Ben Meyercord's Live Picks for June 2nd to June 4th

Hello Dear Readers,

I have been back for about two weeks now and I still feel like I have yet to catch up with my life. And any thoughts of taking a night off from shows has gone out the window while researching this weeks shows. There are seriously A LOT of good shows this week. My heart is breaking because of some of the decisions I will have to make. No one told me there would be days like this when I signed up to be a crazy-ass-music-fanatic. Oh well, here is want I am interested in seeing this first part of the week.

Monday, June 2nd

I already made a post about one of the shows going on tonight, but I will copy and paste it here anyways. Plus theres another one I want to mention as well. I want very badly to both. Sigh.

• Cars and Trains, Otem Rellik (Fort Collins, CO), Alexis Gideon, and Colin Jones are all playing at East End. If you know any of these names then you are probably freaking out. Cars and Trains makes some awesome electronic and acoustic based music. Sounding equally influenced by glitchy electronic stuff and lo-fi indie-folk, Tom Filepp creates some very very fresh tunes. Alexis Gideon has a very unique and entertaining take on hip hop which now includes a full blown video show that he made himself (claymation for life!). Colin Jones has a very progressive lyrical take on electro-hip-hop. In a very anticon vein of hip-hop is the very impressive Otem Rellik. Seriously check his myspace. You will not regret it. After all this is a FREE. The doors are at 8 PM.
  

• The other show that I want to mention is happening at Doug Fir. It isLos Campesinos! (Wales, UK) and Parenthetical Girls. I will admit that I am not to familiar with Los Campesinos! (I've read that they are twee) and that the real reason I am writing about it is my love of the Parenthetical Girls music. But I want to preface this with the fact that the first time I saw the Parenthetical Girls I hated it. Zach Pennington puts on a very pretentious show that can rub people the wrong way (when I saw them that first time he wore a dress and fluttered his eyelashes more than I have ever seen a person do in my whole life). However I find that the music is so good that I forgave him and eventually came to embrace his stage presence. Others have too apparently , because they just signed to Tomlab records (a super cool label based out of Germany). There is a $12 cover. The show starts at 9 PM.
  

Tuesday, June 3rd

You will notice a lot of bands are playing more than once this week. This might help your decision making process. For me it is hopeless though, Tuesday is yet another day that I need to sacrifice seeing one show to see the other. I swear it is like someone is telling me that I have to either severe my right leg or my left leg. Either way it is going to be uncomfortable.

• The show that I will probably go see is the Joan of Arc, 31 Knots, and Fist Fite Show at Holocene. Joan if Arc has been one of my favorite bands for about eight years now. I have only seen them play once. I need to go to this show. Also 31 Knots have been one of my favorite local bands ever since I saw them play at PDX Pop Now! back in 2005. It is pretty cool because these two favorite bands of mine will be palying a few shows together. Congrats 31 Knots. I have not seen Fist Fite, but with the other two bands even if they completely blow (I am not saying they blow) it will totally worth it. The show costs $8. The doors are at 9 PM.
  

• The show that it kills to miss is going down at The Artistery where Casiotone For The Painfully Alone, Foot Foot, and Concern are all playing. And while technically only Concern (brother to Owen Ashworth of CFTPA)is a local act, my love for CFTPA's music and the fact that he used to reside here have lead me to list this show. I have seen him play several times and it is always entertaining. And he always has some sort of rare 7" to peddle. You should go to this show. It is only $6 and is ALL AGES. The music starts at 8 PM.
  

• There are some other good shows on Tuesday as well. For instance there is a show at Westview Highschool featuring YACHT, All Girl Summer Fun Band, and Reporter. This is open to the public and is ALL AGES and is only $5. A great deal. Plus it benefits Stump Club. Awesome. The show starts at 7 PM.
  

• Speaking of benefit shows, Pink Martini kicks off a four night residency at The Crystal Ballroom. Each night's show benifits a different cause. They are also playing with a different opening band every night. Tuesday they are having The Portland Cello Project. The show benefits Friends of Trees. I have not seen Pink Martini but I have heard good things. I have had the pleasure of seeing The Portland Cello Project and it was a great experience. So if you have and extra $25, you might consider checking this show out. The music for this ALL AGES shows starts at 8 PM.
  

• Satyricon is having a show tonight featuring To Get Her Together, St. Frankie Lee, The Shivas, and Soft Sunflower. I know none of these bands save St. Frankie Lee who do a very good take on the country murder ballad. The other bands appear to be of a pyschedelic nature. Maybe worth seeing. This ALL AGES show is only $6. The show starts at 8 PM.
  

