Portland Mercury: End Hits

Holy Shit! Pavement Announced as Headliners for 2010 Sasquatch Festival!

news@portlandmercury.com (Ezra Caraeff) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:01:00 -0800

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.

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Jaguar Love - "Up All Night"

news@portlandmercury.com (Ezra Caraeff) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:39:02 -0800

Was this photo taken out in front of the Florida Room?

Tying in nicely with our new Cougar-themed column, here is a new song from Jaguar Love. /cat noise.

LISTEN:

Jaguar Love - "Up All Night"

Yep, still bratty. The band relocated to Portland awhile back and are now whittled down to just a pair of original members, Johnny Whitney and Cody Votolato, both formerly in the Blood Brothers. This new single—which sadly is not a Boomtown Rats cover—is the first song released from their new record out early next year. The band will be in town, performing a week from tonight (November 13th) at Branx. Or as their press release put it, "Brantz."

I like that name better, it sounds like a deli.

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Win Tickets to the Mountain Goats!

news@portlandmercury.com (Ezra Caraeff) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:44:15 -0800

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"

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I'm Thinking of Getting this James Taylor Knuckle Tattoo.

news@portlandmercury.com (Ezra Caraeff) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:28:51 -0800

This is a good decision, right?

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Brothers Young - Tonight!

news@portlandmercury.com (Ned Lannamann) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:30:42 -0800

Ben Salmon

Presented as a limited-edition CD run complete with hand-screened covers, The Sun Says He's God is the first proper offering from the Brothers Young. While the band's boots are muddied by the murky waters of traditional folk—with enough down-home bluegrass to justify your bourbon intake during their live performances—the Brothers' intertwined melodies can occasionally fall into Pinback territory, especially on the dark and sprawling "Waterman." But The Sun Says is not a modern mashup of genres; it's primarily a sleepy-eyed folk record, one that buries even the softest of vocal melodies under a mountain of textured instrumentals. It's the product of a band that proudly rolls a half-dozen members deep—Michael, Dustin and Dillon Young, plus Travis Girton, Trevino Brings Plenty, and Levi Ethan Cecil (he put out the record, so he automatically gets to be in the band). EZRA ACE CARAEFF

LISTEN:

Brothers Young - "Planet Earth"

You may know that there is a fourth Brother Young—the Andy Gibb of the Young clan, if you will—Ritchie Young, who is not in the band but fronts Loch Lomond and runs tonight's show's venue, the Woods. Also, you should know that BOAT is opening for the Brothers Young. BOAT is really good. We like BOAT. Go see Brothers Young and BOAT. You will be glad.

The Woods, 6637 SE Milwaukie, 9 pm, $7

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Mommy, I See Dead People

news@portlandmercury.com (Mark Lore) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:16:05 -0800

Just in time for Christmas. Decemberists frontman Colin Meloy and his wife Carson Ellis have been working on a children's book, which should feel right at home with Fox In Socks and The Berenstain Bears.

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.

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This Week's Mercury Music Section

news@portlandmercury.com (Ezra Caraeff) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0800

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"

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Quasi is The Who

news@portlandmercury.com (Ezra Caraeff) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:35:20 -0800

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.

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Afrobeat + Chicago Post Punk

news@portlandmercury.com (Andrew R Tonry) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:30:11 -0800

= volcano!.

Pretty fucking radical song, "Africa Just Wants To Have Fun." Too bad this video is fucking terrible, a detriment to the song. I'd advise just letting the tunes play and scrolling on, or moving to another window. Seriously. Better yet, listen to it on volcano!'s MySpace page. "So Many Lemons" aint bad either.

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Pierced Arrows Sign to Vice Records

news@portlandmercury.com (Ezra Caraeff) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:46:15 -0800

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.

