Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for April 21st - 27th

Dear Readers,

Last Week I think that my favorite show was the Why?/Starfucker/Fall of Snow/Joe Von Appen thing last Friday at Holocene. All the bands played really well but honestly I think it was the inclusion of spoken word artist Joe Von Appen that pushed it over into a great show into an awesome show. It was a nice change from just music. Plus the guy was hilarious.

Any ways, there are incredible amounts of shows this week. Check out as many as you can. Y'know...if you want.

Monday, April 21st

Truth be known there is a non-Portland/'Couve show that I am tempted today. The Caribou and Fuck Buttons show at Doug Fir appeals to me. However if you want to keep it real (local). Peep these:

• Valentine's is having a experimental music show featuring Inca Ore, Grouper, and Grandfather Claws. The darned thing is FREE. The Show Starts at 9 PM.
• Tube is having a show featuring ultra-fun-to -watch Here Comes a Big Black Cloud. Though I have only seen them once at PDX Pop Now! 2007, it made a big enough impact to want to see them again. It will be interesting to see the band, who list eight members, in such a small space. They are playing with like minded New Thrill Parade (SF, CA). The show cost $3. The music starts at 9:30 PM
  
• Or you could stay at home and let the show come to you via your radio or computer. Arya Imig's Sound Judgment show on KPSU is having Southern Belle play Live on the airwaves. You can listen on 1450 AM or online right here. The show is form 10 PM to 11 PM.

Tuesday, April 22nd

There are quite a few good ones on Tuesday. Choose wisely:

• Mississippi Studios is having a show featuring David Karsten Daniels and Bennie Morrison. Why should you care? Because Justin Ringle (of Horse Feathers) is playing a solo set at the Show too. Plus I hear that Bennie Morrison plays sax in March Fourth, so it should be interesting to see what that will be like. The show costs $7-$8. The music starts at 8 PM.
• Valentine's is having a good show on Tuesday. Graves, The Blank Tapes (Oakland), and Aidan Coughlan are all playing. I can vouch for Graves being good. I can also vouch for Valentine's shows also being consistently good. The show is FREE. The music starts sometime after 9 PM.
• City Council candidate, Charles Lewis, is having throwing a show at Someday Lounge. It is called The Charles Lewis Concert. If features Alan Singley and Pants Machine, Mishka, Trio Subtronic, andQuivah. In addition to the music, he will be speaking and taking questions from the audience. Plus its FREE. The event starts at 8 PM.
• Backspace is having a noise/experimental show on Tuesday. Excepter and Yellow Swans are both playing the show. Again, if you like Yellow Swans, this is one of their last shows as they are breaking up (later this summer). The show costs$8. The show is ALL AGES and starts at 7 PM.

Wednesday, April 23rd

One big show and a couple smaller shows:

• The big show is Mirah and Spectratone International playing with Danbert Nobacon at The Mission Theater. Let me first say that I love me some Mirah music. Let me say secondly say that I have been a bit of a bad fan and have not listened to the album she is supporting for this. Apparently the songs are about the lives of bugs. There will be a multimedia show including stop motion films accompanying the performance. Sounds cool. The tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the door. The show starts at 7 PM (music to start at 8 PM).
• Mississippi Pizza is having a pretty good show too. This one features Audie Darling, Leonard Mynx and Tom Thumb (Cape Cod). I have written about Both Audie and Leonard before and they both make lovely music (sometimes together). The interesting thing is that I randomly bought a Tom Thumb cd two weeks ago having never heard of him. Now he is playing in my town. He also writes good tunes, by the way. There is no listed cover (FREE?). The show starts at 9 PM.
• The other smaller but good show is taking place at Tonic Lounge. Novels a French band will share the stage with Childlike Empress, and Air War. Novels have grunge as one of their listed genres. So does Childlike Empress. Match. Air War has Shoegaze as one of their listed genres. So does Childlike Empress. Match. If any of this sounds like you would enjoy it, then I would suggest you rally up some $5. The show starts at 9 PM.

