Musical Etiquette: Dealing With The Musically Challenged

Dear Musical Etiquette:

I love my sister. I just wanted to put that out there. I swear I cannot understand her shit musical habits! She listens to the worst crap I have ever heard; pop radio trash, shitty nu-metal and a smattering of nostalgia fueled boners from the 80's. Every time I try to introduce her to new music she acts like its an attack on her! What can I do?

Help me please!
XXXXXXXXXX

I am so sorry to hear of your troubles dear reader. If it were anyone else I would tell you to simply walk away, but as it is your sister you have little choice. We are not required to like our family, but we have no choice but to be related to them. Fear not, my loyal reader, I can assist you in these difficult times and have you coming out smelling like blooming roses and being a better human being all at the same time.

To the broad minded music listener there is little worse than someone whose tastes are not only narrow, but of little lasting cultural merit. Where are all the large stone statues of Lipps Inc? Where is the Bruce Willis fan club now? Even if the person in question has decent, but narrow, tastes it can be extremely frustrating. Every attempt to broaden their horizons can be seen as a cruel act, but you must first get into their mind.

But I Like This Music!

To those of a narrow taste in music, there is a profound emotional attachment to the music they listen to and any attempt to broaden the field feels like an attempt to take away their security blanket. We all have music that is as comfortable as an old robe and makes us feel good, secure, and comforted. For my own part, I need a healthy dose of Iron and Wine every week to feel normal. For you, it may be a particular song, an artist, an album or even just a genre that you come back to. It's the musical home that we come back to after 6 hours of digging through Weird Ass Jazz. Recognize this common bond with your musically challenged sibling. The first step to broadening her horizons is showing how similar you are. Show your sympathy and let her know you're not going to try and take away her limited edition Seether CD. In the fullness of time, she will put it to rest.

This Is Advice.

I know what you want to do. You want to drag all of her friends into the living room, your parents and a psychologist and discuss her "problem". Your dad will try and talk her into listening to some classic rock albums, you will put on a Daft Punk CD saying "See, there is better dance music out there!" and her friends will offer to drive her to the record store for her very first piece of Arrogant Vinyl. This is not how it will happen. In all likelihood she will sit sullenly and either break out into extreme violence or resent you and your high handed approach until you die. Who wants that?

Advise her. Do not present her with a challenge, do not confront her in the least. If your sister likes Shitball Nu-Metal offer her some Hardcore. Then a little Punk. Not too much. Don't take her way back right in the beginning. Not many people who listen to over compressed modern recordings can handle what second wavers like The Wipers did to audio equipment. In pop music you will have an easier time. Try moving backwards through pop music until you hit a point she really resonates with. Branch out from there. This is a long process and it's going to take some effort on both of your parts to make it through without hating one another.

In fact sometimes that's not right to do.

Slow and steady is the key here. You can't throw a casual listener or someone with limited scope into Miles Davis. It's just wrong. The same is true for Mike Patton, Buckethead or John Zorn and a vast array of other frankly advanced musical ideas. This is akin to taking the training wheels off of a kids bike and shoving them onto Interstate 5 in the middle of LA rush hour while sentient bowling balls with tits are trying to bore into their flesh. Bad and wrong, bad and wrong.

So What Should I Put In Her Ears?

I can list a great deal of specific artists that can lead her out of the darkness and into the light of the vast cornucopia of music in the world. Frankly, this would be a disservice to you my fine friend. This is a chance for you to grow closer to your sister so engage her and learn something new yourself. A good teacher is a good student. So spend some time exploring music yourself and take your sister with you. That's the real key to exploring music, never think that you know it all.

If you don't know enough about the genres she's interested in, ask for advice from a friend who does, hit the intertubes and find out what you need to know or just put Pandora on for nine or ten hours and find out more than you ever wanted to know about the influences of Bon Jovi. Make this fun for both of you, show her that finding new music is awesome and if she can catch your enthusiasm then you have succeeded in your goal. I've found that the vast majority of people with narrow tastes have them only because they've never been exposed to other cultures. Praise the Tiny Gods of The Internet that it has become so much easier for people to experience different cultures.

Winning and Losing.