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Win Tickets to Dinosaur Jr.!

news@portlandmercury.com (Ezra Caraeff) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:50:58 -0800

Brantley Gutierrez

FACT: Dinosaur Jr. are the finest exports from the great city of Amherst, Massachusetts. (Sorry Emily Dickinson, you lose.)
FACT: J Mascis has been continually soloing since 1984. It's just been one long guitar solo, man.
FACT: From the age of 14-21, I put Dinosaur Jr.'s "Not You Again" and Sebadoh's "Soul and Fire" and on every mixtape I made for a girl. (I am shocked I am still not a virgin.)
FACT: The recent Dinosaur Jr. releases—with the original lineup—are just as impressive as their earliest days. Something you can't say about most bands that have been kicking it for a quarter century.
FACT: We are giving away three pairs of tickets to see the band this Saturday night at the Wonder Ballroom.

To win your way into the Wonder Ballroom on Saturday, just comment below on why you think you deserve to attend this show . The best three (!) comments by Thursday at 10am will win a pair of tickets. If you don't want to chance it, tickets are still available here. Good luck and be sure to bring your earplugs (seriously), you're going to need them.

LISTEN:

Dinosaur Jr. - "I Want You To Know"

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Fly On, Little Wings

news@portlandmercury.com (Raquel Nasser) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:49:36 -0800

I am clearly the only girl that posts on this blog.

For those of you headed to the Dirty Projectors/Little Wings show tonight at the Aladdin, beware: You might become part of the opening act! This is speculation based on what I've read, and heard from friends who know Kyle Field of Little Wings, but he may or may not be inviting folks from the audience up on stage with him this evening.

As a rather rampant artiste, Field views his music as "an ever-changing art project," thus prompting him to borrow other bands' equipment and use whoever might be around to enhance (or butcher) his sound. Perhaps he is right? Perhaps everything anyone could ever need is always right in front of us? These are not a terrible concepts in theory; I'm just not sure how it all works when it's put into practice.

Regardless, I've spent all afternoon practicing the harmony for this song, just in case.

LISTEN:

Little Wings- "What Wonder"

You'd be safe to bring a tambourine.

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Reporter "Lab Test" Video

news@portlandmercury.com (Ezra Caraeff) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:29:47 -0800

Grab a bowl of candy corn leftover from Halloween and chow down as you watch this new video for Reporter's "Lab Test." The video was created by someone/something named Dickbird, along with this paper's esteemed art director, Scrappers, and was filmed inside the Lone Fir Cemetery. There is plenty of dancing throughout, from both (animated) skeletons and (not animated) human beings. If you look closely, I believe you can see the flaccid genitals dangling from one of the skeletons.

I can't believe I get paid money to type sentences like that. Hi, mom!

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Drunk Driver Convicted of Killing "Quality" Dan Baldwin Sentenced to One Year and One Day in Prison

news@portlandmercury.com (Ezra Caraeff) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:55:27 -0800

The Oregonian is reporting that Vancouver resident Anthony Wesley Miller was sentenced to a mere one year, and one day, prison sentence for striking and killing "Quality" Dan Baldwin of local band Power of County.

Both Miller and Baldwin were over the legal limit when the accident occurred on March 28th, as Miller's SUV struck Baldwin's motorcycle, killing him instantly. Miller fled the scene, but later returned and eventually pleaded guilty to the charges of drunken driving and criminally negligent homicide. The story is just incredibly sad, including this quote from Baldwin's mother, Eleanor: "Mr. Miller, I would hope that you would not just walk away and forget."

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Put Another Dime in the Jookabox, Baby

news@portlandmercury.com (Mark Lore) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:50:36 -0800

Since it seems all of Portland is still basking in the Halloween afterglow, Jookabox's latest video for "You Cried Me" seems appropriate. Plus, it's a great video. And a good song. The Indianapolis four-piece (formerly Grampall Jookabox) released its latest Dead Zone Boys today, an album supposedly steeped in zombie lore. Scary.

But not as frightening as Jookabox frontman David Adamson having the word "Moose" attached to his name. And definitely not as horrific as Metallica ham-fistedly plowing through a couple of Kinks classics with Ray Davies.

