This Week in the Mercury
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Friday, February 10, 2012
News / MP3 Dana Buoy Shares New Single from Upcoming Solo Album
Posted by Charlie Swanson on Fri, Feb 10, 2012 at 1:29 PM
Akron/Family percussionist Dana Buoy recently released the first track from his upcoming debut solo LP, Summer Bodies. Buoy, whose real name is Dana Janssen, left New York back in 2009 for our neck of the woods, and this marks the drummer's first solo recorded foray in electronic indie pop. Made of warm and tropical tones, the track "Call to Be" is a minimally produced, yet exuberantly spirited taste of an album that was reportedly crafted in a jungle bungalow. It's also hopefully a hazy retreat from the distinctly nontropical rains we've got coming this weekend.
Currently, Buoy is prepping for a tour of the Midwest and East Coast with bedroom programmer Youth Lagoon, but a little birdie (ok, it was Ned Lannamann) told me that Buoy will be opening for Lost Lander Sunday, March 4 at Rontoms. Catch his set if you can and keep Summer Bodies on your radar, the album comes out May 8 on Lefse Records.
LISTEN:
Dana Buoy - "Call to Be"
News Brainstorm Covers Nigerian Musician Mdou Moctar on their New EP
Posted by Ned Lannamann on Fri, Feb 10, 2012 at 11:09 AM
The music of Portland duo Brainstorm circumnavigates the musical globe with total ease, marrying the sounds of both hemispheres and offering a modern, Northwest perspective on sounds from very far away.
Brainstorm has just released a new EP, and The Mdou Moctar Covers (Music from Saharan Cellphones) is exactly what its title says: Two cover songs of Nigerian musician Mdou Moctar, whose music is most commonly distributed through Saharan Africa via cellphone—personal computers are rare, and vinyl melts in the heat! Brainstorm are big Mdou Moctar fans; one of the EP's tracks also appears under its original title ("Tahoultine") on the Music for Saharan Cellphones compilation.
You can check out Brainstorm's new EP over on Bandcamp; it includes the songs "Vanessa" and "Devil Cannot Wait," with completely rewritten lyrics by Brainstorm, done to match the phonetic sounds of the originals rather than their meaning. (Mdou Moctar's affinity for Autotune is preserved intact on the cover versions.) You can also check out the songs on Soundcloud, where they're also available for download, along with the original tracks by Mdou Moctar himself.
News Lackthereof's New, Free Album Was Recorded in a Single Day
Posted by Ned Lannamann on Fri, Feb 10, 2012 at 9:38 AM
Menomena's Danny Seim records solo work under the moniker Lackthereof, and today he's released the 11th Lackthereof album for free over on Menomena's site.
But this isn't just any old Lackthereof album. Seim recorded it in a single day, as part of the "Twenty Song Challenge," a game that musicians play in which everyone goes off and writes and records 20 songs in 12 hours. They get together at the end of the day to play each other results. The finest record goes onto win the Grammy for album of the year, and the losers are sacrificed in a bloody, carnal ceremony.
Okay, that last sentence is not true. Actually, it is not a competition at all, and it sounds like everyone else who participated in Seim's challenge also made stunningly great records. Seim, for his part, got through the marathon recording process by "finding lyrical inspiration in cheesy self-help websites, using as many instruments as I had in my little house, and sprinkling in a few shredded samples from a Nick Jaina album (Nick was sort of the one who persuaded me to take The Challenge that day, so i thought i'd give him a little aural shout-out)."
And the results are Lackthereof's next album—and as mentioned, it is available for free download over on Menomena's site. Seim ended up making its 20 short pieces all fit in to part of a larger whole, with the album now playing as a single seamless MP3. That's the album cover up there, a picture of Memomena bandmate Justin Harris holding up a painting Seim made of The Room's Tommy Wiseau. Speaking of Menomena, they are apparently two weeks away from finishing the recording of their next album.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
News Dominant Legs' Gear Stolen in Portland, Wednesday
Posted by Andrew R Tonry on Thu, Feb 9, 2012 at 9:05 PM
It's a story I always take to heart as I know how rotten I'd feel if some toothless bastard ran off with my guitars. Some things just aren't replaceable. But let's hope for better for S.F. band Dominant Legs, whose gear was stolen in Portland, Wednesday evening, a day after opening for Eleanor Friedberger at Mississippi Studios.