Please realize that this may not turn out the way you wanted it to. If your sister discovers that she is a huge Bee Gees fan and you can't stand it, you have to accept the outcome. The point is not to make you happy but only to broaden her tastes. They may broaden in ways you never anticipated and in the end may overwhelm your own curiosity towards music. Be happy for her.

In much the same light please realize that some people are just miserable cunts. They'll never stop listening to the music they found in high school and no amount of exposure will alter their perspective in the slightest bit. They'll even argue about how much better music was in "Such and Such a Decade" until they're blue in the face. There are assholes in the world and as indelicate as it may be to say so, your sister may number among them. Prepare for the worst.

Other people are so awesome in other ways they've never had the time to develop a broad musical taste and for some of them music just isn't that important in their lives. There are also people who have fairly broad tastes but simply no real passion for it or the drive to get out and discover. There is no winning or losing here. Discover where music fits into your sisters life and focus on growing that into whatever it was meant to be.

Remember that if everyone was as into music as I am, no one would have food to eat.

Until next time you beautiful bastards,
Eriq


Confused by a situation? Send me your questions!

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Tuesday February 16th

Hello Dear Readers,

Yesterday was what I like to call a busy day at work. I was so close to finishing my live music picks. I had them all listed, I had created all of the links, I had even picked out a video to go along with the post and embedded the code. But I had to do like one more description and then work was over. I thought I had a few hours to before AristeiA practice, but as it runs out, I had no hours before practice. I totally for got about the blog post. I practiced for five hours and called it a night. I didn't see any shows, but man I had fun at practice. We pretty much wrote a new song. I am excited. You know what else I am excited about? Portland music. Check it:

Tuesday, February 16th

Holocene is having Atlas Sound (Atlanta), White Rainbow, Nurses, and Jib Kidder (San Fran). This show, from what I understand, was thrown together last minute when Bradford Cox (Atlas Sound) decided that he should play a show because he was going to be in town. He is no stranger to Portland (he usually steals our musicians to be in his band). This project, he is also in some band called Deerhunter, is more about Bradford Cox doing whatever he can manage do with his home recording equipment (he can do a lot). I used to think of Atlas Sound as very ambient. But it seems that that is not always the case. In fact, he has some down right pop songs under this alias. Though most of the time the music is drenched in artificial reverb. If I am not mistaken , White Rainbow is one of those Portland People who is sometimes in the Atlas Sound band. Adam Forkner makes blissed out music created by guitar and keyboards and a chaos pad and many effects pedals. I think that the music comes out different every time, so every show is special. Nurses is also a fan of the "verb". They also make really catchy songs. Though nurses makes use of looping stuff too but they have song structures (though a bit weirder than Atlas Sound). I don't know anything about Jib Kidder except that it is on States Rights records. The show is $10 and starts at 8:30 PM.

Valentine's is having a show with The Woolen Men, Orca Team, and Karen. This looks like a really good show. I only saw The Woolen Men once, but it made me want to see them again. I only heard one of the guys sings and apparently there are two songwriters in the band. Orca Team are a band I haven't seen yet, they make really well made neo surf music. I remember finding Karen's myspace once. But I can't remember how. I have know idea what it will be like. Is Karen a person? A band? A project? I thought I told you... I don't know. This show is FREE and starts at 9 PM.

The Woods is having a show with Danny Malone and Winterhaven. Wow. This is crazy. I grew up like six blocks away from Danny Malone in Dallas, TX. He was pretty talented then and really talented know. Back then he sang and played drums and guitar and bass. Now he still does all of that but also helps run a recording studio in Austin as well. I have his first album and thought it was great. I mean if you you like that sort of "I'm gonna get real drunk and cry about girls" kind of music (I do! I do!). Winterhaven is a band that I have been meaning to see for a long time now. It is the people behind THWBRO. They apparently are a fan of music from "The 70's". I say that because that is what they list as both their influence and what they sound like. They are a band of songwriters and have told me that they are passionate about harmonies. I also learned from them that Winterhaven is where Gram Parsons (of The 70's) was born. I think that this will be a good night of music. Plus hanging out at The Woods is awesome. The show is $7 and starts at 9 PM.

