JESS GULBRANSON INTERVIEWS TONY LEVIN

Hello again everybody, I have a very special treat.  Coming up this Friday at the Aladdin Theater is a concert that you don't want to miss: the Adrian Belew Power Trio with Tony Levin's Stickmen.  Between the two, they've worked with a who's who of awesome rockers: King Crimson, Peter Gabrial, Pink Floyd, Frank Zappa, David Bowie, Alice Cooper, Paul Simon, John Lennon, Talking Heads... so if you are a fan of these two rock legends, or of prog rock in general, I hope you're going to be there.

When I was 8 years old, Peter Gabriel's So had just come out and was the soundtrack to my summer vacation on Chincoteague Island.  The bass sounds were so otherworldly and I kind of obsessed over it.  Cut to about 4 years later, I start playing bass, still can't figure it out.  In a shopping mall at Christmas, there is a guy with a crazy instrument playing "I Saw Three Ships".  I ask him what it is, he tells me it's a Stick, and I ask him to show me what it can really do.  HE GOES CRAZY AND SHREDS THESE 64th NOTE PERCUSSIVE STOP START THINGS, and my light bulb goes off.  That's the crazy awesome bass noise I remember from childhood! So Tony Levin occupies a very special space in my heart, and it was with great pleasure that I got a chance to talk to him.  Without further ado, here is

MY INTERVIEW WITH TONY LEVIN

Mr. Levin- I jumped at the chance to talk to you, and then realized I didn't really know that much about you.  My readers also seemed to view you mythically as judged by some of their mostly tongue in cheek questions like "When you ascended to godhood, did it hurt?" and "When there is a Mt. Rushmore of bassists, will you be Washington or Jefferson?"  So, to help us out, give me your briefest nutshell answer on who Tony Levin is.

Not my area of expertise. [Editor's note: Tony Levin can now substitute for Chuck Norris where necessary.  Example: Tony Levin can slam a revolving door.]

Your work as a session musician is very far-ranging- I can think of both Paul Simon and Alice Cooper off the top of my head.  Do you think there is something in a person's temperament that let's them do work like that?  Obviously not everybody can.

Studio work, as such, is more a craft than an art. Back (way back) when I moved to NYCity, there was a lot of this type of work to be had - quite different than nowadays. Most of it, of course, not for artists like Paul Simon and Alice Cooper, but it was possible in the 70's and 80's to play sessions all day, for different records. So, in that time I got fairly good at sussing out what was wanted from not only the musical track, but from the artist and producer, and engineer too. That's part of the equation in making studio recordings.

In later years, I veered toward playing much more live, less in studio - which is a good thing for me, because I prefer it. 

In these past few years, things have changed again... less touring with King Crimson and Peter Gabriel, so I organize tours myself, for the band Stick Men, that I work a lot with. And recordings are still going on, but mostly file sharing, from my home studio.

There was a very interesting documentary on "The South Bank Show" that you were featured in.  I was surprised at your almost Zen calm.  Is that something you cultivate, or are you just like that?

Again, describing myself is not something I'm good at.  [Editor's note: Tony Levin does not sleep- he waits.]

There were some great insights into the recording of Peter Gabriel's 4th album in that documentary.  Any fun anecdotes from that time you'd care to share.

 It's always great with Peter, whether in studio or touring - a combination of great music, a lot of fun, great people. I believe that kind of atmosphere stems from the person at the top, so it's a credit to Peter as a person that his whole organization and band are very cool, nice people.

I remember Jerry Marrotta getting a bit passionate about how humans will never be replaced (musically, at least) by machines.  What's your take on the increasing mechinization of music?

Drum machines are an old story by now -- they've been incorporated a bit into live drumming, but still sometimes are there on their own. Likewise sequencer bass parts. I don't have any particular insight -- just the obvious, that there is always some room for a musician who can create great parts on his instrument, and that people love live music made by musicians. The economics might change, but those things remain.

