Ned is a liar. There will be no Child Ballads show tonight, the band just posted this bulletin on their MySpace page:

Childballad fans, we have to humbly apologize for not being able to tour and not making it known that our tour was cancelled with the Kills. We tried to the 11th hour to make it happen. It’s mainly due to lack of tour support. It’s very expensive to tour these days and the funds are just not available. Labels aren’t making the money they used to, gas is ridiculous, 4 star hotels ain’t cheap and drummers eat a lot.

Lousy fat drummers. But the show is still happening, the always incredible The Kills, plus Reverse Dotty & the Candy Cane Shivs as well. Just no Child Ballads.

Due to illness, IDM duo Car Clutch unfortunately has to cancel their Saturday performance at Exit Only. However, don’t change your plans! All the other bands are still scheduled to play, including Strategy, Ilyas Ahmed, and the great, wonderful Golden Bears, about whom you can read more here and here.

PLUS, in place of Car Clutch, there will be a secret surprise performance! (No word on what that is, exactly, but only Brendan Fowler of Car Clutch is ill. The other Car Clutcher, Ethan Swan, is in perfect health, so it’s safe to assume he will be involved.)

Strategy, Ilyas Ahmed, the Golden Bears, and special surprise performance!!! at Exit Only, 1121 N Loring, Saturday, May 17, 8 pm, $5, all ages

The Decemberists are playing a free show this Sunday at The Bowl at Waterfront Park.

They’ll be opening up for some guy I’ve never heard of who is from Chicago (I bet he knows Jim O’Rourke or Albini) and probably on a major label or something. The show is free, but you should RSVP in advance right here.

Well, hey, free Decemberists show and a chance to see the next leader of the free world. And by that I mean Colin Meloy, of course. Who else would it be?

It’s going to be a damn good night for music.

The Child Ballads come from New York, playing lazed, somewhat crazed, good-time folk ‘n’ roll. They’re opening for the Kills, and folksy instrumentation aside, the male-and-female vocals actually sound a fair amount like the Kills. They remind me a little of Cambridge, Mass., rock ‘n’ rollers Drug Rug, too. The Child Ballads have some swagger, and a hint of New York Cool, but none of the accompanying cockiness (not yet, anyway). They just sounds like a pocket flask full of fun. Perfect for a hot Friday night and some whiskey drinkin’. I’ll be certain to get to Berbati’s early, and you should too.

Check out the killer title track from their album Cheekbone Hollows:

MP3:
The Child Ballads - Cheekbone Hollows

The Child Ballads play tonight, opening for the Kills at Berbati’s Pan, 10 SW 3rd, 9:30 pm, $13

The blogs, the critics, and your mother this paper all can’t seem to stop talking about Lykke Li. With all this chatter about her going around it’s sometimes hard to remember that she is only the opener on tonight’s excellent bill. Why is she only opening? Because El Perro Del Mar is headlining!

Oh, El Perro Del Mar, is it possible for me to love you even more than I do? I don’t think so. I really don’t. With your girl-group sound, your “oohs” and “aahs”, your sadness: it all just sounds so perfect together, so cold yet somehow warm at the same time. Screw all of Lykke Li’s blog hype. For reals. You and I both know who the true queen of tonight’s show will be.

El Perro Del Mar, Lykke Li, and Anna Ternheim play the Doug Fir tonight!

Heavily influenced by the Kinks and the Zombies, the lads in the clunkily named Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin play sparkly, sunshiny pop by way of Springfield, Missouri, with peppy guitars and cuddly vocals intersecting in surprising and dynamic ways. Their new album, Pershing, lends an American beachcombing/Brothers Wilson sound to late ’90s Scottish twee, and their twinkling melodicism fulfills the early promise of the Shins. It’s guitar pop done right, and a much finer alternative to similarly upbeat guitar-pop sensations Vampire Weekend, thankfully lacking the awkward fusing of dumbed-down world music elements and the Vamp’s spring break sand-crotch Jimmy Buffet party jam vibe. SSLYBY sound like a bunch of middle-class American suburban kids who love writing songs and playing music—and got really good at it—rather than prep school upstarts finding an unconventional money-making scheme for their Business 101 class project.

I saw the Yeltsin boys a couple years ago and they totally won me over. It was at Berbati’s Pan, a few weeks before the Zombies show at the 2006 MusicFest NW. Somehow they got wind of that upcoming show, and mentioned how absolutely blown away they were to be playing the same stage that the Zombies would soon be gracing. They then played “Friends of Mine.”

In the Up & Coming blurb from this week’s paper (above) I might have said more about how I dislike Vampire Weekend more than how much I do like SSLYBY. So let it be said that I think their record is charming, cozy, and perfectly pop. The melodies and arrangements are inventive, addictive, and both comforting and surprising.

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin plays tonight at the Towne Lounge, 714 SW 20th Place, with Port O’Brien and the Ocean Floor. 9:30 pm, $8.

Preset your car stereos—and your boombox bikes—to 91.1 FM, because come next year, Portland is getting a new radio station. And not just another typical radio station, we’re talking a local music friendly, and commercial-free, station.

Jeff Simmons, of the web-based Portland Radio Authority, looks forward to hearing local music on the FM dial. “Portland has one of the strongest independent music communities in the country. We have an international reputation for our music, but you wouldn’t know it listening to FM radio in Portland. 91.1 will give access to this vibrant cultural asset, and will open outsiders’ ears to the amazing things happening in Portland.”

A lot of details need to be sorted out, but you can read the full press release after the jump.

In the meantime, I am perfecting my wacky morning zoo routine. Watch your backs, Playhouse.

METROEAST COMMUNITY MEDIA AND COALITION OF COMMUNITY GROUPS ACQUIRE
RADIO LICENSE

GRESHAM, Ore., May 16, 2008-MetroEast Community Media, in
collaboration with a coalition of community groups, received word
this week that its application for a non-commercial educational (NCE)
radio station has been approved by the Federal Communications
Commission. With its transmitter located on Mt. Hood, the signal of
the new station - 91.1 on the FM dial - will reach most of the East
Metro area as well as much of Portland east of the Willamette.

