Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Friday August 12th

Hello Dear Readers,

You know what? I found that it is difficult to do the blog as regularly as I used to. That being said, I will do it as often as I can. I am still trying to keep on top of what is happening. I am still listening to new bands. I am still keeping my ears open for new Portland bands. Anyway, here are the shows that are happening tonight. Check it out:

Doug Fir is having a show with Y La Bamba, Wild Ones, and Death Songs. Many of you know that I play bass and sing in Y La Bamba. That is why I am listing the show first. Duh. Anyway if you have not heard us, Y La Bamba is a very vocal heavy indie rock band that incorporate aspects of folk and Latin percussion to create a bed for our lead singer Luzelena's amazing voice. Tonight we are finally releasing last year's album, Lupon, on vinyl. I am so stoked. We are playing with Wild Ones, a great pop band with a rapidly increasing reputation. They are formed from the ashes of Congratulations! which was formed from the ashes of Eskimo & Sons. If you are looking for the soundtrack to your summer, I think that you should check out there website where they offer all of their music at a name your price rate. You should download them and prepare for tonight's show. They just released a new single two days ago. I had seen them play it live, but their recordings are great because singer Danielle Sullivan adds harmonies that are sadly not part of the live show. Death Songs is a band that is a direct off shoot of the more well known Shaky Hands band. Originally I thought this was just a side project, but now they are playing more and more shows. Plus I think The Shaky Hands are on hiatus as far as I know. The songs are just as good. There is a slightly different feel, but it is still a really fun project. The show is $12 and starts at 9 PM.

The International Rose Test Garden is having a show with Blue Cranes. This is a collaboration between The Cranes, one of my favorite live bands, and NW Dance Project. The performance is comprised of dancers that have choreography tailored specifically to the jazz that The Blue Cranes create. I love the expressiveness of their music. I can only imagine what expressiveness a person who's job it is to express himself/herself by means of their body will offer. Plus it is in the Rose Garden. I have been there a few times this summer already and can attest to it's beauty. The show is FREE and starts at 6 PM.

Proper Eats is having a show with Michael Hurley. Michael Hurley is really enjoyable to watch perform. It is kind of crazy, but I had not seen him until Y La Bamba played a festival with him in Nelson, Ohio. He plays weird back porch count folk. He peppers his performances with little stories and funny little asides. The show is FREE and starts at 7 PM.

Disjecta is having Quiet Music Fest of Portland. Artist Chris Johanson curated the show which will the festival features "special performances by a spectrum of bands from across the country, highlighting this unique genre of "emotional, vibrant and low volume" music." Today will feature the music of Sun Foot, Kyp Malone (TV on The Radio), Tom Greenwood (of Jackie O Motherfucker), The Golden Bears, Larry Yes, and Franklin's Mint. The ALL AGES show is $7-12 and starts at 8 PM.

If you see me at The Doug Fir show please say, "hi". That would be ideal.

Ben


Come get your copy of Y La Bamba's Lupon on Vinyl tonight on Vinyl at Doug Fir!

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KIZUNA: FICTION FOR JAPAN

Hey kids, another non-music post here. This one's for a good cause! And I'd like to think the awesomeness of my last interviewee makes up for it...

I'm sure you've all heard about the tragedy in Japan, earthquakes and tsunamis and nuclear plants wrecking shit like a boss. Well, it's always good to chip in in whatever weird way you can. I've mentioned that 9/11 benefit Iggy Pop tribute nite that I shared with the fabled DJ Greg- part of the reason I bring it up is that the good feelings it engendered have stuck with me in a very positive way. That's why I jump at the chance to bend my creative energies to a good cause, like Children of Mercy. Or now, Kizuna.

Kizuna: Fiction For Japan is the brainchild of Brent Millis, a friend and literary colleague of mine who is an American expatriate living in Japan with his wife and kids. So they felt the earthquake pretty keenly. Brent got the idea to put out a charity anthology, and it steamrolled from there. This anthology features some great stuff: big names like Michael Moorcock, John Shirley, Trent Zelazny, and Robert Price; Bizarro fiction stalwarts like Ash Lomen, Bradley Sands, David Agranoff, Andersen Prunty, and Garrett Cook; more international authors than you can shake a stick at; and of course, something by yours truly.

