Ben Meyercord's Live Music picks for March 10-16

So my bi-weekly version was met with only one response, so I will give the reader what she wants. One full week of local shows coming right up:

Monday, March 10th

There are a couple of freebies that are going down tonight. Why don't you check them out?

• Valentine's is having Graves playing with Lake (Olympia), and Swimming. Graves is good easy listening/indie-pop. So come by and get your breezy groove on. I have seen Lake play with the Graves before and they were better than good. The show is FREE. The show is set to begin at 9 PM.
• The Hippodrome Circus Arts Center (yeah, you heard me) is having a show featuring the music of Glass Candy, DJ Beyonda, Caves, E*Rock, and Reggie Watts. I am very curious about this venue. I am unsure if any circus stuff will be going down. The show is to benefit the Tap Project, the UN sponsored effort for world wide clean drinking water. You can read what PDX Food Press wrote about the event here. It is FREE (not sure how it benefits at this price but oh, well). It starts at starts at 9 PM.

Tuesday, March 11th

Looks like you got some options for Tuesday. Look:

• You always have the option of checking out the open mic at Zilla Sake. It happens every Tuesday and is usually hosted by Y La Bamba, but...
• It is Y La Bamba's Birthday! She is having a little get together at her place. Music perhaps? Contact her via myspace for more details.
• The Tonic Lounge is having a show featuring The Days, Pacific Ocean Fire (UK), and The Morals. I know nothing of the two bands that are not The Morals. But I do know I like me some The Morals. The show will probably cost something (my guess would be money). The show probably starts at 9 PM.
• At the Chaos Cafe there are some names that I know I have blogged about before including Ali Wesley, Jack Elder, Leonard Mynx, Audie Darling (no relation to CMITB contributor Gabriel Darling), and Shoeshine Blue. All of the musicians are top friends with each other. This a) made it easier to do all of the links and b) means that this will be a fun show because shows where friends share the bill are the most fun to attend. I think this is all acoustic music related to Folk,Country and Blues. There is a lot of music and it looks to be FREE. The Music starts at 8 PM.
• Rotture is having its reoccurring event that is Joe Preston's Mancampus. Today National Sunday Law(LA) will be playing it along with Nanda Devi. Should be awesome. If you're into this sort of thing. The show costs $6. Music starts at 9 PM.

Wednesday, March 12th

I only got a few to list here:

• If you want to hear good songs and good voices, you should check out the Rotture. Y La Bamba has gathered some friends in Andy Combs and the Moth and Meyercord (Me!). It should be a good night. The price weighs in at $5. The show will get under way at 9 PM.
• Or you could go to Holocene where a bunch of local bands that I have never heard of are playing. These bands are Ley Lines, Air War, and Crook & Nanny. The reason I list this show is because Air War looks like they might be good. The show will be $5. Things will start happening at 9 PM.

Thursday, March 13th

There are quite a few shows to choose from on Thursday.

• At The Tonic Lounge you will a line up very similar to the line up that played Rotture on Tuesday. Face Pilot will be playing with National Sunday Law (LA) and Nanda Devi. This show does not have a listed cover. The show will start at 9:30 PM.
• Doug Fir has one of my favorite Orchestral indie-pop bands The Online Romance playing in between Kieskagato and Newspapers. The Online Romance , highly recommended. The show costs $6. The music starts promptly at 9 PM.
• Or you could go to The Mississippi Studios to catch Run On Sentence play with Death Songs (Shaky Hands side project alert!). I haven't seen either bands but I like what I see from their respective myspace pages. The show will cost $7-$8. The music will start around 8 PM.
• Or if funny and free is your cup of tea. Then check out the Drats!!! playing with Rollerball and Lickity at Holocene. The show is FREE. It begins at 9 PM.
• Or if you want to play Street Fighter II while digging the tunes of some of Portland's finest go check out Ground Kontrol. Pegasus will be playing with The Friendly Skies and Loch Berlin. It only costs $3. The music will start at 9 PM.