From what I understand, you're quite the early adopter.  You've been blogging for as long as I've been on the internet- 1995, right?

Yes, I think it was '94 or '95 that I started the website - at first to offer my new cd, but soon after it morphed into mostly a road diary. Eventually I separated the Papa Bear Records 'store' onto a connected but separate site, with just a few buttons to remind people of it. Must be hundreds of web diary pages up by now, and thousands of photos, from back when they had to be just 200 pixels wide!

Obviously so many things have changed online since then.  How do you keep up with changing times?

I don't keep up as much as I'd like to. But I feel that if I skip a technology jump (say, MySpace) then I'd better jump on the next one, like it or not, so I can be a bit comfortable as interfaces change. Facebook was a challenge for me (the old 'help from my daughter' thing) because I was used to writing code for the page -- the unintuitive, ever changing, rules of getting what you want up on the page has become the new standard. I may not like it, but best that I'm dealing with it, or I might not be able to work my next cell phone!

One of your current projects is The Stickmen. What was the genesis of that?

It began before it's beginning (!) When I made the solo CD "Stick Man" ... the music on that was fun to record, and I was wanting to play it live -- but it had multiple Sticks on much of it, and my band at that time had two keyboards, guitar bass and drums... not right for that harder edged music. Michael Bernier is an excellent Stick player who lives near me, and we had been trading ideas. It seemed right to team up for the band, and the obvious choice for drums was Pat Mastelotto, my King Crimson bandmate, who'd also played on the album, and with his electronic drums, he can cover some samples and stuff we can't manage with two Chapman Sticks.

Then after a few years of touring, Michael felt he couldn't go out on the road much, due to family obligations - we had, and still have, pretty hefty touring schedule - so we made the difficult decision to let Michael move on, and we added Markus Reuter, who plays a touch guitar he designed himself, lives in Innsbruck, and was already in a duet band with Pat.  Since then we've toured and recorded over the last year, and look forward to more.

I've always liked the fact that in a live setting you take the time to explain the basics of the Stick.  I read somewhere that 5-string basses were made as a response to the low notes possible for synthesizers.  Do you think the Stick arose from a similar need?

I don't really know Emmet Chapman's motivation for creating the Stick - but I think it took years and probably began before synths were being played much.  [Editor's note: Tony Levin can cut through a hot knife, with butter.]

You're touring right now with Adrian Belew, which has been described as "as close to King Crimson as you're going to get".  In your own words, what is the heart of this tour?  What's it about?

Adrian has a 'Power Trio" which tours a lot -- then Pat and I are in a different trio which also tours a lot - Adrian thought, if we team up for a show, we could do an encore set of King Crimson music - first the 3 band members (teamed up as trio for the first time ever) then have the other three musicians come on to join us for more Crimson, including being able to cover the 'double trio' period of six players.

The tour has been very successful with lots of sold out venues, and audiences really liking the music.

King Crimson has existed in so many permutations, the methodology behind it may not be so visible.  What is it about that that makes it such an enduring concept, despite changing so much?

I can't speak for the whole life of the band - what I really appreciated in my time in the band was how the ethic was to push yourself as a player, and to push ourselves as a band, to come up with really new approaches, and not fall back on what we'd done before.

That brings me to some of our reader questions.  From Langdon Hickman, "What's your favorite King Crimson song from a lineup you didn't play with?"

I don't have favorites of just about anything, but I think I could choose "Red" because I play it every night, and still find John Wetton's part exciting to play even after decades.

From Alice Green: "What's the status of Peter Gabriel's I/O album that you worked on?"

I'm not sure what that album is -- as you may know, he's been busy recording and touring with orchestra. My hope is, of course, that he'll come back to the band one of these days. It's my very favorite musical thing to be part of.

And a nice open-ended question from Reese Hopkins: "What do you think about newer prog groups like Moon Safari or Phideaux, newer stuff that has only gotten big in the past few years?"

