Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit Another week, another Mercury music section to pack with your sunscreen as you set sail on the ship of dead souls that is the KISS Kruise (“Wet, Wild & Rockin’”). How cruel, someone put KISS makeup on that poor, bloated manatee. What’s that? That’s not a manatee? It’s Gene […]
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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Something to Write Home About
The Pure Music and Gifted Pen of Jason Isbell
The pure music and gifted pen of Jason Isbell
Posted inMusic
Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks – “Senator”
Remember when we told you about the new Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks album, Mirror Traffic? The one Beck produced? The final album for Janet Weiss as a Jick that is due out on August 23 via Matador Records? Oh yeah, that one. Well now the fist single, “Senator,” is available and it’s totally about […]
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Win Tickets to Omar Souleyman!
Omar comin’ Win tickets to see the first ever Portland performance from Syria’s very own Omar Souleyman. Click on over to End Hits for the details.
Posted inJuggalo
I Am Contractually Obligated to Post this Trailer for the 2011 Gathering of the Juggalos
Wm.™ Steven Humphrey: Hey ninja, the trailer for the 2011 Gathering of the Juggalos is now online. How about you post it?Me: Oh, I don’t know. I think I’m off the Juggalo “beat.”Wm.™ Steven Humphrey: Excuse me?Me: I’m just tired of it. It’s like covering Keyboard Cat.Wm.™ Steven Humphrey: Wait, what’s wrong with Keyboard Cat?Me: […]
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Billie Joe Armstrong’s Kid is Coming to Portland
Emily’s Army It seemed odd when the publicist for Red Hot Chili Peppers and Metallica emailed me last night to let me know that a teenage punk band I have never heard of (Emily’s Army) was playing a show at Alberta Street Pub and a North Portland house. Hmmm, suspicious. To the Google!Oh yeah, that’s […]
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Win Tickets to Beirut!
Beirut Beirut is bringing the Balkans back to Portland on August 12th. Win tickets to this sure-to-sell-out concert over at End Hits.
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PBR and End Hits Present ’70s night at Mississippi Studios
I’m not one to tell you how to spend your Thursday night, but this evening is your only chance to witness the splendor that is ’70s night at Mississippi Studios. Sponsored by PBR and End Hits, this unique cover night takes ten of the finest local bands (including a few that have formed exclusively for […]
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This Week’s Mercury Music Section
Omar Souleyman Another week, another Mercury music section to read instead of watching Bob Dylan’s appearance on Pawn Stars. To be fair, it’s way better than that time Phil Ochs’ ghost made a cameo on Storage Wars. That was scary. Way before cassettes became ironically cool again, Omar Souleyman‘s tapes were appearing in the markets […]
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One Is the Loneliest Number
Manchester Orchestra Stay Together for Us Kids
Manchester Orchestra stay together for us kids.
Posted inSports
Shaquille O’Neal to Retire From Basketball
Shaquille O’Neal, the talented/charming/infuriating presence that has dominated the NBA for the past 19 years (well, at least 16 of those 19 years) is retiring from basketball. O’Neal made the announcement this morning and while Blazers fans have a rightful reason to despise Shaq—like this moment of shame—he was one of the more interesting NBA […]
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The Big Float is Coming to the Willamette River!
This just might be the greatest thing ever. Along with the Willamette Riverkeeper organization, the Portland Mercury is pleased as punch to sponsor the first annual The Big Float. Grab a tube, air mattress, kayak, raft — or create your own custom, handmade watercraft and join us for the inaugural launching of THE BIG FLOAT! […]