Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Feb. 23rd and 24th

Hello Dear Readers,

Good times this weekend? I had a blast at Mississippi Pizza on Saturday. Lots of friends. Lots of good music. On the downside I missed a very good show. Sorry Goldie :(

Monday, February 23rd

I couldn't find any local shows to list but, Doug Fir is having a show with Annuals, Jessica Lea Mayfield, and What Laura Thinks. I like a few of the songs from the Annuals first album so this peaks my interest. I have heard that their second album is different. I do not have the ability to confirm or deny this claim. The show is $10 and starts at 9 PM.

Tuesday, February 24th

There are loads of good shows happening on Tuesday. I think I have narrowed it down to the cream of the crop.

• Music Millenium is having a Laura Gibson release show thing on Tuesday evening. Lord know I like Laura Gibson's music. But here is the best part: because this is an in-store, it means it is not only FREE but it is also ALL AGES. Her new album, Beasts of Seasons, will be available at the store (Hopefully in both CD and Vinyl formats). This event starts at 7 PM.

• Holocene is having a two day event called: Minigolf Art Invitational. It looks like A LOT of fun. This is what the Holocene website had to say about it "Garden golf. Gofstacle. Putt-putt. That fine pastime of synthetically crafted miniature wonderlands has had a lot of names over the past century, but for those mini-putters in the know, Holocene is the only one worth remembering. We're proud to announce the much-anticipated arrival of The Fourth Annual Holocene Minigolf Art Invitational on Tuesday February 24th and Wednesday February 25th, 2009. Maybe you've heard tales of past courses: the Labyrinth hole, the whale with a live blowhole, or the Lightbox Theater's reality hole, where the putter was faced with an array of improvised distractions. Naturally, this is considered by many to be Holocene's raddest recurring event. This year, we're continuing to bring a plethora of Portland's finest artistic talents together, to design a course so bold that'll you'll putt, hope, and sink your way into aesthetic euphoria. Our town is chock full of overwhelming artistic camaraderie, and we're taking that local sensibility to crazy new realms as a slew of artists, waffle makers, architects, gallery collectives and minigolf lovers galore create a night that will impress even the World Minigolf Sport Federation. And you get to decide which of the fabulous designers goes home with $1000. What exactly can you expect at this year's tourney, you ask? You'll be navigating your way through giant mushroom forests, maneuvering into a wooden tiger, and puzzling quantum physics with Schrodinger's Cat. And just in case a night with Heaven, Hell, and the Willamette River doesn't impress you: there's gonna be pancakes." Crazy. If you want a list of all the sponsors with some links and stuff click here. The fist day will feature music by Tender Forever everybody's favorite sometimes Portlander sometimes French songwriter. The show is $8 and starts at 6 PM.
  

• The Know is having two very good, but very different pop bands play in the form of Gnomenclature and New Century Schoolbook. Having played shows with both of these bands, I feel qualified in saying that neither disappoint and I danced to both of their music. This is FREE and starts at 8 PM?

• Valentine's is having Heatherwoods, Ora Cogan (Vancouver, BC) and Sarah Winchester play. I think this might be the best line up all night. But if you are not a fan of hushed music then maybe it is not for you. This is totally for me. It is FREE and starts at 9 PM.

So if you see me at these shows, then say "Hi". Conversation just might follow.

-Ben


Laura Gibson plays a FREE instore on Tuesday. Nice.