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Win Tickets to David Bazan!

news@portlandmercury.com (Ezra Caraeff) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:13:36 -0800

You might know David Bazan as the bearded (former) Christian solider behind Pedro the Lion. Perhaps you know David Bazan as the man responsible for Curse Your Branches, arguably the best record of 2009 not named Bitte Orca. Or maybe you think Bazan was the man behind that song, "Like a Pimp," but you are wrong, that was David Banner. (I could stare at the photo all day long and it will never cease to amaze me.)

Anyway, Branches is Bazan's breakup album with God—if you think Bazan is taking it bad, you should see the other guy—and while it's an emotionally jarring listening experience, the album is truly beautiful and sincere. To celebrate his first Portland show since the album's release, we're offering up a pair of tickets to see Bazan at Mississippi Studios this Friday night.

We'll give two tickets to the best commenter below, just explain why you deserve to go to the show for free. Love David Bazan? Love David Banner? Hate Jesus? Adore 'em all? Make your case by tomorrow (Wednesday!) at 9am and the tickets will be yours. Good luck, and God bless.

LISTEN:

David Bazan - "Bless This Mess"

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Nurses Cancel Tour. Nurses Totally Fine.

news@portlandmercury.com (Ezra Caraeff) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 07:00:28 -0800

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.

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Sweet Crappy Maruading Maudlin Metallica

news@portlandmercury.com (Andrew R Tonry) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:40:17 -0800

I'm pretty sure this is all Jann Wenner's fault.

At the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame concerts last week in NY all kinds of bands mixed. And while most of the pairings were insipid and predictable, at least they made sense for the sentimental and star-struck (ie: U2 and The Boss, Sting and Stevie Wonder, U2 and Mick Jagger).

But Metallica with Lou Reed and later Ray Davies?

Sorry Ned—you think that's bad? Try "You Really Got me" and "All Day and all of the Night" with Lars' clunky power drumming and Kirk Hammet's meaningless needle riffing. It's a slap to Davies if you ask me, relegated to two songs with a band of former metal heads and current teetotaling grampas who have neither the talent nor the inclination to be adaptable.

Reed's songs don't fair much better (but we're used to Reed shitting on things, right?). And just because the trio of artists were semi-outsiders—when compared to U2 or Stevie—doesn't bless the pairing. Rather than the Hall of Fame proving it's vitality, it demonstrated again a pointless senility—no better or authentic than a wax museum. Except wax sculptures would've been easier on the ears.

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God Save the Kinks. Please, Save Them.

news@portlandmercury.com (Ned Lannamann) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:15:26 -0800

No, no, no, no, no. This should not have happened. Ray Davies has re-recorded a bunch of (wonderful, amazing) Kinks songs. With a choir. Have you ever wanted to hear "You Really Got Me" sung by a 65-piece choir? Well then, (1) The Kinks Choral Collection is the album for you, and (2) fuck you.

Ray Davies has not ultimately side-stepped the geezer syndrome that almost every rocker his age has succumbed to, but he hasn't tarnished his damn-near unbeatable legacy nearly as bad as some of his peers. In fact, his Portland show last year was one of the best concerts in recent memory, sounding vital and alive. But this... this has happened.

I don't know who this record is for. Kinks fans? Chorus fans? A song like "Waterloo Sunset" can't be entirely killed by a Christmassy sounding choir ooh-ing in the background, but some of the other songs don't fare so well.

LISTEN:

Ray Davies & The Crouch End Festival Chorus - "Picture Book"

Ugh. I need a hot bath and an original copy of Village Green Preservation Society, stat.

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Win Tickets to Múm!

news@portlandmercury.com (Ezra Caraeff) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:14:06 -0800

MÚM, HILDUR GUDNADOTTIR, SIN FANG BOUS
(Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie) Múm's brand of quiet, weird intensity doesn't make them a novelty act. They're not miniaturists—"Marmalade Fires" is restrained, but it also soars in the way a symphony orchestra soars. "Sing Along," from the Icelandic group's most recent album, Sing Along to Songs You Don't Know, seems to build into something that could become a raucous explosion, but it just keeps ascending, like an ornate marble staircase that you keep climbing, only to find it leads to a dead-end wall, but on that wall is maybe the most moody, gorgeous painting you've ever seen in your whole life. PAUL CONSTANT

Yeah, that about sums it up. Like their artistic peers on that odd bankrupt (financially, not creatively) island they call home, Múm build precise little monuments of intricate melody and sound that are endlessly rewarding to the listener. Since the band will be making a rare appearance at the Aladdin Theater this Wednesday, we want to give you a pair of tickets to see the show. Just comment below and explain why you deserve to win your way into the loving embrace of Múm. The best comment by Tuesday (that's tomorrow) at 9am will be declared the winner. If commenting isn't your thing, you can still buy tickets right here. Good luck.

