Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Monday, March 8th

Hello Dear Readers,

Last night I played a house show at Luzelena's House in NE. It was way fun. I missed one of the performance but caught many others including a set by my friends Misty and Seth. They were just drowning in reverb and it sounded beautiful, their instrumentation was an electric guitar and and an organ with some minimal drums. The music was very very soothing. I want to see them again. Then Brothers young played an awesome set. They always remind me a bit of Beta Band. Then Y La Bamba played a crowded set. There are seven of us now and in order for us to play a house show it gets tricky, but I think we pulled it off. Anyway, I could only find one show I am interested in tonight:

Monday, March 8th

Valentine's is having a show with Pigeons, Secret Codes, and Paper Brain. Pigeons is a band that I have been meaning to see for quite some time. They make indie Americana with voice that quivers like early Bright Eyes. I like it. Then there is Secret Codes. I saw them once at the Woods and was very impressed. These songs were written by David Kyle who used to perform them solo via an ipod and lots of looping under the name David Kyle and The Invisibles. I much prefer the live band to the looping. It has a warmer feel and the players are all very good at what they do. What is it they do? They make pretty post rock music. Though it is mostly instrument-centric, David has told me that he is working on adding in vocals so it would not surprise me if there was a whole lot more singing this time around. I know that he is very influenced by Efterklang So I anticipate some group vocal arrangements. Paper Brain rounds out the bill with there excellent indie pop tunes. I have not seen them play in a long time, but listening to them just now made me wonder why. Check out the video that I posted below. The show is FREE and starts at 9 PM.

If you see me at this show say, "Hi". It is not a bad why to spend a second of your time.

-Ben


Paper Brain will be at Valentine's tonight. I am not sure that it will be as bloody as this video, but I have my fingers crossed.

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Sunday, March 7th

Hello Dear Readers,

Last night I played at The Knife Shop in AristeiA. It was the first time I have been in it since the new stage and sound system was installed. I was impressed. I thought we played well we were followed by a Clap Your Hands Say Yeah like band called And And And. Then came Thuggage who were actually really good. And way more entertaining than I thought they were going to be. I suggest that if you are into comedy or hip hop you check these guys out. Here are the shows that look good to me tonight:

Sunday, March 7th

Burgerville (12th and Hawthorne) is having a show with Wampire and White Fang. This is the tour kick off. I think both of these bands are great. Wapmire make dance music that is chill and catchy as hell. White Fang makes the party punk music that I am sure other parts of the country will catch on soon enough. The cool thing is that Y La Bamba will be meeting them for the show in Dan Diego. I am stoked. I also haven't seen a show at The Burgerville yet. I bet it is cool, or really awkward. The show is FREE and starts at 6 PM.

Holocene is having a show with Explode into Colors and Janet Pants. This is also a tour kick off show. Explode into Colors is a good band. They make cool sounding songs based on the tight rhythm section. There is a lot of percussion in this band. Not only are they going on a tour to SXSW, but the first several dates are with Quasi. How cool is that? Also they want you to make them a mixtape, "Explode Into Colors are going on tour - and they need your HELP! Endless hours in the van need musical accompaniment! Bring a mixtape (yes, that means a good ol’, real-deal cassette) for the girls and you’ll get FREE entry into the show! Explode into Colors also went Into the Woods recently, and we’ll be screening the results tonight!" Oh right, the In To The Woods thing will be screened. Janet Pants does modern dance pieces. Those people do really good work. The show is $5 (unless you and starts at 8:30 PM.

Valentine's is having a show with Ora Cogan (B.C.), Bird Costumes, Chelsea Wolfe (CA), and Galveston. I have seen Ora Cogan play once. It was at Valentine's. It was good. She plays quiet nice folky tunes. I don't know what her Portland connection is, but I have seen her on several Portland bands top friends on myspace. Bird Costumes is one of them, and actually I think he played the show I saw. He, not unlike his friend Dragging an Ox through Water, seems to bridge the gap between folk and experimental music. Though he seems to separate the two. Performing a singing song followed by a built up drone piece and so on.Chelsea Wolfe is a person on tour from California. She makes experimental folk or rock music. Actually I don't know what to call it. The show is FREE and starts at 9 PM.

