Touring the Election Night Parties: Who's Out, Who's In—and Who's Dancing to November

The release show's tonight at Tube, and the four-song record's called Hide; it's out on Eolian Records, and it's fucking heavy. If you don't have a record player (seriously, why don't you have a record player? What the hell is wrong with you?), or if your record player doesn't play 10-inch records (mine didn't until I jammed a piece of metal bracket into one of the gear things), you can check out the tunes over on Rabbits' MySpace page. They're loud, furious, heavy, catastrophic, screamy, bellowy, and fucking fun as hell. Turn it up. Make your neighbors hate you. Then go to see Rabbits tonight. Beers are a fucking dollar.
w/Kingdom of Magic, DJ Wroidrage; Tube, 18 NW 3rd, 9 pm

Love Ed Harcourt? Of course you do. Now you can combine your love for Harcourt with your crippling poverty and see the man perform for free. He's doing a 94/7 New Music Heaven show at the Woods on October 8. It's a free show open to everyone 21-plus, doors at 5pm and show starts at 6pm. If you don't get there early—after all, it's Harcourt's only Portland performance—you will not get in.
You've been warned.
LISTEN:
Ed Harcourt - "Do As I Say Not As I Do"

Amid this week's usual pile of packages addressed to the music section, one item stood out: Grandma Warble's Strawberry Jam. Needless to say as the Mercury's jam, jelly, and preserve intern, I was thrilled. The jam comes compliment of Warble Records, a small Salem label that is hosting an interactive showcase at Holocene on July 21, complete with video art and sets from Sustentacula, Massive Moth, and plenty more. But enough about all that, let us get down to the good stuff—the jam.
The aroma encountered upon opening the small jar is to be expected, a tangy berry sensation that tingles the nostrils and makes you recall that old "I'd rather be eating marionberry, but I'm not in Oregon" feeling. I sampled the jam on its own, so as to encounter the full flavor, uninhibited by toast or bagel. To my pleasant surprise, the mixture avoided the age old mistake of over-sweetening. It had a calm and inviting sweetness that did not mask the more subtle overtone of lemon.
The next test? Lets see how it fares on our very own Tuckerbox, which is an authentic Australian bite-sized treat. Coupled with a sugary oatmeal cookie, the jam was quite nice; allowing the cookie to shine through with its undeniable Aussie-ness. The only sensation left unsatisfied was that of spice. My favorite jams have always had a hint of spice to them, just a little kick to make your breakfast that much more memorable. But Grandma Warble's didn't quite pull through on this one. While this is a jam that will work for breakfast, when compared to the big boys, it will have a tough chance at making the cut.
Final jam score: 6.8/10
... who bring a copy of one of their albums to the store.

