This Week in the Mercury
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Tonight! Tonight in Music: The Big Float, Dirty Mittens, and more
Posted by Ezra Ace Caraeff on Sun, Jul 31, 2011 at 8:14 AM
THE BIG FLOAT: RAMONA FALLS, AGESANDAGES, KEEP YOUR FORK THERE'S PIE, ORCA TEAM, BULL RAMOS
(SE Water & Market) Described as a "public display of affection for the Willamette River," The Big Float's big idea is to get Portlanders off their asses and into the water. No, wait—it's safe! Join over 1,000 Portlanders as they parade across the Hawthorne Bridge, toss their floats into the water, and merrily drift across our beloved river. A celebration will greet the "festive floatilla," complete with beer garden, live music, swimming, and food carts. CECILIA D'ANASTASIO Also see our Big Float feature.
DIRTY MITTENS, ASH REITER, WORLD'S GREATEST GHOSTS
(Rontoms, 600 E Burnside) The first thing you'll notice about San Francisco singster/songster Ash Reiter is her voice—a breathy, smoky little thing that hints at Chan Marshall and Jolie Holland, and sounds well suited for the coffeehouse circuit. That was before she formed a full band to back her up. Nowadays Reiter's music moves a little more, the quintet (also called Ash Reiter) providing loads of hooks and layered guitars that wonderfully contrast that wispy voice. It's all on display on the group's latest, Paper Diamonds, a record that's folky enough to maintain some of its intimacy, and poppy enough to keep from fading into the background. I like where this young woman is headed. MARK LORE
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Tonight! Tonight in Music: Multiple Personalities Music Festival, Blood Beach, and more
Posted by Ezra Ace Caraeff on Sat, Jul 30, 2011 at 8:07 AM
MULTIPLE PERSONALITIES BLOCK PARTY: WORLD'S GREATEST GHOSTS, THE WE SHARED MILK, HELLO ELECTRIC, PORCHES & MORE(SE 8th & Division) Show/art space PALS is throwing the Multiple Personalities Music Festival, with 16 bands—including And And And, Sons of Huns, and Turbo Perfecto—playing on two stages, plus a 21-and-over beer garden in the backyard. (Don't worry, the street is all ages.) Think of it as a huge house show... with a permit! SUZETTE SMITH
BLOOD BEACH, DARK ENTRIES, HAUSU(East End, 203 SE Grand) Following the group's triumphant set at PDX Pop Now!, the shit-spook punk of Blood Beach has been committed to wax. Return of the Curse of the Creature's Ghost—brownie points if you can correctly identify which late-'90s HBO sketch comedy show its title comes from—is a freaky, unsettling, eight-song voyage into nausea and fear. Does that make it sound unpleasant? It's one of the wonders of Blood Beach that their Monks-y, art-damaged squall is at all times exhilarating and engaging—in fact, it's damn good fun. Their songs are dressed in snarling guitars, disgruntled puffs of sax, and Camella Weedon's horror-movie theremin; their tumbling rhythms approach krautrock's fervor while cheerfully ignoring its lockstep precision. The 12-inch Creature's Ghost is the kind of record that'll make all your other records sound lame in comparison, and tonight's free show is your first chance to get your hands on a copy. NED LANNAMANN
Friday, July 29, 2011
Tonight! Tonight in Music: Willie Nelson, Iceage, & More!
