Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Thursday, February 10th

Hello Dear Readers,

I didn't go to any shows last night. Again. Looks like I am getting back to my winter habits. When I stepped outside this morning I remember why. It is cold out there. Not that it's an excuse, but that's my excuse. Anyways, here are the shows that look good tonight:

The Wonder Ballroom is having a show with Sebadoh and Quasi. Sebadoh is huge in my book. And hey, look what I just found on the Sebadoh website: a bunch of live shows available for FREE. Neat. I have listened to them for a long time. But I admit I kinda stopped paying attention for many years now. I bought their last album when it came out, but that was in 1999. Holy moly, I am getting old. Anyway their early self produced lo-fi albums helped inspire me to make music. I thank them for that. Quasi is a band that I have been into for a long time too. I used to listen to Featuring Birds all the time. It is still my favorite. At that point they had a perfect balance of accessible pop tendencies and really really pessimistic lyrics. I loved it and love it still. They have grown in recent years from a duo to a three piece and now they have the ability to rock out a bit. Which led to last years awesome album American Gong. You need to see this band. Oh and check out this funny video I found from ABC News with Quasi. Ha. The ALL AGES show is $20 and starts at 9 PM.

Nationale is having a show with Neal Morgan. I have not heard of Nationale before, but apparently it's a gallery/shop. They have lots of events with music and art and performances and talks and stuff. Definitely worth checking out. Tonight they have the incredible Neal Morgan performing. He is the drummer for Johanna Newsome and Bill Callahan. But his solo stuff is great. It is along the same lines of newer Dirty Projectors as far as ridiculously cool vocal parts and harmonies and arrangements. Except that it is all vocals and drums. Really cool stuff. Opening the show will be John Niekrasz, the drummer for Why I Must Be Careful, doing a poetry reading. There is a $3 suggested donation and the show starts at 7 PM.

Holocene is having a show called Carpet Culture. The bands playing are Boom, White Fang, and Hookers. Carpet Culture is "Another excellent installment of Carpet Culture, our recurring series of dirt-cheap shows in our front lounge room, showcasing some of Portland's finest young rock talent." I think that what Boom and White Fang have going is adorable. They are BFF bands and very rarely play shows with out each other. Boom are a rock band. I have not seen them yet, but I imagine that they would be fun to see. I mean I imagine that is why they and White Fang play together. I know that White Fang is fun to see. I have seen them a couple times. All they are about is good times. The White Fang kids have a new album coming out real soon on Marriage Records. They put out this clip for their new song Grateful to Shred recently which pretty much sums up their band. I couldn't find any info on Hookers (the band). The show is $3 and starts at 8:30 PM.

Mississippi Studios the show is Chris Marshall, Kelly Blair Bauman, and Leonard Mynx. This town has no shortage of what I think I will start to call Kinda-country bands. These bands are examples of that. Chris Marshall's recordings are equipped in what I think is pedal steel and shuffle beats. Well they are all shuffle beats. I actually think he marries kinda-country with a touch of epic indie rock in his track "Every Time The Wind Blows". Kelly Blair Bauman makes really good folk pop sounds. Again lots of pedal Steel and shuffle beats. But his hooks harmonies are great. I written about him several times before and will continue to do so. Leonard Mynx is a guy who makes great records. I believe he will be releasing two this year that already done. Live his a bit different every time. Sometimes its just him in a guitar. Sometimes three guitars which go a little solo crazy, sometimes he is backed by a very tasteful band. You never know what to expect. His songs however you can expect to be wordy and honestly quite depressing. Not in a bad way. The show is at 9 PM.

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

-Ben


Neal Morgan will play tonight at Nationale on Burnside!

