Finally, a Pavement show not in New York or overseas. The reunited indie icons will be performing with top billing at the 2010 Sasquatch Festival, MAY 29th-31st, in the Gorge. The rest of the lineup still has yet to be named—that announcement won't come until mid-February—but you can buy your "discount 3 day festival pass" Saturday morning at 10am. Hit up their site for more info on the advance pass.

Well, looks like I know what I am doing next Memorial Day weekend.

• Chrissy Piper

Someday soon when John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats wins a Grammy, Pulitzer, MacArthur Genius Grant, and Super Bowl MVP Trophy, I'm going to lead an unofficial "Darnielle in Portland" tour in one of those double decker tourist buses. I'll regal visitors with tales all about Darnielle's sordid days as a Portlander, plus I'll throw in a star map to Courtney Taylor-Taylor's house as well. Book your seats now!

Until that happens, you'll just have to settle for seeing Darnielle and the Mountain Goats at the Wonder Ballroom on Wednesday, November 11th. In fact, we're giving away three pairs of tickets to the show. Just comment below on why you deserve to attend, and the top three posts by Monday 9am will get into the concert without opening their wallets. If you are not the commenting type, tickets can be purchased here.

Also, if you dare doubt this paper's Mountain Goats obsession over the years, Darnielle has been the subject of more features than any non-local musician in our ten year history. In fact, he even wrote an article for us about Sonny Liston.

LISTEN:

The Mountain Goats - "Psalms 40:2"

The Unfortunate Demise of Whitley Rackham—illustrated by Ellis and written by Meloy—should be completed soon. No details have been released... only the above illustration. This will go perfectly with Gwar's new album Lust In Space I was planning on getting my nephew for Christmas.

Another week, another Mercury music section to read while you dress your child like a hideous mutant. Correction: an adorable hideous mutant.

David Bazan and Jesus used to be so close that they'd carve "DB + JC = 4EVAH" into the trunks of trees. But those days are no more. Bazan's wonderful Curse Your Branches recording chronicles his fall from faith. Does that mean he's a free agent? You hear that Jews? He could be ours!
LISTEN:

David Bazan - "When We Fell"

BOAT are just like us, they put their pants on one leg at a time. Except once their pants are on, they create the funnest music known to man... while we're just happy to be wearing pants.
LISTEN:

BOAT - "We've Been Friends Since 1989"

The Mountain Goats find a copy of the bible—in David Bazan's dumpster—and proceed to write an entire record with blblical verses for song titles.
LISTEN:

The Mountain Goats - "Genesis 3:23"

In their first visit to Portland, Video Games Live combine symphony orchestration with video game soundtracks. Hey Mario Bros., take off those colorful overalls and put on something nice, you're going to the symphony!
WATCH:
Video Games Live Trailer

Our Town Could Be Your Life looks at former Meow Meow kid Kelli Schaefer and her recent single series that will feature a new release every six to eight weeks.
LISTEN:

Kelli Schaefer - "City Morgue"

• I know, I know, Quasi is a trio now. Sorry.

For their "swanky New Years celebration" known as the Fir Ball, Doug Fir has recruited Quasi to headline their ball-dropping (ewwww) farewell to 2009. But this ain't your average Quasi show, this is an all-Who dedicated set, which will include plenty of arm windmills, deaf/dumb/blind kids playing pinball, and someone driving their car into a hotel pool.

Quasidrophenia—this name is genius, feel free to use it—will be joined by the Shaky Hands, and Inside Voices and tickets are available at the Doug Fir box office, or that kiddie pornography site that Pete Townshend definitely was not visiting that one time. You should probably just buy them at the box office.

• Simone Muller

Woah. Didn't see this coming. Portland legends—and proof that rock and roll monogamy does exist—Fred and Toody Cole have inked a deal for Pierced Arrows to join the Vice Records roster. Their second full-length, Descending Shadows, will be out on the 2nd of February and supposedly you can stream a song ("Paranoia") from it somewhere on this clustered page of hipness. Can you find it? I can't.

