Posted By Sasha
Chromeo @ Roseland Theater
August 14th, 2010 Posted in Uncategorized
Aug, 14 2010
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Stones Throw x Fool’s Gold take over Rotture 8/14
August 10th, 2010 Posted in Uncategorized
Aug, 10 2010
Because A-trak knows what’s good for a dance-floor, he got a bunch of his buddies together for a series of evenings across the country called the Stones Throw x Fool’s Gold: Discotheque. The Rules: Strictly Disco-Boogie and House Music.
I had the pleasure of attending this past weekend in Chicago and all I can say is, what an epic line-up. Although this will change a little from date-to-date, the core elements in DJ sets by Stones Throw’s Peanut Butter Wolf, and Fool’s Gold’s A-Trak make the journey. Portland’s Line up is as follows:
A-Trak
Nacho Lovers
Peanut Butter Wolf
J Rocc
Check out some photos from last night after the jump, and consider this your motivation to make the show this coming Saturday. After Chromeo Friday, and this show Saturday, I fully expect to hear about some hellish hangovers.
Chromeo
Posted By David Hutchinson
august in pdx
August 6th, 2010 Posted in Uncategorized
Aug, 06 2010
Do you live in the Pacific Northwest? Do you live far away but like to buy impulse plane tickets? There is a bunch of notable amazement in the next month. Here is a partial guide to sweaty rooms and beer fueled friendships.
Samiyam
Splatinum
Nordic Soul
Tyler Tastemaker
Friday August Sixth
The Crown Room
205 NW Fourth Ave
Right now, this is happening pronto. Fresh VS Decibel festival.
Chromeo
Friday, August 13th
Roseland Theater
8 NW 6th ST
Night by Night…
Distal
Ben Tactics
Lincolup
Friday, August 13th
The Crown Room
205 NW Fourth Ave
Check Distal here.
A-Trak
Peanut Butter Wolf
Nacho Lovers
August 14th
Rotture 315 SE 3rd AVE
If you don’t know A-Trak…
JD Twitch (Of Optimo) (Glasgow)
Honey Soundsystem DJs (San Francisco)
Linger & Quiet
Thursday 19th of August
Holocene
1001 Southeast Morrison Street
Optimo is pretty f’n amazing.
Flosstradamus
Rude Dudes
Lionsden
Serious Business
Cory O
Saturday, August 21
Rotture 315 SE 3rd AVE
Block party, almost.
Dubstep Weekly, Every Tuesday
Come meet us.
The Crown Room
205 NW Fourth Ave
& Electro every third Thursday at Beauty Bar
Other admins should add on to this with their own picks, yeah?
Posted By Sasha
Ticket Giveaway: Dark Dark Dark @ Rotture 7/22/10
July 19th, 2010 Posted in Uncategorized
Jul, 19 2010
Minneapolis’ Dark Dark Dark are making their way across the country on tour in support of their upcoming album Wild Go, stopping in Portland this coming Thursday.
Probably the most obvious sound comparison one could make is to Bowerbirds, but Dark Dark Dark set themselves apart by elaborating on the spare sounds that Bowerbirds usually offer. Keys, violin, horns & banjo are just some of the sounds that create their expansive sound, one which provides the perfect backdrop for Nona Marie Invie’s trill vocals.
They’re playing Thursday at Rotture with The Drowning Men & Lindsey Clark. It’s only $6, but you can avoid that price by winning a pair of tickets to the show right here. All you’ve got to do is be the first to comment with your full name & e-mail address.
Check out a couple MP3s below, and enjoy the show!
Dark Dark Dark – Bright Bright Bright
Posted By David Hutchinson
Heads Up: Susanna & The Magical Orchestra
June 22nd, 2010 Posted in Uncategorized
Jun, 22 2010
It’s hard to hate on someone so talented. Even if the Norwegian songstress doesn’t make the kind of music you’re acostomed to, the power of Susanna’s voice makes it impossible to disrespect her. It’s like listening to Povoratti, or Antony. The dudes are mad weird, and you aren’t coming home from the bars to blast their records, but they demand your respect and attention regardless. Just ask the New York Times! Plus she looks strikingly similar to a certain legend that you should probably rediscover.