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Wednesday, February 9th

Hello Dear Readers,

I didn't go to any shows last night. Here in the light of a new day, I am not sure why. There were some really good ones last night. I don't even remember why I didn't go. Tonight there are some shows:

The Woods is having a show with Cowboy and Indian (Austin), Hello Mtn, and Ari Shine. Texas is known for country and roots music. Cowboy and Indian do a fine job of carrying on that tradition. There are male and female vocals that twist around each other other over guitars in a real nice way. I like their Duet that is posted on their Facebook page. I am a sucker for country duets and this is a good one. Hello Mtn is the newish project for Catherine O'Dell of Horse Feathers. This is her second band the she has led. I miss her previous project Black Heart Moon. Hello Mtn only has clips of songs on her myspace. There are breathy vocals and a lot more strings than her previous project. I am not sure what the other guy in the band does. I know that Cat sings and plays guitar. The sample/tease on myspace seems like there is some promising song ideas. For the band. I m writing because I am curious. Ari Shine is a slick pop act from LA. He is not really my thing, but it is slick. This show is $7 and starts at 9 PM.

Dante's is having a show with Marcy Playground, The Parson Red Heads, Mark Twain Indians, and Norman. Remember Marcy Playground? Sex and Candy? Yeah well they are still around. They make power pop music. Classic power pop with really good choruses. I honestly was not expecting to like it and yet here I am admitting that I might. I was mostly writing about the show because of Parson Red Heads. I enjoy their peppy country rock. They have all the elements of a country rock a it of twang, pedal steel and a whole lot of vocal harmonies. The Mark Twain Indians sound like a radio ready alternative e rock band. Norman is a roots rock band. I tend to like their softer songs more than their rock songs. I think they are really good at it. Not that they can't do otherwise. The show is $15 and starts at 9 PM.

Ella Street is having a show with Southpaw, The Shoguns, and John Vecchiarelli. Southpaw are an interesting band. I will tell you right now, there aren't many bands that sound like them. They are a guitar and drums duo creating minimal moody rock music. The singer has a voice in the same ballpark as Tom Waits. I imagine a voice like that is a deal breaker for a lot of folks. The Shoguns say on their myspace page that they sound like "a kick in the teeth". Hmm. John Vecchiarelli is a drummer who happens to write good songs on guitar and piano. I have played a few show with him. I am not let down ever. The show is FREE and starts at 9 PM.

If you see me at any of these shows please say, "Hi". Or whatever greeting you think the situation calls for.

-Ben


Norman play Dante's tonight opening up for Marcy Playground. No Joke!

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Tuesday, February 8th

Hello Dear Readers,

Last night I finished recording a little song thing of Meyercord songs. It meant I skipped out on any show seeing. But I think it was worth it. I will keep you posted of what I am going to do with them if anything. But then again maybe not. This isn't a Meyercord blog. It's a music blog. I would never use this blog for my own gain. Oh by the way, have you seen this? Anyways, here are the shows that are happening tonight:

Bunk Bar is having a show with Archers and And And And. This, in my opinion, is a great pairing. First off, I really like both bands. Moving past that, I feel like they also both represent a freshness to the Portland Music Scene. Both are high energy and just absolutely bring it when they play live. Both have more than one songwriters in the band. That being said, they are not the same band. I am not sure if they do it anymore, but I know that it used to be if you sent And And And an email to "hottestmixtapeunderthesun@gmail.com" they would basically send you all of their music for FREE. You should give it a shot. The music is great. Also, I am not sure if I mention is before, but I love Archer's 7". The show is FREE and starts at 10 PM.