Thursday, April 24th

Good shows for you Portland area people:

• David Dondero is a singer and a songwriter. You can make judgments from that statement or from the following one. He also is on Conor "Bright Eyes" Obert's imprint Team Love and is playing Holocene. He is also playing with a band backing him. Some very good Portland bands, A Weather (also on Team Love) and Aan are playing as well. The show will run you $7. The show starts at 9 PM.
• The Towne Lounge is having a good show. This one consists of The Friendly Skies, Pacific UV and Joust. I have seen and really enjoyed The Friendly Skies. I have heard good things regarding Pacific UV. And I liked the one song Joust has on their my space page. I predict an enjoyable evening for any one who attends. The show cost $5. The doors are at 9 PM.
• However, if you wanted to grab a slice of pizza while you watched good music, I would suggest heading out to Mississippi Pizza. They have Gatos, The Bicycats (NY), and Love Menu (the only non-cat related band who is also the only band I had heard of). It should be good and is probably free (minus the pizza you order). The show starts at 9 PM.
• The Know is a bar on Alberta St. They sometimes have bands play there. Thursday is one of those times. Check out the pop stylings of the caps! I am pretty sure that there is no cover at the Know. The show is listed as starting at 8 PM.

Friday, April 25th

Many shows to choose from:

• KPSU is having a live performance by Nick Carceres as part of their show called The Hour Long. My guess is that is is an hour long. It is on you radio at 1450 AM or here. The show starts at 6PM.
  
• If you like what you hear from that radio performance, or if you missed that radio performance, then you can see Nick Carceres perform at Clinton St. Pub with Will Carpenter and Mr. Free and The Satellite Freakout! (Tuscon). This apropriately enough is FREE. The show starts at 8 PM.
  
• The Artistery is having a benefit for Rock'n'Roll Camp for Girls. They have lined up LKN, Xpodntocolrs, and Sick Sick Sister. Admittedly, I have only heard LKN. But it is for a very good cause, so you should check it out. The ALL AGES show is has a sliding scale price of $5-$10. The music starts at 8 PM.
• Ground Kontrol is the location in the latest KPSU related awesome show. This one celebrates issue #3 of the KPSU magazine/program guide. The show offers the music of Strangers Die Every Day, New Century School Book, Dance Terror, and The Buttfrenchers. Interesting fact: AristeiA bought a guitar amp and cabinet from The Buttfuckers just months ago. The cover is $5. The music starts at 8:30 PM.
• Backspace has been getting some pretty hot shows lately (see Tuesday). Friday they have BARR (LA), Pwrfl Power (Seattle), Alexis Gideon, and Over the Atlantic (Brooklyn). We have some major cities represented at the show. I guess you can sort of think of it as a sampler of what is going on in popular music on a nation wide scale. I have seen Alexis play in Carcrashlander but this apparently is very different (rumors of stop motion films abound). All for just $8. The ALL AGES show starts at 8 PM.
  
• Kelly's Olympian is having a show with Tractor Operator, Excellence, and Yeltsin. I like me some Tractor Operator. Maybe you will also. I just listened to the other bands. They sound good too (Indie-Rock!). This is the Portland cd release show for their album A Closer Walk with Yeltsin. The show is $5 . The show starts at 10 PM.
• East End is having a pop night on Friday. Their show includes the pop numbers of Soft Tags, The Vulturines, and The Fall Colors. Also there is supposedly a super famous guest appearing. Might be worth checking out. The show is $5. The show starts at 9 PM.
  

Saturday, April 26th

Too many shows to choose from:

• The show I am going to for sure is the early Loch Lomond show at Mississippi Studios. Y La Bamba will be opening up and debuting her new band which includes drums, glockenspiel, accordion, two guitars, bass, and three part harmonies. It will be awesome. There is also a late show for Loch Lomond where Holcombe Waller will open. If you have not seen Loch Lomond live, you are missing out. It is truly incredible to see their music recreated in a live setting. Both shows are $10-$12. The early show is at 7 PM. The late show is at 10 PM.
• Also in North Portland, The Waypost is having a really cool show. Sweeping Exits, Museum, and Church are all playing as part of a series of shows that Arya Imig puts on at The Waypost on the last Friday of every month (at least I think thats the deal). Also I want to express again that I really like Church. The show is ALL AGES and FREE. The show starts at 8 PM.
• Boy Gorilla, the very talented and young musician label/collective(?) is having a showcase at the Towne Lounge on Friday. Ghosties, Southern Belle, and The Black Black Black are all playing. It is as they used to say, "all good". The show will only set you back $5. The music starts at 9:30 PM.
• Kelly's Olympian has a show worth checking out too. It involves Michael the Blind, Thanks Kipp, and Ladies & Gentlemen. I have saw Michael the Blind at one of the WWeek's Lounge series and was rather impressed. The show costs $5. It begins at 10 PM.
• Someday Lounge is having a pretty quality show on Friday with Jackie-O Motherfucker, Indian Jewelry (they claim Afgahnistan but I don't believe them), Ill Ease (Brooklyn), and Cexfucx. Check out this quote from Liz Armstrong of the Chicago Reader, "Indian Jewelry plays the kind of music I want to hear in my head during sex". Sold. The show is $8. The music starts at 9 :30 PM.
• The Doug Fir is having Point Juncture, WA play with The Lymbyc System (Austin/Phoenix) and Head Like a Kite. Point Juncture is real good like. I have no idea about the other bands, but the Doug Fir claims all to be Dream-core. The cover is $8. The start time is 9 PM.
• The Artistery is hosting a diverse show with Late Night Curly, D Numbers, and Gejius. All of the acts are of the "doing their own thing" variety of music. It should be pretty enjoyable. The ALL AGES show is $6. The music starts at 8 PM.
• East End is hosting Pre (UK), The Mae Shi (LA), Panther, and Fist Fite. I could find nothing on Pre . But I really enjoyed the sound of Mae Shi. Most shows at East End are $5. The show starts at 9 PM.

Sunday, April 27th

I found three shows. But they are all really good shows. I do not know which I should go to. They are both so appealing. If you are under 21, the choice is easy. Go to the ALL AGES on. But I'm 26. I could go to either of the other two. I keep swinging from one show to the other and then to the other in my mind. I guess I will leave it up to fate.

• The Doug Fir is having Nick Jaina and his band play with Throw Me The Statue (Seattle), and The Brothers Young (Richie Young from Loch Lomond and his brothers). All are excellent. This show is $8. The music starts at 9 PM.
• Exit Only is hosting The Ocean Floor, Alan Singley and Pants Machine, Per Se, and Hanner. This ALL AGES show is probably very cheap. The show starts at 8 PM.
• David Kyle and The Invisibles are playing with Panther Attack (Seattle) at Rontoms. I have yet to make it to Rontoms, though I have heard the name a few times now. They have like the most mysterious website ever (clue highlight and you find the address and phone number of Rontoms, but that is all) Both band are kinda mathy and kinda kick-ass. The show is FREE. The show starts at 9 PM.
  

So there you have your good shows list. I hope you make it to some. I already know that I am going to miss several great shows this week, so help a guy and see the ones I don't. As always, if you see me at any of these shows come up and say hi. Have a great week.

-Ben


Y La Bamba plays the early Loch Lomond Show at Mississippi Studios on Saturday. Nice.
photo from Y La Bamba's Myspace.

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for April 14th -20th

Hello dear readers,

Last week was great wasn't it. I went to three of the 30 something shows I listed. They were all fantastic. Especially the 31 Knots, Joggers, and Experimental Dental School show. They were all fantastic. But guess what. There are even more cool shows this week. Some of them will be, dare I say, fantastic. Check it:

Monday, April 14th

You want local music? You got it:

• Yellow Swans have announced that they are breaking up. Luckily they have a lot of shows booked, so you can still catch their brand of oddly gorgeous Noise music. Tonight they are playing Branx with Sissy Spacek (LA), Knelt Rote, Verlatin, and Superbad. I guessing these are noise bands too. I can't seem to find any info. on them so, whatev's. It will be LOUD. Like, LOL, ridiculous, LOUD. The shows is $6 and starts at 9 PM.
  
• Valentine's is consistently having good shows. It seems like I am consistently missing them. Do not make my mistakes. Tonight they are having Ohioan play. I think. If not then I am sure somebody is. Probably Free. Probably after 9 PM.
• Chaos Cafe is having a show tonight featuring Mr. Fredrick (featuring a member of Starfucker). This should be pretty cool. It is also pretty FREE and pretty ALL AGES. The show is listed as starting at 8 PM.
• Or if you just want to stay in and get your local music, you can tune into Arya Imig's Sound Judgment on KPSU either on the Internet here or on 1450 AM on your radio. There will be an on-air performance by Hutch and Kathy (of The Thermals). The show starts at 10 PM and will last one hour.