Do not even know of them... okay, have now added to my 'must hear' list!  Sorry.

Well, it's a pleasure getting to talk to you.  I wanted to round things off with a non-musical question.  What does bass hero Tony Levin do for fun?  I hear rumblings about a quilt...

Quilting on the road for sure ... doesn't everybody? But much going on when I'm not touring, including a pretty decent and involved home family life after all these years travelling so much. 

Thanks again for taking time out for this interview!

----
Once again, thanks to the amazing Tony Levin.  Make sure to read his tour diaries at www.papabear.com,  and be sure to make it to the show on Friday!  And just for fun, watch this video of Patrick Stewart playing a Chapman Stick.

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Ron's Picks: Black Pussy's On Blonde

It is suffice to say that with a name like Black Pussy, you are probably going to be embarking on a journey with an extremely bad ass group.  Of course, this is a band residing the the fair City of Roses, home to the cult legends Starfucker.  And just as the stars would show, the old 80's hip hop question, "What's In A Name?" is still very relevant.  No matter the stigma, Black Pussy is a group that portrays nothing more than hellride worthy damn genius with speed guitar anthems and piston blowing insanity that is both enjoyable and systematic to chance to have a damn good time.

Black Pussy takes Dustin Hill and a few of his friends away from their regular duties with the thrash core group White Orange, to make some old school road trippin', hardcore songs about weed, crumbling towns, and Indiana chops.  On their stellar initial release, On Blonde, we find a side project that takes a turn for the center lane, and never looks back.  They sound cocaine infused, yet determined to develop a pop worthy sound that can be breast fed to one audience, and then a different one entirely.  Alongside Dustin is Toadhouse Studio founder Adam Pike (also of White Orange) enlightening himself just as Hill has obviously done with this fun and enthusiastic record unlike any blatantly boring shit you have heard recently.

While many avid indie rock listeners might embrace this sort of exuberance as just another way to spend a night fueled up on PBR and lost hope, there is actually a bit in On Blonde for everyone.  It is manic!  It's insane.  It's probably an album you have been waiting to find for sometime, yet were far to chickenshit to extend your ears to something so amazingly insane.  So, how about you lighten up Francis, and learn how to party.  These guys can show you the way.  They'll have you blowing smoke from your ears while juggling chainsaws in the back of a busted up convertible fueled by Jack Daniels doing 90 down Burnside with the intensity of Denis Leary on stage talking about 8Balls.  And who wouldn't want that?

Check out Black Pussy's On Blonde on the group's Bandcamp Page (where they somehow earned a tag of "Fleetwood Mac", which actually makes no sense at all, but definitely intriguing)

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A CIMB Interview with Timmy Williams of Whitest Kids U' Know

I was recently fortunate enough to come in contact with the (soon to be) comedic legend Timmy Williams.  You know him best as an extremely lovable and talented member of the comedy troupe Whitest Kids U Know.  Whether you've seen them live on the summer festival circuit, had their show relentlessly hold space on your DVR, or dig through YouTube trying to find the best video to discuss your religious co-worker two cubicles down from you, you have probably seen our friend Timmy.  Sometimes he places the far too nice punching bag of the group.  But, die hard WKUK fans will always hold the likes of "Timmy Dance" and the recently hilarious "Baked Beans" as just a couple of the finest moments in the show's history.  And that just wouldn't be without the brilliance of Timmy Williams.  Fresh of the farms of South Dakota, Timmy has seen the early stages of his comedy career turn into some great success.  And the future can only look brighter and brighter for this rising talent.

 The show has since had it's finale, and will only grace our cable boxes via syndicated bliss.  But, Timmy and crew have given us a half a decade groundbreaking work (poop has never been covered so well prior to this show) that will definitely be remembered.  For a while anyway.