Mississippi Studios is having a show with Timmy Straw, Lovers, Lost Lockets, and Gottesfinger. This is a record release for Timmy Straw. I have not heard her before, but man does she sound good. Right off the bat I am reminded of Cat Power. I think that if people will take notice of this release. She plays like a million instruments and produces and mixes her own music which sounds great. Lovers is what drew me to this show. Last year they released one of my favorite local releases, O Am The West. I cannot get over the perfect electro-pop song "Igloos for Ojos". Lost Lockets plays dark piano music backed by sting and banjo parts. Seriously though, I was really impressed by Timmy Straw. The show is $8 and starts at 9 PM.

The Pink Room is having a show with Mattress, ASSS, Summer Blondes (Oakland), and Guantanamo Baywatch. House shows! Mattress is the project of Rex Marshal. he used to sing over tapes of electo he made. Now it has grown to include guitar and live drums. Let's face facts, everyone wants to be a rock star. ASSS is the duo that creates weird synth and drum based music. Summer Blondes are a great post-surf surf band. They are apparently buddies with Portland's own post-surf surf rock band Guantanamo Baywatch. What a match up. It will be rad. The show is by donation and starts at 8 PM.

If you see me at any of these shows say, "Hi".

-Ben

Feels Like Home Ep #3 - White Fang "Feeling Shitty" from Into The Woods on Vimeo.

From Singing in the shower to singing in Burgerville (tonight), these guys will play anywhere.

ps If you know Luzelena there is a B-Day show at her house.

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Saturday, March 6th

Hello Dear Readers,

Last night I stayed home despite some good shows. I actually cleaned my room which has been on my to do list for about 3 months. I am actually quite proud of myself. Tonight there are an ass load of good shows (like a big ass load). Check it out.:

Saturday, March 6th

The Knife Shop is having a show with The Taste, Thuggage, and ArtisteiA. This is part of the Dirty Dirty Street Records showcase. This is something that AristeiA got last minute. I play bass in AristeiA, the instrumental rock group. I think we are pretty awesome. But then again, I am biased. Thuggage is a comedy rap group. But they apparently were musicians first. So they should be good. I couldn't find much on The Taste ie anything. But I am kinda glad I am playing tonight because there are so many amazing shows tonight. So I won't have to choose. The show is $5 and starts at 9 PM.

Burgerville (12th and Hawthorne) is having a PDX Pop Now! Benefit show with Typhoon, Yeah Great Fine, and Ocean Age. This is an awesome show. I saw Typhoon earlier this week and I must say they are in top form. They are one of my favorite bands in Portland. Yeah Great Fine are recording an album with the same person who recorded Typhoon. It is supposedly really good. Ocean Age is also really good. I want to get the album that they just released. I haven't seen them since they put it out. But I suggest that you do. Plus all of the sales are going directly to PDX Pop Now! during the time that the show is going on, so get a shake or a burger or something. The ALL AGES show is FREE and starts at 7 PM.

Mississippi Studios is having a "Swellebration" with Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside, Dirty Mittens, Yeltsin, Tahoe Jackson, Matt Sheehy & The Menders, Run On Sentence, Sean Flinn & The Royal We, Adam Shearer (of Weinland),Holcombe Waller, Laura Gibson, and Justin Power. Hard to believe it has only been a year since Mississippi Studios reopened. It has become a staple in my show going like it was there forever. The show is FREE and starts at 8 PM.

Portland Playhouse is having a No PA in NoPo with St. Frankie Lee, Black Heart Moon, Walking Home, and Jana Losey. St. Frankie Lee is great. It has been too long since I have seen, them and theirs. Also I am saddened to say that this is the last show that Black Heart Moon will ever play. They are great and will be missed. Though Cat will continue to play in Horsefeathers and Perry will continue to play in my band, Meyercord, and David Dyas will still play in his own band and Carcrashlander. All great bands. The ALL AGES show is $6-$8 and starts at 7 PM.

