Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Monday, April 4th

Hello Dear Readers,

I didn't go to the shows last night. Instead, I did a bunch of uninteresting to boring things. I was super close to finishing reading another book (Harry Potter, don't hate). This time I rode my bike to the bottom of Mt. Tabor and lay in the grass till it got too dark. Then I started getting a set up together to restart a podcast that I used to do. Then I got together all the numbers of the Y La Bamba merchandising sales for last month and sent it to our manager and then oh my god I'm boring even myself. I also took some time to write this blog post. I am started work at 7 AM this morning. Anyways, here are the shows happening tonight:

Valentine's is having a show with Port St. Willow and Mojave Bird. Port St. Willow the project of Nick Principe that I found out a few months ago and immediately fell in love with. It is soft and folky but is also huge sounding and epic. I forgot who he was playing with, but it was the first time in a long time that I bought music online. I got his Even//Wasteland EP from his bandcamp. It is great. Also through him I found out about this cool "Non-profit Independent Music Incubator" website called ShakingThrough based out of Philadelphia. There is a video about recording a Port St Willow song and you learn more about the guy. It looks and sounds great. Mojave Bird I had not heard before, but it is in the same vein of ambient-ish beautiful music. It too is a one person project comprised of Grace Peters. You can get her self-titled EP for FREE from her bandcamp. I did. Apparently the two are finishing a west coast tour. Congrats on making it back. The show is FREE and starts at 10 PM.

Holocene is having a show with Blood Beach, Sexhair, and Pleassure. Blood Beach is the band fronted by my friend Shane. He used to do weird folk music under the name Tex Winters. His current band is way different. It is hard to describe another way than "out there psychedelic rock. They have the normal guitar, bass drums set up but then add a member who plays saxophone, effected mandolin, and theremin and you are bound to push past normal boundaries of rock. It is a trip. Sexhair's myspace didn't have any of their music. It did have the have this, "Sexhair was born in the basement of the house on Ivy St in September of 2009. Sexhair is about women's liberation, youthful energy, radical gender views, sticking it to the man, and of course, sex." In other Sexhair news, I found this awesome clip from one of my favorite shows, Parks & Recreation. Pleassure is a garage surf rock band. That is all I could gather from the 30 second clip provided by myspace (note: I hate the new myspace). This thing is cheap so you may as well check it out, right? The show is $2 is starting at 8:30 PM.

If you see me at any of these shows please say, "hi". That would be a kind thing to do.

Ben


Blood Beach will play Holocene again tonight. This time it will better sound quality and less blurry.

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Ben Meyecord's Live Music Picks for Saturday, October 31st

Hello Dear Readers,

Happy Halloween! There is a lot going on tonight. Actually there is a mind numbing amount of stuff going on tonight. I am only going to cover the music and just thinking about it makes my mind hurt. Hopefully you have already decided what you are doing. If not, here are some options that involved some PDX tunes in the mix.

Saturday, October 31th

Redeemer Luthernan Church is having a show with Blue Cranes and Claudia Quartet. I love the Blue Cranes and their indie-jazz stylings. They never disappoint, but often go beyond expectations. They are seem to be very stoked about this Claudia Quartet. This is what someone said about the four piece, "The Claudia Quintet's music demonstrates that "Innovative jazz does not have to be harsh, angry, loud, shrill or grating; it can be delicate, witty, ethereal and radiantly lyric, as the Claudia Quintet pointed out..." (Chicago Tribune). Formed by composer/drummer/arranger John Hollenbeck in 1997, this NYC ensemble's sound explores The Edge without alienating the mainstream, proving that genre-defying music can be for everyone. Over the past decade, the group has released four CDs that are critically acclaimed world-wide and whose appeal extends well beyond, as well as including traditional jazz audiences. The group's first album, The Claudia Quintet, was released on the Blueshift CRI record label. The group has since established a long time relationship with the Cuneiform label." Sounds legit. The show is $8-$15 and starts at 7 PM.