Christian Blunda of the Mean Jeans, who was with the band at the time of the theft, explains:
I'm fucking pissed about it. They lost 2 laptops, an ipad, their clothes, etc. We were at East End having drinks for like an hour between 530 and 630 and some asshole broke in and jacked them bad. The following instruments were stolen and it would be a fucking miracle if they got them back, but it's worth trying.
The stolen gear:
- Brand new American Fender Stratocaster (Olympic White)
- Mexican Fender Telecaster semi-hollowbody w/f-hole (Natural Ash)
- Ovation Magnum 2 Bass (dark wood) cracked headstock
If you have any information about the theft which, again, took place between 5:30-6:30PM, Wednesday afternoon in the vicinity of Grand & Ankeny in SE Portland, please contact police and email the band at dominantlegs@gmail.com.
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News President Obama Listens to AgesandAges
Posted by Ned Lannamann on Thu, Feb 9, 2012 at 10:26 AM
- AP Photo
Politico just posted Obama's new campaign playlist—I didn't know there was such a thing, but there you are—and it looks like Portland's own AgesandAges made the cut. Apparently our president enjoys rocking out to the massed chorale of their excellent song "No Nostalgia."
Actually, this is a damn perfect presidential campaign song for Obama. Take a look at the lyrics:
When I walk, there will be noAgesandAges join other music heavyweights on the playlist, including Wilco, Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, and—wait. Two songs by Darius Rucker?
Speculation, no act to follow
And my words, they will be strong
Find your way, feel free to come
Peep the whole playlist, and listen to AgesandAges below.
LISTEN:
AgesandAges - "No Nostalgia"
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
News CD Baby Had a Surprisingly Good 2011
Posted by Ned Lannamann on Wed, Feb 8, 2012 at 11:40 AM
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
News Now You Can Remix Typhoon!
Posted by Ned Lannamann on Tue, Feb 7, 2012 at 2:34 PM
The "stem" files are posted over on Typhoon's Facebook page, but Laxer and the band generously agreed to not require that you "like" Typhoon in order to access the files. (Other bands, take note.) It's uncommon for a band to make these kind of stem files public, so here's to Laxer and Typhoon allowing us the chance to get our hands dirty.
Here's the official info:
Typhoon's audio engineer Paul Laxer (http://paullaxer.wordpress.com/) releases stems from the original recordings via their Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/wearetyphoon). Tracks are organized, isolated, and labeled. Re-mixer Heaven.The songs included are "Summer Home," "The Honest Truth," and "CPR" parts 1 and 2. Typhoon kicks off a tour in March which will take them down to SXSW; they also have become the only Typhoon in town following the closure of the chain of Thai restaurants sharing that name. Here's a direct link to the post that will point you to the "stem" files.One can simply drop these files into an audio program; the audio files line up to each other. When all files are set to the same level it re-creates the original pre-master mix. Even if they are not a sound nerd, people will still get a kick out of soloing each track...
Monday, February 6, 2012
They Live Here / News Horse Feathers Announce the Details of Their Fourth Album
Posted by Ned Lannamann on Mon, Feb 6, 2012 at 12:13 PM
That there is the cover of the new Horse Feathers album, which comes out on April 17 on Kill Rock Stars. As you can see, the record is called Cynic's New Year, and as you might not be able to see, it is "by Horse Feathers with help from some various other folks." (That's the small print on the cover.)
Cynic's New Year—which one is that again? Doesn't that one come between the Year of the Rat and the Year of the Bearded Toad?—is the Portland group's fourth full-length. It's a 12-song collection produced by Point Juncture, WA's Skyler Norwood, whose recent credits include Blind Pilot and Talkdemonic. The album sees Horse Feathers, based around the duo of songwriter Justin Ringle and violinist Nathan Crockett, augmented by 11 other musicians, giving their stark, haunting folk sound a lush backdrop, including French horn, bells, banjo, and electric-chainsaw feedback other stringed instruments. You can hear a track off the album, "Fit Against the Country," by moseying on over to Horse Feathers' site and getting on their mailing list.
Full tracklist after the jump!