The Artistery is having a show with White Fang, Juiceboxxx, and Savages. I like the punk that White Gang creates, even thought I haven't seen them in forever. I bet they are even better now. Juiceboxxx is like a live mixtape ie awesome. Savages is really weird and cool hip hop. This show is gonna be dope. The ALL AGES show is $6 and starts at 8 PM.

Backspace is having a show with Blue Skies for Black Hearts, Welcome Home Walker, Hey Lover, Electric Castle, and Hullaballoons. This is presented by Boogie Creek Records who are put out Welcome Home Walker and Hullaballoons. This is a record release show for the Hullaballoons. If you like pop rock in its purist form, I am thinking that you are going to like this show. I think that Blue Skies for Black Hearts has perfected their craft. And these other bands, though I have not seen live, seem to be quite capable of the genre as well. The ALL AGES show is $ and starts at 9 PM.

Mission Theater is having a show with Mimicking Birds, Tu Fawning, Ah Holly Fam'ly, and The Lords Own Choir. I have never seen Mimicking Birds, Ibut I do like what I have heard it reminded me of quieter Modest Mouse stuff which is probably why Issac Brock is putting out their record. I love Tu Fawning and I love Ah Holly Fam'ly so I highly recommend this show. Tu Fawning have some new material that I haven't heard yet. Ah Holly Fam'ly will debut it's smaller line up tonight. The show is $6-$8 and starts at 9 PM.

Reed College Student Union is having something called Dublab's Tonalism. It is an ambient music happening from 6 PM to 6 AM. It will feature Grouper, Golden Hits, Pharaohs, Golden Retreiver, Frosty, Ale, Nanny Cantaloupe, Katie Byron, Jimmy Tamborello, Ben Knight, Jeff Yarbrough, Sam Cooper, Lavenders, and Suzanne Kraft. In case you missed it, Jimmy Tamborello ie half of the Postal Service is playing this show. Plus I always love seeing Grouper play. This is gonna be chillll. It is FREE and starts at 6 PM.

The Parlour is having a show with Pardee Shorts, The Woolen Men, Archers, and Support Force. Another Bright Lights/ Potlatch Presents show. Rejoice. These guys usually have good taste. I have written about the mathy Pardee Shirts before. I have written about the indie rock of The Woolen Men. I have not written about Archers or Support Force before, but I am sure they are pretty good. I think Support Force played earlier today at an art walk in SE. Ask them about it. The ALL AGES show is $3-$5 and starts at 7 PM.

If you see me at any of these shows say, "Hi".

-Ben


You want fries with that? Typhoon play at Burgerville tonight.

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Friday, March 5th

Hello Dear Readers,

Last night I went to the Artistery. I missed Holy or Sweeping Exits or whatever and I regrettably only caught the last song of Kusikia (the song was awesome), but I made it. My arrival put me just in time to see Typhoon and Jared Mees & The Grown Children. Typhoon played the majority of their yet to be released amazing album Hunger and Thirst. I think they have stripped down their operation to the bare minimum of nine band members. They are one of the finest bands in Portland. They effortlessly combine elements of folk and heavy music and danceable grooves and gospel and probably other things as well. you must see this band. Then came Jared Mees and Co. who are are the road as I type this heading to SXSW. I love this band and was happy to be there for their tour kick off show. It was weird last night though because my voice was pretty much out of commission. I did not realize how often I sing along with that band until I kept trying and failing to do so. I was also pleasantly surprised to find that they had a tour ep with four songs that will be on the next record in a awesome silk screened stumptown case. You know I picked that one up. It was a good time. Speaking of which, here are some good times happening tonight:

Friday, March 5th

The Know is having a show with The Shaky Hands being filmed. Straight from their blog "If you live in the Portland area come see us this Thursday and Friday night at The Know (2026 Northeast Alberta Street). We are playing, recording and filming the sets. Opening the shows are Tanning (Jake solo), Nick Delffs (solo) and my new band Haunted K.O.A (Me, Nick and Alex Arrowsmith). Shameless self promotion? No, we just forgot to find an opening band and decided to do it our self." I obviously didn't go last night but here is another opportunity. The show is FREE and starts at 8 PM.