Holocene is having The Rumble. This time it is with Harlowe & The Great North Woods, Pigeons, and Letting Up Despite Great Faults (LA). The Rumble is a series of Monthly parties in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, San Diego, Austin, Las Vegas and New York. It usually features one band that goes on touring playing all of these cities, while having a few up and coming local acts open. The best part about these parties is that they do not require you to pay a cover. They are free. Harlowe & The Great North Woods is a band that I heard via my friend Brittain Ashford. They she and some of the members H&TGNW formed a new group called Prairie Empire. She told me I had top check them out. You can listen the Harlowe & The Great North Woods EP online here. When I listened to it, I was very impressed. I love me some well arranged indie-folk. Pigeons is band that I have written about several times. They are good. I have yet to get their album, but the general concensus is that the thing is real good. Letting Up The Despite Great Faults is the touring band for The Rumble. They have been written about on Pitchfork and have been compared to The Postal Service and M83. I guess what people recognize is that it is pop music that has electronic elements, yet is firmly in the indie-pop world. The show is FREE and starts at 8:30 PM.

Valentine's is having a show with Pikara, The Double U, and Empty Seas. Pikara is band that I have written about before. They are always kind enough to send us their albums when they release them. Speaking of which, they are releasing a new album tonight. It is called Constellations. You can stream it online here The band is led by Danish/Swedish Sara Johanne and her violin. She has claimed her genre as "Headphone music for the lonely". She rarley plays out. Nor do The Double U, for that matter. That band plays it kinda quirky and have been since 1993. In that time they have put out five full length's. The last one was put out by local label Supermegacorporation in 2007. I bet they have some new stuff up their sleeves. Only one way to find out. The show is FREE and starts at 9 PM.

If you see me at any of theses shows please say, "Hi". Or a knowing stare. Perhaps a head nod.

-Ben


Harlowe & The Great North Woods will be playing at Holocene tonight for FREE!

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Monday, February 7th

Hello Dear Readers,

Last night, I went to Rontoms. I have to work this morning at a place without a computer, so I am writing this on Sunday (yesterday). I assume that The Sarcastic Dharma Society was awesome. Remember the thing with thing and the other part that was really cool? Oh, who am I kidding*? Anyways, these are the shows that look good to me tonight:

The Cleaners at The Ace Hotel is having a Dill Pickle Club Fundraiser. The show is Marisa Anderson and Orca Team, and DJ Cuica. I thought maybe this was for a group pickle lovers. There are some people who really love pickles. But this is actually something much different. I ripped this from their website, "The Dill Pickle Club organizes educational projects that help us understand the place in which we live. Through tours, public programs and publications, we create nontraditional and interactive learning environments where all forms of knowledge are valued and made readily accessible. Founded in 2009, we are a volunteer-driven organization, with a shared belief in the vitality of community education and democracy." Pretty cool, right. Here is what is on the 2011 agenda. That being said there will be a Pickle Challenge. Marisa Anderson sometimes plays with Tara Jane O'Neal and the much missed Evolutionary Jass Band. Last month she put out The Golden Hour album which is "inspired by Delta blues, West African guitar, country and western radio from the 60′s and 70′s, gospel, noise, rhythms, cycles, mortality, and praise. The Golden Hour features 12 improvisations for guitar and lap steel." It instrumental and great. Orca Team is a band that I have been behind for a long time. I like their pop sensibilities. I like their songs. I like their style. You should check them out. The show is at 7 PM.

Doug Fir is having a show with We're from Japan!, Southerly, and Yeah Great Fine. This is part of the Tandem Hearts Screening series. Tandem Hearts is a movie that Jon Garcia made here in Portland. The movies features a soundtrack with several Portland bands including We're From Japan! and Southerly. This makes perfect sense because We're From Japan! is perfect soundtracking music. It is kind of like when Explosions in the Sky, another instrumental post-rock band, scored Friday Night Lights. The appropriate reaction is, "Duh". WFJ!'s music is so cinematic. And Southerly's Krist Krueger is a part of SNDTRKR which is a project that a live performence-based soundtracking. The band is called SNDTRKR for goodness sake. Yeah Great Fine was not a part of the soundtrack, but are awesome. You should check out their smooth pop math rock because it is brilliant. The show is $6 and starts at 9 PM.

If you see me at any of these shows please say, "Hi". It would be an honor. For me.

-Ben


Orca Team will play at The Cleaners at The Ace Hotel!

