Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Sunday, April 17th

Hello Dear Readers,

Last night I went to a show I didn't list. It was a house show at Luzelena's (Y La Bamba). I didn't list it because I was not entirely sure that it was going to happen. She mention it weeks ago but then nothing. I got the text at 7 PM. Well after I posted. Oh well. It was pretty cool. Except that it was billed as three bands: Murderbait, Ezza Rose, and Run On Sentence. But there ended up being five bands that played. Don't get me wrong, it was a pleasant surprise to get a solo Nevele Nevele set (two nights in a row I see this girl play) and Sean Flinn, but I meant I didn't get home until late. Which kinda messed up my day today (I'm tired). Oh and by the way Run On Sentence totally killed it last night. Anyways, here are the shows happening today:

Mississippi Studios is having a show with Shelly Short, Dan Hanlon, and White Lighter. Shelly Short is great. She put out a record called A Cave, a Canoo a few years back and I loved it. It is the perfect rainy day record. Not in a depressing way, but in a gentle ease into the day kind of music. She is going to be putting out Then Came the After soon. I am stoked. I have not heard any of it, put there is split 7" out with a song from said album. Nice. Anyway she has not played many shows in Portland lately because she has been on tour with Dan Hanlon in his native land of Austalia. He has a way of writing songs that is subtle clever. The songs are kinda cute. He has gone on tour with Magnetic Fields who is overtly clever. Darren has some ties to Portland outside of Shelly as well. Most notably with Cory Gray (Carcrashlander) who also plays with Shelly. Oh. I see. It all ties together. White Lighter is Kyle Moron of Typhoon when he plays solo. The other night I saw him and his girlfriend, Danielle Sullivan (Wild Ones) play together. They played two covers (Bruce Springsteen and John Prine) and a song of his that I had not heard. He is an amazing songwriter. It sometimes is hard to remember this when there are so many instruments backing him. The songs are just as effective stripped, sometimes even more so in this setting. The show is $5 and starts at 9 PM.

Rontoms is having a show with Sean Flinn & The Royal We and Pony Village. Like I said I just saw Sean play last night. But that was mostly a solo affair. Tonight is a Royal We affair. Sean's has the gift of song craft. It seems that he is a machine. I have seen him write. The songs just pour out of him. Because of this he usually is backed by some really good people. Hell I even used to be in his band. I loved playing with him. His new line up includes Ezza Rose on vocals (probably more), Seth Mankowsi on bass, Andy (don't know his last name) on drums, and Tucker Jackson on pedal steel. Plus there will be special guests as well. Pony Village comes from a different background. While Sean comes from a classic pop approach. I feel like Pony Village is coming from a indie rock starting point. And I love it. I think that they have the feel of early Death Cab. They have a self-titled 12" that is good listening. The show is FREE and starts at 9 PM.

Valentine's is having a show with Denver and Hookers. Hmmm…Denver likes to engage in some debaucherous behavior but this is ridiculous. Seriously though, when you try to search for either of these bands you get a lot of unhelpful information. Well, I mean unhelpful in regards to music. Luckily I have seen Denver several times now and I can tell you about them. Country band. They are constantly pulled towards folk and rock. But they wear boots and have harmonies that involve most of the members of the six piece band. You need to see this band live, if only to see Moustache Mike's mustache. HOOKERS, according to the Valentine's blog, has members of Joggers, Ghosting, and Eternal Tapestry. The show is FREE and starts at 9 PM.

If you see me at any of these shows please say, "Hi".

Ben



This is my favorite Shelly Short song. She will play it tonight at Mississippi Studios