This Week in the Mercury
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
News The Tonic Lounge Lives!
Posted by Ezra Ace Caraeff on Tue, Nov 30, 2010 at 4:39 PM
Remember when you dug through your sofa cushions looking for that $95000 it would take to buy the Tonic Lounge? Too late, Sean Sexton beat you to it.
The Tonic Lounge's new owner promises to make some improvements at the NE club, here's what he told us: "Tonic will still be doing shows! The plan is to fix some of the appearance of the exterior and the lounge, upgrade some of the food items, and continue the entertainment. I want to bring back the former glory of Tonic's music venue."
MP3 Twenty-One Minutes and 17 Seconds of Daft Punk's Tron Legacy Score.
Posted by Erik Henriksen on Tue, Nov 30, 2010 at 2:44 PM
- Why yes, I am awesome at photoshop.
Hey, look at that—MySpace is still good for something! They're streaming just over 21 minutes of Daft Punk's badass score from Tron Legacy, including a bit from this track:
LISTEN:
Daft Punk (feat. Jeff Motherfuckin' Bridges) - "The Grid"
The album officially comes out next week, but if a mere 21 minutes of bloopedy-bloop-BOOM-BOOM-Inception-noise-Inception-noise isn't enough for you, you might want to be aware of this. Just saying. There's also this—an extensive KCRW interview with Tron director Joseph Kosinski about how Daft Punk became involved with the production. ("I knew we wanted to create a classic film score that blended electronic and orchestral music in a way that hadn't been done before," Kosinski says.)
So put on your headphones and, uh, hop on your lightcycles, fire up your identity discs, squeeze into your spandex... I don't know. Whatever it is you Tron dweebs say to each other. Props to AICN and Blogtown reader Grant for the links.
News Freeway and Jake One to Headline Poh-Hop
Posted by Ezra Ace Caraeff on Tue, Nov 30, 2010 at 12:21 PM
For their 12th year the Portland Oregon Hip-Hop Festival (that's Poh-Hop if your nasty, or just hate really long festival titles) is bringing out the big names: Freeway and Jake One. Sure, not exactly local acts (although Jake One reps the Pacific Northwest and has done his time behind the decks at The Fix in the past), but in previous years the festival has left the 503 for headliners, such as last year's top draw E-40.
POH-Hop runs from January 19-22 and the pair behind Stimulus Package will be performing on January 21st at Backspace (!). We'll update you on the full lineup when it's announced.
Until then, play this loud...
LISTEN:
Freeway and Jake One - "One Foot In"
Contest Win Ticket$ to Curren$y!
Posted by Ezra Ace Caraeff on Tue, Nov 30, 2010 at 10:11 AM
The biggest dilemma facing the stoned throngs longing to attend the "Smokers Club Tour" is how can you afford both smoke (cigarettes, naturally) and tickets? We understand your pain, Cheech. That's why when Curren$y and Nipsey Hussle take the stage at the Roseland this Friday night, we want you to be there on us.
We are giving away a pair of tickets to Curren$y, Nipsey, and the rest of the "Smokers Club Tour." Just comment below by 10am tomorrow (that's Wednesday) and make your case for why you deserve these free tickets. Best comment wins. Good luck.
Rolling in green? Just buy your tickets here.
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Tonight! Tonight in Music: Portugal. The Man
Posted by Morgan Troper on Tue, Nov 30, 2010 at 10:00 AM
PORTUGAL. THE MAN
(Music Millennium, 3158 E Burnside) Next week you'll have a serious dilemma on your hands: Should you go see the always incredible Portugal. The Man at the Crystal Ballroom along with tired alt-rockers Cake? It's a tough call, a great musical experience versus the band that unleashed the horror that is "The Distance." But we are here to solve this perplexing dilemma, since PTM has just announced an in-store appearance at Music Millennium. Free and open to all ages, the band will surely play all the hits from this year's American Ghetto, and maybe if you are lucky they'll debut some material from their major label debut due out next year. Actually this is what you should do: see this show, buy a copy of American Ghetto, and then head down to Pambiche for some (literal) cake—after one slice of their La Selva Negra, you will forget that terrible band from Sacramento once and for all. EZRA ACE CARAEFF
You can view the complete show listings here.
Let's Talk About... Wow, What a Week for New Records!