The license was granted as part of a rare opening of non-commercial
radio licenses available to non-profit organizations. The
coalition has been working for more than a year to acquire the
construction permit. According to Common Frequency representative
Todd Urick "This is a once in a generation opportunity. This may
well be the last time we have a window like this where community
organizations can get a full power non-commercial FM radio license."
Common Frequency assists non-profits in acquiring NCE radio licenses.

As a non-commercial station, 91.1 will run no advertising and will
be supported by its listeners and underwriting.

While decisions about the new station's format are still being made,
Bruce Fife, President of Musicians Local 99, said, "We're hopeful
that Portland's diverse and vibrant local music scene will be
well-represented on this new station. It's long past time for these
talented musicians to share valuable space on the air waves."

Jeff Simmons, of the web-based Portland Radio Authority, looks
forward to hearing local music on the FM dial. "Portland has one of
the strongest independent music communities in the country. We have
an international reputation for our music, but you wouldn't know it
listening to FM radio in Portland. 91.1 will give access to this
vibrant cultural asset, and will open outsiders' ears to the amazing
things happening in Portland."

Rob Brading, CEO of MetroEast said, "We're thrilled to have acquired
this license on behalf of the community. Other than our founding,
this license is probably the most important event in MetroEast's
25-year history. We're very excited with the opportunity to offer
radio with an east side emphasis and to give voice to the vibrant
local music scene."

Brading expects the station to go on the air sometime in
2009. "Next year is MetroEast's 25th anniversary. What better way
to celebrate than by going on the air with this new station?"

LARRY YES, BABYDOLLARS, THE GARLAND RAY PROJECT
(Backspace, 115 NW 5th) It seems that every few years Larry Yes emerges from some secret backwoods locale sporting a hearty beard and a handful of new songs, all of which are amazing. His latest, Take Me 2 Your Spaceship & Sing Your Soul Song Through Me, is a loose collection of vibrant folk tunes that smother the traditional singer-songwriter narcissistic entitlement with a inspiring level of innocence and polite happiness. Yes views the world, and especially nature, with a wonderful sense of childlike wonder, and he’s not alone on Spaceship, his fifth full-length, as the record features cameos from Mirah, Six Foot Sloth’s Amanda Mason Wiles, and tons more. This is proof that while his music might feel like the isolated musings of a unique character, Yes is not alone here in Portland. Not even close. EAC

MP3:
Larry Yes - Here Comes Mother Nature

Hey fans of late ’90s Russian teenage lesbians! Remember t.A.T.u., and their controversial video, “All the Things She Said”? Well, the teeny twosome is now all growed up, still recording, and STILL doing very naughty things. When your boss isn’t looking, check out this NSFW new video entitled “Beliy Plaschik (White Robe)”—which like their previous work relies on hot dance beats, a dark undercurrent, and this time? Bunches of nudity! (Aaaaand something about a pregnant execution. Enjoy!)

Thanks, James!

The other night, at the Towne Lounge, I couldn’t spot one person wearing earplugs. Not one. Granted, it wasn’t a Sunn O))) show or anything, but still it was amplified and earplugs were definitely justified.

But before I get on my high horse (it’s a glorious steed), it should be noted that most earplugs totally suck. They muffle the sound, look like a pair of colorful foam blocks crammed deep into your ear canal, and make it impossible to hold a conversation while keeping the plugs intact. Who is going to hear all my witty critiques of the band—from the back of the room, with my arms crossed—if they are stuck with those bulky foam earplugs?

While custom fitted earplugs sure are nice, and probably the most effective, they can be a bit pricey (about $150-200) for the shallow pockets of most show-goers, so after a lot of research—and a glowing recommendation from one of our End Hits bloggers—I discovered Earlove.

Despite the creepy sounding name (I wonder if there is such thing as an Ear Fetish? Let me Google it. Oh dear god.), Earlove caters to the music fan (not the sexual deviant) with low priced plugs ($16, and they come in a sturdy keychain-compatible pouch) that do an excellent job of reducing decibels without ruining sound quality. I can’t say enough good things about them.

The sound level at most concerts and clubs far exceeds safe exposure levels.

Earlove allows you to hear the music clearly but at a lower level, like turning down the volume.

Most concert venues sell foam plugs which lower the volume, but compromise sound quality.

Yeah, what they said. Thanks to Earlove I’ll be able to keep my hearing intact, thus ensuring that I keep this job forever. Get ready for a 60 year old, with pristine hearing, who loves emo bands.

I’m not sure why we haven’t been posting these beauties on End Hits, rather leaving them to languish in the land of many more hits, Blogtown. But that was the past. At least for my motherfucking podcast, Easier Than Reading.

Tune in for a bunch of tracks from artists playing this week in Portland

YEAH!

As Sasquatch! quickly approaches, I examine the line-up and check out bands I’ve never heard before.

Band: Joshua Morrison
Scheduled time: 3:15 Saturday 5/24, Yeti stage
Evidence gathered: A homemade tour video (seen above), taken from his MySpace page.

Okay, this sounds like a million other acoustic singer-songwriters. The guitar picking is not bad, shows promise. It’s awfully pretty, though—pretty in the same way that the embroidered flower pattern on toilet paper is pretty. Might he take a dark left turn here, and make some interesting music? It’s possible. Joshua Morrison served in Iraq, so maybe he’s got some stories to share.

But no. This is Hallmark Card music at its most blatant and unimaginative. It’s about wanting to go home. A potent emotion, sure, but not a very complex or interesting one. “Quietly cursing the distance under your breath. The spirit is willing but my flesh is so weak.” It goes on from there. No bad feelings, just kind of an “Aw shucks won’t it be nice to go home.” He’s pitching big fat slow balls, perfectly over the plate. Boring, and unnecessarily chewy.

If I was a war bride, and hadn’t seen my husband in ten months, and he wrote this song for me—sure, my knees would get weak. I might even get a little puddly. But I’m not, I haven’t, and he didn’t. So, no.