Take it away, mister press release man:

Descending Shadows expands on their fervently rough signature sound, recorded at Portland's Buzz or Howl Studios and mastered to vinyl lacquer per tradition at Fred and Toody's home. Promising to herald a new generation of fans steeped in the progeny which Dead Moon influenced, Descending Shadows will provide longtime followers of the Cole's work with a new vital installment of what Fred once described as "rock'n'roll that's rough, ragged, and honest", a sincere answer to the void of emotion lacking in today's era.

• greg aune

When the colorful popster in Nurses raised the white flag and canceled their current national tour with Le Loup citing the vague/scary reason of "medical issues," [insert "Nurses need nurses" joke here] we were concerned. But we checked with their label, and the band is fine, just a wee bit exhausted from circling the country in support of Apple's Acre. As a consolation the band has posted a link to some live videos from Philadelphia to watch while they eat their vitamins and get some rest.

They should see Dr. Conrad Murray, I heard that guy has experience with musicians suffering from exhaustion and he will prescribe anything.

Portland, OR - The Elton John / Billy Joel Face 2 Face concert originally scheduled for Tuesday, November 10 has been postponed.

Promoter Live Nation and The Rose Garden were informed by management today that Elton John has been advised by his doctor to postpone these performances due to a serious case of e-coli bacterial infection and influenza.

Organizers of the event are working to establish a new date. All patrons who have purchased tickets for the Face 2 Face concert on Tuesday, November 10 at Rose Garden are being asked to hold on to their tickets until more information is available regarding the proposed rescheduled engagement.

• Actual photo.

Bad news, folks. Looks like Lucero is trapped by bad weather—and a blood-thirsty snowbeast—and will be forced to cancel tonight's "Ramblin' Roadshow and Memphis Revue" show at the Hawthorne Theatre.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Lucero is currently trapped in the Rockies; an avalanche has blocked off I-80 and, while the band worked to take an alternate route to Portland, the weather has caused some damage to their bus/trailer and forced them to stop driving.

The band is canceling this show with a heavy heart and held out hope that they would make it until the last possible moment. Thanks very much for your understanding and we'll be in touch as soon as we have a makeup date.

This news is sad, but not surprising since the band is a bunch of Southerners and they clearly have no experience fending off an Abominable Snowman—unlike us Pacific Northwesterners. Gentlemen, aim for the eyes. Or the groin.

1.) One of our very favorites, Nurses are touring and have been for some time. The trio recorded a set of live videos in Chicago, produced by Art In The Age, who did an excellent job on the sound. You can find three more songs on Nurses' blog.

2.) The Seattle Weekly put together a feature on Nirvana's Bleach in commemorating the upcoming re-issue. None of the five stories are particularly stunning on their own—including the interviews done by Krist Novoselic—but taken together they are a worthwhile diversion.

3.) Recent travels brought me through New York during CMJ. And though I was not there in any journalistic capacity, I attended a few shows, but mostly just to see friends' bands. As it has been in recently, CMJ continues shrinking. The idea of a multi-day music festival in NY is a nice idea, but also an idiotic one. Especially in rainy, frigid, late-October. Hotels are too expensive and so is the beer.

Anyway, aside from those paltry gripes, I did catch what was likely the most-buzzed-about group of the festival, The xx. It was late after midnight at the Tribeca Grand, a ridiculously hip, bursting at the seams, Standard-like hotel. Lines out the doors, packed on both floors, all kinds of garbage milling about the Good Looking People's Club. A loud, Un-IDM dance party down-stairs pounded along while The xx got their gear together, presumably from an earlier show. When they finally got the DJ's attention, the band's sound-system was unfortunately weaker than the DJ's (why weren't they connected?).

But then it may not have mattered. The xx are another one of the Johnny-come-lately blog-hyped acts who have little or no clue yet how to put on any type of engaging performance, despite having made in interesting album. It's not hard to imagine how adding a bit of velocity to the lackadaisical, pre-dawn, low-breeze, detached vibe of the self-titled record could translate to a more interesting stage show, but The xx either refuse to or cannot. It was soft and the band appeared bored, but their look could've been a bit of self-protective posturing, as the 20-year-olds may have just been overwhelmed.