* no one

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Sunday, February 6th

Hello Dear Readers,

Yesterday, I cleaned my room instead of going to a show. I picked up the room. I did laundry. I did the dishes. Does that sound lame? Probably. But it was awesome. I feel great. But enough of all the boring details of my life. I wonder if anyone is gonna want to go see a show after the Superbowl. I will (I am not a football watching person). There is one show happening tonight. This is the show:

Rontoms is having a show with Birds & Batteries and The Sarcastic Dharma Society. AristeiA, the heavy instrumental band I used to play in once played with Birds & Batteries a while back in Oakland. I remember liking them. They mixed kinda countryish songs with some synth stuff. I thought it sounded cool. They released an album in October of last year. I have been listening to it this morning. It sounds really good. The guys voice vaguely reminds me of David Bazan. The music is pleasing to my ear. They mix all their collective influences very well. The Sarcastic Dharma Society is a last minute replacement for Yeah Great Fine (they play Doug Fr tomorrow). I could not be more pleased. Mat Vuksinich Not only is ne of my favorite songwriters, but he pays a ridiculous amount of attention to the details of his music. He plays with Padriac Finbar Hagerty-Hammond (a great songwriter in his own right) with a set that has Mr Hagerty-Hammond on drums, rhodes, glockenspiel, and some vocals (often at the same time). The songs are usually sad, but often beautifully so. It seems most times I see them play there is a new song or at least a new arrangement of a song. I am saying it is always a treat. I will be there for sure. You can get the majority of Mat's music for free here. The show is FREE and starts at 9 PM.


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

-Ben


The Sarcastic Dharma Society play tonight at Rontoms for FREE!

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Saturday, February 5th

Hello Dear Readers,
Yesterday, I tried to be social. I went to two things. Then at about nine I was hit by tiredness. Hard. I was this close to going to a house show that I heard about last minute with Alameda, Mike Midlo, and Run On Sentence. But it didn't happen. Anyways, here are some shows that look good to me tonight:

Mississippi Studios is having a show with Finn Riggins (Boise), Apex Manor (Pasadena), and World's Greatest Ghost. I first heard of Finn Riggins because they were on Tender Loving Empire. This was a long time ago. I first saw them because one of TLE label owner's told me I had to check them out. I did and was really impressed. That is what they do. They play music that is impressive. Their buddies Built to Spill took them on tour last year. That's huge, right? Anyway, they have a strong Portland connection because of Tender Loving Empire and now are taking some TLE friends in the form of World's Greatest Ghost. I absolutely think the WGG is one of Portland's finest. I remember the CD release show as one of the most fun shows ever. It is synth heavy with guitar harmonies and amazing pop hooks. So good. I have not heard Apex Manor, but they are on Merge Records. I am pretty sure that label no longer puts out bad bands. They to me sound like a strong indie band. Really solid. The show is $10 and 9 PM.

Kenton Club is having a show with Why I Must Be Careful, Trawler Bycatch, and Breezin. I really like the energy and craziness that is Why I Must Be Careful. I will write about them whenever they play. The last time I saw them was some time ago, but it was a duo of Rhodes and drums. They absolutely destroyed. It was fearless. Tawler Bycatch sound like fuzzed out psych rock. It leans toward rock. I don't know anything about Breezin. The show is FREE and starts at 9:30 PM.

The Polo Haus is having a show with Summer Twins (Riverside), Naive Thieves, Orca Team, and Raised by Television. I really like what I have heard of Summer Twins. Female led pop that is not slick but is good. Naive Theives make easy going pop music. It is good. I can see people catching on to them. I just got their album for free right here. I found out about this show because I saw that one of my favorite pop bands in town, Orca Team, are playing. If you have not checked them out. You need to. They play all the time. It shouldn't hard. Raised by Television is a band that umm…well I have no idea what is going on. One song they are electro pop, then they are playing rock music on an acoustic guitar. I guess it is like flipping channels on a TV. The ALL AGES show is by donation for the touring bands and starts at 7 PM.