The Press Club is having Michael Hurley play. This is not necessarily an exciting show. But it is a good one. Who knows who might join him? I know he has got some great folks in his corner. They are are folkers of the Appalachian type. Good stuff. The show is FREE and starts at 8 PM.

WonderBallroomis having a show with Starfucker, Deelay Ceelay, Nice Nice, and Wampire. This is a killer lineup. The last show Starfucker will play before officially changing their name to PYRAMIDDD. They have some seriously fun energy live and the catchy numbers to back up the energy. Deelay Ceelay is all about the performance. It is essentially two drummers playing to pre-recorded music. Sounds kinda boring right? Well they manage to make i t not boring by doing it to an awesome animation show that synchs up ridiculously well and that they created themselves. Also they usually employ hearty doses of fog not to mention that the pre-recorded music is pretty bomb. Nice Nice is a duo that specializes in making post-everything music via a series of well planned loops. And Wampire makes very chill and groovy lo-fi dance rock. I really like it. It will be very strange to see them in this setting though. I mean I am used to seeing them in very small settings. Wonder Ballroom is relatively huge. This ALL AGES show is $14 and starts at 9 PM.

Disjecta is having a show with Copy, E*Rock, Atole, Guidance Counselor, and DJ Automaton. This is what Disjecta had to say about the event, "Experience the massive and mysterious Disjecta like never before this Halloween. Set design impresario Drew Foster and the Disjecta team have transformed the building into a labyrinth of ghoulish charm. You won't find a more elaborate environment anywhere with Portland's best party bands. We guarantee it will knock your clown nose right off!" This is what I have to say about the event. It's a rad dance party. Some of Portland's finest. The show is $10 and starts at 9 PM.

The Woods is having Baba Yaga Ball with Vagabond Opera. I will be honest and say that I am not that into what Vagabond has to offer, but his sounds kinda interesting. "Halloween in a real mortuary? Vagabond Opera presents a night of haunting music, ritual, art and the sincere honoring of those passed in their second annual Halloween bash! Whether you want to dance, party, pray, or channel your ancestors, this night is for you. The night will feature a stunning interactive altar installation dedicated to honoring the dead, an apothecary and museum of weird objects, a divination table and an ancient fire ritual in honor of Baba Yaga, the Slavic Witch! Part event proceeds will support The HeART of Healing project of the Archimedes Movement, a grassroots effort to spark positive health reform in Oregon and beyond. To learn more visit TheHeARTofHealing.us" The Show is $17 and starts at 10 PM.

Doug Fir is having Best Little Horror House in Portland: this includes Red Fang and The Bugs. This is what they are offering," HORRIFYING HAUNTED HOUSE-STYLE TABLEAUS AND SKITS FROM PORTLANDS FUNNIEST COMEDY TROUPES!
PUMPKIN CARVING CONTEST, THEN PUMPKIN SMASHING CONTEST WITH GALLAGHER AND BILLY CORGAN TO FOLLOW!
COSTUME (STRIPPING) CONTEST!" I was sold at Red Fang. Those guys make awesome ROCK music. I saw them play at East End a few months a go and left with prune-y hands because of all the sweat.The show is FREE with a costume and $8 otherwise.

Rontoms has a show with Black Elk and Diamond Tuck & The Privates. Rontoms would be an ideal place to see a show this Halloween. I have been in there recently as last night and it is looking good. There are several dead bodies hanging from the ceilings and even more severed body parts. I hear that there will be loads of fog inside tonight as well. Black Elk music pretty much rules it if you like aggressive metal-ish music. Diamond Trucks etc... seem like an interesting pairing, though they still rock albeit in a completely different way. The show is $5 and starts at 11:59 PM.

If you see me at any of these shows please say "Hi". I will be the one in the snuggie (yeah I'm gonna buy a snuggie and yeah, I am going to wear it in public).

-Ben


I think I know what Red Fang is going as for Halloween. You can see for yourself tonight at Doug Fir.

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