I'm particularly happy with my piece, "The Norwegian Makes Lemonade", part of my 'Norwegian' cycle of stories, which are seeing a hat trick of publication this year. Having read the rest of the anthology, I'll say that anyone who likes flash fiction, horror, scifi, absurdism, or just plain reading in general, will not be disappointed.

So, everyone, check out Kizuna: Fiction For Japan. It's a bit pricier than the average Kindle download, but it's 75 stories by some great authors, and an amazing share of the proceeds go to benefit... you guessed it, suffering Japanese orphans. You can't go wrong there.

Kizuna: Fiction for Japan (a charity anthology) > US

Kizuna: Fiction for Japan (a charity anthology) > UK

Kizuna: Fiction for Japan (a charity anthology) > DE

Oh, and for you Luddites out there, a print edition is forthcoming.

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Tuesday August 9th

Hello Dear Readers,

I found some shows that look good today. I saw that the Builders & The Butchers played Noon Tunes today at Pioneer Court House Square, but I was not able to blog before noon due to a recording obligation. I am sure it was fun and at the very least free. Anyway there are plenty of good shows that haven't happened yet today. Check it out:

The Woods is having a show with Laura Gibson, Bright Archer, and Rauelsson. This is a Birthday BBQ for Ms. Gibson. She will be one year older and we get to help her celebrate…BBQ style. There will also be a cake walk hosted by Brian Perez. You know that dude from Musee Mecanique. Or maybe you know him as that dude that hosts Bingo Monday nights at The Woods? The important thing is that there is a chance to win a cake! That being said, the real reason I write about the show is because I really like Laura's music. It has always been a calming force for me, but I have noticed that she has been leaning towards more upbeat tunes. I have have not heard the recording that will comprise her fort coming album. I have talked to others who have and have been assured that it is amazing. I am sure that she will play some of that material tonight. I have not seen Bright Archer, but I remember hearing a really liking Johanna Kunin's music when she lived in Seattle. She moved to Portland A while back and did some time in Loch Lomond. Now she is focusing on her time on new moniker and AgesAndAges. Rauelsson is also quite good. He splits his time between Portland and somewhere in Spain. Making some beautiful and tastefully arranged folk sung in Spanish. The show is $10 and starts at 9 PM.

Backspace is having a show with Like a Villain, Moniker, and Lynnae Gryffin. Like A Villain is Holland Andrews's vocal/carinet/glockenspiel looping project. Her songs are beautiful and very dramatic. Often on the verge of being uncomfortable. In a good way. She has an amazingly strong voice with an impressive range. It often gives me chills. Lynnae Gryfinn is a woman who has applies very unique song structures to make herself stand out in the ever crowding portland "folk" scene. I find that it takes a few listens to fully appreciate her music, but very rewarding in the end. Moniker is the um…moniker for Monica Metzier. She is a mullet instrumentalists whose incorporates her guitar, drums, strings, keys, singing and looping abilities to create a live show that I have yet to see. The show is $5 and starts at 9 PM.

Mississippi Studios is having a show with The Fatty Acids (Milwaukee), Yeah Great Fine, and Your Canvas. I have never heard of The Fatty Acids before. I just previewed their latest, Leftover Monsterface. It seems like they bring a heavy psyh-pop punch to listeners ears. The kind that doesn't hurt and is actually pretty fun. Yeah Great Fine is tons of fun too. And more than that, they are impressive. I mean they are doing some crazy time signatures and complicated music while maintaining a very strong pop sweetness. A hard thing to accomplish, but they seem to do it with out breaking a sweat. I know that they have been working on new material for a while. I bet they will play some of it tonight. Your Canvas is a band that I played a show with several months ago and was seemed really promising. I made a mental note to keep my eyes on them and here they are again n my radar. It is lead by the bouncy keyboard and soulful voice of Jessica Bourdeaux and the tasteful guitar and backing vocals of Marc Swart. The show is $5 and starts at 9 PM.