Fez Ballroom is having a Fat Tuesday Haiti Benefit with The Prids, DJ Roxy Epoxy, Reverse Dotty, Soft Tags, We Miss the Earth, and John O'Mara. I think that Haiti benefits are great. Because it is getting you to spend money on something you would probably spend money on anyway and putting it to good use. I always forget that the Prids are a good band. I have never seen them but after writing about them for a while, I really want to see them. They make pop music that is made with a lot of fuzz. Actually so do most of the bands that are playing this thing. I also have not seen Soft Tags despite my best efforts. They are constantly putting out CDs that are always outdoing the last CD. I will be honest. I have a copy of their latest, a double disc, that I have not had a chance to listen to yet. You can probably hear those songs tonight though. And if you don't like fuzzy guitars maybe you will like the the synths of Reverse Dotty. Whatever though, this is a good cause. The show is $8-$10 and starts at 9 PM.

If you see me at any of these shows please say, "Hi". I would if I saw you at a show.

-Ben


This is what White Rainbow does. p.s. check this out.

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What happens to record shops after they die?

From the BBC:
Stuff offers one possible future for dying record shops

We all know how downloads, supermarket CD offers and online shopping are making life tough for music retailers.

But every independent store is a small business in its own right, with a long-suffering owner, knowledgeable staff and a diehard band of loyal customers.

In times past, a good record shop was also a hangout for an entire generation and a focal point for fans' passions, as well as a place to hear the latest music and a barometer of new trends.

So can any of that be preserved when the shop closes down?

And do the owners keep trading in music by other means or do they find something else to do?

The south London suburb of Croydon used to have more than its fair share of notable record shops. But two of the biggest and best-known second-hand outlets have reached the end of the line recently.

"I liken record shops to antique shops," says Duncan Barnes of 101 Records, which is set to close its doors for the last time in the next few months. "Every town had an antique shop once, maybe two or three. They don't now."

But there is more than one way forward after the big shutdown - and another venture just a few streets away is blazing an unexpected trail. '

Trading roles


Weaving in between the fruit-and-veg stalls of Surrey Street market, a grey-haired figure with a megaphone is braving the winter cold dressed in a T-shirt with a bright pink logo. "Roll up! Roll up! Come to Stuff!" he shouts.

Fired up with enthusiasm, he strides into the Dog and Bull pub, but forgets to put down the megaphone.

"A bottle of Holsten and a pint of ordinary, please," he bellows at the startled barman.
Not all the customers are amused. "I could tell you where to put that thing, if you like," says one curmudgeonly drinker. "Trust me, I'd make it fit."

The man making all the noise is David Lashmar, who spent more than three decades building his shop Beanos into the biggest second-hand record business in Europe, if not the world.

At one time, he had more than two million records in stock and 24 employees.

But Beanos is now a fading memory, having finally closed down last August after a long period on the critical list.

To stay in business, David has made a big transition, abandoning the retail sector and becoming a landlord instead.

In the shop's old premises in Middle Street, his new project, the Stuff indoor market, is facing its opening weekend.

Where racks of LPs, singles and CDs once sprawled, there is now a three-storey labyrinth of multi-coloured booths, stalls and shoplets, operated by tenants who pay a fixed rent.

On sale are flowers, chocolates, jewellery, baby clothes, candles, craft items. Anything, in fact, but records.

"It's bizarre, but I've never been offered more records in all the time I was trading than I am now," says David, adding that he misses "the lure of the chase" in trying to track down vintage vinyl for his old shop.

However, in a further sign of how music retail has declined, he was unable to find anyone prepared to continue the Beanos tradition by setting up a record stall.

Continue reading on the BBC

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Show Announcement: Malcom Rollick, Grey Anne and Firs of Prey Thursday Feb. 18th 9pm

Hey everyone! There's a show coming up this week that I'm excited about. I will be there in my full glory. Stop by and buy me beer. Or say hello. Or both.

Malcom Rollick, Grey Anne and Firs of Prey are playing at The Parlour in SE. The show starts at 9pm, $6 at the door and it's all ages so bring your little brother and your mom. Your mom needs to get out more anyway. She's a good lady and she loves great live music right?

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Crappy Indie Music: Now featuring absurd rims.

