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

Hello Dear Readers,

Greetings from California. I normally don't blog when I am out of town. I have noticed however that I am out of town a lot. So I am making an effort to blog on my vacation. Mainly because I like to do it. It is part of my daily routine. I feel funny when I don't do it. But most importantly, I want to let you know whats going on. Last night I was so afraid that no one went to the Kelli Schaefer/Aan show at Artistery. Or what if no one went to see Kusikia at that house show? I just feel that Portland has so many great bands. I think you should support them by going to their shows. That's all. Anyways, here are the shows that look good tonight:

Rontoms is having a show with Nevele Nevele and Duover. Nevele Nevele is the band led by Michela Weishaar. Basically I think she is the last Portland musician that I has made me stop and take note of. Her songs are songs are great. Her voice is perfect for the songs of longing that emanate from her acoustic guitar. It sounds familiar and unique at the same time. I can't quite describe it, but I love it. She used to play it alone, but recently has been pulling together a band. I believe tonight she will have members of Monrques and Y La Bamba backing her. It should be good. Then of course there is Duover who have won me over as one of the better folky duo's. They have two albums one of which is a Christmas album. Both are great. The Christmas songs are made with the same care of a "real" album. There aren't any lame covers or anything. As a fan of holiday music. This pleased me to no end. But whatever. When Rebecca Rasmussen and Nathan Jr. bust out their acoustic guitars and start singing, you are in for a treat. The show is FREE and starts at 9 PM.

Mississippi Studios is having a show with Pegasus Dream, Housefire, Vanimal, and DoublePlusGood. Pegasus Dream is re-releasing Pegasus Dream's Painting Pantheons. The band self released it in August. I think you can still do the pay what you want thing somewhere. But now thanks you to SoHiTek Records, you can get the album in a physical and more tangible form. I think a record? On the SoHiTek website I can't tell if the album is released on vinyl or CD. Since SoHiTek put out the Church (now Hosannas) album on vinyl, I want to assume that they will do the same for Pegasus Dream. Also I would like to mention that The guys in Pegasus Dream had a successful Kickstarter Campaign the other month. Hopefully the results will be on display tonight in the form of a sweet new keyboard (their old one was stolen) and some sweet visuals projected by a sweet new projector thanks to their fans. Oh and their music? It is great. Probably the best electro pop I have heard in this town (sorry STRFKR). Housefire is a band that has an easy point of reference. Radiohead. See: spacey guitars, high vocals. Not necessarily a bad thing. Radiohead never visits the same place twice, so there is plenty of room for other bands to explore what doors have been opened up. Vanimal, like Pegasus Dream, make electro pop. Instead of catchy melodic vocal lines, Vanimal has chosen the route of cold detached vocals that sound straight from the 80's. It reminds me of the Gary Numan a bit. You can get their EP at Vanimal's Tumblr. DoublePlusGood are right up there with Pegasus Dream as far as quality electro Pop. Eric from that band also runs SoHiTek records and is a great guy. I think that there have been several EPs of DoublePlusGood that have been circulated in small doses. I don't have them but wish very much that I had them. You should give them a listen. And check out the Sounds Illustrated piece on them that Crappy Indie Music blogger Dr. Something did a while back. The show is FREE and starts at 9 PM.

If you see me at any of these shows, then you are a crazy person. I am not there.

-Ben
Nevele Nevele plays tonight at Rontoms!

Read More >>

Whipped Cream Waterfalls (Don't go chasing them, you might get sticky)

I’ve spent the last few months in a cynical snit. Frankly nothing has really gotten through the armor of a decade of listening to new music. I have actually, physically, vomited on a few of the things I’ve listened to. I might be an asshole. I am glad to be wrong. The truth is that no matter how much you have heard, no matter how much you deride and sneer at the endless stream of music that comes sailing into your inbox you can still be shaken to the core by a seemingly simple sound.

That simplicity, that spareness is what drives Two Mountains into the front of my consciousness. This is a sonic nude, two words tattooed on a naked breast, a single bird flying over a telephone wire at sunset. This record is fucking magical. It has woven a tender web of sound around my head and ensnared the senses completely. It is everything I love in music; the delicate dance between the alienation of drone and the total sexual intimacy of a single voice.