How will he fare at Sasquatch?
I doubt he’ll do much to get the party started, but by mid-afternoon people may be in need of a gentle, soft-handed massage-of-the-heart… more likely, though, folks will still have energy to burn, and this will be too much of a snooze.

Will I make a point to see him?
Again, this comes down to the competition. Ozomatli plays on the main stage at the same time, so Morrison actually might have a shot… but his set overlaps with both the Whigs and Kathleen Edwards on the Wookie stage, both of whom I like a lot more than this—so, nope.

BARACK THE VOTE: JUNKFACE, ALAN SINGLEY & PANTS MACHINE, ANDY COMBS & THE MOTH

(Berbati’s Pan, 10 SW 3rd) There’s no doubt the outcome of this year’s national Democratic primary will rely heavily on every Oregon voter’s decision. With only a few days until your ballot’s deadline, three bands will rock in support of Barack. Andy Combs & the Moth will circle around Barack’s proposed light of “change” with his (err… their?) multi-personality driven melodies. The boys of Junkface will put down their side projects to come together and deliver their sexy angular jives with plenty of style. Alan Singley & Pants Machine will sing what feels like a declaration of solidarity with lyrics like “The World Was Made for Everyone” and “A Change is Possible With You and Me.” Repeat after me: Yes we can! EM BROWNLOWE

VILLAINS, DJ JOEEIRWIN, NATHAN DETROIT, 31AVAS
(Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison) Villains are the hotshit Los Angeles remix wizards who have made waves with “Thrilla,” which might be to ’08 what “D.A.N.C.E.” was to last year. If you haven’t danced to it yet, you will. They don’t need an illuminating cross or a fancy video with lots of T-shirts; “Thrilla” is a stand-alone classic. By resurrecting the cold lifeless zombie corpse of Michael Jackson and turning him back into the dance floor scorcher he once was, the duo of Mad V and Koncept have wedged their way deep into the party scene as the two DJs you want behind the decks. Of course, all of this is under the radar of Jackson’s people, but I doubt he’s hip to these sort of things from his hermetically sealed underground bunker in Dubai. EAC

MP3:
Villains - Thrilla

NAS, LIFESAVAS, LIBRETTO, DJ OG1
(Roseland, 8 NW 6th) Nas might be a megalomaniac but that’s much of his appeal. A self-proclaimed prophet (God’s Son, Nastradamus), he has rapped himself a fleeting halo and a steady stream of swipes. It is unlikely that this critical dissonance will be resolved in July, when his ninth album, Nigger, is slated for release. The tsk-tsks of old and new skeptics have nearly drowned out the confidence of the Queens native’s faithful. But with Nas known to fortify under attack (recall his Jay-Z squabble), the understated—at worst, sleepy—performer should preside with much more verve at Roseland and might just remember the iconic verses he so often mumbles in live shows. JALYLAH BURRELL

MP3:
Nas - Hip Hop Is Dead (featuring will.i.am)

It’s been awhile since I last listened to Talk Talk, but dang if Mark Hollis and Co. aren’t all over the blogs today. First Shearwater went and covered “The Rainbow”, then Rivers Cuomo and his mustache Weezer announced they’ll be covering “Life Is What You Make It” on an upcoming single.

Well, I guess that means today is as good a day as any to bust out that dusty copy of It’s My Life and realize once again that the title track is so incredibly good not even No Doubt could ruin it.

The O is reporting on a Beaverton woman who was awarded $108,000 from the RIAA, after the music industry trade group falsely accused, and sued, her for illegal downloading.

Of course the payment is for her “attorney fees and costs in successfully fighting a lawsuit filed by the recording industry against her,” which means she probably won’t have any money left over to—oh I don’t know—buy music. But I guess it’s just nice to see someone not crushed by the wheels of RIAA litigation.

If there’s one thing that Bret and Jermaine (of the hilarious band and HBO show Flight of the Conchords) know, it’s how to please the ladies. Check out this new video entitled “Somethin’ Special (For All the Ladies in the World),” where they share the secret of seducing women. (Hint: It involves roller skates!)

And don’t forget that Flight of the Conchords will be appearing at this year’s Sasquatch fest! WOOT!

Is MTV interested in Portland?

Word on the street is that the fine quality network that has gifted our culture with A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila and The Hills has been filming local bands for something on Portland music.

What is it for? A sexy reality show? Probably not. Are they going to put them all in a house and roll cameras as the msucians stop being nice and start being real? I doubt it. Perhaps, it is for a brief MTV news feature of local bands? Yeah, that’s probably more like it.

The network that made Tabitha Soren the household name she is today, so far has filmed YACHT at Studio B in Brooklyn, and rumor has it, Au as well. Here is what YACHT’s Jona Bechtolt had to say about the whole thing, “They shot it while we were in New York and they didn’t seem 100% sure if they were even going to Portland. It was very weird. We lied A LOT.”

More news on this once we find out more.

**Update** The filming is for a Portland “scene report” (here is their Brooklyn one, with lots of coverage of former Portlander Todd P) set to air sometime soon.

The very Wish-sounding new single from The Cure is quite a nice surprise, proving that despite his odd post-menopausal, you-just-woke-up-Mom-from-a-nap, look, Robert Smith can still pen one hell of a bouncy little pop song. “The Only One” fits that mold, as Smith bends his trademark vocals (He’s totes ripping off that dude from The Black Kids!) all over the song’s over-indulgent chorus.

Another week, another Mercury music section to ball up and throw at the giant beetles that will destroy us all.