After seeing this performance it's not surprising The xx just canceled a few upcoming shows due to "exhaustion." It's a familiar story, and begs the question: are bands and management going to recognize that over-exposure while being under-cooked is hurtful to longevity in the blog era? Or is this one hellacious window the only chance before The Next Big Thing swoops in?

Another week, another Mercury music section to flip through while you assemble your skull artwork with nothing more than a few hundred cassettes. See? There is hope for the music industry.

Ironic? No. British? Oh, yeah. Art Brut tickle the fancy of our resident Red Coat, Matt Davis. What's next? Yours truly writing a news story about sit/lie regulations? That's a law about napping, right?
LISTEN:

Art Brut - "Alcoholics Unanimous"

Spoiler alert: At the end of this World's Greatest Ghost article, you'll find out that the band has been dead all along.
LISTEN:

World's Greatest Ghost - "The Royal Court"

The good news is that Sallie Ford sings like Olive Oyl from Popeye. The bad news is that Bluto just kidnapped her and sold her to the Sea Hag.
LISTEN:

Sallie Ford & the Sound Outside - "This Town"

A n00b's guide to the Fall into Darkness metal festival. It's three days of pure metal, so please bring a change of ear plugs and black T-shirts with illegible band logos on them.
LISTEN:

YOB - "Doom #2"

• Bramble Rose and Alela Diane, during happier times.

I don't want this to become a regular feature on the blog, but I'm a sucker for a lost pet in need. Singer Alela Diane has lost her cat, Bramble Rose. To make matters worse, she is about to embark on a national tour today. Since touring is difficult enough without fearing your cat is stuck in a tree (or worse), she made this handy flier just in case you cross paths with Bramble Rose.

If you happen to spot the cat, please email her immediately. Thank you.

Following a collapse onstage, Morrissey—the only musician that really matters—has been released from the hospital and is recuperating on a grand feather bed pilled high with delicate throw pillows and Oscar Wilde books. (Not that there would ever be a good time for the Mozzer to die, but to take the stage, say "Good evening... probably," perform "This Charming Man," and then crumble to the floor is a pretty amazing way to go.)

We checked with his publicist and Morrissey's upcoming tour will not be canceled (he'll be here on November 30th at the Roseland). Thank you for not dying, Morrissey. A world without you is a world not worth living in.

Do you enjoy live music? Do you like mustaches? Do you want to experience those two things at the same time? Congratulations, you are now a fan of John Oates.

Also, you might be interested in the Parlour, a brand new music venue that has swung open its doors at 2628 SE Powell, inside the space that was (is?) Chaos Cafe. Billing itself as "Southeast Portland's Mustachioed Venue" (I assume that is a good thing) they'll serve up live music and "vegetarian/vegan fare" Fridays-Sundays.

• Jared Castaldi

Few images, punk or otherwise, are as lasting as Black Flag's "The Bars" logo. The simplistic and stark design created by Raymond Pettibon has long since outlasted the band and is a favorite tattoo for those who enjoy getting punk band logos permanently inked into their skin.

Stewart Ebersole is one of those people, and now he has launched Barred For Life, a website devoted to his documentation of "The Bars," plus a blog that follows him in his travels around the country as he photographs the various tattoos. He's currently making his way West and will be in Portland on Wednesday, October 28th, at Discourage Records (737 SE Morrison).

Not only is this project fun for me, but it is fun for the participants because if you (you meaning anybody) has The Bars tattooed on them, and you know about these events, you might simply show up and we will photograph and interview you.

This looks like a lot of fun. Too bad I'm stuck with my damn Henry Rollins tatoo.

Glass balls.

That's right, a series of delicate 14-inch glass orbs have been hand-blown by artist Andy Pyko and decorated by local artists. They're on display at different locations around town, including the former NW 23rd outpost of Music Millennium. You'll be able to bid for your favorite ball at the PYDC Glass Ball Gala on November 14. And if you need something more than glass balls and schmoozing, there's music provided by the Dandy Warhols, Kevin and Anita Robinson of Viva Voce, the Last Regiment of Syncopated Drummers, and possibly Steve Turner from Mudhoney. The Glass Ball takes place at the very cool-looking Bison Building (421 NE 10th). Tickets are $40. (Steepish, but not outrageous. And there's an open bar! Oh, and it's for a good cause etc.)