The way of music is in the space in between. A half rest is the wordless song that continues the narrative after the club has emptied. There is a tendency in modern production to fill every silence with the ten thousand sounds and layers that perfect digital clarity can afford and I think this is a mistake; though I think the graver sin is when this sense of production in turn infects a musician, driving them to fill every moment of a composition with noise. I prefer those who paint everything but the picture. It is the more subtle art. In an era of vulgar over-production this is a crisp reflection of the sky.

Let the reader not assume that some form of smarmy retro-enthusiasm pervades the production of the record. It is fully modern in sound, there are layers and digital samples and eskimeaux does not feel the need to go backwards in time. Instead, it is the trick of it, the sleight of hand, the wizardry of restraint that drags this record out of the morass of indie music and directly to the top of my iPod playlist. There is a lonely mountain peak in between the ranges of lo-fi and hi-fi and it is incredibly difficult to balance there. I applaud that delicate posture, it is exceedingly rare.

This is a record of balances. The light and dark dance hand in hand throughout, the stillness is as pregnant with possibility as the motion is manifest and the spartan lyricism tells a story so compelling it becomes another instrument in the telling. This record was woven from delight and tragedy, it holds a cup of coffee in one hand and a bourbon in the other. It is a love affair, in all that can mean.

You are delightful eskimeaux. Come play Portland.

Everyone else, go download this right now.

Read More >>

Thanks For Sharing!!!

You know, we ask you to send us your music, and you do it. In great volume. So it won't do for us to neglect you, dear reader/submitter. Here's a post that will feature some of the people who sent in their own indie music without the benefit of fancy pants agents and PR people to help (we'll get to you guys in another post).

Now, I'm going to be working BACKWARDS through the ol' pile, so those of you who submitted most recently will be featured right now. If I miss you and you want in, send an email and I'll make sure to hit you

up next time.

"The Always"

Hamilton Sean, who is Fort Lauderdale band The Always, sent us a link to his EP. Now I suppose it is nice to hear some Elliot Smith coming out of the mouths of bab

es all the way from what is firmly death met

al country, but I have a heart of cold stone, and twee alternative lacking any real depth just doesn't impress me, no matter how well-recorded. Your mileage may vary, of course, and The Always just might be your cup of rooibos.

"Bobby Sick"

Wow. Okay. So, saying that your act is 'horrorcore' is bad enough, because that genre happens to be full of shame and failure as it is. Add onto that a perverse pride in being a Juggalo... there is so much wrong there that I just cannot even begin to explain. On a recent trip down to California to visit with my inlaws, I discovered much to my horror that pretty much all the males between 12 a

nd 50 were Juggalos, sporting Insane Clown Posse tattoos and jumpsuits and... eurgh. Thankfully, my father-in-law was not one of them. Now, there was a day when the Insane Clown Posse were kind of a funny joke rap-metal band. They have since metamorphosed into some sort of horrid memetic nightmare that expresses the concept 'cult of stupidity' like no other group that isn't actually a major world religion.

That being said, with all the strikes against him, all the 'horror' trappings and facepaint and spikes and dildos, Bobby Sick commits the cardina

l sin for a transgressive artist: he really really sucks. Seriously, click the link above and watch his performance. GG Allin could crap in a bag offstage and it would be more entertaining. Nothing personal, Bobby, but please... since you're local, don't murder me.

"The Sudden Passion"

From what I can glean, The Sudden Passion is an acoustic project that has moved on to being a full band. I was initially not impressed with their behind-the-music banter and faux distressed video ethos, but on further listening they're not bad.

"Twoversusone"

Well, if you are not going to have a picture of yourself/your band on your website, then you will just have to allow me to put up the first result from an image search for your band's name. And you'll like it!

So, interestingly enough, though they are perhaps inspiring to a Jandek-level shyness, and

list him as an influence, Twoversusone actually produces music, and it's kind of tight and crazy cool. So let me tell you about Jandek: he's shit. Absolute unredeemable shitty music and a ridiculous schtick that decades of people have deluded themselves into thinking is cool. Fuck you, Jandek. I'd rather listen to Bobby Sick on a loop than one of your songs. Fuck.

