Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Sundaday, January 16th

Hello Dear Readers,

Last night I went out to the food carts at 50th and Division (or just south of it anyway) and saw Like a Villain and Padriac Finbar Hagerty-Hammond. They were both amazing. Holland (Like a Villain) has refined her act. It is even better than it was. She has added a few pedals and it has made a world of difference. Fin played his set solo which I have not seen in a long time. He usually is backed by Mat Vuksinich aka The Sarcastic Dharma Society. He had two new songs that I had not heard. They were both really great. Anyways, here are the shows that look good to me tonight:

Rontoms is having a show with The Ocean Floor and Ohioan. I really love the music of The Ocean Floor. Lane Barrington is the head of these project. He has gathered a very talented group of musicians. Even when I first saw them as a duo which was Lane and Shannon Steele (Typhoon, etc.) I was blown away. They are not long for this county. They are heading to New Zealand for over a month. They are taking Holland (Like a Villain) with them. Ohioan is a band that has also grown in number since I first saw them. I first saw them a while back at a house show as a duo as well. I think they are now a seven piece? I heard that Shannon is also playing in that band too. Experimental country, perhaps? The show is FREE and starts at 9 PM.

Rotture is having a show with XDS, Broken Water (Olympia), and Happy Prescriptions. XDS used to be Experimental Dental School. Along with the name change there is a new member in drummer Ben Tyler along with founding member Jesse Hall. Their music is tight and crazy and just really good. Jesse makes his guitar sound like a lot more than just a guitar due to all the pedals and amps he uses. Broken Water is made up of two other Olympia bands Sisters and Congratulations (not to be confused with the Portland band Congratulations!). They sound good. It is a mixture of many many influences. I have never seen them, but man I just listened to them and I really liked it. The show is $6 and starts at 9 PM.

Mississippi Studios is having part of The Reel Music Film Festival where they will be screening music videos from Portland artists like Red Fang, Y La Bamba, Nurses, Blitzen Trapper, and many more. I have not seen anything screened at Mississippi Studios. Though I know that screenings have happened there before. There will be an early screening at 6:30 PM and one at 10:00 PM.

If you see me at one of the shows please say, "Hi". Okay?

-Ben


XDS is playing at Rotture tonight.