Tuesday, April 15th

There are a ridiculously good shows happening simultaneously on Tuesday:

• Backspace is hosting one of the two Dirty Projectors shows happening in town this week. The openers are Blankket (Toronto), and local White Rainbow. I hear that Dirty Projectors are phenomenal. The show is $5. It is ALL AGES so it starts at 8 PM.
• Someday Lounge is having Thao and The Get Down Stay Down play with locals Horse Feathers and Plants. I still haven't gotten over how good Horse Feathers is. When they release their sophmore effort on Kill Rock Stars (same label as Thao), I am sure many others will feel the same way. The show is $8. The doors are at 9 PM.
  
• Holocene is helping Auto Pilot is For Lovers celebrate the release of their new album by having a show. An album release show! Stangers Die Everyday, and Porches are also playing. I want so badly to see this show (I have listed Strangers Die Everyday many times and have yet to see them). The show is a mere $5. The show starts at 9 PM.
• Chaos Cafe is having another cool show. I am started to think of this as the vegan ALL AGES sibling of Valentine's. Anyway, they are having Chris Koza (Minneapolis), Love Menu, and The Rainy States play on Tuesday. It is all good. The show is FREE and starts at 8 PM.
• Plus I have heard rumors of a Norfolk & Western and Weinland practice show at Slabtown too. This is supposedly FREE. Stop by at 9 PM.
  

Wednesday, April 16th

This is the haps:

• Legenday (in some circles) songwriter Daniel Johnston is coming to town. He is going to play two shows in Portland this week both with local Gregory Miles Harris. Your first chance to see them is a Berbati's. Tickets cost $17.50 in advance and $20 at the door. The music starts at 8 PM (doors at 7 PM).
• Mississippi Pizza is having a show of note too. Shake Speake , Andy Combs and the Moth, and Church are playing. Church is really awesome. So is Andy Combs and co. I am unsure if there is a cover. The show starts at 9 PM.
• The White Eagle is a place I have been meaning to check out. On Wednesday there are some bands I have been Meaning to Check out, A Cautionary Tale, and Jared Mees. Also there is a band I have never heard of, Test Audiences. Should be good. Maybe. Its FREE. Why not check it out? The show starts at 8:30.

Thursday, April 17th

David Bazan (Pedro The Lion) and Mark Kozelek (Red House Painters and Sun Kill Moon) are playing the Aladdin Theater. It is not a local show but I thought some people might be interested. There are only a couple local shows I am interested in on Thursday:

• Doug Fir is having pretty one of the more popular rock surf garage bands, Southern Culture on the Skids (Chapel Hill) play here in town. I am not a huge fan. But I am interested in the openers Bark Hide and Horn. They have a new album that just came out and will be selling at this show. The show costs $15.
• Speaking of Southern things (check out this sweet segue), Southern Belle will be performing at Dunes on Thursday. I am unsure if anyone else will be playing. Actually, Dunes doesn't even have them listed. But shows at Dunes are always FREE, so whats the harm? The show will or will not be happening at 11 PM.

Friday, April 18th

Lots of great shows are happening on Friday:

• The one I am going to and have been anticipating for many months is the Why? show at Holocene. All of the opening acts are from Porltand: Starfucker, Fall of Snow, and Jon Von Appen (performance artist). All acts are really diverse which will make for a really entertaining show. The cost is $8. The show starts at 9 PM.
• There is also an amazing gathering of Portland musicians at The Modern Age (PSU's ALL AGES venue). Hutch and Kathy (of The Thermals), Strength, Reporter, Typhoon, and The Vonneguts are all playing. This is a lot of talent for one show. It only costs $3-$6 to enter. The show starts at 8 PM.
• Some of you all may have heard of the Wordless Music Series (NY). Well, it looks like they are having some West Coast shows here in Portland. Friday night has Eluvium and chamber music ensemble Third Angle performing at The Old Church in cordination with the series. I have only seen Eluvium once and it was the almost the loudest thing I have ever witnessed (second only to Yellow Swans at PDX Pop last year). It really turned me off. But he makes such beautiful music that I am more than willing to give him another chance.
• Exit Only is also having a show on Friday. I want to check out this venue. All I know about it so far is that it is ALL AGES and is in a wherehouse. It sounds awesome. Alexis Gideon will be playing with Travis Wiggins (of Please Step Out of The Vehicle) and Bombs Into You. This should be a fun show. There is no mention of a cover. The show starts at 8 PM.
• There is a show at Artistery too. They have Team Evil (members of Point Juncture, WA), Swim Swam Swum, and target=_blankPatterns. I have seen Swim Swam Swum before and I dug it. Which is why I am suggesting it. The show costs $6 and is ALL AGES. The music begins at 8 PM.
• Friday is also your second chance to see Daniel Johnston and Gregory Miles Harris. This show is ALL AGES at the Wonder Ballroom. I think it is SOLD OUT. So unless you are savvy enough to deal with ticket scalpers (I am not), I suggest going to one of the shows that I listed above.