• Or you could go to the open mic at Zilla Sake. It usually has some good performers and it is hosted by Y La Bamba. This event usually lasts from 8 PM to 11-ish PM. I don't partake in sake, but I hear it is very good. I do know that the curry is delicious. Its FREE.
  

Wednesday, June 4th

There was a show that was happening at Someday that featured Michael Hurley, Tara Jane O'Neal and Whip. Sadly it has been cancelled becasue Michael Hurley is still on the East coast. Valentine's will be having a show with TJO and Whip very soon though. So I'm not too bummed. Check out these shows.

• Tonight at The Crystal Ballroom, Pink Martini is playing with 3 Leg Torso. The show benefits KBOO. A pretty worthy cause. So again if you have $25 burning a hole in your pocket head on down at 7 PM for the ALL AGES show.

• Holocene is having For Tet play along with electronic locals Strategy and DJ Tan't. I have heard that Four Tet is not the most interesting performer (ie he thinks pressing buttons = show). I have heard good things about Tan't. I have seen Strategy play it was pretty cool. I danced. If you go I suggest you try to do the same if you go. The show costs $10. The show starts at 9 PM.
  

• Over at The Artistery, St. Frankie Lee is playing with Brother Mitya (Arcata, CA), The Beat Nun (Arcata, CA), and Arron Shepard of the band Metal. This will be a most excellent show. All of the bands are super good if not super well known, they should be. If I get out of band practice early enough, this is probably where I will head. The ALL AGES show is $6. The show starts at * PM (doors are at 7 PM).
  

So thats what I got lined up for the first part of the week. Wait till I post my picks for the second half of the week. It

gonna be good. Say hi to me if you see me at any of these shows.

-Ben


Colin Jones plays tonight at East End for FREE
photo from his myspace

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Quick post about... Erik Anarchy

Currently playing the RoseDrop Media Circus here at 9 Muses: Erik Anarchy

metallish punky solo guy from all-over-the-world, rockin' the flying V.

that is all.

(hey. I told you it was a quick post!)

He gave me a pick!

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[Real Talk] Fuck Journalists

I guess it's fashionable for journalists to tell the truth right now. Weird. As a blogger it is my civic and MORAL OBLIGATION to keep it real in times of war. So to jump all over this "McClellan Tell-All Exposes Media's Propaganda Problem" this is my official response:

Journalistic integrity?

Really? Fuck off..

Fuck you Scott McClellan.

Fuck you in your fucking face.

And just for good measure:
Fuck you Anderson Coooper and ALL OF THE VANDERBILTS!!!

PS -- to make this post music related:

I went to two shows last night. My friend Janna Blue's friend Ava who incidentally, has hosted a radio show, Severe Exposure, on KPSU (portland's college radio, 1450am/www.kpsu.org) for five years, was DJing at Ground Kontrol (it was free game night and Janna and I rocked the Simpsons pinball for a good 20 games) and it was the bomb. And then we went to Holocene and I tranced out for an hour... I have no idea who the DJ's were... but it was fun.

PPPS -- if you believe in signing online petitions this one might help with the whole "try to regulate the industrial war complex propaganda machine also known as the media" thing:
freepress.net

PPPPS --
CNN's Jessica Yellin revealed that news executives at MSNBC actively pushed her not to do hard-hitting pieces on the administration during the run up to the war in Iraq:

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Fall of Snow books some Show?

So some of you may know of my friend Stephanie aka Fall of Snow. You know that she uses lots of pedals and looping and such to create music. What you may not know is that she knows how to set stuff up. I ain't talking about cables and shit either. I mean she can set up a show in no time. She just emailed me some shows that are going down next week that she booked for her touring friend Otem Rellik (Fort Collins, CO) in almost zero time.

• The first is on Monday, June 2nd, and is an almost all local all awesome line up of Cars and Trains, Otem Rellik (Fort Collins, CO) Alexis Gideon and Colin Jones. If you know any of these names then you are probably freaking out. Cars and Trains makes some awesome electronic and acoustic based music. Sounding equally influenced by glitchy electronic stuff and lo-fi indie-folk, Tom Filepp creates some very very fresh tunes. Alexis Gideon has a very unique and entertaining take on hip hop which now includes a full blown video show that he made himself (claymation for life!). Colin Jones has a very progressive lyrical take on electro-hip-hop. In a very anticon vien of hip-hop is the very impressive Otem Rellik. Seriously check his myspace. You will not regret it. It all goes down at the East End for FREE. The doors are at 8 PM.
  