"The Owlsley Brothers"

So this one just came in under the transom, so to speak, as I was writing this. In fact, it may be the straw that breaks this blog post's back. Let's see what's up.

First warning sign, The Owlsley Brothers sent two emails right in a row, with slightly different subject lines and identical content. Almost incoherent and randomly capitalized content, to be specific. And get a load of this set of influences: Black Keys, Tom Waits, Man Man, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Flaming lips, White Stripes

The Owlsley Brothers need to check themselves before they wreck themselves. Tom Waits should raise a big red flag. He's the poster child of independent music gone horribly, horribly wrong. Throw a mention of him in with some more current retro-minded bands, and you have a recipe for cloying hipster nonsense. I mean, look at the picture! What the hell, man!?!?!?!

Oh yeah, the music. It's pretty much crap. Judge for yourself, but I don't think I'm wrong in saying that The Owlsley Brothers should spend less time on trying to be clever and more time... well, not sucking.

"Brad Sanzenbacher"

You know, I was just about giving up hope. I was thinking that there must be some good stuff in the tons of submissions, but that maybe I wasn't strong enough to wade through all of them. One more, I said. Luckily, I happened on Brad Sanzenbacher, who apart from seeming like a humble and cool dude, makes some very polished and professional soft rock. Now, maybe he doesn't have the depth of a Rolla Olak, but this is good stuff. Check it out!

Read More >>

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

Hello Dear Readers,

Last night I didn't go to a show! Instead I practiced with Y La Bamba. Later in the post you will see why. Damn, there are a lot of good shows tonight. I have not had this many shows to write about in a while. Anyways, here are the shows that look good tonight:

The Portland Spirit is having a show with Red Fang and Builders and The Butchers.It is part of the Google Hotpot Series of concerts that are happening in the net couple of weeks. If you want to know more please check here (you can pick up tickets
at Trade Up Music, Jackpot Records, The Rebuilding Center, Music Millennium, Chopsticks II and the Peoples' Sandwich of Portland) (you can pick up tickets at Trade Up Music, Jackpot Records, The Rebuilding Center, Music Millennium, Chopsticks II and the Peoples' Sandwich of Portland)I think this show might be "sold out" by the time you read this, but I thought you guys should know about these shows. I mean Y La Bamba is playing one of the Google Hotpot shows with The Dandy Warhols and Typhoon. I am stoked. If I were you I would start following @HotpotPDX on Twitter. As for the actual music. Red Fang is one of the most bad ass bands in Portland. They make riff heavy rock music. Emphasis on heavy. They are releasing their debut record for their new home the heavy music-centric Relapse Records. I remember in high school picking up a free Relapse Records CD sampler because there was a band named Anal Cunt. I thought it was a hilarious name for a band. The funny thing is that The Decemberists' Chris Funk produced the Red Fang album. Which means that I can put The Decemberists in the same sentence as Anal Cunt. Actually Chris Funk produced the last Y La Bamba album, so I know and we did a lot of it at The Red Fang house. That house happens to be next door to some of The Builders and The Butchers folks. Small world, eh? The Builders and The Butchers released an album, Dead Reckoning on Tuesday. I am sure they will be playing mostly from that release. They have an energy that drives crowds crazy. If you are up front I am sure that you will have a good time. Ryan Sollee has a love it or hate it voice that will make or break the band for you. The ALL AGES show is FREE with a wristband at 7 PM.

Roseland is having a show with Devotchka (Denver), Y La Bamba, and Priscilla Ahn (LA). I will be honest, though I've heard the name Devotchka a lot over the last several years, I never listened to them until I found out that we were opening for them. Several members of Y La Bamba flipped their shit when they found out. We got offered to open up for them last year but we were already booked (we also had to turn down a Yann Tierson tour). Anyway the point is that I finally listened to them and they are really good. I am especially fond of the album 100 Other Lovers which they put out on Tuesday. They balance nasally indie rock and the Balkan folk that, because I am a sheltered indie rock guy, reminds me of Beirut. They have a really nice pallet of instruments to choose from including guitars, piano, theremin, trumpet, violin, accordion, Sousaphone, acoustic bass, drums and various percussion. You know who else has an accordion player? Y La Bamba. Yeah, that band that I play bass, sing, and play calvas in. We just finished a McMenamin's tour and I am feeling pretty good about what we are doing. We have a new song that we have been playing that I think will knock you socks off. So if you are a fan of very vocal heavy arranged folk music with a tinge of Latin influences, then we're your band. Prascilla Ahn is a woman from LA who has a really great voice. I listened to her myspace as her sweet and warm sounding vocals washed over me. I read that she uses a looper and utilizes a kazoo into her performances which initially turned me off. But her music is really good. Over all, I would say that this is a very good bill. Also it blows my mind that I am playing here. I have seen Bright Eyes, Of Montreal, Broken Social Scene, TV on The Radio, etc… play here. The ALL AGES show is $20-$30 and starts at 8:30 PM.

