Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Saturday October 10th

Hello Dear Readers,

It seems that I have fallen into the trap of only seeing shows that I play. Please give me encouragement to break this habit. I see it leading to bad things. Things like missing one of the best things ever (i.e. seeing good music performed live). Anyway, here is what looks good to me tonight.

Saturday, October 10th

Aladdin is hosting Live Wire!. It is a variety show of sorts. I am excited because the Aladdin is kinda the big time. OPB will broadcasting it too, which is nuts. Here is what the Aladdin website said about the event, " It's time again for the brilliant wit, bright stars, and big laughs of this year's Wordstock edition of Live Wire! It's a radio variety show recorded in front of a live audience and broadcast on Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB), and includes original sketch comedy, live music, and conversation with some of the fantastic authors joining us at Wordstock. This year's show will feature literary renaissance man SHERMAN ALEXIE, crime writer extraordinaire JAMES ELLROY, romance novel enthusiast and critic CANDY TAN, world-famour slam poet and publisher DERRICK BROWN with musical guests Tahoe Jackson and Y LA BAMBA. It's going to be a wild and wooly show, so join us Saturday, October 10, at 8pm at the Aladdin Theater. Tickets are $25 GA / $35 Reserved in advance at the Aladdin Box office and all Ticketmaster outlets." I could not have said it better myself. I really couldn't have.

Berbati's is having a show with Jared Mees and the Grown Children, Finn Riggins, World's Greatest Ghost, and Typhoon. Were I not playing a show this would be THE local show to be at. Jared Mees has a nack for bringing together really great bands for shows which in turn makes for a really fun time. His band, The Grown Children, play very uppeat and positive sounding music. The energy and hope in his songs shine through and, I feel that even if not immediately, could make just about anyone a fan. Finn Riggins, part of the Mees family business Tender Loving Empire, is a band out of Boise that makes really progressive pop music. Maybe that is the wrong tag, perhaps art pop? Whatever it is, it is cool to watch these three people make the music that they do. All interesting time signatures and instrument switching and changing of vocals and steel drums lead to a experience that needs to be seen. World's Greatest Ghost is one of the two bands in town that often get compared to Wolf Parade (Southern Belle being the other one). This is mostly because they create very very catching pop songs that marry keyboard and guitar leads in the church of the disco beat. You know kinda like Wolf Parade's "Apologies to the Queen Mary" did. I love this band. You should be dancing if you want to experience the music in it's natural habitat. Typhoon is another beast altogether. They are epic. They have like 12 members or something and they just build the songs into gigantic mountains and valleys. Or sometimes just mountains. It kind of reminds me of some of the stuff that A Silver Mount Zion has done with group vocals. Basically I feel that Typhoon is one of the must see bands in Portland. The ALL AGES show is $6-8 and starts at 9 PM.

The Press Club is having a show with Ritchie Young and Rauelsson. You probably know Ritchie Young as the little fella with the big voice in Loch Lomond (If you don't, you probably should get with it). What you may not know is that he sometimes plays around town all by his lonesome. And truth be told, he is just as good flying solo as he is with his cohorts. Not that he should drop the band, because they are awesome. But, rather this goes to show that the songs are strong enough to stand on their own. I have seen him a couple times by himself it have been very impressed. He usually switches between an acoustic guitar or a violin. Both of which he strums (not bowing the violin for Richie). He has a voice that is usually pretty high and loud and sometimes he goes even higher in what is one of the better falsetto voices I have heard a man make. His lyrics are often based on dreams and memories and thus are often surreal but conjure up very vivid imagery. Rauelsson is the music of the Spaniard and Portlander. He has an ep out on Hush Records and probably not so coincidently has many Hush artists guest. All of the songs are written and sung in Spanish, so I can't comment to much on the lyrics too much. To me his music sounds like the guy who sometimes sings in Blonde Redhead made a gentle folk record in Spanish. Ritchie is one of those previously mentioned guests, so I would not be surprised if you saw a duet tonight. The show is FREE at 8:30 PM.