Ella Street Social Club is having a benefit show for a new PA. There will be performances from Leonard Mynx, Mount Saint Elias, Lindsay Clark, Hoyt Emerson, Matt Brown, Soriah, Davis Hooker, Cole Moldy, Grand Junction Grand Therapy, Nathan Clark, John Veccaierelli, Rozendal, James McFarland, Steve Hefter, and Jarad Miles. Anyone who has every played Ella Street or The Town Lounge before it can attest. That it is a fun place to place but that the sound system is...questionable. Well, this looks like a great step forward in solving that problem. Plus it looks like an incredible line up. I have written about the majority of the people playing this event. They are all good, but there are too many to write about. I suggest clicking in some links. Or just think about what an awesome venue Ella Street would be with a new PA. The show is $5-$10 and starts at 9 PM.

Backspace is having a show with The Smith Westerns (Chicago), Eat Skull, and Blood Beach. All of these bands have recordings that are lo-fi as "F". The Smith Westerns seem to have the straight pop spectrum covered, I like it. Eat Skull are a bit weirder and also add some punky elements not that I would ever call them punk music. They sometimes add some acoustic guitar albeit distorted. And then Blood Beach is the weirdest. It is the new band from Tex Winters. It is folk music with psychedelic freak outs. The ALL AGES is $8 and starts at 9 PM.

The Artistery is having a show with His Name Shall Breathe, Decoro, Crooked Bars, and Thrusty. His Name Shall Breathe is awesome. He writes really good songs and plays guitar like he was ringing a bell. It is mostly really cool arpeggios. It is like Owen but perhaps even better. I cannot really vouch for any of the other bands. The show is $6 and starts at 8 PM.

Someday Lounge is having a show with Sexy Water Spiders (Port Townsend), Wampire, and Go Fever. This is the CD release for Sexy Water Spiders, a band that I have previously heard of. They seem to be a rock band. Like a classic southern rock band. Which is kinda of a weird mach for the chilled out dance rock music that Wampire play (which I totally love). Go Fever is one of the Dandy Warhols disciple bands. Which means they make music that makes you feel like you are on drugs. The show is $6 and starts at 9 PM.

If you see me at any of these shows say, "Hi". We can talk about the weather or something.

-Ben


The Shaky Hands play The Know tonight. Get Filmed!

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Thursday, March 4th

Hello Dear Readers,

Lately I have had some information be incorrect. The other day there was a rumored show at Rotture with Wild Yaks and Dragging an Ox Through Water. It ended up being at The Wail. Whoops. Then Last night I wrote about a Tragos Amargos show. I was incorrect. From now on there is no Tragos Amargos. There is only Y La Bamba. At that same show Sarah Winchester was set to play. She ended up being unable to play. Pancake Breakfast stepped up to the plate and hit a home run, so to speak. It was a good show. Most of the members of Y La Bamba, myself included, had voices that were not quite what they normally are. I can barely talk today. I have no idea what is happening. Oh well. Here are some good shows that are happening tonight:

Thursday, March 4th

The Artistery is having a show with Jared Mees & The Grown Children, Typhoon, Kusikia, and Holy. This show looks so cool. Jared Mees is awesome live for reals. They have started playing new songs that just epic. Speaking of epic. Jared and company, collectively known as Tender Loving Empire, are putting out Typhoons record later this summer. They are so epic. But they also have their quiet moments that make their louder parts seem that much louder. They have a good way of incorporating nice group vocals with the swell of instruments that include two drummers brass and guitars. and various percussive flourishes (the most memorable being a plastic sack). Kusikia I saw play a house show once. It was so awesome. They are a two piece comprised of Nsayi Matingou on vocals and guitar and Peter Ryan on drums. They the drumming and guitar work is very cool and changes up a whole lot. I cannot get enough. It You must see this band. When I clicked on the link for Holy from the Artistery website, it sent me to herewhich makes me suspect that it is just a new moniker for Sean Archer aka Sweeping Exists. The ALL AGES show is $7 and starts at 7:30 sharp PM.