Holocene is having a show with World's Greatest Ghosts, Archers, and Heartbreak Beat. I love World's Greatest Ghosts. They are a great band. It matches really great guitar lines and equally as catchy synth hooks with great pop music that seems to jump of the stage grab the listener by the hand and encourage them to jump up and down. Archers are a newer band that share the ability to just let loose. Their performances are manic excursions in hyper active pop music that is equal parts pop and loud guitars. I have my eye on them for sure. Pick up their 7". You won't be let down. Heartbreak Beat is the latest band led by former Minders front man Martyn Leaper. The new trio makes pop music that isn't too far off from his old band. Thank goodness. The man is a pro at the pop music thing. The show is $7 and starts at 8:30 PM.

Doug Fir is having a show with Night Beats (Seattle), Drug Purse (Tacoma), Orca Team, and Midnight Sun. Everything I have read about Night Beats is how they are psychedelic and rock and owe a lot to the music of bands like 13th Elevator. I can see that. It is not that trippy but rather sounds like garage rock that overdosed on the 'verb. Drug Purse sounds like a perfect match for Night Beats. I think they are a bit more garage pop than garage rock, but they share the reverb ascetic of the previously mentioned band. They sometimes slow down their music like they consumed the contents of a drug purse and…Oh wait. I get there name now. The main reason I list this show is Orca Team. I think the local popsters are brilliant and I cannot convey how awesome I think it is that they are play a venue like Doug Fir. I feel like they could do with some bigger shows. They could win over anyone they play for. I am anticipating the new release that they are currently working on. Oh their sound incorporates reverb. Just like the other bands. But it also incorporates a tinge of surf and a lot more hooks. The show is $6 and starts at 9 PM.
Plan B is having a show with Amber Voltaire (WARNING: "Ya Boy Money" left a automatic player comment on this link) and Design.Drift.Distance. Amber Voltaire is a rock band that have a lot of changes in their songs that keep things interesting. It is kinda progressive in that sense. I am listing the show because of Design.Drift.Distance. I think they are pretty cool. They marry post-rock, math, and indie rock seamlessly. I really think they are work checking out. If you like any of the genres, I think that I am confident that they will have your needs covered. They have an EP in the works. Two of the songs are streaming on their myspace, They are sounding great. The show is at 8 PM.

The Woods is having a show with Key Losers, Ashley & Eli (Olympia), Motorbikes(Anacortes), and Davis Hooker. Key Losers is the latest in a many outfits that Katy Davidson has led. I first heard her music as the greatly underrated Dear Nora back when I was in Texas. Her new project is a lot more "out there" than anything that her previous incarnations ever did. In fact it is impossible not to drop the "p bomb". Psychedelic. However, I think it is impossible not to think of indie pop when hear her vocals. You can stream the first Key Losers album, Adjust P.W. Elverum and Sun. Probably because Phil Elverum produced. Also on the recording are members of Lake ( a great indie pop band from Olympia). You know who are members of Lake? Ashley and Eli. It definitely has some of the same feel of their other band (namely their sweet vocal harmonies), but it also includes some lite elements of electronics. Namely some keyboards and lite beats. I think it sounds great. Davis Hooker is a guy who plays around town sometimes. He has been highly recommended to me by a good friend with good taste in music. I think he performs as a dude and his guitar, but he surpasses most who tried this very played out format. Also his songs are a bit weirder and darker than most people who choose this route. The show is $5 and starts at 9 PM.