A whole lotta love for my favorite Swede (sorry expressionist painter Isaac Hirsche Grünewald, you’re now number two, buddy) Lykke Li.
MP3:
Lykke Li - Little Bit

The Kills sing the white man’s blues. And for the last time, no, I am not talking about Crossroads here. Although remember when Ralph Macchio beat the Devil’s guitar player (Steve Vai!) in a shred-off? That ruled.
MP3:
The Kills - Tape Song

With a brand new EP on wax (their CD is coming later), Tu Fawning would like the comparisons to TuffAwning (Tucson’s Leader in Residential Awnings and Canopies) to stop right now.
MP3:
Tu Fawning - I’m Gone

The fertile procreators in the Golden Bears are ready to take over the kids music market with their next record. Watch yer back, Raffi.
MP3:
The Golden Bears - Tall Ships

El-P will rip off your skin and make it into a cape. Okay, just kidding, the dude doesn’t wear capes.
MP3:
El-P - Fuck the Law

I’m not saying that the music of the Black Hollies goes better with a handful of psychedelic drugs, but I am saying that the music of the Black Hollies goes better with a handful of psychedelic drugs. Wait, did that come out wrong?
MP3:
The Black Hollies- Paisley Pattern Ground

Photo: Andreas Öhlund

Animal Collective’s Strawberry Jam was the record of 2007. It cemented the group as one of the most original, exciting, forward-thinking of this sleek, sleepy and often sterile new era. Somehow the foursome made heavy electronics organic. Jam is a compact sun full of pretty, poppy, danceable, shouting chaos, complete with profound subversives.

Each Animal Collective full-length has been followed a companion EP. Water Curses contains four tracks from the Strawberry sessions that cohesively make up their own thing. More mellow and expansive than the taut, shaking jello of Jam, “Water” is an apt descriptor—the feeling is fluid, refreshing and enveloping (and shit, there are sounds of actual water all over the EP).

After the bouncy, single-worthy title-track, the EP relaxes into a soft stream. It’s warm and welcoming, but short on profane amazement so often bursting from Strawberry Jam. The two works, created in the same session, are split perfectly—each with an overriding aesthetic. Water Curses is like a fine mist—if Jam is the waterfall, Curses is the spray and drift after the crash.

Listen: “Water Curses”

Honey Owens, you might know her as Valet, talks to Stereogum about her day job at the collective, and blog-friendly, thrift store, Rad Summer (3611 SE Division).

STEREOGUM: You said all members of the collective take turns working the shop. Do you have fairy regular shifts? Or are people switching around a lot? Are any of the other folks in bands?

HO: It started off with four and now there are about eight or nine people that contribute things to the store. Four of us work the shifts during the week. Sometimes we trade off depending on who’s on tour/traveling, etc. Tom is in Jackie-O Motherfucker, Jacob is in a band called Hrak Ryam Hral, Dewey is in a band called Eternal Tapestry and also plays in JOMF sometimes, Brux is in a band called Snakes, Valentine is in a band called Get Hustle, Charlotte and Ruth are clothing artists (designers), Zach is in a band called Ghosting, and Ashby is in Valet now with me. Ummm, I guess everyone either plays music or makes art/clothing … or both. We sort of all fell into this sort of work because it was a good way to make money and still have a fairly free schedule to do other things.

Damn, that is a hip store, way cooler than the Better Bargains Thrift Store on 102nd.

Photo by Sarah Meadows

Everybody pretty much knows by this point that The Dirtbombs kick ass. I think it was even scientifically proven. Maybe even in our paper, no less. So yeah, duh, go see The Dirtbombs tonight.

However, if you do end up going, make sure not to miss opener Dan Sartain. Check out the above video for his “Flight of the Finch” and tell me you’re not sold. Dude is equal parts garage and Morricone, equal parts cowboy and punk, and while he may not be par for the course for Swami Records, his vibe will no doubt appeal to those who attend the John Reis School of Rock (TM).

And yes, John Reis, I’m trademarking that shit. Any future plans you have of teaching kiddies to smoke, drink, and possibly play guitar will have to come though me.

As I gear up to hit Sasquatch (May 24-26, Gorge Amphitheater), I will be going through this year’s line-up and examining bands that I am unfamiliar with.

Today’s band: Grand Hallway
From: Seattle
Evidence gathered: A bio and two songs from their MySpace page.

Grand Hallway is a rare and strange creature that often yields beautiful sounds. A mini-orchestra of sorts (a typical live show features up to 9 musicians on stage) the troupe’s melodic and intricate songs reflect the diverse backgrounds of each of its members… The seemingly incongruous parts come together to form a whole: an instantly familiar and inviting sound that nonetheless refuses to be defined by any single genre of music.
—from their bio

“Seward Park” is a piano-driven, string-laden ballad with emotional swells and some acrobatic drum fills towards the end. Still, it’s kind of sappy and makes me think of rooms painted in beige.

MP3: Grand Hallway - Pearrygin

Meanwhile, “Pearrygin” sounds a little like the chamber folk of Loch Lomond in parts, but it’s even more melodramatic. With a vague, Broadway-ballad type melody, it’s wispy, and inconsequential.

How will they fare at Sasquatch?
Their music is sleepy and drippy, and they’ll be one of the bands opening the first day of the festival. I imagine that as people begin to trickle in, they’ll be looking for something a little more upbeat, rather than Grand Hallway’s austere, whimpered balladry.

Will I make a point to see them?
Considering that the great Fleet Foxes are scheduled to play the main stage at the same time as these guys, they don’t really stand a chance.

Grand Hallway plays the Sasquatch! Festival, appearing on Saturday, May 24 at 12 noon. They also play the Towne Lounge here in Portland on June 18.

The Musicians Union (Local 99, y’all) is conducting a survey and they want all you proud local musicians to take part in it.

Click here.

Surveymonkey.com? Why the outsourcing? Proud union men and women used to conduct surveys, now we outsource the work to digital primates?

For shame union, for shame.

Ladies and gentlemen, here is my early nomination for the “Summer Jam of ‘08”— N.E.R.D.’s homage to chicks snorting booger sugar, “Everyone Nose.” Not only does Pharrell and the boys put together a great chorus, but the video features sexy gals blasted out of their gourds on blow, AND a cameo from… LINDSAY LOHAN? I’m sure she’s just there to chastise these girls for their reprobate behavior. Right, LiLo?

Anyhoo, watch the video and let us know in the comments below… WILL YOU BUMP IT? OR WILL YOU DUMP IT?

