Preview: PALS FEST 2014

Despite the arguably volatile conditions that have developed around the Portland music community as of late – hyper increased development in inner urban areas displacing low-income artist types and forcing venues to close; increased noise curfew enforcement; obtusely racist police interference with hip hop shows – there is still one beautiful, unalienable force that is overflowing throughout our tired and artistic collective: FRIENDSHIP.

PALS FEST 2014, taking place August 9th through 15th, is the perfect celebration of the friendship that ties together Portland’s musical community, and back for the festival’s third year, the lineup couldn’t include any better best-bud-bands. This year, the celebration offers seven crazy nights of music, each at a different venue across town and curated by different local tastemakers, and all free or $5 entry. However, if you’re like most day-job slaving humanoids and don’t have the stamina to take in seven nights of live music in a row, here is our abridged list of shows you probably don’t want to miss:

Saturday, 8.9, FREEHustle & Drone and Hosannas at Pals Clubhouse
Danceable and soulful, electronic based pop music in an intimate backyard setting close enough for you to walk there and stumble home.
 
Sunday, 8.10, FREEWooden Indian Burial Ground and Cambrian Explosion at Rontoms
Portland’s psych revival at its finest, playing out on the back patio of Rontoms, these bands will have you looking in your head or towards the stars.
 
Friday, 8.15, FREEAAN, Grandparents and Mascaras at the Firkin Tavern
You couldn’t get more bang for your buck even if you paid a cover for it. Easily three of the city’s best bands in one of the last few true dive-bar venues, this type of thing won’t happen much longer.  
 
Travis Leipzig