Friday, February 3, 2012
News Slabtown Changes Hands as the Bender Kicks Off
Posted by Ned Lannamann on Fri, Feb 3, 2012 at 10:53 AM
The Slabtown Bender kicks off today, and it was announced this morning that Doug Rogers has purchased Slabtown from Brinda Coleman and Sam Soule. Rogers will be taking over operations after this weekend; the bar will be temporarily closed as he makes some minor changes, including:
upgrading the sound system, changing the menu, putting in some altars to musicians who’ve passed away (and that I venerate for their contributions to the music scene). Slabtown will reopen on February 24th with DJs, free foods, live music from the Bloodtypes and others, and our own version of Kaiju Big Battel.Rogers also has plans for an unusual coterie of events at the NW bar, as he states:
I’m extremely easily bored, and Slabtown is going to have to entertain me as much as anyone else. Record swaps and sock hops, Blazer games, spaghetti feeds and the Church of RocknRoll, May Day and Labor Day events where the proceeds go to the staff instead of management, celebrations for Joey Ramone Day and Happy Moo Year, and as much live music as I have time to book. Yes, I’ll be keeping the pinball machines.Here's wishing the very best of luck to Rogers as he takes the reins.
The Slabtown Bender kicks off tonight, with Wreckless Eric, the Trashies, Kid Congo Powers, and tons more.
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Upcoming / News Alela Diane to Play Two Special Shows at Oaks Pioneer Church
Posted by Ned Lannamann on Fri, Feb 3, 2012 at 8:44 AM
Alela Diane has announced that she'll perform two very special shows at the end of the month. She's performing solo and acoustic at the cozy and historic Oaks Pioneer Church in Sellwood. Diane initially announced a single show on Wednesday, February 29 (pffft, that isn't even a real date) but naturally, all 50 tickets promptly sold out so she has just added a second show on Tuesday, February 28. Ryan Francesconi opens the Wednesday show, while Evan Way of the Parson Red Heads will open the Tuesday show.
Diane is in the midst of working on her fourth album, and has already laid some tracks to tape. She'll be playing new songs at these shows; the new record is shaping up to be an intimate, acoustic solo record—as opposed to last year's band effort, Alela Diane & Wild Divine—so the setting for these two special shows is appropriate.
Peep the flyer for the Wednesday show—which affords a glimpse of the church's interior—after the jump.
Oaks Pioneer Church, 455 SE Spokane, Tues Feb 28 & Wed Feb 29, 8 pm, $12, tickets for the Tuesday show go on sale here at 9 am
Upcoming / News Sasquatch Lineup Announced!
Posted by Ned Lannamann on Fri, Feb 3, 2012 at 7:59 AM
The lineup for the annual Sasquatch! Music Festival was announced last night, which takes place May 25-28 (Memorial Day Weekend) at the scenic Gorge Amphitheater in Washington State. The lineup looks solid this year, with Jack White performing solo, Bon Iver, the cast of Portlandia, and something called John Reilly & Friends, which I can only imagine is the actor, right? Portland acts other than Portlandia include M. Ward, the Shins, Wild Flag, Blind Pilot, Blitzen Trapper, the Helio Sequence, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, and Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside. Tickets go on sale Saturday February 11 at 10 am here.