Backspace is having a show with Annie Bethancourt, Ryanhood (Tucson), and Kaylee Cole (Spokane). Annie Bethancourt, like Rauelsson, is a sometimes Portlander. Also like Rauelsson, when she isn't living here, she is living a country that speaks Spanish (Costa Rica). The difference is that she sings and writes her songs all in English. They are also very well written and often tell little stories and have those metaphors that songwriters are usually crazy about. She tends to treat every show like a VH1 storytellers session which actually is very entertaining. She has control over her audience and makes sure that they have a good time. Pretty impressive for a performer who is backed only by her guitar. Oh, did I mention her voice? Her voice is pretty incredible. To be honest I usually don't think to much of the people she plays shows with, but I do think that Kaylee Cole is pretty good. I have seen her play with fellow Spokane native Karli Fairbanks before. It is mostly her and a piano. Her person and a piano seems to be much more informed by current "indie rock" than most who choose the piano. As her myspace page claims, "mostly I just listen to Arcade Fire, TV on the Radio, and The Walkmen". Oh her voice is quite good as well. The ALL AGES show is $7 and starts at 9 PM.

Say, "Hi" to me if you see me tonight. It would be neat.

-Ben


World's Greatest Ghost play tonight at Berbati's. If you see them please be more energetic than this crowd.

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Friday, October 9th

Hello Dear Readers,

Friday Night! Whoooo! There are probably a million shows going on tonight. But these are the ones I have my eye on.

Friday, October 9th

Dante's is having a show with Richmond Fontaine, Federale, and Kelly Blair Bauman. Richmond Fontaine has been around forever. Back when I was in high school I was into this thing called alternative country. There were these bands like Wilco and Slobberbone that seemed to be country music but not all stupid like the stuff played on the radio. I began to look for more bands like that which lead me to Richmond Fontaine. Now listening to them after years and years I feel like they are not really breaking any musical ground, though I do really like their music. What sets them a part is the storytelling that their songs posses. They are usually downers, but they are interesting and keep you listening because you want to know what happens to the character in the song. Federale plays spaghetti western music straight up. It is mostly instrumental and all awesome. Kelly Blair Bauman plays Americana in the same ballpark as Richmond Fontaine but, he has a much smoother voice and is a little bit more pop. I like it though I have not listened to it much. The show is $8-10 and starts at 10 PM.

East End is having a show with Black Elk, Mico de Noche (Seattle), and Nether Regions. This is a heavy show. I mean it probably isn't the heaviest show ever, but it there will be loud guitars and screaming vocals. I am usually not into this sort of thing unless the music is really cool. And honestly I am finding more and more that heavy bands do have really cool music. Black Elk is what drew my attention to the show. They are a first listen a kinda metal band. But then your are like"wait a minute. That's some June of 44 type stuff going on there". Or if I was going to compare them to other bands I would say maybe some pelican with young widows with some other metal band. Nether Regions are the exactly half metal, half psychedelic (maybe a little to much so for my tastes). This show will cost some money, and start at 9 PM.

Someday Lounge is having a show with Strength, Sugar & Gold (San Francisco), and Jeffrey Jerusalem. Did you guys know that I like to dance? Cause I do. But only I think I prefer somebody who performs it live. Is that called disco? Whatever you want to call it all of these bands actually play instruments to make your limbs start moving around eventually causing your ass to shake. Both Strength and Sugar and Gold write actual songs and play guitars and keyboards. I think Strength is awesome because they sing about non-tradition dance music topics. Take for instance their song Metal which describes a girl who listens to metal (she will probably be at the Black Elk show). And even though Jeffrey Jerusalem is mostly a one man show relying heavily on his laptop, he often gets on various percussive instruments (he is a drummer after all) and engages the audience like he's in a band not like a DJ. The show is $5-7 and starts at 9 PM.

So if you see me at any of these shows, please say "Hi". Please then explain that you read the blog so that I don't drive myself crazy trying to figure out how I know you.

-Ben


This video does not do STRENGTH justice. You would actually have to see them at Someday tonight to see what it is really like to see them.

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music for October 8th

Hello Dear Readers,

Last night I did not get to see a show, but I did get to play a video taping of a couple of Y La Bamba for KZME. It was pretty fun. The backdrop behind us was kinda ridiculous. It consisted of a lot of blue and huge sparkly clothes that looked like they were floating underwater. I honestly can't wait to see it. The guy who interviewed us, John, was super nice and kept giving us thumbs up. He was Scottish and I kept pretending in my mind that I was on Craig Ferguson. Anyway, there are not many shows that I found to be that interesting. Here is the one