Susanna’s 3 is truly a pretty incredible record. Oscillating between soft sounds and flawless vocalizations is her strong-suit, and she finds the perfect balance between the two on her latest record. Her #1 friend on her Myspace Page is Frida Hyvonen, which would serve as a pretty good indication of style here, although her music makes its statements without Hyvonen’s energy (no less effectively).
Maybe you are listening to her tunes on a date… or hell, taking your significant other to her show on the 22nd of this month @ Mississippi Studios? Either way, 3 is a record that will get you laid/cultured all at the same time, and you get extra points for taking your date to a show that likely wont happen again until you’ve long since broken up.
Posted By David Hutchinson
Introducing: Areyougone
May 21st, 2010 Posted in Uncategorized
May, 21 2010
Largely the creative guise of Christopher Bryant, Areyougone is a Portland, Oregon based group specializing in haunted folk tunes. An introduction at this point, is long overdue. Beginning as a solo project by Bryant, Areyougone has evolved into a group consisting of four mainstay members, but also including “borrowed friends” as their facebook indicates. Haunted folk, as a description, really doesn’t do the work justice. From what we’ve heard the songs truly range in character from slow americana guitar twang to full blown anthemic shoegaze, usually moving from the prior to the latter in the best cases.
Intrigued by the work made public via the links above, we caught up with Bryant who was generous enough to send us more music than we thought the group even had to share. Luckily for all of us, most of it is very good. Areyougone are set to go into the studio with Jeremy Sherrer (J. Mascis, Black Angels) to record a six song mini-lp which should see release in the near future.
We’ve got some exclusive downloads of Areyougone’s recorded work up to this point after the jump.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted By David Hutchinson
Fashawn & Wiz Khalifa Play Oregon May 13th//14th
May 11th, 2010 Posted in Uncategorized
May, 11 2010
It’s pretty rare that we get good, or even just buzzed about hip-hop artists to pass through Portland, which makes this week all the more exciting. No matter where you’re at in our fair state, you’ll have the chance to check out two great ones with week.
Recall our photo-shoot with Fashawn last year, just shortly after the release of his way-too slept-on Boy Meets World. Criticisms of that set always go back to his heavy reliance on samples to make up the basis of each beat, something producer Exile is known for. Anyone who has followed Fashawn through the mixtapes leading up to his album knows, however, that samples act as markers of his inspiration. On Higher Learning Fashawn goes through everything from Kid Cudi to Ratatat to Talib Kweli. He’s always worn his influences on his sleeve, and an affinity for old-school should come as no surprise on his debut. With that in mind, it’s hard to find something bad to say about Boy Meets World. It’s real, and as a result, real good.
Fashawn (Ft. Talib Kwali) – Life’s A Bitch
Fashawn (Ft. Planet Asia) – The Score
Krondon (ft. Fashawn) – I Aint Running
I’ve never been as big a fan of Wiz. He’s undoubtedly the more exciting of the two, if Twitter is to be believed. But that, to me, is what makes him sort of boring. Something about Fashawn saying, “I’m so California.” resonates as real much more than Wiz saying “Pittsburgh Imma Swell My Town”. Maybe it is his mellow demeanor, it can’t break past this listener’s desire to bang-out. Regardless… There will never have been a more blunted crew to come through The WOW Hall on the 13th, and Peters Room (at the Roseland) the following night. If this picture is any indication… the crowd should be significantly intoxicated too.
Wiz Khalifa – Kush & OJ Mixtape
Posted By David Hutchinson
Free Download: The Best On Mars – A Mars P Mixtape
April 22nd, 2010 Posted in Uncategorized
Apr, 22 2010
An apparent disregard for modern hip-hop characterizes the music throughout this first offering by ‘ya boy’ Mars P. Lyrically however, he doesn’t concern himself with the weighted, often pedantic subject matter that polluted the old-school. With references to basketball (“Hoodlums”), sneakers (“Cooley High”) and blogs (“JayxMars”) Mars P is able to push beyond the aforementioned limitations and talk about something that may not be as ‘important’, but is entirely more interesting.
