Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Monday, January 31st

Hello Dear Readers,
Yesterday, on an impulse I went to California to see someone very special to me. It meant that I was awry from the computer all day. I missed shows. Honestly, I don't even know what was happening show wise last night. But here I am in the Sacramento State Campus Library with a bit of time on my hands so I thought I would see what is happening in Anyways, here are some shows that look good to me tonight:

Mississippi Studios is having a show with Ocean Age (Portland/Seattle), Lord Huron, and Sea Bell (Eugene). I hate to lump bands together, but sometimes it just makes sense to have certain bands play together. Such is the case with this show. Ocean Age and Lord Huron both are indie groups that make use of less rock percussion and more don't know…world rhythms. They also both use really nice harmonies. Ocean Age is more of a band and I think that Lord Huron is more of a one man project of Ben Schneider. Though I have heard that live Lord Huron is an actual band. I still consider Ocean Age a Portland band despite two members relocating to Seattle last year. The most recent thing they did was do one of my favorite remixes on the Hosannas People I Know remix thing. The show is $10 and starts at 9 PM.

Valentine's is having a show with The Woolen Men, Pigeons, and The Messy Jacksons. The Woolen Men to me remind me of college rock from the 90's. It is good and poppy and has guitars and doesn't sound too slick but comfortable. It is upbeat and fun watch. All of the band members contribute to the songwriting which leads to a lot of rotation. Pigeons released an album of tracks last year that I regrettable have not gotten yet. I think you would like them. They seem to go for the epic indie rock sound. The Messy Jacksons are a bit more modest in their sound and while don't entirely sound messy, they do give a bit of a slacker vibe. The show is FREE and starts at 9 PM.

If you see me at any of these shows please say, "Hi". But you won't cause I am in Sacramento. Sorry.
-Ben

Not really sure why this video was made, but you can see The Woolen Men tonight at Valentine's.

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Saturday, January 29th

Hello Dear Readers,

Last night I went to the Woods. I was pleased to find DJ Kooky Parker spinning soul. It was nice. Then I saw what I came for: Laura Gibson. It was the duo version that includes her boy friend and Musee Mecanique guy Sean Ogilive. Laura was great. She played a lot of old greats and a few new greats two. Sean manned a drum set but also added keyboard, shaker, backing vocals, and melodica. The impressive thing is that he played more than one of these interments and sang at the same time. Kudos. I cannot wait to hear her new album. Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger was pretty good. Sean Lennon was awkwardly charming. He and his girl friend Charlotte Kemp Muhl had some genuinely adorable stage banter. They had to start their last song four times because they kept cracking each other up. They also briefly went into a rendition of "Benny and the Jets" before finally getting through the song. The trumpet player C.J. Calamari was just outstanding. He was he very good playing wise, but he also got really creative with putting the trumpet through effects pedals to get really cool sounds. Many times I was looking around for another brass instrument. Plus he sometimes played the gorgeous french horn. Kudos. Anyways, here are some shows that look good to me tonight:

Backspace is having a show with Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground (Seattle), Oh Captain My Captain, and Archeology. I am not familiar with Kay Kay and his Weathered Underground. They seem to be a large pop band that is so popular these days. I am mostly am writing about this show because of my love for Oh Captain My Captain. Jesse Bettes can write the crap out of a song. Also, he has a knack of surrounding himself with equally awesome musicians. It has the same feel of Dr. Dog or some other amazing pop band. Archeology is another pop band, but they seem to have a more indie rock feel. While Oh Captain My Captain has a more classic pop feel. The ALL AGES show is $15 and starts at 9 PM.

Banana Stand is having a show with A Million Years Ago (Seattle) and Orca Team. A Million Years Ago is a band that I have not heard before but it sounds pretty cool. No bass, two guitars, keyboard, and drums. Plus they also some great harmonies going on. Power pop at its finest. Orca Team is a great band. I haven't seen them, but I really love their music. A lot. You should check them out. Go to the show pick up a tape. Also you should check out the Banastand website. They record all of their love shows and them put it on their site. The ALL AGES show is FREE and starts at 8 PM.

