Ben Meyercords Live Picks Weekend Edtion March 6th - March 9th

Lordy Lordy are there a lot of shows in the next four days. So many that it is slightly painful to me think about. And even more irritating to write about. But alas, I love it. I love shows and going to them and knowing about them and writing about them. So here are those shows I mention earlier:

Thursday, March 6th

We got a couple of local CD release shows today and then some.

• Music Millennium used to have a bunch of in-stores at the NW location, but that location has gone the way of Ozone Records (no longer open). Luckily for all of us on this side of the river, the East side location has picked up the slack. Today they will host a FREE in-store performance by Weinland at 6 PM. I like Wienland and if you like any kind of Americana, you might like them too. Badman Recording Co. liked then so much that they are putting out the bands newest album La Lamentor.
• This will leave you plenty of time to head over to Holocene for another CD release show. This time for Panther who is releasing 14 KT on the Kill Rock Stars label very soon. Sharing the bill are one of my favorites Parenthetical Girls with Mattress rounding out the show. This show is $8. The doors are at 9 PM.
• Or you could go to Kelly's Olympian to see a three tiered local show made up of Chores, Swallows, and Deer or The Doe. Looks like it would be fun to see. The cost of the show is $3. The doors are at 9 PM.

Friday, March 7th

When I was talking about all of the shows, I was specifically referencing Friday. Check out the seven shows I want to go to:

• Berbati's Pan has seen better days, but they will occasionally have a show that I want to see. Friday night is one of those nights. Little Beirut(not related to the regular Beirut), play a show with Derby and Lael Alderman. Basically, last week local cut had one of Little Beirut's songs as a cut of the day. It sounded awesome. Kinda like older Cursive. This is theit CD release show. It costs $7 at the door. The show starts at 9 PM.
• The usually pricey Crystal Ballroom occasionally (with the help of KNRK Alternative Portland 94.7 FM) will have shows for $9.47. They are having on such show on Friday featuring Helio Sequence, The Shaky Hands, and Pseudosix. It is part of the "I Saw Them When" series. So agian $9.47. The music starts at 9PM (doors are at 8 PM).
• Also downtown, Someday Lounge is having an incredible show. Xiu Xiu and Thao & The Get Down Stay Down are playing with CIMTB favorite Dragging an Ox Through Water. Up until recently I have decided to not like Xiu Xiu. I listened to his most recent album, Women as Lovers, and can no longer deny that Xiu Xiu is awesome. It should be amazing.
• In the NW you got The Wherewithals playing with Jared Mees and The Morals at Slabtown. This is a CD release show for The Wherewithals. But threason I mention thos show is because I really like The Morals. Both for their song writing and endlessly entertaining live and sloppy live shows.
• Or, if you like Neil Young (who doesn't?), you could head on over to the Mississippi Studios to catch the Neil Young Tribute show. It features Dolorean, Matt Sheehy, and Mbilly. It should be good times. The show is FREE. The music starts at 8 PM.
• And also, just because I Know Goldie would hate it if I didn't mention it, Black Elk plays tonight at Tonic Lounge. Drunken Ladies and Pacific Ballistic are also playing the show.

Saturday, March 8th

There are some good shows going on this Saturday. These are them:

• Westfold is playing a show with The Taxpayers at The Twilight Room. Westfold is such a good band. The show is FREE so there is no excuse for you not to go. Show starts at 9 PM.
  
• Rotture has a show featuring Extra Life, The Dead Science, Parenthetical Girls, and Dirty Mittens. I really like the Parenthetical Girls I have heard of these other bands but I am not too familiar with their music. The show costs $7. The show starts at 9 PM.
• Also you could go over to The Waypost you can catch Modernstate, Super XX Man, and AAN play for FREE. This show starts at 8 PM.
• Or you could go to a house show in at 5115 NE 36th (between Alberta and Killingsworth). The bands and there corresponding times are as follows: prime meridian 9:30-10pm
  chip brokah/colin jones 9:00-9:30
  a. singley & pants machine 8:30-9pm
  sleepyhead 8:00-8:30
  quiet countries 7:30-8pm
  william holley 7:00-7:30 This looks like a good mix of hip hop, indie-pop, post rock, and other. This is at David's house. Have fun. ps I think Prime Meridian sound pretty sweet (based on their myspace).
  

Sunday, March 9th

I could only find one show on Sunday, but it looks like a good one:

• Mississippi Pizza is having Shoeshine Blue, Leonard Mynx, Audie Darling, and Autopilot is for Lovers. All of these bands are good. I saw the lead singer of Shoeshine Blue last Sunday and was pretty Impressed. The show is probably FREE. It all starts at 9 PM.

So I hope to see you at some of these shows. And as always, if you see me, come say hello.

-Ben


Weinland Play a FREE instore on Thursday at Music Millennium.

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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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Ben Meyercord Live Music Picks for Jan. 14th to Jan. 20th

I am proud of myself. I actually made it out to some shows last week. A whopping 4 out of the 12 shows I had listed. Do the math, (thats a third of the shows I listed, just in case you didn't want to do the math). I plan to do even better this week. And believe you me there some good shows to catch this week.