The Know is having a show with The Shaky Hands. Check out this post from the The Shaky Hands blog, "If you live in the Portland area come see us this Thursday and Friday night at The Know (2026 Northeast Alberta Street). We are playing, recording and filming the sets. Opening the shows are Tanning (Jake solo), Nick Delffs (solo) and my new band Haunted K.O.A (Me, Nick and Alex Arrowsmith). Shameless self promotion? No, we just forgot to find an opening band and decided to do it our self." Sounds cool right? The show is probably FREE and starts at 8 PM.

Holocene is having a show with Chrome Wings, USF (Seattle), ASSS, and Tracey Trance. This is the album release show for Chrome Wings. They have fluctuated in band members and have currently settled as a duo. They make spacey music that is sometimes ambient and sometimes with some beats and a lot of the time some heavily effected guitars. USF played Animal Collective -esque music. ASSS play experimental noisy music. I sometime think it is pretty cool and other times think it is kinda irritating. Tracey Trance sounds to me to be a carnival on drugs. Not a bad thing. The show is $5 and starts at 8:30 PM.

Dante's is having a show with The Happy Prescriptions, 1776, and The Slaves. Happy Prescriptions plays reverb heavy pop. I like what I heard. 1776 play music like it was the year 1976. It is no surprise that they are related to The Dandy Warhols family. The Slaves are what initially drew my attention to this show. I think their reverbed out drone pop is great. The show is $5 and starts at 9 PM.

Stumptown Coffee Downtown is having Evolutionary Jass Band play. I have not seen guys play in a long time. They are a very solid band. If you are even mildly interested in jazz, I suggest you check these guys out. They are such good musicians. Plus you can get one of the best cups of coffee in town. Bonus. The ALL AGES show is FREE and start at 6 PM.

The Parlour is having a show with Duck Little Brother, Duck!, Yeah Great Fine, Shinto, and The Pictures. Duck is such an amazing band. They combine really cool...well everything. All of the band members are really really cool and create a mix of math rock and pop with a million changes per song while maintaining a sense of cohesiveness. Yeah Great Fine is band that has some math rock elements and also some elctro elements and some pop elements that and a great use of melodic layers. They are currently recording with Paul Laxer who just finished the Typhoon record so I am sure it will sound great. The ALL AGES show is $4 and starts at 7 PM.

If you see me at any of these shows say, "Hi". If not, I expect no greeting from you.

-Ben


The Evolutionary Jass Band will be evolving Jass this evening at Stumptown.

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Wednesday, March 3rd

Hello Dear Readers,

Last night I went to The Woods and saw two bands that I have been wanting to see and one band that I wish I could see more of but will be unable to as they are disbanding. Alameda started the night with juxtaposition of singer songwriter and chamber music. Strangers Die Everyday was an instrumental group so I had no idea that they had a songwriter like Sterling in the fold. The came Black Heart Moon who I finally got to see with their violinist Emily. It was a really nice addition to the mix. They played wonderfully. It really is too bad they only have one more show. Pikara was pretty cool. I was surprised that they were based around the piano that night. I was expecting violin or maybe some acoustic guitar as that is what I had seen in videos before. It was good but they played a very short set.I was out of there before midnight crazy, but very good for me as I had a chance to catch up on sleep. There are some good shows tonight:

Wednesday, March 3rd

Roadside Attraction is having a show with Tragos Amargos and Sarah Winchester. Tragos Amargos is the confusing twin band of Y La Bamba wherein our buddy Paul Cameron joins us with his exceptional musical abilities and distinct voice. Sarah Winchester is probably best known as the female voice and drummer of A Weather, but she also writes and records songs as well. Last year she released an ep called "The Northeast Kingdom Demos". It is stark in its beauty. Think early Cat Power. I have seen her play a couple times and am won over every time. The show is FREE and starts at 9:30 PM.

Dunes is having a show with Cars and Trains and Big Spider's Back (Seattle). Let me just say this, I have the Cars and Trains album and I love it. It is a really good hodgepodge of hip hop folk and pop sensibilities. It would fit very nicely along with the Anticon crew. I have really liked Tom Fileep aka Cars and Trains since I first heard him a few years back. I have seen him play a few times too and enjoyed how you can see him building up his songs by creating loops in real time. His voice reminds me a bit of Owen from Casiotone for the Painfully Alone but a bit more musical. Big Black Spider makes the kind of blissed out psychedelic pop that would treat any Animal Collective fan right. The show is $ and starts at 9 PM.