Spunky Monkey has been open for several months now, in the now-purple building on NE 20th & Couch that used to house Ruby's, but it took me a while to actually check it out because the name is just so freaking terrible. But the service at the neighborhood coffeeshop I used to frequently recently became intolerable (Dear barista: Your "cleanse" is actually not a legitimate explanation for why you are taking so fucking long making my coffee. Sincerely, Alison), driving me into the weird sex monkey coffeeshop, and it's actually a really great little place. Good coffee (they roast their own), thoughtful sandwich options (a veggie sandwich with pickled beans!), waffles, creative bagel-topping options (fig butter. Is good. Plus, their breakfast bagel w/Morningstar sausage, cheese, and pepper sauce is like the Platonic ideal of a veggie bagel sandwich), housemade kombucha, basically all kinds of well-done hippie options that have gradually eroded my initial association of semen-spattered primates. And of course the music thing is a win-win.
MUSIC ON MAIN STREET: PANCAKE BREAKFAST (SW Main between Broadway & Park, 5-7 pm, FREE, all ages) PLAY IN TRAFFIC—This afternoon marks the first Music on Main Street of the summer, in which the street outside the Portland Center for the Performing Arts is blocked off for a local band to play every Wednesday. Check out Pancake Breakfast and their jaunty, family-style backyard folk, performed with a full backup choir. NL
GIL SCOTT-HERON COVERS: MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO, STEPHANIE SCHNEIDERMAN (Alberta Rose Theatre, 3000 NE Alberta) Why is it fitting for Meshell Ndegeocello to perform an evening of Gil Scott-Heron covers? What connects these two artists? Before answering that, let's look at what disconnects them. The main disconnection is that they come from and represent very different moments and moods in the history of black popular music. Scott-Heron is associated with the black power movement of the early '70s; Ndegeocello is associated with the post-feminist rebellion of the '90s. Scott-Heron is all about race, about the color of his skin, and the history of that skin color in America. Despite being political, Ndegeocello is not so much about her skin. She instead has about her the mode of the post-racial. So what connects them? It is their relationship with the arts. Both emerged from an education in the arts. In the way Ndegeocello could easily have followed a path to a career in jazz, Scott-Heron could easily have followed a path to a career in literature. CHARLES MUDEDE
DEFIANCE OHIO, FOOT OX, THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES (Satyricon, 125 NW 6th) Defiance Ohio is a name that rings true with those who know that the words This Bike Is a Pipe Bomb is not a terrorist threat, or those who remember Against Me! when they were a neckbearded acoustic punk act from the Florida 'burbs. The Columbus band—not actually from the city of Defiance—primarily steers clear of three chords (and three-pronged outlets) in favor of staying acoustic and relying on the very un-punk combination of cello, upright bass, harmonica, violin, and acoustic guitar. But punk is not a volume war, and on their brand-new full-length, Midwestern Minutes, Defiance's positive message and inspiring anthems are deafening compared to their all-noise, little-substance punk rock peers. The highlight of this is "Cigarettes," a song that packs a wallop despite clocking in under the minute mark. Let's hear it for efficiency. EAC
Rebecca Gates and the Consortium after the jump!
As always, you can find our complete live show listings here.

Let me first make this clear: I'm not happy Hosannas/Church broke up. Last summer I wrote a pretty glowing piece about the avant-pop four-piece. I thought they had nowhere to go but up.
Their newly released record, Song Force Crystal, is more austere than the title would suggest. Recorded last November, it's a good primer, but only hints at the stunningly dynamic arrangements the foursome now command. At times Church's songs feel more like suites, blending together through beautiful sets. But if Church is indeed realized as a full-time alternative to the Olive Garden slog, it won't be long until the studio meets or exceeds the band's live prowess. Like the beer that's already good but still fermenting, Church have the promise and potential to become Portland's most stunning new band.
Instead they went out. The dynamics kept sprawling as the melodies and arcs became harder to trace. To put it another way, I think Hosannas/Church peaked.
Part of the reason the band is splitting changing, we're told, is so keyboardist Cristof Hendrickson and drummer Lane Barrington can pursue other projects. Barrington's long running (pre-Church) outfit, The Ocean Floor recently released Pop Quiz. It's Church-like in the way it bobs and weaves, layers all kinds of instrumental interplay, and occasionally takes sharp left turns. Unlike Church it never shies away from effervescence.
Listen:
The Ocean Floor "What's The Dream?"
...in which the RZA shoots purple lightning out of his hands. The Wu-Tang Vs. The Golden Phoenix is RZA's directing debut and it looks like a big, fat love letter to all the things that make kung-fu movies what they are. There's the grimy color palette, the sexed up score, the apparent lack of character/dialogue/story... It also looks a little bit like one of those YouTube videos where kids show off their After Effects and Final Cut skillz. Also, Eli Roth (Hostel, Cabin Fever) helped write the screenplay, which could easily be a positive or negative thing. Check it out:

The band that singlehandily made the cello the coolest bowed instrument around—it should have been you, Psalmodicon—the Portland Cello Project have resurfaced with a brand new album. Due out July 20, Thousand Words is their third LP, and while there is no Thao or Justin Power to lend vocal support, the album does feature collaborations with everyone from Rachel Blumberg (Norfolk & Western, M.Ward) to New York beatboxer Adam Matta.
To celebrate the new album, PCP (least fitting acronym ever) is hosting a pair of contrasting release shows. On July 8, put on your tux and tails for their classy performance amongst the pews of The Old Church, where the ensemble will collaborate with John Vecchiarelli and Shenandoah Davis, in addition to playing Thousand Words in its entirety. On July 9, put on your ironic tuxedo T-shirt and attend their "Extreme Dance Party Edition" at the Doug Fir, where the Cello Project will break out plenty of covers and other surprises as well. Both shows will probably sell out, so get your advance tickets now.
And in honor of Thousand Words being a few weeks away, here is the premiere of the lovely opening track, "Denmark."
LISTEN:
Portland Cello Project - "Denmark"
DRAGGING AN OX THROUGH WATER, SOFT METALS, GOLDEN RETRIEVER, KEVIN SHIELDS (Valentine's, 232 SW Ankeny. No, not that Kevin Shields) OX ROX—The brand-new 7-inch from Dragging an Ox through Water makes its welcome emergence into the world at tonight's show, in which Brian Mumford (the man behind all that Ox Dragging) will play warped electro/acoustic music with plenty of unique special effects. NL
CAGE, HATE YOUR GUTS, SERGE SEVER, GEN. ERIK (Hawthorne Theatre Lounge, 1507 SE 39th) It's a little baffling to watch Canadian R&B-singer/rapper/Degrassi-heartthrob Drake sweep up the critical accolades for daring to bare his poor, mopey, rich-kid soul on Thank Me Later, given that the hiphop game has had no shortage of would-be oversharers over the years. Grim, grimy emo emcee Cage definitely has a grittier bio than most and isn't afraid to spill his guts over rap tracks that contain goth tropes until it's hard to tell where the black eyes end and the eyeliner begins. But Cage's latest Def Jux joint, Depart from Me, thoroughly squanders what talents the emcee displayed on his 2005 opus Hell's Winter—which is just more bad news to go cry about. ERIC GRANDY
EDDY CURRENT SUPPRESSION RING, CHEAP FLIGHT, BLOOD BEACH (East End, 203 SE Grand) Eddy Current Suppression Ring embody in sound that common perception of Australians as ruffians with charming accents. They play a rough-hewn brand of garage punk but also have the ability to stretch out with a sort of 1969: Velvet Underground Live epicness (see especially "Tuning Out" from ECSR's new album, Rush to Relax). ECSR are at their best when locking into a rugged chug, a polluted, biker-rock take on motorik (see "Second Guessing," also off Rush to Relax), but they also excel with tender, sweetly tuneful songs like "Gentleman," which evokes Oz legends the Saints. DAVE SEGAL
Ah Holly Fam'ly after the jump!
As always, you can find our complete live show listings here.

Oh, hello new Thermals single. "I Don't Believe You" is the first song released from Personal Life (out September 14 on Kill Rock Stars), and it sounds, well, it sounds like the Thermals, right down to the "ohhs and ahhs." The single, and its b-side pairing, "There's Nothing You Can't Learn," will be out on seven-inch and digital download on August 10.
LISTEN:
The Thermals - "I Don't Believe You"
h/t: P4k

Y La Bamba's Lupon is finally set to be released this September (the 28th, to be exact) on local label Tender Loving Empire. But September is a long way away, so the band is offering up "Juniper" for your listening pleasure. Produced by Chris Funk (of the Decemberists, Black Prairie, and so much more), the song centers around the lovely voice of frontwoman Luz Elena Mendoza and is the first recording to best capture the allure of this band.
Bonus: Look at this awesome cover art for Lupon. Is that a cat with laser eyes? Why, yes it is.
LISTEN:
Y La Bamba - "Juniper"
BLACK TUSK, ZOROASTER, DARK CASTLE, TENSPEED WARLOCK (Satyricon, 125 NW 6th) Zoroaster's new album Matador is a massive, psyched-out wall of Southern doom with volume knobs turned to 11 and reverb cranked to the limit. Matador also has Zoroaster changing their vocal stylings a bit, taking a few steps into heavily processing their voices along the way. The graveled delivery of Will Fiore and Brent Anderson is still there, but now their vocals create a hypnotizing drone over the music, making almost any song from Matador into a body-altering experience live. As a matter of fact, eat plenty of fiber and take a satisfying movement before attending this show, because all four bands on this bill have enough rumbling low end and volume to empty your bowels into your pants. AW
ANYA MARINA, EUX AUTRES (Doug Fir, 840 E. Burnside) Team Edward, or Team Anya?
BAD REPUTATION: XDS, ASTROLOGY, DJ NATE C (Tube, 18 NW 3rd) XDS drummer Shoko Horikowa is on hiatus. Check out the video above and imagine that you're watching new drummer Ben Tyler behind the skins.