Friday, March 14th

There are shows on Friday. Here they are:

• The Know will be hosting Jakob Adler, and Paperbacks. The only reason I am listing this show is because Jakob listed some pretty good influences on his Portland Mercury ad. The show, like most shows at The Know, is FREE. Things start at 8 PM.
• The Tonic Lounge has a show featuring Kleveland, Thee Loyal Bastards, and The Decliners. Basically I like the Country Rawk that is Thee Loyal Bastards (ex- I can lick any Sonofabitch in the House). This will cost an unlisted amount of money (probably cheap). The show begins at 9:30 PM.
• Or you can go to Rererato at 42nd between Sumner and Alberta. Cause they are a great all ages/art/music venue space. On Friday they are having +Cnctd, Moderstate, and The Paper Ballet. There is a suggested donation of $4. The show will start at 8 PM and is ALL AGES.
• Also, remember that Coffee House in Downtown Vancouver that was Blogged about a while back. Yes, The Grind. A friend of mine, Jon Hecox, wrote me to say that he was playing there on Friday. He found out about the venue via this very Blog. Yay! The show is free and starts at 7 PM.
  

Saturday, March 15th

A Couple of shows for a couple if dollars (realistically $5):

• Kelly's Olympian is having The Friendly Skies play on Saturday with The Wagon(San Diego), Boldbird(Tuscon), The Angry Orts, and Post Harbor(Seattle). So, if you missed the Skies on Thursday here is your chance. The show will probably cost $5. With five bands and starting at 10PM, this will be a long night if you choose this route.
• The alternative is to get all dance-like at Someday Lounge where Starfucker is playing with Copy, and DJ Linoleum, and DJ BJ. This also costs $5 and starts at 10 PM.

Sunday, March 16th

There are a grip of show on Sunday:

• Two of the shows are BRO benefit shows. One is at Someday Lounge and has Alan Singley and Pants Machine, Oh Captain My Captain, Swim Swam Swum, The Vonneguts, Palo Verde, and Gregory Miles Harris. The admission price is $7 to $12 depending on how much you love Basic Rights. The Show starts at 7 PM.
  
• The other benefit is at Backspace and features Here Comes a Big Black Cloud, Hey Lover, World's Greatest Ghosts, Sleepyhead, Dirty Mittens, and Almost Nearly. Again, the admission price is $7 to $12 depending on how much you love Basic Rights. The show starts at 7 PM and is ALL AGES.
  
• Valentine's has a show consisting of Ohioan, Sonny Fields and Inside Voices. I usually trust the music that Valentine's books. The show is FREE. Things get started sometime after 9 PM.
• Or Holocene has a ridiculously good show involving Tara Jane O' Neal, Dragging an Ox Through Water, and Dirty Mittens (not sure if they are doing both the BRO benefit and this show).
  

So there you have it. Another long post. Enjoy your shows. And say hi if you see me at one of these.

-Ben


Here Comes a Big Black Cloud plays Backspace on Sunday. ALL AGES to support Basic Rights Oregon.
Photo by At Dusk Greg

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks Feb.25th to March. 2nd

Hello dear Readers,

How are you? I would like again to beg of your help for a better name that Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks. Maybe I can raise the stakes a little. If you come up with the new name of my weekly post, then I will make it worth your while (I am unsure of what this entails at this point, but it will be good). In the meantime, you might garner some inspiration by attending some of the many shows that are going down this week:

Monday, Feb. 25th

Usually Valentine's is the only place with something happening on Monday, but I'll be darned if there aren't three shows happening this evening.

• I have never been to McMenamins Edgefield as it seems like it is really far away, but guess what. I am going to go on Monday. Because Fall of Snow is playing a special acoustic set with the aid of two cellist courtesy of The Portland Cello Project. Edgefield looks like it has a lot to offer. Plus it has been a while since I have hung out in a stately Manor. Best part of the whole thing is that it is FREE. There will be two sets between 7 PM and 9 PM.
  