The best song by a large margin is “Jay x Mars”. The beat is whatever, but the diversity of different flows that he somehow runs through perfectly is what strikes as most impressive. He sounds like XV, but way less monotonous; like Jhi Ali, but way less ATL.
Mars P – The Best On Mars Mixtape
All that being said, what is probably the most notable thing about this short offering is the original production by Andrew Savoie. The beats here seem perfectly tailored for Mars P’s voice, offering an entirely enjoyable backdrop for Mars P to shine on. Savoie is also showing a brilliant ability to diversify. While everything I’ve heard from him before this mix has had a similar feel, here he lays down four entirely different styles of production. From the old-school “Intro” to the Gorillaz-esque “Hoodlums” to the synth-driven, dubstep-esque “If Only a Hollywood Story”, Savoie tries new things and every time they seem to work well. Even on the funky/retro last track “F.L.Y.” we’re given a whole other side of Savoie. While the song at first seems unsuited for a final track, it ends up working in that it definitely leaves the listener waiting for what comes next.
And hey, isn’t that what good mixtapes are supposed to do?
Posted By David Hutchinson
Introducing!!!
April 16th, 2010 Posted in Uncategorized
Apr, 16 2010
Antics and Avery – Young Money Thieves by Avery
Antics and Avery FTW! This track still needs to mastered, but its a preview of whats coming this summer from two hyphy PDX dubstep producers!
Posted By Kellan
Heads Up: RJD2
April 7th, 2010 Posted in Uncategorized
Apr, 07 2010
The track titles essentially tell the whole story.
With songs like, “Let There Be Horns”, and “A Spaceship For Now”, RJD2 continues to do what a mostly instrumental act should: incite imagination through instrumentation. And the mind will surely wander through his painfully under-rated 2010 output The Colossus. But, what makes RJD2’s 4th(?) record so strikingly different from that which initially broght him fame, Deadringer, is that he’s finally got something to say, and this time he says it well.
With the help of artists like Kenna and Aaron Livingston, he enlightens his instrumentation with vocals that seem to acknowledge the general disinterest in his 2007 output The Third Hand. It’s like if Jamaraquai didn’t wear that awful hat… or if Jamie Lidell wasn’t such a helpless romantic. Contributions by The Catalyst and Phonte Colman also ensure he maintains his hip-hop sensibilities. My honest opinion? It’s pretty damn good. Don’t take my word for it though, see for yourself this Friday at Dante’s. I know… it’s Dante’s, but Give a fellow Oregonian some love!
Posted By David Hutchinson
Linfinity w/ M.B.D. Tomorrow @ Doug Fir
April 6th, 2010 Posted in Uncategorized
Apr, 06 2010
If you had told me two years ago that Linfinity was on tour with Murder By Death, I would have thrown a fit. Such a poorly matched pair simply wouldn’t make sense. For one, Murder By Death were at what could arguably have been called the peak of their career, though touring as an opener. Additionally, however, I would have asked you who the hell Linfinity were.
Well it turns out that M.B.D. are now headlining, but with a sound that has undergone a huge transformation. And, playing now for someone like Linfinity somehow seems suiting. Linfinity offers very vocal, melody based songs with a sort of intimate absurdity that recalls everything from Antony Hegarty to even Bruce Springsteen. Murder By Death could be said to lean as far away from the prior comparison, in the direction of the latter. Their now-whiskey-ballads recall fellow rockers Murder City Devils retold through a burlesque filter, but this filter offers a similar intimacy to their openers in Linfinity. They likely won’t gather much praise for their most recent record Good Morning, Magpie due to its overall tone, but the fact remains: as a live act M.B.D. are more compelling and exhilarating than anyone one you could compare them to.
