The first of Saturday's free shows at the Wonder Ballroom was from Ratatat.
Photo taken by Flickr user Kyle kjten22, he's also got some other great MFNW shots.
MP3: Ratatat - Mirando
MP3: Ratatat - Shiller
MP3: Ratatat - Seventeen Years
After 90 minutes of a packed house dancing to the some amazingly danceable music, the Wonder was really, really hot. So hot, that Les Savy Fav lead singer Tim Harrington removed his tye-dyed shirt just one song into their set, revealing a chest so white that my camera's flash ceased to function for the rest of the band's performance. The band, and Harrington in particular, are true punk showmen. He kept the energy on overdrive for far longer than should have been possible in an environment of 95 degrees and 95% humidity, using a variety of props, including: his shirt, a roll of toilet paper, a stepladder (which he climbed to the top of, and then crowdsurfed on, still elevated), and a small flashlight placed inside his mouth.
MP3: Les Savy Fav - What Would Wolves Do?
MP3: Les Savy Fav - Patty Lee
As packed and hyped the Wonder was, the Someday Lounge was quiet. It was as different as you could imagine, and refreshingly so, but one theme remained consistent: the semi-nude male form. Portland's Iretsu performed their vocal post-rock dressed as Olympic swimmers, wearing only Speedos and gold medals.
MP3: Iretsu - 6 Bump Hillbilly Stomp
MP3: Iretsu - Name Our Numbers Numbers
Over at the Hawthorne Theater, Portland's Dykeritz, with nearly three times the members of Iretsu, played. Their music is winding pop, with as many chord changes as members in sometimes fewer bars. Their sound check ended up being about as long their actual set they played, but in the words of my friend who was also at the show, "it's like French cooking--it takes a long time, there's never enough food, but it's REALLY GOOD."
MP3: Dykeritz - Look at My Hands, Look at My Knees
MP3: Dykeritz - Big Drapes (via Local Cut)
At the Crystal Ballroom, Portland three-piece Menomena performed their first Portland show in a while, what with other projects the band has been working on. In keeping with the partially-clothed male theme of the evening, drummer Danny Seim performed, as always, sans shoes.
MP3: Menomena - Wet and Rusting
VIDEO: Menomena - Cough Coughing
VIDEO: Menomena - Evil Bee
VIDEO: Menomena - Wet and Rusting
Wrapping up an amazing bill at the Crystal, was Portland two-piece band The Helio Sequence. An amazing set to an attentive crowd, the second-to-last song was their cover of The Beatles' "Tomorrow Never Knows," followed by their final song, the title track from their latest album, "Keep Your Eyes Ahead."
MP3: The Helio Sequence - Keep Your Eyes Ahead
MP3: The Helio Sequence - Blood Bleeds
MP3: The Helio Sequence - Everyone Knows Everyone
MP3: The Helio Sequence - Can't Say No
LISTEN: Helio Sequence: Live in-studio @ OPB
I finished out the night with about 10 minutes of watching the man best known for his inability to lie about his preferred body type. Sir Mix-a-Lot's rap career started in 1986, and he continues to create new material now, more than 20 years later, and 17 years after the success of "Baby Got Back." That song still haunts him, like a Nemesis, damning him to a status of "one hit wonder." An hour and a half into his set, he still wasn't ready to perform it, but I was ready to call it a night.
VIDEO: Sir Mix-a-Lot - Baby Got Back
MP3: Jonathan Coulton - Baby Got Back
September 8, 2008 at 5:47am by Jeremy Petersen
What has it come to-- Les Savy Fav and Iretsu clearly using their sexuality to promote their music. I feel objectified!
September 9, 2008 at 4:37am by jerryg
Is it just me and my HD radio or is KOPB-2 not on the air?
September 9, 2008 at 5:36am by David Christensen
Jerryg-- you're right, the HD-2 channel is off the air at the moment, and somebody's on it.
September 9, 2008 at 6:14am by jerryg
Thanks. Gotten used to having the music around in the afternoons.
September 10, 2008 at 5:39am by David Christensen
Jerryg-- What's your experience been with HD radio and the HD-2 channel? Are you listening with a tabletop radio or in the car?
September 11, 2008 at 9:43am by jerryg
David.. I love HD radio.. I've got a tabletop and while it's on the cheap end of the spectrum, I love the technology. Mostly it's tuned into KOPB2, but I scan thru the dial to see if there's anything interesting on.
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