Thursday, October 8th

Holocene is having a show with Ocean Age, Nucular Aminals, and The Golden Hours. Last time I went to go see Ocean Age they were mostly sick. So only two members played. It was okay, but not really what I wanted to see. What makes Ocean Age stand out is their layers that they lay atop layers in a progression that come in and out in a very effective way. They are a five pieced and make good use of all the members. They often do instrument changes (a lot of keyboards, a lot of strummed ones as well). There are often four people singing at once. Some of their songs have an Animal Collective-esque beat. Others have a Broadcast-esque feel about them. But the thing that is most notable about them is their groove. Nuclular Aminals is a band that I heard played really well at PDX Pop this year, but was one of the few acts I missed. I have listened a bit to their music and thought it was pretty alright. They play upbeat melodic tunes that have prominent keyboard lines and male harmonies. The Golden Hours are a band that I heard of through friends. I have yet to see them but I have listened to the the three songs they have posted on myspace a few times and have developed an opinion. I like them. At first I was pretty skeptical because of the three songs they have posted, two are covers. But after hearing them I get it and I forgive them. They cover The Wipers and The Shirlies, a punk band and oldies group respectively. But The Wipers were among the more melodic punk groups. The song they cover by The Shirlies is "Baby it's you" which is such a great song. It is one of those songs that has a drum beat that goes, "Boom, boom boom, clack. Boom, boom boom, clack". Which I love. So It makes since that the one original tune they have is a piece of very melodic and catchy distorted pop. It actually reminded me of The Velvet Underground. So, I was very happy to see Lou Reed as one of their influences (Ray Davies was also listed). Also it appears that the band switches off between a female and male lead vocalist. I am a fan of this practice. The show is $5 and starts at 8:30 PM.

If you see me at the show, please say,"Hi". Because there is a chance I may be in a good mood, and which case I will reply, "Ho!".

-Ben


Ocean Age play at Holocene 2nite!

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Portland's Fair Trade Music Campaign in Billboard

Today, Billboard magazine's website published a rather astute analysis of Portland's Fair Trade Music Campaign entitled: Weighing Fair Trade As It Hits Portland's Music Scene. The story made its unlikely way to the webpages of Billboard via a a story in the Nashville Cream, which was based on a nice spread in last week's Willamette Week.

Fair Trade Music (formerly Fair Pay to Play) is a campaign led by local musicians to establish a minimum pay guarantee for musicians playing in commercial clubs, and I should divulge that I have been involved with the campaign for a while.

The main idea behind the campaign is that we're asking venue owners to partner with us and agree to pay a minimum guaranteed wage to performers. There are five tiers to the pay scale, so that many music venues from large-capacity clubs to coffee shops can participate at a level most suitable to their budget and crowd capacity. These participating venues would get a sticker with the FTM logo (above) on it, as well as promotion from our campaign on our website, and in our campaign releases and literature.

In addition to assuring that musicians get compensated fairly, however, the system is also an attempt to reinvigorate the live music scene by improving the reliability and quality of performances, which the Billboard analysis caught onto quite well. Current business models tend to place all risk on the heads of bands, leaving the club without a lot of reason to spend any time or money on promoting their club or establishing their own draw as a quality venue. There's also not a lot of motivation to better cater local shows to a wider local audience. With a higher degree of professionalism on the part of both bands and clubs, there would be more impetus to start shows on time, deliver quality performances to patrons. And perhaps, as the article suggests, and as we've previously discussed here on CIMTB, venues might re-schedule show times to reach a greater number of potential music fans.

I'm excited to see the campaign receiving such widespread coverage, and even moreso, I'm excited to see coverage that taps into the idea that creating a stronger live music scene will require changes and creativity, abandoning the idea that exploiting performers to sell a few beers to their friends is a viable business model, and acknowledging that a great music scene requires professional behavior and quality on the part of both clubs and musicians, and an effort to excite local audiences.

For more information on the campaign, visit http://www.fairtrademusicpdx.org

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for October 7th

Hello Dear Readers,

I did not see the shows I listed yesterday. I took a break from music. I regret nothing. But if you are curious as to what I might be attending tonight, then I suggest you read on.

Wednesday, October 7th

The Egg is having a Bitch Media Clothing Swap event. The music is by Rainy States and Southern Belle. There will be FREE CUPCAKES (no joke). Both of these bands are bands that I have been meaning check out more. If I were to write a lazy description of these bands I would say that they are both rooted in the indie pop tradition of indie rock. If I tried to go a little further and actually describe their sounds I would say that I like the solid rhythm section with bouncy bass lines and tasteful fills on the drums. Plus their use of subtle vocal interplay goes a long way. Southern Belle I feel is a bit harder to describe. From listening to their myspace page, it would seem that there is more than one songwriter. If if had to guess I would say that they three songwriters. Their sound as far as I can tell can sound kinda acoustic and twangy of "Pacific", to like the new wave groves of the organ filled "Oh Tokyo", to the rock of "Shitlist" that is really interesting because it combines all three vocalists different styles at once (again with a lot of organ/keyboard interplay). And over all I would find it difficult to stand still while watching these bands. The show is $10 but only $7 if you bring clothes to swap. It all starts at 6 PM.