Ella Street Social Club is having a show with On the Stairs, The Goodwill River, and Au Contraire. On the Stairs is the Nate Clark from many bands including another one he fronts called Les Flaneurs. This band however is more of a 70s inspired pop music. The Goodwill River is a folk band that I written about before. They have made a line up change since I last checked in (no more harmonica player). Au Contraiere is a band that I don't know much about. They have one song on myspace and and two photos. They have a kinda old timey sound. The one picture they posted is old timey (the other picture is a tagged photo). That is all I know. The show with $5 and starts at 9 PM.

Muddy Waters Coffee House is having show with Guantanamo Baywatch and Boom!. I really want to see Guantanamo Baywatch. I like the surf slash punk or whatever it is that they play. I can't find any thing on Boom!. The ALL AGES show is FREE and starts

Rotture is having a show with No Kind of Rider, True Widow (Dallas), and Kowloon. New Kind of Rider is a band that i have not seen yet but i plan on changing that. They don't make your typical kind of Portland music. It isn't folk and it is not indie rock. They named themselves after a Of Montreal song (right guys, or is that a coincidence?) an like them play music that seems to be bigger than a lot of bands. It is filled with dramatic shifts and nice harmonies. God I am not really a writer you guys know this. True Window is a band that comes from my home town of Dallas, TX. THey play slower somewhat spacey loud rock music that has the melodic pop male and sometimes female vocals buried in it that make up the core of the band. Kowloon makes music that sounds like post-punk post-blues blues fronted the singer from The Vilolet Femmes. The show is $5 and starts at 9 PM.

If you see me at Roadside say, "Hi". I am the one playing the clav's.

-Ben


Sarah Winchester plays Roadside Attaction tonight. Wear your Nirvana Shirt.

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music for Tuesday, March 2nd

Hello Dear Readers,

Last Night I played at the Know in AristeiA along with Westfold and Wild Yaks. Let me start from the end of the show to the beginning. I have no idea how the set went. People seemed to like it though. I had fun. We played a new song that we hadn’t played in front of people before. Before us was Westfold they also debuted a new song. So funny to think that the now rock band started as an acoustic guitar and bass duo. The night started out with Brooklyn’s Wild Yaks. They rocked out like what I imagine actual “Wild Yaks” rocking out might look and sound like. I learned from my friend that they have played New York City every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for over a year and a half with out fail (except when on tour). That is an insane amount of playing, speaking of which:

Rotture is rumored to have a show with Wild Yaks (NY) and Dragging an Ox Through Water. Wild Yaks like to play and it shows. The drummer reminds me of Animal which is to say that the band plays with a lot of energy. There are many parts where everyone in the band seems to be singing at the top of their lungs. It is a spectacle to be sure. They are not who I would immediately think to pair with the mostly slow but completely engaging highly experimental folk music of Dragging an ox Through Water. Brian Mumford the man behind Dragging an Ox has an amazing voice and really nice finger picking style that he often interrupts with bursts of home made oscillator noise outbursts. I can’t get enough. Last night The Yaks announced that they would be playing somewhere with Dragging An Ox, so I wend to Dragging An Ox Through Waters blog, and sure enough saw that would be playing together at Rotture. It may cost some money and probably starts at 9 PM.

The Woods is having a show with Pikara, Black Heart Moon, and Alameda. Pikara is a band they I have written about a few times now but have yet to see. I know that what I have heard sometimes makes me think of a mix between The Dirty Three and Black Heart Procession fronted by a woman. Sometimes it’s not like that at all. Black Heart Moon is a band that I really enjoy. It is based around the music created by Catherine O’Dell and Perry Pfister though almost always joined by David Dyas on lapsteel. I highly suggest you come out to this show because it will be one of their last. I think that the way the guitar and vocal melodies play and intertwine with the acoustic bass is just a thing of beauty. It doesn’t hurt to have such an expert player as Mr. Dyas laying down some sweet leads and atmosphere. Alameda is a band that formed from the ashes of Strangers Die Everyday, a string based instrumental rock band that I really wish I had seen more of before they called it quits. I have not seen them yet but I really want to. The show is $3 and starts at 9 PM.