They both take the stage tomorrow at the perfectly appropriate Doug Fir Lounge.
Posted By David Hutchinson
FUBAR this Friday: Treasure Fingers
April 2nd, 2010 Posted in Uncategorized
Apr, 02 2010
UPDATE: Rumor has it Treasure Fingers in unleashing all new production tonight! Be there or be ??.
Portland is definitely on the map, and much of that can be attributed to the excellent booking of those at Rotture, Holocene, etc. As you’ve likely noticed, Donnis will be taking the stage at Berbatis Pan this friday as the opening act, but what to do after? Well it just so happens his FOOLS GOLD label-mate Treasure Fingers will be headlining FUBAR just over the bridge.
Though of entirely different genres on the surface, Treasure Fingers and Donnis share a similar skill. For Donnis that skill is turning clever phrases using metaphor and an extremely precise flow, taking excellent production and making it his own; Treasure fingers similarly uses precision in turning sounds to songs, remixing what is already there into something he too can call his own.
Snowden – Anti Anti (TREASURE FINGERS REMIX)
Fergie – Glamorous (TREASURE FINGERS REMIX)
Treasure Fingers – Winter 2008 Mix
Treasure Fingers – School’s Out Forever Mix
Treasure Fingers – Neon Noise Mix
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted By David Hutchinson
Heads Up: Edward Sharpe & Fools Gold
December 10th, 2009 Posted in Uncategorized
Dec, 10 2009
It’s been exactly three months since I first saw Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes. It’s been exactly three months and six days since I last saw them last. That’s because after stumbling upon them at this year’s Monolith Music Festival in Colorado, they quickly became a must see at Music Fest North West upon my return to Portland. Since that time I’ll admit, I haven’t spent a lot of time thinking about them. Listening to their record after having seen them is almost a disservice to the raw energy they exude live.
That being said, knowing all the words to their record could serve a super-fan when checking out their live set. It’s fun enough to sway back and forth with the surely sold-out crowd, but I’d imagine singing along would make a person feel like even more a part of the experience. They are, in fact, magnetic performers in this way.
Check out a bunch of their tracks right here.
What has me most excited, however, is the opening act: Fools Gold. Recall last time they played in Oregon they were joined by Metronomy, who’s disco leanings had me mostly turned off. This time they join a much more suitable tour which should serve to play to their strengths. Not sure how many people will be present on this particular trek, but something tells me they’re going to rock regardless.
It’s hard to talk about this band without mentioning they sing almost entirely in Hebrew. The thing though is, you could listen to and enjoy their album over and over without noticing. I’m sure what they have to say is important, but they say enough musically to keep a listener happy despite their language of choice.
What timing! Squeeze in a Hebrew lesson or two just before Hanukkah: Fools Gold will be joining Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes at both the WOW Hall and the Doug Fir tomorrow and tonight respectively.
Posted By David Hutchinson
This Weekend in Portland, Oregon.
November 10th, 2009 Posted in Uncategorized
Nov, 10 2009
In any given weekend, there’s too much going on to even begin writing about. This weekend in Portland though, there is a particularly unique set of shows going down. Everyone knows the weekend begins on Thursday now-a-days, but for the purposes of this post I’ll start on Friday.
The epic and amazing Black Heart Procession are going to be introducing their doom & gloom atmospherics to the Aladdin Theater this Friday with Bellini. Now into their tenth year as a band (and six albums deep) the places they’ve been and struggles they’ve faced resonate really fucking heavily on their latest record, Six. And hey, as Portlanders we get to take some credit for their masterful malcontent, because founding member Tobais Nathaniel used to call Portland home!
If you’re sick of your typical Friday night (who isn’t?) be sure to check out the Black Heart Procession, I promise they’ll be a pleasurable change of pace. Also, be on the lookout for an upcoming feature on FuckBadMusic in which the aforementioned Tobais Nathaniel shares some of his favorite Portland haunts. Who knows, maybe Aladdin Theater will be one of them after this Friday.
