I would like to say that I am not too great at emails. It seems like I am getting them all the time. I suppose I am expected to read them especially when they are from my "friends". But as I implied that does not always happen. Last night a bunch of the CIMTB bloggers got together to do karaoke. I did not go. I wish I could be like, "Karaoke? No thank you, I like to keep it real." But in reality it was like, "Oh, that was today? Whoops, I am already at a show all the way in Milwaukee. I am not really into this band, but the next band is awesome and I already here." Does that make me a bad friend? Probably not. But me not really paying attention to emails probably does. Sorry guys. Next time. Any way Oh Captain My Captain were great. They have their new EP available at shows starting last night. It is exciting because it is the first recording with the new lineup. The guys are going on a little baby tour this week end and I wish them luck. Tragos Amargos an Y La Bamba related band is also going out of town this weekend too. That means I will be unable to go to any shows tonight, but here are the shows that look good to me anyway:
Saturday, January 30th
Mississippi Studios is having a show with All Girl Summer Fun Band, ioa, and Eternal Tapestry. All Girl Summer Fun Band is probably one of most appropriately named bands in Portland. They are all girls and make music that is indie pop punk that will surely give you that "summer" feeling even when it is cold and rainy as it currently is. The band ioa is the project of Amanda Spring from Point Juncture. The group has a very unique sound that combines indie pop and Latin flavors. I saw them at their first show as a full band. I was very impressed. Eternal Tapestry is sort of the odd man out on this bill. They make pretty cool psychedelic rock music. It is not at all poppy like the other two bands. But I think that Portland audiences have pretty diverse tastes in music and will appreciate what the Tapestry has to offer. The show is $10 and starts at 9 PM.
Doug Fir is having a show with Blue Horns, Morning Teleportation, and AAN. Man I wish I could see this show. All of these bands are great to see live. Blue Horns plays kinda janglely up beat post punk music. Everytime I see them I think I leave the show liking them more. Morning Teleportation makes some of the craziest music in town. Every song is like a journey that has many unexpected twists in turns. In the in end though you can't imagine the songs taking an easier route. AAN is Bud Wilson's baby. I love this baby so much. His voice is very powerful and his music just seams about to burst with under the pressure of so much feeling. Even in his slower songs there is an under current that you can feel as if you are taking a stroll next to a dam that is about to break. I cannot get enough. He supposedly has an EP coming out soon. You should buy it when you get a chance. The show is $5 and starts at 9 PM.
Backspace is having a show with DoublePlusGood, Jeffery Jerusalem, and Quiet Countries. Dance part! I don't list every dance show. Because honestly I am not a huge dance music person. But there are a handful of dance bands here in Portland that I just cannot deny my love for. DoublePlusGood is well on their way to making that list. I like the almost video game like music that they marry with pop songwriting. Their jam "Rivers May Rise" get stuck in my head all the time. It is so good. Jeffrey Jerusalem knows how to groove and more importantly, how to get other people to groove. His mix of laptop-tronics and live percussion and singing is great. Try not to be moved by his music, and you will surely fail. He is on that list of dance groups I mentioned. Quiet Countries I have not seen in years. Supposedly he is making some hip hop these days. His myspace backs up that statement. But what I am wondering is what he is doing live these days. If anyone knows please enlighten us in the comments section. The ALL AGES show is $ and starts at 9 PM.
If you see someone who looks like me at one of these shows please say, "Hi". Even though it won't be me, because I will be in Seattle.
-Ben
DoublePlusGood plays tonight at Backspace. No word if Richard Simmons will make it.
4 comments:
Hey man, it's all good! If there's one thing Portland can provide in abundance of, it's chances for rain, beer and karaoke.
no Richard Simmons...sorry(?)hehe
I can clarify the Quiet Countries confusion. As *shameless plug* I put out his first two records on Lucky Madison. His current live set-up is pretty similar to what it's always been. Unless you caught a rare acoustic set which I have seen a couple of myself.
He does do beats on his MPC, but he also loops his voice and guitar and keyboards live as well.
But I can understand the hip-hop angle, as one of his more recent releases - The Karate Williams Diaries - had some hip-hop/beat oriented flavors, even featuring the rapper AED on one track. He also won the title and the $600 grand prize @ Holocene's Beat Off Battle in November and December 2009, but my understanding is he's in self-imposed retirement from that to give other beat-makers a chance.
So long story short, there is a hip-hop influence in his beats, but the live looping, guitar playing, and singing are organic as ever.
Good to know.
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