What is the opposite of protest? Acceptance? Affirmation? Whatever
the case, Awareness Is Free, a two-day all-ages festival of
Portland-bred experimental music taking place on the PSU Park
Blocks from noon to 9 pm on Thursday, September 13 and Friday,
September 14, is a celebration of it. Funded by KPSU, and organized by
Rhenne Miles, host of the station’s marginal-music-minded program
“Cacophony,” the event is, as the name indicates, free to the public,
and possessed of a communalist ethic inspired by Miles’ experiences
with congregation and music growing up in the Midwest’s rave subculture
(which I think was kind of like the Grange, but with more drum machines
and glow sticks). Among the festival’s wide-ranging 23 local acts are
house music bigwig Strategy, Euro-famous guitar-loop princess
Grouper, as well as clarinet-accordion-and-drums pop
deconstructionists Au, and the peerless Evolutionary Jass
Band (both of whom I can’t shut up about these days). It’s nice to
see the experimental music community—which I once associated
strongly with the elitism of my buddy’s older brother, who made fun of
me for preferring Steve Shelley to Tom Surgal—continuing to put
its friendly foot forward. More info at myspace.com/awarenessisfree.
As summer—and with it festival season—draws to a close,
we might as well drink down every last drop of multi-artist happenings,
no? Music snobs intimidated by art snobs can test the high-concept
waters with two song-oriented pieces by locals as part of
TBA:07. Those of the singer/songwriter persuasion are referred
to Holcombe Waller (described by fan and Doug Fir booker Alicia
Rose as an “intimate exhibitionist”), whose Into the Dark Unknown:
The Hope Chest, performed at Someday Lounge on September 13-15, is
a richly orchestrated, staged presentation of the honey-voiced
troubadour’s introspective folk set to filmed visuals. DIYers would do
better to rock on over to the Singer Project Space (429 SW 10th)
through September 16, and record their own rendition of any song from
the (in)famous 1977 Foghat LIVE double album as part of
Portland-based conceptual art duo Sincerely, John Head‘s
Studio Sessions project, which explores the boundaries between
performer and fan. Drums, mics, a guitar, and bass are there waiting
for you—just call for an appointment first (888-774-7456).
Speaking of art, there’s a pretty swell little exhibit of
Portland music photography and posters up at city
hall through September spanning, albeit sporadically,
the past 75 years of local sonic history. The work is installed in the
commissioners’ offices to reflect their own tastes and interests:
Sten/jazz, Adams/indie, Leonard/blues. There is talk of expanding the
exhibit into a full-fledged history of Portland music show at the
Oregon Historical Society in 2009. Pop by between 7 am and 5 pm Monday
through Friday and have a look around. And while you’re there, see if
you can find out who’s running for mayor.