Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Wednesday, October 21st

stHello Dear Readers,

I missed out on all the shows last night. Did anyone go to any of the shows I mentioned? Did anyone go to any of the shows I didn't mention? I am looking for some interaction with you who reads this. Especially those who make it out to the shows. Shows? I got your shows right here:

Wednesday, October 21st

Doug Fir is having a show with Thao & The Get Down Stay Down (SF,Richmond, NYC), Weinland, and David Schultz (Richmond). I have seen Thao and her band once, and I was skeptical. For what ever reason I was just feeling like I was going to like it, but by the end of the set I was dancing with everyone else. The three piece is really good ad creating very catchy music with really cool music parts led by Thao and her distinct vulnerable sounding voice. I have not seen Weinland in a long time, but they make really well arranged Americana music. It kinda sounds like if Neil Young and the ghost of Elliot Smith's gentler music had a love child. I have never heard of David Shultz before. He apparently makes America or Folk Rock or whatever. It don't sound bad at all. He is going to go on tour with Thao & The Get Down Stay Down and the Portland Cello Project very soon. Maybe will be hearing more about him in the future. The show is $13-$15 and starts at 9 PM.

The Artistery is having a show with These Are Powers (Brooklyn/ Chicago), Reporter, Sex Worker and . These Are Powers makes cool sounding electronic based music. It seems the kinda post-everything kind of music. I like it but it hard to describe. It seems aggressive, but it is not fast. It seems like it would work best at loud volumes. I have a confession to make. I have not really listened to Reporter in a long time. I just checked out their myspace page and they seemed to have turned into a full fledged electro-rock band when I wasn't looking. It sounds awesome. I found no information on Sex Worker, but one can guess how it might sound. Don Hellions seems like perhaps the odd man out on this bill, but I can guarantee you that they hold their own. I saw them for the first time at PDX Pop this summer and was quite impressed. What really makes this band stand out is the combination of lead singers yelp and organ playing with the sax players wail and the drummer keeping it together. Basically if I had to describe, and I am making myself do just that, I would say that they play new wave soul music. I really like it. The ALL AGES show is $6 and starts at 7:30 PM.

Berbati's is having a show with Leonard Mynx and John Heart Jackie. Last week I talked about how I thought that Leonard might have changed his name because of Leonard Cohen. Guess what. Leonard is his middle name. Boy did I feel foolish. What made me feel even more foolish is that I missed the first installment of his residency at Berbati's restaurant. I have mention John Hear Jackie once before. I think that they make very pretty music. They have only one release under their belt, the Women & Money ep, but it is very good. They are a girl/ boy duo that employs both the feminine and masculine vocals mixed acoustic guitars and some piano, or banjo or whatever other folk instruments are laying about. The show is FREE and starts at 10 PM.

Laurelthirst is having the return of Two Beer Veirs with Laura Veirs and her friends. I believe that her friends tonight will be Annalisa Tornfelt and Jon Neufeld (Brooklyn). From what I recall in these events, Laura sings traditional old country songs and encourages you to drink beer? The show is FREE and starts at 6 PM.

The Know is having a show with Stiffwiff and Tom Heinl. Stiffwiff are a jam band. I hate to say because, that leaves a bad taste in most respectable people's mouths (mine included). But from what I understand, the band performs improv most of the time. Because they have a revolving cast of very good players, I hear that it mostly works. And they have a record out on Arena Rock that is pretty cool sounding if you like slightly funky grooves. Tom Heinl seems to be a strange pairing to go with Stiffwiff, but I think I like his traditional sounding county. He honestly has a voice that reminds me if Johnny Cash. Plus many of his songs are funny. The show is FREE and starts at 7 PM.

If you see me at this show please say "Hi". Cause then I will like you. And you want to be liked, right?

-Ben


John Heart Jackie play at Berbati's tonight.

1 comment:

Dr. Something said...

Haven't gone to any shows in a while. :( Got really sick for a while and now I'm just being really lazy.