FERN KNIGHT, EX REVERIE, IN GOWAN RING, AH HOLLY FAM’LY
(Someday Lounge, 125 NW 5th) Led by singer/guitarist Margaret Wienk, Philadelphia’s Fern Knight make disjointed, stark, largely acoustic music, with a sensibility rooted in centuries-old folk and classical traditions. Contemporaries of Marissa Nadler and Espers (whose Greg Weeks recorded their recent self-titled album, the group’s third), Fern Knight’s music eschews psychedelia for a more introverted, baroque sensibility. Wienk’s vocals can shift into a haunting register, and the band’s restraint can turn quickly into something piercing and furious. This is a group capable of lulling you into a reverent pastoral mode, and just as quickly jolting you to attention via a few well-placed electric notes. TC

MP3:
Fern Knight - Bemused

After years of mistakes, the War on Terror has finally done something right—they are shipping off Everclear to Guantanamo Bay. Art, if you think your dad was bad, wait until you get waterboarded while being yelled at about the whereabouts of Bin Laden. Ouch, that was mean.

Oh, wait, it’s just a concert? For the 6,000 troops on the base? You sure it’s not one of those things were they blast loud music to torture people? Christ, I hope my tax dollars aren’t paying for this.

Everclear is touring on The Vegas Years, an all-covers record which is actually worse than 9/11. I’m kidding. I think.
Full release after the jump.

VERCLEAR have added two special dates to their Spring/Summer tour: a May 26 Memorial Day concert at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and a July 6 performance at the Marine Corps base at Kaneohe Bay, Oahu.

“These two are important to the band,” says singer and guitarist ART ALEXAKIS of the multi-platinum EVERCLEAR. “There are folks in uniform all over the world, and at home, looking out for us--and to play for them is an honor. Not a bad way to spend the holiday weekends, not at all.”

For the Cuba show, ALEXAKIS and his bandmates--drummer BRETT SNYDER, guitarist DAVE FRENCH, bassist SAM HUDSON and keyboardist JOSH CRAWLEY--will be performing for a capacity crowd estimated at 6,000 people stationed at the U. S. Naval Station with their families, representing all five of the armed forces--Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard--plus Department of Defense and other national law enforcement agencies. Everclear will also receive tours and briefings on the very historic Naval Station, the Joint Task Force Guantanamo detainee operation, fence line operations from the US Marine Corps Security Force and water borne operations from the US Coast Guard Port Security Unit.

EVERCLEAR’s itinerary also includes festival dates (Philadelphia’s WMMR radio festival on May 18; Stars & Stripes Festival in Michigan June 28), as well as a Lahaina, Hawaii show. The band’s set list will include an array of their classics from their seven studio albums--such as “Santa Monica,” “Everything To Everyone,” “I Will Buy You A New Life,” “Father Of Mine” and “Wonderful”--with material from their new and ninth release overall, The Vegas Years (out April 15 on Capitol/EMI). Produced by ALEXAKIS, it’s a collection of 14 covers they recorded between 1994 and this year.

Writing in the Cleveland Free Press (4/16/08) about The Vegas Years, Brian Baker said, “Just as Alexakis tips his hat to the seminal bands that steered his development, he also takes every opportunity to inject his unique punk inflections into his covers, from the chugging fist-pump of Thin Lizzy's ‘The Boys are Back in Town’ to the rousing rock anthemics of Cheap Trick's ‘Southern Girls.’” Elsewhere, in San Diego City Beat (4/15/08), Will Shilling pointed out: “The twin surprises here are a perky Elastica-meets-Joe Jackson channeling of ‘Bad Connection’ (originally done by brilliant ’80s synth-poppers Yaz) and an appropriately serrated and sleazy tear-through of Tommy Tutone’s commode-poetry classic, ‘867-5309 (Jenny).’”

Judging by the way us Merc bloggers strut around town in our matching End Hits signature windbreakers, you’d think that we’re quite full of ourselves and our keen ability to make the magic happen in Moveable Type. But, alas, it’s not true. In fact, we have lots of love to give other local blogs, especially the cool kids over at Fuck Bad Music.

Evidentially they aren’t down with bad music, but FBM is a great source for all the hotshit dance burners that the kids are listening to these days. They are truly passionate about music, especially live shows, and the FBM posse does a great job of capturing that early 20s chaos of trying to go to as many shows as humanly possible on any given night. Sleep is for old people.

Speaking of sleep, this blogger needs a nap.

OK, in keeping with the themes of today, here’s an open-letter Dave Grohl apparently wrote to Metallica:

Dear METALLICA,

Hey, it’s Dave! Remember me? Yeah, I’m the guy that’s been listening to your band faithfully since 1983. I bought your first album Kill ‘Em All from a mailorder catalogue called Under The Rainbow, I think. Actually I can’t remember. It was 1983 for Christsakes! But that album changed my life and I’ve been listening to your albums ever since (even St Anger!).

I can’t wait to hear the new shit, and no matter what you guys do I’ll always be first one at the shop waiting to hear it. I’m sure you’ll come out and blow everybody’s fuckin’ minds, because you’re fuckin’ METALLICA!

Good luck. And don’t release it until it’s kick-ass.

Yours, Dave Grohl.

P.S. Are you finished recording the drums yet?

Heheh… reminds me of that part in the Metallica movie when Lars plays an unfinished track to his dad and his dad says “No, you should delete that.” And god, how about that fucking movie anyway? It’s unintentional comedy rivals Spinal Tap! Arguments about stopping work in the studio at 3PM to PICK UP THE KIDS FROM SOCCER PRACTICE! You can’t write this shit…

I stole the letter from Buddyhead. Remember them? Shit, I made their website way back when…

Ezra’ post earlier today got me thinking.

He mentions that Dave Sitek and Dave Bowie both lent their “cred” to Garbage Scarlet Johanson’s album. This is true, but it moved me on to another place:

Why is Sitek considered such a fabulous producer?

I thought so too for a time, but I’m starting to reconsider. Have you heard the new Foals record? It’s terrible! The whole thing just sounds flat and empty and lifeless (which cannot all be Sitek’s fault). So what else has he got to his name? Of course, there are the TV on the Radio albums, of which I would argue Return To Cookie Mountain is the only truly special work of production.

