DESERT CITY SOUNDTRACK, RM. 101, QUEEN BEE JACKSON
(Berbati's Pan, 231 SW Ankeny)
Melodies are few and far between at this show; rather, Queen Bee Jackson will chug her guitar up and down the sound spectrum, crooning aimlessly, while Rm 101 brings in every bell, whistle, and horn in the book to create a lumpy blanket of pretty noise. Desert City Soundtrack is exactly what you'd expect: a band that plays music for the movie about the life you wish you had. JUSTIN WESCOAT SANDERS
DEADLY SNAKES, FIREBALLS OF FREEDOM
(Dante's, 1 SW 3rd)
On their brand new album, Ode to Joy, the Deadly Snakes prove that the third time really is the charm. What started out as a basement band produced by the Oblivians' Greg Cartwright has become an act that wears a full spectrum of vintage musical styles on its record sleeves. The members incorporate organs, trumpets, and saxophones in romper-stomper rock 'n' soul songs that are as influenced by Stax as they are by the Band. This excellent release sounds like Dylan as interpreted by the Dirtbombs; André St. Clair's whiny vocals slide around well-constructed pop/gospel/rock combo songs. JENNIFER MAERZ
KNIFE IN THE WATER, THE PLACES, THE DEAD SCIENCE
(Blackbird, 3728 NE Sandy)
Quiet harmonies, slide guitar, subdued tambourine, minimal drums, and a windy respect for that wide-open road--sound familiar? It's Knife in the Water, from Austin, a quintet who takes the swaying melancholy of a weeping country guitar and places it with a quiet prettiness akin to Norfolk and Western or billmates The Places. The Dead Science is fka The Sweet Science: a velvet-soft, jazzy pop trio of upright bass, guitar, drums. JULIANNE SHEPHERD
FRIDAY 2/21
MINIMAL AT LIMINAL
(Liminal, 403 NW 5th)
The common misconception is that minimalist music reigns in the realm of avant-garde musical dreams. Nyet on that one, dude. While Philip Glass and company may have once been the darlings in the academic (read: boring) wars of classical music, they fell out of favor once the upper-crust realized that you could actually listen to this stuff. See, if the hoi polloi can enjoy Philip Glass, then the hoity-toity must thumb their noses, which means enjoying the music of Glass or Steve Reich is a bit like rallying for the proletariat. Which means that going to see the Liminal Performance Group play Terry Riley's seminal In C is a big "screw you" to the government, and that actually enjoying the empty beauty of John Cage's 4'33" is just as good as an anti-war protest (oh yeah, one side note: make sure to squeak your seat a bit during 4'33"--John Cage would have liked that a lot. Okay, back to the regularly scheduled rant)! So check out Liminal and lay the smackdown on Bush! Power to the people!!! STEVEN LANKENAU
DJ HEATHER, URSULA 1000, DJ ELLIOTT, MARTINIBOMB
(Fez, 316 SW 11th)
One of the first women in the Chicago scene recognized nationally, longtime deep house queen DJ Heather spins a surely uplifting, post-Vagina Monologues set (ticket price is cheaper with your VM stub). The Mercury's own DJ Elliott simply ripped apart the dancefloor opening for DJ Seiji a couple of weeks ago. Well... it's more like he peeled apart the dancefloor, with a sophisticated selection of hip-cocking, Latin-tinged future jazz and broken beat (i.e. stuff you don't hear much in P-town). JS
CAPTAIN VS. CREW, THE EMPTY SET, THE BEFORE PICTURE
(Tonic, 3100 NE Sandy)
The Empty Set is releasing their new EP tonight, a pleasant ride of supple, slightly dejected pop on the rocks. They exhibit a penchant for harmonies and singing in the round, which is always funner live. Joining them are Captain Vs. Crew, who don't rock as much as they rollick, thrusting a rhythm-foundationed sound that breaks down sometimes into fantastic vocal pronouncements that might just make you want to grab your crotch. MARJORIE SKINNER
