Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Wednesday, February 10th

Hello Dear Readers,

Last night I had an AristeiA Practice that lasted until 10 PM. I then was unable to see that Laura Gibson and Ethan Rose in-store due to being at practice and unable to see the Orca Team show due to exhaustion. There will be no Practices tonight (that are currently scheduled) so I am totally planning on catching a little show action tonight. Here is what looks good to me tonight:

Wednesday, February 10th

Laurelthirst is having a show with The Ascetic Junkies and Sam Cooper. This is the second in a Wednesday night residency The Ascetic Junkies are playing at Laurelthirst. The band is a mostly acoustic pop folk band. They use a lot of two part harmonies and have a bit if twang that is hard to deny. I first heard of this band because of Sam Cooper. I really like Sam's music. They are often clever or pretty or sad or all of those elements combined. Plus he has very entertaining and sometimes educational. I have learned the origins of a few instruments because of Sam Cooper shows. This show is FREE and starts at 6 PM.

Holocene is having a show with Typhoon, Breakfast Mountain, Guantanamo Baywatch, Nolan Foster, DJ Sexy Cousin, and Magic Impact. This show is curated by Poor Claudia a literary and arts journal based right here in Portland. Their goals are to "to bring together the best and most challenging poetry, prose, essays & art being created in our community; to publish established artists & writers alongside promising beginners; to present this work in unique, hand-bound editions; and to share our enthusiasm for the literary, visual & book arts." With a line up like this it is hard to not be enthusiastic. Typhoon is easily one of my favorite Portland bands. Their sound is can be big which you would expect from a band that has as many people in it as there are (eight people?). But what is surprising is how gentle they can be in the valleys between their mountains of sound. Speaking of mountains, Breakfast Mountain will be doing his post pop dance music. Guantanamo Baywatch will represent the surf punk music. I really want to see them because I really dig what I have heard of them. Plus there will art installations and video poems. Super fun. The show is $6 and starts at 8:30 PM.

Mississippi Studios is having a Haiti Benefit Show featuring with Blue Giant, The Minus 5, Lewi Longmire, Hosannas, and Ages. You know you want to help Haiti out. If you get an awesome show, all the better. I have seen Blue Giant and they rock. Like country rock. You know with guitar leads and cool pedal steel. And Hosannas just seem to me to be unable to do wring (except when they briefly called themselves Ape Cave). I really like Ages and all of their vocals too. I have heard rumours of some collaborations between groups as well. Really, this will be great. The show is a sliding scale of $15 to $50 and starts at 8 PM.

The Woods is having The CD release party for Rauelsson. Dolorean will also be be playing. The Rauelsson album is a really good orchestrated folk pop album. It is soft and pretty and in Spanish. I have know idea what he is singing , but I like the way he is singing it. It has the fell of a Classic Hush records album which I sure it will be referred to as in the years to come. Dolorean is probably the best "Americana" band in Portland, and there is some very stiff competition in this town. check them out if you haven't already. Al James is the man. The show is $7 and starts at 9 PM.

If you see me at any of these shows please say, "Hi".

-Ben


Guantanamo Baywatch leave their natural environment of the house show for the relative big time that is Holocene.

1 comment:

Paul Laxer said...

Ben - Just starting reading your blog regularly, really really dig all the hard work you put in to it. Correction Typhoon will probably have 10+ people on stage tonight!

-Paul Laxer