Saturday, April 19th

It is kind of slim pickings as far as shows I am interested in (again if I am missing something please feel free to comment):

• Holocene is having Blitzen Trapper play with Fleet Foxes (WA), an Au. Pitchfork is basically in love with Blitzen Trapper. I think they also love Fleet Foxes. So this show will be chock full of these people. But I have heard both and think they have some actual good songs. Plus Au is opening. Checkout what Stereogum had to say about the band a couple weeks ago. The show costs $8. The show starts at 9 PM.
• Or at the Aladdin Theater you can catch Amelia. While Amelia is good in their own right, it is opener Richie Young (mastermind of Loch Lomond) that caught my eye. It should be cool to see him in a solo setting. Tickets are $12-$15 for this ALL AGES show. The music begins at 8 PM.

Sunday, April 20th

There is some shows going on to wind out weekend. Check them out maybe?:

• KPSU is having Pledge Drive stuff all this week (check here for details). As part that push, they are putting on some pretty good shows. Like at Someday, they are having Soriah, Metal, Eet, and Childhood Friends play. While I have only seen Metal (they were good and ambient with projection of films over them), I can say that it will probably be good. Plus KPSU is very supportive of local music. So, if you are supportive of them, you are supportive of local music. Are you following me? The show costs $5. the show starts at 9 PM.
  
• KPSU is also putting a show at Town Lounge featuring Souterly, Yoyodine, and William Carpenter's Towering Trees. Southerly is pretty good, and is a busy guy. This will be the last time you can see him perform before he goes on a European tour. This show is also $5. The show starts at 9 PM.
• Or you could not support them and see a show at Valentine's. This show features Oregon Painting Society, Pixie Storm and the Stand-up Shaman, and Plastic Pussy. All fantastic band names. All FREE. The show starts at 9 PM.
  

So that is what looks good to me this week. If you can make it to even just a fraction of these shows, you will most likely be in a good place in your life. Right? Anyway, if you see me at any of these shows, please say hello. Have a great week.

-Ben


Fall of Snow plays with Why? and Starfucker on Friday. Kick Ass.
photo from the Fall of Snow myspace page

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for March 24-30

Hey everybody,

Did you have a good weekend? So did I. Shows everynight. But then again, there are always shows everynight, which is why I do this crazy blog-post-thing. Check out the Awesome for this week:

Monday, March 24th

Okay, I might have gotten a little ahead of myself. There aren't any local shows that I can fully recommend. Not that all the local shows are bad for Monday, its just that I don't know them. So maybe you can check out Jens Lekman at Berbatis. Or better yet The Phosphorescent, Bon Iver, and White Hinterland show at Holocene. That show has a person who used to live in Portland, White Hinterland (She has cd out on local label Hush under her birth name, Casey Dienel). Anyways:

• You can usually count on good music to be seen at Valentine's on Monday nights. This evening they will have Noel and Rush-N-Disco do their thing. I just checked out Noels thing. It is lo-fi goofy white boy rap. Rush-N-Disco do something pretty unique in that they reenact clips of tv shows etc... from their child hood (it is kind of like performance art, kind of). You can see you tube videos of them on their myspace page. Did I mention they are brother and sister. Well, they are. This show is FREE and starts sometime after 9 PM.

Tuesday, March 25th

There are some shows going down. This is the info:

• The big show tonight is the band that just got huge over the past year, Vampire Weekend(NY). What makes this show special is that Portland's own Yacht is opening and set to tour opening up for the band on several dates. Who knows, he may be the next Vampire Weekend. Maybe hes already huge and I don't know it. Its so hard to tell who if a local musicians are big unless they are on MTV and add members from The Smiths to their line up. Anyways, this show is at Doug Fir. It costs $12 and chances are that it will sell out. If you want to go buy your ticket now. The music starts at 9 PM.
• You also got a sweet show at Mississippi Studios on Tuesday. Musee Mecanique will be opening for These United States (D.C.). Musee Mecanique is awesome and about to go on tour until May so catch them now while you can. The show is $8-$10. The music starts at 10 PM.
• Or there is always good times at the Zilla Sake open mic held every Tuesday. It is hosted by the very talented Y La Bamba. This is FREE. The music starts at 8 PM.