Peep the whole lineup:
Jack White, Beck, Bon Iver, Pretty Lights, Tenacious D, The Shins, Beirut, Girl Talk, The Roots, The Head & The Heart, Portlandia, Feist, Silversun Pickups, Metric, Explosions In The Sky, The Joy Formidable, Mogwai, Nero (DJ), M. Ward, John Reilly & Friends, Childish Gambino, St. Vincent, The Civil Wars, Jamey Johnson, Little Dragon, Tune-Yards, Wild Flag, Blind Pilot, Wolfgang Gartner, Beats Antique, Apparat, The Walkmen, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Mark Lanegan Band, Spiritualized, Blitzen Trapper, The Cave Singers, Shabazz Palaces, Fun., Grouplove, Tycho, Sbtrkt, Strfkr, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Deer Tick, Imelda May, Alabama Shakes, Dum Dum Girls, The Helio Sequence, Kurt Vile, Cloud Cult, We Are Augustines, Ben Howard, Here We Go Magic, Zola Jesus, The War On Drugs, Shearwater, Cass McCombs, Active Child, Trampled By Turtles, Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires, Araabmuzik, Star Slinger, L.A. Riots, Com Truise, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, I Break Horses, Walk The Moon, Dry The River, Allen Stone, Pickwick, Hey Marseilles, Gary Clark Jr., Purity Ring, Electric Guest, Yellow Ostrich, Nobody Beats The Drum, Coeur De Pirate, Lord Huron, Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside, Beat Connection, The Sheepdogs, Hey Rosetta!, Said The Whale, Howlin Rain, Gardens & Villa, Felix Cartal, Craft Spells, Vintage Trouble, Poor Moon, Black Whales, Gold Leaves, Greylag, Awesome Tapes From Africa, Thee Satisfaction, Dyme Def, Fresh Espresso, The Physics, Sol, Metal Chocolates, Grynch, Spac3man, Don’t Talk To The Cops, Scribes, Fatal Lucciauno, Fly Moon Royalty, Katie Kate
Comedy: Nick Kroll, John Mulaney, Todd Barry, Beardyman, Rob Delaney, Pete Holmes, Howard Kremer
Thursday, February 2, 2012
News / MP3 More on Tender Loving Empire's Priceless Music Project, and a Free Comp!
Posted by Ned Lannamann on Thu, Feb 2, 2012 at 5:52 PM
Music distribution has yet again become a hot topic, thanks to the recent shutting down of Megaupload and this week's D: Dive Into Media conference (in which Grandpa Granola Neil Young said fantastic, point-on things like piracy taking the place that radio used to occupy: a free, low-quality method of checking out music easily).
So it's a fine time to check back in with Tender Loving Empire, who announced their incredibly ambitious Priceless Music Project at the end of last year, and now have more details on how exactly it will work. The video above, narrated by TLE's Jared Mees, spells out the wide range of payment options that are going to be available to music consumers—starting with TLE's release of Y La Bamba's new album, Court the Storm, on February 28. You can pay nothing (cheapskate) or you can pay a lot (showoff), but the point is that the whole way we buy and receive music is different, so there's room for a completely different model, so why not start from the ground up? Tender Loving Empire is still raising funds to develop the project (go here to donate), and unfortunately they still have a long ways to go before reaching their goal.
I'm certain, though, that this is going to be good for both bands and fans. Because it's one of those ideas that's so audacious, it could actually work. The heart is in the right place, and all the ingredients are good—in fact, I'd say TLE's primary goal isn't to turn the industry upside down, or to maximize profits, or anything like that. It's to smush bands and their fans as close together as possible, allowing for the monetary part of those relationships to intrude as little as possible.
At any rate, if Tender Loving Empire is involved, the music is going to be good—which at the end of the day is the most important thing. And here's proof: TLE is offering a new, free, seven-song sampler of bands on their label to help pump up the Priceless Music Project. It's kind of staggering how good the comp is, with incredible new songs from Radiation City and Y La Bamba, as well as just-as-good older songs from Typhoon, Loch Lomond, and Jared Mees. You can download it right here.
Upcoming / News Laura Gibson Adds an Early Show at Mississippi Studios Tomorrow
Posted by Ned Lannamann on Thu, Feb 2, 2012 at 12:49 PM
Perhaps you read this week's music lead about Laura Gibson, and her excellent new record La Grande, which transplants the local chanteuse's parlor folk into a Wild West landscape filled with guns, gold, and ghosts. Unsurprisingly, Gibson's release show for La Grande tomorrow night at Mississippi Studios is super sold out. Super duper sold out. Super duper sold out with frosting and cherries. And those diced nuts.
But good news, music (and sundae) lovers! Mississippi Studios has just added an early show—so, if you didn't already have tickets to the late show, you'll still be able to see Gibson premiere the record for an eager hometown crowd. This pair of shows promises to be exceptional: Gibson and her band kicked off their US tour last week, and with this batch of La Grande tunes at their disposal, they'll be firing on all cylinders.