Posted by Ezra Ace Caraeff on Fri, Jul 29, 2011 at 3:56 PM
WILLIE NELSON
(Edgefield, 2126 SW Halsey, Troutdale) By the numbers, it's been 78 years, 74 albums, seven children, and four arrests for drug possession: Yes, it's the one-and-only Willie Nelson. See him sing and strum the night away. SARAH MIRK
ICEAGE, DEATHCHARGE, CULT OF YOUTH, THE PRIDS, ARCTIC FLOWERS, ATROCITY EXHIBITION, DJ AHEX
(East End, 203 SE Grand) At first it seemed as if Iceage was to punk as Liturgy was to black metal. Critically swooned over and unafraid to color outside the lines of the genre, Iceage furrowed many a brow with their unapologetically unique and disjointed take on amplified punk rock. What Iceage do so well on their debut New Brigade is follow in the impressive wake of Fucked Up, a band that treats punk rock not as a definitive genre etched in stone, but as a work in progress that requires change in order to adapt and evolve. The fact that New Brigade was created not by a bunch of savvy music industry veterans but by a handful of Copenhagen teenagers is even more impressive. They are still on their ascent, but if their unbridled momentum continues, Iceage could very well be the face of modern punk for a long time to come. EZRA ACE CARAEFF
News Alela Diane & Wild Divine at Pickathon
Posted by Courtney Ferguson on Fri, Jul 29, 2011 at 2:34 PM
Fresh from warming the paws of the Fleet Foxes, it's just been announced that Alela Diane & Wild Divine will be playing the sun-tastic Pickathon. They're currently on the schedule for Sunday, August 7, at noon. Another lineup addition: Water Tower Bucket Boys. Both additions are in lieu of two cancellations: Old Sledge and Ted Jones & The Tarheel Boys. Back to our regularly scheduled Alela Diane girl crush.
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KNW YR PDX End Hits Interviews Youth
Posted by Chris Cantino on Fri, Jul 29, 2011 at 1:25 PM
- G.D. Burns
Local band Youth may be impossible to Google, but discovering them is well worth making your search cache look like that of a pedophile's. The local quartet of Maggie Morris, Elec Morin, Stephen Leisy, and Matthew Hall hasn't been around long but they've made big moves fast, playing at some of the best venues around town and gaining a reputation for crafting subtly gratifying pop melodies without any of the shrouded pretense attributed to our city's recent influx of dream pop bands. Youth appear to have only three publicly available tracks, but the strength of those tracks has more than warranted our attention. We just had to know more about this band.
Contest Win Tickets to Slayer and Rob Zombie!
Posted by Ezra Ace Caraeff on Fri, Jul 29, 2011 at 11:11 AM
Praise our cloven hoofed dark lords, Slayer is coming to town. The evilest band from Eviltown USA (a suburb of Huntington Park, California) will be at the Memorial Coliseum with Rob "Woolite Commercial" Zombie on Friday August 5th.
We're giving away a pair of tickets to the first person who can solve The World's Evilest Crossword Puzzle™, which is loaded with questions about Slayer, serial killers, and (gasp!) Republicans. This thing is so sinister it makes Will Shortz shitz his pantz.
If the puzzle doesn't quite literally kill you, send me the correct answers (you can scan it, or just email me the answers) as soon as possible. The puzzle is after the jump, good luck. *UPDATE* We have our winners, thanks to all that entered.
Don't like crosswords? Can't blame you. You can skip the contest and buy your tickets here.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Weekend! Gnar Tapes & House of Preblon's Block Party
Posted by Andrew R Tonry on Thu, Jul 28, 2011 at 8:42 PM
The last show I saw at the House of Preblon was marvelously gnarled. I remember it was clear, and ice-fucking cold. Dead of winter. The bodies spilled out into the street well before the headlining Mean Jeans would go on. Inside it was shoulder to shoulder—sweat, sweaty and rank. I found an Op Ivy pin on the stairs.
When the Jeans went on the place erupted. The pit lurched back and forth across the bad construction. Everyone was spitting and slinging beer. Someone crashed into a window, nearly falling two stories to the alley below. Glass shattered on the sidewalk. Outside on the steep street the skateboarder was unfazed. He kept taking runs at the sketchy quarter-pipe. It was mayhem. Good, honest mayhem.
Now the hosts, along with their buds at Gnar Tapes, are ready for full day of it.
And we must give credit where credit is due: kudos to the folks at City Hall, who sanctioned the day-long shred down. Indeed, this one's legal. The street will be closed. Block party. Shit... maybe it's time to turn that quarter-pipe into a launch ramp... nice long run up... perhaps someone can rocket over the taco cart...
For the festivities, which begin Saturday at 3PM and run all day, the boys of Preblon and Gnar have assembled a fine lineup:
Adrian Orange
White Fang
Boom!
