And almost as if on cue, it's Autumn-- a bit of rain, cooling temperatures, shorter days, elections, new TV, football, classes and all the rest. Not all fun, in other words, but the deal also includes primetime for new releases and touring schedules, which we're sure is a good thing. We're well underway, in fact...
The week in Portland includes performances from a couple of young bands who tend to mix the old with the new in Dr. Dog and Portland's own Blitzen Trapper. The latter follows up the put-them-on-the-map sounds of their Wild Mountain Nation with their Sub Pop debut, Furr, out Tuesday. The Salem natives continue to make the schizophrenic Crazy Horse meets countrypolitan angle work for them, worrying less about a unified genre of sound than an overall feeling when the dust has all settled. It's still Cosmic American Music, in other words, and we're sure that's a good thing. Blitzen Trapper celebrates Furr with an in-store Tuesday evening (7p.) at Music Millenium before heading off to the European continent for a string of fall dates.
MP3: Blitzen Trapper, from Furr- "Furr"
Stream: Blitzen Trapper's opbmusic in-studio session
Borrowing from a much less dusty (though probably at least as drunken) past are Philadelphia's Dr. Dog, whose fifth full-length Fate was released this past summer. Sort of an east coast-citified Fleet Foxes (is it the animal band connection?) they love them some '60's and '70's psychedelic harmonies, though a bit less on the Laurel Canyon and a bit more Trafalgar Square. It might be easy, in other words, to point to the recycled premise of their music, but they're just so good at making those old sounds fresh again it's hard to quibble. Just enjoy, man, we're sure it's a good thing. Dr. Dog plays all over the place this week, including Monday night at WOW Hall in Eugene, Tuesday afternoon at Jackpot Records (3p.) and later that night at the Doug Fir Lounge. Bearded San Diegans The Delta Spirit open.
MP3: Dr. Dog, from Fate- "The Old Days"
Elsewhere, as recent releases filed under "indie rock" go, one of the more interesting sounding has to be Ra Ra Riot's The Rhumb Line. The Syracuse, NY-based band's debut for Barsuk adds a twist or two to what would otherwise be a pleasant and familiar enough sound. But it's the mini string section formed by Alexandra Lawn's cello and Rebecca Zeller's violin, plus the fact that they're a regular part of the personnel as opposed to an element only added to recordings, that really sets the band apart from the rest. Plus, they cover Kate Bush on the album, which they get points for simply because it means they know who she is. Ra Ra Riot plays the Doug Fir Lounge Monday night with openers Walter Meego and Pep Assembly.
MP3: Ra Ra Riot, from The Rhumb Line- "Dying Is Fine"
That all? Hardly: Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds play the Crystal Ballroom (Monday); The Veils return to the Doug Fir playing with Liam Finn and The Dimes (Wednesday); Musee Mecanique plays a CD release show for their new Hold This Ghost with White Hinterland and The Old Believers at Holocene (Thursday); The Wedding Present plays the Doug Fir with Earlimart (Thursday) and Fernando continues their run as part of this month's version of the McMenamin's Great Northwest Music Tour with three more shows (Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday).
Also, carve out a calendar niche for next Saturday night: Calexico, The Cave Singers, My Morning Jacket, The Cold War Kids, Sean Hayes, Sloan, and The Shaky Hands are all in action at venues throughout the area.
MP3: Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, from Nocturama- "Bring It On"
Stream: The Veils' opbmusic in-studio session
MP3: The Old Believers, from Eight Golden Greats- "Granny's Song"
Stream: The Old Believers' opbmusic in-studio session
MP3: Fernando, from True Instigator- "Angel of Death" (Hank Williams cover)
Alright, then, we've got music to see-- the thread is open...
September 21, 2008 at 4:39pm by inmemoryofjohnpeel
Oh my. from the time-only-relevant Matthew Sweet flim-flam to the eternal Nina Simone - a stunning;performance, remixed to good effect. Ta for that.
September 21, 2008 at 4:47pm by Dave Cusick
Yeah, music is like that--relevant for so many different reasons. Matthew Sweet's "Girlfriend" was part of my life's soundtrack in high school, and went out from my heart to more than a few different girls. And Nina Simone--she's Nina Simone.
September 22, 2008 at 1:03am by Lisa
Furr is great. Do you have any info on Portland band "John Henry"?
September 22, 2008 at 3:25am by Karen
Lisa, would that be John Henry Bourke of Funk Shui, www.myspace.com/funkshuipdx?
September 22, 2008 at 5:52am by Ando
I've definitely been listening to the "Girlfriend" album a lot lately. The man has a knack for articulating pre/post relationship woes.
Heading to Boston this week...sad I have to miss so many good shows. Someone send in a report from Dr. Dog. Really bummed I don't get to catch them. I would have gone down to Eugene to see them tonight if I wasn't already heading to Ra Ra Riot.
