A pretty strong departure from the heavily rocking tunes he’s dished out for Sons of Anarchy and on his albums, Battleme‘s Matt Drenik has teamed up with Andy McFarlane and a couple other musicians to make minimalist but pretty pop music as Far Lands.

The supergroup of sorts also includes Ivan Howard of The Rosebuds and Howard Evans on bass and backup vocals, as well as Elliott Smith‘s old drummer Paul Pulvirenti. When these musical talents come together, the result is somewhat on a Beck-meets-Neil Young plane of congenial folk pop, especially on their newest album Oh, What an Honor/Oh, What a Drag.

There’s an ardor that comes along with Far Lands tracks, particularly with the single "Hearts Like a Knife." McFarlane wrote the track while sitting at his kitchen table with his two daughters, who also happen to join in singing along with the song in the studio. The thought behind the song is cutely warm.

“I didn’t know it then but when Trump won I looked to it as something close to a protest song," says McFarlane. "My little way of telling my girls (and myself) that all will be okay if we stick together and focus on each other instead of the noise.”

Northwest locals were devastated when fires took over the Columbia River Gorge over the summer. Seeing destruction of that magnitude happen to your hometown is simultaneously saddening and numbing, but does sort of strengthen the community. Bearing in mind that many of us moved here from another place anyway, it makes sense that we’d do what we can for those who’ve just experienced this in Northern California.

Last month Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Lake, Butte and Solano counties were hit with a series of 21 wildfires that devastated wine country and surrounding NorCal terrain. This slew of fires included one of the most destructive in California wildfire history, the Tubbs Fire, so there’s much about the area that needs to be rebuilt.

A few Portland bands are getting together shortly to help raise some funds, with some raffles taking place in-between sets. A few of the musicians playing tonight have called California (but more specifically, Northern California) their home at one point in time, so this benefit show is a bit more personal. Enjoy some harsh hardcore punk from Worws, Phantom Family and Dead Tropics, along with a bit of a bluegrass twang from the Lonesome Valley Pussyfooters. Art and other fun things from Green Noise Records, Scapegoat Tattoo, Grizzly Tattoo, Oddball Tattoo and Josh McQuary will be raffled away betwixt the bands, and all proceeds will be given to UndocuFund. Seeing as tons of undocumented families and workers have been affected by the fires and won’t be receiving federal aid, they are some of the most vulnerable beings in cases like these. 

Music for tonight’s NorCal relief benefit at Tonic Lounge starts at 9pm. Entry is $8 with larger donations being accepted, with raffle tickets running one for $3 or two for $5.

Back when the weather and spirits alike were a bit brighter, we shared the first music video from art-wavers Star Club called "Saturday Night," along with a deeper look into the makes of the band and their late summer album Sixth Avenue Motel. We’re now pleased to share the latest to come from the album, a music video for the smoothly loungy track "Nightmare."

Monochrome and wonderfully shot, the video for "Nightmare" creatively evokes the horror of how nightmares can feel so much like reality. In it, vocalist/guitarist Nate Lown is somewhat the cool, cornfield narrator hanging back as bassist Marcus Pizotchi is kidnapped and taken to a desolate location where some procedures are performed on him. If you’ve ever dreamt of some sort of Taken-meets-Saw situation the thought of this actually happening is terrifying, but at least Star Club make it look moody and cool.

See Star Club perform "Nightmare" and other songs off of Sixth Avenue Motel tomorrow headlining the Turn Turn Turn with a debut set from Martha Stax (members of Star Club, Rare Diagram, Ancient Elk and more), Wave Action and Oort. Also, send some birthday love to Pizotchi.

Post-punk duo Sex Park have remained relatively under the radar with how much they project themselves into the spotlight, but that by no means intimates they aren’t deserving of the limelight. In just the two years they’ve existed the darkwave faction are quickly positioning themselves highly amongst their local contemporaries. With formerly their self-titled debut to offer insight into their creations, they’re back at it again with a new video as another teaser to a new album.

"Rhyme or Reason" is the second track to come off their early 2018 full length Atrium. The album was originally scheduled for summer of this year but instead the pair, made of Daniel Blumenthal on guitar and vocals and Paul Burkhart heading synths and drum machines, released one track from it titled "Dignity." To take the buzz a step further, Sex Park released the Dignity – Remixes, which consists of Lust Era, Nathan Stewart and Memory Clap Acid doing their renditions of the track. 

