Local Music News
Maybe it’s the time I spent living in Russia,
but there’s nothing I like better than a government-supported, free,
all-ages concert. Whether you have similar socialist instincts,
need a live primer on contemporary Portland music, want to improve your
cool quotient with your kids, or are simply a light-in-the-pocketbook,
fixed-gear-wound-having hipster, you would be well served by the
Musicfest NW-affiliated show beginning at 5 pm on Thursday, August
23 in front of city hall (1221 SW 4th). You can’t do any better
than the un-amplified American gothic squall of the Builders and the
Butchers, the rock of lo-fi torchbearers recallseven, the
garage stomp of post-Dead Moon project Pierced Arrows, and the
joyous nasal jangle of the Shaky Hands (who just got tapped
by the Shins to open some tour dates)!
While we Portlanders are the
beneficiaries of occasional state-sponsored concerts, the children of
Venezuela are universally entitled to a free, world-class musical
education. Perhaps this sheds some light on local lounge jazz
experimentalists—and Marriage Records all-stars—the
Watery Graves’ mysterious obsession with Caracas. The cover to
their new album, Portland, which should soundtrack your next
cocktail party, bears a picture of Caracas, whereas their previous
effort, Caracas, was actually graced by a photo of Portland.
Question the band about this strange duality at their album release
show at the Artistery on Friday, August 24.
Looking for a
Friday night record release with a more hippity-hoppity flavor?
Then head on over to the Roseland and carouse with the “Voice of
Northeast Portland” himself, Cool Nutz, in honor of his new
collaboration album with Sacramento rapper Luni Coleone.
Alternately,
if you prefer your hardcore with guitars, drums, screams, and
indecipherable lettering, or have ever felt uncomfortable about the
disparity between punk ethos and punk reality, do not miss B.A.B.E.
Fest, happening August 24-26. Many of Portland’s most
egalitarian, queer-and-gender-friendly, badass bands, including
Anon Remora, the Vonneguts, and Tandemnation, play Friday at the
Ranch (5306 NE 15th) and Saturday at Satyricon. Workshops will also be
taking place around town on punk scene topics including substance
abuse, size-ism, and women of color.
Organizers explained, “Clearly
issues of gender equality are prevalent in all scenes and society in
general, however, those in the punk community (unlike other segments of
society) generally claim to be practicing gender and racial equality
and dealing with conflict and issues in a non-hierarchical or
oppressive way. However, a lot of this is just lip
service or not truly practiced and we’d like to open up that dialogue
and talk about ways how we, as a community, can address these issues.”
See babefestpdx.com for more
info.