Ben Meyercords Live Music Picks for March 3 - March 5

So, it has been pointed out to me that my weekly live music posts are long. Like Dickens's novel-long. There fore I have decided to cut it in half. Or as much in half as you can cut seven days. I will now list Monday through Wednesday as one post and Thursday though Sunday as another. A weekday edition and a weekend edition, if you will. So with out further ado, here is the Weekday Edition:

Monday, March 3rd

Usually Valentine's has something goin on on Mondays, but their music calender ended on Friday and has not been updated but it might be worth stopping by. But if you want some confirmed shows check these out:

• March Fourth Marching Band is continuing their five year anniversary at the Crystal Ballroom. This will be a dance party. And I don't mean a bunch of hipster kids spazzing out while flailing their arms like crazy. I mean. there probably some of that too/. But I am talking about everyone moving. You will have your modern dancers, hippie swayers, normal people head bobbing, and probably so much more. If the Fourth don't supply enough of a party for you, your dancing needs will be covered by not one but two DJs (DJ Jooro and DJ Globalruckus)Plus Balkan Beat Box will make their first Portland appearance ever. Let me answer your next question. Balkan Beat Box, according to Wikipedia (get ready for a lot of wiki-links), "establish their own unique sound by fusing the musical styles of Jewish, Mediterranean and Balkan traditions as well as the cultural influences of their home turf of New York City with some hints of electronica." All of this for $14. This is ALL AGES, so the doors are at 8 PM.
• Or you could just go to the tube and catch a very hip Portland band, Chromatics, play for FREE. This will go down at 11 PM.

Tuesday, March 4th

Much is happening on Tuesday. Can you handle it?

• March Fourth Marching Band (get it March 4th...March Fourth, ha) wraps up its three day Fifth Year Anniversary at the Crystal Ballroom with Gamelan X, Nanda, and Kazuma. Let me some this show up for you. Marching band, Stilts, Fire breathers, World Dance music, Acrobats, "Kung Fu acro-fighting", and more. It is $14 for this ALL AGES show. The doors are at 8 PM.
• Gabriel Darling has The Incubator back in full effect at Someday Lounge. It is an open stage for you to incubate all sorts of creativity. Worth checking out. This FREE event starts at 9 PM.
• Zilla Sake has an open mic every Tuesday hosted by amazing songstress Y La Bamba. Worth Checking out. The music starts at 8:30.
  
• The Doug Fir is having Tilly and The Wall tap dancing through town on Tuesday. Seriously, they don't have a drummer. Instead they have a super cute lead tap dancer with two other super cute girls who sing and play instruments and will occasionally tap as well (and there is a dude playing guitar). They are on tour with fellow Omaha natives Capgun Coup. You may be asking why I am I listing this show. To that I would say that Team Love label mates and local Portland band, A Weather, is opening (officially making it a local show). The show is $12. The music starts promptly at 9 PM.
• Rotture is hosting a regular event they call "Mancampus". This time around they have Mahjong (Chicago), Alan Singley & Pants Machine, Loose Control, and Old Time Relijun. Looks like a pretty good mixed bag of bands here. All for $7. The music starts at 9 PM.

Wednesday, March 5th

There are several shows today that have a possibility of being good. I will be the first to admit that all of the following shows feature bands whose music I do not know too well. You could call this your Wednesday Night crap shoot of shows:

• The Roseland Grill will be hosting Malbec (LA), Charmparticles, and Adrian H and the Wounds. I have never heard of Malbec, but AristeiA played with Charmparticles they were pretty good. Adrian H and the Wounds played a benefit show with Meyercord about a month back (this doesn't mean much). By going to this show, you stand to loose $8-$10. Show time is at 8 PM.
• Rotture is having a show with Pwrfl Power(Seattle) and Capillary Action(Philly) along with locals We Quit. I have read interesting things about Pwrfl Power and We Quit. I know nothing of Capillary Action. You stand to loose only $7 on this one. Show time is at 9 PM.
• Holocene is having a show featuring Gil Mantera's Party Dream (Ohio) and locals The Fast Computers and Gejius. I like Gejius and know that he puts on a fun show. I know nothing of the other two except that I once saw The Fast Computers name on the Kelly's Olympian Marque and thought to myself, "I have a fast computer". Not enough information to judge a band. So you stand to loose $7.
• Mississippi Pizza is having a show with Dr. Something & The Poppin' Fresh Love Engines (reaching new highs of ridiculous band names) and The Ocean Floor. I feel like I have been meaning to see The Ocean Floor for some time. Anyway, as with most early Mississippi Show it is FREE, ALL AGES and at 6 PM. Not a whole lot to loose.