I thought it would be nice to have a quick chat with Timmy and share shared statements with the likes of you fine CIMB readers.  Check it out as we discuss music videos, Andrew W.K., fatherhood, South Dakota's comedy scene, and more!  Enjoy!



As a comedian who has worked between the realms of stand up, acting, and sketch comedy, which do you rightfully prefer?  

This is as tough a question as "what's your favorite food?"  I like all 3: stand up because it gives me complete independence and instant gratification, acting because it's fun to collaborate with a huge group of people, and sketch because it's fun to collaborate with a small group of people.

What was the last thing that made you smile?

I can't remember exactly, but I'm sure it was either the baby or a fart.

You have recently become a father for the first time, can we expect some family oriented type bits from you in the future?

Well, my stand up is already becoming peppered with baby stuff.  I always wanted to be a comic that "doesn't do that," but once you have a kid, you realize you have nothing else going on to write about.

Video still for Golden Bloom's "Rhyme To Reason"

How did you become involved with Shawn Fogel and his Golden Bloom music video directed by Alicia J. Rose?

Boring story.  A friend who knows Alicia asked me to do it.  Done.

Yeah, that was pretty much a shameless plug for my good friend Shawn anyway.  So, what made you choose the City of Roses as your current residence?

We wanted to start doing some urban agriculture stuff, like raise chickens and garden.  Now we're going to move to LA so I can earn some money because that other stuff doesn't.

How was the comedy scene around you growing up in rural South Dakota?

What comedy scene?

Sadly I know exactly what you mean.  So, now that you're living, temporarily, in the land of 100,000 musicians, and been featured in an indie rock sensation's music video, I have to ask....are you in a band? 

No.  I have very little musical talent.  I can kind of play the sax and am "funny" at karaoke, but not good.

You know, CIMB hosts regular karaoke sessions, of which you are obviously invited to.  That being said, if you could sit in with any band, active or not, for just one show, who would it be?

I would love to sing backups with Andrew W.K.

What does the future hold for you post WKUK?  Will you still tour with the troupe, or is officially disbanned?

The troupe is still together!  We're writing a movie, we're working on a tour, and I'm sure you'll see us around the TV in one way or another.  We're definitely not done filling the world with poop jokes.

Lastly, and obviously most importantly, where did you learn to dance with such grace and zest?

You know what's crazy?  I can actually explain that.  Every summer between the ages of 12 and 16, I attended an arts day camp for a week.  One of the mandatory classes was ballet, and so I actually know some ballet moves.  That's silly.

Silly, yes.  Utterly impressive....always!  Thank you for your time Timmy!

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FREE SHOW/BEER this Friday September 23rd

“Before you criticize a man, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, when you do criticize him, you’ll be a mile away and have his shoes. “

An unknown wise man said that, and since 2007 the good people at Crappy Indie Music: The Blog have been… um… stealing your shoes. Now is the time for them to show off, and three musical projects from our bloggers will be rocking The Old Church on September 23rd.

The lineup:
Doctor Something and the Pipin’ Hot Love Engines, post electric/folk about science (Dr. Something) http://www.myspace.com/drsomething
Evil Doer, heavy metal party trio (saintgoldie aka Goldie Davich)http://www.myspace.com/evildoerpdx
Goddammit One Of Us Will Be Drunk, acoustic dirty duo from Coeur Machant(Jess Gulbranson ) http://www.last.fm/music/Coeur+Machant

followed by a very special Crappy Indie Music Bloggers supergroup!

