Big News

Well, kids... it's been a hell of a ride. I just wanted to take a moment to say goodbye, as I will be passing on the blog to a new master- John McElhenny, of Austin. (Yeah, Austin! The real deal!)  I'll let him introduce himself in a new post, but for now I'll just ask that you give him a laurel, and hearty greeting! Thanks...

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Help local webseries "INFINITE ISSUES" with their kickstarter

Friend of the blog Brynn has advised us of a local webseries she's involved in, Infinite Issues. They're having a kickstarter with just a couple days left to go, and you should help out! It looks smart and funny. Check the kickstarter out here, and send 'em a bu...

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Beck, Brubeck, and Bach: Portland Cello Project at the Aladdin Theatre May 4, 2013

Crappy Indie Music tends to get a little experimental with blog post format, so I've decided to publish a chat about the Portland Cello Project show I attended with my friend Steven on May 4th. (This is my second Portland Cello Project review—here is the first.) Why a chat? Well, as it turns out I've been feeling guilty...

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Big Deal- "JUNE GLOOM"

Someone broke into my car recently- smashed the window, stole my Nook, a case full of art supplies, some notebooks... and they went the extra mile by ejecting the CD that was in the player and stealing it too. That CD was the forthcoming release by dream-pop duo Big Deal, and I am super pissed. Seems like this UK duo is...

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The Technicolors- "Listener" Album and Show Review

Can I just state right off that I question the wisdom of building the Doug Fir as a music venue? I've been trying to figure out what exactly it is that bugs me- the space is cool, but acoustically... it's a concrete bunker. Regardless, I had a good time the other night seeing The Technicolors. Opening band was a weird...

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The Technicolors play Doug Fir 5/15

 Here's a good show to check out- The Technicolors have a nice blend between takes-itself-seriously-britpop and desert stoner rock. I know, right? Anyway, I'll be there tomorrow night. If you see a guy who is too old to make it onto the PDXPop compilation album, come say hi! The Technicolors are supported by Fictionist, and there will be an album...

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My Goodness! (There are a lot of taco trucks in Seattle)

Sorry for the angle Andy - Had to stay outside the gate with my kid! No less than three times did Andy Lum's poor cymbal try to escape off the edge of the stage from the relentless beating it received at the recent My Goodness outdoor show in Seattle at Volunteer Park on May 4th. Despite some significant technical issues...

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WE DESERVE BETTER, Part 2- Justice

Sonic experimentation means never having to say "Sorry, my music sounds like shit." Unlike a lot of other music bloggers, I am not constantly on the prowl for the latest and greatest. I don't have internet alerts set up to constantly be feeding me new releases. So that means that a lot of times I miss out on big releases,...

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Architects + Heroes "Sampler, Volume 2"

You know I would never steer you wrong. DJ Stephen R- friend of the blog- just had a baby, so let's celebrate by listening to his new epic comp: Architects + Heroes Sampler Vol. 2 (A+H013) by Various Artis...

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Guest post- "David Bowie: Should He Have Bothered?"

Hey everyone, enjoy this post from guest blogger Brynn Alexander: When I heard that living music legend David Bowie was coming out of retirement (or whatever it was) to release his first studio album in a decade, I have to admit, my first question was not "when?" but "why?" Yes, I know, he was the bomb back in the day,...

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HAXAN live film score at Hollywood Theater 4/14

Holy shit. You have no idea how psyched I am about this.  The Hollywood is always having awesome events like these- films with live scores, etc. This show is firmly in the mold of what Glass/Kronos did for Dracula: an original music score for an old movie that didn't have one originally. The film in question is HÄXAN,...

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Outer Space Heaters ROCK Slabtown, April 9th.

I've buzzed about the Outer Space Heaters here before, but I definitely wanted to share this gig with you kids. One of the reasons is that if you go the OSH Facebook page, like 'em, and share the gig, they will send you a free copy of their debut EP and a fresh new bonus track. Get on it!  I'll keep this update short...

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THE BEST ALBUMS YOU'VE NEVER HEARD: Freemasonry "Sparrin' With The Varmint"

I'm hoping to avoid too much of a nostalgia trap by not picking albums for this series that are important to the same time of my life. Or something.  There will be some overlap, of course, but I want to make an effort not to dump my long-ago tastes on you. I think when most people are asked to name a band from Georgia,...

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FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE ARE OBJECTIVELY BAD

Somehow I totally forgot to plug this, and I can't even believe it.  My friend and editor Garrett Cook recently took the helm of a UK literary journal, Imperial Youth Review. I was tapped to face off with co-editor Chris Kelso in a "good reviewer/evil reviewer" series of columns. You can guess by history here at CIMTB...

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New Video from The Knife!!!

Thanks again to Mute PR for sending all this great stuff our way...

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BAT COUNTRY!!!!!!! Twinkle twinkle Killer Kane edition

Sorry again for the radio silence.  To be honest, I was having a bit of a crisis in wondering whether to keep the blog running.  I suppose that is natural- I am a busy boy, after all.  But after talking with a couple of new friends I realize that Portland itself seems to be going through a weird musical slump.  So thanks to all you...

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Public Recognition

Public recognition. It doesn't happen much to writers, unless you're Stephen King, but it happened to me recently, and it was because of this blog. I was trudging home with some groceries when I heard a voice behind me calling my name. I turned and beheld an attractive young woman approaching me. "Are you Lee Widener?"...

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Valentine's Day Playlist!

This was totally not my idea, especially since my wife and I just found out there's a significant risk of our unborn babe having Down Syndrome, and for a romantic Valentine date, I get to take her in for amniocentesis.  If you're not familiar with that particular festive occurrence, they stick a honkin' big needle into...

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WE DESERVE BETTER, Part 1: No Doubt

EDITOR'S NOTE: This first installment of WE DESERVE BETTER, a series about recent releases that haven't knocked our socks off, is courtesy of guest blogger Emily Popek. Thanks, E! I’m going to be totally honest here - I kind of like No Doubt. I was in denial about it for a long time, pretending like I actually hated...

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BAT COUNTRY!!!! Tweed Jacket Edition

Daddy Lion is a friend of the blog. They make nice music. Check out their newest album! Callow are working on something very interesting here. We should keep an eye on them. WHAT THE JESUS IS GOING ON "You cannot be serious!" Stay in school, kids. And don't do drugs. The National Rifle combine two things that I love: creepy critters, The...

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THE KNIFE and Junip, News from Mute

A couple things from the fine folks at Mute.  I think you're going to like this. First off... Jose Gonzalez.  Everybody likes Jose Gonzalez.  Some have described him as a "buttercup of joy."  Others (myself, if you must know) have declared that "he could crap in my hat and still get a good review".  This...

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AIDS Awareness Benefit February 1st w/ Fatha Green and Alexis Whitney

This just came in under the transom, and it's a small world here in Portland, because like a week ago I was bugging Fatha Green personally to do some musical collaboration.  Anyway, here at CIMTB we support benefits for good causes, and this is a great one! From the press release: A^6 (African American AIDS Awareness...

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Crappy Indie Contest: Remix David Bowie's New Album Cover

Let's get this straight- I fucking love David Bowie. I have always loved David Bowie.  Not always actively, at first, but yes.  I remember being like 7 years old and watching a laser light show set to Space Oddity with my ultra cool dad (who turned me on to some of the best music I've ever listened to). I didn't start...

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