• Valentine's has what looks to be a very promising show featuring Dragging an Ox Through Water, Anni Rossi(LA/Chicago) , Bird Costumes, and Mad Gregs(LA). If you have read this column at all, you know that I highly recommend Dragging An Ox. But I also find that Bird Costumes looks and sounds really interesting (from the looks of it, he sometimes actually wears a bird costume). The show is FREE. The thing starts at 9 PM.
• Or the Someday Lounge seems to have a cool show that night too. Calabi Yau (North Carolina), Alexis Gideon, and Night Wounds will all be playing I am unfamiliar with two of them, but Alexis Gideon has been on my radar. He makes cool music that draws from a variety of influences. Plus he told me that he had made claymation videos for all of his new songs (and I know Someday has a good screen. I'm just saying). This will cost you $5. The show starts at 9 PM.

Tuesday, Feb. 26th

Traditionally show goers options are limited on Tueday nights. Not this Tuesday look at all of these shows:

• I first want to mention the open mic at Zilla Sake. I know open mics are supposed to be wretched. Y La Bamaba apparently didn't get the memo because she runs on of the most talent drenched open mics I have ever seen or heard (she is also is one of my favorite people making music right now). Check out Open Mic Scout for a preview. The sign up starts at 7:30 PM. The music starts at 8 PM.
• The other Open Mic that actually has talent is of course CIMTB contribuer Gabriel Darling's own Incubator hosted at the Someday Lounge. Not really fair to call it an open mic though. It is really more of an open stage (most anything goes). There is no price of admission for this event. Things will get going at 9 PM.
• Valentine's is having a pretty awesome show tonight as well. Castanets, who recently taped a Blogotheque show (if you have not seen the Take Away Show series you are in for a treat), and Death Songs will be playing. The price is FREE. The doors are at 9PM.
• Over at the Towne Lounge, Pop Tomorrow! (not to be confused with PDX Pop Now!) is presenting a show featuring Natural Bridges, Raise the Roof Beams, and Sunshine. The price is right (FREE). The music starts at 9:30 PM.
• Do you like the place where blues and gospel and bluegrass meet? Don't laugh, some people do. If you are in that crowd, you might want to check out the Chaos Cafe on Tuesday. Mimi Naja (you may recognize them name as I played a show with her last week) will be playing a free set starting at 8 PM.

Wednesday, Feb. 27th

There are only a couple show I find interesting for Wednesday.

• So there is a great show at the Chaos Cafe (I am playing it but honest to goodness it is a great show). It will feature myself as Meyercord, Y La Bamba, and David Evan. If you have read this blog at all you know that I think that Y La Bamba is the Bomb (say that aloud, its fun). Also I believe I have spoken about how great David Evan is (he is great). He is great and also he is now playing with a full band which he debuted on Saturday. Check out what Local Cut said about him here. The show is FREE; though you should bring some money for CDs as both Y La Bamba and David Evan will have some available (I have both and think they would make a fine addition to anyone's music library). It is also ALL AGES. The show starts at 8 PM.
• The other show going on Wednesday is at the Holocene where Ethan Rose, Yellow Swans (quite possibly the loudest band in Portland), Unrecognizable Now, Very Stereo, Linger and Quiet will be playing as part of the "Landmarks" event. "Landmarks" is a multimedia portrait of Portland's landmarks and is presented by Vision+Hearing project. The show will be $6 at the door. The show will start at 9 PM.