Grrrl Friend (record release)
Unnatural Helpers (ex The Dutchess and the Duke/Sub Pop Recs)
Ghost Mom (members of Bikini Kill/Dub Narcotic Sound System)
Youthbitch
Mustaphamond
SATURDAY: Preblon & Gnar Tapes Block Party: 420 SE 10th @ Stark - 3PM-on
News Record Stores Ask Kanye And Jay-Z To Release Watch The Throne Without Exclusivity
Posted by Charlie Swanson on Thu, Jul 28, 2011 at 7:57 PM
I just think this is really interesting and it's a slow day so let me break it down for you:
Apparently, there's a bit of hype concerning the new Jay-Z/ Kanye West album, Watch The Throne. Actually, it's more like a lot of hype. People are going nuts over this thing, they can't wait to get their hands on it. Now, Jay-Z and Kayne, these guys are businessmen. Don't think they're not. They know people want this record, this Watch The Throne, (which I will forever read as Game of Thrones as long as I live), and they've delayed and hyped, delayed and hyped; just cranking up the suspense. Now they're finally, finally, set to release the album August 8th, online. Only.
For something like four days this album will only be on iTunes, and when it does go to physical release, get this! Best Buy has exclusive selling rights for the first 10 days. All those people freaking out over this album are going to buy it at these two places, iTunes and Best Buy, because for two weeks those are the only places they can go.
Needless to say, independent record stores are left somewhat in the dust and a little upset about it. Today, the folks behind Record Store Day sent out an email for independents to sign and forward to Mr. West and Mr. Z concerning this slight. It's really polite and a little, "hey, I know you're busy, but..." in tone, yet it makes a good point concerning the lack of opportunity that these small stores will have in participating in one of the most in-demand and anticipated releases of the year.
I can can see why, too. I mean, you think the bored cashier at Best Buy is going to get excited and talk your ear off at the register when they see what you're buying? And you know who shares the music loving experience with their customers and community on a personal level? It sure ain't iTunes.
Anyways, you can read the letter after the jump. I notice local stores Jackpot Records and Music Millennium are on the list, but tell me which other locals I passed over in my exceedingly quick glance at the list of signatures.
Photography Photos of 2011 PDX Pop Now!
Posted by Ezra Ace Caraeff on Thu, Jul 28, 2011 at 3:18 PM
- Katie Swezey
- Kelli Schaefer
While I was buying unfunny/racist dolls down the street and our writers were searching for the body of Ray Brower on the train tracks, Katie Swezey was hunkered down in front of the stage at PDX Pop Now! taking excellent photos of nearly every single band. Here is a visual look back at this year's festivities. Enjoy!
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Tonight! Tonight in Music: Kate Bush Night, Le Butcherettes, Ty Segall and more!
Posted by Arian Jalali on Thu, Jul 28, 2011 at 1:46 PM
KATE BUSH NIGHT: PARENTHETICAL GIRLS, NEAL MORGAN, ROCKY AND THE PROMS, PRESCRIPTION PILLS & MORE
(Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison) There may be no musician quite as otherworldly as Kate Bush, whose avant-pop songwriting and unmistakable voice make her one of the most incredible (and under-sung) talents out there. Tonight a gallery of local bands pays homage, with covers performed by Parenthetical Girls, Neal Morgan, and plenty others. NED LANNAMANN
QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, LE BUTCHERETTES
(Roseland, 8 NW 6th) Read our article on Le Butcherettes.
TY SEGALL, AUDACITY, THE MEAN JEANS, CYCLOTRON
(East End, 203 SE Grand) Read our article on Ty Segall.
MP3 Astronautalis - "Dimitri Mendeleev"
Posted by Ezra Ace Caraeff on Thu, Jul 28, 2011 at 12:02 PM
I've shamelessly used this paper to extol the greatness of Astronautalis since 2004 or so, which means I'm pretty darn thrilled to hear the news that my favorite Seattle (via Florida/Texas) emcee has a new album on the way.