Holocene is having a show with Shelly Short, Glen Moore, and The Golden Bears. This is the album release for the short lady. It is called "A Cave, A Canoe". I have only heard a little bit of it but I am really impressed with it. She and her musical partners have created a palate of sounds where Shelly's voice seems to travel through your spine and exit your chest. I love it. Plus I am glad to hear Alexis Gideon's guitar playing. He used to play in Carcrashlander and I loved his seemingly calculated madness on the guitar. As far as Glen Moore, all I could find about him is that he is a jazz bassist. That sounds fine. It seems to me that I have heard good things regarding the music of The Golden Bears, but I am really down with Shelly Short. The show is $8 and starts at 8:30 PM.


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

-Ben


Shelly Short's album release is tonight at Holocene.

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Ben Meyercord's Live Picks for October 6th

Hello Dear Readers,

Work is stupid. It makes me busy. When I am busy I suck at blogging. I hate to suck. Whatevs. There were some excellent shows over last weekend. I went to at least some of all three days of Arya Imig's SoundJudgement Festival III. It was a blast. Though one of the hightlights for me, besides playing a Meyercord set on Sunday, was when Kusikia played. I have never heard of them before but they are great. A two piece with a dude laying down some amazing drumming and a lady singing in a really cool voice. They built and released the tension in the songs so well and ended with a Nina Samone cover. Sick. Anyways, here is what is happening tonight.

Tuesday, October 6th

Valentine's is having a show with Dreamdate, City Center (Brooklyn), Chromes Wings, and Cloaks. This looks like a very cool show. I have heard very good things about Dreamdate. They are an all girl pop-band that is reminds me kinda of a minimal Aisler Set. Then you have the ambient-ish music of Saturday Looks Good To Me's Fred Thomas. Fred Thomas can pretty much do whatever he wants music wise. I have yet tho hear something that he has done that is not good. Somemay say that that his voice is not perfect. This may be true, but his understanding of music is great. His pop songs are so perfect musically and lyrically. And with the more experimental project of city center you see that he has an understanding of that kind of music as well. Chrome Wings are a band that I have been meaning to catch for a while now. They make noise music but not really like heavy noise. They aren't Wolf Eyes or anything. They are probably more in the same ballpark as a White Rainbow sort of thing. Actually so is the other band Cloaks. Except I would say that Cloaks is the more ambient of the two. I also want to say that when I say ambient I don't mean slow and boring. I mean suble and interesting. The show is FREE (donations accepted for touring bands) and starts at 9 PM.

Holocene is having a show called The Rumble and it will feature Fitz & The Tantrums, Blue Skies fo Black Hearts, and Sallie Ford & The Outside Sound. That's a pretty solid line up. I guess it makes sense though because it is put on by our frenemies over ar Pampelmoose and a lot of other people. I am told that Fitz and Tantrums is white boy soul. I know that Blue Skies for Black Hearts plays some mighty fine indie-pop tunes. Jangle-core! They actually rock it up a bit more than one might expect live. And Sallie Ford is just great. With her very tight and tasteful band, her songs are even better. Throwback americana pop! And the best part of all is that the sucker is FREE and starts at 8 PM.

So come out have fun. These are some FREE ass shows. Say, "Hi" to me if you see me. Somedody did this over the weekend and it was great.

-Ben

Chrome Wings at Tribal Cafe from Jordan Bernier on Vimeo.

Chrome Wings brings the noise tonight at Valentine's

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for October 2nd

Hello Dear Readers,

I am posting this early because I have work at 7 AM this morning. Honestly this is an ungodly hour for me. Since today will most likely be a long day for me I tried to conserve some energy by not going to a show last night. I already regret it. Oh well. Anyone see anything good? Here is what looks good to me today.