Sea Shanty is having a show with Lee Corey Oswald, Sleeping in The Aviary (Minneapolis), Archers, and Blandinia. Lee Corey Oswald are releasing a brand new tape. If I not mistaken it will be full of energy and guitars, drums and kinda punky vocals. They have grown a lot in just a few years. I have not seen them live in years, but honestly I bet I would recognize their music if I herd it. I remember them being acoustic guitars at harmonies. Though they always had energy. Sleeping in The Aviary are a pop band that I am not familiar with. They sound really good. I could see becoming a fan. Archers are a pop band from here that I have become a fan of. I got their 7" when I saw them play at Rontoms a while ago. I still listen to it quite regularly. Their song "Door to all Marvels" has become one of my got to jam for any occasion. I love it. The ALL AGES show is by donation and starts at 7 PM.

The Press Club is having a show with Ezza Rose, Boy & Bean, and Cabin Project. Ezza Rose is going to put out her second album soon. I love her voice so much. Check out her myspace which has the song "2%" from that album. It sounds great. Lots of cool instruments and arrangements on that number. She has the live band to back it up. I am not sure how she will be able to fit it in Press Club, but I am sure they will figure it out. Boy & Bean is a swing Jazz band. I you know about this genre, you probably will like this group. If you don't know the genre, it probably isn't your thing. Cabin Project is the new band of Katie Sawicki. I am pretty sure that she played Siren Nation last year. The show is FREE and starts at 8 PM.


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

-Ben


Why I Must Be Careful is playing Kenton Club tonight!

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Thursday, February 3rd

Hello Dear Readers,

Yesterday was a long day for me. Wait. Isn't that how I started yesterday's post. Yes. I just checked. Yeah yesterday ended up being even longer than the previous day. I pretty much went to work from 5 am to 4 pm and then went home got my gear and went to band meeting/practice and got home at 9:30 pm. That is a long time of continuous activity. I was not feeling a show afterwards. But enough about my long and boring life. Here are the shows that look good to me tonight:

Holocene is having "A Few of My Favorite Things" with local film guy Lance Bangs. It is not entirely a music show. Though Mister Heavenly and Carrie Brownstein with both be playing. There will also me stand up by Human Giant's Paul Scheer, Brandon Johnson, Jon Daly, and Brett Gelman. Mister Heavenly is super group or Nick Diamond from Islands, Honus Honus from Man Man, and Joe Plumber from Modest Mouse. They make sad doo wop songs. apparently. To make them extra super they usually have Michael Cera as a bass player that's crazy. You can get a FREE digital Mister Heavenly single here Oh and Carrie Brownstein is actually only going to DJ. There will be some screening of some shorts by Lance and his friends too. There is also story telling and a live photo booth As with all of the "A Few of My Favorite Things" the money will go to a benefit. Lance is going to help out The Hollywood Theater. The show is $10 and starts at 8 PM.

Ella Street is having a show with Pwrfl Power, Aan, and Matt Carlson. Pwrfl Power is the sometimes Seattlite, sometimes Tokyo dwelling musical project of Kazutaka Nomura. His songs are often cute, funny, and sad all at once. They tell stories of social awkwardness or failed attmepts of love. Plus that dude can shred on guitar and often does. It is an interesting formula for sure. Aan is one of the coolest bands in Portland. I knew from the first time I saw them years ago that it was something special. Bud Wilson is the leader of the group and has mastered a blend of stark and honest lyrics that are placed over a very dynamic bed of music. I cannot get enough of it. Matt Carlson is in Oregon Painting Society, Parenthetical Girls, and Golden Retriever. I have written about all of those bands. Favorably. They are all kinda of experimental yet touch on pop. I have a CD-R of his that I bought sometime ago it was good. Kinda droney kinda not. I liked it. You can get a lot of his music here on his website. Also I heard a rumour that The Sarcastic Dharma Society will play a few songs before the show. That is awesome as Mat Vuksinich is one of my favorites. This is an awesome line up. The show is $6 and starts at 9 PM.