Wednesday, March 26th

Due to a bandmate going out of town, I am free to do whatever I want on Wednesday. I will not be attending the I am think maybe one or two of the following:

• The first thing listed for Wednesday is not actually a show you can see, but you can hear it. I know this sounds lame, but check it out. You also don't have to pay for it either. So it kind of evens out. I am of course babbling about Y La Bamba playing on KPSU Portland State University's radio station. I think that there is also a interview taking place so it should be pretty interesting. You can listen on 1450 AM or online at the above link. Things get started at 6 PM sharp.
  
• If you are in the 'Couve there is a show taking place at Pistols Skate Shop (2305 E 5 St, Vancouver, WA) . If you want to watch Lewd Acts (CA), I quit, Brain Eaters, and Building Failure, then get a Lincoln ready (that is $5) and stop by around 7 PM. It is an ALL AGES punk/hardcore show.
• If you want to go to a underage punk show in Portland, then hows about checking out the new ALL AGES venue in North Portland called Exit Only. Altlases, Batman Vs. Predator (CA), and Tyrants will be playing. I know nothing about these bands but with a name like Batman Vs. Predator how could you possibly go wrong. The show might cost money? Show starts at 8 PM.
• Perhaps you don't want to go to North Portland (its okay, I understand). Maybe you should check out Towne Lounge. Trespassers William (Seattle) is playing a bill with Tractor Operator, and The Coast (Toronto). Its all good stuff. This one will only cost you $6. The Music starts at 9 :30 PM.
• Or if you are in the SE, by all means check out Rotture. They are having The Beauty, Brother Sister, Megadome, and Pipedream play. Four bands, $6; not bad. The music starts some time after 9 PM.

Thursday, March 27th

This is whats up with Thursday:

• David Evan and his New Band (awesome band) are playing with Raised by Television, Betacrack, CIMTB contributor Gabriel Darling and special Guests (Myrhh?) at Kelly's Olympian. How can you make this awesome show more awesome? How about charging $3 thanks to PRA. Ridiculous, I know. The show starts at 9 PM.
• Or go to Holocene where Love Menu will play with The Maybe Happening, Church, and Paper Brain. I really like Church (a sentence I never thought I would type). Anyways, the show will cost a little more than the David Evan show, but just barely at $4. The doors are at 9 PM.
• Or if $3 to $4 is too much for your wallet, then I suggest you check out the Kenton Club on Thursday. There is a FREE Drats!!! and Cicada Omega show. The show starts at 9 PM.

Friday, March 28th

You can go see Jose Gonzales play at the Aladdin or you can go see Bruce Springsteen at the Rose Garden Arena for like A Gazillion dollars ($100), but I think that maybe you're probably more into local stuff:

• Slabtown is having a show consisting of The Slow Poisoner, The Department of Motor Vehicles, Andy Combs and the Moth, and Here Comes a Big Black Cloud. I have seen Andy Combs and the Moth and Here Comes a Big Black Cloud. Both are super fun to see live. The show is only $5. It starts at 9 PM.
• Or you can go to the Towne Lounge and see Newspapers, The Attachments (CA), and Lasers All the Time. Lasers All the Time are releasing an ep. The other bands are super poppy on a good way. The show is $5 at the door. The music starts at 9:30 PM.
• Or you could go see one of my favorite Portland bands, Weinland, at Mississippi Studios. Telegraph Canyon (TX) opens the show. Weinland put together really well arranged Americana tunes. Well worth seeing. The show costs $10-$12. The show starts at 10 PM.

Saturday, March 29th

There are shows and then there are SHOWS:

• The SHOW in I was referencing above is at the Ivy House (117 Ne Ivy St, Portland, OR) and it is all day ordeal. It is also a benefit for SMYRL (sex​​ual​​ minority you​​th resource center). You can read about it at A Modern Woman on the Move here. It will feature the music of The Vonneguts, The Taxpayers, Hey Tiger, Hugh Downer, and more. It will also be an art opening and a Risk Tournament. There a requested donation of $5-$10. The thing will last 2 PM to Midnight.
  