If you see me at any of these shows please say, "Hi". Or else.
-Ben


World's Greatest Ghosts play at Holocene tonight!

Read More >>

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

Hello Dear Readers,

Last night I went to a show! I saw Hosannas play at Bunk Bar. I was very happy that I did. It has been a while since I have seen them. They played really well and it looked like they have have been working really hard on figuring out how to play their songs from last year's amazing "Together" album. They seemed to be getting better with their drum machines and sampler. I think they added another synth since the last time I saw them. They leave today on their tour towards SXSW. I wish them the best. Anyways, here are the shows that look good tonight:

Larelthirst is having a show with Mike Midlo and Ryan Sollee. You know Mike's music as the basis of the band, Pancake Breakfast. Now I know that as a band Pancake Breakfast bring it. I have not seen Mike play solo before so I am curious how it will go. Being surrounded by his choir and other musical cohorts has been a big part of Mike's music for the last several years. But guess what. You will have four times to find out as he is the artist of the month at Laurelthirst. That means that every Wednesday this month Mike will be playing. Tonight he has Ryan Sollee of The Builders and The Butchers. Actually I realize that I could say something very similar about Ryan Sollee as I said about Mr. Midlo. The Builders and The Butchers is a very band centric band. Hard to image him solo. Mike will have other guests throughout the month, I will probably list all of these shows as I think the music is good. The show is FREE and starts at 6 PM.

Mississippi Studios is having a show with Wampire, Breakfast Mountain, and Jeffrey Jerusalem. Wampire is an interesting band. They started in the house show circuit. They are kinda dancey. They are also pretty poppy. They got famous being a duo singing along to a pre-recorded tracks. They then added a live drummer. Now they have a bassist. They used to get flack for not being a real band. I dare say, they are now they are a real band. Plus, the other day I saw on Local Cut that they have been working on some new stuff. Specifically some 7"s. Breakfast Mountain is some pretty dope stuff. It is electronic and mixes and matches whatever. I only saw Breakfast Mountain live once. It was a basement show with Wampire. There was some live rapping atop the live electronics. But you look at the video at the end of this post and see that there is a live drummer when they play umm….live. Peter Hilton is also that drummer. He also plays in Typhoon. Also in the video you will notice Cyrus Lampton of Wampire. Will he make a guest appearance during the Breakfast Mountain set? That would be pretty awesome. Speaking of drummers and electronics, Jeffrey Jerusalem is also playing. He does live electronics and some drumming under this moniker. He also drums (quite well) in bands like Inside Voices. Tonight will defiantly make you want to move. So it is my suggestion that you do so. The show is FREE and starts at 9 PM.

If you see me at any of these shows please say, "Hi". Or else.
-Ben


Breakfast Mountain will play indoors at Mississippi Studios tonight.

Read More >>

Ben Meyercord's Live Music Picks for Tuesday, March 1st

Hello Dear Readers,

I have been really busy lately. I went on the McMinamin's Great North West Tour as Y La Bamba/Meyercord. It was a lot of fun but I was unable to blog or go to shows other than the ones I been playing. Also, I have been working a lot since I got back. Specifically during the day when show information may be useful to you. Anyways, here are the shows that look good tonight:

Bunk Bar is having a show with Hosannas. I really like Hosannas. I liked them when they were Church. I like them when they were a three piece. I liked them them when they were a four piece. No I like them when they are a two piece. Their music has recently taking a more electronic turn. They still play real instruments. mostly guitar and keyboards. Though they have one song that they have turned into a very brave accapella number. They still have a tendency to make really dynamic and dramatic music. Pretty impressive sound for a two piece. I need to have you hear this band. The show is FREE and starts at 10 PM.

Ella Street is having a show with Sun Mar, House of Wolves, and Sabrina. House of Wolves is fronted by Rey Villalobos. In fact House of Wolves is his last named translated from Spanish to English. What a bad ass last name. His voice is amazing. I will be honest with you. You might not expect his voice to come from a man. But I assure you that it is. Also he is playing with Brian Wright the great drummer of Carcrashlander and Christof formerly of Hosannas. Sabrina listed herself as being a one woman band. It will interesting to see how it goes. All the recordings are fleshed out and definitely not played by one person. The show is FREE and starts at 9 PM.