• The other show is at The Red and Black Cafe on Thursday June 5th. This one features Two Ton Sloth, Letdown, and of course Otem Rellik. Two Ton Sloth make really awesome weird hip-hop kinda like Clouddead. Let down makes really awesome music that is mostly instrumental and builds layer upon layer until it is almost too gorgeous. And I have already talked about Otem Rellik in the previous paragraph (as but as a brief summary he is awesome). The doors here are at 7PM.
  

Seriously, these are kick ass shows. So much so that I made a special post aside from my usual posts so that you can keep them in mind.

-Ben

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for May 29th to June 1st

Hello Dear Readers,


So, here I have compiled a list of shows that I either really want to see or am curious about or look like it would be fun. This is the second half of the week and so there will be more shows. You may have some tough choices. Or maybe you don't want to go out at all. Perhaps you just want to go out and see the new Indiana Jones flick. Well I got news for you, they play movies during the daytime. There is no need to miss a show unless you are a complete wuss (it should be noted that I am often a complete wuss and that this statement is mostly directed at myself). So here are the shows I have picked for the end of the week.


Thursday, May 29th

Portland is a town of many music genres. One of its staples however is good ol' indie-pop. Tonight we find two shows that celebrate this very inclusive and vague genre.

• Berbati's Pan will be host to Three "The" bands. I know I know I know, "The" bands were supposed to die out like eight years ago. Take for example: The Joggers are now just Joggers. These bands did not get the memo. And I love them for it. The Morals, The Rainy States and The Maybe Happening will all bring their distinct take on pop music (in an "indie" way of course). I personally am really fond of The Morals. The songs are well written and sung so passionately that it is hard to not enjoy yourself. The cover for this show is $6. The music is set to start at 9:30.
• The other indie-pop show is going down at Dunes. Deer or the Doe, Vanishing Kids, and New Century School Book will all be playing sets. I have not seen any of these bands but on one occasion was very close to seeing New Century School Book when they played at Backspace with Strangers Die Everyday at Ground Kontrol a while back. I met the drummer Steve. He was a very nice guy. Nice enough that I later went to their myspace and was pleasantly surprised by the little pop tunes that I heard. The show is $5. The doors are at 8PM.
  

Friday, May 30th

This is where it gets fun. There is a lot going on Friday night. But this is what looks good to me.

• There is a Music in the Schools benefit concert being held at The Crystal Ballroom. This one features Blue Scholars (Seattle), Yacht, The Shaky Hands, Onlyone and Illmaculate (both of Sandpeople), Gray Matters, Typhoon, states of Mind, and Cool Nutz. That is a lot of local talent. The tickets range in price from $12 to $20. This may seem like some serious cash until you remember that there is a lot of local talent playing the show and that it is for a good cause. Plus this ALL AGES show starts early , so there is a possibility of doing things afterwards or during if you don't want to see all of the groups. How early you ask, 7 PM.
• The most fun show looks like it is happening at Rererato. The description of the show from their myspace page. "On Friday May 30th, the newly re-opened Rererato Art-space will play host to a multimedia performance featuring the off-kilter music, collaborative stage props, storytelling and thespianism of local Portland bands Les Flaneurs, Dr. Something and the Poppin' Fresh Love Engines and Spirit Duplicator. Nathan Clark of Les Flaneurs, Jacob Anderson of Spirit Duplicator and Alison Dennis of Dr. Something and the Poppin' Fresh Love Engines have collaborated on a performance that features on-stage sculptures and manipulatable sets made primarily from scrap materials and found objects and stage lighting provided via the creative manipulation of every-day house-hold lamps and LEDs. In addition to musical performances, the event will feature dramatic scenes that portray the tale of a mad scientist confronted by her minions about her antisocial behavior and her subsequent experiences seeking therapy from a perhaps equally twisted Skinnerian behaviorist and an eccentric candy vendor with dreams of rock super-stardom. The Show will also feature quiz show interludes inspired by "You Bet Your Life" and hosted by the charismatic Paul Silveria in between scenes and requiring audience participation." Sounds awesome right. This ALL AGES event is only $4. The doors are at 7 PM.
• Also going on in the space that used to be loveland which used to be Meow Meow, which is currently Branx and Rotture (downstairs and upstairs respectabley), The Future Arts Festival is taking place. I am not sure what this is about, but it includes Atole, DJ Girlfriends, DJ Jack, Chromatics, Mute Era (Minneapolis), Fleshtone, DJ Copy, DJ Rad, and DJ Jay Jack. So be ready to dance your ass right off. Even if you have a really big ass, I am telling you that you will shake until it is non existent. There is a $8 cover. The doors are at 9 PM.
• Kelly' Olympian is having a Rock show on Friday. The Ax is one of Portland's most RAWK duos that I am aware of. I saw them play at Someday Lounge back in January and was really impressed with all the rock that they brought to the table. Wow and Flutter, who seem to have been around for ever, are also playing. The show is probably $5 and starts at 10 PM.
  