Thursday, Feb. 28th

Quite a few shows are going down on Thursday though:

• The elusive Dunes is hosting, the newly signed to Kill Rock Stars, New Bloods with Agent Ribbons(CA), The Vaginals(CA), Magic Johnson, and Alas Alak Alaska(CA). I believe that the shows at Dunes are FREE (but bring some dough for the touring bands). The show starts at 8 PM.
• Laurelthirst Public House is having a three band bill featuring Audie Darling, Shoeshine Blue, and Autopilot is for Lovers. The show should be good as it appears that all of the bands are friends. The cost is $5. The music starts at 9:30 PM.
• The East End is holding a benefit show for Team Awesome who are basically two dudes from Portland who are riding bikes across our nation by bike spreading the gospel of cycling. The bands playing are Oh Captain My Captain, Highway, DJ Zach Brooks, and DJ A Train. The benefit costs $6. The show starts at 9 PM.
• There also appears to be a pretty cool show at Rotture. They will have Fist Fite, Starfucker, DJ Tobias, DJ Metronome, and The Paperbacks as part of the Risk Vs. Reward series of shows (it takes place every 4th Saturday or the last Saturday of the every month). The show is $6 at the door. The doors are at 9 PM.

Friday, Feb. 29th

Did you see that date? That means its a leap year! Why no celebrate by going to a local show tonight? You have options. Maybe too many of them (all really good).

• The Alberta Street Pub is having Ezra Carey play with one of my favorite locals, Westfold. Westfold puts on a hell of a show. I highly recommend this show.
• And yet over at the Someday Lounge, Strangers Die Everyday (who I have been meaning to see forever), are having a CD release party form their new album Autopilot is for Lovers are playing with one of my other favorite bands to see, We're From Japan! What the hell. Thats a tough decision.
  
• And theres more at the Fine Grind Coffee House (2035 SE 39th Ave Portland, OR 97214) is having a fine show that includes the like of The Ocean Floor, Jambo Land, Down South Sallie, and Y La Bamba. If you have heard Down South Sallie it is incredible. Her speaks like a normal person, but when she sings it is very hard not to stare. She sounds like Billie Holiday I swear. The show is FREE and ALL AGES. The thing starts at 8PM.
• Or there is a show at a place I have not heard of before called Work/Sound. They are having a CD release show for Gulls. It will feature them and friend Michael Bruce of Sonic Lozenge with instillations by Erik Blad. A price is not listed. The thing starts at 10 PM.
  

Saturday, March 1st

Happy New month! Empty your bank accounts for rent and then spend the rest on either of these shows:

• The Doug Fir is having an opbmusic.org sponsered CD release show for Weinland who have a new record out, La Lamentor, on the Badman Label. Death Songs and Musee Mecanique will also be playing sets. The show costs $10. It begins at 9 PM.
• Slabtown is having Soft Tags, So Many Dynamos(MO), and Wax Fingers play a show. I have not heard of any of these bands but...the description of Wax Fingers list their "Musical Cues: Akron/Family, Animal Collective, Mogwai, Slint, Don Cab, Battles, etc..". Those are the kind of musical cues I like to see. The show is $6. The doors ar at 9 PM.

Sunday, March 2nd

There are some big shows going on tonight:

• The first big show is not big in the number of bands playing(there are only two), but rather for the size of the bands playing . I am of course talking about The March Forth Marching Band and Kazum(acrobats?) show that is happening at the Crystal Ballroom on Sunday Afternoon. It is part of the big-ass celebration of a big-ass band (3 days of celebration). Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for ages 5-12 and free if you are younger than that. The doors are at 1 PM. The show begins at 2:30 PM. ALL AGES.
• The other big show just has a shit-ton of bands. The Holocene is having, "An evening of music, dance, theater, tiny stages, regular size stages, no stages. It's a party, dudes,
  with some party dudes. Some of our favorite bands/collaborators will be in the backroom:Tara Jane O'Neil, Cex Fucx, Evolutionary Jass Band, Starfucker, Bryce Panic (Mirah's awesomelydancing/rapping drummer)--interspersed with a special
  presentation of Ten Tiny Dances (4 Tiny Dances) in thefront room. On the Tiny Stage will be Fever Theater,Rush-N-Disco, local heroes Linda Austin and KarenNelson presenting The Tuning Score (whose originator, Lisa Nelson, will be in residency in Portland at the
  time of this event!), and dear little Woolly Mammoth(that's us). We hope Fred Nemo shows up, but we can't get through at the phone number we have for him. In asilent auction you can place bids on gift certificates galore from places such as Tiga, Podnah's, Lovely Hula
  Hands, Hi iH Gallery, The Fresh Pot, and items such as delicious wine, massages, a Gyrotonic session, and yoga classes, just to start." While I am not exactly sure why Wolly needs the benefit, I think with that line up they will get my help. The show costs $10. The thing begins at 7 PM.

