All photos by Christopher Keith Garcia.Click on each photo to see a larger version. “You better write something good, because that was amazing.” This is what the person sitting next to me says at the end of Bruce Springsteen’s show last night. He’s a member of the Fraternal Order of Bruce and spends three and […]
Live Review
Posted inLive Review
Migos Photos and Live Review, Wonder Ballroom, Tues Feb 23
Minh Tran Minh Tran Not much to report at the recent Migos concert at Wonder Ballroom: The sound was great, the lighting was pedestrian, and Quavo, Offset, and Takeoff performed with immense swagger and confidence. As only an intermediate fan of the Gwinnett County trio, it was edifying to see them perform live to get […]
Posted inLive Review
Ty Segall and the Muggers at Aladdin Theater, Sat Jan 23
Photos by Christopher Keith Garcia. Beneath Saturday’s glowing full moon, Ty Segall took Portland on a fucked-up tour of the human subconscious in the same manner that fictitious chocolatier Willy Wonka led his Chocolate River boat ride. Dressed in a studded denim suit à la Justin Timberlake at the 2001 American Music Awards, Segall sifted […]
Posted inLive Review
Sturgill Simpson at the Crystal Ballroom, Sat Nov 14
All photos by Ryan J. Prado On Saturday night, droves arrived at the Crystal Ballroom for the triumphant Portland return of Sturgill Simpson, seemingly on a never-ending tour promoting his critically acclaimed second album Metamodern Sounds in Country Music. As updates from Friday’s terror attacks in Paris streamed into the world’s collective consciousness, there was […]
Posted inPhotography/Film/Production
Tory Lanez at Analog Cafe, Wed Nov 11
Minh Tran Minh Tran Minh Tran Along with Fetty Wap, Ty Dolla Sign, and Bryson Tiller, Tory Lanez is in the vanguard of hip-hop artists defining a new sound for the potential future of popular music—soulful yet robotic R&B vocals, combined with cutting edge trap beats. The Swavenation leader’s current single, “Say It,” is purportedly […]
Posted inPhotography/Film/Production
Gesaffelstein at the Evergreen, Tues Nov 10
Minh Tran Minh Tran Minh Tran For Gesaffelstein‘s first appearance in Portland since 2011, promoters (possibly facetiously) encouraged attendees to wear all black—perhaps riffing on the distinctly dark wave of hard techno likely to be played by the French producer/DJ. Arriving early to the show, it was endearing to see the crowd had largely complied […]
Posted inPhotography/Film/Production
The Band Formerly Known as Viet Cong at Doug Fir, Tues Oct 20
Katie Summer Formerly Viet Cong The Canadian band formerly known as Viet Cong played the Doug Fir on Tuesday night amid online criticism and picketing protesters. Over the last three months (when Viet Cong was here last to play Pickathon) the band has been under heavier and heavier media fire for their inability to defend […]
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Madonna’s Sex-Charged Spectacle at the Moda Center, Sat Oct 17
All photos by Autumn Andel. Madonna‘s show Saturday night at the Moda Center was stunning in a lot of ways. As you can see from the incredible photos Autumn Andel took for us—which she shot, mind you, from the far end of the arena and only during the show’s first three songs, per the photographer […]
Posted inPhotography/Film/Production
Hudson Mohawke and The-Dream at Hawthorne Theatre, Tues Oct 13
Minh Tran Minh Tran This is a tale of two performances, one by a contemporary songwriting legend from North Carolina and another by a producer of great renown from Glasgow—an odd pair, performing in an odd order, at an odd venue. Rising above this deluge of oddity, their combined efforts resulted in a satisfying evening […]
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“I Won’t Quit”: Neil Young’s Remarkable, Rocking Portland Show
Although he turns 70 next month, Neil Young’s nowhere close to retirement. The past few years have seen a huge amount of activity for the already prolific rocker/folker: He’s launched his controversial Pono music player, divorced his wife and taken up with a very famous actress girlfriend, written a pair of memoirs, recorded a handful […]
Posted inPhotography/Film/Production
Young Thug at Roseland, Wed Oct 7
Minh Tran All photos by Minh Tran. Imagine a world where you are the only rapper who has discovered the creative benefits of smoking marijuana, enabling you to deliver rhymes so distinctive that you instantly stand head and shoulders above your peers. It’s too late for this to happen now, but I have a growing […]
Posted inLive Review
Mew at the Wonder Ballroom, Mon Sept 28
All photos by Autumn Andel. In an industry that seems to pump out a new band every millisecond, some people may have forgotten about Mew. The last time Mew stopped in Portland was on December 19, 2009—an unusually frigid winter night for the Rose City, with icy roads threatening to spoil the attendance. Almost six […]