Posted by Ezra Ace Caraeff on Tue, Nov 30, 2010 at 9:59 AM
Local cover-everything music blog Oregon Music News usually runs a list of each week's new releases—in conjunction with Music Millennium, who hosts their site. Well, looks like this is THE GREATEST WEEK EVER (or someone just didn't proof what they copied and pasted):
November 29, 2010
A Silent Film - The City That Sleeps
Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Avi Buffalo - Avi Buffalo
Azure Ray - Drawing Down the Moon
Beach House - Teen Dream
Best Coast - Crazy For You
Blitzen Trapper - Destroyer of the Void
Blonde Redhead - Penny Sparkle
Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest
Vampire Weekend - Contra
Wolf Parade - Expo 86
Bobby Bare Jr. - A Storm-A Tree — My Mother’s Head
Dawes - North Hills
Les Savy Fav - Root For Ruin
Local Natives - Gorilla Manner
Mumford & Sons - Sigh No MOre
Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Salem - King Night
Flying Lotus - Cosmogramma
Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
Josh Ritter - So Runs The World Away
Menomena - Friend and Foe
Paul Weller - Wake Up the Nation
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - I Learned The Hard Way
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - Naturally
Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
The Tallest Man On Earth - The Wild Hunt
Grace Potter & The Nocturnals - Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
Trampled By Turtles - Palomino
Jenny and Johnny - I’m Having Fun Now
Devo - Something for Everybody
The Black Keys - Brothers
Janelle Monae - The ArchAndroid
The Dead Weather - Sea Of Cowards
Grover Washington, Jr. - Grover Live
Junip - Fields
Marty Stuart - Ghost Train, The Studio B…
Merle Haggard - I Am What I Am
Isobel Campbell/Mark Lanegan - Hawk
Humble Pie - Rockin’ The Fillmore
Nirvana - In Utero (EX)
Oingo Boingo - Dean Man’s Party
Paper Tongues - Paper Tongues
Thin Lizzy - Jailbreak
Tom Waits - Rain Dogs
So many good "new" records this week. I can't wait to hear that Arcade Fire record everyone has been talking about.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Video "The Jimi Hendrix Experience is over."
Posted by Grant Brissey on Mon, Nov 29, 2010 at 4:07 PM
"[His] onstage gyrations could make Elvis Presley look like a PE teacher."
h/t: Pearl Nelson!
Mercury Music Hour Download (the Long-Lost) Episode 20 of the Mercury Music Hour
Posted by Ned Lannamann on Mon, Nov 29, 2010 at 3:44 PM
Hello, audiophiles and music collectors! We have a very special surprise for you this week: A long-unheard episode of the legendary Mercury Music Hour! Back in the day, the Mercury Music Hour could be heard weekly at noon on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday on 910 AM, on HD radio at 94.7 Too, and streaming online at 947.fm. Its seminal influence went on to change the face of both radio and Portland music forever. And now here's the legendary, long-lost Episode 20, which hasn't been heard since its original broadcast on... uh... the week of November 20-24, 2010. So, yeah... uh, I guess that was last week. I suppose it's not really long-lost. I usually post these things at the end of every week, though, and I forgot to do it this past Friday because of turkey and wine and general irresponsibility. So, there you go. A kind of long-lost episode, posted a couple days late for your listening pleasure.
LISTEN:
The Mercury Music Hour: Episode 20
Actually, I'll change my tune here and say it's long-lost because it contains a really noticeable technical error—the music mistakenly begins while we're still talking. Yay Garageband, and your blocks of audio that are easily and accidentally moveable! Playlist after the jump!
Ear Plug Review Ear Plug Reviews: EarPeace
Posted by Ezra Ace Caraeff on Mon, Nov 29, 2010 at 2:24 PM
Ideally this will be a new feature on the blog, where I jam random objects (hopefully ear plugs, not just balled-up toilet paper or sand) in my ear holes. If there are any ear plug manufacturers out there that want me to test their products, let me know.
Ear Plug Model:
EarPeace
What They Say:
EarPeace will improve your live music or nightlife experience. You'll hear better, feel better, and play longer. EarPeace is comfortable, stylish, hearing protection. EarPeace is a must for anyone who loves live music or dancing. The high-fidelity design delivers high quality sound and great protection. No more ringing ears!
What I Say:
I originally meant to test these at the Watain show at Branx a few weeks back, but misplaced them under my car seat. Plus, considering all the rotted goat (at least, I think that was goat) carcasses onstage that night, noseplugs might have been a better plan. Instead I broke out the EarPeace(s) at Saratoga on Saturday night for Big Black Cloud and Blood Beach (conflict of interest pony insists I mention that freelancer Ethan Jayne plays in that band).
Given Saratoga's loud soundsystem and unforgiving room, it seemed like a good fit. With these in my ears the sound was crisp but never muffled, plus there was none of that creeping tinnitus post-show ear ringing. I compared them mid-set with my trusty Ear Love plugs and the overall volume level was similar, if not slightly better with the EarPeaces.
These plugs slide pretty deep into your ear and there was some slight trepidation that if something broke in my canal I'd be headed to the emergency room. But the ear plugs were actually quite comfortable, if not a little creepy given their fleshy silicone texture. They feel like something a Real Doll (link NSFW) might wear at a concert. (As if I'd bring my real doll to a show, please.)
Speaking of their skin-like texture, it should be noted that EarPeace is oddly racially friendly. The plugs come in various colors (white, tan, or brown), so your ear plug matches the color of your ear—granted you must be a white, tan, or brown person for this to be effective. I might just order the brown ones to illustrate how post-racial (holla, Obama) I am.
Would You Cram These in Your Ears Again?
Absolutely. Between the cool metal keychain case that resembles a drug dealer sized vial of cocaine and the sound quality, Ear Peace is now my go-to option at shows. Plus, they are cheap. $12.95 is a downright steal for something that works this well.