So that is it. A whole mess of shows. Do yourself a favor check some of them out. And if you see me at a show, please say hi.

-Ben


Woolly Mammoth play with many many bands on Sunday.
photos: Chris Mullikan; costumes: Diana Lang

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Ben Meyercord's live music picks for Dec. 31st to Jan.6th

So I am back in Portland. Man if feels good to be back. I have am no longer stuck at home waiting for something to do. Let me assure all of you people of Portland, you live in city where things happen. And speaking of things happening, this is how the show situation is looking for this week.

Monday, December 31st

Holy crap! It is the last day of the year and I am sure there will be a ton of parties or get-togethers that you have already committed to, but there are a couple of good shows happening too.

• The Wu Tang Clan is playing! Crazy. I know this is a Portland-centric blog, so let me tie our city in. All of the openers are Portland people. Cool Nutz besides having a bad ass name is reported to be the ambassador of NW hip hop so it is only fitting that he should warm up the stage for the WU. There are the Sandpeople. I checked them out this summer at PDX Pop Now! It was good times if you like hip hop. Then there is the Grant High School graduate Lilla D Mone (D Mone is supposedly a nod to D'Angelo and Nina Simone) who will grace the stage with her mix of modern R&B and Hip Hop. But for real, the Wu Tang Clan a'n't nuttin to fuck with. This may or may not be sold out at the Roseland. I think tickets were going for $40. Doors at 8pm.
• In Old Town there will be 4 venues having simultaneous entertainment. The event is called Old Town Get Down. You may choose to go to each venue individual for $10 like a chump, or you can buy a pass to get you into all the venues for $20 -$25. I personally would only go to the Someday Lounge. Panther, and Copy are playing there and they always put on a fun live show. Satyricon, as per usual, will have a ton of bands that I have never heard (such as Massive Meat Split and Embrace the Kill); Backspace is hosting the music of, among others, Gepetto whose myspace headline colorfully suggests that you, "eat shit and die"; and Ground Control has The Beauty playing a set and several DJs. I believe that all doors are at 8pm with music starting at approximately whenever.
  

Tuesday, January 1st

You will be tired. I know. Luckily there is not that much going on tonight so you can either take it easy or check out these shows:

• The Incubator at the Someday Lounge will be in full effect hosted by Gabriel Darling. You can do whatever for twenty minutes. The possibilities abound. The music is free and starts at 9PM lasting until midnight.
  
• Or you can play two to three songs among other very talented people at Zilla Sake hosted by the lovely Y La Bamba.
• Or you can just observe as the Ash Street Saloon offers up a "mixed social". The website says it will happen every Tuesday and it looks to be free. The The Righteous and Harmonious Fists will be playing along with Orem(the sink) and Critical. It is free so you might as well check it out. Music at 9:15PM.

Wednesday, January 2nd

Believe it or not, I don't know of anything going on for Wednesday. If I am wrong, feel free to comment on the blog and I will add your suggestion. If not get some well earned rest.