The Knife Shop is having a special show that features some band leaders playing solo. They have Krist Krueger of Southerly, Jared Mees of Jared Mees and The Grown Children, and Ryan Barber of Pony Village. I know all of these guys. I have written about all of their bands. That is because I think that all of those bands are good. I am trying to say that this is a good line up. I have seen Krist play solo before. His songs stand up pretty good on their own. Jared Mees is an interesting case. I think he started out playing mostly solo and then grew a lot with the benefit of a band. In the past year I have seen his band grow a lot musically. In fact it is so epic in nature now, that I have a hard time imagining the songs in a solo. That being said, his songs are great and should more than just stand on their own. Pony Village's Ryan Barber has been known to play his songs in different arrangement and configurations. This configuration of one makes total sense. The show is $6 and starts at 9 PM.

If you see me at any of these shows please say, "Hi". That would make me happy.

-Ben


Aan plays tonight at Ella Street. I am stoked!

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Wednesday, February 2nd

Hello Dear Readers,

Yesterday was a long day for me. It started in Sacramento and ended in Portland. There was a period of about four hours where I was driving to Chehalis, WA and back in order to take care of a ticket. I got $450 off. Yay!. I then very very stupidly agreed to work a shift from 5 am to 4 pm today. It was 30 degrees this morning. I was outside. It was terrible. I am pretty tired right now. I have band meetings and a practice this evening. I am already throwing the towel in. But if I were to see a show, here are the ones that look good to me tonight:


Doug Fir is having a show with The Blow and Sonny Smith (San Francisco). The Blow aka Khaela Maricich was one of the first artists I took note of from Portland before I lived there. I recall seeing her play under the name, "Get The Hell Out of the Way of the Volcano". She was doing some acoustic guitar stuff, but she was also doing some near acapella stuff over really old drum machines. Her earnest song stories had me hooked immediately. I think she might have still lived in Oylmpia at the time. She was on tour with Microphones and Calvin Johnson. Then when I moved to Portland I saw her several times. I remember playing kickball with her once at my friends birthday party and how my mind was going crazy with a continual loop "I'm playing kickball with The Blow. Oh my god!". She got more into beats when she collaborated with Jona from Yacht. She got more interested in putting on a show. She treated every performance like a VH1 storytellers session. I loved it. Then she kinda disappeared for a bit. I guess she moved to New York. Technically I normally wouldn't be writing about her no longer living in Portland and all. Some artists will always be Portland to me. She is one of them. Sonny Smith puts the Sonny in Sonny & The Sunsets. I am not familiar with their music. But apparently Sonny is a playwright and author of books. I'll bet his songs are stories too. The show is $15 and starts at 9 PM.

Goodfoot is having a show with Autopilot is for Lovers, When the Broken Bow, and Jack O' The Clock (Oakland). I think that I have written about Autopilot is for Lovers several times without really knowing what to expect. Has anyone seen them lately? The last time I saw Autopilot it was Adrienne Hatkin solo. She was ambitious and played guitar, accordian, piano, drums, glockenspiel, and banjo. It was impressive. But it is nice to see her with other people. Her songs sound so good with lots of other voices coming in and out of the arrangements. When the Broken Bow is the project of Ali Ippolito. She plays the piano and sings her songs in a sort of swagger that is easy on the ears. I am not hip to Jack O' The Clock, but from what I can tell it would fall under the quirky Americana unbrella. Ths show is at 9 PM.

If you see me at any of these shows please say, "Hi". But you most likely won't as I will be sleepy Ben by 9 PM.

-Ben


Autopilot is for Lovers will play tonight at Goodfoot.

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