Last night was crazy. I was going to try and be ambitious and catch Padriac Finbar Haggerty-Hammond and then go to Berbati's to Catch Matt Sheehy, Weinland, and Deelay Ceelay. Alas last minute Zilla Sake and Mercy Corps decided to put together a last minute Haiti benefit show featuring Y La Bamba. This thew a wrench in my plans. But then I found out that the benefit show would start at 7. I called Padraic and found out he probably would not start until 8. I could still make this happen I thought. Alas we did not start until probably 8 and we ended up doing some Sean Flinn and Tragos Armargos songs as well. At 9, assuming I had missed Padrianc Finbar Haggerty-Hammond's set I went over to Berbati's and caught most of the night. Matt Sheehy played a rare solo show which included a cover of a Spoon song. Weinland is apparently a rock band now. They Covered some Elvis Costello and someone else. Deelay Ceelay was the highlight of the night with their animation fog machines and double drum beats turning the place into an instant dance club. Good times. But Fin, if you are reading this, I am sorry I missed your show. I had every intention of going.
Saturday, January 16th
The Woods is having a show with The Robinsons and Y La Bamba. The Robinsons are probably better known for the two bands they front Viva Voce (rock) and Blue Giant (Country). Both are great and center around the twos songwriting. From what I understand Viva Voce kinda got tired of playing as a duo which required them to play the songs the exact same way every time (due to all of the loops and prerecorded music). That is why they formed Blue Giant initially. Also to get out some songs that were a little twangier than their previous output. Then they wrote a new Viva Voce album and got two more member so they wouldn't be a duo. Then I guess they wanted to try playing as duo again, hence The Robinsons. In this incarnation of the duo there are no drums or prerecorded music. Just two voices and two guitars. It works really well. Y La Bamba a band that I play bass in and sing. I think we are getting better and better. There are now four and sometimes five part harmonies. We will be trying some new songs. We will be joined by Scott McGee of Nick Jain, Loch Lamond, Run On Sentence, and Pancake Breakfast. It will be a lot of fun. The show is $7 and starts at 9 PM.
Full Life Coffee Shop is having a Yes on Measures 66/67 Benefit with St. Frankie Lee, bazillionaire, Swim Swam Swum, Quiet Countries, Kelli Schaefer, and Nick Jaina. I am not exactly sure what the benefits could be. Perhaps to raise awareness? I know that I have already voted yes on both measures. Anyway, I am writing because this is an opportunity to see a lot of great bands for very little money. St. Frankie Lee does girl boy ruckus folk rock. Swim Swam Swum play lean indie rock. Quiet Countries has been making Prefuse 73 inspired hip hop but is listed a playing an acoustic set so who knows. Kelli Schaefer plays guitar and sings with an epic voice. Nick Jaina plays somewhat dark indie folk rock. The show is $5 and starts at 7 PM.
Mississippi Studios is having a show with Point Juncture, WA, The Maldives (Seattle), Black Whales, and The Virgin Islands. This is a showcase for Mt Fuji Records. All of the bands are on the Seattle based label. Point Juncture is the only Portland band on the bill, but I love them. They play like a Yo La Tango or some band that plays all kinds of music but also have managed to developed a recognizable sound which in their case involves male female harmonies, vibes, and trumpet atop a very groove based indie rock band. The Maldives is a band that I have only seen once but blew me away. They are a country band for sure, but they make it sound so good. Check them out if you sometimes like that sort of thing. Black Whales is a band who I have seen their name around but not listened to. The Virgin Islands is a post rock band that rocks. The show is $10 and starts at 9 PM.
The Knife Shop is having The Woolen Men and Cut House you play a show. The Woolen Men are a indie rock band that sometimes is kinda a spacey like a Velvet Underground song and then some times picks up the pace and sound like something that would be on Matador Records circa 1997. Cut House You sounds like an electro pop band that leans towards sounding like they were in the 80's as opposed to trying to cut their electro with something new ti The show is $5 and starts at 10 PM.
Jade Lounge is having a show with Winterhaven and Jennie Wayne. Winterhaven features the guys behind THWBRO . As you might expect from their blog these guys are into indie folk. The band features three members and three songwriters who have a penchant for three part harmonies. Jennie Wayne is half of the other folk-pop outfit John Heart Jackie. Her solo efforts are very pretty and she is sometimes backed by a cello. or so I am told. The show is FREE and 8 PM.
If you see me at The Woods please say, "Hi". I am the one playing bass and singing in Y La Bamba.
-Ben
Meet The Robinsons. They will sound like this sans the cellos tonight at The Woods.
Great show, Ben! Kayla liked you guys and the Robinsons quite a bit. I think if you had had merch she would have bought a CD of yours too. And I got to hang out with my bro like we haven't in a long time which was awesome. He managed to evade that slappy chick, too!
ReplyDeleteCool. I am glad she liked it. We need to get our merch stuff together. Slappy girls are hard to avoid. Kudos to your bro.
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