Friday, October 2nd

The Blood Bank is having the first night of Sound Judgment Festival III. Tonight they have Pardee Shorts (6 PM), The Sarcastic Dharma Society (6:35 PM), Zoo Girl (7:10 PM), Duck. Little Brother, Duck! (7:45 PM),Yeah Great Fine (8:20 PM), Yoyodyne (8:55 PM), Wampire (9:30 PM), Blue Skies For Black Hearts (10:05 PM), and Reporter (10:40 PM). This festival is three nights long each at a different house venue. They are all ALL AGES and FREE. So tonight's highlights The Sarcastic Dharma Society, Duck Little Brother, Duck!, Yeah Great Fine. The Sarcastic Dharma Society seriously writes some of the best songs ever. For real I love them. Duck, Little Brother Duck writes crazy cool music that rarely repeats but is always awesome. You might call them mathy. Yeah Great Fine is a band that does whatever it takes to make a good song. That is to say that I don't think they really have a singular "sound" but believe me when I tell you, they are good. The ALL AGES show is FREE and starts at 6 PM.

Berbati's is having a show with Matress, Atole, Junkface, and E*Rock. I think that this is a record release show for Mattress. I am not sure if it will actually be on vinyl but whatevs. I have never really "got" Matress. He seems to me to give off the same vibe as Nick Cave if his voice was lower and was backed by a tape player (Nick Cave being another artist I have never truly understood). I do however like the company that Matress keeps. I have written positive things about all the other bands in the past. You should click on their links to hear what they sound like as I have never clever or fun to say about them right now. The show is $5-7 and starts at 8 PM.

The Woods is having a show with Kelli Rudick (Brooklyn), Jatun, Wishyunu, and Matt Menovcik (Seattle). What caught my eye about this show was Wishyunu. I have to be able to seem them. They seems to make very chill music. Even though they have some cool beats, it always pretty chill. In a good way. Jatun is a band that I feel describes themselves very well when they claim to be both shoegaze and electronic. I checked into they headliner and she seems to make very good music that is inventive and pretty (she is also pretty). The show iws $7 and starts at 9 PM.

So say "Hi" if you see me. I will be the exhausted one in a red Yellowstone hat.

-Ben


The Sacrastic Dharma Society play tonight at the Blood Bank. You can see me in this video on the left (with the beard) and probably tonight at the show.

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for October 1st

Hello Dear Readers,

No show last night I had a long band practice. 8 PM to Midnight. Crazy. But I will not be at band practice until midnight tonight. But actually I do need to work healla early in the morning. So I don't know. I have done worse to myself. Anyway, here is what is playing tonight.

Thursday, October 1st

Crystal Ballroom is having something called Red Bull Sound Clash. Basically Viva Voce and The Builders & The Butches start and finish each others songs. Bukue One and Ohmega Watts do the same all on opposite stages. Sound crazy? Yes it does. The thing only costs $10.

Mississippi Studios is having a show with Sian Alice Group (London), Inside Voices, and Morning Teleportation. I think Inside Voices is so good. Very hypnotic and also rock at the same time. Morning Teleportation is just "f"ing nuts. There songs change very rapidly very often. But they are tight too. Its madness. The show is $10 starts at 9 PM.

Rotture is having a show is having a show with The Blakes, Nuclear Aminals, and The Monarques. I have heard good things about Nuclear Aminals. The Monarques play straight up good power pop music. I saw their first show ever a few months back and they said that they were going to add two female singers. According to their myspace page they have. I am sure it will sound awesome. The show is $8-10 PM.

Berbati's is having a show with The Shaky Hands, Panther, Joe Von Appen, and DJ Magic Beans. A double CD release show is what this show is. The Shaky Hands have a new record out which I have not heard, but based on their last two albums it will awesome (and jangley?). Panther also will debut his new record. They are constantly changing their sound. So far, this practice has made them contantly getting better. So I bet their new record is good. The show is $10-12 and starts 8 PM.

Dunes is having a show Pikara, Moment in Static and Dead Cinema. I have not seen Pikara yet, but I have their album and it is very pretty. So pretty music fans, check this one out. The show is FREE? and starts at 7:30 PM.

Ella Street Social Club is having a show with Pony Village, AAN. I love me some AAN. I missed him last night. Some of you may have as well. This is our chance to make things right (seeing AAN is always the right thing to do). Plus I have been meaning to catch Pony Village since forever. And I thought that Yeltsin was no longer a band. They must have come back from the dead for this show. Sweet. Zombie band. The show is $5 and starts at 8 PM.

So if you see me at any of these shows, please say "Hi". And then ask me, "Why are you at a show when you know you have to work at 7 in the morning?". To which I will probably not have a logical answer.

-Ben


Pikara will play tonight at Dunes. Isn't it cool when she goes nuts on violin?

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