MIXMASTER MIKE, SWOLLEN MEMBERS, CLAN OF THE CAVE MACK, SLEEP, DJ WICKED
(Crystal) It must be kind of annoying when you become such a good DJ, that you're barred from competing in one of the world's most renowned DJ contests. Luckily, Mixmaster Mike has not stopped getting better, even without the competition, and he's done it by staying really, really busy with other stuff--projects like his latest album, Spin Psycle, which is an electronic geek's wet dream of mostly old school hiphop tattered to needly shreds. KATIA DUNN
STATESIDE CD RELEASE PARTY
(Blackbird) Stateside's vocalist does the "I don't care" Steve Malkmus thing like a champ, and his buddies do their own versions of the "I don't care"--moaning and harmonizing in the background. It's rather charming, though, especially if you think for a second about all of the band-ruining singers that take themselves way too seriously. He sounds kind of pleasantly drunk or like he's trying to be British. The guitar is exceptional indie-style stuff--their overall sound is mellow, ponderous, a little apathetic, but sincere and witty. They're one of the most interesting Portland bands I've heard lately. See them, will you? KATIE SHIMER
EL VEZ, THE PLUS ONES, MISS CYBELVIS MONROE
(B Complex) See My What a Busy Week pg 13
BEN FOLDS
(Roseland) Ben Folds ditched the Five to pursue a presumably more lucrative solo career, as he was always the central character in the BFF. The title of his first record, Rockin' the Suburbs, seems to be a self-conscious nod to exactly how snoozingly middle-of-the-road his music is. When Ben does play great music (because he does--many of his rock piano lines are skilled and catchy), it's rendered utterly ineffectual by all the lame attempts at winky irony in his lyrics. But Ben plays the musical equivalent of the color beige, and when I listen to it, I feel myself time-warping into a parallel universe in which I am 43, with a husband, four great kids, a dog, and a really clean home in Ohio. Maybe that's Ben's extra-nice goal, but it just makes me want to blow out my brains. JULIANNE SHEPHERD
FRIDAY 10/12
DILATED PEOPLES, BOOM BAP PROJECT, STAR CHILE
(B Complex) See Music pg 15
HELIO SEQUENCE CD RELEASE, COBRA HIGH
(Dante's) See Music pg 17
THE PROCLAIMERS, MIKE DANNER COMBO
(Berbati's) Whenever I look back over the many live shows I've attended, nothing seems more surreal to me than the night I saw the Proclaimers. It was 1994. They were on a bill with another band that featured identical twins as frontmen--weird in itself. The Proclaimers were Scotsmen with the surname Reid, but these brothers were worlds away from their fellow countrymen, the brothers Reid of the Jesus and Mary Chain. The movie Benny and Joon had revived the duo's goofy 1988 hit "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)," which they played with great enthusiasm, but I'll be damned if I could understand a word of their seemingly hilarious between-song banter. Still, the show was impossible to walk out on, and left me with an indelible impression. KATHLEEN WILSON
ODETTA
(Aladdin) Odetta: the septuagenarian folk hero who inspired the likes of Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and Janis Joplin, marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma, sang in the 1963 March on Washington, performed for President John F. Kennedy, and recorded the amazing "Mule Skinner." Throughout a career in which Odetta's beautiful voice has worked the blues, jazz, spirituals, white Appalachian songs, and Negro work songs with a stupefying warble and a rich, earthy timbre, Odetta has become the kind of legendary American who, as a colleague of mine suggests, "has roots coming out of her feet." JEFF DeROCHE
TRICK SENSEI, HUGH JAZZ ORCHESTRA
(Billy Ray's Neighborhood Dive) Trick Sensei is a local band that employs all the softest tricks of '60s psychedelic pop music, including lots of reverb, subdued drumming, and tripped-out harmonies. Though the vocal tactics could use a little honing (though the main guy has a nice voice, some of the harmonies are seriously off-key, and there's not a lot of direction to the singing), ultimately, Trick Sensei's recordings are a pretty respectable example of psychedelic pop. JS
THE PRIDS, JAPANIC
(Blackbird) Abstract, drawled lyrics and low, purring synths characterize Japanic, with their velvet, computer-monotonous drone of disco beats and dark thoughts. (You'd probably be depressed, too, if you were from Houston.) But they mix it up with glam aplomb, and rely more on their love of the underbelly of new wave, rather than their love of fashion, to propel their extra-cool sound. The Prids, who may now take the prize for the Portland band with the most fog, light, and other atmospheric machinery, has a semi-new line-up, so check out their theatrical drama and night-loving assez if you haven't before. JS
