Question of the Week: Best of 2009

Sorry about not posting last week. I guess I could make the excuse that I was taking a holiday vacation, but I'm not sure, as I didn't actually travel or anything. Oh well.It's the end of the year, and I'm obligated to pose a best of 2009 type question, so what was the best live show you saw this ye...

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Thursday, December 31st

Hello Dear Readers,Happy New Years Eve! It is the last day of 2009. Bananas. I ended up staying in last night. I disgust actions. But my rationalization, and there is always a rationalization, was that there are so many New Years Eve shows to choose from that I did not want to be worn out. And you know what there are a lot of New Years Eve shows...

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Wednesday, December 30th

Hello Dear Readers,Snow is awesome. It is is nice and white and has a knack for making things look pure. What is not to like? I suppose the fact that it has to get really cold for it to occur? But that seems a minor price for the existence of a winter wonderland. Yeah the real problem is that it makes roads very hard to maneuver. Especially in...

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How do you smell so good?

Those of you that do, at any rate. And I have walked next to you, and VA VA VOOM do you smell good. What is your secret?So, you may be figuring out that this is not really a post about local music, or music at all. I think it's important, though, and our discerning group of bloggers and readers are the ones who need to discuss...

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Tuesday, December 29th

Hello Dear Readers,No shows last night, and only one show tonight. Portland, what is up? I know I know. You are getting ready for the end of the year blow out(s). Redgardless, there is one show that looks to be good.Tuesday, December 29thValentine's is having a show with Root Beer and French Fry. Oh Valentine's. How I love that you have music when no...

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Monday, December 28th

Hello Dear Readers,I am back in Portland! But Guess what. There are no shows that I am interested in tonight. Nutz. I have looked and there are quite a few good shows in the coming days though. Keep an eye out here on the blog for those.In the meantime, I just saw this video posted today. I like Wampire and have written up theur shows several times....

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JESS GULBRANSON INTERVIEWS MIKE KIRKLAND!!!

Look, I get it.Portland isn't New York. It isn't even Miami. We're known more for our tight pants hipstering and girlfriend-stabs-you weepo than we are for any more beefy genres. But we really do love our hardcore punk. And we love our metal. Not only that, but we love our hardcore/metal crossover, and since a lot of us are...

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Sunday, December 20th

Hello Dear Readers,Last night I played the Blitz in the Pearl. I knew that this was not going to be my normal crowd. Quite Honestly I did not expect there to be any crowd. But what I forgot was that there was the Santa Con thing last night. So there were plenty of people. But they were all drunk and in Santa attire. There was one Santa who propped...

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Saturday, December 19th

Hello Dear Readers,Last night I was totally going to go out. But then I got called into work and then I had a practice. And then I was exhausted and I decided to go Holiday shopping instead which I also managed to not do. Then this morning I was running late for work and forgot my wallet and phone. Then when I got to work I locked my keys int the...

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The "Grouper Christmas Album" Petition

Yes, that photo is doctored. I don't know that Liz Harris has ever worn a Santa hat onstage in her life, much less one that sports a Guinness logo.Sometimes a strange opportunity comes along, and you just have to go with it. When the esteemed Dr. Something asked her question of the week, namely which Portland band should...

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Friday, December 18th

Hello Dear Readers,Last night, I did not see any shows. I did my chilling in Hillsboro gig. Aka house sitting. It was pretty chill. As one might expect. But I feel like I probably missed out on some good shows. Please let me know about themFriday, December 18thThe Woods is having a show with . Portugal. The Man is a band I don't understand. ...

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Sparkle Girl reviews Dick Dale, KING OF THE SURF GUITAR!!!

Hello, it is I, your humblest translator. There were some technical difficulties, otherwise this would have been Sparkle Girl's first solo post, so I will again function as trance medium, summoning her ebullient reviews from the otherworld that is Craigslist! Thanks, Michele, I love this stuff. You rock!Well folks, last night...

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Question of the Week: X-mas Album

Hi folks!Another week has passed; another question must be posed. ChristmasChristmasChristmas... OMG it's almost XXXmas!!!!!!So I ask of you, what Portland band would you most want to make a x-mas album? I think I'm gonna choose Here Comes a Big Black Cloud. I see baby Jesus emerging from the womb amid a clatter of feedback...

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Thursday, December 17th

Hello Dear Readers,Last night I played a show with Y La Bamba and it was super fun. Bryan Free started the show with pretty songs he played solo on the piano. Then came Leonard Mynx and his band. It was one of the best bands that Leonard has put together (he usually puts together a new band every show). Then we played. It felt really good. We tried...

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Wednesday, December 16th

Hello Dear Readers,I was practicing when The Mean Jeans were set to play yesterday evening so instead I saw no music last night . Oh well. There is plenty of shows to feast your eyes and ears on tonight:Wednesday, December 16thMississippi Studios is having a show with Y La Bamba, Leonard Mynx, and Bryan Free & The Doxyhaunts. Yeah I am in the...

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Tuesday, December 15th

Hello Dear Readers,Last night I saw that free show at Berbati's. I came directly from an AristeiA practice and missed the majority of The Woolen Men's set. Basically by the time I got a handle of what they were doing it was over. I was told that I missed out on the drummer's songs. They are one of those bands that has multiple songwriters. I guess I...

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Monday, December 14th

Hello Dear Readers,I was very close to going out. But then I went holiday shopping. I didn't buy anything but it still took it out of me. Plus I had to get some groceries which further exhausted me. And I knew that there is a show I wanted to see today:Monday, December 14thBerbati's is having Blue Horns play. Or that was the original plan. But then one...

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MP3: David Shane Smith - "Tarmac"

A troubadour of old is transported into the overstimulation and isolation of the 21st century urban landscape. He is adept at learning to utilize modern technology to complement his lilting melodies. He is a shrewd observer of his current culture and surroundings. Inherent tension pervades his compositions, lushness and...

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Sunday, December 13th

Hello Dear Readers,Last night I had a lot of fun. Right after I got off of work I went over the the Rock N Shop. Which was cool. I was able to catch the Ramones=esque punk of The Mean Jeans and then a bit of the loud rock (not in a bad way) of The Ax. There were a lot of cool labels and other organizations representing. I talked to the PDX Pop Now...

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Interview: Fenbi International Superstars

Interview with Micheal Phillips of The Fenbi International Superstars by Ron Trembath, CIMTB reader and contributer to music blog Fensepost.com:The Fenbi International Superstars never fail to entertain. Their own special brand of world music has become a stock hold for many Portlanders looking for a good time as of recently....

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Saturday, December 12th

Hello Dear Readers,Last Night AristeiA played with Westfold who were great, but who I want to write about was the opening band, My Dads. They were actually pretty cool. They were an instrumental rock band that made heavy use of a Rhodes (and other keyboards) and trumpet along with the usual rock line up of two guitars bass and drums. I thought with...

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