Bunk Bar is having a show with Run On Sentence, Wooden Indian Burial Ground. Run On Sentence is a band that is best appreciated in a live setting. I do not want to dissuade from their recorded material. But to see Dustin Hammond's voice fill a room is have his band take control of an audience is a magical thing. Speaking of his band the guitar player of the band, Justin Fowler, has his band Wooden Indian Burial ground releasing a new CD tonight. He used to play under this name a few years back. Then he started the band Hello Loneliness. Now he he is back to Wooden Indian Burial Ground with some help of the Run On Sentence/Loch Lomond rhythm section of Perry Pfister and Dan Galucki and some other friends. I could not be more pleased. It is rock and roll with some very Justin Fowler aesthetics. It sounds jammy and old and it is just really good. The show is FREE and starts at 10 PM.

If you see me at any of these shows please say, "hi". That would be very pleasant.

Ben


Wooden Indian Burial Ground promise to be as bad ass this clip which actually has a few scenes from Holy Mountain the movie (NSFW but only for a little bit)

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JESS GULBRANSON INTERVIEWS DAVID J

Well, after seeing some fresh new faces and wise mentors from different fields, it's time to jump right back on the indie music horse, so to speak. And what a horse! I mean, um... dammit. Let's start over.

Above, you can see a polaroid of yours truly, circa 1994, about to deliver a red bottom to a dear friend of mine. Note the firm jaw, the severe ponytail, and... yes, the Bauhaus shirt. I was turned on to this band in high school, as well as their spinoff Love+Rockets. One of my greatest rock n' roll moments was a mere year or two after that polaroid, when I was in the noisy art-rock band Joys of Oil, rocking a Halloween party in a mansion in NW Portland. All five of us were dressed in Masonic robes. There were spider webs, and fuming beakers of colored liquids... while we set up our amps, and got everything connected, a couple of DJs were spinning some good old-fashioned vinyl, and what should I hear, but "Bela Lugosi's Dead"? So, like the annoying bass player I was, already plugged in and ready while my bandmates were still toking up, I started noodling along with the classic David J composition.

Now, despite what some readers may say, I'm a humble man. It was in a brief moment like this, in some weird primal bass communion, that I was closest to the illustrious David J, he of the raw dub-influenced basslines and intimidating Ray-Bans. That is... until now.

Loyal readers may recall that earlier in the week I did a quick writeup on David J's newest project. As luck would have it, I was able to follow that up with a quick Q&A with him, where he shares some wonderful insights into the creative process, and even answers some reader questions! I wish I could have had more time with him. Now, without any further ado, here's a man who really does not need any introduction, here it is, my

INTERVIEW WITH DAVID J

JESS GULBRANSON: Well, some colleagues of mine from our writing group got a chance to see your soundcheck at the Lovecraft Bar here in Portland. I unfortunately missed that. What was the focus of this tour?

DAVID J: It wasn't really a tour, just a couple of gigs with Adrian H and the Wounds. The Lovecraft was a very stripped down version of the full show. Very Weimar cabaret in feel, that one. I feel that this band are to me what the Blockheads were to Ian Dury. I'm having a blast playing with this great band.

Do you have a preference for the small venues like that?

I do enjoy that intimacy, yes.

Tell me about "Chanteuse and The Devil's Muse". You've been working on this project for a while, yes?

Well, I wrote the original song cycle with Ego Plum a few years back. It was for an independent movie called 'The Devil's Muse'. With the play, we are revisiting these songs and performing them in the context of a theatrical production. In this theatrical staging, the music works as a framework around which another related story is interwoven, that of torch singer, Madi Comfort. The part of Madi Comfort will be played by Daniele Watts and the part of Lieutenant Frank Jemison by Douglas Dickerman. The play will also feature the internationally acclaimed Butoh performer, Vangeline.

Is your writing always informed by music- and vice versa?

