Music Blog

Ideally, we'd all club hop the MusicFest NW schedule, cherry-picking according to our individual tastes, mixing and matching our current loves with our long sought-afters, like a pre-diabetic child in a musical candy store. There are more than a few cases where the venues are in close enough proximity to one another to make this a possibility, as with tonight's Roseland Theater-Crystal Ballroom-Berbati's Pan trifecta, for example. If you have a bike, so much the better as it will not only make that MapQuest-estimated two minutes of travel time do-able, but you won't have to search for a non-existent parking spot, either. But what if the dilemma is more along the lines of the three mile trek from the Wonder Ballroom to the Crystal Ballroom, this coming after a few beers and a mind blown by, say, Built to Spill? I'm old and soft to be sure, but such an endeavor seems neither desirable nor safe for anyone. Such is the dark side, but also the hidden lesson of this week's action: be happy to be where you are. And now you know.

Okay, I'm kidding! Of course you won't be entirely at ease with where you are! Whether it's seeing Death Vessel while you're missing The Mommyheads or choosing between Menomena and The Shaky Hands (not to mention trying to catch In House in the process), there'll inevitably be a bit of grass-is-greener wondering, curious if you're missing some kind of musically historical happening even while you're singing along to a long-time favorite. I know, such a glass half full perspective I've got, isn't it?

In any case, whatever the approach, things kick off tonight with three solid bills, all at 8:00. The Crystal Ballroom hosts a couple of young singer-songwriters in throwback (of sorts) Griffin House and Australian Xavier Rudd. Rudd's latest on the Anti- label, A Darker Shade of Blue, once again incorporates elements of his native country's Aboriginal music, resulting in an interesting mix when paired with his guitar heroics. Watch for him soon as part of an upcoming opbmusic in-studio session.

MP3: Xavier Rudd, from Food In the Belly- "Fortune Teller"

Elsewhere finds the charmingly-named British duo F**k Buttons opening the night at the Roseland Theater for veteran Scottish (mostly) instrumentalists Mogwai. Always masters of the title (including such gems as "Yes! I Am a Long Way From Home" and "You Don't Know Jesus"), their upcoming Matador release (out Sept. 23rd) is the curiously-named The Hawk is Howling which opens with the promising-sounding "I'm Jim Morrison, I'm Dead."

MP3: Mogwai, from The Hawk is Howling- "The Sun Smells Too Loud"

From where I sit, though, the night's best bet is the multi-act bill at Berbati's Pan headlined by The Old 97's. These are a decidedly new Old 97's, you see. Post major label, post frontman making a couple of solo albums, post screen time in a Jennifer Aniston film. The fact that they're still making music should tell you that their latest, Blame It On Gravity, really is all about the music in a way we haven't heard from them since at least 1999. Frontman Rhett Miller still looks like a Calvin Klein model and still writes luscious pop hooks, while the music has been bolstered by the unexpectedly strong songwriting contributions of bassist Murry Hammond. Also on the bill-- (egads, the whole damned night is can't miss!) Chicago's 1900s, Portland's own Norfolk & Western, and honorary Portlander (he's here every other week, isn't he?) Langhorne Slim. I do go on, and could...

Stream: Langhorne Slim's opbmusic in-studio session

MP3: Norfolk & Western, from A Gilded Age- "A Gilded Age"

MP3: The 1900s, from Cold & Kind- "When I Say Go"

Vid: The Old 97's, from Blame It On Gravity- "Dance With Me"

So what's your take on the best way to take in MFNW? Jump around all over town? Lay your claim to a stage-front spot and guard it, elbows out, for the night? Somewhere in between? Enjoy the shows, and come on out and say hi-- I'll be the one trying to enjoy himself while wondering what else I'm missing.