THE SWORDS PROJECT, THE PLANET THE, MENOMENA(Berbati's) Portland's favorite rock orchestra The Swords Project are fresh from signing their record deal with Brooklyn's Arena Rock Recording Co., joining such luminaries as Superdrag, Calla, and the Gloria Record. In case you just moved here, The Swords Project are a large ensemble of guitars, bass, Rhodes piano, violin, double drummers, and sampler that make an excellent, huge cavern of gorgeous dynamics, though they've added some kind of bad emo vocals, which probably makes them a little more accessible, but removes a certain element of quality. The Planet The keytarist Dave H. is the invisible element of Panther (Charlie from TPT's performance art/R&B proj). Dave H. programs the impressive beats, and while he probably ain't living in the ghetto, his electro steez is at least as great as that of most current ghettotech/booty coming out of Detroit and Miami. This influence, and the addition of a drumpad, has been spiraling The Planet The into prog space, where all the crunky beats, wacked-out time scrimmage, and more fun, uncomfortable moments reside. JS
UNTYD, RULE OF 9, SWAMPLOTUS, MINDSTAIN, TEMPLE SHOCK
(Paris, 6 SW 3rd)
I'm neighbors with this mathy progrock band called The Dropscience. But in Texas, there's a "Drop Science," who's got a macho-boy, rapcore thing goin'. Couple years ago, the Dropscience--no space between the words. It gets confusing. I know. Bear with me.--booked a show in Portland, and Swamplotus got wind of it and begged to be on the bill. See, the Lote thought they were gonna play with Texas' Drop Science and were stoked to see their heroes kick some serious rap-metal ass. However, much to their dismay, they met four scrawny indie boys instead of a badass crew of buffed-out, nu-metal madmen. Yep, not a braided goatee in sight. But, to their credit, Swamplotus still played, despite the weapons-grade case of bad-show-booking. Hopefully, this'un will cater more to their Faygo-jacked, metal-loving hearts. ADAM GNADE
SATISFACTION, TELEPHONE, FLIP-TOPS
(Conan's, 3862 SE Hawthorne)
Satisfaction play fun, buzzy rock a tiny bit reminiscent of the New York Dolls, but the singer sounds as though he got his training having freakouts in his bedroom while listening to Misfits records. The name evokes images of Mick Jagger and hip-hugger pants, which jives with their distinctly vintage tendencies. Very solid, overall. The Flip-Tops are one of the many bands in the world who are carrying on the ancient tradition of punk rock, with all the "one two three fours" and songwriting meant for getting people to run around in circles. Unfortunately, the mannequins currently posing in the window of Nordstrom are wearing bondage belts and mohawks made out of flowers, signifying punk's official death. MS
ROLLERBALL, THE CENTIMETERS, POINT LINE PLANE, MOMMY WON'T WAKE UP
(Satyricon, 125 NW 6th)
For those of you expecting the devil's skronk of Flying Luttenbachers at Nocturnal last week, and instead got a crazed Weasel Walter with a drum machine, maybe you'll feel a little better knowing Detroit's Mommy Won't Wake Up (yes, that is sick, isn't it) is here to apply their own salve of saxual healing. MWWU ass-slaps a pulsing, teeth-on-tin-foil, deliberate disaster of screaming distortion, battle-ready guitar, and saxophone improv; think Die Monitrr Bats but with more structure (?) and you're getting somewhere. As an aside, does anyone else find it weird that Michigan is the aorta to both a thriving techno/ booty/electro scene AND a bunch of freaky noise bands/labels? Is there any connection here? And will Wolf Eyes ever do a cover of "Ass N Titties"? (Please no, god, NO.) Los Angeles' Centimeters clang out a creepy vertigo, blending swimmy macabre with a bent-up sense of melody and melodrama, like Shel Silverstein put to tune. If that's not arty enough for you, demonic improv phenoms Rollerball and the flickering black-light synthpunk of Point Line Plane wanna dress you up in their love. This is a great lineup. JS
SATURDAY 2/22
MADGESDIQ, QUIVAH, KID QUIZ, FIG NASTY, PRISONERS OF POLITICS, JASMINE GREEN
(Nocturnal, 1800 E Burnside)
Not only will you witness some of the best emceeing in Portland--the slow, smooth style of Madgesdiq, and the in-no-hurry, back-and-forth of Quivah--you'll also get a chance to relax with the spirited atmospherics of Kid Quiz. This is a good night to take that Vicodin you've been saving. KATIE SHIMER
BLUES GOBLINS, DOLOREAN, ARRINGTON DE DIONYSO
(Blackbird)
See Music pg 15
TOKYO SEX WHALE, OBE'SKUPLA, DARSAN TRIO
(Jasmine Tree, 401SW Harrison)
Though it features The Dead Science's Sam Mickens and Jherick Bischoff, don't look for buttery off-pop in Tokyo Sex Whale. Instead, strap on your boots and prepare to wade full force into an evening of three ensembles improvising in the realm of jazz, but also in the realm of whatever happens to be lying around. Perhaps literally. JS