So even in this shortened version of my live music picks, I seem to have written quite the post. Oh well. Let me know what you think of the new format. And say hello to me if you see me a any of these shows.

-Ben


Dr. Something & The Poppin' Fresh Love Engines playing while dressed as Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem @ the Rererato photo taken directly from their myspace page
They play @ Mississippi Pizza on Wednesday

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Ben Meyercord's live music picks for Feb. 12th to Feb. 17th

I saw some music last week. I didn't however get to see Talkdemonic, Starfucker, and Tu Fawning at the Doug Fir. Apparently I was not the only person excited to see them, because it sold out. I was kind of disappointed. Hopefully a lesson was learned.

Also for some strange reason I actually had to work at my job on Sunday and Monday. This never happens. The result of this injustice is that my live picks will actually start on Tuesday this week. So anyway, these are some shows happening in the next six days

Tuesday, Feb 12th

There are a couple of free gigs that are going on in town and one thats not.

• Every Tuesday at Zilla Sake on Alberta, there is an open mic. Every Tuesday I attend. I have my reasons. I will now narrow them down to three. It is hosted by Y La Bamba which means I get to see her play twice. The people are really great. The curry at Zilla is top notch. Plus I usually play it as Meyercord. The sign up is at 7:30; the music starts at 8 PM.
• Or if you happen to be down town, you should check out whats happening at Valentine's. The Morals are playing with Train to Nowhere and Randy from Junkface. I always enjoy The Morals live sets (there are no set lists and two drunken guys singing real loud, in a good way). The show is FREE. It starts at 9 PM.
• Or if you like spending money(who doesn't?), you can head over to the Doug Fir where Baby Dee will be playing with Holocombe Waller. Baby Dee is a trans gendered musician from Cleveland. Holocombe Waller is a local who blurs the lines between theater and performing musician. It should be noted that both out on quite a show. The cost is $10. The show starts at 9PM.

Wednesday, Feb. 13th

Here are some things that I might consider going to if I get out of practice early enough:

• The Satyricon, which all though it is all ages is usually pretty lame, is actually having a decent show on Wednesday. Though I am not too familiar with any of them I have heard of The Beauty who are playing with Imaginary Airship, Air Fortress, and Dot Matrix. I have also heard of Imaginary Airship. I read that Dot Matrix is kinda like Opera. Should be interesting. The show is $6. The show starts at 8PM.
• Or if you want to get your groove on, 8-bits of it any way, you can go to the Holocene. Portland based record label Audio Dregs is presenting "8-bit Disco" which features a documentary on chip music music, 8-bit Generation, and performances by Laromlab, Robotcowboy, DJ E*Rock (one of Audio Dregs founders), and B*Retta. All of this for $5. The event starts at 9 PM.
• Or if you like to eat pizza whilst you listen to people bearing their existence, you can check out Y La Bamba at Mississippi Pizza. She is playing with Andy Combs and the Moth. I highly recommend you check out Y La Bamba. The show is probably by donation. Music starts at 9 PM.
  

Thursday, Feb. 14th

Thursday is Valentine's day. There are three ways to view this holiday. Valentine's Day is a time to be with that girl or guy non-gender-specific significant other and appreciate them for all that they are for you. Or how you don't have a girl or guy or non-gender-specific significant other and how much you long for that and how your life sucks with out it. Or lastly, how Valentine's is such a joke and how you can't believe how much people buy into the BS that Hallmark has created. Regardless of you views I hope you enjoy your day.

• Also I am playing a small show as Meyercord at CIMTB contributer Gabriel Darling's practice space along with David Evan and Myrrh Larsen. It should be fun. This comes direct from her myspace:
  

  anti-Valentine’s day singer/songerwriter show on 2/14 pour moi
  Current mood: fabulous

  Semler Building, Suite 411, PDX....
  SW 3rd between SW Yamhill and SW Morrison....
  near Borders...
  
  well, Myrrh Larsen, David Evan, and Benjamin Meyercord have confirmed for the Thursday, let's not celebrate coupledom and anti-Valentine's day singer/songwriter mellowness starting at 8PM!!!
  
  FYI, the elevator does not run after 6PM, so, please be aware that you must be able to climb up AND down 4 flights of stairs...
  additionally, you need to e-mail me for specific directions: gabriel.darling@gmail.com
  (cause I will have to escort you upstairs --- i'm not gonna give you the access codes!) :.P
  but please feel welcome to flash me! hahahaha
  
  you are more than welcome to bring a guest or guests..
  think we need to be done around 10:45PM with the loud cranking noise fest....
  BYOB... of course, a few tasty snackin's might be provided...
  
