"In the pocket" is a phrase used by music geeks to describe bands that are just… feeling it. And after a few years and some lineup changes, Portland’s Slutty Hearts are there. Watch the closed-eyed communication between the band as singer Marisa Laurelle bashes a cymbal with a tambourine, smiling out lyrics about love crimes, and you’ll see the prowess of musicians that have paid their dues. The confidence of their live set is obvious, yet there is a vulnerability that brings them to the level of the crowd. Combining the gritty realness of punk with the slick veneer of pop without sounding forced and pretentious isn’t easy, but this band does it effortlessly – and with style. Catch them at the Trillium in Hood River July 3rd, or when they’ll be covering the Kinks for Ray Davies Day at Bunk Bar July 15. – Just Dave