SATURDAY 10/13
ABSTRACT TRIBE UNIQUE, DJ DREZ, BUKU ONE, AWOL ONE
(Berbati's) If you didn't see these guys last time they were here (which was about one second ago), I definitely recommend seeing them today. Refreshingly honest, A.T.U. raps about urban LA in all its horrible glory, and drags you into all their splendor while doing so. Gritty, funky, and lyrical. KD
MOLDY PEACHES
(Roseland) Moldy Peaches is the awesome, NYC, lo-fi, folk-punk duo of Adam Green and Kimya Dawson, whose singing style is so bright and uninhibited, you know they must be all of 15 years old. However, their lyrical content suggests the wisdom of jaded thirtysomethings, and is hee-larious. Songs like "NYC's Like a Graveyard" ("all the rock stars are double-dating"), "Steak for Chicken," and "Downloading Porn with Davo" will have you rolling all over the ground, laughing like a stuck horse. JS
BRAILLE STARS, VICTORY AT SEA, KAITO
(Blackbird) Boston's Victory at Sea has a sludgy patience, with propulsive drums beneath a patter of breathy guitars. Vocalist Mona Elliott has a gripping alto that distinguishes the group from other bands with post-rock atmospherics--she channels anger and determination with a style heavily influenced by early Throwing Muses-era Kristin Hersh. It's all very beautiful and churning and desperate. For the love of god, make sure you're there early in time for KaitO. Amid a quagmire of '60s and '80s revival bands, KaitO revives my faith that pop music CAN be made creatively and with musical progression in mind. It's amazing--without copping shticks, they manage to be candy-sweet without making you want to barf all over America--only they're even kind of weird! KaitO has great, sassy-as-hell lady vocals that aren't afraid to let loose a cheerleader scream when necessary, hand-claps, fucked-up samples of distorted video-game laser guns, guitars that make two chords actually sound interesting, and a teeny dash of futuristic psychedelica. JS
BLONDE REDHEAD, THRONES
(Aladdin) Blonde Redhead is totally sublime, and if you haven't seen them live, do it at least once before you croak. Lifted up by the heat of the abstract, their guitars sing red distortion, and the voice of Kazu Makino is like that glorious flash of screaming light before you crash at the end of the tunnel. Still touring on 2000's Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons, the band's newer music is more art than urgency, streamlined and sophisticated. JS
NEW BAD THINGS, LARRY YES, AWESOME
(Jasmine Tree) The New Bads are legendary, practically inventing lo-fi indiepop, and they are from our very own tiny town of Portland. In fact, they are so legendary that someone told me that, on a recent visit to Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, they stumbled upon a New Bad Things tribute night, much like the kinds of tributes we here in Oregon have for Nick Drake or Judas Priest. (I can't remember who told me that story, so if it was you, remind me.) They don't play very often, but sightings in the past couple years have seen the New Bads combine minimalist drumming (like a guy, a tom, and chopsticks), romantic brass ensembles (a saxophone), and very literary vocal harmonizing (Matthew Hattie Hein's bookish croon, Christine Denk's beautiful soprano). Awesome includes Luke Hollywood, also a New Bad, playing guitar pop for impromptu parties, and Larry Yes' new record is kind of like hanging out at a day care--you wouldn't think to do it very often, but once you're there, all the nice, warm love the kids give you is really pretty marvelous. JS
BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB, THE WARLOCKS
(Satyricon) Through watery vocal reverb and a delay-soaked guitar squall, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club renders one of the sexiest live shows you will see all year. Especially if there has ever been a place in your aesthetic realm for obvious B.R.M.C. influences like Jesus & Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine. The band's three members stand poised, like cocky triggers, flood-lit from behind and shrouded in a dense, man-made fog. The best song the band does live is called "Whatever Happened to My Rock 'n' Roll." As you hear those words, you'll be wondering the very same thing, happy and spaced out on the noisy, beautiful sounds of the 1980s. I love this band. JEFF DeROCHE
SUNDAY 10/14
ERASE ERRATA, THE CHROMATICS, CORPSE FUCKS CORPSE, MONITOR BATS
