Photo Review: PDX Pop Now! '09- Day 1

Not even an apparently temperamental camera could keep us from getting at least a few shots from Friday's opening night of <a href="http://www.pdxpopnow.com">PDX Pop Now! 2009</a>, though we missed most of the early sets. Of those, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/peterbroderick">Peter Broderick</a> almost quieted the building on the indoor stage with a set of hushed songs drawn largely from last year's Home. He was joined in the effort by both his mother and sister. In the true spirit of the festival, this was followed immediately by the manic antics of <a href="http://www.myspace.com/themintchicks">The Mint Chicks</a>, all caffeinated two-minute jams and amp climbing energy. The venue then shifted to the outdoor stage, where this year's fest got its first taste of hip-hop in the form of <a href="http://www.myspace.com/animalfarmrecords">Animal Farm</a>. An initially confused-looking audience didn't seem to know how to react to admonishments of "Jump up!" and "Get your hands up!" Animal Farm eventually won them over with a theatrical set of old school-leaning hip-hop, complete with plenty of DJ turntablism and even a nod to Cab Calloway. <a title="PDX Pop Now! '09- Animal Farm by Oregon Public Broadcasting, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/opbphotos/3754027769/"><img width="500" height="334" alt="PDX Pop Now! '09- Animal Farm" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2548/3754027769_4149858ecf.jpg" /></a>   Next up was one of our most-anticipated sets of the festival (if only because we'd never seen them before), and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.myspace.com/explodeintocolors">Explode Into Colors</a> didn't disappoint. Traveling somewhere between psychedelic jungle funk and reggae turned inside out, the trio brought the crowd to a frenzy, illiciting those old concert dinosaurs crowd-surfing and stage-diving. The music was deceptively simple, but primal, its reverb-heavy vocals lending an air of the Jonestown recordings to the set between songs (a bit random, we know, but that's what it sounded like). As with many acts, the only question about Explode Into Colors is how well their live spectacle will translate to recordings. Judging from "Paper (Hot Sax Version)," their contribution to this year's PDX Pop comp, they're off to a good start. <a title="PDX Pop Now! '09- Explode Into Colors by Oregon Public Broadcasting, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/opbphotos/3754030645/"><img width="500" height="334" alt="PDX Pop Now! '09- Explode Into Colors" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2657/3754030645_08a73e3c93.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/opbphotos/3754828856/" title="PDX Pop Now! '09- Explode Into Colors (yes, that's a foot)"><img width="500" height="334" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3452/3754828856_0b6cd754f0.jpg" alt="PDX Pop Now! '09- Explode Into Colors (yes, that's a foot)" /></a> MP3: Explode Into Colors, from PDX Pop Now! 2009- <a href="http://s3.amazonaws.com/pdxpop_production/explode_into_colors.mp3">"Paper (Hot Sax Version)"</a>   The night's closing set found Scott McCaughey eschewing the more homespun sound of his <a target="_blank" href="http://www.minus5.com">Minus 5</a>'s new Killingsworth, for some old-fashioned plug and play rock n' roll. Moshing to the Minus 5? Yes, it happened here. Pared down to a bricks and mortar trio, this more muscular verison of his band fell not far from his other sometime act, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.youngfreshfellows.com">The Young Fresh Fellows</a>, and it turned out to be a wise choice by the forever dark-spectacled McCaughey. They wrapped up just past 1am, ripping through a set that included covers by Seattle punk legends The Sonics and Neil Young, whose "Don't Be Denied," perhaps imparted a bit of advice for the all-ages crowd and served as an apt and epic closer. Watch for The Minus 5 (homespun version) here as part of an upcoming in-studio session. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/opbphotos/3754835082/" title="PDX Pop Now! '09- The Minus 5"><img width="334" height="500" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3246/3754835082_0c8247ede8.jpg" alt="PDX Pop Now! '09- The Minus 5" /></a>   See the full photo set <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/opbphotos/sets/72157621820218838/" target="_blank">here</a>. Watch for more coverage here throughout the weekend.... true

2009-08-08T13:11:05-07:00

2009-07-25T10:18:14-07:00

false 558 true

2009-07-25T13:11:05-07:00

The first night of the 6th Annual PDX Pop Now! Festival is in the books, marked by an impressive breadth of performances (Fear No Music to Animal Farm to The Minus 5) and a large and enthusiastic audience.

