Hello Dear Readers,
Last night I didn't go to any shows. I am sick. Anyways, here are the shows that look good to me tonight:
Crystal Ballroom is having the first in several days of celebrating the grand opening of The Crystal Hotel. There will be several days of M. Ward. Tonight he will be joined by Corin Tucker Band, and The Lord's Own Choir. M. Ward is a Portlander who hasn't really played Portland or anywhere recently. Or at least under his own name. He has been out on the road with She & Him Volume and Monsters of Folk before that. Mr. Ward doesn't have a new album out to my knowledge, but he has plenty of great records to pick from to make an excellent set list. He makes retro sounding pop with several different elements that come together in a unique way to create his very distinct sound. I will be honest. I was never a huge Sleater-Kinney fan. I did really like their Dave Fridmann produced The Woods. The Corin Tucker Band is lead by former Sleater-Kinney guitarist Corin Tucker. It also features former Unwound drummer Sara Lund and current Golden Bears Seth Lorinczi on bass. As you might guess from her former output, this new band continues in her rock and roll tradition. Lord's Own Choir is a six piece group that makes traditional sounding country music. It includes a prominent banjo and many group vocals and harmonies. The show is $25 and starts at 9 PM.
Doug Fir is having the second of two nights of Menomena. Tonight they are playing with Talkdemonic. I think Menomena are a great band. They have a very interesting way about creating songs uses a system of checks and balances between the original three members. Not there are only two original members. But they have two additional members to help them play live. Having helping hands is not new to the band. Last year the band hired Joe Haege (31 Knots/Tu Fawning) to help with the live show. Not having Brent Knopf will probably still take some getting used to. Talkdemonic makes great records that incorporate acoustic instruments (like Lisa Molinaro's viola and cello) with not so acoustic instruments and lay them atop some awesome beats (courtesy of the other member Kevin O'Connor). Live it is all about the drums, though. Kevin O'Connor is a very captivating drummer. Of course, it doesn't hurt that the music is very pretty. The show is $18 and starts at 9 PM.
Mission Theater is having Notes from the Underground. This time it will feature Joe Manis Trio and Why I Must Be Careful. If you did not know, Portland has some pretty cool jazz musicians in town. These two are prime examples of what Portland has to offer. It is not indie music, but Why I Must Be Careful have played many of the indie rock venues or are at least part of the circle enough to be on my radar. I think that the duo of drums and rhodes is great. The show is $5 and starts at 8:30 PM.
Valentine's is having a show Amir Coyle (San Francisco), Benoit Pioulard, and Birch Cooper. Amir Coyle is kind out there. He best known for his performances. I have only watched one video of one, "Projection of Heaven", and it is crazy. There are costumes and dramatic lighting and highly effected vocals and just plain weirdness. That being said. I bet it would be incredible to see in the flesh. Benoit Piolard is a musician that rides the line between acoustic pop and ambient music. A line that one wouldn't necessarily think was that close. It is really good. You should check it out. Birch Cooper is best known as half of the drone pop band The Slaves. I am not sure what he would sound like solo, but I bet it is cool. The show is $5 and starts at 8:30 PM.
If you see me at any of these shows please say, "hi".
Ben
Talkdemonic plays the Doug Fir tonight!
1 comment:
The Menomena show at the Fir last night was phenomenal. This was my first of their shows, so I can't really attest to how it sounded before, but it was enjoyable. I am old and Menomena went on past my bedtime, so that may be whie I was a bit more entertained by the two opening acts, Archeology and Talkdemonic, which were both totally tubular.
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