Dec 16 2007
Published by John O under Portland Media, Portland Music, New music
Have you checked out the opbmusic site?
The site features good programming including local bands, handy real-time playlists, a blog, an archive of studio sessions by Blitzen Trapper, The National, The Shaky Hands and many more. Also occasional live sets. Isn’t it great to have something new and good in Portland media?
Where else can you have breakfast with The Jicks?
Oct 26 2007
Published by John O under Portland Music, Magazines
Thurston Moore came through town last night. For this longtime fan, the sold-out performance made up for years of missed Sonic Youth shows. Thurston’s touring band featured Sonic Youth bandmate Steve Shelly on drums along with three other dialed-in players; Chris Brokaw, Samara Lubelski and Matt Heyner on guitar, violin and bass. In an hour-long set Thurston focused on songs from his new solo album Trees Outside the Academy. The band rocked on their plugged-in acoustic instruments (only the the bass was a solid body electric), coaxing gentle waves of feedback from the amps and delivering chiming melodic themes and deep rattling crescendos, all with striking rhythmic precision. Sonic Youth music was once about shifting dynamics and sonic experiments. Thurston’s latest solo compositions take a slightly different tack, hinted at on recent Sonic Youth recordings such as Murray Street and Rather Ripped. The dynamics are still there, but these are songs, moving and pretty.
For good measure, the band thrashed through an amped-up electric encore, conjuring late seventies punk intensity. Great show.
Here’s a sample from the new record: Frozen Guitar
Here’s a BBC video about the record: Video
Here’s more: Trees Outside the Academy
Aug 30 2007
Published by John O under Portland Music
Last week, These Old Bones parked himself on top of a Trib box in front of City Hall and took in the pre-festival launch concert for MusicfestNW. Pierced Arrows, descendents the old band Dead Moon, scratched and roared through their set, which included Ramones-like countdowns linking the songs and a loud fast cool version of Neil Young’s Mr. Soul. The Builders and the Butchers harnessed chaos with crazy rhythms, sharp hooks, a violin and a bass drum. This all seemed to TOB to be at least a little reminiscent of Arcade Fire or fellow Portlanders the Decemberists (fairly high standards to play up to). But these folks are good. TOB was convinced and converted.
Leaning on a wall as the Shaky Hands ran through their sound check, TOB was joined by a neatly dressed fiftyish couple. Mrs. Couple held a Powell’s walking map of the city. “Not exactly Woodstock,” offered Mr. Couple. “City Hall,” said TOB. “I missed that, due to the service,” said Mr. C., meaning Woodstock. “I was there, due to a high lottery number,” said TOB. “Really?” said Mr. C, adding: “I smoked with Jimi Hendrix and them, you know, when his brother was up there on the hill in Seattle? Man, that was something.” TOB didn’t know. Thankfully the Shaky Hands lit into their set just then. Before the first song was over, TOB decided this was one of the best live bands he had seen in recent memory. Mr. C shrugged and frowned. “Yup, not exactly Woodstock.” Then he and the missus ambled off.