Saturday, May 31st

Theses are the shows I am interested in attending. Will I make it to any of them? Only time will tell.

• Seems like there is always a benefit. Which of course is great but it also makes it seem easier to skip them. Because it seems that if you miss you opportunity to do good this week, you will have two or three opportunities the following week. Whatever, you should go to all of them. is having one with The Slants, Sandpeople, and Paul of School of Rock. This benefit is for Ethos which is a a cool place that involves kids in music at an early age as a positive influence on their upbringing (or something like that). I caught Sandpeople at PDX Pop Now! last year and it was just really really really good (if you like hip hop, which I do). This ALL AGES show costs $10. The doors are at 8 PM.
• Someday Lounge is having an evening of crazy-ass music (I think). I will be honest, I am only familiar with band in the line up. Caroliner Rainbow Bluembiegh Treason Of The Abyss, Honed Bastion, Daniel Mencle, and Evolutionary Jass Band are playing. I don't know about you, but I think I could always go for a little Evolutionary Jass (I will give you one guess as to which band I am familiar with).
• Okay, continuing with my honesty kick. I will say that sometimes I list shows just based on the names of the bands playing. So a heads up to all bands, get a good band name and you might get written up by yours truly. Such is the case with the two bands that are playing at Chaos Cafe this Saturday. Where The Sidewalk Ends and The Feather Walls are both set to play that night. The first band is named after one of my childhood favs. The other band just sounds like something that I would want to listen to. I really hope that they are good (don't let me down guys or girls). All I know is that this show is ALL AGES and FREE. The doors are at 8 PM.
  

Sunday, June 1st

Holy Moly is it the first of the month already. Time seems to be going by so fast. Your youth is so fleeting. It seems that the only thing you can do is go to a show, right? That will keep you young, yes? Either way I found one for you.

• Actually the one show I am interested in is an in-store at Music Millennium. Day of Lions will play songs off their new album, Come Down From the Mountain. Gina Gestaldi, the main songwriter of Day of Lions, writes very pleasant female led indie-pop songs. You can pick up the album while you are there if you are so inclined.

So that is the rest of the week for you guys. I look forward to other shows too. If you see me at any of these feel free to approach me and say hi.

Have a great weekend,

Ben



The Morals play it cool here. They play it live on Thursday at Berbati's

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oh holy fuck! and no I haven't been drinking... well, okay, yeah, I have... but my point stands...

We just saw Dusty Santamaria at East End.

Oh.
My.
Gawd.

No, seriously. They're fucking AMAZING. And yes I admit I've been drinking, but not enough to be diverted from the Primary Directive: search for a band that hits the trifecta:

(a) I like them
(b) my husband likes them
(c) the crowd likes them

Usually we get at best ONE of three, but in this case... slam dunk! or is it hat trick? Shit, I'm SO not qualified for sports metaphors.

This band makes me want to pepper my sentences with expletives, as in "slam fucking dunk!" and "rock and goddammed fucking roll!"

I went because my guitarist works with two of the guys in the band, it was their first show (!!!!!) and I was sent to find out what the venue was like and if they were any good. So yeah. Venue's fine. Actually, its better than last time I was there (I think it was the Rabbit Hole then, maybe?).

But The band? Holy fuck! I was blown away! This is what rock n' roll is supposed to be.

Husband and I drove home discussing how best to describe them. Surf punk? 50s nuevo-rock? The Mermen covering INXS? Soundtrack to the bastard love child of Jarmusch and Tarentino? Husband said "modern version of The Modern Lovers" which admittedly I had to look up online.

The only link I could find for them was this one from myspace, and awesome as it is, it does not do their live show justice.

Seriously, just go see them.

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks For May 26th to May 28th

Dear Readers,

Ummm....by now you might have noticed that I didn't post the weekend part of my music picks. I know I said I was going to but I didn't. I apologize. I also know that you probably were fine with out my picks. There is even a slight possibility that you did not notice. If that is the case, I would like to apologize to myself for pointing out my flaws. Any ways I am back and trying to get on track with the music picks:

Monday, May 26th

There are many good shows to choose from today. I have narrowed it down to the three shows I that make me wish there was only one show.

