Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Friday, August 20th

Hello Dear Readers,

I really want a lot of things. I want a computer to call my own. I want a bike to call my own. These are the two things that I suppose I want the most right now. Otherwise it makes it impossible to blog constantly. Boo. Anyway there are many shows that look good tonight (two of which I am playing). Also to give everyone fair warning the Portland Folk Festival is going on this weekend. In fact, it started last night. There will be a lot of acoustic guitars being played in the next few days. Here are the shows that interest me:

The Alberta Rose Theatre is having their part of the Portland Folk Festival with Celso Machado, Vagabond Opera, Natya Leela, and Tragos Amargos. This is usually not my sort of show, but as some of you may know Tragos Amargos sound and look and awful lot like this band(that I play bass and sing in). You might even say that it is "the same band". If you like folk music that has worldly flourishes, this is probably the show for you. The show is $16 and starts at 8 PM sharp.

Dunes is having a show with AristeiA, Cinder Cone (LA), and The I's. I play bass in AristeiA. I think that we are pretty darned good. If you like rock music, or if you like post-rock, perhaps if you just enjoy well put together music at loud volumes, then I highly recommend that you check this show out. Our friends in Palo Verde vouch for Cinder Cone. They like Palo Verde are a two piece rock band that push the limits of what a two piece of Drums and Guitar can do. There are no tricks of sampling or looping or anything like that. Just cool twists and turns and interesting song writing. The show is $2-$5 and starts at 9 PM.

The Woods is having a show with John Heart Jackie. This is the CD release for the band's new album "We are Gold Mounds". I do not see another band on the bill. Peculiar. I also do not see the show on The Woods' website. Very peculiar. What may be the most peculiar thing is why they are not playing the Portland Folk Festival. You would think they would be a shoe in for that kind of festival. Well regardless, you should check out this band. You should check out Jennie Wayne's solo stuff too, as long as you are checking stuff out. The show is $5 and starts at 9 PM.

Backspace is having a show with The Rainy States, And And And, Social Studies (SF), and DJ Scott Oseth. I write about this show because I know that there are some of you who are fans of the the almost overwhelmingly diverse genre that is indie pop. The Rainy States have kinda been m.i.a. for a bit. I hear that they were making an album. I have not heard it, but I bet they will play songs from it tonight. And And And are pretty good in my opinion. There are some who disagree with me. But I am sticking to my gut feeling about these guys. The have written an impressive amount of good material in a short amount of time. I know not of "Social Studies". The ALL AGES show is $5 and starts at 8 PM.

If you see me at any of these shows you should say "Hi". That would be awfully sweet of you.

-Ben


And And And will be playing at Backspace tonight.