Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for December 8th-11th

Hello Dear Readers,

It was a great weekend for shows last weekend. I had a super fun time at both the shows I played. There was a faux-Barmitzva down the hall from the Lewis and Clark show I played with New Century School Books and Blue Skies for Black Hearts. Just ask Amber Dawn (of both NCSB and CIMTB). We danced to "YMCA" and had free pizza and everything. We also had a discussion of m&m's vs skittles as a cupcake topping (m&m's won, duh). Here is what is going this week.

Monday, December 8th

I could only find two shows, but they booth look so good.

• The Coop is having a show with The Morals (where have your posts been, Ben?), All Creatures of Good Heart (Bellingham), and Hello Morning. I read a description of the Morals on PC-PDX as "campfire rockers". I think this is perfect. I usually describes them as a slightly skinnier and less funny funny Tenacious D. Or I describe them as good. I am really bad at describing music, which is why I just list shows instead of writing about them. Oh, and I just listened to All Creatures of Good Heart and loved it. Seriously, its only $2. The ALL AGES show starts at 8 PM.

• Valentine's is having a kick ass show with Nurses, AAN, and Genchen & Reidel. I love Nurses so much. I really like AAN as well. And I'll be darned, I just listened to Grenchen & Reidel (members of Inside Voices)and it is superb as well. It is FREE and starts at 9 PM.

Tuesday, December 9th

Only could find one show that I am "feeling".

• Valentine's is having a cool show with a special solo performance by Evolutionary Jass Band's own Jef Brown. Plus Vanessa Veselka and Whip , who are both very good in their own rights, will be playing too! This is a FREE show and starts at 9 PM.

Wednesday, December 10th

Finally there is some shows to choose from.

• KBOO (90.7 FM) is having We're From Japan! on the radio this Wednesday as part of the Drinking From Puddles show! I love this band so much. Their new album is about to drop in America. it has been available in Japan (and the internet) for a couple months. Get ready for a CD release party later this week. The show is 8PM - 11PM.

• The Mission Theater is doing something with local musicians that is not necessarily music. It is called Back Fence PDX. This what the website described the show as: "Back Fence PDX is an evening of writers and musicians telling their true, not-previously-performed eight-minute stories based on this month's theme, "Rock the Bells." Performers include Danny Seim from Menomena, Nick Jaina, Gideon Freudmann from Portland Cello Project, Adam Shearer from Weinland, Alex James from Dolorean, Lisa Marsicek, aka "Miss Kitty", from Flat Mountain Girls, and Joan Hiller Depper, owner of Riot Act Media. Intermission entertainment by Katie Jean Arnold." They have some really good bands represented and it looks pretty fun. The show is $10 and starts at 8 PM (doors at 7:30 PM).

• Dunes is having another Tight Hug show. This time with Root Beer and French Fry, Ferocious Eagle, and Late Night Curly. All bands are worth seeing, but Root Beer and French Fry are on my ever growing list of Portland Bands that I have not seen but really like a lot. This show is $5 and starts at 10 PM.

• Doug Fir is having Thao with The Get Down Stay Down (D.C./San Fran) who I have heard nothing but good things. I list this because Laura Gibson will be one of the openers. I like the new stuff I have been hearing out of Laura ( I like the old stuff too). Amber Rubarth (Brooklyn) will be the other opener. The show is $10 and starts at 9 PM.

Thursday, December

Here is a group of shows that will make any local music fan more than satisfied. If you are not a local music fan (why are you reading this?), then you could go see Bone Thugs at Roseland.

• The big show for Thursday is the Bladen County Records showcase at Holocene. It will feature Oh Captain, My Captain, Autopilot is for Lovers, The Love Language, Ritchie Young (Loch Lomond), Kurt Hagardorn, and The Skinnyz. And if that isn't enough, I believe they will have a FREE Bladen County Records zine and Compilation CD of Bladen County Record artists' demos. All of this for $5. The show starts at 8:30 PM.

• The Funky Church (2456 SE Tamarack Ave, Portland, Oregon 97214) will be having a Jazz show with Blue Cranes and The Tiptons (Seattle). This is some upbeat stuff. I would imagine an audience member might want to "get down" while listening to this music. The show is $6 and starts at 8 PM.

• Doug Fir is having an all local line up comprised of Wow & Flutter, Carcrashlander, and Swim Swam Swum. It also serves as a record release show for both Wow & Flutter and Carcrashlander. I can't vouch for W&F's, but I know that Carcrashlander's if great. Plus Swim Swam Swum are really good old fashioned indie rock. The show is $6 and starts at 9 PM.

So if you see me at any of these shows, please say "Hi".

-Ben


Jef Brown blows! (ha ha). But seriously, he's really good and playing tonight at Valentine's