Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for April 28th to May 4th

Hello dear Readers,

Last week I only ended up making it to like three shows. But they were all good. Really Good. Friday I caught the end of Strangers Die Everyday (Gorgeous music) at Ground Control and stayed for Dance Terror (Fun music). Sadly I missed New Century Schoolbook (features CIMTB contributor Amber Dawn), but I had a nice conversation with Steve of that band and I am assured they will play again. Soon.

Enough of the pas though. Lets focus on whats happening this week:

Monday, April 28th:

I got two good ones for you to check out:

• Valentine's,the undisputed King of free awesome music, is having a really good show tonight. William Holley and Tex Winters The Holy Mountain Band are playing. I have wanted to see William Holley since I first checked out his myspace page some time ago. He makes that oh-so-good kind of folk-pop. Tex Winters has his own enjoyable take on pop music too. 'Cept now that he has a band it might be more rocking. The show is FREE. It starts at 9 PM.
• Towne Lounge is also having a good show. Theirs features We Vs. The Shark (Athens), Alexis Gideon, and The Escapists. A diverse show for those with a diverse musical tastes. We vs. The Shark is kind of spazzy punk, Alexis makes kinda weird hip-hop, and The Escapists make spaghetti western type of instrumental rock. Nice. The show is $5. The music starts at 9:30 PM.

Tuesday, April 29th

There is a lot going on for a Tuesday. In fact, there is even a out of town act that is very tempting too (Nina Nastasia at Mississippi Studios). But here is whats happening with the local acts:

• Rotture has some good shows this week. They kick off the week with D Numbers (Santa Fe), Strangers Die Everyday, and Blue Cranes. This is part of the Mancampus series of shows held at Rotture. You may have seen D Numbers last week at Artistery as I listed it there. As I said earlier I caught the end of Strangers Die Everyday at Ground Control las Friday and it was gorgeous (2 violas, on cello, drums and bass=awesome). And the Blue Cranes play the kind of jazz that is suitable for rock clubs. This isn't loungey cocktail singing fair. In fact there is no singing at all. All three bands for $5. The show starts at 9 PM.
• Did you know that Pix Patissere (North) sometimes has shows? Well, they do. They call the series of shows Guitar Pix (get it?). On tuesday, they have both Super XX Man and Ali Wesley playing sets. Super XX Man is Scott Garred's band which plays endearing soft-pop music. Looks like Super XX Man will be playing this every Last Tuesday of the month for the foreseeable future. It is FREE too. The music is scheduled to last from 8 PM until 10 PM.
• Towne Lounge is hosting Ferocious Eagle as they play a show with His Mischief (St. Paul), Low Red Land (San Francisco), and Wax Fingers. All of these bands have different interpretations of Rock. I do not have the vocabulary to describe them all, but they are all valid. The show is $5. The music starts at 9 PM.
• Of course, there is also the Incubator at Someday Lounge (hosted by CIMTB contributer Gabriel Darling). This get started at 9-ish and goes until 12-ish. So get your open stage on.
• And don't forget Zilla Sake if you want a variety of music in a pretty chilled atmosphere. Their open mic is every Tuesday and is hosted by Y La Bamba. Sign up at 7:30, music at 8 PM.

Wednesday, April 30th

Only a few things of note. But they are certainly worth noting:

• Rotture is having a benefit for Darcy Davidson featuring Reporter, Sukey Tawdry, Dragging an Ox Through Water,and Luis Soto. I looked into who Darcy Davidson and I found out that she is battling cancer for the second time. Report urges people to "please support this cause even if you don’t know Darcy because she is a sweetheart and this is all for her." Fair enough. Especially with that lineup. I have heard nothing but amazing things about all of these bands except Luis Soto whom I have never heard of. He seems to keep good company though. The benefit cost only $6. The show starts at 8 PM.
• It looks as though there is going to be a show in one of Portland's recording studios on Wednesday. Vampire Hands (Minneapolis), Experimental Dental School, William Carpenter's Towering Trees, and Cotillion play at The Color Lab (NW 19th and Lovejoy). I have not been inside Color Lab and I don't think all that many people have. This is the first show I have heard of being held at the studio. You may have read about how I enjoyed Experimental Denatl School when they opened up for 31 Knots a while back. They play kind of Deerhoofy music. The guitar guys has like six pickups in a guitar bass hybrid that appears to be homemade from a Gibson SG. It is crazy. The show is ALL AGES and FREE. It starts at 8 PM.