LISTEN:

Múm - "Illuminated"

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Ramona Falls - "I Say Fever" Video

news@portlandmercury.com (Ezra Caraeff) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:38:13 -0800

Woah. Stop what you are doing right this second and... okay, you can finish watching that video of the kitten falling into the garbage can. Done? Okay, good.

Now you must watch this excellent new Ramona Falls video for "I Say Fever." The first video from Brent Knopf's Menomena side project, and his debut Intuit recording, is a beautifully designed clip that features plenty of textured vintage artwork, odd-looking animals (bonus: with weapons!), and a slinky animation style that works perfectly with the song. It was directed by Stefan Nadelman, who previously worked with Knopf and Menomena on their "Evil Bee" video.

If this blog post had a YouTube star rating, I'd give it five stars, or "awesome."

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Shelley Short - Daytrotter Session

news@portlandmercury.com (Ezra Caraeff) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:15:33 -0800

This weekend Daytrotter posted a lovely little set from Shelley Short, captured on tape in their Rock Island, Illinois studio. Know what else is from Rock Island? The Rock Island High "Fightin' Rocks," a high school with a macot that is a rock. Exciting!

Anyway, Short performed four songs from her new A Cave A Canoo LP, plus explained how those constantly-flowing Portland water fountains work.

When I visualize this song I think of these little water fountains that are on street corners of Portland, where the water is constantly running, and the waters source is the snow from the top of the mountains.

Well, now we know.

LISTEN:

Shelley Short - "Familiar" (Daytrotter Session)

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Sam Quinn

news@portlandmercury.com (Andrew R Tonry) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:06:04 -0700

Have I told you about the fantastic Sam Quinn? I have indeed. But dammit, once is not enough—the group from Knoxville is just that good. And they're perfect for these cold, dreary, darkened days. Enjoy.

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Nooooooo!!!!

news@portlandmercury.com (Ezra Caraeff) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:42:01 -0700

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.

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Tonight! Devil's Night Party at the Water Heater!

news@portlandmercury.com (Raquel Nasser) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:11:54 -0700

"shittiest" ghost costume is not meant to be taken literally... we think.

Today marks the official start of Halloween Weekend!

Even though derelicts have been walking up and down Hawthorne in costumes for weeks, it is now acceptable for you, the law-abiding citizen, to dress yourself in that deliciously clever "Goth Brooks" costume you have been planning since last Halloween. (Sorry, but no one will get it until you tell them.)

Or, you could head down to The Water Heater on N. Fremont and Albina in your "shittiest ghost costume" for live music, dead beer, and the kind of fun you can only have in Purgatory. (Not sure what that means? You're Jewish? Me too!)

The Water Heater is a 4800 square foot warehouse that intends to be "one of the most fully integrated and wide-ranging artist communities this side of the Mississippi." (Not sure if they mean the Mississippi river, the state, or the avenue with all the boutiques on it.) Anyway, they're planning to eventually host two stages, a production studio/live room, practice spaces, art studio spaces, workshop bungalows, and more. Plus, the warehouse is considered to be one of Portland's first "green" buildings, constructed entirely of scrap water heaters welded together during WWII. It's definitely worth checking out.

As for the party, it intends to rock your Halloween-themed socks off. They even brought in $5,000 worth of insulation and a space heater so you won't freeze should you choose to strip out of your shitty ghost costume and dance around. Check it out, bring your friends, and save Goth Brooks for tomorrow; no one is going to get it anyways.

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