…)

I haven’t lived. I’ve died a few times.

This is one hell of a shock. 37 years (!) after being released in theaters, Hal Ashby’s masterpiece Harold and Maude (Personally, I think Being There is his best work, but Harold is a close second.) finally has a soundtrack available to the public.

The Cat Stevens’—that’s Yusuf Islam to you— songs which fit so well in the film were never properly released, until now. You can thank Cameron Crowe’s Vinyl Films and Seattle label Light In The Attic for rescuing this soundtrack from a dusty shelf somewhere.

Available on LP only (how’s that for authentic?), the soundtrack is limited to 2500 copies and features a pair of foldout 18” x 24” posters and a bonus 7” with previously unreleased tracks. Granted, it’s a bit more than you might pay for a LP ($37.50), but do it for Maude.

Black Lips play a show tonight at Dante’s. Not only that, but they’re playing a free acoustic set downtown at Jackpot Records (203 SW 9th). It’s all ages! Starts at 6:00. I know that not everyone agrees with me, but I think the Black Lips are a pretty terrific band, onstage antics notwithstanding. Their fantastic Let It Bloom album is 16 tracks of bratty, lo-fi fun, and last year’s Good Bad Not Evil is nearly as fun, maybe a tad more introspective. (But not too much!) I got to talk to drummer Joe Bradley, and an article appeared in this week’s paper. Read it here.

Don’t feel like reading? Okay, then take a look at their video for “Veni Vidi Vici.”

There are only about 35 more days until the magical clusterfuck that is SXSW kicks off in Austin.

Sunshine, Shiner Bock and Tinnitus—I cannot wait.

Until they unleash the full list of bands, Austinist has been spilling the beans on a few of the acts performing. Some highlights include Okkervil River performing alongside Roky Erickson (!), Ice Cube, R.E.M., and dozens of Portland bands as well.

We’ll keep you updated, but for now these teasers of information are going to have to suffice until the real thing starts up on March 12th.

A conversation I had with a co-worker yesterday:

Me: I really want to go check out Blood on the Wall tomorrow.

Dude: Blood on the Wall? What are they all about?

Me: Oh, they’re kind of like the Pixies, but more on the loud side of their spectrum. You know, a little more balls to the wall.

Dude: Oh, balls to the wall. Like Accept?

To which I can only reply: yes, like Accept. Exactly like Accept:

While our dear Matt Davis has his British eyes set on some lame Obama wristband, I’m trying to get my paws on this shirt.

Ok, to be fair, I’d like to get my paws on the gentleman wearing the shirt as well, but I’ll take what I can get.

Link courtesy of Brooklyn Vegan.

BLOOD ON THE WALL, HORNET LEG, PHANTOM JAMS (Someday Lounge, 125 NW 5th) Brooklyn’s Blood on the Wall are one of the better things to have happened to indie rock this decade. And I’m not talking your Death Cab and Shins indie here: I’m talking the bombast and balls-to-the-wall-edness of classic late ’80s, early ’90s indie rock. Their sound runs the gamut of everything from Pixies to Superchunk to Pavement to Archers of Loaf to Sonic Youth, and manages to do so without ever really sounding derivative of any of them. Their recently released disc Liferz is possibly their best yet, and they’re bound to recruit a legion of die-hard fans (much in the same way they’re probably die-hard fans of their influences) because of it. In other words, there’s a good chance BotW are your new favorite band, whether you know it yet or not. ROB SIMONSEN

Hear a slight Pixies influence in the song below? Ok, so it’s a heavy Pixies influence, and no, that line isn’t going to lead to a “Frank Black is fat” joke. I’m saving those for his celebrity roast.

MP3:
Blood on the Wall - Mary Susan

I’m not alone in the opinion that the days of watching The Builders And The Butchers play some venue’s floor, the sidewalks downtown, or your nephew’s Bar Mitzvah (They were spectacular, Nathan Jr. loved them more than the magician!), are over.

This band is going to be big. Mark my words, and well, the words of anyone else who has seen them live. Step one in their ascent to stardom: Touring with a nationally known band.

Done! The Butchers have just announced a supporting tour of Helio Sequence—tour dates after the jump—plus some SXSW schmoozing as well.