(Disjecta, 116 NE Russell) The Chromatics, a Seattle band with members of The Vogue/Soiled Doves, plays the booty-movin' dance-punk with the crash of the uncohesive, confrontational guitar riffs. They also take off their shirts and put black tape Xs over their nipples. Corpse Fucks Corpse is from Sacramento, and aside from the fact that they have the single most admirably offensive band name in the world (with the possible exception of fellow Californians Fuckgodintheface), they invoke the brooding demon within through fisting crashes of noise ("gothcore"?). Portland's very own Monitor Bats shoot their own lasers of agitation, featuring drums, saxophone, and guitar that burst in intervals like bb guns in the spring. They will play all their modern classics, such as "Fangzz Fangzzz!!!," "Night of Surgeons," and "A Monster Ate Me Out at a Rodeo." JS See Music pg 15
THE MASONICS, WILDEBEESTS, REAL PILLS
(Satyricon) JEEZ-ush eF' in' Christ... how lucky be WE! MMMMMM-hmmmm, the sexy "hung like" Wildebeest and them infamous "look, we ain't crass're nuthin', we just look a bit 'crusty'" Masonics have finally undertaken their first "official" tour of the States... uh, so if you enjoy the "rock" and/or the "roll," don't be a wuss, don't miss THIS! Seriously, it may be yer only chance! Okay, with that hollered... who are these masked marauders of manicured mayhem? Uh, okay they ain't really "masked," but both bands're Britons, fulla pedigree, both bands got members formerly pullin' time in Thee Milkshakes, Humble Pie, the Kaisers, Bad Company, Uriah's Heap... and SMOKE the "Toe Ragged" garage rock, obviously... fuckin' considering Mister Liam Watson (Masonics) runs Los Toe Rag Studio! Oh, this "Toe Rag" sound, it is ROUGH, trebly... think "sounds like '60s garage" more than '60s garage sounds like itself... it's THAT good. MIKE NIPPER
MONDAY 10/15
ARSONISTS, DJ SWAMP, ASOP, OPUS X, DJ RUNDOWN, DJ DRYHUMP
(B Complex) From the Arsonists' recent release, Date of Birth, comes "Language Arts," in which the verses make puns on martial-arts terms, giving them new hiphop meaning. The chorus goes "Training! Balance. Focus. Challenge! Meditate. Silence! Skill. Talent," and so on--and the conclusion to this list is, "You must learn to accept defeat; check my Language Arts." The object of this militancy is to arm yourself not with weapons of steel for a war in the Far East, but to arm yourself with language for b-boyism in the West. Agreed, this emphasis on codes of discipline can often lead to ridiculously masculine statements, but Date of Birth is a strong and well thought-out album. Though I've never seen the Arsonists in concert, I have heard from reliable sources that they are excellent at moving the crowd. So come prepared. BRIAN GOEDDE
TUESDAY 10/16
THE BUTCHIES, THE GOSSIP, ERASE ERRATA
(B Complex) See Music pg 15
HUON, THE KG
(Meow Meow) Huon is a new group featuring ex-members of the Cannanes which, in case you didn't know, are the only thing from Australia I actually like. (Well, I guess Nick Cave is technically Australian, too. But have you seen any Australian movies? For the love of humanity, they should be outlawed!) The KG is the apparently reunited version of... The KG... starring Tae Won Yu and Heather Dunn! JS
WEDNESDAY 10/17
RED ELVISES, DIZZY ELMER, ELVIS
(Berbati's) Red Elvises are three crazy LA transplants from Russia in funky rock 'n' roll outfits and pompadours, outrageously capturing the spirit of the ridiculous, in pop tradition. They play tight, surfy rock songs, mostly about girls. The lyrics are in English, which they can sort of speak, and the thick Russian accents are priceless. Their shows are so fun that you will probably find yourself suddenly uncontainable, maniacally shaking the fabulous vessel of your rocker soul. The best part about them is that they're dead serious about being rock stars; one of the highlights of their set is "I Wanna See You Bellydance," during which they recruit chicks from the audience onstage to bellydance, in an irresistible tribute to rock kitsch. MARJORIE SKINNER
JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION, TIGHT BROS FROM WAY BACK WHEN
(Crystal) Two of the shtickiest bands on the planet on the same bill; hello, apocalypse. JS
STARLIGHT MINTS
(Satyricon) When I heard the name of this band, I thought, "Oh my god, I think I have narcolepsy." But as usual I was just being completely judgmental and cynical; they're actually quite wonderful. They play nifty pop with cello, violins, screeching guitars, effects, all kinds of wacky tricks, and vocalist Allan Vest rivals friggin David Bowie. They rule. KS
SHELTERBELT, PSEUDO SIX, THE MINES
(Blackbird) See Music pg 17
GOING TO SEATTLE?
Fri 10/12: Blonde Redhead, Unwound (Showbox); Victory at Sea, Jen Wood (Paradox); Lori Carson (Tractor Tavern)
Sat 10/13: Butchies, Erase Errata, Japanic (Crocodile); Kristin Hersh (Shoreline Community College)
For more info, visit
New Releases 10/16: AM/FM, Avalanches, Thomas Brinkmann, Bullfrog, Clairvoyants, Court and Spark*, De Facto, Freestyle Fellowship*, Fugazi, Beth Hirsch, Ides of Space, Lali Puna, Le Tigre*, Takagi Masakatsu, New Order, Pedro the Lion*, Pulp, Triangles
*= may actually turn out okay