I just finished giving the blog a new paint coat and some new rims. Let me know what you think of the new toolbar and color scheme. Crappy Indie Music is a user run blog! Give us some feedback, you beautiful bastards.

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Sunday, February 14th

Hello Dear Readers,

Last night I went to the know and man am I glad I did. Elders were even better than when I saw them the night before. I guess playing the night before kinda loosens you up. Plus I hadn't just finished playing a set so I might have been in a better mind set to watch a band play. That being said I was kinda sleep deprived last night after getting a mere three hours of sleep and then working a ten hour shift. Whatever the case, I was into it. Then Blue Cranes played. Oh. My. God. They are so good. They played mostly material that will be coming out on an album this summer (June?). It was beautiful. Every player in the band (two sax players, stand up bass, drummer, and piano/keyboard player) was so expressive in the way they played their instruments. It truly was like the instruments are extensions of themselves. The set seem way too short, but they ended up playing a quiet encore so as not to upset the neighbors. Oh and um...Happy Valentines Day to all you lovers out there. If you don't have a Valentine I am sure all of the bands playing tonight would love to have you be theirs (I apologize in advance, if it turns out they don't want to be your valentine):

Sunday, February 13th

Rontoms is having a show with Monarques, Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside, and Brittian Ashford. It is being put on by Potlatch Presents. They made you a valentine, see. I read somewhere that this show is 50s and 60s valentines themed. That totally makes sense give the line up of the retro pop of both Monarques and Sallie Ford. Though both of those band definitely have a throw back feel. I could imagine either playing a sock hop and not feeling out of place at all. Brittain Ashford on the other hand is not throw back. But will be a nice addition for a Valentines show as most of her songs deal with with matters of the waxing and waning of the human heart. The show is FREE and starts at 9 PM.

The Woods is having a show with Wartime Blues (Missoula) and Graves. I have not heard of Wartime Blues. But it looks like an impressive bunch. I feel like the large Americana bands are on the rise. This group is eight strong and includes instrument favorites like acoustic guitar, banjo, piano/organ, drums/percussion, electric guitar/ baritone guitar, bass, and cello/saw. And I believe there are harmonies in the mix. What really draws my attention though is that the bands lists Wilco right next to Godspeed! You Black Emperor as influences. How cool is that? Very. Graves is a band that I feel is a bit taken for granted. At least they are by me. You know how so music is heavy? This band is very light, I always get the feeling that they are very lackadaisical in their approach to music. They just kind jam out creating indie pop gems in the process. It is good stuff. The show is $6-$7 and starts at 9 PM.

The Laundromat is having a show with Almost Nearly, Leviticus Appleton, Charley (From Bird Announced Land), Bare Feet, Tattered Times, Comptche. This is what the people throwing the show had to say, "Early Valentines day show! We're on a second floor apartment on the corner of 19th and Wasco. look for a big blue sign. The Show is free and coffee is one dollar for a bottomless cup. Bring a mug and come early to hangout." Not sold? Well let me suggest that you check out the music of Bird Announced Land. Charley has an amazing voice. I forgot how much I liked it until I saw this show and listened again. The show is FREE and starts at 3 PM.

If you see me at any of these shows please say, "Hi". Give me a Valentines Day hug. I will return the favor.

-Ben


Sallie Ford and The Sound Outside are totally playing your Valentines Day Prom tonight.

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Saturday, February 13th

Hello Dear Readers,

Last night I played in Seattle with a bunch of post rock bands. It was awesome. It was so nice to play in AristeiA for an audience again (it had been months). Plus I met a bunch of cool people. but it also meant that I got home at 6:30 this morning. I am really sore and tired at the moment. But there are some shows I would like to mention that are happening tonight:

Saturday, February 13th

The Know is having a show with Blue Cranes and Elders. Blue Cranes is one of the only Jazz bands I know in Portland ( I also know Evolutionary Jass Band). I am not well versed in that genre, but I know that their music effects me. I "feel" it. They have dynamics and shifts that keep things interesting and I love the tones from their keyboards. I highly suggest you see them. Also Elders is one of the bands I played with last night in Seattle. I can vouch for their awesomeness. They are a mostly instrumental band that can be grouped with the post rock crowd. But they also have some vocals by their female keyboardist Jessica. I thought they sounded fantastic. I often tried and failed to bob my head along to their music (in a good way). Plus they are all super nice people. The show is $8 and starts at 8 PM.

