This Week in the Mercury
Gossip (No, Not the Band)
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Tonight! / Gossip (No, Not the Band) Free Surfer Blood Show Tonight at Velo Cult
Posted by Ned Lannamann on Tue, May 28, 2013 at 11:36 AM
- Frank Maddocks
Surfer Blood at Velo Cult, 1969 NE 42nd, tonight at 9 pm, FREE, all ages
Monday, September 24, 2012
I Hate You! / Gossip (No, Not the Band) Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong Throws Best Temper Tantrum EVARRR!!
Posted by Ned Lannamann on Mon, Sep 24, 2012 at 10:56 AM
In our continuing effort to find things that happened this weekend that were WAAAAY more entertaining than the Emmys (frankly, it's not at all difficult), check out this absolutely brilliant, hilarious, and mind-blowing temper tantrum thrown by Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day after learning his set at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Vegas was cut short to allow more time for Usher. I LOVE THIS SO MUCH, because I too have been around since "nineteen eighty-fuckin'-eight, motherfuckerrrrrrrs!"
Oh, and btw, guess who went to rehab immediately following this outburst? TOTES WORTH IT.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Gossip (No, Not the Band) Jack White Is Playing at City Laundry in 20 Minutes
Posted by Ned Lannamann on Wed, Aug 15, 2012 at 4:10 PM
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Gossip (No, Not the Band) Tonight's Deep Time Show at Mississippi Studios
Posted by Ned Lannamann on Tue, Jul 17, 2012 at 10:26 AM
Consider yourself informed.
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Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Gossip (No, Not the Band) Oregon Drummer Deen Castronovo Sentenced for Assault
Posted by Ned Lannamann on Wed, Feb 22, 2012 at 1:02 PM
- photo via FOX 12
The drummer for Journey has been sentenced to 80 hours of community service and anger-management classes in connection with an assault last month.Bummer.Deen Castronovo was arrested in Salem on Jan. 20 and charged with several crimes, including fourth-degree assault, resisting arrest, interfering with a police report and coercion.
The Statesman Journal reports that the assault involved a woman, who told police that Castronovo had accused her of cheating.
While it may be in questionable taste to shift gears like this, it seems like an opportunity to post, yet again, the video for Journey's "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)," which is the GREATEST VIDEO EVER and is guaranteed to cheer you up. Guaranteed. (Note: Castronovo is not in this video, which was shot well before he joined Journey.)
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Gossip (No, Not the Band) Die Antwoord's Fashion Week Outfits: Kind of Obvious
Posted by Marjorie Skinner on Wed, Feb 15, 2012 at 3:59 PM
Why don't these guys ever make an effort to surprise us?
- Getty Images / Rabbani and Solimene Photography
1. I interviewed Ninja a couple weeks ago and he told me that designer Alexander Wang (whose runway show they are attending here) was making them "secret ultimate outfits." I assume these are them. (You can read that interview in the new issue of the Merc, dropping later today.)
2. If you haven't already seen the commercial featuring them performing in Wang's incongruously minimalist clothing, here.
3. My friend spent $40 on those exact same contacts at a Ricky's and his eyes were so irritated that he was convinced he had pink eye for three days afterward.
4. Die Antwoord plays a sold-out show at the Roseland on Saturday. I can't wait to see what they wear.
Via.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
News / Gossip (No, Not the Band) The Woods to Potentially Close Its Doors in January
Posted by Ned Lannamann on Wed, Dec 14, 2011 at 4:00 PM
Sad news: Former Sellwood funeral home-turned-music venue The Woods is likely not long for this world. The owners of the Woods are lingering negotiations with their landlord over the lease, and the outlook isn't good. Unfortunately, the property owners are looking to hike up the space's rent, which essentially prices out the venue, necessitating in it closing its doors. (And if that is the case, the property owners have plans for the lot—and comfy, cozy music venue isn't part of those plans.) Lease negotiations remain open until later this week, but the outlook isn't good. Barring a last-minute miracle, the days of the Woods are numbered.
More information and confirmation in the next couple days—including the possibility of a closing celebration, if things do indeed go the way they seem to be headed.