Another week, another Mercury music section to flip through as you mourn the death of Kanye West, who most definitely was killed the other day. I believe everything I read on the internet. Now, if you don't mind, I have an appointment with my Nigerian financial advisor.

He's baaaaaaack! David Yow gathers up the rest of the gang, and now Jesus Lizard has returned. When I was 16, Yow once stepped on my head (while wearing a cowboy boot), using my tender skull as a launching pad to hurl himself into the crowd. It should be an amazing show, be sure to take the kids.
LISTEN:

Jesus Lizard - "Skull of a German"
(I know it's from their major label days, but I've always loved this song)

Speaking of kids, this weekend brings the debut of You Who, the interactive kiddie music event that features everything from puppets to Decemberists. Now can anyone loan me their kid so I don't have to pay the extra admission fee?
LISTEN:

The Decemberists - "Sons and Daughters"

Enjoy the colorful campfire sounds of Le Loup, and their dizzying new album, Family.
LISTEN:

Le Loup - "Beach Town"

Enter the wildly creative world of Neal Morgan's voice and drum experimentations.
LISTEN:

Neal Morgan - "Salamanders"

• Zoe Prinds-Flash

Portland needs to build its very own Ellis Island—perhaps this can be the new remodel of Memorial Coliseum?—to greet all the new bands relocating to our city. We can even shorten or change their band names (if they sound too ethnic). "Give me your tired, your poor..." yeah, that sounds like every musician I have ever met.

Next up on the great Portland relocation, the Lower 48.

Clearly fearing collapsing bridges and Kent Hrbek's hunting program, the band is migrating from Minneapolis—first Haley Bonar, now them—in a few weeks. Their move is just in time for the release of the Everywhere To Go EP, which is a lovely recording that fits along nicely with the the rural indie-folk of locals Horsefeathers (relocated from Idaho) and Old Believers (relocated from Alaska). As acting Ellis Island official, the Lower 48's new name will be Horse Believers or Old Feathers. Deal with it.

LISTEN:

The Lower 48 - "Transmission Pt. 1"

The Cribs—now with 100% more Johnny Marr—will be performing a 2pm instore at the downtown Jackpot Records location on Sunday, November 8th, their first Portland show in quite sometime (and probably your only chance to see the band this year). Touring in support of Ignore the Ignorant, the band is offering up a "limited amount of T-shirts specific to this gig on this day" that will be yours for free with a pre-order of the new album (it's out on the 20th of November). If you don't pre-order the record, you'll be shirtless and confused when the band plays nothing but new songs.

Sucks to be you.

It's been awhile since Danish art-rockers, or elflish Nordic prog enthusiasts, Mew set foot in Portland, but thankfully the band is passing this way on December 12th (at the Hawthorne Theatre). It's taken some time for their latest, No More Stories (or, it's mouthful of a complete title: No More Stories / Are Told Today / I'm Sorry / They Washed Away / No More Stories / The World Is Grey / I'm Tired / Let's Wash Away. Insert Fiona Apple joke here.) to fully sink in, but the recording seems to continue forth with the odd time signatures and vocal dramatics displayed on 2005's And The Glass Handed Kites.

There isn't much information available at this time, but the band is offering up their opening spot to local bands in a few markets, one of which is our little town. I suppose when they announce the contest, they'll do it right here.

LISTEN:

Mew - "Introducing Palace Players"

• Kwesi Abbensetts

Another week, another Mercury music section to read while you allegedly sue an ice cream company for stealing your punk rock likeness. "God save the cream!"