Get tickets to the early show (tomorrow night at 6:30) over at Mississippi Studios' site.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
News / Tonight! Revival Turns Three, Luke Wyland and Others Perform Tonight
Posted by Ned Lannamann on Wed, Feb 1, 2012 at 3:47 PM
According to Facebook, it's Revival Drum Shop's birthday today. And it's true that the Northeast Portland percussion emporium opened its doors in February 2009, and in three short years it's become a reliable, well-loved source for all things drum, specializing in custom and vintage items.
Tonight the Creative Music Guild hosts a show at the drum shop featuring a solo set from Luke Wyland—perhaps better known as one-half of AU. Wyland typically handles keyboard, pedal steel, and vocals for AU but tonight's improvised set will see him playing solo accordion and augmenting it with electronics. It should be quite unique. Also playing tonight are jazz drummer Tim DuRoche and saxophonist Eugene Lee, who will be playing an improvised set as well. Tonight's show is part of the ongoing Outset Series, a concert series that focuses on experimental, avant-garde, and improvised music.
Revival Drum Shop, 1465 NE Prescott, 8 pm, $5-15 sliding scale, all ages
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News / Video New Song and Video from M. Ward
Posted by Ned Lannamann on Wed, Feb 1, 2012 at 9:58 AM
Here's "The First Time I Ran Away," a new song (and video) from M. Ward from his forthcoming album A Wasteland Companion, which comes out April 10. The charming animated clip was directed by Joel Trussell, who was also responsible for the lovely video for "Chinese Translation," and indeed this song hearkens back to Post-War era M. Ward, offering flickering, watery production over a simple melody. This isn't the kind of tune that immediately hooks itself into your psyche, but its impressionistic melody feels like an idea that is quite comfortable rolling around inside your head for a while.
News / MP3 Portland's Benoît Pioulard + Seattle's the Sight Below = Orcas
Posted by Ned Lannamann on Wed, Feb 1, 2012 at 9:42 AM
Here's a peek at the new track from Orcas—the collaboration between Portland's Benoît Pioulard and Seattle's Rafael Anton Irisarri (who records as the Sight Below)—from their forthcoming self-titled album, due out on April 24 on German label Morr Music. It's a soothing, wisping song with the frame of a conventional melody, but the picture within depicts something far more elusive, more abstract. It's soothing, but filled with the notion of decay, which fits in well with the song title: "Carrion" is both rotten, rancid meat and sustenance to certain kinds of animals. The track ends quite suddenly, providing a jarring conclusion to a seemingly docile song.
LISTEN:
Orcas - "Carrion
According to Morr Music's Soundcloud page, Orcas takes its name from what's commonly called the killer whale, the "wolf of the seas"—and not the island in the San Juans, which was named after the Spanish explorer Horcasitas. You can also check out their tribute to late Broadcast singer Trish Keenan, which we posted last year.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Upcoming / News Marty Marquis' Residency at Al's Den
Posted by Ned Lannamann on Fri, Jan 27, 2012 at 12:23 PM
Marquis says, "I'm pretty stoked about the performers on tap. There's some of the usual suspects (Evan Way, Mike Coykendall, solo sets from all the Denver dudes)... I'm particularly excited to have both Heatwarmer and Thousands coming down from Seattle to play, very different bands (though one is made up of a subset of the other), both among the very best at what they do." It's an all-star lineup to see some great musicians and songwriters in a small room—and for free. The series kicks off this Sunday with Marquis joined by Eric Johnson of Fruit Bats and Zach Tillman of Pearly Gate Music.
Here's the full schedule (Marquis plays on all dates, naturally):
Sun Jan 29 Eric Johnson (Fruit Bats), Zach Tillman (Pearly Gate Music)All shows start at 7 pm at Al's Den (303 SW 12th) and are FREE.
Mon Jan 30 Jenna Conrad, Corey Ravens and friends
Tues Jan 31 Eric Earley (Blitzen Trapper, Denver), Mike Elias (Denver)
Wed Feb 1 Evan Way (Parson Red Heads), Brian Koch (Blitzen Trapper)
Thurs Feb 2 Heatwarmer, Birger Olsen (Denver)
Fri Feb 3 Thousands, Tom Bevitori (Alela Diane & Wild Divine, Denver)
Sat Feb 4 Mike Coykendall, John & David Totten (The Quiet Ones)
Thursday, January 26, 2012
News Grand Opening: Little Axe Records
Posted by Chris Cantino on Thu, Jan 26, 2012 at 2:21 PM
Little Axe carries a vast array of sounds on vinyl and cassette. Many genres are well represented, including post punk, ethnographic, experimental, 60s soul, psych, industrial, folk & rock & blues in all it's types and everything in between. Music for complete weirdos and non-weirdos alike.