So that leaves the Liars (who’s best produced album, Drum’s Not Dead, they did without Sitek), Yeah Yeah Yeahs (good big drum sounds), and Celebration (uhm, who cares?). And, save for a handful of remixes, that’s really the width of Sitek’s notable production credits. I haven’t heard anything truly characteristic—something you could call a “Sitek Sound” except maybe for a smattering of expensive keyboards and the inclusion of some popular New York friends.

Now Brian Deck, there’s a producer with an identity. Have you heard Red Red Meat’s There’s a Star Above the Manger Tonight? It’s full of fucking awesome and often confounding studio experiments. Good God. He killed it on all those Modest Mouse records as well.

I don’t write this to take shot at Sitek as much as to ask you to consider what constitutes a great producer? Is Sitek one? The jury’s still out. So let’s leave him out of the pantheon for now, OK? But after working on the Garbage Johanson abomination perhaps a little tongue-lashing is due. Certainly it begs the question, “does dude have any idea what he’s doing?”

Seriously, why get involved in that clap trap? To hang lustily around the voluptuously untalented? Or is there actual belief in the project? Now, Bowie’s involvement I get. The White Duke probably had her licking cream out of a saucer and polishing his boots with her scrumptious knockers the moment he floated across the threshold. But Sitek?

Well… buddy, if I’m wrong and you got up in there, the joke’s on me.

Since we already posted ScarJo’s Tom Waits obsession, why don’t we talk about Jena Malone’s Bloodstains?

Oh, that came out wrong.

I am referring to Jena Malone and Her Bloodstains, the band from Saved! and Donnie Darko star, Jena Malone. Unlike Johansson, Malone’s musical endeavors seem less focused and career-minded, instead her 2007 recordings under the Jena Malone and Her Bloodstains moniker amounted to little more than a few shows (in Los Angeles and New York, naturally) and a limited-edition 7” on the great Social Registry label. Her recordings are unpolished and emotionally raw, a welcome change of pace from what you’d expect from a Hollywood star.

Malone’s new band is called The Shoe, so, yeah, good luck Googling that.

Next up: Dogstar!
Just kidding. Like I could compress my D-Star love into one single blog post. Please.

MP3:
Jena Malone - Moonlight Bloodshed

Maybe due to the vicious and/or apathetic reactions garnered by Southland Tales, Donnie Darko writer/director Richard Kelly has been keeping really, really quiet about his next film, The Box. One killer new detail has snuck out, though: According to Pitchfork, The Box will be scored by none other than the Arcade Fire.

This could be huge: The Arcade Fire, obviously, are fucking fantastic, and when it’s done right, having pop musicians score films can result in some of the best and most memorable soundtracks out there (Johnny Greenwood’s scores for Bodysong and There Will Be Blood, Vangelis’ Blade Runner and Chariots of Fire, Cat Stevens’ for Harold and Maude, and I’m sure there’re a few billion other great ones that I can’t think of right now). Kelly’s also proven himself to be pretty amazing with his use of music, in both Darko and Southland—I mean, holy shit. Look at/listen to this. It’s gorgeous.

So yeah. Anyway: Richard Kelly, Arcade Fire, Twilight Zone… yes. Please.

The following text appears at both citylovin.com and upcoming.yahoo.com:

Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 6:30 PM
After a fifteen year absence, Genesis members Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks reunite for this special tour, highlighting the band’s many phases. Genesis sold over 130 million albums during the ’70s and ’80s, despite losing singer Peter Gabriel in 1975.
Jimmy Mak’s Bar & Grill
300 Nw 10th Ave Portland, Oregon 97209

Phil Collins and friends are NOT playing at Jimmy Mak’s tonight. Sure, they’re listed on the calendar, but I’m almost nearly certain that this is a different band—a jazz combo, most likely—that just happens to (unfortunately) call themselves Genesis.

So, no. There will be no “I Can’t Dance” tonight. No “Land of Confusion.” No “Turn It On Again.”

I’m almost positive.

Still… the cover’s 3 bucks. What if it…? No. There’s no fucking way.

Right?

Ok, sure, I haven’t loved anything since The Colour and the Shape, but damn if Dave Grohl doesn’t consistently make himself seem like the nicest, funniest, most-likable rock star that has ever graced this fine land.

From Gawker, via The Smoking Gun, take a look at the Foo Fighters current tour rider:

You know, I get that this is just a better version of a frat-humor, but there is something so amazing about hearing bacon referred to as “god’s currency.” It has been over half a decade since I’ve had meat last, but something tells me that if Dave Grohl came knocking with a plateful of bacon, I might not be able to refuse.

In honor of the fantastic pop sounds of the Little Ones hitting up the Towne Lounge tonight, here is their excellent video for “Ordinary Song.”

This track was supposed to be the first single from their major label debut LP, Morning Tide, but the band got kicked to the curb and that record won’t be released until later this year. The video itself is a gorgeous production with tons of moving sets, an endless cast of varied characters, and some sharp editing that allows all the various scenes to flow together. It’s sort of what Wes Anderson would have done if he was directing low-budget videos for indie bands.

Since there is no way in hell you are buying that slow moving trainwreck that is Scarlett Johansson butchering Tom Waits’ songs (right? RIGHT?), you can stream the entire record, Anywhere I Lay My Head, right here.

My, someone sure likes the Cocteau Twins. While ScarJo has plenty of cred on the album—producer Dave Sitek is in TV on the Radio, and some guy named Bowie stopped by to desperately align himself with youth sing some songs—this whole project seems painfully unnecessary, and feels like one of those bizarre novelty discs (Blackest Album: An Industrial Tribute to Metallica, or Karma Police - Anyone Can Play Radiohead Tribute) that Cleopatra Records releases.

Link courtesy of Wired Listening Post.