Music is not always a part of the process when it comes to writing. I have written a few screenplays with Don C. Tyler where music was not a part of the picture.

On that note, I caught part of your interview with Juliet Landau. Great idea. It's always interesting hearing about the creative process. The editing was interesting... there were a lot of slightly awkward reaction shots.

You mentioned in that interview that "I'd like to be done writing songs." What is it about the intensity of the creative process that makes it feel like it might be a burden?

It's just the thing of being a slave to the Muse. She can show up at the most inconvenient of times! Still, I love that intense moment of creativity as well and if the Muse should ever depart, I know that I would miss her desperately!

You know, it gets mentioned a lot about certain locales inspiring music scenes... Detroit, Manchester, etc. Do you think there was anything in your upbringing that was an influence to your later artistic career?

Sure. Northampton was an eternal grey, bleak place. We had create our own alternate reality and we did but a lot of that melancholy seeped in.

Similarly, "Chanteuse" is based on a rather morbid bit of history. Do you draw inspiration from macabre historical happenings as a conscious part of writing?

I don't go looking for subjects, morbid or otherwise. The subject finds me. These things just bubble up. It is true though that I have always had a fascination with the macabre. I was reading and loving Edgar Allan Poe when I was twelve.

One thing I am struck with is the breadth of your work- especially in collaborations. Is blending genres something you strive for?

I love the collaborative process. It conjures chimerae. Also, there is a lot to what William Burroughs referred to as 'the third mind'. When two collaborators put their heads together and produce a work that has a distinct personality that is atypical of either artist.

And with the collaborations, are they easy because it's a function of your personality? Or your musical tastes? Or both?

They are only easy if they are working and for that to happen, each collaborator needs to let go of control to a great degree which is a very healthy exercise. Especially for a control freak like me!

You're known for bass as your 'A' instrument. Do you start writing music from there?

Never. I nearly always start with the words then I select an instrument for the music, usually the guitar and on very rare occasions, the piano. (Rare, due to inability.)

Now, a couple of questions from the readers of the blog. First up is Gustavo, a local DJ and music producer. "Is a Love + Rockets reunion in the cards at all?"

The closest you're going to get to that is to see me perform with the 'Luv n' Rockets' tribute band! We are currently playing a few live shows which may well be the last as well.

Next, from Shreya Bollock, singer for the band Coeur Machant. "I loved No New Tale to Tell. What was your inspiration for writing that?"

Insights gleaned from LSD trips.

From journalist Emily Popek: "What is he saying there?" (she's referring to the lyrics of Rainbird, 'When you had to work so hard, working for a pittance in a ____ yard')

'In a boot and shoe yard'. Which is a reference to the main industry in Northampton, ( my home town ) which is shoe making.

I'm glad to finally settle that one! Next, Michael A. Rose, author and electronic musician, would like to know "If there are going to be any more orchestrated or electronic music from you as a solo artist?"

Nothing planned in that line but you never know.

Another from Gustavo Lanzas: "Talk about The Bubblemen!" Yes, please do.

The Bubblemen are sacred clowns!

That's it from the readers. I wanted to say how awesome it is to get a chance to talk to you. Thanks for your time. Oh one more thing- I noticed there's a spoken word artist called David J. He's pretty good... any relation?

'Don't know him. This could mean pistols at dawn!

---

Well, that's another great interview! Thanks again to David J for taking the time to answer my questions, and Robert at Gorgeous PR for hooking us up. Check out all the various wonderments at

http://www.davidjonline.com/enter.html

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Monday August 8th

Hello Dear Readers,

Last night I went a show! I went to Rontoms. It was the first show I had attended in quite some time. I sadly missed the first band, What Hearts. I did not know they were playing otherwise I would have made it out earlier to see the beautiful harmonies of those women. I did get there just in time to see YOURS. Those guys are great. Matthen has probably the best rock voice in town. And the band he has assembled is awesome. It has a nice blend of classic rock and more contemporary influences. Then Matt Sheehy's new band, Lost Lander, took the stage featuring Sarah Fennell, doing double duties last night as drummer of What Hearts and Keyboardist for Lostlander, and special guest Dana of Akron Family. It was a good time. Anyway, today I have the day off and decided to blog. I saw that there are some shows happening tonight. Check it out:

Al's Den is having a show with Eric Nordby and Evan Way. Eric Nordby is more commonly seen fronting the band Norman. Evan Way is more commonly seen fronting the band The Parson Red Heads. Both of their other bands touch on the the Americana genre. Some of you may not know this, but that genre is an outlet of choice for many closet singer-songwriters. I guess Evan Way is not so closeted seeing as to he has a myspace page in his name. Whatever. The important thing is that the two are both accomplished song writers and are good. Plus the show is FREE. Al's Den is the latest McMenamin's pub in Portland. So far they have had some good people play there. Hopefully they continue that trend. The show is FREE and starts at 7 PM.

The Someday Lounge is having a show with Mojave Bird, Forest Park, The Early, and Desert of Hiatus. The is a showcase of experimental music. I have written about Mojave Bird back in February when she first released something. In may she released another batch of reverb drenched tunes. It somewhat reminds me of Grouper but with some piano. Forest Park is a nice combination of post-rock touches applied to this female fronted rock band. As an added bonus they have they amazing drumming of Cyrus Lampton. Desert of Hiatus is near ambient and pretty music. Perfect for tuning out the rest of the world. The show is $5 and starts at 9 PM.

Valentine's is having a show with The Golden Hours, Filardo, and St. Ranger (AZ). The Golden Hours is a band that make kinda sloppy but very fun and infectious pop music. I have never seen them, but I have heard a lot of good things about them and have been impressed by the songs on their myspace. Sometimes there is a female lead vocal, sometimes a male vocal leads the song,but there are always strong pop sensibilities. Filardo is Tom Filardo's considerably less messy but just as poppy project. He has a tape out now called Enter The Edit Suite (check out the link I provided to download it). He has has been on tour with Arizona's St. Ranger. They have sweet harmonies which are often arranged cin choral parts.. They have sweet guitar parts. They have good songs. You should check them out. The show is FREE and starts at 9 PM.

If you see me at any of these shows please say, "hi". That would be very pleasant.

Ben


Evan Way plays for FREE tonight at Al's Den

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Show alert: WALLPAPER & AWOL NATION

Isn't it a great new world, where one dude can be a band? Just wanted to give this upcoming show a bump, because we have two dudes who are two bands, Wallpaper (continuing in the grand tradition of bands with one mundane word as the title) and AWOL Nation (continuing in the grand tradition of bands with vestigial acronyms in the title). Also playing is New Regime, but I cannot confirm or deny the existence or quantity of dudes in the band.

So, if you would like to hear some great new music, come check it out. I'll be doing my damnedest to make it out. Show details follow. Also, stay tuned- my EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH DAVID J. will be coming soon!

Roseland Theater- August 11th
All ages
doors at 8pm
tickets $15

Here are Wallpaper.'s remaining tour dates with AWOLNation:

August 11 Portland, Ore. Roseland
August 12 Reno, Nev. Knitting Factory
August 14 Boise, Idaho Knitting Factory
August 16 Salt Lake City, Utah The Complex/The Rockwell
August 18 Denver, Colo. The Summit Music Hall

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"Listen to your friend David J. He's a cool dude."

Well, sometimes you just have to help a brother out. I wouldn't think the august David J would need a Kickstarter to get something off the ground, but this is a brave new world. And he has five days left to do it! Do what? No, not remind anyone of the babe. PUT ON A PLAY, that's what! Here are the details:



KICKSTARTING DAVID J’S BOLD AND CHILLING
NEW TAKE ON THE GRISLY UNSOLVED MURDER
THAT TARNISHED TINSELTOWN AND HAS BAFFLED EXPERTS
FOR OVER SEVENTY YEARS!

Set to Premiere at the Bootleg Theater in Los Angeles on September 8, 2011


The Chanteuse and the Devil’s Muse, a new play with live music written and directed by David J (Bauhaus, Love & Rockets) needs your help.