Grand opening is tomorrow at noon. And if you stick around until the evening, rumor has it you can expect some live music, including a rather "fishy" headliner. That's the other thing we're excited about: the in-store performances, which will be arranged by Experimental ½ Hour's Eva Aguila and Eternal Tapestry's Ryan Carlile. Damn, this is going to be an amazingly well-curated record shop. Be excited.
Little Axe Records is located at 5012 NE 28th (at Alberta).
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
News / MP3 Grouper Covers Dead Moon for Yeti
Posted by Ned Lannamann on Wed, Jan 25, 2012 at 10:01 AM
LISTEN:
Grouper - "Demona" (Dead Moon cover)
McGonigal's also offering a 100-minute download of music containing those four tracks, plus loads more, which you can get by ambling on over to the Yeti site, where you'll undoubtedly want to order the latest issue as well. This time around, McGonigal's compiled: "Photos from the Alan Lomax Archives ca. his 1959 ‘Southern Journey’; poet Margarita Shalina’s recollections of the NYC 1980s HARDCORE scene; Kim Spurlock’s annotated trove of NEAL CASSADY ephemera; photos by Nina Dudoladova of ABANDONED FORTS in Kaliningrad, Russia; epic essay on forgotten ‘90s surf band THE TIKI MEN; an interview with translator/author SUSAN BERNOFSKY; a great short story by Mimi Lipson; Chris Kirkley on African sign-painter THIAM BELLOU; Jamaican gospel 7-inch labels; drawings by Tim Miller, James Trotter, and Shana Cleveland."
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News / MP3 And And And's New 10-Inch Record
Posted by Ned Lannamann on Wed, Jan 25, 2012 at 9:35 AM
- Ingrid Renan
- Note the Log Across the Washer shirt—the new band of ex-AAA member Tyler Keene.
And And And has announced the release of a new EP on Exploding Green Records. Lost will be the group's first release on vinyl, and the 10-inch record contains six songs recorded by Eric Earley and Michael VanPelt of Blitzen Trapper. And And And play a vinyl release show on that sexiest of days, Valentine's Day, where they'll be playing at the Record Room (8 NE Killingsworth)—Tuesday, February 14, bright and early at 5:30 pm. That show is free and all ages. According to the press release, the songs on Lost "center on the themes of alienation, concealment, and becoming 'lost' in the confusion surrounding everyday life."
Oh. So it has nothing to do with the TV show.
And And And embark on their first West Coast tour on Friday, and also have a date scheduled at the Doug Fir on Saturday, February 18. You can listen to the entirety of Lost over at the Exploding Green site, or on Bandcamp. You can also listen to the opening track below.
LISTEN:
And And And - "I Want More Alcohol (It Makes Me Sadder)"
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Upcoming / News Damien Jurado Plays an In-Store at Jackpot Records
Posted by Ned Lannamann on Tue, Jan 24, 2012 at 9:59 AM
- Sarah Jurado
One day after the release of his stunning new album Maraqopa, Damien Jurado will play an in-store performance at Jackpot Records. He'll be at the SE Hawthorne store on Wednesday, February 22 at 6 pm, for a free, all-ages show. He'll no doubt play some tunes from the new record, which was recorded with Oregon audio auteur Richard Swift and, judging by advance listens, is absolutely remarkable.
The other day I was talking with someone about how many solo performers there are in the world who are capable of captivating an audience for an entire set—just them and an acoustic guitar. The list was pretty short. I think we came up with a total of four. Damien Jurado was one of them.
Here's a tune from Maraqopa.
LISTEN:
Damien Jurado - "Nothing Is the News"
Damien Jurado at Jackpot Records, 3574 SE Hawthorne, Wed Feb 22, 6 pm, FREE, all ages. Jurado will also perform at Holocene on Sunday, April 22.