"Rhyme or Reason" is where it’s at, though, especially its video. Its aesthetics are mistily on brand with the musical style typically proffers; images of static feedback, flowers and other indecipherable bits mirroring in mesmerizing scene sequences. The video is very easy to get lost in, as it seems will be the rest of Atrium.

Watch the visuals for "Rhyme or Reason" below, and be sure to catch Sex Park’s next show at Dante’s on 12.22 with Shadowhouse, The Secret Light and White Rooms.

 *photo by Andy Perkovich

Playing what was predominately a psych-surf themed night at the KEXP Audioasis stage at the Sunset Tavern, chill-goth trio Baywitch brought to the table their own ideas of what that sounds like. Self dubbed "antisurf," which is the cleverly infectious meld of anti-folk and surf rock, Baywitch created an near subsea experience on the Sunset’s stage for their Saturday Freakout set.

With all the colorful lights creating an aquamarine experience, Baywitch rocked through tracks off their early summer album Hellaspawn. Fetching, fast-paced riffs mask some pretty doomy themes, like having panic attacks because of pot brownies as told on “I.O.D.T.H.C.” or how "Black Holes" describes the overwhelming turmoil of the fascist movement happening across the country. Their sounds are, however, charming enough that it’s easy to forget there’s real life subject matter in their lyrics.

Baywitch have got quite a few shows coming up and more details on them can be found here.

 *photo by April Sol

Hip hop may have been one of the least represented genres at Freakout Fest this year, but the fest still managed to present strong acts of interest within the city’s movement. One in particular proudly reps her White Center locale, and it’s just another detail that adding to what makes Taylar Elizza Beth an artist to be aware of.

Friday was pretty lit at Hattie’s Hat and quite a bit of that was because of Taylar Elizza Beth, also known as Taylar White. She’s played packed houses before, like earlier this year at the Upstream Music Fest, but the mid-20s raptress (that’s rapper and songstress, FYI) is gaining even more warranted attention as her late May EP Fresh Cut Flowers continues to secure its bag, so to speak.

Fresh Cut Flowers takes a different approach to hip-hop than her debut, 2014’s The BLK EP. On it, her flow likens itself more to an old school delivery of loquacity, where with Flowers White is mellow and intimate with her recitation. This is no way takes away from the power and magnetism White emits during her performances, especially at Hattie’s Hat, where she sucked everyone in like a vacuum. 

If you’ve yet to catch her live, follow Taylar Elizza Beth’s Facebook for upcoming shows.

 *photo by Jake Hanson

In all of their experimental, riff-pop glory, Moon Darling recall simpler psychedelic sensibilities, combined with some pretty endearing and crafted synth pop. The foursome is comprised of Michael Julian Escobar on vox/guitar, Michelle Nuño on drums, Matthew Buckner on keys and Jack Jay on bass, and their joint forces create soundscapes that are both classic and innovative.

Though they only played one slot at Freakout Fest, an early evening set at the Conor Byrne, the band have been up to so much more recently. Shortly before the played the fest Moon Darling debuted a new track. "By the Light of the Moon" is coming off of their upcoming January EP of the same name, a followup to their addictive Dreams. 

On "By the Light of the Moon" there’s a point in which each member shines, be it Escobar’s incredible fingerwork or gripping approach to vocals, the stark and necessary breaks of Nuño’s drumming, or the enigmatic keyboarding of Buckner and Jack Jay’s deliberate bass playing. The title track provides perfect insight into the rest of the EP, and they’re having a release show for it on 1.25 at the Fred Wildlife Refuge with Kingdom of the Holy Sun and DJ Right Ternes, so mark your calendars.

There wasn’t much good that came out of 2017 as a year, except for rejoicing in the fact that alt-indie duo Dogheart release two albums. Family Hair hit just as spring turned to summer and now, they’ve shared Beach Farm as fall is setting in. 

Beach Farm is a slight departure from the duo’s other releases. "On this one, we took it back a bit and put a lot of emotion into without thinking about it so much," says Matt Jenkins, one half of Dogheart. "Whatever came naturally was the way it was. The process of this was the most fun we’ve had writing and recording an album. To us, it is the most cohesive sounding album we’ve made and are very proud of that aspect." 