Photo Review: PDX Pop Now! '09- Day 1

2009-07-29T12:15:02-07:00

The final two songs from Southerly in the Song-a-Week session are: "(Portland) Summer Days" and an acoustic version of "Dreams that Make Men Free."   <img width="300" height="300" src="../../../uploads/Image/SOUTHERLY_OPBMusic_CoverArt_Final2.jpg" alt="" /> Here's where to <a href="http://stream1.opb.org/media/opbmusic/entries/507/Southerly_OPBMusicSessions_PortlandSummerDays.mp3">download "(Portland) Summer Days"</a> and <a href="http://stream1.opb.org/media/opbmusic/entries/507/Southerly_OPBMusicSessions_DreamsThatMakeMenFreeAcoustic.mp3">"Dreams that Make Men Free (Acoustic)"</a>. (Right-click and choose "Save As" to save on your computer) And here's where to find the whole <a href="../../../pages/southerly_songaweek">Southerly Song-a-Week series</a>. Krist says: For the twenty-first and final installment I wanted to make a fun song in the spirit of the forthcoming summer season. This is a PDX summer fun song about riding bikes, cookouts, Beavers games at PGE Park and all things summer. I would like to thank the crew at opbmusic.org for hosting this series. It has been a really fun project and I've enjoyed writing and recording these songs immensely. Thanks, Krist. true

2009-05-21T14:53:28-07:00

2009-05-07T14:40:52-07:00

false 507 true

2009-05-07T14:53:28-07:00

The final installment of the series is two songs: "(Portland) Summer Days" and an acoustic version of "Dreams that Make Men Free."

Southerly Song-a-Week: #21

2009-05-15T12:08:39-07:00

Two songs from Southerly this week: "Forgetful You" and an acoustic version of "How to Be a Dreamer."   <img width="300" height="300" src="../../../uploads/Image/SOUTHERLY_OPBMusic_CoverArt_Final2.jpg" alt="" /> Here's where to <a href="http://stream1.opb.org/media/opbmusic/entries/504/SOUTHERLY_OPBMusicSessions_ForgetfulYou.mp3">download "Forgetful You"</a> and <a href="http://stream1.opb.org/media/opbmusic/entries/504/SOUTHERLY_OPBMusicSessions_HowToBeADreamerAcoustic.mp3">"How to Be a Dreamer (Acoustic)"</a>. (Right-click and choose "Save As" to save on your computer) And here's where to find the whole <a href="../../../pages/southerly_songaweek">Southerly Song-a-Week series</a>. Krist writes: Kind of like watching Mr. Rogers with an Allman Brothers cameo in the land of make-believe. Included another bonus track this week as well. An acoustic version of "How To Be A Dreamer" from Storyteller and the Gossip Columnist. And another thing: Krist is wrapping up the Song-a-Week series at the end of April, and is having a show this Friday, May 1 at the Doug Fir to celebrate! And, it's free (just like the downloads have been). <a href="http://opbmusic.org/blog/entries/499-Southerly-s-Song-a-Week-Sessions-Finale-Show">Read more about it here.</a> true

2009-05-13T17:10:11-07:00

2009-04-29T16:43:11-07:00

false 504 true

2009-04-29T17:10:11-07:00

Two songs from Southerly: "Forgetful You" and "How to Be a Dreamer."

Southerly's Song-a-Week: #20

2009-05-15T12:08:28-07:00

Not one, but two (count 'em!) TWO songs from Southerly this week: "Breaking In" and an acoustic version of "A Coarse Design."   <img width="300" height="300" src="../../../uploads/Image/SOUTHERLY_OPBMusic_CoverArt_Final2.jpg" alt="" /> Here's where to <a href="http://stream1.opb.org/media/opbmusic/entries/498/Southerly_OPBMusicSessions_BreakingIn.mp3">download "Breaking In"</a> and <a href="http://stream1.opb.org/media/opbmusic/entries/498/Southerly_OPBMusicSessions_ACoarseDesignAcoustic.mp3">"A Coarse Design (Acoustic)"</a>. (Right-click and choose "Save As" to save on your computer) And here's where to find the whole <a href="../../../pages/southerly_songaweek">Southerly Song-a-Week series</a>. Says Krist: Since we're nearing the end of the series I thought I would include a special track this week.  It's an acoustic version of the song "A Coarse Design" from the Storyteller And The Gossip Columnist album. And another thing: Krist wraps up the Song-a-Week series ath the end of April, and is having a show on May 1 at the Doug Fir to celebrate! And, it's free (just like the downloads have been). More to come on that soon! true

2009-05-08T14:37:24-07:00

2009-04-24T14:01:37-07:00

false 498 true

2009-04-24T14:37:24-07:00

Not one, but two songs this week: "Breaking In" and an acoustic version of "A Coarse Design."