Backspace is having a show with Quail Lungs, His Name Shall Breathe, and The Ro Sham Bos. Quail Lungs is the lo-fi pop project of Travis Bonilla. I really his song Dumb Dadadum. I included the video at the bottom of the page. His Name Shall Breathe is one of my favorites. Tim Martin plays his guitar in very impressive arpeggios and writes very earnest songs and delivers them in sets where the songs all flow together to create a wonderful experience. I cannot recommend his band enough. The Ro Sham Bos play piano driven music that seems to come from another time period. Specifically one that has past. It is The ALL AGES show is $5 and starts at 9 PM.

Jade Lounge is having a show with Ezza Rose. Ezza Rose plays folk pop music in the Portland tradition. Her voice is sweet her songs are enjoyable. She trades off between banjo, uke, and guitar (acoustic). If you are in the SE this evening you should check it out. The show is FREE and starts at 8 PM.

Alberta Street Pub is having a show with Dr. Something & The Poppin' Fresh Love Engines and Activity Universal Associates. Dr. Something is a fellow w CIMTB blogger. I presume that tonight she is playing with a full band. The last couple of times she has played it has been solo (I think, I was unable to see them, sorry). But I have a copy of her ep and like her songs about frozen boogers, love, and other oddities. I couldn't find much information on Activity Universal Associates except for the video that I linked to. I guess it is electronic? The show is $5 and starts at 7 PM.

Someday Lounge is having something called Cover Your Hearts which is a benefit show for Ethos. It will feature Charmparticles, Jonah, Dr. Theopolis, Gentlemen (East Bay), Adrian H & The Wounds, Celilo, Erik Blood (Seattle), Blue Skies for Black Hearts, and Bryan Free. I am posting about this show because Ethos seems to me to be a very good program. Plus I really like the power pop of Blue Skies for Black Hearts and the Americana of Celilo. The show is $10-$15 and starts at 8 PM.

If you see me at any of these shows please say, "Hi". And then slap your palm against my palm. Its called a high five. I am sure that you will be into it.

-Ben

Quail Lungs - Dumb Dadadum from Joshua Jay Elliott on Vimeo.

Quail Lungs plays Backspace tonight. Cool!

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Hearts for Haiti: A Rockin' Benefit

Dirty Dirty Street Records and Friends are proud to present:



Hearts For Haiti: A Community Benefit and Concert

On January 27th,2010 Haiti was wracked by a catastrophic earthquake centered near its capital of Port-au-Prince. More than 170,000 people lost their lives and hundreds of thousand more are in desperate condition. There is an overwhelming need for drinking water, fresh food, medicine and every other basic need for human survival; we are here to answer that call.

Dirty Dirty Street Records is proud to support the efforts of Partners In Health in their continuing efforts in Haiti and throughout the world to provide the less fortunate with access to health care. Founded in 1987 to serve the Central Plateau region in Haiti, PIH has expanded its operations to eight other sites in Haiti and more facilities in nine additional countries.

Hearts For Haiti is an opportunity for Portland to show its support for the people of Haiti, raise some funds for this fantastic organization and have a good time all wrapped in one. Please join us in this important event.

Hearts For Haiti: A Community Benefit and Concert

Saturday February 20th, 2010

3pm to 12pm

Hosted by: Columbia Crossings

12050 N. Jantzen Drive

Portland, OR 97217

Suggested donations:

$10 Adults, includes one free drink at the bar. Enjoy.

The Early Show

From 3pm to 7pm is all ages and will feature arts, crafts, video games and movies for you and your young ones to enjoy. Gourmet pizza is provided by The Good Pizza Company in Salmon Creek.

The Late Show

From 7pm until 12pm is 21+ with a valid ID at the door for the Dirty Dirty Street Records showcase featuring:

Thuggage
The Villains

DJ Wes Bain


Pizza by the slice, beer, amazing live music and the chance to help out those in need. Hearts for Haiti is where you'll be Saturday night.

All proceeds will directly benefit Partners In Health, a tax-exempt, non-profit organization pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code and a registered Public Charity under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

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