Jenkins shares every aspect of song making duties with Dogheart’s other half Gray Hildreth. With Beach Farm, they went into the recording process without a drummer, so the two took the feat on themselves. The process may have been slightly arduous for the two in the beginning, but everything ended up sounded well. While listening to Beach Farm it’s easy to hear how in tune Jenkins and Hildreth are with each other’s thought processes. It’s a solid, garage pop record that you’ll want to listen to over and over.

"This was a new approach to what Gray and I are doing now," says Jenkins. "A new development in our brains to continue through, even with a little turmoil in the process. Something odd but enlightening."

Listen to Beach Farm in its entirety below.

Triple city-based indie label Freakout Records has been churning out some pretty fine electronic, psych and lively rock from three out of the four corners of the states. Operating out of Seattle, Los Angeles and New York, Freakout has taken to occupying various venues in Ballard for its festival since 2012, with artists of their own catalog, as well as other artists scattered around the Northwest and the country. Freakout! Festival returns again tonight, and its bill is as stacked as ever.

Co-presented by The Stranger, Audioasis on KEXP and supported by Killroom Records, Treefort Music Fest and Artist Home Record Club, Freakout! Fest will be hitting up its usual Ballard staples like Conor Byrne and Tractor Tavern, with Sarah Gerritsen and Roadkill Ghost Choir kicking things off with some early sets. Tonight’s hip hop will be fulfilled by up and coming lyricist Taylar Elizza Beth, with some dark stoner psych coming from Blackwater Holy Light. Energetically folky blues comes from Battleme, who are out on tour supporting their new Cult Psychotica release, while Charms and FKL bring more of a dancey feel to a couple of the headlining spots.

Much of Saturday’s bill recalls a warmer, more carefree season thanks to some surf-drenched sets from Baywitch, The Shivas and Guantanamo Baywatch, The White Tears and Pearl Dragon is Dead are collaborating on their performance at the Conor Byrne, Porter Ray and Jus Moni killing it in the rhythm and rhymes department, and Kelli Schaefer and Maiah Manser representing for solo noir pop.

There’s so many more acts to see, thank goodness they’re all playing on the same street. You can find more information about the artists, venues and tickets over at the Freakout Records site.

 Back in June, we shared one of the first recordings of "Self Care" by Brown Calculus. They had just hit our radar and thankfully so, because they haven’t left it since. Last month they released a lovingly and beautifully shot video for the track and tonight, they’re marking another moment; the drop of a new EP titled Live at the Map Room.

Live at the Map Room will actually be played by Brown Calculus live at Mississippi Pizza right around now, following a set from Just Pretend. It’s going to be packed, so consider peeping the video for "Self Care" below. It’s the opposite of disappointment. 

 *photo credit to Emilianos Ap.

Battleme have been keeping quite busy with their driving, energetic blues and psych tinged rock. As if to never really take a break, Battleme, led by main member Matt Drenik, have been churning out releases just about every hear since becoming Drenik’s main project back in 2010. Becoming one of TV series Sons of Anarchy‘s go-to soundtrack artists (and even appearing before the camera) and now, Battleme’s acclaim has brought them to yet another release. And it’s happening tonight.

In just a few hours, Battleme will be taking to The Know‘s stage for their only Portland show this tour, supporting their newest album Cult Psychotica. From just the name alone the album promises the same ferocious zest. Playing with them will be Acid Tongue and The Furies, so it’ll be a true night of getting loud. Tickets will be available at the door for $8, with music starting at 9pm. 

There’s been a bit of a resurgence in emo in the last couple of years, but there’s one band that’s been holding it down the whole time. The Hague have almost a whole decade under their belt of mixing emotive styles with indie and at times, a little alt-folk, and they’ve released a new 7" showing they’ve still got Portland emo locked.

"Globes" is the second track on The Hague’s 7". The band spent two years writing the tracks on the record, using a series of rough occurrences for the band’s members as inspiration. 

“This record is about the inevitability of change,” says drummer Jesse Tranfo. “It’s about knowing that the band won’t always be a band, and most friendships won’t last, and knowing that that is truth. At the same time, it’s about fighting that, and wanting to believe in the good things currently happening, wanting to hold on to those close to us, and wanting to be more present in what we’re doing."

Listen to "Globes" below.