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Gossip (No, Not the Band) Avast! Bradford Cox Accused Of Piracy!
Posted by Ethan Jayne on Mon, Nov 29, 2010 at 1:48 PM
Last week, Deerhunter frontman and Atlas Sound mastermind Bradford Cox unleashed four, count 'em, four downloadable Atlas Sound mixtapes on the Deerhunter blog. The majority of the so-dubbed Bedroom Databank series' 50 tracks were recorded in the fall of this year. Cox tinkered with instruments like synths, bells, congas, mouth organ and harmonica, and even ventured to cover a couple of tracks—volume one of the series featured Kurt Vile's "Freak Train" and Bob Dylan's "This Wheel's On Fire."
Apparently, Sony Music Entertainment was none too happy about that last part, and decided to delete the links on the grounds of PIRACY. Or at least they tried to—according to Cox, they deleted the links to volumes two through four, not bothering to remove the one that contained the Dylan track. Whoops!
From the Deerhunter blog:
"Your Files Have Been Deleted"
Apparently Sony Music Owns my bedroom. Feel free to call or email and let them know what you think. I can understand them requesting for me to remove a cover but the only one I can imagine that happening with is Dylan. Which was on Vol. 1. Which was not deleted. I am re-uploading the files now. I'll put new links in the posts.
Head over to his blog to check out all of the material—the links for volumes two through four have been resurrected, and the link for number one is still alive and well—as well as a contact email and phone number for Sony Music Entertainment's Anti-Piracy division to ask them just WTF they were thinking.
News And Your New Mississippi Studios Booker is...
Posted by Ezra Ace Caraeff on Mon, Nov 29, 2010 at 12:56 PM
...Matt King, formerly of Berbati's Pan.
Mercury Music Hour Episode #21 of the Mercury Music Hour
Posted by Ezra Ace Caraeff on Mon, Nov 29, 2010 at 11:58 AM
Episode number 21 of the Mercury Music Hour is on the air, RIGHT NOW! Music from Poison Idea, Wampire, Themes, Larry Norman, Broadway Calls, and plenty more. Stream the show online at 947.fm or listen live on 910 AM. If you missed it, the same episode will be on this Wednesday and Friday at noon.
Our playlist for episode number 21 is after the jump.
Video Y La Bamba in a Bar Bar
Posted by Ezra Ace Caraeff on Mon, Nov 29, 2010 at 10:56 AM
There have been a couple of these Bar Bar sessions as of late, but few are as gorgeous as this series of videos capturing Y La Bamba performing in the tiny apartment atop Mississippi Studios and Bar Bar. Filmed by Ben Fee and Colin Shane, there are three videos total—the one embedded above for "Ponce Pilato," plus this one, and this one as well—all of which should be on your Monday must-watch list since these are all brand new songs.
Gossip (No, Not the Band) Suede Coming to Portland?
Posted by Ezra Ace Caraeff on Mon, Nov 29, 2010 at 10:54 AM
We've heard from some pretty reliable sources that a newly-reunited Suede—as in the London Suede, or the second best band to emerge from the '90s Brit-Pop explosion (as always, Pulp wins that competition)—might be coming to Portland next year. Thank you, booking gods. Thank you.
Now back to my normal Monday morning activity of listening to nothing but Dog Man Star and writing in my journal about how dreamy Brett Anderson is.
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Tonight! Tonight in Music: Bonobo, King Louie and the Missing Monuments, Battery Powered Night
Posted by Morgan Troper on Mon, Nov 29, 2010 at 10:00 AM
BONOBO, TOKIMONSTA
(Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell) Originally the solo project of UK producer Simon Green, Bonobo now tours with a full band, playing jazzy, complex downtempo melodies with myriad instruments and a hot new vocalist added to the mix. These sexy ruminations are sure to rev up your Monday night. VIRGINIA THAYER
KING LOUIE AND THE MISSING MONUMENTS, THE MEAN JEANS, LEADERS, THE SPIDER BABIES
(East End, 203 SE Grand) Last time we saw King Louie was February's Slabtown Bender, and the native son of New Orleans rocked out in a Saints jersey, maybe because they had won a big game or something. The King is back with a new project, an unsurprising development from the man who has been making music for over two decades and has participated in over 35 different releases. King Louie is an unflagging performer, the patron saint of the revered Goner Records and a man who won't let the party spirit quit, even among the tragic loss of friends and bandmates (from Portland's Exploding Hearts to Jay Reatard). On those worried nights when you're just not sure if rock and roll will make it, know that it rests safely in the hands of King Louie. MARANDA BISH
BATTERY POWERED NIGHT
(Backspace, 115 NW 5th) Want to get your filthy mitts on some battery-operated instruments? Battery Powered Music is a new semi-monthly event that lets anyone take the reins and collaborate with likeminded musicians—amateur and professional alike—on mini techno orchestras, beeping chiptune numbers, and everything else in between. EZRA ACE CARAEFF
You can check out the complete show listings here.
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