Star E Rose is having a show with Lee Corey Oswald, Bear Feet, and Grey Anne. This show is a benefit for a worker that was fired from Starbucks for trying to organize workers. You know how Starbucks has a bad rep. It's because of stuff like this. Lee Corey Oswald are playing an acoustic set. They have apparently strayed from this set up for a while. Bear Feet is a folk, jazz, gypsy, blues band. They have washboards and everything. Grey Anne is an amazing songwriter. She is also an amazing performer. I would list this show no matter what it was based on her alone. It just so happens to be be for a good cause. The show is a suggested $5-$10 (though no one will be turned away for a lack of funds) and starts at 7 PM.

The Secret Society is having a last minute show with Black Mercies and Secret Codes. That is the perfect place for Secret Codes to play. Both venue and band have the word "secret" in them. You see? Anyway I have yet to make it out to The Secret Society. It is the smaller place connected to the Wonder Ballroom. I have made it out to see Secret Codes before. I like them a lot. Think Tortoise meets Efterklang with some other stuff thorn in. It's kinda jazzy kinda post rock. You will like it. The show is at 9 PM.


If you see me at any of these shows please say, "Hi". Geetings not beatings!

-Ben


Orca Team will be play the Banastand tonight!

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Y La Bamba is making a new record. We need your help!

Hello Dear Readers,

I wanted to let all of you guys know that Y La Bamba (the band that I play bass and sing in) is going to be recording a new full length album in the coming weeks. I totally feel like I am using this blog for my own gain doing this(because I am), but I wanted to let you know that to help fund the album, we jumped on the Kickstarter bandwagon. As with the other kickstarter campaigns, it's not like you are donating you money to get nothing but graditude in return. We gots all sorts of incentives that you get in return for your money donations. Check our Kickstarter page to see them all. Also check out the video our friend Ben Fee (of the Bar Bar Sessions fame) made for us.

-Ben

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Friday, January 28th

Hello Dear Readers,

Last night I ended up working until 9 pm. That meant a 13 hour work day. I am used to 8 and that wears me out. I wasn't een close to seeing a show afterwards. I hope you guys did though. That Holocene show looked really promising. Anyways, here are some shows that look good to me tonight:

The Woods is having a show with The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger and Laura Gibson. GOASTT is a new band from Sean Lennon and his model girlfriend Charlotte Kemp Muhl. I know how that sounds. Son of a very famous musician? Model/musician? No way this can be good. Well, I have only seen one video and it was pretty good What's more is that the video is live. This is the easiset way to expose a musician's weaknesses. But nothing jumped out at me. I am just as surprised as you. They have some really sweet harmonies and both are usually singing and playing a couple things at once. Impressive. Plus they got Laura Gibson to open. I have not seen Laura Play in a long time. She will be releasing a record sometime this year, so hopefully she will play some new songs. I think this is a partially seated show. So come early if you want a good seat. The show is $15 and starts at 9 PM.

Someday Lounge is having something called Whiskey Songwriters Night. As you might suspect there will be a lot of songwriters and a lot of whiskey. Nate Clark (On the Stairs), Megan Spear (Jared Mees & The Grown Children), Ed Thanhouser (Ed & The Red Reds), Dustin Ruth, James McFarland (of Southpaw),Shawn Lawson Freeman. I am not a drinker, but the whiskey at this event is apparently is "good" and $3 a shot. So you have heard of drinking songs. Perhaps you have heard of drowning your sorrow. This will be a night of these sentiments. If you are already having a bad year, misery loves company. Come on out and take part in the country/singer-songwriting tradition of getting hammered. Radio Cab's number is 503-227-1212. You probably shouldn't be driving or biking after this show. The cover is $5 and it all starts at 8 PM.

Branx is having a show with The Thermals, Guidance Counselor, and Wampire. This quite a line up. I think White Fang used to be on the bill too. I am not sure what happened there. But regardless, this show will be fun and full of energy. The Thermals are poppy. They are kinda punk. They are are super fun. I think that The Blood The Body The Machine is one of the best albums ever. I have not heard their latest, but I bet it is good. It is also nice to see some of the younger Portland bands on the bill. Guidance Counselor are a great band. I haven't seen them in a long time. I think they have at least one more member since I saw them last. It is really dancey. Wampire has also added a member. While it is kinda dancey. It is more about a chill pop vibe that you can dance to. They also like to strip. Just letting you know. They have songs that will get stuck in your head. Much like the headliners. The show is $15 and starts at 8 PM.