A few words on the venue:

The Old Church is a cute church — not overly ornate or fancy. The stained glass is simple. The first time I walked in I felt a sense of reverence, which was tempered quickly enough with the overwhelming and exciting feeling of the historic value and importance of this Portland landmark.
I love to walk around and whistle. The reverb in the empty rooms is intoxicating, so full-sounding. I blow the air into a giant set of lungs, filling it up with little breaths that turn into mighty ‘ooooos.’ I am excited to take an old church and turn it into a place to worship new music. A classical setting for contemporary stuff. Irreverent, modern and fun music and performances against the back drop of a pipe organ. The idea of sitting down at an early show, in a building whose design supports good sound (it’s a giant amp), is appealing not just to me but everyone I’ve talked to about this project. I can’t imagine a better place to book shows. Goldie Presents is thrilled to open the doors to new artists and a new generation of worshippers of Portland’s creative output. -Goldie Presents

Show info:
Goldie Presents
The Old Church
1422 SW 11th Ave
Portland, OR 97201 Doors at 7pm
Show starts promptly at 8pm
All-ages
Free!
beer with ID

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JESS INTERVIEWS CHRIS MARTIN... FOR REALS Y'ALL

Sometimes it's hard out there to be a blogger.  The other night I had the displeasure to be... let's say, "Schrodinger's Journalist", simultaneously on-and-not-on the guest list at a show, until I collapsed the waveform by getting the hell out of there.  It was all due to an unfortunately Byzantine chain of communication, and while it may have driven lesser mortals to distraction, I am taking a page out of my interviewee's book and chalking it up to "road life."

        

So, what now?  I interviewed Chris Martin.  I like saying it because it's true.  And no, it's not that one.

Just... settle the hell down, Mr. Martin. 

Dear Crappy Indie Music reader, I have a great opinion of you.  I know that because you are a citizen of  the world and connoisseur of fine things, that you will not mind my playful bait-and-switch, and will be glad that I did not interview... that Chris Martin.  Instead, allow me to present:

     

MY INTERVIEW WITH CHRIS MARTIN

JESS: Hello Chris, good to talk to you. So for those who don't know, you're the guitarist and vocalist for IAMDYNAMITE.  Would you consider yourself a "frontman"?  

CHRIS: I would, I guess.  I think of it more like Chris and I are BOTH frontmen (is there a plural for frontman?)  Since there's only two of us, there's plenty of space for us to be both out front

Do you think that's even possible, for a band with only two people?  I doubt the other Chris would be keen on being the "backman".

Yeah, he probably wouldn't like being called that.

Speaking of "other Chris", do you get any grief from sharing a name with the singer from a certain band I won't name, but rhymes with "Goldplay"?

I'm not sure who you're referring to??  Goldclay?  I'm not familiar with them... but I will say that there's plenty of room for Chris Martins in the world.  We're a gentle breed who don't fight much.  You can tell just by the name.  Chris Martin.  It just doesn't sound like an angry person’s name.

I recently talked to David J, who was unaware that there was another David J out there in the world of freestyle poetry... so maybe you won't get crushed under Mr. Paltrow's bootheel.

;) Hopefully!

Let's talk about the band.  I understand that you were originally called "Mahoney".  What's the story behind the name change?  Is there a Police Academy reference hidden there?  

Yes to the Police Academy reference.  We just thought it was stupid and funny to call ourselves "mahoney" and put up flyers everywhere with pictures of Steve Gutenberg dressed in a police uniform.  We were just bored with being in bands and we didn't care and we thought it was funny.  Eventually we changed it into something that was more meaningful to us.    

How did you guys get hooked up with Matt Noveskey?  Your bio says you caught his eye, but our readers demand real, hard facts!  Or at least highly entertaining fables.  

We were always a big fan of Matt's macaroni artwork.  He takes elbow macaroni and makes shapes on construction paper, it's really quite breathtaking.  Stars, ducks, unicorns... really just beautiful.  So when we ran into him at a crafts expo in Reno, we struck up a conversation and he immediately said, "I've gotta produce these guys!"  None of this is true by the way :)

Now, about your music.  You have two members, yourself on vocals and guitar, and Chris Phillips on drums.  That's not a very common configuration- but often very intense when it shows up.  Do you think there's anything particular about it, or just happenstance? Anything particular about it that makes is more intense?