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

-Ben


Hosannas bring it to Bunk Bar Tonight!

Read More >>

Music Review: The Downer Party "Cities" EP

San Francisco band the Downer Party offers up a delicious serving of female-fronted indie rock in their forthcoming EP, "Cities". The band's singer, Sierra Frost (Who mentions that that IS her real name - and she hates it..) describes their sound as "mellow", but though not loud, they have a driving energy that refutes that description. Catchy riffs, fuzzy guitars, just a bit of synth, fun backup vocals, and clever, literate lyrics, sung with just a hint of country twang. The band name is misleading; The Downer Party definitely bring the fun. "Cities" will be released April 1st.

Read More >>

Books That Rock: Fools Rush In by Bill Carter

Some might call Bill Carter a madman.  Many might call him a hero of sorts.  No matter how you decide to decipher or explain the things he has done or seen as a man who had to place in a war zone, yet, went to a war zone, his amazing and aptly titled book Fools Rush In tells the tale of a lost young man who puts the tale of Alexander Supertramp and his magic bus to complete shame.

This a story of love, death, courage....and Bono.

In the early 90's, when there was a rebirth of some sort of independent spirit, recent college graduate Bill Carter had feared that he would be destined to simply "sit in a bath tub and read the classifieds".  So instead of following what he calls "a doomed life of mortgages, credit cards, and sitcom television", he began to roam the earth.  And to no real surprise, there was a girl behind his misadventures who appears as a sort of shadow following Bill around as he searches desperately to forget, forgive, and just learn how to live again.

Which becomes the set up for Bill Carter to join a batch of gypsy do gooders making there way into the heart of Bosnian war that was in full force.  And just as Bill had tried desperately to find his place in this world, he must decide what is place is in the third world.  He meets the people who have become shockingly accustomed to war and the physical and mental darkness that comes with such violence and tragedy.  He saw death.  He saw destruction.  He saw love.  He witnessed the bonds that tie families together, and the forces of evil beyond their control that would tear them apart.

 And then there's Bono.  As if it might be some sort of surprise, the notorious philanthropists found there way into the scenario.  But, it wasn't as though they were searching for a way to help.  They were successfully coerced by Carter to take an active part, and make aware of what has been happening in the bloody streets of Sarajevo.  For those over 30, you might actually remember the large satellite beamed jumbo screens that U2 had aired during their European tour.  From these giant screens the folks feeling the most pain from this terrible war were given a voice.  They had the chance to tell thousands of people about they were continuously a witness to.  The audiences were challenged to really think about what was going on in this not so far away land.  Even Bono and his merry men were criticized when one brave woman asked "What will you do?" and without even a chance of response, she would say "I think nothing". 

But, eventually some sort of peace was restored in Bosnia, and U2 would play a promised show in the heart of Sarajevo.  To the bands credit, they were long yearning to play while the fighting was going on as an even stronger sign of support, but were basically refused access.  But, as soon as it were possible, there they were.  And they would return several times over, and would eventually be the spokespersons for bringing awareness to the disaster that was the Bosnian war.  No matter how much fun we sometimes like to poke at Bono and what seems to be his own somewhat earned sense of self worth (sometimes being referred to as the Toby Keith of Rock N Roll), this is an occurrence when he and his group really reached out and made a difference

And none of this would have been made possible had it not been for the one and only Bill Carter.  Whether you think he was a madman or a hero for throwing himself into a war of which a boy of California had absolutely nothing to do with, it doesn't change the fact that what our man did made an impact in the lives thousands of Bosnian people.  And all over a girl?  Had the Internet reached the height it is at now, he might have created a social networking site.  Instead, he created a documentary from with the war zone (the award winning Miss Sarajevo), survived a war, personally touched the lives of so many people held hostage by their own nation, influenced the most influential rock band in the world to support the people of Bosnia, and retold his harrowing tale in the pages of Fools Rush In.  Now that is something to "like".

Bill Carter is a freelance writer and photographer who's articles have been found in Spin, Rolling Stone, Men's Journal, and more.  He is also the author of another inspiring novel about self discovery entitled Red Summer, another memoir of his times spent as a commercial fisherman in the Alaskan seas.

Read More >>