Jeremy, thanks for the Fast Computers spin!
September 24, 2008 at 9:01am by jpetersen
John Henry Bourke-- would that be the same John Henry who was part of the Songwriters In the Round back in the early part of the decade? The collective also featured James Low, Nancy Hess, and Lara Michell (of the Stolen Sweets and Dirty Martini), among others.
September 24, 2008 at 3:34pm by Karen
That sounds about right. I think Little Sue participated sometimes too, if I recall correctly.
September 27, 2008 at 2:31pm by clayton roy
Let's get this party started.....on behalf of the new guy who needs our support.
Keep playing the local stuff...how about something timely like the Thermals? Pray for a new state, pray for assassin-nation.
September 27, 2008 at 2:41pm by bendlistener
Thanks for another great show. I read that My Bloody Valentine is back together and touring. I don't know if the tour schedule includes any Oregon shows but either way the news puts me in the mood to hear something from Loveless, if that fits in with your plans.
Best regards.
September 27, 2008 at 2:49pm by clayton roy
What have you got to place musical emphasis on Wall Street shenanigans?!?! C'mon now, let's celebrate the degradation of our AAA bond rating. China can't make music like us petrol drunk Amerikans!!! Play some Canadians for fooks sake...is this Neko Case?
September 27, 2008 at 2:56pm by Dave Cusick
Thermals--definitely! Thanks for rallying. :)
September 27, 2008 at 2:57pm by Dave Cusick
No, that was Blue Giant--Portlander Anita Robinson on vocals.
September 27, 2008 at 3:02pm by clayton roy
Both crush worthy...Neko and Anita.
Is Neko married yet?
September 27, 2008 at 3:09pm by clayton roy
My Morning Jacket is going on stage soon at Edgefield. Howzabout' adding Jimmy James reverb soaked voice to this set?
September 27, 2008 at 3:43pm by clayton roy
The Ramones are nice to hear on OPB...but how about playing a song not on the NRK playlist?
September 27, 2008 at 3:55pm by Dave Cusick
I've been playing the Ramones on the radio FAR longer than They Who Shall Not Be Named, and I stand by it--I'm not going to let not being them set our agenda, but rather, play the music that is good. No matter who's got their grubby hands on it!
And THAT is the true definition of punk rock!
September 27, 2008 at 4:05pm by clayton roy
Punk rock....the most modern example is writing a record about religion....thanks Hutch for your brilliantly modern mockumentary "The Body The Blood The Machine". Such a curve ball it becomes a crossover hit record with the god-set. Touche' hipster neck tattoo predictables...
September 27, 2008 at 5:34pm by Dave Cusick
Hmm, haven't seen that one, sounds like something I'll have to put on my "to rent" list.
As for the Ramones, I don't want to be part of the machine that plays good bands into the ground (and to be truthful, I don't even listen to that machine to know what is or isn't getting overplayed), but, on the other hand, I don't want to overlook a band as important, seminal, and FUN as the Ramones. Life's too short to worry about how far ahead of the curve I am.
September 28, 2008 at 3:38pm by inmemoryofjohnpeel
No new blog?
It's Sunday, welcome back JP. On the UK Folk Reclamation (sic): Laura Marling does indeed seem to be the real thing. In all forms of music the true greats come along fleetingly. In out-of-fashion genres it's easier to notice. Johnny Flynn is also quality and loads of fun.
Nick Drake as reference? It's a curious thing for most Brits that he's so big in the USA. Good, yes, made famous by an early death, but musically he was not really folk, more light pop. I reckon his Stateside popularity stems from the arrangements which sound like something Jackson Browne or Tim Buckley could be singing along to. Other (never played anywhere) references are Martin Carthy, Sandy Denny, The Watersons etc...
Anyhow, nice varied show as usual.
September 28, 2008 at 3:50pm by jpetersen
Just beat me to it: new blog is over here------>.
Yeah, I've really been enjoying the Flynn and Marling stuff, too. I see them less in the tradition of Drake than Sandy Denny and say, Fairport Convention, sure, but there are Drake flavors here and there. He didn't necessarily invent anything but he did what he did damned well. I take exception with the Jackson Browne comparison especially (no offense, Mr. Browne). Anywho, how about Noah & the Whale?
September 28, 2008 at 4:16pm by inmemoryofjohnpeel
Not a Jackson Browne comparison, just a reference to the smooth easy-pop (MOR?) arrangements of Drake's. If only he'd been produced starkly, could have been a Colin Blunstone.
September 28, 2008 at 4:19pm by jpetersen
Hmm, okay. But it hardly gets more stark than "Way to Blue"-- and more or less everything on Time of No Reply is laid bare without turning into bedroom recordings.
Just sayin'.
Comments are now closed.