Open Thread: The Week Ahead

<img width="245" height="235" align="right" src="/uploads/Image/mward_holdtime_superlozenge.jpg" title="M. Ward ends his three show run at the Aladdin tomorrow night." class="right-img" alt="" />First things first, Portland's own <a href="http://www.mwardmusic.com">M. Ward</a> continues his three-night run at the Aladdin Theater with night two tonight, also featuring openers <a href="http://www.myspace.com/portobrien">Port O'Brien</a>. In case you missed it, Ward recently released his sixth studio album and first in three years, Hold Time, a particularly impressive effort coming on the heels of last year's <a href="http://www.sheandhim.com/sheandhim.php">She & Him</a> success. The short residency finishes up a fairly quick run of North American and European dates and gives Ward a respite of sorts (aside from one show at next week's <a href="http://www.sxsw.com">SXSW</a>) before hitting the road again in May, beginning with <a href="http://www.coachella.com">Coachella</a>. Word as of now is that there are still a few tickets available for Monday night's show, which opens with <a href="http://www.myspace.com/tufawning">Tu Fawning</a> and <a href="http://bluegiantland.com/">Blue Giant</a>. <img width="215" height="221" align="left" src="/uploads/Image/danauerbach.jpg" title="The Black Keys Dan Auerbach plays solo at the Wonder Wednesday night." class="left-img" alt="" />Also this week, Black Key <a href="http://www.nonesuch.com/artists/dan-auerbach">Dan Auerbach</a> plays the Wonder Ballroom behind his new solo effort Keep It Hid. The singing, guitar-playing half of his Ohio-based blues duo, Auerbach branched out for his debut recently on Nonesuch without Pat Carney (drums) and the results are two-fold. On one hand, it's everything we've always loved about <a href="http://www.theblackkeys.com">The Black Keys</a>' music, including the sometimes spooky atmospherics of last year's Danger Mouse-produced Attack & Release (see Auerbach's excellent "Mean Monsoon"); on the other, Auerbach's open spaces are more the rule than the exception without Carney's beat-keeping, thus defining the distinction between this and a new Keys record. MP3: Dan Auerbach, from Keep It Hid- <a href="http://mp3.insound.com/download.php?mp3id=3455">"I Want Some More"</a> <img width="213" height="262" align="right" alt="" class="right-img" title="Mirah's first new album in five years appears Tuesday." src="/uploads/Image/mirah.jpg" />A slew of new releases on Tuesday sees the return of Mirah Vom Tov Zeitlyn, or just plain ol' <a href="http://www.krecs.com/html/artists/artistbio.php?interest=25">Mirah</a> to most of us. (a)spera is the title of the new <a href="http://www.krecs.com">K Records</a> release from the Portland-based artist, and is her first in five years if you don't count last year's That Old Days Feeling odds n' ends release. Phil Elverum, Chris Funk, Tara Jane O'Neil, and Adam Selzer all lend their musically deft hands to the affair, and based on <a href="http://localcut.wweek.com/2009/01/20/mirah-gone-are-the-days-aspera-k-records/">"Gone Are the Days"</a> alone, we've all been waiting impatiently to hear this one for some time now. Mirah plays Antone's in Austin on March 20th for SXSW-- look for a Portland show coming April 4th to the Aladdin Theater. Stream: Mirah, from (a)spera- <a href="http://www.magnetmagazine.com/2009/01/16/mirah-returns-in-march-with-new-lp/">"Education"</a>   <img width="212" height="273" align="left" alt="" class="left-img" title="Bishop Allen go Grr... this week." src="/uploads/Image/bishopallen.jpg" />The Brooklyn-based band <a href="http://www.bishopallen.com">Bishop Allen</a> also returns this week, releasing their third album Grr... on <a href="http://www.deadoceans.com">Dead Oceans</a>. As you may recall, the band gained some attention a couple of years back for their novel approach to getting their music out there, releasing and distributing a new EP every month for a year-- some of which ended up in reworked form on 2007's The Broken String. They've kept up a heavy touring pace since, but somehow still managed to find time to finish the new 13-song record, a collection that finds production a bit more basic than last time out but isn't short on the hooks and literate wordplay we've heard in the past from the Ivy Leaguers. MP3: Bishop Allen, from Grr...- <a href="http://www.bishopallen.com/media/mp3/The_Ancient_Commonsense_Of_Things.mp3">"The Ancient Commonsense of Things"</a> Stream: Bishop Allen's opbmusic <a href="http://opbmusic.org/performances/10-Bishop-Allen">in-studio session</a> The thread is open... true

2009-03-22T20:12:16-07:00

2009-03-08T20:12:16-07:00

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2009-03-08T20:12:16-07:00

Performances from M. Ward, Asobi Seksu, Dan Auerbach, and the Asylum Street Spankers highlight the on-stage action this week, which also features new releases from Julie Doiron, Bishop Allen, Mirah, and Elvis Perkins in Dearland, among many others. Plus, we give away tickets to next weekend's Loch Lomond performance at Mississippi Studios. Join the conversation...