ATMOSPHERE, ABSTRACT RUDE, DJ RARE GROOVE
(Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside) It seemed like the ship sailed on Atmosphere long ago. The onetime king of the backpackers, Slug ruled the roost as an emcee that could emote with even the gentlest of emo bedwetters, and then flip it around and pound his chest with a Suicide Girl-obsessed misogynistic thump. His live show became as predictable as his sound, with a bevy of white-capped frat boys eager to show that they “got” hiphop. So what the hell happened with his latest album, the ridiculously titled When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold? It’s fantastic. Gone is the focus on his personal hang-ups, soiled relationships, and tales of on-tour sexual heroics. Instead the record is seen through the eyes of a series of interesting protagonists. The walk of shame drunken regret of “Your Glass House” (“How’d ya get from the bar to this mattress?”) is anchored by a mighty synth line and vocals by TV on the Radio’s Tunde Adebimpe, and the upbeat “You” is clearly his finest work in years. The record is a grand departure from his previous style—which has grown stale in the shadow of forward thinking labelmates Brother Ali and MF Doom—and has a whole lot more live band rock to it than just a soft foundation of simplified beats. EAC

MP3:
Atmosphere - You

Photo by Dan Monick

Engadget has some information on the best, and most God-like, way to listen to DC Talk, the cross-shaped MP3 player. Featuring 1GB of wholesome storage space, the player sells for $49 (that is so cheap, you could totally steal that much from a collection plate) and with the handy Jesus-approved cross design, it is guaranteed to kill vampires*.

* Not true, everyone knows vampires are stronger than Jesus.

AU, MODERNSTATE, GEOFF SOULE
(Valentine’s, 232 SW Ankeny) Au makes experimental folk-pop that’s known for its unconventional instrumentation and elusively stark beauty. Their forthcoming second album, Verbs (out June 26th), is an expansive, communal record, opening with “All My Friends/Are Animals,” a massed incantation that turns into a street carnival, with voices and handclaps clearing the way for fantastical, oversized floats. It then travels through Sufjan Stevens’ pep rally and the avant-garde minimalism of Ligeti before exploding for “RR vs. D,” in which Becky Dawson of Ah Holly Fam’ly providing sumptuous, angelic vocals atop joyous flamenco hand-claps. It’s a graceful, generous record, and it sounds like bandleader/multi-instrumentalist Luke Wyland decided to relinquish the spotlight to many of Portland’s best musicians. But the cohesion and focus of Verbs is undeniable, as is the sheer gorgeousness of the songs. Live, Au are a potent and exciting trio, with Mark Kaylor’s muted cymbals splashing all over Jonathan Sielaff’s clarinet and Wyland’s accordion. NL

MP3:
Au - rr vs. d

How’d you like to be in a Steve Malkmus video? Well, I’ve got some thin, somewhat sketchy details and if you follow them, apparently you can. The shoot is supposed to take place in the “PDX metro area” this week. All you need to do is have a Jicks t-shirt and email dantronix@gmail.com. (What? They don’t have a box of shirts to use for the shoot? Losers.)

Anyway, fling an email to that address and they’re supposed to get back to you with the time and location and all that. Yeehaw.

New all age venues? Keep ‘em coming!

Cary Clarke just sent word about StumpCLUB, which plans on “opening thee raddest all-ages music/art venue/space/hang-out Portland has ever seen.” But all that “raddest” needs funds, so they are throwing a great show in the hopes of raising some cash, here are the details:

June 3rd at Westview High School (4200 NW 185th)
YACHT
All Girl Summer Fun Band (The first AGSFB show in nearly 3 years)
Reporter
All Ages | $5 | Open to the public

We’ll keep you updated on StumpCLUB’s efforts to open the venue, stay tuned.

After seeing Ekterklang and Slaraffenland at the Doug Fir this past Friday, I came to the conclusion that Scandinavians are better than us at everything. The New York Times realizes this as well, writing a love letter to Stockholm’s music scene in their travel section. I’m not planning to travel to Sweden anytime soon, and the relative worthlessness of our American dollar to the booming Swedish kronor makes such a trip prohibitive, but damn if there aren’t a ton of excellent Swedish bands these days.

Read the article here.

It’s probably stupid for me to post about the upcoming release of Volume 1 of the Neil Young Archives. This was first announced in 1990. Nearly 20 years later, there’s still no sign of ‘em.

But the rumor mill has been spinning a bit, with word that they’ll be out SOON, although I still can’t find an official release date. The first volume will be 10 discs, covering years 1963 to 1972 (and may include the Massey Hall and Fillmore East live sets that have already been released). There’ll be interactive menus, video footage, and the ability to update Neil’s archives via internet downloads when new info becomes available or is rediscovered.

Cool, right? Here’s the catch though: All this stuff will be released on the new Blu-Ray super-DVD format… and it’s indeterminate as to whether that will be the only format available. It will likely NOT be on CD, but whether a regular DVD release is also happening is unclear. Neil took part in a press presentation with the technerds at Sun Microsystems, endorsing their Java platform for the new technology (he ain’t singin’ for Pepsi, but he’ll shill for Sun). Anyway, for those of us with a Blu-ray—or a Playstation 3, which supposedly supports the format—I bet those scratchy, tinny archival recordings will sound as scratchy and tinny as they did when they were first recorded.

For those of us who don’t have a Blu-ray player… guess it’s time to start rubbing those pennies together.

Damn it, Neil!

The Rock Lottery premise is simple, but effective. Twenty-five hand picked musicians meet at 10:00AM at the evenings performance venue. These volunteers are organized into five groups through a lottery-based chance selection. The five separate groups are then released to practice at different locations. The musicians have twelve hours to create a band name and three to five songs (with a one cover-song limit). The groups will then perform what they have created that evening in front of a waiting audience.

Portland needs this.

Any promoters out there want to take the reigns and organize it? It sounds like a blast, and I’m sure more than a few notable Portland musicians will be willing to take part. If you take a look at the alumni from the recent Seattle lottery, it’s an excellent collection of performers from a wide variety of bands/genres, from Tiny Vipers to the United States of Electronica. Come on Portland, it’s time for a Rock Lottery.

But if this doesn’t take off, I’m all for David Stern coming to town and conducting a draft, NBA style. The Knicks could use Stephen Malkmus’ veteran leadership, plus think of all the rings that backcourt of Malkmus and Marbury could win.