Check it out:

Monday, Jan. 14th

• The Someday Lounge will be having a show which features Seattle's Pwrfl Power and two of Portland's up and comers Mattress and Ah Holly Fam'ly. I believe that this show got a write up in the Mercury so I won't get into too much detail, but I will say this. I have been meaning to catch Ah Holly Family for what seems to be forever. Hopefully I will on Monday. It costs $5. Show at 9PM

Tuesday, Jan. 15th

• The only thing I can full heartedly recommend is the Zilla Sake Open Mic. Again this happens every single Tuesday and is hosted by the amazing Y La Bamba. I try to play this as Meyercord every week. Other cool people play this every week. The quality of this thing is actually quite surprising. Sign up at 7:30. This free music extravaganza starts at 8PM.

Wednesday, Jan. 16th

Apparently the nights that are most likely to have shows that I want to see always fall on the days that I am least likely to see them (ie band practice days: Wednesday and Saturday). This may be a good thing though since there always seems to be some difficult decisions to be made.

• You could to the cheap thing and see folk legend Michael Hurley play a free set at the Laurel Thirst Public House. Free. 9PM.
• Or you could go to the show I am most likely to attend at The Hawthorne Theater. Normally I don't like this venue, but this looks like a pretty good line up. You got your Jared Mees & The Grown Up Children (I have still haven't seen them yet), Jon Garcia's new band form Castle, Minmae, and personal friend o' mine Stephanie Casey as Fall of Snow (check her write up in the Mercury). Show is $8. ALL AGES so show time is 8PM.
• The Holocene also is having an good show as well. They have locals Modernstate, and Ghost to Falco (think Dragging an Ox Through Water but less folky). Plus they have (sometimes member of Xiu Xiu, Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, The Dead Science, etc...) Jherek Bischoff's new project, Ribbons. Show costs $6. Music at 9PM.
• Or you can see my other friends, Elliot King and Down South Sallie play at Mississippi Pizza. While they are both pretty young and pretty goofy. They are also both pretty talented. If I were not going to the Hawthorne Theater this is where I would go. Show is Free. Music starts at 9PM.

Thursday, Jan. 17th

• The Holocene's music label, Holocene Music, has put out some pretty good local records in the past year or so. This night they are planning the premiere of a couple of good local music videos for their label's own The Shaky Hands and Swan Island in the form of a screening. Both bands will also perform live sets as well as DJ sets. And the best part is free. Show starts at 9PM.

Friday, Jan. 18th

I know that Dan Decon is playing an awesome show at the Holocene tonight but if you want to keep it local or at least among friends of Portland, than look at this:

• At Zilla Sake, I will perform as Meyercord along with Clifford Libby(Tony ofWestfold) and his Philly brethren: The Sweetheart Parade, Mike Cades, and Laura Walsh. Donations will be accepted for the traveling artists. Show starts promptly at 8:30PM.

Saturday, Jan. 19th

You know how earlier I made mention of all the shows being on Wednesdays and Saturdays,; well check this out. There are no less than six shows that I will list for this Saturday. Crazy.

• The first show I want to list because it sounds like alot of fun. I am unsure as to how "good" it will be, but it will most likely be a good time. I am talking about Fist of Dishonor's show at Dante's. Fist of Dishonor, of course being the local Ninja band sensation, will be performing with Cocktail Cabaret and Hello Lobster. This will cost you $5. Show starts at 9PM.
• Kelly's Olympian will be having a show featuring The Harvey Girls, Cars and Trains (who I have mentioned in this blog before but have yet to see), and Autotopia. All of these acts sound look like they would be interesting to see. There is no listed cost of this show. Show starts at 9PM.
• The Doug Fir Lounge is having the always awesome live, ochestrated folk-pop of Loch Lomond. Matt Sheehy and Johanna Kunin. Show costs $8. Music starts at 9PM.
• The Artistery is having a good show this night as well. Mirah is playing. This is exciting because it seems like she has only played a handful of shows in the last several years. Bryce Panic, Arrington de Dionyso, and Rebecca Pearcy,who are all interconnected in ways too complicated to list here, will open the show. The show is $12. ALL AGES so show will start at 8PM.
• Mississippi Pizza is having two shows tonight. Both are worth checking out. Alan Singley will be having an ALL AGES early show. He has a new record coming out pretty soon so he will probably be busting out some new tunes. Don't know if there is a cover. Music at 6PM.
• The second show at Mississippi Pizza will feature Loch Berlin, TheFriendly Skies, and Wooden Indian Burial Ground. An interesting line up for sure. I saw The Friendly Skies play las Monday and it was awesome. I am unsure if there is a cover. Music starts at 9PM.

Sunday, Jan. 20th

Sunday is my Birthday! There are also no recommended shows by me!

So go out to shows this week. Come say hi to me if you do. I will be the guy near the front who looks like this:


Meyercord will be playing Zilla Sake on Friday.

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