The Know is having a show with Why I Must Be Careful, Raider, and Swahili. I haven't seen Why I Must Be Careful in a long time. I remember them being really crazy spaz jazz. I bet they have a completely new set that I haven't heard before. I think they made an LP sleeve from real honey comb. I just saying, they are pretty creative. Raider have a couple of demos on their myspace page. It sounds like psychedelic post-grunge rock. Swahili sound like the part of the movie where the protagonist has a spirit walk in the desert. It is psychedelic and dreamlike for sure. you can get their album for free at the link I provided. The show is at 8 PM.


If you see me at any of these shows please say, "Hi". I would thank you kindly, to do so.

-Ben


The Thermals are playing Branx tonight!

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Thursday, January 27th

Hello Dear Readers,

Last night I had Y La Bamba practice for the first time in over a month. It felt good to play music with them. But it also made me feel very tired. When I got home at 10, I decided that I was not going to leave the house again. Besides, at that point I had already missed the one act I really wanted to see that night, Padriac Finbar Hagerty-Hammond. Anyways, here are some shows that look good to me tonight:

Holocene is having the Into the Woods Anniversary show with Tu Fawning, Skeletron, And And And, Guantanamo Baywatch, and DJ Snakks. Into the Woods is only a year old? That is crazy to me. It feels like they have been around forever. That is probably because they have put out enought videos to feel like they have been around forever. They work at a dizzying pace. And incase you didn't know they have started a Kickstarter page where you can actually get a ticket for this show. What about the bands? Well... Tu Fawning is the closest thing that you can get to a 31 Knots show these days. I sorely miss that band but understand his wanting to pursue this project. Skeletron one of the offshoots of Starfucker (the other being Fake Drugs). It, to me, sounds like Starfucker. Which is to say really dancey and poppy. And And And are high energy and super fun and umm...indie rock. Guantanamo Baywatch is surf punk. That honestly leans a little more punk. DJ Snakks is Zach from Breakfast Mountain. The show is $5 and starts at 8:30 PM.

The Alberta Rose Theater is having a show with Celilo, John Heart Jackie, and Duover. Hello Americana/Folk-pop/Indie-folk people. This is a show for you. Celilo can rock the folk out with the best of them. John Heart Jackie are a bit more gentle and make great use of female male harmonies and acoustic instruments. Duover to do the same but have a poppier vibe to them. Overall, if you like any or all of those genres I mentioned, you will love this show. If the thought of some damn folky hippies with their damn acoustic guitars makes you want to hurt someone, please do not go to this show. Not that they are damn hippies, but seriously if you want to hurt someone you shouldn't be going out at all. The show is $8 and starts at 9 PM.

Plan B is having a show with X-Ray Press, Microtia, and The Jezebel Spirit. You can get the Jezebel Spirit album and some EPs for FREE at their bandcamp. Okay, here is the deal: I was pretty sure that at least two of these bands had broken up. The last time AristeiA (which I am pretty sure is broken up) played in Seattle, we played with X-Ray Press who said that it was their last show. Also I swear last week someone told me that Jezebel Spririt broke up. what gives? Both of these bands are pretty awesome and kinda mathy or proggy or whatever. AristeiA also played a show with both of these bands a long long time ago. It was super fun. I haven't heard anything from Microtia in a long time. I remember them being loud the entire time. If you are into that sort of thing check it out. The show is at 8 PM.

Ella Street Social Club is having a show with Blind Bartimaeus, Autopilot is for Lovers, and Honeybear (Calgery, Canada). I don't know these bands save Autopilot is for Lovers. Who are great. Also I don't know what kind of line up they are currently working with. But it always centers around the accordion, piano, or guitar of Adrienne Hatkin and her very distinct voice. You will love it or hate it. Blind Bartimaeus sounds to me folky. I could be wrong. They list blues and gospel as their sound. I could maybe see that. It sounds sad and acoustic. Honeybear makes kinda moody folk pop. The show is $5 and starts at 9:30 PM.