Thursday, May 1st

There is some quality stuff happening tonight:

• The big show that is happening on Thursday is Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks. This is awesome. But there is more awesome because Joggers are opening the show. Although there are only two bands I can safely say that they will bring enough rock for like... I don't know, ten bands. Plus Joggers have a tour only ep full of rarities and such. They will play at the Wonder Ballroom. The ALL AGES show costs $17 (plus service charge?). The show starts at 8 PM.
• Towne Lounge also has a choice show of Fall of Snow, Morose Ghost, and Hide & Go Hustle. This marks the end of the FOS/Morose Ghost tour. She started the tour off hot (with Starfucker, and so it will end hot (with Hide & Go Hustle). Well done Fall of Snow. Well Done indeed. The show is $5. The music starts at 9:30 PM.
• Something that you might have noticed about Thursday is that it is the first one of the month. That means a bunch of crazy art stuff is going on. For example at the Tender Loving Empire store, there will be live performances by The Online Romance and Electric Blanket (I think this is the correct band). It should be interesting to see how they will fit TOR in the store (last I checked the store was kinda small and there were six people in the band). There will also be prints and comics by the Robopocalypse Collective. This ALL AGES event is FREE. The music is scheduled to start at 8 PM.
• Other First Thursday events include a bit of Portlantronica (a word I just made up to describe music that is both local to Portland and electronic in nature) via Strategy at Ground Kontrol. This event is FREE. The music starts at 7 PM.
• There is more Portlantronica at Holocene. Since The Field (Sweden) canceled their performance (USA did want them), Holocene has decided to put on a FREE show full of Portlantronica. Arohan (half of mori), Atole, and DJ Philip Sherburne. Come get your dance on. Its FREE. The doors are at 9 PM.
• Rotture has a good show too. They have Crypticize (CA) playing along side The Dead Science (Seattle), and Ghost to Falco. Let me just break this show down like this. Cyptocize has Chris Cohen (ex-Deerhoof and current of The Curtains) and Ghost to Falco just about rules it. This show is $7. The show starts at 9 PM.

Friday, May 2nd

There is music to hear. Here it is:

• Folk phenomenon, Vetiver (San Francisco), is having a show here in Portland. Kelly Stoltz (San Fransisco) and The Battle of Land andSea are opening. I saw The Battle of Land and Sea play along side Y La Bamba and Kele Goodwin just before they moved here. They were really good. I glad things seem to be going well for them. They are all playing at the Roseland Grill. The show will cost $13 (possibly a service charge as well). It is an ALL AGES show, so it starts at 8 PM.
• The Doug Fir is having the indie-rock orchestra, Dark Meat (Athens), play with local Folk Rock outfit Musee Mecanique. I have been wanting to see Musee Mecanique for probably a year now. Who knows may be I will make it this time. The show is $8. The music starts at $8 sharp.
• Guess what. There is another Portlantronica (i love making up words) show at Holocene on Friday too. This one is features Strength, Flaspar, Hard Place, and Linger and Quiet. Long live Portlantronica! The show is $5. It starts at 8 PM.
• The Know is having a really good show on Friday. Dragging an Ox Through Water, Jippedo, and The Steven Lasombres. I say that having only hear Dragging an Ox Through Water. But seriously, the last I heard he was creating his own instruments. How cool is that? The show is probably FREE. It starts at 7:30 PM.

Saturday, May 3rd

Tons of shows and hard decisions = my life:

• The obvious local show is the Colin Meloy (Decemberists) and Laura Gibson show at the Wonder Ballroom. They are both super good. Especially Laura (no offense Colin). They also both have tour only eps chock full of covers. I really want to get my hands on both of these. The ALL AGES show costs $20 (plus service charge). The doors are at 7 PM the show starts at 8 PM.
• Over at the Doug Fir Laura Gibson's guitar teacher, Laura Viers, is playing with Liam Finn (New Zealand) and Let's go Sailing (LA). Laura Viers is nice. I bet those other people are too. The show costs $15 at the door ($13 in advance). The music starts at 9 PM.
  
• The Coop is having a benefit for Alux Dulux. I have no idea what that might be, but again benefits with good bands attract me. This one has Southern Belle, The Rainy States, White Fang, Ghosties, A Ghost Face Two Inches From Your Own Face, and Purple Rhinestone Eagle. It only costs $5. The ALL AGES show starts at 7 PM.
  
• The Someday Lounge is having ton of noise bands play as an event they've dubbed Cacophony. This is its third inception. Here is the lineup: Robedoor, Yellow Swans, The Better to See You With, Behalf, Oscillating Inards, Honed Bastion, Tecumseh, Pulse Emitter, Pittman/Woolf, and Instinct Control. All of these bands for $7. The show starts at 9 PM.
• At Mississippi Studios there are two very good shows happening. The first is Dolorean and Jack Straw. I can tell you that Dolorean is well worth the admission alone. But there is more. Mayoral candidate Sam Adams will be speaking between sets. The admission is $8-$10. This show starts at 7 PM.
• The later show at Mississippi Studios is Norfolk and Western and Chris Robley and the Fear of Heights. Again I don't know of the opening act , but Norfolk is worth the $10-$12 to get in. This show starts at 10 PM.
• And at the White Eagle Saloon there is one more spectacular show you could check out. This one features two of my favorites Weinland and A Weather. They apparently have been getting all buddy buddy (ie they have played more than one show in a row together) for Weinland's Lamentor tour. That is fine by me. They are both great. The show is worth every penny of the $8 they are charging to see this event. The music starts at 9 :30.

Sunday, May 4th

After all those shows you went to, or tried to go to, or didn't go to, it would probably be nice to take it easy. But I will say that:

• Modernstate is playing at Rontoms at 9 PM. Its FREE.

So I hope you make it to at least a fraction of the shows I have listed. And please say hi if you see me at any of these shows. Have a good week.

-Ben


Dragging an Ox Through water plays twice this week. Nice.
photo courtesy of urbanhonking