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 Meyercords live music picks for Jan. 7th to Jan. 12th

Jeez. It is seems so cold lately. It makes me so tired. I didn't see any shows last week except for the one I played. These are tough times for seeing shows. Because lets face it, your couch has a blanket and you can fall asleep on it. A show on the other hand requires leaving the home and briefly facing the cold. On the other hand a show can totally revitalize you. So that is what I will try to do this week (be revitalized). you should give a try as well.

Here are your opportunities:

Monday the 7th

• So AristeiA was all set to play the Someday Lounge tonight with The Friendly Skies and The Ax, but things happen and band line ups change. Any way, AristeiA had to sit this one out so Bonanza City has stepped up to fill the bill. The line up appears to be of the experimental/rock/post-rock variety. This is where I will bee Tonight. $5 at the door. Show starts at 9PM.
  

Tuesday the 8th

I could not find much in the way of actual shows. However this should not discourage you from attend one of Portland's finest open mics.

• Zilla Sake has an open mic every single Tuesday. It is hosted by the amazing Y La Bamba with sound by E (who just bought some new toys for running sound). It is two songs per artist. Each performance will later be podcast via E's open mic scout website.

Wednesday the 9th

Finally we have some competition for my interests.

• Berbati's Pan is having Cars & Trains, Logan Lynn, and The Skinnyz play. Cars & Trains look really interesting to me. It is described as being kind of folky but at the same time kind of hiphop (one of the guys from anticon , Sole, guests on his ep). Logan Lynn, according to his myspace page, plays "Emotronic" music. The Skinnyz play good old rock and roll. But mostly I am interested in Cars & Trains. I am unsure of the price, but the show starts at 9PM.
• If you are a fan of country rock (not like country pop or whatever that sissy stuff they play on the radio is called) then you should head over to the Doug Fir to catch Scotland Barr and The Slow Drags, Mike D and The Loyal Bastards , and Rachel Taylor Brown. This is part of the In Music We Trust Series which means that it is free. Music starts at 9PM.
• But the show I am most excited to see this week is going down at The Artistrey. Casiotone For The Painfully Alone (used to live in Portland) will be playing a show with Parenthetical Girls (does live in Portland). I am so excited about this. I love both Owen Ashworth's and Zac Pennington's music. Alot. Owen's little brother (also lives in Portland) who plays as Concern opens. It will cost $6 at the door. The show starts at 8PM.

Thursday the 10th

Another night of hard choices.

• The Ash Street Saloon will have Leigh Marble, Jared Mees & The Grown Up Children, and Stuart Valentine playing. Leigh Marble is the Mercury's current "Band of the Week", so I figured it might be worth checking out. Plus the WWeek is always talking about how good Jared Mees is. I figured this might be a chance to find out (ps check out Leigh Marble's Remix of a Pay the Coyote song at the local cut section of the WWeek).
  
• But Dante's is having The Section Quartet play. They are a string quartet who interpret rock music for the strings. They are supposed to be very good. They have played on albums for Kanye West, Devendra Barnhart, Ryan Adams, to Christina Aguilera. Opening up are locals faves Pseudosix (featuring members of The Joggers). The show is only $5. Show starts at 9PM.
• Mt Tabor legacy also has a kick ass show though. We're From Japan! is playing. These guys are one of if not my favorite bands to see live. Love Meter and Marits open. This too only costs $5. Show starts at 9PM.

Friday the 11th

Here are some things to see and hear.

• The Modern Age, an all ages space run by PSU's radio station KPSU has shows every other Friday. This Friday they will have Alan Singley, Ohioan & Native Kin, Church, and Suplex. I am only familiar with Alan Singley. He ca write a hell of a pop song. Plus he is a real nice guy. The show will cost $3-$5. Show starts at 8PM.
  
• The Tube (18 NW 3rd) has DJ Copy and DJ Multiply. I don't genrally get into to DJ's, but I Love Copy. So if you need to dance your ass off. This the place to do just that. Free. DJ's start at 10PM.

Saturday the 12th

Okay so there are two good shows going down. One seems to be for a good cause and has a good line up. But the other also has a good line up and is closer to my house and starts later so that I can still do AristieA practice. I will list them both though.

• There is a show being billed as Politipalooza to take place at Montgomery Park. It is a fundraiser for the Bus Project which tries to inspire young people to vote. This is organized by Engage Oregon's Rebooting Democracy '08 effort. They have managed to book Dan Savage as the emcee and the talent is as follows: The Shaky Hands, DJ Beyonda, The Blow, Copacrescent, and Tyler Stenson. It is only $10. Show starts at9PM.
• Mississippi Studios however has a really good line up of bands as well. Carcrashlander is the music project of Portland multi-instrumentalist extraordinaire Cory Gray and whoever is around to play with him. This will be the CD release show for Cory. It also marks the first release of the Parks and Recreation label which seems really promising. Graves will be playing as well which makes sense because the band shares several members of Carcrashlander. Lake, a group of five to eight singer/songwriters from Olympia will be opening the show. It costs $7-$8. Show starts at 10PM.

So I will definitely be at some of these shows. If you see me come say hello (I'm the guy with the mustache). I hope you all have a great week.

-Ben


Parenthetical Girls play The Artistery on Wednesday

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