• You could probably see some of the benefit and then check out other things like Sudden Anthem and Beliss (featuring sometime members of Pink Martini). They are playing at Chaos Cafe. This means is ALL AGES and FREE. The show starts at 8 PM.
• Or you could go to The Waypost to hear Leonard Mynx, Shoeshine Blue, and Julie Rose play a set. Why not? Its FREE. The show starts at 8 PM.
• But then again you could always head over to East End and catch Birds of Avalon (N.C.), Old Growth, and Hungry Ghosts play. That is if you like rock. This show has a cover.

Sunday, March 30th

This Sunday is all about FREE and awesome music:

• Okay, I will be the first to admit that I am being biased, but I thing that the show at Towne Lounge on Sunday is the "show of the week". It is the WWeek sponsored Lounge Series XVIII. It will feature Meyercord, Per Se, and Laura Gibson. There will be three individual interviews and performances of all of the artists which will later be podcast via localcut. I cannot tell you how excited I am to play with these ladies. And its FREE. The event starts at 9:30 PM sharp.
• The other FREE show is really good too. It goes down at Valentine's and features Jeff Brown (of The Evolutionary Jass Band), Plankton Wat, and Bob Jones. FREE! This starts at 9 PM.

So there you have it many shows for many nights. As always, say hi to me if you see me at any of these shows. Have a great week.

-Ben


Laura Gibson plays for FREE at Towne Lounge on Sunday
photo by Jason Quigley

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Ben Meyercord's live music picks for Feb. 19th to Feb. 24th

Hello dear readers, how are you?

Last week I kind of fell behind. I missed one entire day (Monday)* and I neglected a really cool show at the Funky Church (Paleo, Kele Goodwin and Loch Lommond). I will do better this week.

Also I thought that maybe this weekly post should have a name. However, I can't really think of anything write now. Perhaps you guys could come up with something better than Ben Meyercord's live music picks. Anyway here are some shows:

Tuesday, Feb. 19th

There is not much happening that I am interested in but what is happening is good.

• Every Tuesday, Zilla Sake has a really good open mic. It is hosted by the amazing Y La Bamba. You should come out. I will play a few songs as Meyercord. The sign up starts at 7:30. The music starts at 8 PM.

Wednesday, Feb. 20th

Here are two shows worth seeing (I think).

• The White Eagle Saloon is having an "Unfiltered: Indie-Rock Showcase" featuring Quaker Gun, Jared Mees, and Andrew Gorny. Basically I want to check out Jared Mees cause I haven't yet. The show is FREE. Music starts at 8:30 PM.
• The other thing happening tonight is at Mississippi Pizza where Barons in Trees is playing an early show. Their Bio includes this paragraph which makes me want to see them. "Barons in Trees creates a nostalgic blend of indie, folk, and classical music. With influences that conjure Paul Simon, a hint of Sufjan Stevens and a dash of DeVotchKa, their unique polyphonic sound is just the kind of performance for which Portland’s musical palette yearns." The show is FREE. The music starts at 6 PM.

Thursday, Feb. 21st

There is some good shows happening on Thursday. They look like this:

• There is a show going on at a place that, if I am not mistaken, is called Extreme Cowboy Tennis (14 NW 3rd Ave). It will feature Caves, Gejius, Disgustitron, and Dance Terror. I don't know most of this music, but I do enjoy Gejius' music quite a bit. The she is $8. The doors are at 9 PM which is weird for an ALL-AGES show.
• Lola's Room is having a (kinda) Metal Show on Thursday night. Danava is playing with SubArachnoid Space, Dark Black, and Torn to Pieces. I am not that into metal, but I figured that some people (Brandon) are so I listed it. The show is listed as $6-$8. The Music starts at 9 PM.
  
• Rererato, the super awesome art space that sometimes has music, is having music on Thursday. On the bill are Fields at Night, Church, and The Newspapers. I saw Church play at Valentine's last Sunday and was really impressed with their arrangements produced y the three piece. Should be pretty cool. I believe donations are excepted. The music starts at 8 PM because it is ALL-AGES.