MP3:
The Builders And The Butchers - Bottom Of The Lake

photo by: Mel Brown

THE BUILDERS AND BUTCHERS TOUR DATES

Mon 2/25 Visalia, CA @ Howie & Sons Pizza*
Tue 2/26 Los Angeles, CA @ Spaceland*
Wed 2/27 San Deigo, CA @ Casbah*
Thur 2/28 Costa Mesa, CA @ Detroit Bar*
Fri 2/29 San Francisco, CA @ The Independent (Noisepop Festival)*
Tue 3/04 Seattle, WA @ Sunset Tavern
Thur 3/06 Fargo, ND @ The Aquarium
Fri 3/07 Minneapolis, MN @ 400 Bar
Sat 3/08 Chicago, IL @ Schubas
Sun 3/09 Lawrence, KS @ Jackpot
Tues 3/11 Ft. Worth, TX @ Aardvarks
Wed 3/12 Austin, TX / SXSW (TBA)
Thur 3/13 Austin, TX / SXSW (TBA)
Fri 3/14 Austin, TX / SXSW (TBA)
Sun 3/16 Denver, CO @ Hi Dive
Mon 3/17 Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
Thur 3/20 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir

*Supporting The Helio Sequence

DRUG RUG, OHIOAN & NATIVE KIN
(Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside) On their first date, Sarah Cronin and Tommy Allen ended up playing songs to each other over a bottle of whiskey. They’ve since parlayed the relationship into a full-fledged band and saddled it with the unfortunate name of Drug Rug. I know what you’re thinking: Relationship bands rarely work, and when they do, the results are often sickly sweet (Mates of State, the Captain & Tennille) or creepily fucked up (Ike & Tina, the Captain & Tennille). Drug Rug avoid these pitfalls by leavening their declarations of love with low-fi exuberance, Stones-y country blues, and Cronin’s baby-voiced screeching. Their self-titled debut is a soulful, groovy, FUN record, packed with terrific songs and a gentle exuberance. Tonight’s free show is the perfect chance to bask in the reflected adoration the Somerville, MA couple has for each other, and who knows? It could even get you vaguely excited for Valentine’s Day. NED LANNAMANN

It really is a good album, and you can hear a couple more tracks from it at the band’s MySpace page. Oh, and did I mention tonight’s show is FREE? Meanwhile, here’s some live footage from the Fader sideshow in October ‘07. It’s sloppy and fun; they sound a little more together on the record, but they certainly know how to enjoy themselves onstage.

Drug Rug - “Walden”
More of that performance here.

If Ezra is going to bring up Ms. Badu, I think it bears mentioning that her new Madlib produced song “The Healer” is pretty amazing. I don’t know if the credit belongs to Madlib or her hair, but if this is any indication of what her new sound is, consider me a born-again Baduizt.

If you’re anything like me, you hate the Super Bowl, and would refuse to watch it, except that Paula Abdul was supposed to be performing her new single “Dance Like There’s No Tomorrow.” But then you forget to watch it anyway, because you were too busy trying to download illegal ringtones on to your iPhone.
Well, luckily for us, there’s the world web internet, where I found this video of Paula’s performance in which the following happens: 1) She wears a hobo hat. 2) She lip synchs—badly. 3) She can kind of still dance, but not nearly as well as she used to. 3) Fellow Idol judge Randy Jackson plays bass on the song—and is also wearing a hobo hat. (WHAT’S UP WITH THE FREAKING HOBO HATS?? Did I miss something??)
OH! And be sure to catch the post performance interview with Ryan Seacrest on the Super Bowl red carpet. (I’m not too sure why the Super Bowl needs a carpet of any kind… unless it serves as a convenient place for meatheads to throw up.)

I have no idea what magical internet land Songerize came from. I don’t know how it works. I don’t know if it’s legal. All I know is that I’ve been trying to stump this thing for the last ten minutes and have yet to succeed.

(HT: Brooklyn Vegan)

Ooooh, peep that hot new logo from the folks at PDX Pop Now!. While we still have months to go until 08’s festivities, it’s nice to see things moving forward. The design is courtesy of the “The Thinking Man’s Poster Artist,” Emek. If Erykah Badu approves of his work, so do I.

Also, in somewhat related news, the OLCC has posted a date for the Minor Postings (Round II: This Time, It’s Personal) public hearing: Feb. 22, 10am. More information on this to come…