David J has launched a new Kickstarter campaign to bring his unique and thrilling vision to the stage. With a goal of $5,000, and less than two weeks to make their goal, The Chanteuse and the Devil’s Muse is still in need of just over $2,000. As professionals in the world of fundraising will tell you, there is no donation that is too small. This is a brilliant opportunity to become a part of a saga that has been playing out for over seven decades!

Donation levels begin at $1, which gets your name in the program, and go up to $1000, which will get you a live, in-home performance by David J, Ego Plum and Ysanne Spevack (Los Angeles are only), a signed copy of David’s new CD, a signed limited edition “Songs from the Play”, a signed limited edition 7” single of two songs from the play, your name in the program along with 10 tickets to see the play at the Bootleg Theater and a meet-and-greet with the cast following the show, and ten VIP passes to see the show again in November at the Million Dollar Theater. No donation is too small. Your support would be greatly appreciated.

The Chanteuse and the Devil’s Muse is set to take the stage at the Bootleg Theater in Los Angeles on September 8, 2011 and run through October 1, 2011. In this theatrical staging, the music works as a framework around which another related story is interwoven; that of torch singer, Madi Comfort. Will her police interrogation reveal a dark secret that will finally unlock the mystery of the Black Dahlia murder?

The murder and dismemberment of Elizabeth Short in 1947 has been one of Hollywood’s biggest mysteries. It has been written about in numerous books, dramatized for the big and small screen, and now David J is giving the story his own twist in The Chanteuse and the Devil’s Muse. However, he needs the support of patrons like you to make this play a reality.

The Chanteuse and the Devil’s Muse revisits the ‘Black Dahlia’ song cycle that he originally composed in collaboration with Ego Plum (Ebola Music Orchestra, The Gogol Project) for the independent feature film, ‘The Devil’s Muse’. The play features live music by David J, Ego Plum and Ysanne Spevack (Smashing Pumpkins, English National Opera). The role of Madi Comfort will be played by Daniele Watts (two-time NAACP Award-winner and Ovation Award nominee) and the part of Lieutenant Frank Jemison by Douglas Dickerman. The production also features the internationally acclaimed Butoh performer, Vangeline.

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Donate now by clicking on the link below!

Support David J’s New Play on Kickstarter

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Tuesday August 2nd

Hello Dear Readers,

I missed blogging a bit. It seems that lately I just have not had the opportunity. But I often look at the shows. There have been a lot good ones in the last couple weeks. There are even some good ones tonight. Check it out:

Valentine's is having a show with Fred Thomas, Cafeteria Dance Fever, Orca Team, and DJ Chris Gunn. Fred Thomas is best known as the man behind the amazing pop that was Saturday Looks Good to Me. He has always had several bands including City Center and yes, solo stuff. You can check out Fred's blog here. A few years ago, for like a second, he lived here in Portland. I remember seeing him work at the downtown Jackpot Records. Anyways he is back tonight playing in some capacity. Cafeteria Dance Team play kinda crazy/noisy yet very catchy pop music. Orca Team play slightly surfy pop gems that I find quite appealing in these summer days. They are about to tour the entire GD country. I think that is awesome. I wish them well. The show is FREE and starts at 9 PM.

Ash Street Saloon shaving a show with Adrian Orange, Hornet Leg, Babyguns (Seattle), and Memory Boys. Adrian Orange is one to follow his whims. From his Microphones-esque past to the reggae influenced days to whatever he is doing now, it is hard to predict what your are going to see. But for the most part I would say that it will be worth seeing. Hornet plays groovy punk influenced rock. Memory Boys is a band comprised of two of the main folks from LAKE, Eli and Ashley. They make tunes that are distantly not very lake sounding. It is good. Given that Eli and Ashley have a musical history with Adrain (they used to be in his backing band), I would not be surprised to see them collaborate with him tonight. The show is $5 and starts at 9:30 PM.

If you see me at any of these shows please say, "hi". That would be very nice.

Ben


Orca Team play Valentine's tonight. The rest of the country tomorrow.

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