Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Wednesday, January 20th

Hello Dear Readers,

It was one year ago that Barack Obamba took office. Whatever. More importantly to me (maybe you?), it was twenty eight years that I was born. Nice. So for my birthday I am going to go to Salem and play in Y La Bamba with Builders and Butchers. However there are a couple of really good shows in Portland tonight:

Wednesday, January 20th

Ella Street Social Club is having a show with Shoeshine Blue, Rauelsson, and John Vecchiarelli. I was looking at the Shoeshine Blue myspace and listening to the songs thinking that they remind me of gospel music, even thought they clearly are not gospel songs and then I saw this quote, "the album has a honey-glow sound, reminiscent of the great folk and psychedelic albums of the 60's and 70's. Lyrically sharp, simply layered, and accidentally gospel." Perfect. Rauelsson is a guy who I have not seen playing with a full band or a full show. I saw him play a show with the guy from Sabertooth and gal from May May. I remember thinking how pretty the songs sounded. He put out an EP this month that is just amazing. It is in Spanish and I cannot comment on the lyrical content but it feels kinda like magic should sound especially on the track, "Debutantes". His folk is lush with layers or melodies from an array of well placed instruments. You have probably seen John Vecchiarelli drum before. He is in like a million bands, including Shoeshine Blue. But he also has a more or less solo project under his own name. The music is quiet moody indie folk. Something that I am always down for. The show is $5 and starts at 9 PM.

White Eagle is having a show with Billygoat, Ocean Age, and Housefire. This looks like an amazing show. I saw Billygoat once and was blown away. Like Deelay Ceelay, they are a duo that play with animations they made themselves. Unlike Deelay Ceelay, they do not play to any prerecorded music but play it all live with the help of some looping effects. The music is cinematic instrumental that sync up perfectly with the absolutely gorgeous animations provided. They use a good mix of acoustic and midi instruments and honestly you just got to see it. Ocean Age is a band that I think are great. They make very spaced out girl/boy indie pop music. Equal parts twee and Animal Collective. I ran into Yuri and Chelsea the other day at Powell's and they said that their album comes out next month. I cannot wait. Housefire play very chill indie music with electronica flairs. I honestly cannot write about Housefire without saying it, so here it goes: "Radiohead". The show is FREE and starts at 8:30 PM.

If you see someone who looks like me at one of these shows please say, "Hi".

-Ben


Raulesson plays at Ella Street tonight. Very nice.