This Is Our Science drops (I can use that word, it's hiphop) on September 15 and the first single is a rapid fire number named for the man who created the periodic table of elements (there is also a Joni Mitchell reference thrown in there somewhere). A reluctant rapper with a damaged rasp and a knack for oddball live shows that are part therapy sessions and part freestyle jams, Astronautalis is hardly your run-of-the-mill rhymer. Last we heard from him, he had teamed with POS to record a conceptual album about F. Scott Fitzgerald under the name the Four Fists, but until that recording sees the light of day, This Is Our Science will be dominating our summer playlist.
LISTEN:
Astronautalis - "Dimitri Mendeleev"
News This Week's Mercury Music Section
Posted by Ezra Ace Caraeff on Thu, Jul 28, 2011 at 8:07 AM
- Robin Laananen
- Le Butcherettes
Another week, another Mercury music section to ignore while you read about how Morrissey declares that the Norway shootings were no worse than McDonalds or KFC. How can such a smart man say so many dumb things?
There are many components at play with Le Butcherettes: A Guadalajara-raised singer named Teri Gender Bender, the drummer from the Locust, a record label run by the afro'd gentleman from Mars Volta, and a fiery, intense live show that isn't afraid of a little blood.
LISTEN:
Le Butcherettes - "I'm Getting Sick Of You"
Despite its title, Goodbye Bread is not a low-carb conceptual album about the Atkins diet (R.I.P., Uncle Butchy's Low Carb Creations). Instead it's the latest batch of sun-soaked garage rock from dude/bro Ty Segall.
LISTEN:
Ty Segall - "You Make The Sun Fry"
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Upcoming Mister Heavenly Are Coming (Back) To Portland
Posted by Charlie Swanson on Wed, Jul 27, 2011 at 11:30 PM
The last time Mister Heavenly played in Portland, they were newsworthy for the fact that some actor named Michael Cera was playing bass with them or something. This time, when Mister Heavenly play Branx August 18th, they're just plain newsworthy. Comprised of Nick Thorburn (Islands/The Unicorns), Ryan Kattner (Man Man) and Joe Plummer (Modest Mouse), the trio is gaining notoriety for their playful pop rhythms and skewed sensibilities.
Besides the 18th being the hometown show for Plummer, it's also a good place to grab Mister Heavenly's Sub Pop debut album, Out Of Love, seeing as how it'll be released only 2 days prior. For now, listen to Mister Heavenly's "Pineapple Girl" below and try to imagine which bands the other Arrested Development actors would be in. It's a fun little game!
LISTEN:
Mister Heavenly - "Pineapple Girl"
News Hot Snakes Reunion!
Posted by Chris Cantino on Wed, Jul 27, 2011 at 3:02 PM
After a six year hiatus, most of us thought we would never hear again from post-hardcore punk heroes Hot Snakes. We figured their awesome new projects Obits and Night Marchers had long since taken precedence over any Drive Like Jehu or Hot Snakes reunion.
You get where I'm going with this, right?
We were wrong.
The Hot Snakes are set to reunite in Minehead, UK this December for All Tomorrow's Parties. But will the band play any dates in America? Co-leader John Reis had this to say over at the Swami Records message board:
"yeah, im super stokified on this. so far just ATP is confirmed. we are talking about maybe doin a couple more shows before hand. not sure where but not west coast. we will be hangin on the east coast so most likely out there or in europe.i will letchu know. don't know who is playin drums. trying to figure out the scheduling and who is up for it and what makes the most sense. please do not share your thoughts or preferences on the matter. not interested in suggestions. Night Marchers shows most likely will not coincide with this trip. good times." -John Reis
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KNW YR PDX This is What it Looks Like When a Backhoe Meets Satyricon
Posted by Ezra Ace Caraeff on Wed, Jul 27, 2011 at 12:39 PM
Tipster Gregory Day was kind enough to send us these photos of the famed Satyricon building meeting its ultimate demise at the hands of a demolition crew. While the punk rock landmark is now literally just a pile of rubble, you can always post your (hazy) memories here.
Teary-eyed punks should not click the jump, because there are more photos there.
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