  Please come celebrate romance, anti-romance, or all the profanities rolled into 1!!!!

  Currently listening : The Fashion Focus By Starflyer 59 Release date: By 06 October, 1998

Friday, Feb. 15th

So much going on Friday. I cannot decide. I will just provide you the list of shows. Perhaps you can decide for me?

• Dante's is having a ROCK show featuring Blue Cheer, Danava, and Red Fang. All three bands look like they "bring it". I bet Brandon of AristeiA wishes he was going to this.
• Maybe country is more your thing. Maybe you like Johnny Cash. I know I do. Well, Ash Street is having a Johnny Cash Tribute night featuring Joshua James & the Runaway Trains, Kate Mann, and Myrrh Larsen. I am not familiar with most of the acts but I know that Myrrh always has interesting interpretations of songs (I believe that he currently has one of Row Row Row Your Boat on his myspace page). It costs $7. Music starts at 9:30 PM.
  
• Perhaps you want to help out and attend a benefit show. The Someday Lounge is hosting a benefit show for Ethos Music Center called Cover Your Hearts. This what Someday has to say about Ethos, "Ethos Music is an organization that was established as a direct response to the budget cuts in public schools which limited music education for children. The Ethos mission is that every child has the right to learn and make music. Through Ethos, music education is available on a sliding scale so any child can participate." Sounds pretty good to me. The Charmparticles, Climber, Oh Darling, Curious Jones, Dr. Theopolis, Tango Alpha Tango, Castle, Jonah, Derby, and UHF are playing the show. Tickets are $7-$8. The show starts at 9 PM.
• Or if you just want to kick it Nopo Style. You can check out the show thats going on at The Waypost. Paige Crater, Saw Whet, Allison Milham, and Dave are playing. I don't know anything about these people except that I really enjoyed what I heard of Saw Whet on her myspace page. The show is FREE. It starts at 8 PM.
• If you are in NW Portland, you night swing by Slabtown cause Pay The Coyote, Ezra Carey, and Obscure Opus are playing. The first two bands listed I know of indirectly through Westfold (pay the Coyote is a top froend, and Ezra is playing a show with them on the 29th) so they are probably good. The show costs $5. The show starts at 9 PM.

Saturday, Feb. 16th

Locally it is a slow night. You might be tempted to check out Pinback at The Wonder Ballroom, or Bone Thugs at the Roseland though. I however, will probably go the local and cheap route:

• The Twilight Cafe (1420 SE Powell Blvd) is hosting Magic Johnson (not the basketball player), Pegasus, We Quit, and Dragging an Ox Through Water. As you may be aware we here at CIMTB love us some Draging an Ox so go out and see what we are talking about. The show is FREE. Music starts at 9 PM (?).

Sunday, Feb. 17th

Not a whole lot going on this night either but...

• Valentine's is having a pretty sweet show. It will feature Aan, Church, and Saw Whet (in case you missed her on Friday). All band are good. The show is FREE which makes it all good. The show starts at 9 PM.

Come out to some of these shows. Support your local bands. Saw hi to me if you see me. And have a good week.

-Ben


Y La Bamba host of the Zilla Open Mic performs on Wednesday at Mississippi Pizza. Be There!

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Wednesday December 12th, 2007: AristeiA, Jon Garcia and Charmparticle @ The Doug Fir

3 wonderful local bands play this Wednesday night at The Doug Fir!


Aristeia Photo by Ste. Goldie


Jon Garcia soon to be known as Castle Photo by Micha Usher


Charmparticles Photo by ? (got it off their myspace)

All three bands are from Portland, Oregon. If you are looking for a place to hang out this Wednesday night come to the Doug Fir. You will get a chance to hear beautiful music and engage with people who love music and who's hearts beat to the rhythm of their own sweet sounds. Are you a rock band photographer? Take some digital photo's of the show and have them published here!

This Wednesday December 12th, 2007
Doug Fir
830 E Burnside
Portland, Oregon 97214
Doors open at 8pm
Show starts at 9pm
$6 at the door

ALSO:

Vote for your favorite Northwest Releases of 2007 at threeimaginarygirls.com

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music picks for Dec. 10th-16th

It just doesn't get easier does it. Another week full of great shows, and therefore another blog post detailing them.