Bad news. One of Portland's finest up and coming bands, Hosannas is likely parting ways following their show this Friday at the Artistery. The band formerly known as Church—the Aussie band of the same name asked that they make the change—had recently released Then & Now & Then on Hush Records and a news post from two days ago on their site seemed pretty promising:
we are back in portland for summer. and gearing up for the release of our new record. stay tuned we will be releasing a track or two in a week!
But then we received this message from the band's Brandon Laws:
This Friday we will be playing our last show as a group. Cristof [Hendrickson] and Lane [Barrington] are leaving Hosannas quite amicably to pursue other things. Richard [Laws] and I aren't sure what we are going to do but we know that these songs probably won't ever be played live again.
Bummer. Well, see you Friday then.
LISTEN:
Hosannas - "Happiness"
UPDATE:
Brandon writes us again to say that the band isn't really breaking up.
Actually we are going to continue playing shows as Hosannas, but it will be with a new setlist and just the two of us for awhile.
My Dads, KidCrash, Not to Reason Why, Pianos Become Teeth (Kenton Club, 2025 N Kilpatrick) Throughout much of the late '00s, half the members of Kidcrash resided in Olympia, while the other half stayed put in their hometown of Santa Fe. Miraculously, their band not only survived, but also thrived—releasing records, touring trans-continentally, and blossoming into something state lines couldn't hinder or contain. Kidcrash's boundary-thrashing, epic compositions traverse and rupture the territories of punk, post-hardcore, math and prog rock, a chaotic ride that manages to sound out of control and meticulously planned all at once. Now that all four members have settled in Portland, we get the privilege of witnessing firsthand what they're capable of while actually living in the same city. EJ
NO.FEST 2010: BLUE CRANES, LICKITY, DANIEL MENCHE, ROLLERBALL & MORE (St. Johns) SAY YES TO NO—The numbers are staggering: over 50 performances in 29 hours, so just assume that if you are anywhere near St. Johns on Friday or Saturday, you'll see something from No.Fest. The annual event is absolutely massive this year, offering everything from children's shows to experimental dub, plus everything else in between. EAC
SALLY SELTMANN, BENOIT PIOULARD, ZACH ZAITLIN (The Woods, 6637 SE Milwaukie) Each song on Sally Seltmann's Heart That's Pounding goes for the pop jugular. The bright hooks and indelible choruses come on like bursts of fresh air, sparkling in Seltmann's sunny mood and encapsulating decades of pop history—from early '60s Brill Building girl-group records to '70s piano-based songwriter albums to '80s radio hits. You've actually heard Seltmann's pop hooks before, even without realizing it; she co-wrote Feist's "1234," which went on to soundtrack an inescapable iPod commercial. You also might have heard her work as New Buffalo, the artistic alias Seltmann has recorded under until now.
...Continue reading the rest of Ned Lannamann's article on Sally Seltmann here.
COCOROSIE, CIBELLE (Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell) Cocorosie are a divisive, if not flat-out widely disliked, band. The twee, folk-adelic, fond-of-beatboxing sister act's last three albums have landed in the 2.3—5.1 range of Pitchfork's 10 rating system, while Metacritic's more forgiving metrics give those albums a mean (in the mathematical, not the snarky sense) rating of 59, 60, and 67 out of 100, respectively. In academic terms, those are Fs and (to quote Kanye West quoting Radio Raheem) "Ds, motherfucker, Ds." Beyond the numbers, of course, people just say mean things about sisters Sierra and Bianca Casady. Spin, in a zero-stars review of their 2005 sophomore album, Noah's Ark, memorably said: "They make each shimmer of postnatal whimsy seem like an eternal gulag of the spotless mind." Why all the hate? We attempt to get to the bottom of this pressing issue. EG
...Click here and Eric Grandy will explain why you hate Cocorosie.
Solvent, Saint Vitus, Portugal. The Man, Mimicking Birds and Anti-Pop Consortium all after the jump!
As always, you can find our complete live show listings here.