Mark Lore

Local musicians reflect on the Ash Street Saloon’s 23-year run.

After more than two decades in business, the Ash Street Saloon will officially close its doors following a final show New Year’s Eve. It’s another casualty in the city’s ever-changing landscape; there’s still no new tenant ready to take over the space, but it’s safe to bet it won’t be another music venue. Though the […]

When I meet Gary Bahen, owner of Portland’s Accident Prone Records, he’s clad in black, sitting behind the register of Green Noise Records at its newish home on Northeast Killingsworth. Bahen bought the record shop and punk institution this past spring from longtime Portlander (and Dirtnap Records owner) Ken Cheppaikode, although the 37-year-old has been […]

The 20-year-old label celebrates a new split release.

DANIEL TOPETE Joe Casey has a reputation for being a little surly and fatalistic. This tends to be the focus of articles about his band, Protomartyr—there’s even a Tumblr dedicated to “Descriptions of Joe Casey.” (One entry: “He’s like an inverse Bono.”) To be fair, Protomartyr hails from the gritty rock ’n’ roll capital of […]

Protomartyr’s Joe Casey talks realism and the band’s new album, Relatives in Descent.

ACE FREHLEY “And this part’s where the strumming happens.” JAYME THORNTON FEW BANDS can split a room like KISS. Many fans are so blindly devoted that they probably wouldn’t hesitate to buy an album of the band farting for 30 minutes. Detractors… well, they likely think the group’s records already sound like 30 minutes of […]

Former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley reminisces about his four-decade rocket ride.

CHEAP TRICK Shine up the old brown shoes, put on a brand-new shirt. DAVID MCCLISTER “WITH A HYBRID AUDIENCE of young and old rockers, Cheap Trick’s longevity seems assured.” That declaration—made in the January 1980 issue of Trouser Press—turned out to be quite prophetic. But the writer couldn’t have possibly imagined we’d still be talking […]

It’s time to appreciate the little band from Rockford.

BLESST CHEST Ridin’ killer riffs into a gorgeous sunset. C. Collier INSTRUMENTAL BANDS have a tendency to sometimes get wrapped up in themselves. This all has its place, of course, but it comes at the cost of losing some swagger and recklessness. Portland power trio Blesst Chest has one foot planted in prog-inspired instrumentalism, and […]

Blesst Chest’s mutant rock defies labels.