• The Crown Room is having David Evan play with his full band. If you have not heard them play then I understand why you aren't freaking out. I know that a lot of people don't really like Monday's. Well, this show is a good reason to reconsider. Chica Y Los Gatos will also be playing. I looked her up and she comes where I come from. Neat. This show is FREE. The music starts at 8:30 PM.
• Chaos Cafe will be having Down South Sallie perform tonight too. Sure she is great recorded but in all honesty, she must be seen live. It is quite a trip to see such a strong voice come from such a little body. She seems to have mastered her ability of channeling the place where blues, country, and jazz meet. The Ocean Floor whom I haven't seen, but I have heard and liked is also playing. This show is Also FREE. Plus it is ALL AGES.
• The Towne Lounge also has a show worth checking out if you are in that area (this for you NW Portlanders). Alak Alas Alaska (CA) will be playing with Blue Cranes, and Afternoon Brother (CA). I mainly reccommend this for Blue Cranes. They make jazz that can be appreciated by Jazz cats and indie-rock cats alike. The show is $5. The music starts at 9:30 PM.
  

Tuesday, May 27th

I got a couple of noteworthy shows to list for Tuesday.

• First off we have the monthly Pix Patisserie Guitar Pix which features the adorable songs of Super XX Man. As with last month, Ali Wesley will open the show. The music starts at 8 PM and is absolutely FREE. The pastries are not free, but are very good.
• Pela (Brooklyn), fresh from their performance at Sasquatch, will be playing at Doug Fir. The reason I list this is because suoer awesome locals, despite what their name might imply, We're From Japan! are opening the show. Good god I love that band. You should check it out. Highly reccomended. The show is $8 in advance and $10 at the show. The music starts at 9 PM.
  

Wednesday 28th

I have narrowed my picks to two choices for Wednesday night as well.

• Holocene is having a half local show featuring Agent Ribbons (Sacremento), Autopilot is for Lovers, C.O.C.O. (Olympia), and The Ascetic Junkies. I have yet to see Autopilot, but I like the music that I have heard. I hear that Agent Ribbons are kinda of a Vauvillian female duo (this sentence probably seals the deal either for the show or against the show depending on your tastes). At $5 you aren't gambling too much. So check it out. The show starts at 9 PM.
• The Towne Lounge is having Problems?, Honey Taker, and 40 Hundred Thousand Locked Up Guns play as part of the Pop Tomorrow! series. This series is awesome because it allows you to see good music that you may not be familiar with for FREE. The music starts at 9:30 PM.
  

So thats what I have up until Wednesday. I hope you enjoy. And I promise promise promise that I will try to have the rest

of my show picks up by Wednesday. If you see me at any of these shows come up and say Hi.

Have a good week,

Ben



Down South Sallie Plays at Chaos Cafe on Monday.

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Thunderstorms, power outages, and Matt Blodgett

It's a nice 3-day weekend to be out and around - never a dull moment with the weather around here, is it?

I spent Saturday night's thunderstorm at The Candy Store on 103rd and NE Halsey watching my friend's band, Gradience, play their monthly open-mic. I've been to this bar a lot - Gradience pretty much hosts the open mic, which is good because I don't think anyone else has ever shown up - and I love it for all of its perfectly divey video-poker-and-plastic-ashtray beauty. The big screen TV seems to always show ancient episodes of Funniest Home Videos or Cops. The clientele has a friendly last-call feel, chain-smoking in pink stretch pants and Joe Camel t-shirts. I sometimes wonder if I've stumbled into the Crab Shack from My Name Is Earl. The thunderstorm knocked the power out during the show, but it came back on before the video poker junkies started screaming.

The Candy Store don't seem to have a website but if you're in way-out NE Portland, drop in to sightsee and meet the nicest bartender ever.

Tonight was the Rosedrop Media Circus at 9 Muses. Usually there are at most 10 people downstairs and a handful more watching online in SecondLife, but tonight the place was bizarrely full and for some reason there was a huge dessert spread, I worried for a few minutes that I'd accidentally crashed a wedding.

Perhaps they were all there to see Matt Blodgett. Probably, since the guy sitting behind me was singing along and knew all the words. Matt was pretty good, and from the interview portion of the podcast seems to be an interesting person. For my tastes I'd prefer to hear him with a full band, but I have to admit I did appreciate his unplugged guy-with-a-guitar stuff.

Oh, and... During Matt's first song, someone in SecondLife seemed to be dancing with a sheep stuck to his cock.

Takes all kinds to party online, I suppose.

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