Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Tuesday, October 5th

Hello Dear Readers,

So the last two days in a row I have been scheduled to work at 6 am (that is the very early morning). It has meant that I have not wanted to go to shows. It also means that I have not been able to start blogging until I get home from work at like 3 PM. Suck. I hope you guys have been able to make it to shows. Anyways, here are some good shows going on tonight:
Holocene is having a show with The Clean (New Zealand), Quasi, Theo Angell with Hamish Kilgour (Of The Clean) & IIyas Ahmed, DJ Simmons and DJ Frank Sumatra. Basically it goes like this. I know about The Clean. I know that they are from New Zealand and are said to heavily influence indie rock. Here is the deal. I never listened to them. I know that I am supposed to have. This sometimes happens to me. I did not listen to the Pixies until I saw Fight Club and I was like, "who does that awesome song at the end of the movie? The Pixies? Oh. They are that band that I am supposed to love. I guess I do love them". I am guessing that the same thing might happen with this band. I am mostly writing about this show because of my love for Quasi. I realized that I have been listening to that band for almost ten years. I thought that they might have gone soft, but their latest album American Gong is so good. They have not gone soft at all. It is rock and roll. Sam Coomes can rock out on guitar at the same intensity that he can rock out on any keyed instrument (except maybe the accordion) and if you have seen him play piano, you know that he rocks the f out. Theo Angell makes kinda far out music. local man Ilyas Ahmed also kinda makes out there music. They are teaming up with that dude from The Clean to do something. I am not sure what, but I bet it will be cool. The show is $15 and starts at 8:30 PM.

Rotture is having a show with The Like (LA), Monarques, and DJ Chazz Madrigal. The Like makes music that is highly reminiscent of 60's pop. It somewhere between the girl groups of that decade and something you would see in an Austin Powers movie. Not necessarily in a bad way. They have an ascetic and they do not stray. Check out any picture of them, and you will swear that the band is not of our time. Portland's Monarques is less British Invasion, but still mines the 60's decade shamelessly. That being said they are one of the most fun shows to see in town. They songs with huge hooks that you will have you singing along with everyone else in no time. The show is $6 and starts at 9 PM.

Ella Street is having a show with The Shivas, Eliza Rickman, and Pony Village. The Shivas used to be the pride of Vancouver, WA. Recently I noticed that they are reaping Portland now. They like many bands before them borrow from music ascetics that have already happened. A lot of the time they play spaced out 60's rock. Eliza is from LA . She plays piano (toy piano) and is backed by a band with two violins, viola, a cello and bassist and drummer/percussionist. If I am not mistaken that she is backed by a string quartet and rhythm section. Pretty cool. Pony Village plays guitar driven Indie Rock that has really strong pop sensibilities. It is sweet on the ears. Lots to like. I have their self titled 12" ep. It is also awesome that they released it on vinyl. The show is FREE and starts at 9 PM.

If you see me at any of these shows please say, "Hi". I am the one Nike's.

-Ben

Monarques - I Can't Be Saved from Smoke Signals on Vimeo

Catch Monarques at Rotture tonight.