Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Sunday May 9th

Hello Dear Readers,

Happy Mothers Day. I mean if you are a mother. Or if you have a mother, to her (call her). Yesterday I played in both Y La Bamba and Sean Flinn & The Royal We as part of the Willamette Valley Music Festival. It was really cool because fellow Portland bands Wampire and Joggers also played. I really like both of those bands. Especially Joggers. I think they make some of the coolest , "whoa what just happened" music around. It was also cool to see some Portland folks out there as well. I got to meet a reader of the blog named Evan. I then proceeded to throw a ball of glow sticks that hit him directly on the back of his head. I am sorry Evan. Especially since you were so nice and said "hi" and everything. It was an accident. I was swing the glow sticks over my head never dreaming that they could launch. Anyway there are the shows that look good to me tonight:

Mississippi Studios is having a show with Hosannas, Tu Fawning, and Ah Holly Fam'ly. Holy Moly this is a good line up. The kind that it is difficult to imagine not going to. It is the album release show for Hosannas "new" record that compiles the two Church eps with some bonus songs. I already have both of those eps but have been unable to get the 3" CD on my computer because it is a laptop. Also I am interested in the bonus songs. And now that they are all on one CD that fits very nicely in my laptop, I will be able to jam out to classics such as "Happiness". Plus their are rumours of them being joined by members of Ah Holly Fam'ly and Typhoon. Nice. I have not seen Tu Fawning in a long time. I have heard very good things about their live show. Some one told me that he thought that they are ready to be a national band. But then again some one else told me he didn't like them. Since I have not seen them in so long, I am going to try to see this one so I can make up my own mind. Ah Holly Fam'ly has gone through some drastic changes and I have not seen what exactly it is like since the those changes. I am eager to see what it is like. I know that it used to be delicately arranged folk numbers. I will hopefully give you a report of what it is like now. The show is $6 and starts at 9 PM.

Ella Street Social Club is having a show with Height with Friends (Baltimore), The Woolen Men, and White Fang. Height with Friends is a hip hop band that sounds nothing like the Roots (probably the best known live hip hop band). They are kinda not your traditional hip hop thing. Most acts from Baltimore are so traditional. These folks made it on to Dan Deacon's label. The Woolen Men are a band that I only saw once but enjoyed. I have meaning to catch them again because apparently all three members write songs and rotate instruments. I only saw two of the members sing songs. They are a upbeat sort of indie rock band that is very comforting to have around the music scene. White Fang is also very upbeat, but I think that comforting is not the word to describe their high energy take on art punk. They are the best at what they do. The show is $5 and starts at 9 PM.

Valentine's is having a show with Team Evil, Sean Battles, and What Hearts. Team Evil is the project of Point Juncture, WA's Skyler Norwood. It reminds me of the sensitive and yet very technical guitar rock that came out of the Midwest during the late 90's. Which is totally up my alley. I love it. It features members of many bands from around town. Sean Battlers is a guy from here in town that has apparently led a few bands that I am not familiar with. When I heard his music I thought this, "this reminds me of a lo-fi Kings of Convenience sans the harmonies". I know that the harmonies are a very big part of that band's sound, but I think the guitar rhythms and vocal tone is reminiscent of that band. What Hearts is a very good indie folk all female band. I love the sound of the three part harmonies that dominate their songs. I want to see them. The show is FREE and starts at 9 PM.

If you see me at any of these shows please say "Hi". It has happened to me twice this week. It is just as awesome as I thought it would be.

-Ben


This is Hosannas playing an updated versions of one of the songs that will be on the record they are releasing tonight.