Mississippi Studios is having a show with Rocky Votolato (Seattle), Blunt Mechanic, and Michael Dean Damron. Yes this is a very Seattle-centric show. But it also looks like a pretty good one. Rocky Votolato is one of those sensitive acoustic guitar singer songwriter type folks. But, as I recall, he is a step above the rest. Then there is Blunt Mechanic which essentially is Ben Barnett’s new band. I had the pleasure of opening up for this band the other week in Seattle. He mentioned that he was going to be playing this show solo on an acoustic guitar and playing a lot of songs from his old band. If you are familiar with his old band, Kind of Like Spitting, you know that this is a very rare thing. He seems to generally not want to look back. So this is a special show. So get out you old KOLS records and find out which songs you like so that you may scream it’s title out in hopes that he will play it, because he just might. Oh and Michael Dean Damron will play his sad sounding rough life whiskey drinking country tunes as well. The dude is a bit of a badass and sounds the part too. The show is $12 and starts at 9 PM.

If you see me at any of these shows please say, "Hi". I will be all like, "Do I know you?". And you can be all, "No.". It will be awesome!

-Ben


Black Heart Moon will play one of their last shows tonight at the Woods.

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Monday, March 1st

Hello Dear Readers,

Last night I went to Valentines and saw aan and Ages and Ages. I was so tired but I could not miss this show. Bud Wilson played a very very beautiful solo aan set. He is just as good by himself as with a band. I love him with a band, do not get me wrong. But it is also really cool to see him with his solo set up which features a whole lot of pedals and a a keyboard and a sampler and two amps and volumes pedals and a hollow body. His voice is an instrument as well and like a guitar he runs it through a few pedals mostly a looper or various reverb or delay pedals. There was this one moment when he had finished a song and just had birds chirping from his sampler that all of Valentine's was quiet. I had never heard the place so quiet. He also debuted a couple of tunes that sounded great. The aan album is coming out very soon. I cannot wait. Then Ages and Ages played a set that was fantastic. They had six people singing often in choir type parts like in a good way. A friend of mine said they were kinda like Crosby Stills and Nash. I never really listened to that particular band, but from my understanding it is a good thing. I personally was reminded of some of the later Belle & Sebastian stuff. Regardless they probably have the best harmonies in town. Tonight there are a couple of really cool shows:

Monday, march 1st

The Know is having a show with AristeiA, Westfold and Wild yaks (NY). Okay, I play bass in AristeiA. We kick ass, whatevs. If you like rock music with some balls and no annoying vocals you will probably like us. Anyway this show was originally booked as a show where all the bands are friends. Themes was set to play the show but took the er...theme to the next level when their friends from Brooklyn had a show fall through. Themes gave up their slot to their friends Wild Yaks. You may recognize the name because they played with The Woolen Men the other day. This is what one of my friends said about Wild Yaks, "They tore shit up last night!". A pretty positive review. Westfold is always make sure that stuff gets tore up. They are a fine rock band that gets me every time. There lyrics are smart and should leave you with something to think about after the music has subsided. The show is FREE and starts at 8:30 PM.

Valentine's is having a show with Israel Putnam El Americano, The Ocean Floor and Tree Sap Magazine release show. Tree Sap appears to celebrate were art and nature converge. The Ocean Floor, one of my favorites, have said that in honor of this, they will play a nature themed set. As long as they play their music, I guarantee you a good time. The other two acts seem to occupy a different spectrum of the music spectrum. They make experimental sometimes drone music. I like this. may you will too. I am sure they will have copies of the magazine to sell so bring at least $8. DJ Dewey Decibel will be spinning as well. The show is FREE and starts at 9 PM.

If you see me at the Know say, "Hi". I will dedicate a bass lick to you.

-Ben


This is how Westfold Played last time they played with AristeiA. See them do it again tonight at The Know.

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