Hello Portland and areas surrounding Portland this is what is going down, show wise, this week:

Monday, December 10th

There isn't too much going on at the start of the week but there is this...

• Strangers Die Everyday will be performing at Valentine's (232 SW Ankeny St) with Blue Cranes. Show starts at 9pm ($5).
  

Tuesday, December 11th

like I said not too much going down at the beginning of the week, but check out either of these open-mics as there have been glimpses of brilliance at both. I have also been known to perform as Meyercord at both (not that there is a correlation between this sentence and the previous sentence).

• The Incubator is hosted by my good friend and apparent fellow Crappy Indie Music blogger Gabriel Darling. This goes down at the Someday Lounge. The cool thing about these besides the great sound and stage and people, is that every performance is recorded so and archived on the Someday Lounge website for later viewing. Starts at 9pm (free).
  
• There is also the Open-mic Night over at Zilla's Sake on Alberta. This is usually hosted by my friend Elena Mendoza aka Y La Bamba (in my opinion one of the most talented people making music in Portland right now). The room is small but the sound is very warm thanks in large to a gentleman who calls himself E (not to be confused with the lead singer of Eels). He records this musical gathering every Tuesday and makes them available via the Open Mic Scout Podcast. Starts at 8pm (free).

Wednesday, December 12th

Today I am playing a show in the band AristeiA along with Jon Garcia and The Charmparticles at the Doug Fir so you know where I will be (and where you should be as well). But in the interest of being fair, the following shows are going on too.

• Some local band called The Shins are playing at The Crystal Ballroom. But its sold out so I guess it doesn't matter.
• Over at Valentine's ( 232 SW Ankeny St) Aan, Ah Holly Fam'ly, and Saw Whet are all playing the Cloudrag Magazine release party. I have heard that all of these are bands worth checking out.

Thursday, December 13th

This is where it gets tough. There are three shows. I wish to be at all of them.

• Tu Fawning (featuring Joe Haege of 31 Knots and Corrina Repp) is playing with The Golden Bears, and some band called Baby Dollars are all playing the Holocene. The show starts at 9pm ($7). I have regrettably missed Tu Fawning play every single time they have played. This might be another time because...
• Peter Broderick is playing with Ethan Rose at The Mississippi Studios. This is a rare treat as Peter has until further notice relocated from Portland to Copenhagen, Denmark. Don't miss you chance to see him and get his new cd without all of those oversea shipping charges. Show starts at 8pm ($8/$10).
• And over by PGE Park, Nate Ashley and The Liminal Sea are playing with The Graves and "a very special, secret guest" at the Towne Lounge. It sounds interesting. Doors at 9pm ($5?).

Friday, December 14th

I will be out of town playing a show with Nire in Hood River as Meyercord (if you have friends in Hood River, send them to The Horse and the Hound on Friday) so I won't be able to see these but...

• David Bazan (ex-Pedro The Lion) with J. Tillman in tow. They are playing at The Mississippi Studios. You may recall that AristeiA opened the last time David came through (it was pretty cool). If you don't have a ticket, whoops. It sold out.
• Over at Kelly's Olympian, Tractor Operator will be playing with both Oh Darling and The Dimes. I like Tractor Operator. Show at 10pm (no price listed).

Saturday, December 15th

There are a couple of good ones. You would do right by me by attending any of these

• Spoon is playing The Crystal Ballroom with The Skaky Hands. Sold Out (this makes the third sold out show I have listed. "Why do I list the sold out shows?" you may ask. "Because I wish I were there" is what I would answer.)
• The Bitter End will be featuring one of my favorite local bands, Westfold. Mirumir and Trick Sensei will also play. Show at 9pm ($5)
  
• The Doug Fir will hosting a double bill feature Portland's own The Blow and Swan Island. Show is at 9pm ($12).
• The one I am truly excited about is Y La Bamba playing with a full band. This will go down at the Chaos Cafe. Show at 8pm ($5).
  

Sunday, December 16th

I will most likely go to this show

• Modernstate is playing over at the Holocene with Autopilot is for Lovers and Sarah Winchester (of A Weather fame). If I remember correctly he/they put on a pretty fun live show. And besides it being a good line-up, it is a benefit for local musician, Lou Thomas (also of A Weather). See the holocene page for all the details. Show starts at 9pm ($8).
  

You may recall that in my last post I readily admitted that I would not get to all of the shows I listed. I had no idea how right I was. I only made it to two of the listed ten. Let's see how I do this week.


Ben Meyercord--photo by Ben

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