A longtime staple of the Portland music scene, Swords (no, not Swords Project, they kicked the “Project” to the curb years ago) have decided to hang up the guitars, and call it a day. Swords’ legacy is that of a band who has spent years—both in the studio and on the road—building a close-knit following […]
Ezra Ace Caraeff
Ezra Ace Caraeff is the former Music Editor for the Mercury, and spent nearly a third of his life working at the paper. More importantly, he is the owner of Olive, the Mercury’s unofficial office dog. His writing has appeared in The Fader, The Stranger, The Onion's A.V. Club, ESPN's TrueHoop network, and countless fanzines that are thankfully long out of print. He makes a mean tofu scramble and yes, Ace is really his middle name.
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Once More with Feeling
If I Can’t Have You, No One Can
Is there a better sign of true unbridled love than standing outside your loved one’s house in the middle of the night? Or what about the passion it takes to sift through their garbage, looking for clues that will help you capture their tender heart? Aw, stalking, is there a truer form of love? Nope—at […]
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Once More with Feeling
Band Therapy
Since I’m still suffering from an emotionally crippling bout of PSKBS (Post Sleater-Kinney Breakup Syndrome, AKA the newest and hipsterest Portland ailment), all I can think of these days is why bands feel the need to break up. While bands like Everclear will never (never!) call it quits, so many good bands hang it up […]
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Once More with Feeling
When Sleater-Kinney Closes a Door, They Open a Window
As the light goes out on Sleater-Kinney’s bulletproof legacy—one that far exceeds the lazy tags of “local band,” or “indie band,” or “girl band”—it’s only fitting that on the day of their demise, across town, their influence will be on display at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Camp for Girls showcase. Onstage at the Bagdad Theater […]
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Once More with Feeling
Digital Takeover
After dropping two bucks on the customized Jessica Simpson download last week, I got to thinking about the music industry sea change that is digital music. On one hand, it’s obviously the future of music, but on the other it seems so late in coming. And when it peaks with personalized pop songs—it has a […]
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Once More with Feeling
For $1.99, Jessica Simpson Will Say Your Name
Just in case you missed it in the media shuffle, Jessica Simpson has made the news. But unlike every single other newsworthy event that involves this vacant and marginally talented pop star, this is actually worth talking about. Simpson’s new single, “A Public Affair,” from the new album of the same name, has been digitally […]
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Once More with Feeling
Stupid People Need Love Too
If you’ve read this column before, you know two things: (1) I love music and (2) I’m a complete and total idiot. So that being the case, I’m a sucker for a love song that isn’t afraid to bring intelligence—or lack thereof—into the picture. Here’s the best—and the not-so best—in the world of dumb love […]
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Once More with Feeling
The Prids
One of Portland’s finest bands, the Prids channel the best (and darkest) elements of ’80s new wave and early punk—plus a whole lot of DIY sensibilities—to make them quite possibly the only workingman’s goth band. You don’t need to own a cape, a pack of cloves, or the deluxe DVD of Harold and Maude to […]
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Once More with Feeling
Astronautalis
Recently, in an act of great kindness, a friend of mine gave me a copy of the Judgment Night soundtrack on cassette. The tape was part gag gift, part sincere gesture, since I’m not ashamed to admit that I’ve always held a soft spot for this mix of bad rock and rap, awkwardly pushed together […]
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Once More with Feeling
I Am, I Am, I Am Superman
More so than any other superhero (yes, even Aquaman), there is just something about Superman that inspires musicians to write song after song about him. From 50 Cent to Bryan Adams, Clark Kent’s secret identity has been the muse for hundreds of songs in just about every genre of music. So in honor of the […]
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Once More with Feeling
The Pine Hill Haints
My first experience with Alabama’s Pine Hill Haints is just as bizarre and random as their music. I was simply walking by Berbati’s Pan one night, heard the band from outside the venue, and inside I went. Ever since then, it’s been a steady love affair with these Southern country/punks, as I never miss a […]
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Once More with Feeling
Last Priest
As far as genres go, hardcore has always been a mystery to me. I tried in my youth—and even in my not-so youth—to embrace the mosh, the finger points, and all the rest of the overwhelmingly homoerotic bonding that is hardcore, but nothing. Enter Last Priest, the San Diego hardcore band that’s reckless enough to […]