Thursday, January 3rd

Here are a couple of shows that are taking place that I wouldn't mind seeing:

• The Ash Street Saloon offer a line up of Lasers All the Time, Ferocious Eagle, Newspapers , and Old Money. I have heard of Ferocious Eagle and Newspapers before, both in a positive light as I recall. At a $5 admission, I think it is worth checking out. Music at 9:30PM.
• Or you could heard over to the Someday Lounge see Green Pajamas, The Soft Tags, and The Brother Egg do their indie-pop thing. $5 admission. Music at 9PM.
• At The Doug Fir Lounge, Day of Lions is playing a show with local favorite (though not my favorite) Boy Eats Drum Machine, and Seattle band Siberian. $8 day of the show. Music starts at 9PM.
  

Friday, January 4th

There are three really good show today. Your decision will be tough. So here are you options:

• Okay. I will be completely honest with you . I am playing a show as Meyercord on this day. It would be awesome if you came. I will be opening for the somewhat jazzy The Murder Trio and the wonderful music of Y La Bamba. The show is to take place at The Chaos Cafe (donations are aprrecitated). Music at 7:30PM
• The Doug Fir Lounge will be having Weinland play along with James Low, and Mike Coykendall. These are all fine musicians/bands in the local roots rock vein. Admission is $7. Music at 9PM.
• Over at The Mississippi Studios, Richie Young (of Loch Lommond) will be playing a set in between Leviethan and IOA (drummer of Point Juncture, WA). The show is part of Mississippi Studios' Free First Friday series. As indicated it will be free. Music starts at 10PM.

Saturday, January 5th

Again some hard decisions to make

• The Someday Lounge will be hosting a benefit show for "Vida para todos" (life for all), a community Music and Arts center in Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic. I only know of one of the bands playing, Please Step Out Of The Vehicle. Drew slum,Toiletooth, and Plank Scale will also be playing. There is a sliding scale cover of $5-10. Music at 9PM.
• Some how, a Portland music festival almost slipped under my radar and will be taking place this weekend. It is called Children of The Revolution 3. I am assuming that this is the third one of these festivals. It is happening at AudioCinema over the course of two days. Saturday features: Fleshtone, Panther, Tara Jane O'Neal, LKN, Starfucker, Chrome Wings, Dragging an Ox Through Water, Worms, Matress, and Death Songs. I believe the price is somewhere between $10 and $15. The music starts at 2PM.
  
• Plus Horse Feathers will be performing twice at The Mississippi Studios. The first show will have MBilly opening and the second show will have The Botticellis open. The first show is $10 at 7PM. The second show is $12 at 10PM.
  

Sunday, January 6th

There is no day of rest for a music fan (except this Wednesday). So here are the shows that I think might be worth checking out. I make no guarantees, but I think they will fun.

• The Ash Street Saloon is having a show of three bands that ride the line between quirky and just plain zany, and one folksy guy. The bands are as follows Late Night Curly, iji, and Math The Band. Iji and Math The Band are touring together (warning these bands are not local), so if you like what you hear there is more incentive in the way of a tour split entitled "Tour de Friends". Also the folksy guy I made allusion to is William Holley. What he has on his myspace page sounds real nice. It will cost you $5. Music starts at 9:30PM.
• Day two of the Children of The Revolution 3 looks to be the noisier of the two day festivities at AudioCinema. If only the fact that Yellow Swans are playing. i saw them at PDX Pop Now! and they were loud. I mean they brought they brought their own sound system in order to be at the very least twice as loud as any other band that played. I stood at the very back of AudioCinema (which is pretty large) and still had to plug my ears (even though they already had ear plugs). The other bands playing are Thrones, SubArachnoid Space, Magick Daggers, Rollerball, Fist Fite, Dagger of the Mind(self proclaimed "bardcore" as in they sing Shakespeare over heavy metal), Rabbits, and Silentist. Again I think that it costs between $10 and $15. Show starts at 2PM.

So I hope everyone has a great new year and I look forward to seeing a whole lot of shows and missing even more of them.

-Ben

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