WORMWOOD, YOB, FALL OF THE BASTARDS
(Embalming Room, 3030 NW Nicolai)
Northwest metal pride descends on industrial northwest this Saturday with Eugene, Portland, and Seattle representing. YOB has molted members again, this time adding a crushing Corvallian on clear red drums of doom. The difference is devastating. Wormwood twist some bitter noise into their tincture of extreme art metal. Fall of the Bastards provide local color (um, all in black) by giving Celtic Frost riffs a crusty facelift and proving that good crushing metal songs are still based on melody, hooks, and sincerity. NATHAN CARSON
SUNDAY 2/23
ANNIE SPRINKLE
(Berbati's)
Former prostitute and present sexologist Annie Sprinkle gives a performance that describes her time in the sex industry, talks about sex, shows sex (in videos), and manages to make people laugh and jizz themselves. KS
SCIENCE OF YABRA, THE YELLOW PRESS, SIVA
(Satyricon)
It's true that Science of Yabra will blow out your eardrums and that if your mom ever heard them she'd say something like, "Turn that crap off, it sounds like something stuck in the garbage disposal." But if you're a fan of hardcore, these boys have actually found a new way to spin it. With the shrieky vocals of a schizophrenic and the instrumental assaults of a madman, they're what you might call crazy mad-core, if you were one of those dorks who likes to categorize everything in terms of different "cores." KS
AROUND THE WORLD AND BACK DANCE PARTY: INCREDIBLEKID, NOMADIC NOIZE, XIAO K, DJ SAFI
(Blackbird)
While DJ theincrediblekid is normally hoeing the bhangra, tonight he spins a selection of Latin music and hiphop. DJ Safi starts the night with new wave (and, knowing her, she's bound to throw in tons of obscurities you've never heard, but instantly love), and Xiao K comes from Seattle to play an interesting set involving chaos box, laptop, turntablism, and NOSE HARP, which she has TAKEN LESSONS TO PLAY. Amazing. JS See pg 12
HOCKEY NIGHT, HOT COCOA W/JEFF LONDON
(Meow Meow, 520 SE Pine)
Paul Sprangers is the purveyor of Hockey Night, and we're not quite sure what to expect, because their record--entitled Rad Zapping--spans 7000 different genres, from armchair electro to ironic arena rock to, ultimately, indierock (you knew only an indierock dude would make an ironic record spanning 7000 different genres). Since this is Jeff London's Hot Cocoa Night (wherein Jeff serves hot cocoa to all attendees, plays some music, and... makes jokes?), it's a good guess to say Paul Sprangers will just be playing some indierock, possibly acoustically. JS
MONDAY 2/24
PHTHALO SHOWCASE: EIGHT FROZEN MODULES, LIBYTHTH, GERALD WENZEL, TERMINAL 11
(Blackbird)
Pasadena's Phthalo Records is responsible for early releases from famous laptopians Kit Clayton, Daedelus, and Dntel; tonight's performances venture more towards hardcore than the aforementioned, but they're of equal quality and should be explored. Definitely show up for L.A.'s excellent Eight Frozen Modules, who spits melodic, clicking electro through the future and whisks it back through mulitidimensional time signatures and cracked and fractured sound glitches. Libythth has an awesome sense of humor; he's been known to play the "Star Spangled Banner" through an oscillating guitar and throw bomb-like, acidic tincan beats over it, or place the chirping of a music box over someone crunching potato chips. It's well-crafted, smart, and danceable sound comedy. And, because it wouldn't be an experimental electronic label without a guy interpreting the sound of nature, Gerald Wenzel's 2000 release Prairie Program explores the dynamics of the prairie--dust and trees blowing all around in a vacuum of dynamics. JS
THE DONNAS, OKGO, ROONEY
(Roseland)
The fact that The Donnas started out as cool preteen punkers and have devolved into a quartet of overproduced hoochies who try to fake their way into Joan Jettdom and fail miserably makes them a very slow moving target. But doesn't that depress you, just a little? JS
WOLF COLONEL, THE BADGER KING, LOVE LETTER BAND
(Meow Meow)