A personal note here: The Woods is my favorite venue in town, for a variety of reasons: The booking, which ranges from music to readings to comedy to dance nights, is exceptional. Every show I've seen there feels like something extraordinary, perhaps due to the space's intimacy, which is the antithesis of your typical rock club. The building itself is slathered in ambiance, both from its former incarnation as a funeral home—it can be downright spooky in there—but also from the incredible design and decor that the owners brought within the space. I'll be incredibly unhappy to see this place go.
Monday, November 21, 2011
News / R.I.P. / Gossip (No, Not the Band) Two Bits of Elliott Smith News
Posted by Ned Lannamann on Mon, Nov 21, 2011 at 2:38 PM
Two pieces of Elliott Smith news cropped up recently, the first one being pleasant, and the second decidedly ickier. Let's start with the good news:
A new track was just discovered and unearthed; it's over at the Washington Post. The song's called "Misery Let Me Down" (Jesus, Elliott) and it's from a 1997 session at the University of Maryland's college radio station, WMUC. He recorded it before the official session actually began, and it's been unheard ever since.
The second bit of news is from the OC Weekly, and while it's not much more than hearsay at this point, it's a new report that indicates the LA coroner says Smith had fresh wounds on his hands and arm at the time of his death. This could mean two things: that he mishandled the knife before allegedly self-administering the wound that ended his life, or that they're defensive wounds—perhaps inflicted by someone else. Another piece of the puzzle to the weirdness of Smith's tragic death.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
R.I.P. / Gossip (No, Not the Band) Bon Voyage, Ezra!
Posted by Wm.™ Steven Humphrey on Thu, Sep 29, 2011 at 12:29 PM
Dear End Hits friends and colleagues,
It is with heavy heart to announce that our dear friend, longtime employee, and music editor Ezra Ace Caraeff is leaving the Mercury nest. As you may have heard, he's starting up a bar in North Portland called Old Gold, and while he would've loved to have kept working here… c'mon! Everybody knows THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE. (Though we're sure you'll still be seeing some of his stellar writing popping up in the paper and on the blog from time to time.) All that being said, while we'll desperately miss Ezra's commitment to the Mercury (11 Years!! Omigod, my goiter is younger than that!), as well as his immense talent and sense of humor, we wish him nothing but the best in this new chapter of his life. (We also wish for free drinks... which will be a good barometer for how much he really loves us).
BON VOYAGE, EZRA! We love ya, ya big hairy galoot! (Oh, and bye to Olive too, I guess. My garbage can will miss you.)
P.S. And while we're on the topic, let's also utter a hearty congratulations to our own Ned Lannamann who will be taking over as the mighty Mercury music editor immediately following Ezra's departure. Ned is a fucking fireball of talent, and will continue to make our music section and music blog the envy of every sentient being in the universe. Congrats, Ned!
AND NOW? I WEEP.
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Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Video / Gossip (No, Not the Band) Laura Gibson Live in Brooklyn, New Record on Deck
Posted by Raquel Nasser on Tue, May 31, 2011 at 1:32 PM
Hey, patriots; welcome back to the week. You should put your day on hold for just a few minutes and watch this gorgeous video of Laura Gibson performing at The Rock Shop in Brooklyn last week.
Now, allow me to share just a bit of gossip that's been circulating in regards to a new album from Ms. Gibson (!). Surely, you are busy burping up yesterday's High Life and refuting the very existence of the hot dog, so I will be brief. You will find confirmed information, organized in tidy bullet points, just after the jump;
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Gossip (No, Not the Band) Spoiler Alert: Willamette Week's Best New Band of 2011
Posted by Ezra Ace Caraeff on Tue, Apr 26, 2011 at 11:54 AM
Every year we like to place a little action on what Portland act the Willamette Week will anoint "Best New Band" for their annual cover story. Of course, BNB is a little absurd—after playing together for five years, I'm sure "new" band Red Fang appreciated their tenth place finish last year—but any excuse to gamble is fine by us.
This year we're feeling pretty confident—it's a five-star lock—on what band will win the coveted honor and skyrocket to greatness, or just become as popular as past winners Copy or the Shaky Hands. Our guess (and possible spoiler) after the jump.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Gossip (No, Not the Band) Plot Thickens in the Mystery of the 'Siamese Dream' Girl!