Southerly's Song-a-Week: #19

2009-04-29T16:51:37-07:00

So much to pass along today on Earth Day and, almost as if on purpose, all of the following items a) were recorded, b) were filmed, c) happened recently, or d) are happening soon on, you guessed it, Earth (because it's nice to have a topic that ties everything together). First things first, beginning with the immediate, as in happening tonight in Portland-- a pair of CD release shows from local acts. Backspace sees <a href="http://www.rossbeach.com/">Ross Beach</a> and friends celebrating his new Vol. 1: The Process Is Now the Work, released under the moniker Ross Island Bridge. To be clear, it's not an album from the bridge itself (that might include Gary Numan's "Cars," as well as anything from the Traffic catalog), but rather has the former <a href="http://www.elephant6.com">Elephant 6</a> collaborator Beach joined by eleven Portland musical friends, many of whom you no doubt happen to know in their own rights. <a href="http://www.boyeatsdrummachine.com">Boy Eats Drum Machine</a>'s Jon Ragel, <a href="http://www.blueskiesforblackhearts.com">Blue Skies for Black Hearts</a>' Pat Kearns, and <a href="http://www.myspace.com/autopilotisforlovers">Autopilot Is for Lovers</a>' Adrienne Hatkin are but a few of the names included on the mostly peppy, electronic record. Beach will be joined tonight by his band The Hellpets, as well as Hatkin, Kearns, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/deepnorthmusic">Levi Ethan Cecil</a>, and <a href="http://www.myspace.com/kaitlynnidonovan">Kaitlyn ni Donovan</a>, to name a few. <img width="214" height="305" align="right" src="/uploads/Image/acautionarytale.jpg" title="A Cautionary Tale celebrates Ballyhoo tonight at Holocene." class="right-img" alt="" /> Elsewhere, Holocene has the release show for <a href="http://www.myspace.com/acautionarytale">A Cautionary Tale</a>'s new Ballyhoo, the Portland band's second effort and follow-up to 2006's Let New Days Dawn. Self-described as "jazz-flamenco-rock," which works as well as any label we suppose, A Cautionary Tale's genre-bending pop is difficult to pin down. Staggered rhythms and increasingly bare arrangements, not to mention the baritone of singer Rich Boles, bring to mind names like Morphine, Smog, and the American Music Club. Here and there, Boles comes across like Eddie Vedder fronting a more musically interesting band, but don't let that dissuade you (if, indeed, it would). Tonight's show also features Seattle's <a href="http://www.sleepyeyesofdeath.com">Sleepy Eyes of Death</a> as well as <a href="http://www.myspace.com/perse">Grey Anne</a>, she of last year's very enjoyable facts n' figurines. MP3: A Cautionary Tale, from Ballyhoo- <a href="http://stream1.opb.org/media/opbmusic/entries/497/01_The_Duke_of_St._Johns.mp3">"The Duke of St. John's"</a> Might we suggest a Two Beers Veirs appetizer prior to taking in one of those shows? <a href="http://www.lauraveirs.com">Laura Veirs</a> and friends Chris Funk, Annalisa Tornfelt, and Jon Neufeld have just two Wednesdays left in their April Wednesday night residency at the LaurelThirst. Oh, and since you're here and reading this, we'll assume you already know about the <a href="http://www.blocparty.com/">Bloc Party</a>/<a href="http://www.menomena.com">Menomena</a> show at the Roseland tonight, but <a href="http://opbmusic.org/blog/entries/496-Sunday-Night-Open-Thread-The-Week-Ahead">just in case</a>.... <img width="136" height="197" align="left" src="/uploads/Image/makeitpop1.jpg" class="left-img" alt="" />Looking ahead a bit, it was announced this week that <a href="http://www.pdxpopnow.com/make-it-pop">Make It Pop!</a>, the upcoming benefit show for <a href="http://www.pdxpopnow.com">PDX Pop Now!</a>, has added a couple of more names you may know to its formidable line-up. James Mercer, he of the newly-free-agented <a href="http://www.theshins.com">Shins</a> (I'm hoping they sign with The Blazers!), as well as <a href="http://www.blitzentrapper.net">Blitzen Trapper</a>'s Marty Marquis, join Brandon Summers of <a href="http://www.myspace.com/theheliosequence">The Helio Sequence</a>, Ryan Solee of <a href="http://www.myspace.com/thebuildersandthebutchers">The Builders & the Butchers</a> and <a href="http://www.lochlomondmusic.com">Loch Lomond</a> (Ritchie Young: afraid to go it alone or just bucking the trend?) for the April 30th performance at The Cleaners at the Ace Hotel. A good cause with great music and free food included-- what's not to like? The 2009 PDX Pop Now! Festival is happening July 24th through the 26th.   