I finally saw Hedwig and the Angry Inch the other day (I avoided it cause I thought it was Australian; if there's one thing I hate, it's a goddamn Australian film). Hedwig was great--but have ya seen The Badger King? Sure, sure, the Portland vocal-guitar-keyb-laptop duo doesn't boast a proliferation of wigs, or try to make out with 17-year-olds. But melody-wise, their skills are right up there with Stephen Trask--they employ great narrative structure (and anyone who doesn't try to hide the fact that they are head over heels for musicals is tops in my book). But can they dance? Yes, they can dance. Vocalist Marianna Ritchey fan-kicks with the best of them. But do they wear elaborate costumes? I think I once saw her wearing some legwarmers. You should give 'em a try. Seeing the Badger King is like going to an off-Broadway musical, and being required to do aerobics. JS See MWBW pg 11
TUESDAY 2/25
FURTHER SEEMS FOREVER, ELLIOTT, THE BEAUTIFUL MISTAKE, OPEN HAND, ACCEPTANCE, WATASHI WA
(Meow Meow)
Want to hear something terrible? Further Seems Forever play bland emo rock that is both, uninspired and severely over-polished. If that wasn't all, the band used to be fronted by the Devil Incarnate, Chris Carrabba (aka Dashboard Confessional). With all this emoting, it would be nice for the band to have some spiritual guidance; for that they turn to the Man upstairs (Jesus--since emo bands are never Jewish or any of those other religions). Yes it's true; they are emo for Jesus! If you loved DCTalk, but never thought they shared their emotions in a forthright and open manner, be sure to check out Further Seems Forever. Opening are a bunch of forgettable bands, including Elliott, whose guitarist wears sleeveless shirts and tours with a set of weights to keep his body in pristine condition. I shit ye not. CARMELO MARTINEZ
SPARTA, GLASSJAW, HOT WATER MUSIC, DREDG
(Roseland)
My last article on Sparta focused a bit too heavily on the (rumored) genitalia of ex-At the Drive In guitarist Omar Rodriguez, who is not in Sparta but is (alleged) to have a gigantic package. So for that, I apologize. Wiretap Scars; the debut full-length from Sparta is a wonderful record, one that should not be overshadowed by the (supposed) penile girth of a member of Sparta's former band. Tonight Sparta, whose live show is always top-notch, shares the stage with workhorse punk legends Hot Water Music in an extreme sport event that is sponsored by a chewing gum company. No really, it is. CM
WEDNESDAY 2/26
THE MINDS, CHASED AND SMASHED, ROBOTS IN DISGUISE, STRAIGHTJACKET
(Satyricon)
According to their website, Robots in Disguise are "two robots disguised as human punkettes who bring a weight of welcome warmth to the cold world of electro." And it's true; they do indeed play electronic music that is both dark and sweet, with unhurried, approachable beats that wrap around you like a blanket. JWS
END TRANSMISSION, DESERT CITY SOUNDTRACK, BROADCAST OBLIVION
(Blackbird)
Maybe it's because last time they came through town, they all looked very dirty, but I get the impression End Transmission is the sort of band that tours incessantly with no other motive than love of the rock. So, while less devoted bands amass a posse of managers and personal stylists, End Transmission toils away in their home of Minneapolis and all across America, playing their very taut, dual-vocal, complex, and jagged guitar rock, which is stretched out and tenderized for maximum friction, with audible devotion in their screaming lyrics. They're not the best band in a world that doesn't want for boys emoting tension; but they're a smart band, and they're tight, and part of the appeal of their live show is the unshakable sense that they're passionate about what they're doing--it's a very uncontrived display of release. And, after a million shows of bands like Blood Brothers, whose preconceived poses and hand motions are no better than the gestures of a thousand Celine Dions, I think I know who's getting my six bucks. JS
BUILDING PRESS, WET CONFETTI, THE FORTH
(Berbati's)
Building Press has an amazingly rich and varied sound considering it consists of just a drummer, a guitarist, and a bass guitarist. It buys into the whole "math rock" movement, which means it really mixes up the time signatures and chord progressions to create a sound devoid of clean rhythm or melody. It sounds a bit like basic garage jamming, but with much more girth. The trick to this kind of thing is making it enjoyable to listen to, and Building Press succeeds admirably because they are all fantastic musicians. JWS