BLK JKS bring us a wild collection of sounds and influences from South Africa. Thy shld ply DMMR BMMR.
LISTEN:

BLK JKS - "Molalatladi"

The chamber folksters in Ah Holly Fam'ly come together for their lovely new full-length, Reservoir.
LISTEN:

Ah Holly Fam'ly - "Year Of The Viking"

For over 25 years Yo La Tengo has been holding it down for guitar nerds, Hoboken Jews, and fans of Richie Ashburn.
LISTEN:

Yo La Tengo - "Here To Fall"

So after holding a contest for a new, cuss-free, moniker, local band Starfucker has picked a new name: PYRAMID. I guess the ALL CAPS thing is part of it. Take it away, press release:

Starfucker Announce New Name, PYRAMID!

It’s been an exciting year for Portland, OR’s favorite breakout band, Starfucker, and today is an exceptional day. Last month, just as the four-piece were poised to set sail on an extensive North American tour, they announced a name change contest that allowed fans to play a pivotal role in re-naming the band. After many votes and infinite good ideas, the guys have chosen PYRAMID as their new moniker. They will perform their last ever show as Starfucker at Portland’s venerable Wonder Ballroom on Halloween, so if you have a hankering for infectious beats and a costume contest judged by some of the members of the band, then look no further.

Yeah, that works. I'm not one to really care about band names, so Pyramid—er, PYRAMID—seems to fit the band's sound pretty well, especially if they keep with that rainbow graphic.

Interested in Wilco tickets? No—we're not giving any away, unfortunately. But here's the scoop for pre-sale, before they become available on ticketmaster and all the fuckers who'll re-sell 'em get a chance:

*Presale tickets available Fri. 10/16/09 from 10AM to 5PM*
Buy tickets before the general public at the PCPA Box Office or online.

Tickets are $35.00 plus service charges. Limited seats are available for this offer.
For online purchases, use box marked "Promotions & Special Offers" with password.
Use password "PCPA" to access presale tickets.

And, just in case anyone is thinking of my recent rant on high ticket prices for the Monsters of Folk tour—because Lord knows I am—let me share a few things.

First, $35+ an eight-dollar service charge for the cheap seats is still a lot of money. And the Schnitz is not the ideal place for a rock show—something more serene like Sigur Ros I understand. But for my money, Wilco is a better bet for winging the most out of your dollars. They play long shows. They have all kinds of back catalog. They're border-line road dogs with tons of experience in large, impersonal venues. Hell, their sound, solid as a rock, is practically arena-ready. Come to think of it, it wouldn't be hard to picture the Chicago group playing in a place like Memorial Coliseum sometime down the line and doing a fine job at it.

Oh yeah—and Grizzly Bear are opening.

• The Mercury music staff office: where men with Hitler mustaches confidently read the newspaper.

Hello. We're looking for an intern. But not just any intern, we are seeking a music intern. Unlike other editorial word slaves, we won't bother you with requests to see that one Carlos Mencia movie that none of us want to see, write reviews of interpretive dance troupes, or act as a Cockney-to-English translator for Matt Davis. Nope, you will be strictly devoted to the music section.

What does this internship require?
- There will be some mild calendar entry (boring), music blogging (exciting), talking about music (exciting), and listening to me talk about music (boring).
- You will probably be asked to contribute to our non-award winning weekly publication.
- You will probably be asked to contribute to End Hits, our non-award winning music blog.
- You will not be paid. Sorry.
- You will get free music, concerts, and the ability to silently judge others based solely on their (poor) taste in music. This is totally priceless.
- You will get published clips for your future career as a writer. (Career tip: Get used to hearing "you will not be paid.")
- You will get school credit. That is, if your school gives credit for such things.
- You will work in an office that includes both electricity and running water. (Work hours only, please.)

Wow, I can think of nothing better, what do you require of me?
- You can form a sentence. (Hell, if you can form a sentence, I should be working for you.)
- You can come in to our office at least one day a week.
- Previously published clips are not required, but they sure are nice. If you don't have them, worry not.
- You know about local music. Do you go to local shows? Do you know Red Fang from White Fang? Pancake Breakfast from Breakfast Mountain?

I am still reading this post, that means I must be interested.
- Excellent. Please send any clips—or, let's say 100 words on your favorite local release of last year—to this address.
- Also, please send your availability. Thank you.