Next week could easily be dubbed Portland’s biggest music week of the year as a plethora of national acts descend upon our city for the five-day festival known as MusicFest Northwest. Amongst the packs of music enthusiasts traversing the downtown area, many rising names in the Portland music scene will be taking part in the celebration. Over the next week we’ll be previewing some of our favorite local bands, letting you know why we love them and where you can check them out next week. Keep your eye on the Deli for our local picks, and learn more about the festival and see the full lineup here. It’s going to be an awesome week.
The Outside Eyes Look Inward at Ortlieb’s Aug. 30
Since debuting in March, The Outside Eyes have delivered a pleasant and vibrant dirge of Americana roots rock. What started out as friends and roommates jamming in an old West Philly Victorian (Todd Erk who also happens to be involved with the likes of Hoots & Hellmouth and Birdie Busch) has emerged into a harmonious undertaking that will soon culminate in the release of their debut album Love Songs & Other Tragedies. Tonight’s show at Ortleib’s will be an opportune time to catch the band before they take a tour of the west throughout September, especially since they’ll be joined by Maitland, who caught our attention earlier this year with their debut EP (from a cabin in the woods). Ortleib’s Lounge, 847 N. 3rd St, 9pm, $7, 21+ – Bill McThrill
NYC bands on the rise: Miko & The Musket
Miko & The Musket have the sound of a big band with something to prove. From Jazz-infused high octane harmonies, to Paul Simon-inspired tales of life across America, the band packs plenty of ammunition, and are set to convince everyone in their path of the virtues of how well folk can go with R&B when you have the right musicians behind it.
A remarkably young seven piece from New York, the band has a wide range of instrumentation covered. It shows it in new single ‘On Your Mark’ (streaming) where singer/main songwriter Miko de Leon pulls out all the stops with crazed harmonies, gnarled guitar lines, and some world-weary advice on how best to finish the race. Now the band’s getting ready to go out on tour in preparation for the release of their upcoming self-titled EP next month. So they should be bringing their exhaustingly enthusiastic show back to New York soon. In the meantime, check out ‘On Your Mark’ below. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)
Free Download: The Key Studio Sessions Volume 8 – Various Artists
XPN‘s The Key just shared their latest compilation of in-studio performances entitled The Key Sessions Volume 8, which features local artists like Vacationer, Light Heat, Literature, Divers and many others. You can take a listen to it below, and each track is available for free download. Enjoy! (Album Cover Photo by Abi Reimold)
From the Open Blog: an ode to postpunk – TerribalAnamal’s new video
TeribalAnamal is a Brooklyn-based, art damaged trio that’s been playing around NYC since 2012. Their music and vision references the legendary days of early post punk (late 70s), when semi-insane and heavily drugged up bands like Throbbing Gristle, Pere Ubu and Devo redefined rock’s aesthetics through a series of claustrophobic, tense and provocative records, realized through a DIY approach to music borrowed from punk bands. They do a pretty good job at it in this video/song combo entitled "Mourning Dove." In their Open Blog entry they say: "Check out our EP on iTunes and Spotify if you want to, or if you don’t want to that’s cool too. There’s tons of rad music out there, especially around NYC, so we totally understand if this escapes your radar or it’s not your thing or whatever. Live long and prosper. Muah." – (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here). The Deli’s NYC Open Blog is powered by The Music Building.
The Hudson Branch “You Don’t Know Me”
The Hudson Branch have released a new single called "You Don’t Know Me". The single comes from the band’s third studio album which they are currently attempting to Kickstart.
There plan is to record the new album this fall. The band originally wrote 23 songs for the project but now have a solid 10 set for recording. You can help support them here.
Interview with Josephine and the Wildfront
Need another reason to slather on some sunblock and head out to the Demonbreum Blockbuster this Saturday? Josephine and the Wildfront, our July Artist of the Month, will be on the South Stage at 5pm. They were gracious enough to answer a few interview questions, so click HERE to learn a little more about what makes them tick. -Terra James-Jura
FYF 2013: Joyce Manor Live Review
Angsty is an overstatement for a band like Joyce Manor, whose brand of relentless guitar pop is less about reacting and relates more with an introspective sentiment. The Torrance foursome teared up a blistering set melodic punk that flew by faster than a gust of wind. Despite the unfortunate technical difficulties they encountered during their set, it didn’t discourage them from playing their gruff, yet melodically sharp tunes. And considering their songs rarely pass the two-minute mark, their fans shouldn’t have been this disappointed since their songs are especially effective in short bursts. – Juan Edgardo Rodríguez
Photography: Juan Octavio
Album review: Molly Picture Club – I’m My Own Time Machine (EP)
I’m My Own Time Machine was recorded at Weights & Measures Soundlab by Duane Trower and Southland Studios by Matthew Hayden. It was mixed and mastered by Trower.
Make it a point to catch this infectiously dancey synth pop group live this Sunday, September 1, at The Riot Room, as it will be their final performance. The show kicks off at 8 pm with Molly Picture Club—who will be a five-piece group for the evening—followed by GRMLN and Geographer. Molly Picture Club will joined on stage by Andy Kirk on bass and keys, and Justin Skinner on percussion and samples. Facebook event page.
–Alex Peak
Alex Peak is a magazine designer by day and a music listener by night. To her, stumbling across great new music is even better than finding a $10 bill floating around in the laundry. |
Video: together PANGEA “Snakedog”
In anticipation of the release of their full-length album, together PANGEA dropped their new single "Snakedog" on August 20th via PitchFork. Local to the L.A. area, Pangea made its name in 2008 playing at house parties in Santa Clarita valley and performing at CalArts. Since then, the garage rock band has taken off, landing concerts and tours with bands like The Wavves, The Black Lips, Ty Segall, Guitar Wolf, and even performing at reputable venues such as The Echo, The Roxy, Troubadour, and SXSW. Snakedog has a multitude of different melodies and legends flowing from it, with symphonic sounds much like that of The Velvet Underground, Sex Pistols, and The Pixies. Look for this band at the Burgerama Caravan of Stars tour, which starts on September 19th in Vancouver. Together PANGEA’s harmonious release of "Snakedog" is a beautiful illustration of what is yet to come. – Kayla Hay
New Track: “Taste” – Bardo Pond & Release Date for New LP Announced
Local legendary psych-rock outfit Bardo Pond just premiered a new track called "Taste" earlier today via Ad Hoc. The drifting single layered in angsty fuzz will appear on the band’s upcoming ninth LP Peace On Venus, which will be released on October 29 by London-based label Fire Records.
Sundowner @ Beat Kitchen
Sundowner is the solo project of Chris McCaughan of The Lawrence Arms. His third album under that moniker, Neon Fiction, will be released via Fat Wreck Records on Sept. 3rd.
You can also hear the album’s lead track "Cemetery West" over at A/V Club. The record release event for Neon Fiction will take place at Beat Kitchen on Sept. 13th.