Mississippi Studios is having a show with Led to Sea (Seattle), Solvents (Port Townsend,WA), and Nick Caceres. You might recognize Alex Guy from Led to Sea as also being in Laura Veirs band. That is because, yeah, she is in both bands. As a well accomplished violist/violinist she is capable of some beautiful sounds. Especially when she involves a lopping pedal. So I listened to a bit of the solvents and were going to say that they are a acoustic pop band, when I heard the last song on their myspace player I was proven wrong. That one has a lot of eclectic guitar. So I guess they are an indie pop band instead. Nick Caceres is the main dude in the Tender Loving Empire band Gatitillium. He doesn't seem to play under his own name so much anymore. He is folk pop. That is to say his songs are wordy and mostly played on an acoustic guitar. The show is FREE and starts at 9 PM.

If you see me at any of these shows please say, "Hi". I would thank you kindly, to do so.

-Ben


Into the Woods shot this video. This band is playing their anniversary show tonight at Holocene!

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Wednesday, January 26th

Hello Dear Readers,

"What's up? You see that thing with the other thing the other day? I know. That was crazy." This is how I would talk to you if I saw you in person. Alas we are stuck here with our screens. Not interacting. The only thing I do is go to shows sometimes. When I don't wimp out. My excuses usually range from "it's too cold outside" to "I'm tired"** . Anyways, here shows happening in Portland tonight. Ween is playing. They are kinda incredible. But at $35 a ticket, I will be missing that show. Here are some shows that are a bit more Portland-centric and a bit more affordable:

Backspace is having a show with Pocketknife, Towering Trees, and Padriac Finbar Hagerty-Hammond. Pocketknife are a upbeat synth heavy danceable pop band. I have not seen them but rumour has it that they are good live too. Towering Trees used to play as William Carpenter's Towering Trees. The band is ion fact led by one Will Carpenter. I remember writing about them way back. Then I have not heard from them in a long time. I remember them being kinda folky. But I guess they changed their name and started to sound pretty poppy. In fact they now sound down right jangly. You can get their FREE Proto EP right here. The thing that caught my eye the most about this show is Padriac Finbar Hagerty-Hammond. He is one of my favorite song writers. Just go and listen to his songs. They will make you laugh and cry. The ALL AGES show is $5 and starts at 8 PM.

The Secret Society is having a show with Inside Voices. Inside Voices has been laying kinda low. I thought that the bass player moved away to go to law school or something. But I have seen that they sometimes play at the Secret Society. If you have not heard them, you should they are crazy good. The drummer is amazing. He is probably my favorite drummer to watch in Portland. The songs are great. Umm... just check it out. The show is FREE and starts at 9 PM.

Rotture is having a show with The Greys, Ghost to Falco, EMA, Tara and Brian (Tara Jane O'Neil and Brian Mumford). The Greys are a noisey band. They sound like they would just fill any venue to the brim with their layers of distorted and verbed out everything. Ghost to Falco is the vision of a guy named Eric. I have seen it as a band. I have seen it as a dude with a guitar and a looping pedal. I have seen several broken television sets on stage. I have seen something interesting when he plays. EMA is the music outlet of Erika M. Anderson. There is a lot of stuff on her website. I can't really tell you much about the music. The thing that grabbed my attention for this show was the thought of Tara Jane O'Neil and Brian Mumford collaborating. I like them both a lot separately. I imagine a collaboration would be pretty cool. And probably pretty far out there knowing that both had interests in pushing boundaries. The show is $5 and starts at 9 PM.

Mississippi Pizza is having a show with Cody Votolato (Seattle) and The We Shared Milk. Cody is that dude that was in Jaguar Love and Blood Brothers. This is being billed a special acoustic set. It is hard to imagine him quiet as his other bands have been crazy and high energy. But then again his actual brother has made a name for himself doing acoustic stuff. The We Shared Milk is a band that I have yet to see. Obviously they are on my radar as I have written about them a couple of times. The show is

If you see me at any of these shows please say, "Hi". That would be most charitable of you.

-Ben


Padriac Finbar Hagerty-Hammond will be playing at Backspace tonight. It will look and sound like this

* Most shows are indoors.