Open Thread: The Week Ahead

2009-03-09T10:38:31-07:00

Well folks, it’s been a bit of a rough time lately, with the (in)famous <a href="http://www.kgw.com/outdoors/stories/kgw_122208_snow_slideshows_all.72598e1.html">Arctic Blast 2008</a> that Portland and the Northwest experienced, as well as the year-end music lull. The good news, however, is that the bad news is now behind us. We’ve plowed through the dark period and have come out strong with our wheels a-churning. This week marks the first in a great while of notable releases with many more queued up in the near future. Jeremy highlighted a few of the gems in <a href="http://opbmusic.org/blog/entries/384-Your-Sunday-Open-Thread-">his last post</a>, and I’ll hit upon a few more here. And, as always, there’ll be a bit of Portland-centric news to entertain in addition to some off-beat, off-kilter madness that only the music world can contain. Off we go... <img width="240" height="239" align="left" src="/uploads/Image/lalberg/Viva%20Voce.jpg" alt="The New Viva Voce" />Kicking things off, Portland’s<a href="http://www.vivavoce.com/"> Viva Voce</a> announced they’re adding a couple of members to the group, making the husband-wife outfit now <a href="http://localcut.wweek.com/2009/01/13/viva-voce-become-another-portland-supergroup/">a four piece</a>. Alongside Kevin and Anita Robinson are newcomers Corinna Repp and Evan Railton. The band also announced a new tour, including two Oregon stops in Portland (March 28) and Salem (April 11). Speaking of keeping up with the Robinsons, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/bluegiantland">Blue Giant</a> was recently in the <a href="http://opbmusic.org/performances/78-Blue-Giant">opbmusic studios</a>. You can catch the interview and hear songs off their new album <a href="http://opbmusic.org/performances/78-Blue-Giant">here</a>. <a href="http://localcut.wweek.com/2009/01/16/blue-giant-play-opb-music-session-plot-short-west-coast-tour/">Willamette Week</a> also posted a nice piece about the visit. Festival lineups are starting to trickle out this month. The <a href="http://sxsw.com/music/shows/bands/">list of SXSW bands</a> has now swelled above 1,000 groups, including the following Portland bands: <ul> <li><a href="http://www.blindpilotmusic.com/">Blind Pilot <img width="250" height="376" align="right" src="/uploads/Image/Parenthetical%20Girls.jpg" alt="Parenthetical Girls" /></a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bluegiantland.com/">Blue Giant </a></li> <li><a href="http://www.lochlomondmusic.com/">Loch Lomond</a></li> <li><a href="http://aleladiane.com/">Alela Diane </a></li> <li><a href="http://myspace.com/lauragibson">Laura Gibson </a></li> <li><a href="http://www.chicharones.com/">The Chicharones</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.myspace.com/thedeadtrees">The Dead Trees</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.myspace.com/eatskull">Eat Skull </a></li> <li><a href="http://www.myspace.com/hockey">Hockey </a></li> <li><a href="http://www.myspace.com/horsefeathersmusic">Horse Feathers</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.krecs.com/">Mirah</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.slendermeanssociety.com/parenthetical">Parenthetical Girls</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.shelleyshortmusic.com/">Shelley Short </a></li> <li><a href="http://www.sonicbids.com/TheSlants">The Slants</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.strangefamousrecords.com/">Sleep </a></li> <li><a href="http://starsoftrackandfield.com/">Stars of Track and Field </a></li> <li><a href="http://www.starcleaner.com/">Thee Headliners </a></li> <li><a href="http://theupsidedown.com/">The Upsidedown </a></li> <li><a href="http://www.myspace.com/shakyhands">The Shaky Hands </a></li> <li><a href="http://www.vivavoce.com/">Viva Voce </a></li> </ul>   Several of these Oregonians also have albums set to be released in the near future, including Nevada City, CA/Portland, OR’s <a href="http://aleladiane.com/">Alela Diane</a>, whose album, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B001JL3ATC/ref=nosim/largeheartedb-20">To Be Still</a>, is out on February 17th. The singer-songwriter was recently profiled in the <a href="http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article5476729.ece">Times Online</a>. Portland's indie darling boy <a href="http://mwardmusic.com/">M. Ward</a> also has an album slated for release on the 17th. You can preview <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B001NJY53K/ref=nosim/largeheartedb-20">Hold Time</a> in its entirety <a href="http://stereogum.com/archives/album-art/stream-m-wards-hold-time-enjoy-its-album-art_045251.html">here</a>. And if that still doesn’t satiate your M. Ward cravings, check out the recent <a href="http://uk.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUKTRE5090MC20090110">interview with Billboard</a>. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B001MW0IY8/ref=nosim/largeheartedb-20"><img width="300" height="300" align="left" alt="Antony & The Johnsons: The Crying Light" src="/uploads/Image/lalberg/The%20Crying%20Light.jpg" />The Crying Light</a>, the new album by <a href="http://antonyandthejohnsons.com/">Antony and the Johnsons</a>, was released this past Tuesday. <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/jan/18/antony-and-the-johnsons-album-review">The Guardian</a> reviewed the album, giving it four out of five stars. <a href="http://nymag.com/arts/popmusic/features/53322/">New York Magazine</a>, meanwhile, profiled singer Antony Hegarty. Country legend <a href="http://www.lorettalynn.com">Loretta Lynn</a> has been feeling productive lately, with <a href="http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2009/01/loretta-lynn-plans-to-release-two-albums-this-year.html">two new albums</a> scheduled for release later this year. <a href="http://www.boniver.org/">Bon Iver’s</a> new EP, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B001MJ3MQW/ref=nosim/largeheartedb-20">Blood Bank</a>, was given a rating of 7.9 by <a href="http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/148268-bon-iver-blood-bank-ep">Pitchfork</a>. The new album came out this week, along with a few other gems including the <a href="http://www.myspace.com/animalcollectivetheband">Animal Collective’s</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B001MW0J2O/ref=nosim/largeheartedb-20">Merriweather Post Pavilion</a>, <a href="http://www.acnewman.net/">A.C. Newman's</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B001MW0J0Q/ref=nosim/largeheartedb-20">Get Guilty </a>and <a href="http://www.andrewbird.net/">Andrew Bird's</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B001LTVBX4/ref=nosim/largeheartedb-20">Noble Beast</a>. You can hear new tracks from theses albums on the <a href="http://opbmusic.org/playlists">opbmusic stream</a> and this weekend on <a href="http://opbmusic.org/shows/1">In House</a>. A slew of other new releases are also in the queue. <a href="http://u2.com/">U2’s</a> new album, <a href="http://u2.com/">No Line on the Horizon</a>, is out March 3rd. You can check out the tracklist and artwork <a href="http://www.gigwise.com/news/48739/U2-Unveil-New-Album-Tracklisting-And-Artwork">here</a>. <a href="http://brucespringsteen.com/">Bruce Springsteen's</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B001LF4IA6/ref=nosim/largeheartedb-20">Working on a Dream</a>, meanwhile, is out next Tuesday.  A new <a href="http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/vedder-grohl-set-for-nick-drake-tribute-1003931824.story">Nick Drake tribute album</a> is set to be released with contributions by the likes of Eddie Vedder, Norah Jones, Dave Grohl and others.     The <a href="http://www.rockhall.com">Rock and Roll Hall of Fame</a> announced the <a href="http://www.rockhall.com/induction2009">new inductees for 2009</a>. Stereogum checks in with Portland band <a href="http://stereogum.com/archives/progress-report/progress-report-the-thermals_046921.html">The Thermals</a> in its “Progress Report” column. What did Sufjan Stevens do this past year? <a href="http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2009/01/a-dozen-things-sufjan-stevens-did-in-2008-that-wer.html">Turns out a lot</a>. Last but not least, one more album that will soon be released upon the masses is the <a href="http://www.decemberists.com/">Decemberists</a>' highly-anticipated rock opera, <a href="http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/node/148104">The Hazards of Love</a>. The band gave fans a sneak peek into the concept album last week with a free gift of sorts--a track called "<a href="http://www.decemberists.com">The Rake Song</a>." And not wasting any time, the song has already been covered by <a href="http://www.myspace.com/rubyisle">Ruby Isles</a> as part of their covers series project. It's a great rendition full of energy and electronica.  Video--courtesy of <a href="http://www.youaintnopicasso.com/">YANP</a> and YouTube--is below. Enjoy!  <object width="425" height="344"> <param value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3yxkEiFqVOo&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" name="movie" /> <param value="true" name="allowFullScreen" /><embed width="425" height="344" allowfullscreen="true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3yxkEiFqVOo&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></embed></object> As always, comments are welcome. Happy Wednesday! true

2009-02-04T16:13:11-08:00

2009-01-21T14:14:02-08:00

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2009-01-21T16:13:11-08:00

A few weeks have passed since the last edition of headlines and there's no better time to get back into it than this week--a week chock full of new releases, announcements and Portland-based musical news.

Around the Horn: New Releases, SXSW, Portland News & More

2009-01-21T16:13:11-08:00

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