Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for July 16th

Hello Dear Readers,

It is so nice out today. Nothing goes better with nice weather is live music. And living in the area of Portland, there is no shortage of that. Take for example this seeming ordinary Thursday we have the following shows:

Thursday, July 16

PDX Pop Now! 2009 is hosting a show at City Hall with YACHT, Point Juncture, WA and Y la Bamba. This is a pre-festival teaser of sorts. It is very similar to the festival but much much smaller. In full disclosure I play in Y La Bamba. I also think we are pretty good. We have a lot of three part harmonies and accordion and such. If you think this might interest you check it out. Point Juncture, WA are a very cool band that make very well arranges indie rock. They have vibes and switch instruments and who sings leads (they also have cool harmonies) several times during a set. YACHT is Jona Bechtolt who makes fun electronic based music with his cohort The show is of course ALL AGES and FREE. It will last from 5:30 to 8:30.

Music Millennium is having an in store performance by Hide & Go Hustle. Hide & Go Hustle features beats and guitar by Mike Moore and the Cello looping stylings of Catherine Odell (Black Heart Moon, Horse Feathers). Together they create music that is kind of classical, kinda post-rock, kinda beat driven. It is good. They also sometimes have Paper/Upper/Cuts aka David "Papi" Fimbres on drums. They have a new album out, which is why they are playing the instore. It sounds good, what I have heard of it. From What I understand it was actually recorded by Mike Moore as well. Talented fellow. The Show is FREE and ALL AGES.

Holocene is having a show with Papper/Upper/Cuts, Hide & Go Hustle, and Breakfast Mountain. Remember when I was talking about Hide and Go Hustle like just two seconds ago? Well it is because they have a new cd out. And they are playing with David on drums. David from the other band that is playing, Papper/Upper/Cuts which consists of him manning a sampler, laptop, and drum kit. It is probably what one would describe as phresh. Breakfast Mountain is pretty awesome. His beats are hard, his samples are recognizable. His energy is that of a dance party. This is a better than solid show. There is a $5 cover, and the show starts at 9 PM.

Laurelthirst is having a show with Leonard Mynx, Hello Lonliness!, and On The Stairs. These are some of the best Americana or Folk Rock or whatever you want to call this somewhat collective genre of music this city has to offer. I have seen Leonard Mynx several times and he never disappoints. He usually has a different line up every time he plays. Usually the people he plays with has a band too. Such is probably the case. I would bet that Leonard Mynx and On The Stairs is the same band but with different people writing the songs. On The Stairs is Nate Clark's vehicle (the myspace lists Leonard Mynx and main collaborator Audie Darling as being in the band). I suggest you go check it out to see if I am right. Either way it will sound good. The show is $4 and starts at 9 PM.


Rotture is having a show with Rafter (San Diego), Fleshtone and Jeffrey Jerusalem. I have never heard of rafter, but to me it sounds like the perfect mixture of post-Of Montreal pop and dance music. He releases records on Asmatic Kitty, Sujan Steven's label that is totally hit or miss. Fleshtone makes very sexually charged electro music. Jeremy Jerusalem is a one man disco show (he also plays drums in Inside Voices, crazy). The show is $7 and starts at 9 PM.
Dunes is having a show with Sleepyhead, The Human Hand and Travis Wiggins. Do you like the place where kinda weird hip-hop meets kinda weird pop? Do you like DIY music? If yes, then check out the crazy jamz these artists are bringing. This show is 9 PM.

Mississippi Pizza is having Annie Bethancourt, Fred VanVactor and Archeology. I really like Annie's music and songs. I think she is pretty incredible. I am not familiar with Fred's music, but he seems like very sugary pop stuff. And I know that I have written about Archeology before. They make kinda of breathy twee-ish music. The show is $5 and starts at 9 PM.

So if you see me at any of these shows, give me a "Hi". I will then know that you have excellent taste in blogs.

-Ben


Leonard Mynx plays with a very similar band tonight at Laurelthirst Tonight.