The diversity of sounds on Shelley Short’s new record A Cave, A Canoo is striking. While the record maintains a mood that evokes genuine laughter and longing (thanks mostly to Short’s perfectly produced vocals) the variety of instruments, and even vocalists on tracks like ‘Time Machine/Submarine’ and ‘Familiar’ give the typically slow moving tracks a very engaging boost of energy. Plus, lyrics like “So hold on, and stick it out/ I’m not gonna be, led about” depict not only Short’s feelings about a particular situation, but also they are telling of her overall attitude toward making music. A Cave, A Canoo oozes with the influence of those she’s spent the past three years with. But even artists like M. Ward and Norfolk & Western tend to slump in a particular sound. On this, her second record, we’re given the impression that regardless of whether or not she achieves the acclaim she deserves, it won’t be her last.
To say the least, this record would make for an amazing flushed out live show. Lucky for us who call Portland home, her CD release show is going down at Holocene on October the 7th. This surely won’t be the last opportunity to catch her at home, but as CD release shows tend to go, she’ll probably bring out all the bells and whistles to make this show a very special one.
Shelley Short – A Cave
Shelley Short – Time Machine Submarine
Posted By David Hutchinson
MusicFest North West exists in a realm between two of the biggest city-wide festivals of the year. While Austin’s SXSW kicks the summer off with essentially every artist you could ever want to see playing multiple times, New York’s CMJ offers a similar set of shows across its vast city. MusicFest North West, while similar, has the benefit of falling between those two events, cherry-picking the best of both and presenting them similarly all across Portland. It is undoubtedly Portland’s most exciting festival, and for a number of reasons.
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Posted By David Hutchinson
As this starts at 9:00pm on Wednesday, it is officially the first thing you should catch at this years MusicFest NW; and what a way to start.
9:00 pm Fuck Buttons
10:30 pm Mogwai
6 months have passed since I wrote about Fuck Buttons’ debut album, Street Horrrsing, and all that has changed is my i-Tunes play count. The album is still full of haunting/charming washes of noise from start to finish, which crosses over flawlessly in their live sets. If you missed Fuck Buttons at the Doug Fir with Caribou, now’s your chance to make up for it.
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Posted By David Hutchinson
Starting today, and throughout the week I’ll be posting to the calendar shows you should probably be going to that correspond to this years MusicFestNW, along with MP3’s so you can preview the artists before the shows. At $50 for 4 days, there is no good reason not to make it out.
After the jump check out the list of performers as well as how to get into Ratatat, Les Savy Fav, Britt Daniel, No Age, Built To Spill and Battles free of charge.
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Posted By David Hutchinson
