Sabertooth Micro Fest; Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside
As stated in the fittingly nebulous event description for the Sabertooth Micro Festival, the Crystal Ballroom celebrated something called "18 Months of Psychedelia" in the late 1960s, hosting artists such as the Grateful Dead (who recorded part of Anthem of the Sun at the venue), Frank Zappa, and the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Additionally, the Crystal was purportedly home to Allen Ginsberg's first recitation of Howl. This mini-festival is intended to commemorate the space's relationship with the era, and will feature performances by Kurt Vile, Sleep, the Minders, Wampire, and more. A splendid time is guaranteed for all.
Blowout w/So Pitted, Loser Boyfriend; Red and Black Café, 400 SE 12th
Blowout doesn't sound like a Portland band, and that's a compliment: The group's sound is strongly suggestive of a quintessentially East Coast breed of pop-punk, the sort that's equally indebted to early emo and indie rock and embodied by current scene lodestars like Lemuria, Delay, and Swearin'. Blowout's debut EP—We All Float Down Here, released nearly a year ago—was one of 2014's most under-discussed local releases, highlighting a sophisticated pop songwriting sensibility ("Tune Out," "Tiny Boots") that nearly matches their influencers. Their geographic displacement could be one of the best things that's happened to this city's stagnating rock scene in years.
