RADIATION CITY An auditory Eden. HOLLY ANDRES UNFOLDING LIKE a fragrant bloom at its seasonal peak, Radiation City’s new album is a sensory triumph. On Synesthetica, angelic, heavenly harmonies blossom in lush, vibrant hues in some sort of auditory Eden. Over email, guitarist Cameron Spies explains that singer/keyboardist Lizzy Ellison has synesthesia, “a condition in […]
CK Dolan
Formerly a senior editor and the music editor at the Mercury, CK Dolan writes about music, movies, TV, the death industry, and pickles.
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Christine Messersmith, Ex-Girlfriend of Former Portland Musician Adam Forkner, Issues Statement on Abuse Charges
Early in the morning of Tuesday, March 15, Christine Messersmith wrote a Facebook post claiming her ex-partner, former Portland musician Adam Forkner (of White Rainbow), attacked her in the home they shared in Los Angeles. She included photos of her black eyes and bruised body, injuries she says Forkner inflicted during the assault. The Mercury […]
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Former Portland Musician Adam Forkner (White Rainbow) Accused of Beating Ex-Girlfriend
UPDATE March 18, 2:17 pm—The Mercury reached out to a number of parties for comment on this story, including Adam Forkner, who has yet to respond. Meanwhile, his alleged victim, Christine Messersmith, provided us with a statement that you can read in full here. We also asked Marmoset Music, a local music licensing company that’s […]
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Don’t Miss Sarah Bethe Nelson at Treefort Next Week
Facebook Next week I’m driving out to Boise, Idaho to check out Treefort Music Fest for the first time ever, and I couldn’t be more excited by the prospect of sunshine and music. I’m particularly stoked to see San Francisco native Sarah Bethe Nelson, who honestly could be the long-lost granddaughter of Emmylou Harris. Nelson’s […]
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Feeling Color with Radiation City
Synesthetica Matures Their Honeyed, Futuristic Pop
Their new album, Synesthetica, matures their honeyed, futuristic pop.
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Last Night I “DNCED” My Buns Off with Joe Jonas (and Sold My Soul to Vevo)
That is Joe Jonas. Perhaps you’ve heard of DNCE—you’re surely familiar with lead singer Joe Jonas, the eldest, fearless leader of now-defunct band of brothers the JoBros. Although he and his brothers disbanded in 2013, Joe Jonas hasn’t stopped sharing his precious gift of song. Last year DNCE dropped its debut single, “Cake by the […]
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Mystical-Folk Singer Globelamp Reclaims Her Myth
GLOBELAMP Not pictured: globes, lamps. Elva Lexa “A LOT OF The Orange Glow came out of feeling effed over and hurt, lied to, betrayed,” says Globelamp singer Elizabeth le Fey of her sophomore album. “A lot of people didn’t really care about my story.” “Le Fey”—the singer’s adopted surname—is inspired by Morgan le Fay, a […]
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Protomartyr at Doug Fir, Mon March 8
Photos by Autumn Andel. Monday night at the Doug Fir’s sold-out Protomartyr show… Despite recovering from bronchitis, mega-badass Maggie Vail (formerly of Kill Rock Stars) opened the night with Portland lo-fi punk trio Hurry Up, which also includes Kathy Foster and Westin Glass of the Thermals. Through a cracking voice she killed tracks like “And […]
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After #FreeKesha, Sony Might Drop Dr. Luke
SHE’S FREE! It’s about damn time: According to TheWrap, Sony is currently trying to figure out how to terminate their contract (which had a 2017 expiration date) with Dr. Luke, the producer Kesha alleges drugged and raped her. Dr. Luke’s lawyer later refuted these claims, saying, “Luke has an excellent relationship with Sony.” While it […]
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Six New Bangers to Get You Through This Rainy Week
It’s rainy, cold, and gross! But here are six new tracks teasing recent and upcoming releases, and hopefully some freaking May flowers. Japanese Breakfast, “Everybody Wants to Love You” Little Big League’s Michelle Zauner started making music under the pseudonym Japanese Breakfast when she found herself in a creative rut. This is one of the […]
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Globelamp Reclaims Her Myth
The Mystical-Folk Singer’s The Orange Glow
The mystical-folk singer’s The Orange Glow brings her into the light.
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Protomartyr’s Joe Casey Thinks “Life Is Meaningless”
PROTOMARTYR Someday, even these pretty flowers will be dead and gone. Zak Bratto PROTOMARTYR’S MUSIC is a slow burn, the musical equivalent of paint peeling off walls and vines overtaking manmade structures. Fittingly, the noise-rock band formed in Detroit, a city mythologized for its golden age and subsequent decay. Protomartyr came together in 2008 after […]