"ROAD LIFE"

Perhaps.  I mean, you definitely get starker contrasts i think.  There's no layering of multiple instruments, so what you play doesn't get hidden behind all of that.  Everyone hears what you do, kind of unfiltered and maybe more raw because of it.

The first thing I thought of when hearing you kids was energy. Do you think that that high energy emerges from your state as a duo?

Not directly, but we do try to bring high energy.  We just want to move everyone in the room, you know?  

Similarly, how is your songwriting structure affected by that?  I've been in a two-person project, so I know how weird it can get...  

It's different than normal, I guess.  But having limited options makes you more creative, I think.  It helps us avoid adding many unnecessary parts to the songs

Do you feel like a yin-yang or a pie chart?

Yin-yang.

Tell me about your approach to making your videos.  Was that a natural step for you guys, or did you have to make it happen?

It was a natural step.  We never sought out anyone to make a video for us, we just fortunate to be approached by some cool talented people.  In particular Marty "Lazer" Stano, who's directed a few videos for us.

You're on tour right now with Noveskey's band Blue October.  What is the touring experience like?

It's pretty much play, sleep, drive.  Occasionally you end up at a party or in some crazy or weird situation and chalk it up to the "road life."  But for the most part it's just hanging out with the other guys in the crew and trying to have a great show

What's next for you cats?  What will be hearing about IAMDYNAMITE in the next year or so?  

Touring as much as possible.  Also working on as much new material as possible for the next album, whenever that happens.

Sweet.  It was great to throw some questions at you!  Best of luck!  

Thanks!

       

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Monday September 5th

Hello Dear Readers,

What's up? I have not been to any shows in a while. I should probably change that. Maybe I will. Here are the shows that look good to me today:

Valentine's is having a show with Hello Mtn, Like a Villain, and St. Frankie Lee. Hello Mtn is the group led by Catherine Odell and Matthew Morgan. Catherine Odell used to front the group Black Heart Moon. It was her first foray into guitar song writing. She was and is the cello player for Horse Feathers. In the new group she makes use of a second guitar player, some pre-programed beats and even suitcase percussion. Like a Villain is the moniker of the very talented Holland Andrews. Her set is based around her looping pedal and the wonderful arrangements she can create when it is used with her voice clarinet, and glockenspiel. St. Frankie Lee is a band that I have not seen in a long time. They are fronted by Derrick and Chelsea who write the songs together. They have a great chemistry. The show is FREE and starts at 9 PM.

Al's Den is having a show with Mike Coykendall, Marty Marquis, and Rebecca Rasmussen. Mike Coykendall has been doing a good job doing balancing his recording music with his playing music. If you have not seen him you are missing out. He has also spent time playing in M. Ward's band and his other band She & Him. He is good. Marty Marqui also plays in another band that you may have heard of, Bitzen Trapper. But I have seen him on his own and he holds his own. Rebbecca Rasmussen also performs as half of the group Douver. I have not seen her by herself but I know that she has a great voice and can play guitar. The show is FREE and starts at 7 PM.

Edgefield is having a show with Nate Lacy. Nate Lacy is better known as the frontman of Mimicking Birds. Mimicking Birds album was produced by Issac Brock of Modest Mouse. It is even put out on his label Glacial Pace. Most of the album is Nate Lacy's circular guitar parts and gentle voice. It is really nice to have all the cool atmospheric touches, but it is definitely the Nate Lacy show. This thing is FREE and starts at 7 PM.