Posted by Charlie Swanson on Wed, Feb 23, 2011 at 4:29 PM
Last week, Billy Corgan attempted to remind people that he still fronts a band he calls The Smashing Pumpkins by revealing on Twitter that his new bassist, Nicole Fiorentino, was one of the two girls featured on the cover of the band's 1993 release Siamese Dream. The news got around over the weekend and raised a fair share of surprised glances. But, was it too good to be true?
Today, credible site TMZ (right?) are trying to tell us Fiorentino's not the girl after all. Gasp!
One of the girls on an iconic Smashing Pumpkins album cover is calling BS on Billy Corgan for claiming the band's new bassist was the OTHER girl on the cover.
The "Z" is reporting that Ali Laenger, the cover's other girl, has come forward to dispute Corgan's announcement, saying the photo was taken specifically for the album, making Fiorentino nearly 14 at the time of the shoot, and seemingly too old.
So, is this just a publicity stunt on Corgan's part to get people talking about the band in any context? Or did Fiorentino really tell Corgan she was the girl, either displaying an unfortunate amount of delusions or ultimately trolling her new bandmate? Or is it possible that TMZ's rigorous and dedicated fact-checking department have missed this one, and it's genuine?
Surely, this story has a few more unnecessary twists left to go. Hopefully, it'll wrap up sooner than Corgan's current, most head scratching project yet, Teargarden by Kaleidyscope, a 44-song "concept album" being released a song at time over the course of several years. Actually, that's baffling enough as it is. So, to ease the pounding in my head, here's a video of SP back in Siamese Dream era, playing one of my favorites, "Mayonaise."
Monday, February 21, 2011
News / Gossip (No, Not the Band) Brian Posehn in the Upcoming Red Fang Video
Posted by Ned Lannamann on Mon, Feb 21, 2011 at 1:42 PM
Metal-loving comedian Brian Posehn was in town this past weekend for a run of shows at Helium, but that's not all that he was up to—Posehn also shot a cameo for the new Red Fang video for "Wires," from their upcoming album Murder the Mountains. It's no secret Posehn is a big fan of Red Fang, and according to a press release from Relapse Records, the video is directed by Whitey McConnaughy, who also shot Red Fang's now-classic video for "Prehistoric Dog."
We have a feeling this is going to be amazing.
Gossip (No, Not the Band) What Band is Filming a Video at the Grilled Cheese Grill?
Posted by Ezra Ace Caraeff on Mon, Feb 21, 2011 at 11:29 AM
From the Grilled Cheese Grill's Facebook page:
So who wants to come to the Double Decker on Wednesday during the day for a really cool video shoot that I'm not allowed to mention the specifics of due to a signed non-disclosure agreement? Come be a customer and make sure we look busy!!! (It being February in Portland and all....)
A non-disclosure agreement makes it sound fancy, but it damn well better not be a video shoot for the String Cheese Incident. I think it's a health code violation for their fans to get that close to food. If you have a guess on who is playing the bus, leave it in the comments section.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Let's Talk About... / Gossip (No, Not the Band) Beth Ditto Knows Every Trick In The Book
Posted by Travis Ritter on Wed, Feb 9, 2011 at 9:55 AM
The internet will always talk while you're sleeping. When news about Beth Ditto's solo venture (produced by the UK electronic duo Simian Mobile Disco) was announced, I must have been in a coma. But then New Years happened, and the song "I Wrote The Book," made it to YouTube, which has generated almost 100,000 hits in a month. WAKE UP! The track has been heating up BBC airwaves and dance floors around Europe, and even Francie and Herman (my two cats) are feeling it as they nuzzle up against the warm lap top. "I Wrote The Book" is a melodic, energy-induced dance single, with the diva in Ditto coming out like a Confessions On A Dance Floor-era Madonna. If Simian Mobile Disco is the modern day equivalent to Giorgio Moroder, then Ditto is their Donna Summer. I feel love (and a little bit gay).
Ditto's four-track EP is now available both digitally and as a 12" on UK label Deconstruction.
h/t Line Out
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