Monday, January 23, 2012
News The Portland Music Awards Continue to Be a Joke
Posted by Ned Lannamann on Mon, Jan 23, 2012 at 12:05 PM
I've refrained from uttering a word about the notorious Portland Music Awards this year, as we have had plenty to say about it in the past and I figured why beat a dead mule.
But this is just too astonishing. Incredible. Appalling. I am giggling in disbelief, so get ready for a little mule beating.
Here is the award for Album of the Year, Scotland Barr and the Slow Drags' We Will Be Forgotten. Lead singer Scotland Barr passed away last year, and this record was a final testament to his legacy. The terrific, moving album was then desecrated with a Portland Music Awards nomination for "Album of the Year," and it subsequently won at last night's ceremony.
Take a look at the engraving on the award.
I hope the Slow Drags are able to get a laugh over this colossal blunder—and the same goes for Viva Voce, who, coincidentally enough, released an album last year called The Future Will Destroy You.
News Get Shwood's Mixtape
Posted by Ned Lannamann on Mon, Jan 23, 2012 at 10:35 AM
Local sunglasses manufacturer Shwood makes wooden sunglasses. Which just sounds outright silly to me. How on earth are you supposed to see through a piece of wood?
Oh. Apparently the lenses are not made of wood. I suppose that makes all the difference.
Moving on. Wooden frames isn't all that Shwood is up to. They also run an arts blog called Experiment with Nature, and they've recently posted their second mixtape. It's a totally free collection of 10 tracks from local bands like And And And, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Brainstorm, White Hinterland, Nurses, and lots more...
Check it out on Experiment with Nature, and get a .zip of the full mixtape here, or check out the tracks on Soundcloud.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Upcoming / News Youth Lagoon Cancels Its First Portland Show
Posted by Ned Lannamann on Fri, Jan 20, 2012 at 2:01 PM
Put on your slightly-annoyed, mildly-inconvenienced-but-mostly-just-bummed face:
The hotly anticipated, sold out Youth Lagoon show tomorrow night at the Doug Fir has been cancelled. Unfortunately, the band has been stranded in its hometown of Boise since this crappy weather began, which also resulted in the cancellation of its Seattle and Vancouver dates. The roads over the Cascades have been generally impassable, and an attempt to fly the band to the shows has resulted in cancelled flights and no small amount of frustration.
Leave it to the Doug Fir to provide the silver lining, as they are hastily putting together a replacement show for tomorrow night that won't feature Youth Lagoon but promises to be a worthwhile bill. Details to come*. The Doug Fir also wants ticket holders to know: "All credit card purchases will be electronically refunded, and all cash purchases will be refunded at point of purchase."
Youth Lagoon hopes to make up the dates at some point in the future; in the meantime, they will open for Death Cab for Cutie at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall on May 11.
*UPDATE: Tomorrow night's show will feature Radiation City, Wild Ones, Pure Bathing Culture, and Pegasus Dream. Radiation City and Pure Bathing Culture were already on the bill, Wild Ones and Pegasus Dream are new additions. Tickets are $5.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
News This Week's Mercury Music Section
Posted by Ned Lannamann on Thu, Jan 19, 2012 at 1:03 PM
Another week, another Mercury music section to cling onto for dear life as we all slowly succumb to our watery graves. Sweet lord Christopher, it is wet. Perhaps there is a whimsical British psychedelic pop song about this soggy state of affairs. Oh, there is?
Speaking of wet, Youth Lagoon is not actually a body of water, but the recording name of Boise's Trevor Powers, who brings bedroom pop out of the bedroom. If I was in the habit of compounding words, I might call his marvelous debut, The Year of Hibernation, something stupid like "intimat-epic." Thank goodness I don't ever do that.
LISTEN:
Youth Lagoon - "Montana"
NOFX show how punk rock can grow old gracefully. The secret is in the number three. Just like Catholicism!
LISTEN:
NOFX - "The Quitter"
California's Gardens and Villa recorded their debut album in Oregon with Richard Swift. Now they're hanging out in Portland to write their next record. I bet there's a song about rain on it.
LISTEN:
Gardens and Villa - "Star Fire Power"
Vampires are sooo over. Just ask Concrete Blonde. The cool thing now is unicorns. Yeah, unicorns are badass!
LISTEN:
Concrete Blonde - "Joey"
Plus the usual rash of Up and Coming shows.
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