** I can sleep when I'm dead.

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Tuesday, January 25th

Hello Dear Readers,

I know that you probably think that I took the day off yesterday. But check it out. There really just weren't any shows that I thought were good enough to mention. I am not in the habit of writing about shows that I don't have any interest in. The only bad part of not writing yesterday was that I didn't get a chance to talk about the show I saw on Sunday. Hosannas are so good. Any ways, here are the shows that look good to me:

The Woods is having a show with Eliza Rickman (LA), Shenandoah Davis, Grey Anne, and Sam Cooper. I have written about Eliza Rickman before. I don't know when, but it must mean that she played with a local that I liked. I do not remember who it was. I do remember her music though. If anything because of all the songs played on the toy piano (she can also play a real piano well) and the really nice string arrangements. I imagine that she is really good live. I have also written about Shenandoah. She is great. She has a great voice and has a mastery of the piano. She also usually has pretty strings as well. Grey Anne is the musical outlet for Anne Adams. She has a knack for writing good songs with good arrangement. She also has the ability to perform them in an engaging fashion often with just a guitar and looping pedal (she is really good at the looping pedal). Plus her shows are entertaining. She makes sure of that. She has sets, props, and well…puts on a show. Sam Cooper is a great songwriter who's performances are nuanced by his awkward stage presence and tendency to have stories about his songs. You probably have seen him in that band, Horse Feathers where he plays like five instruments. I think he is only playing a few tonight. The show is $5 and starts at 9 PM.

Bunk Bar is having a show with Lewi Longmire Band and Duover. Lewi Longmire is around. He is around town, he is playing music, he is doing his thing. As a person who is constantly checking music listings, I can assure you he is. I probably see his name more than anyone else in town. He plays country. Kinda. Country rock s probably more accurate. The main reason I am writing about this show is because of Duover. They are a acoustic duo that are way better than most acoustic duos will ever be. Just give them a listen. You have probably heard Nathan Jr. playing around town. He is good. And his voice blends so well with Rebecca Rasmussen. They have an understanding of acoustic pop like you wouldn't believe. The show is FREE and starts at 10 PM.

Valentine's is a show with Soft Metals, Jeffrey Jerusalem, and Suzanne Kraft. You will be dancing if you go to this show. Soft Metals do electro pop music that is really heavy on the electro. I like it. Jeffrey Jerusalem is the one man disco party. And not in the way a DJ is. He makes all the music that incorporates live looping and laptops and fun. HE has a remix CD of a bunch of locals out on Laser Cave. You should check it out. Suzanne Kraft is a dude that makes chilled out electronic music. He has a limited CD-R out on Discotheque Records. Also on the website you can find a monthly mix that Suzanne puts out. Just check the Mixes tab. You can also find something called The Suzanne Kraft Magic Hour mixes over at Dublab.com. The show is FREE and starts at 9 PM.
If you see me at any of these shows please say, "Hi". You know you want to.

-Ben


Look at this film about Grey Anne I found. She is playing tonight at The Woods!

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Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Sunday, January 23rd

Hello Dear Readers,

The last few days I took off fro blogging. I had a birthday and some company in town and left my laptop at home today. But I am back to my regular schedule. I may even make it out to a show tonight (I have not seen a show in a week). Any ways, here are the shows that look good to me:

Rontoms is having a show with Hosannas and Winnie Byrd (Oakland). Hosannas has had some changes in the past several months. They are now a two piece of Brandon and Richard Law. I have seen them twice in this configuration and have enjoyed it though it is different. They had to write an entirely new set to play. I think that they have enough to record again, but don't know their plans. Regardless, I think they are great and a testament of what two talented people can accomplish. Winnie Byrd is a band that has a trove of happy sounding pop tunes. It makes me feel good just listening to them. The show is FREE and starts at 9 PM.

Valentine's is having a show with Dash!, Pregnant, Cruiser, Zac Nelson (Hexlove), and Rob Walmart. Everytime I have seen Dash! I have been impressed. He plays violin and loops and layers it through a series of guitar pedals. It sounds huge and beautiful and impressive. I suggest you check him out if you can. Cruiser sounds insane and spazzy yet controlled. Think early Hella. Zac Nelson has put out ambient leaning pieces under the name Hexlove. I find them to best experienced as something to wash over you in a soothing way. Rob Walmart on the other hand will probably make you bob your head. They do live electronics in the truest since of the word. They also sometimes do spoken word on top. Story telling and rambling. You never really know what you are going to get with them. The show is FREE and starts at 9 PM.

If you see me at any of these shows please say, "Hi". That'd be pretty cool.

-Ben


Hosannas will be playing at Rontoms tonight!

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