The Black Heart Procession – Rats
And if Black Heart Procession proves to be a little too traditional for your tastes (you are insane), look forward to Saturday! Julianna Barwick will be playing her subdued experimental songs in a (surprise!) somewhat experimental setting. That’s because the organizers of the event, titled Sonic Celluloid, have asked each act to choose an accompanying film for their set. The film they choose will be playing as they play in a “muted and trippy” format. I’m thinking Psychic Ills, but with a narrative! The event goes down (including Portland’s own White Rainbow) at the Reed College Chapel this Saturday at 9:00pm. Be there or be boring.
Julianna Barwick – Various Songs
Posted By David Hutchinson
In Review: Junk Culture – West Coast EP
November 5th, 2009 Posted in Uncategorized
Nov, 05 2009
A record made solely of samples seems an exhausting effort; one hard not to approach with skepticism. Essentially records created using this technique promise no hook, no point of entry. That has certainly been the case with much of Junk Culture’s label mates. Illegal Art is one of those niche labels that many like-minded musicians call home. And while these artists do need and deserve a home, it’s hard to glean too much significance when running through their records. Often times what’s most memorable is a familiar sample, rather than how it is used in a new context.
That being said, I’ve listened to this West Coast EP so many times now, the samples that were once familiar to me, as samples, now sound like they were made organically for this record. In this context the record flows so effortlessly through the brain. The perfect blend of familiarity and potency makes what could be a tiring 19 minutes of very varied soundscapes enjoyable throughout. It’s experimental, and for that reason inaccessible, to be sure. But the blurbs and dirges break up songs like ‘My Two Hands’ and ‘For Elise’, which might have been too somber for a sample based record if placed next to one another; and the vocal samples and repetition create a sort of non-traditional hook, easing the listener through tracks that might otherwise have been too noisy.
Download the entire West Coast EP on a ‘Pay What You Want’ basis from Illegal Art.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted By David Hutchinson
Kid Sister @ Holocene 10/21/09
November 4th, 2009 Posted in Uncategorized
Nov, 04 2009
I’ve gotta ask… Where the hell was Portland at this Kid Sister show? Was it the Wednesday night? Was it the nearly $20+ price tag?
Whatever it was, the lack of folks in attendance inspired the promoters to section off the two main floors at Holocene for an all ages crowd, leaving the narrow bar the only place to hold a drink. Needless to say, this cut down a major chunk of the dancing that might have been done during Rude Dudes & Flosstrodamus’ set. Commendable effort by those guys though. It was almost depressing watching them attempt to hype a headliner in a relatively empty venue.
Posted By David Hutchinson
Capitol Hill Block Party – This Weekend!!!
July 23rd, 2009 Posted in Uncategorized
Jul, 23 2009
I know, as a Portland based blog we should really be promoting the PDX-POP NOW festival going on this weekend at Rotture, but I just can’t deny the superiority of Seattle’s Capitol Hill Block Party. Not only does it contain some of Portland’s biggest bands (The Thermals, The Gossip), but even those artists making big waves elsewhere! For instance, the headliners consist of The Jesus Lizard, Sonic Youth, Mika Miko and The Noisettes; and although big ones, these bands hardly cast a shadow on the rest of the line-up. Girls, Past Lives, Flexions, Deerhunter, Earth and Awesome Color make up only another fraction of the party. So consider spending the early part of the weekend in Seattle. Hell, you can still make it back for PDX-Pop’s final day Sunday which brings the likes of Grouper, Menomena and Guidance Counselor.
Posted By David Hutchinson
Celebrate PDX
July 19th, 2008 Posted in Uncategorized
Jul, 19 2008
White Fang
Panther
Eat Skull
Parenthetical Girls
Starfucker
Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks
The Thermals
Fist Fite
AU
Brace Pain
Horse Feathers
YACHT
Colin Meloy
White Rainbow
Menomena
Southern Belle
M.Ward
Meth Teeth
Valet
What do they all have in common?
Posted By David Hutchinson
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