Get ready to get really excited about PDX Pop Now!. The local festival folks have announced the details of their 2008 compilation, the festival dates (with a sneak preview of some of the acts performing), plus they have granted us some unreleased MP3s as well.

Good lord.

First off, the festival. Once again moving venues, PDX Pop Now! will take place at Rotture on the three greatest days of your life, July 25-27. Not sure how they will accommodate all 50 bands, but I assume they will be using a large portion of the Rotture (aka Loveland, aka Meow Meow, aka B Complex…) building, plus perhaps an outdoor stage as well. This year’s performers will include The Builders & The Butchers, New Bloods, Panther, Starfucker, Atole, SubArachnoid Space, Reporter, and more to be announced soon. Oh, and it’s all free. Three days of free music. This is why you moved here.

Secondly, the compilation. It’s 40-tracks (!) deep, a mere $8 from local retailers, and features unreleased (!!) songs from Faux Hoax, Blitzen Trapper, YACHT, The Joggers, Talkdemonic, Horse Feathers, Yellow Swans, Au and Pink Martini. Holy fuck! Not the band called “Holy Fuck,” that was just my personal reaction when I read the track listing.

Finally, the free unreleased MP3s. Download your heart out, but be sure to pick up a copy of the compilation on June 17th when it hits stores.

MP3:
Faux Hoax (Danny Seim of Menomena, Dave Allen of Gang of Four and John Askew) - Foxworthy

Blitzen Trapper - Crushing the Wheat

The Joggers - Golden Wage

Full press release, and compilation track listing, after the jump:

PDX Pop Now! Announces 2008 Compilation, Festival

Unreleased Blitzen Trapper, YACHT, The Joggers, Faux Hoax, Talkdemonic, Horse Feathers
Yellow Swans, Au and Pink Martini tracks on PDX Pop Now! 2008 Compilation (June 17)

The Builders & The Butchers, New Bloods, Panther,
Starfucker, SubArachnoid Space and More To Play Fest (July 25-27)

Portland, Ore. -- May 11, 2008 PDX Pop Now! -- a volunteer-driven, nonprofit organization dedicated to championing its city's vibrant music community -- is pleased to announce its fifth annual festival of Portland music and the release of PDX Pop Now! 2008, the group's fifth 2-disc compilation of music from Portland artists.

The Festival
A FREE, ALL AGES, three-day event featuring nearly 50 Portland bands, the PDX Pop Now! festival will take place July 25-27, 2008, at Rotture (roh-TUR-ay), a live music venue located in Portland's inner southeast warehouse district. Rotture resides in the space formerly occupied by the venues Loveland and Meow Meow, home to the first three PDX Pop Now! festivals. The initial lineup includes:

The Builders & The Butchers | New Bloods | Panther | Starfucker | Atole
SubArachnoid Space | Reporter | Argumentix | Meth Teeth
Guidance Counselor | World's Greatest Ghosts | Y La Bamba
Hutch & Kathy of The Thermals (tentative)

Many more artists are still to be announced; please check our schedule page for updates.

The Compilation
Previously unreleased tracks from Portland artists Faux Hoax (the new project from Danny Seim of Menomena, Dave Allen of Gang of Four and John Askew), Blitzen Trapper, YACHT, The Joggers, Talkdemonic, Horse Feathers, Yellow Swans, Au and Pink Martini highlight the 40-track collection, which features additional gems from local favorites Chromatics, Valet, New Bloods, Panther, Sandpeople and more. PDX Pop Now! also extended an open invitation to its city's musicians to submit music for consideration for the album, and selections culled from the work submitted by more than 400 artists round out the album, which, in a display of Portland's tremendous musical diversity, features genres from indie rock, laptop-pop and hip hop to folk, ambient, psychedelia, jazz, noise, and metal. The compilation will be available for purchase for a quite economical $8 starting Tuesday, June 17, at Portland-area retail outlets and online at CD Baby. Proceeds from sales go towards funding the festival.

Tracklisting:

DISC 1
01 Au - "Are Animals"
02 Blue Cranes - "S.T.I.L.L."
03 Meth Teeth - "Unemployment Forever"
04 The Joggers - "Golden Wage"
05 A Weather - "Spiders, Snakes"
06 New Bloods - "Oh, Deadly Nightshade!"
07 Portland Cello Project feat. Heather Broderick - "For Misty"
08 Copacrescent - "Do My Thing"
09 Y La Bamba - "Fasting in San Francisco"
10 Valet - "We Went There"
11 Strength - "Wilderness"
12 Swim Swam Swum - "Not in Your Way"
13 Andy Combs and The Moth - "Let's Ride"
14 Still Pending - "Drivin' to California"
15 Yellow Swans - "Velvet Water"
16 Kelli Schaefer - "Lasso the Moon"
17 Nick Caceres - "The Victorian Hoedown"
18 Blitzen Trapper - "Crushing the Wheat"
19 Sandpeople - "The Count"
20 Panther - "Puerto Rican Jukebox (Lips and Ribs Remix)"

DISC 2
01 Devin Phillips - "Frenchmen Street Strut"
02 Bodhi - "Nadine"
03 SubArachnoid Space - "Honorable Mention"
04 Fist Fite - "Grandma Surprise"
05 Braille - "The IV"
06 Eliot Rose - "Brightness and the Blood"
07 Pseudosix - "Apathy & Excess"
08 Horse Feathers - "Road to Ruin"
09 Hey Lover - "She's the Girl for Me"
10 Dragging an Ox Through Water - "Houses & Homonculi"
11 Southern Belle - "Sunnyside"
12 Pink Martini - "Hey Eugene (Watch Your Back)"
13 YACHT - "Ring the Bell (Premix)"
14 Living Proof feat. Liv Warfield - "Sky High City (Bluebird)"
15 Faux Hoax - "Foxworthy"
16 JonnyX and the Groadies - "Castle/Face"
17 The Woodlands - "Until the Day Dims"
18 Chromatics - "Night Drive"
19 Talkdemonic - "Silvertone"
20 Guidance Counselor - "Pull Over"