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

Ben


Mike Coykendall plays this evening at Al's Den

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Monday August 29th

Hello Dear Readers,

You guys know what I write about. I write about Portland shows that happen in Portland, Or. I was at work all day, so this a bit later in the day than usual but Here are the shows that look good to me today:

Valentine's is having as how with Evan Way, Zach Tillman (Seattle), and Alina Hardin. Evan Way seems to be doing a good job of playing in his other band The Parson Red Heads and going it alone. It is a tough thing to do. Of course since The Red Heads will be heading out on the road very soon with Viva Voce. In the mean time catch a glimpse of his slightly less country music. While you're at it you can check out the lovely Alina Harding. She makes folk music in a more traditional sense than a lot of people who get bunched up in that genre. She has recorded her second album which had her "creating and experimenting with new sounds and melodies." I really enjoyed the sounds and melodies of her fist album I bet I will enjoy her second offering as well. Zach Tillman usually plays under the name Pearly Gate Music. But then again he usually plays with a band. That band sounds like maybe the little brother of Fleet Foxes which is kinda funny considering that Zach Tillman is the little brother of J Tillman of Fleet Foxes. This will be a great show. The show is FREE and starts at 9 PM.

Beauty Bar is having a show with Pocketknife and Charts. Indie pop is a curious thing. I think there will always be kids making it. This show is a perfect example of what I am talking about. Pocket Knife plays pop music with lots of electric organs that for what ever reason reminds me of 90's twee. Not to mention they have a song called Cotten Candy. Charts on the other hand reminds me of all the bands from the 80s that made pop music with loads a bit reverb and a bit of noise (I am thinking of Black Tambourine or something). Regardless they both would fall into indie pop and are going over well worn territory, yet I still enjoy both. The show is FREE and starts at 9 PM.
If you see me at any of these shows please say, "hi". That would be the decent thing to do.

Ben


Alina Hardin is playing at Valentine's tonight

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Sunday, August 28th

Hello Dear Readers,

It has been awhile since I have seen a show. It has been crazy having to get up early in the morning. That being said, I have had plenty of time to blog about shows. Here are the ones happening today:

Doug Fir is having it's Sunday patio series with Denver and Kyle Morton. Denver is the country rock band with about five singers all in harmony. There is mandolin and guitar solos. Kyle Morton used to play under the name White Lighter. Oh, and he front Typhoon. I would imagine he might play some Typhoon songs, but the more exciting thing is that he might play new songs. I saw him play a few months ago almost solo (he had Danielle Sullivan singing harmonies). He is a great songwriter and it truly shows in these stripped down sets. The show is FREE and starts at 3 PM.

Bar Bar is having a show with Death Songs and Rememomry. Nicholas Delffs made a name for himself in The Shaky Hands. Not much has been done in that band since they played New Years. On the other hand Death Songs seems to playing out a lot more. It is good stuff. And one of the members of the band, Justin Power, is Remomory. I think. I mean when I clicked on the link from Mississippi Studios it went to Justin's myspace page. Sadly, his music is no longer on there. You can hear some of his songs backed by The Portland Cello Project on the Thao & Justin Power sessions.The show is FREE and starts at 4 PM.

Mississippi Studios is having a show with Oh Captain My Captain, Monoplane (Salem), and Gay Ghost. Oh Captain My Captain is one of Portland's most under appreciated bands in Portland. It is lead by Jesse Bettis. I used to think that hose voice sounded a lot like David Bazan, I often described the band as sounding like David Bazan fronting Dr Dog. I still think that will get you close to what they sound like. Monoplane is aindie rock band that seems to have been raised on the indie rock classics ie circa 1998 bands. Gay Ghost is a pop band formed by Joe Mormann who used to front The Glib. The show is $5 and starts at 9 PM.

Rontoms is having a show with Monarques and Real Diamond. Monarques is a great throw back pop band. I haven't seen the current line up, but I think it no longer includes female backup singers. But I bet it still really fun. You don't get much more fun that early 60's pastiche. I am not sure but Real Diamond might be a Neil Diamond cover band. I can't confirm this but when I searched for Real Diamond this came up. The show is FREE and starts at 9 PM.

If you see me at any of these shows please say, "hi". That would be the cool thing to do.

Ben


Kyle Morton will be playing this afternoon at Doug Fir

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