What else we got in the bag? Two words: naked videos, and lest you think I only typed that to angle for the Google hits, read on. First, the video for <a href="http://www.bobdylan.com">Bob Dylan</a>'s "Beyond Here Lies Nothing" is newly viewable <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/mpd/permalink/mAL9TK87AMS9T">here</a>. The song, of course, is the first single from Together Through Life, out April 28th. To be honest, it isn't so much a video as it is a collection of photos from Bruce Davidson's <a href="http://www.edelmangallery.com/davidsonshow1.htm">"Brooklyn Gang"</a> series, and the only clotheslessness involved is some shirtless toughs at an early-60's Coney Island. But we can do better. <a href="http://www.mattandkimmusic.com">Matt & Kim</a>'s new video for "Lessons Learned" features the dancetastic duo disrobing in the middle of Times Square in order to declare....we're not sure what, really, unless it's some statement about when, exactly NSFW becomes NSFW. Oh, by the way, this might be NSFW, depending on where you work. We're not sure... <embed width="423" height="318" wmode="transparent" allowscriptaccess="always" base="." allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="CONFIG_URL=http://www.mtvu.com/player/embed/configuration.jhtml%3fvid%3D374937" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.mtvu.com/player/embed/"></embed>   Speaking of, umm, hips, here's <a href="http://www.cursivearmy.com">Cursive</a>'s "From the Hips" from the recent release, Mama, I'm Swollen, the rather stunning resurgence from Tim Kasher's Omaha-based act (if only because it seemed maybe their best work was behind them). <object width="425" height="344"> <param value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZgJfr-195xk&hl=en&fs=1" name="movie" /> <param value="true" name="allowFullScreen" /> <param value="always" name="allowscriptaccess" /><embed width="425" height="344" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZgJfr-195xk&hl=en&fs=1"></embed></object>   As long as we're bringing the video, check <a href="http://rcrdlbl.com/2009/04/22/video_the_love_language_sparxxx">this stylish new one</a> from <a href="http://www.myspace.com/thelovelanguage">The Love Language</a> for their song "Sparxxx." The North Carolina band's recent self-titled debut (out on Portland's own <a href="http://www.bladencountyrecords.com">Bladen County Records</a>) is full of pop nuggets like this one, and the scenes included here more or less sum up their live show, which is superb. Look for The Love Language soon as part of one of our upcoming <a href="http://opbmusic.org/performances">in-studio sessions</a>. <script type='text/javascript' src='http://widgets.clearspring.com/o/4865596fc41a7da0/48f524c0b034aabe/-/-/rlid/3ce1fbb866e860ac355788d60793ff75/widget.js'></script> OK, so you're sated, but also human and a little selfish, which means that this all fine and good, but you want something that you can take with you and have for your very own, and you want it for free. You probably want it to be hot off the presses, too-- you're a princess, but we understand. All new and for the taking, then... <a href="http://www.myspace.com/blackmothsuperrainbow">Black Moth Super Rainbow</a>: <a href="http://www.graveface.com/born_on_a_day_the_sun_didn't_rise.mp3">"Born On a Day the Sun Didn't Rise"</a> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/deertick">Deer Tick</a>: <a href="http://partisanrecords.com/mp3s/deertick-easy.mp3">"Easy"</a> <a href="http://www.jarvspace.com/">Jarvis Cocker</a>: <a href="http://jarviscocker.net/audio/angela.mp3">"Angela"</a> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/pinkmountaintops">Pink Mountaintops</a>: <a href="http://www.scjag.com/mp3/jag/vampire.mp3">"Vampire"</a> <a href="http://www.sunsetrubdown.net/">Sunset Rubdown</a>: <a href="http://www.scjag.com/mp3/jag/idiotheart.mp3">"Idiot Heart"</a> <a href="http://deerhuntertheband.blogspot.com/2009/04/virtual-7-no-7-atlas-sound-time-warp.html">The Atlas Sound</a>: <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?2nmqiwgnez1">Time Warp (Virtual 7")</a> Finally, a b-side that didn't quite make it onto Montreal-based act <a href="http://www.thedears.org">The Dears</a>' latest, Missiles, out late last year. Dears' frontman Murray Lightburn explains it thusly: <img width="275" height="225" align="right" alt="" class="right-img" title="Murray Lightburn fronts The Dears." src="/uploads/Image/thedearslightburn.jpg" />"For whatever reason the clock ran out and we just couldn't fit this onto Missiles. It has this ridiculous long section at the end that features 4(!) simultaneous guitar solos, one of them on a wah-wah pedal. The solos were played  by George Donoso III, Robert E. Benvie, Patrick Krief and Murray Lightburn, recorded in the same session, one after the other. The track was inspired by many things, but notably, the prospect of a black man running for president." The Dears: <a href="http://www.dangerbirdrecords.com/public/mp3/Halfmast.mp3">"Halfmast"</a> The Dears play the Doug Fir with <a href="http://www.myspace.com/eulogiesmusic">Eulogies</a> on May 25th.   As you were....     true

2009-05-06T15:07:50-07:00

2009-04-22T13:07:08-07:00

false 497 true

2009-04-22T15:07:50-07:00

Middle of the week release shows and videos and MP3s, oh my!

Mid-Week Misc.

2009-04-22T22:22:42-07:00