Friday, Feb. 22nd

There is a lot going on Friday. Some hard decisions must be made. Fortunately, I won't have to make any decisions because:

• I am playing a show as Meyercord with Y La Bamba and Mimi Naja at Zilla Sake (fitting becasue we all met via the Zillas Sake open mic). This will be a good show (I realize that it is hard to lend this show any credibility because I am playing it, but Y La Bamba is so good and Mimi is really good too). All I 'm saying is that there will be guitars and a banjo and a lot of singing. This show is FREE. It starts at 9 PM and is ALL-AGES.
• There are a two shows (one early and one late) at The Mississippi Studios tonight both of which feature Nick Jaina. The early show features Karli Fairbanks and Kaylee Cole opening up. They are both female songwriters from Spokane, WA. This show costs $8-$10. The start time of the early show is 7 PM.
  
• The late Nick Jaina show at The Mississippi Studios will have Pancake Breakfast of White Salmon, WA (that is the Washington bands in one night. Say WA?) and Portland's own Au (pronounced Aay You). This show also costs $8-$10. The show starts at 10 PM.
• Another good show is going down at the Funky Church. The line up is Ohioan & Native Kin, The Ocean Floor, Adam Gnade, and Johanna Wright. The show seems kind of mysterious, as there is no other listed inform (like cost, or time or if its all ages or not). My guess would be to show up at around 9 PM.
• Another good show is at the Urban Grind (on the Eastside). They will be having Starfucker, Rature (France), Doubledutch, and Breakfast Mountian. This is part of the Meow Meow presents series put on at the Urban Grind. The show will most likely be FREE. The show starts at 8 PM because it is ALL-AGES.
• Or there is another cool show that is happening at Kelly's Olympian. I am referencing The Rainy States CD release show (their debut album is called Basement Air). The show will have performances by The Rainy States and Church (who I have already mention in this blog). The show probably costs $5. The music starts at 10 PM.

Saturday, Feb. 23rd

There are a lot of shows on Saturday as well. Except this time I don't have the luxury of playing a show and not having to make a decision. At least I have band practice. That will probably weed out a few of the shows. Here they are:

• The one that I am most likely to attend is the final show at Brainstains a house show venue that has become quite popular on the house show circuit. Check out this little thing that David Evan posted: john brains, the man who has hosted so many amazing shows at his home/venue, brainstains, is leaving us! he needs money to move, so we are throwing him a benefit to say "thank you" for all he’s done for this community....also, i’ll be debuting my new band! dusty richards on bass, emillie rose currin on violin and keys, joshua polk on drums...all ages!...$5 (all proceeds go directly to john’s sweet ass pocket)...the line-up is as follows: Julie Rose 3pm...Bob Moricz 3:45...betacrack 4:30...autry 5:15...Sleepwalkers R.I.P. 6...advisory 6:45...gulls 7:30...LKN 8:15...hand that bleeds 9...david evan with his new band 9:45...jonny x and the groadies 10:30...shitfit 11:15...taxpayers 12...then bubble wrap dance party :)...this will be a night to remember. All of this for a measly $5. It is advertised as entertainment from 2 PM to 2 AM ALL-AGES.
  
• Speaking of house shows, The Artristery puts on shows in their basement. On Saturday they will be having a show that will most certainly reach capacity. Fast. Pitchfork aprroved and Sup Pop signed band Blitzen Traper are playing with Starfucker (who also played on Friday Night). You can order tickets here. The Show starts at 8 PM.
• Or there is an excellent folk show at Towne Lounge. Justin Ringle of Horse Feathers will be playing with Ryan Sollee of Builders and Butchers, Justin Power, and Nic Delffs of The Shaky Hands. With Horse Feathers recently signed to Kill Rock Stars this might be one of your last times to see those songs in an intimate setting. The show costs $6. The music starts at 9:30 PM.

Sunday, Feb. 24th

I could only find one show that I want to see on Sunday. But it actually looks to be a really good show. This is it:

• The Towne Lounge has a Portland Lounge Series ( yeah, I didn't know either). This Sunday will be the 16th on if I read my roman numerals correctly. From what I can tell the Portland Lounge Series entails getting some really good musicians to play the Towne Lounge for free (also, I learned that the bands are interviewed). This edition includes Nick Jaina (which is great cause I can't see either of his shows on Friday), Michael Apinyakul (of Shoeshine Blue), and Michael The Blind. This show is FREE. The music starts at 9:30 PM.
  

So there you have it. I hope you enjoy the shows. I know I will. Please come up to me and say hi if you see me at a show.

-Ben Meyercord


Nick Jaina on Friday and Sunday photo by Melani Brown

*it happened again

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