Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Monday, November 2nd

Hello Dear Readers,

Last night I played a "private party" for New Seasons people as part of Y La Bamba. Dirty Mittens and Blue Cranes also played. I missed both of their sets. Which sucks because I really enjoy both of those bands immensely. I was on an airplane when they were playing. In fact it was kinda cool. I got picked by the Y La Bamba Manager and dropped off just in time to walk on stage of the Mississippi Studios and play a set. I felt like a total rock star. Or a total mess. I kept going in between. I remembered all of the songs and it worked out. I reminded people to vote. Oh, um…did you vote? You can drop you ballot off by tonight at 8 PM. Then you can celebrate by going to one of these shows:

Holocene is having The Rumble. If you don't know what The Rumble it is a monthly show that goes down the West Coast and then through the South West to Texas put together by many people. For instance this show is put on by Future Sounds, Cravedog, Pampelmoose, Trumer Pils, Tonegazer, KBOO, Music Millennium, High Scores and Records and Holocene. It is usually free (not this time). This month's show is No Joy (Montreal), Archers, Ume (Austin), and La Sera. No Joy is a band that makes pop music and then runs it through several effects pedals effectively placing itself into shoe gazer territory (they call it shoegaze because the bands are constantly looking down at their effects pedals at their feet). But like many shoegazer bands they are really a three chord pop band. But it sounds slowed down and dreamy and pretty cool. Archers are a newish Portland band that immediately sound comforting and familiar and good. I can't put my finger on what it is I like, but there is also nothing not to like. Indie rock will never die. Keep your eye out for this band. Austin's Ume (pronounced OOOO- MAY) is a guitar driven rock band fronted by Lauren Lawson. It reminds of Autolux a bit but with better melodies. La Sera is the new band fronted by Vivian Girl Katy Goodman. It sounds like a reverb drenched girl group from the 60's. I really like the one song they have on myspace. They are also on tour with No Joy. The show is not FREE this time but a mere $5 and starts at 8:30 PM.

Ella Street is having a show with Water & Bodies, Housefire, and Like A Villain. I just clicked over to Water & Bodies myspace and they have a very unneeded cover of Chris Issack's "Wicked Game". I click on other songs. They are not my thing. House Fire have always reminded me of chiller Kid A or Amnesiac b-sides or something. The main reason I am writing about this show is because of Holland Andrew's Like A Villain project. It is so good. If you like experimental music, broadway musical vocals, or just the sensation of getting chills by experiencing music. I suggest you check her out. She loops her voice, clarinet, glockenspiel and whatever she can bang on to create music that is like nothing happening in music. The show is FREE and starts at 8:30 PM.

Mississippi Studios is having a show with PVT (Australia), Prizm, and Pegasus Dream. PVT makes cool sounding music that utilizes phat synth sounds and interesting arpeggiated rhythms. Prizm makes even heavy use of old synths to create music that sounds like the soundtrack to a b sci-fi movie. Pegasus Dream makes excellent pop music that uses a healthy balance of guitar and electronic elements to programed beats and live drums. I have never seen them, but seriously their music is really catchy. The show is $8 and starts at 9 PM.

Bunk Bar is having a show with Big Pretty and Nevele Nevele. I heard about this show last night. Big Pretty is the new glam rock inspired band from Blue Horns frontman Brian Park. I have not seen them. I just heard of them last night described as glam and sure enough on the myspace they have a video of Bowie as the listed influence. The recordings they have sound rough but good. I bet it kills live. Nevele Nevele is the moniker used by Michela Weishaar to make music. I like it. At first it sounds like a girl and her acoustic guitar. But she shows an ability to write songs that I seem to like. And her voice is great. It is familiar but I cannot put put my finger on who it would sound like. I really am glad I found her music. You should give it a try. The show is FREE and starts at 10 PM.

If you see me at any of these shows please say, "Hi". I am not going to make you, but I am just sayin'.

-Ben


Nevele Nevele will play at Bunk Bar tonight for FREE!