It seems that 2013 was like a blip in history. Back then, people said "YOLO" literally all the time and Vine was gaining app traction, but there was something else about that year that made it special – it was the last time "experimental punk" outfit Nasalrod released an album. Though It’s Our Pleasure was definitely a pleasure for fans, their first record in five years is even more of one.

This month Nasalrod dropped their vinyl debut Building Machines, and it’s exactly what we need from them now. Nasalrod has always been distant from any strict genre classifications, incorporating everything from noise to rowdy punk to even more dancier grooves to create their chaotic tunes. Building Machines is raucous and raw, with each member contributing integral bits to their aural storm. 

On Sunday 10.22, Nasalrod are playing Mississippi Studios for the first time for Building Machines release, along with psych punk act BOINK and Honey Bucket. Tickets are only $5, such a steal for catching one of the most energetic acts in town.

It’s always fun to discover new ways in which genres can be mixed and mingled, and that’s definitely something Sam Pinkerton has tasked herself with doing. Under the moniker Prolly Knot, Pinkerton recently dropped her candid debut album It’s Not Anymore, and it’s rife with tracks that will make you feel just as emotionally vulnerable.

The album seems as if to be a series of confessionals from Pinkerton, stirred up by the process of self reflection and moving across the country from her native Nashville home. It’s Not Anymore is earnest in its sounds, blending dark pop, R&B and notes of hip-hop to create an accessible, almost brooding bedroom feel that’s warmly intimate.

Check out It’s Not Anymore below, and be on the lookout for more from Prolly Knot. – Photo credit: Colette Pomerleau

There are many things lacking in Portland as a place, especially within the music scene. Despite the obvious deficiency in diversity, there are key figures and artists within the scene that continually contribute to changing that. Homies are considered some of these figures. Led by Omar Cervantes and Ralf Rodriguez, the hazy, fuzz laden Spanish dream-surf they produce is one to easily enjoy. Their newest music video provides just as much of that minimalistic pleasure.

Artistically shot, the video that accompanying their track "Time Goes By" is in all black and white, splicing in deep notes about the concept of time, and how it is essentially meaningless. Flames and a flower are an intro before displaying "nada es nuestro." Translating to "nothing is ours," it’s a perfect delineation of what the video is trying to portray.

Nothing, including time, may be truly ours, but there are still positive things that can be done with the construct. This Saturday 10.19, Homies are playing La Fuerza: a Bori-Mex Benefit, a disaster relief fundraiser meant to benefit those who suffered during the hurricanes in Mexico and Puerto Rico being held at the Portland Mercado. Sets from Brown Calculus, Cilantro, Máscaras, LuvJonez and Coast2c will also be happening, with proceeds going to the community kitchen construction project by Patronato de Arte Contemporáneo, Oregon para Puerto Rico and Jóvenes x Puerto Rico. There’s even a tampon drive for Portland Menstrual Society and Amy Nieto-Cruz‘s donation to Puerto Rico so bring new, unopened product.

Until then, enjoy Homies’ new video below.

timegoesby from LoboNahual on Vimeo.

Almost a full year ago, tragedy struck an artist collective warehouse space in Oakland, Ca. Those from the East Bay and musicians that frequent venues along this coastal stretch have likely heard of the space, known as Ghost Ship, or even sadder, may have lost someone in the fire that hit it in early December of 2016. That’s what happened to Tom Filepp, also known as Cars & Trains, and his dear friend, collaborator and label mate Johnny Igaz.

A multi-instrumentalist, Filepp spent these last months working on a track for Igaz, a well known and loved Oakland-based producer and DJ who passed in the fire while djing the show there. "New Histories" is on Fictions, the first album Filepp has completed in a decade where Igaz won’t be hearing its finished product. 

"The song was meant to both remember him and simultaneously work through what happened, and it flowed out over the course of just a couple of days, like a storm," says Filepp. "Johnny and I used to send music back and forth we were working on and bounce off ideas and mixes to get input."

Remember Igaz and the others lost in the Ghost Ship fire by listening to "New Histories" below. You can read more on Filepp’s thoughts regarding what happened here.

 *pictured: Shannon Entropy

Going to shows can be stimulating in a social sense. Almost too stimulating, really. There’s loud music, drunk people and long bathroom lines, all to be absorbed as the constant hum of numerous conversations drums on in the background. Tonight, though, there’s an opportunity to enjoy the best of social show interactions while engaging in some collaborative visual and mental stimulation.

The inaugural Noggin Fest has arrived, mixing interesting art, research and music. Part benefit for NWNoggin, an educational art and neuroscience outreach group, and part birthday celebration for Shannon Entropy member Jesse Hamlin, Noggin Fest features research presentations from Katie Wallin-Miller PhD on the irrational economic behavior of rodents, Binyam Nardos PhD on racially based facial processing and Larry Sherman PhD on repairing damaged brains with stem cells and sugar. There will be art from all sorts artists and photographers, including Heather Hanson, Taylor Southern, Kanani Miyamoto, Showdeer and more, plus musical performances from Shannon Entropy, King Who and Cambrian Explosion. 

Noggin Fest is a 21 and over event, though minors are allowed if accompanied by an adult. It’s guaranteed to be an incredibly interesting and interactive experience and for just a $12 ticket price, that’s not bad at all.

The Lonesome Billies are more than just adored crusaders of traditional, whiskey swillin’ country western tunes, but they’re also hard working fundraisers for an important nonprofit integral to keeping youth involved in music.

Outlaws in their own right, the foursome, who go by the names of Bill Collins, Gator Bill (vox, lead guitar), Ornery Bill (vox, acoustic guitar) and Whiskey Bill (vox, bass) ask for a flurry of support to head to the Alberta Abbey tomorrow, 9.30 for their 7th Annual Family Tradition extravaganza. The Family Tradition involves more than just music – it’s also an auction, a potluck and a little bit of a barn house dance, with all of the proceeds going to My Voice Music.

Items provided by Pendleton Woolen Mills, Widmer Brothers Brewing, Obey Giant and other companies will be auctioned off. A great deal of food will be offered as well, including band member Gator Bill’s famous brisket. Along with the Lonesome Billies themselves taking the stage, expect performances from some My Voice Music artists, a bit of alternative folk rock from Vancouver, Washington’s Lincoln’s Beard, and a reading or two from Oregonian Cowboy poet Tom Swearingen.

The Lonesome Billies are asking for just a $10 suggested donation to attend the Family Tradition, though surely no one will be turned away for not having that much. For such a great cause, why not come out and get your cowboy on?

 *pictured: the Woolen Men, taken by Dino Matt

Advocates of all-age safe spaces and music venues, local organization Friends of Noise is doing yet another bit of good to bring music to community… for free. 

From 4pm-8-pm today, Friends of Noise is hosting their "Music For Everyone Day" at Portland City Hall. This is the nonprofit’s second attempt at throwing this event, since the initial date had to be rescheduled due to poor air quality caused by the wildfires surrounding the city. Nevertheless, FoN have forged on to bring a wide range of artists to those around the downtown Portland area today.

Young artists are strongly supported by FoN and a couple of them will be taking the stage, like Daniel “D.J. Max” Lasuncet and 15-year-old singer/songwriter JoJo Scott. My Voice Music project BLK + IVY will also perform, along with poet Maurisa Destiny Golden and some of the bigger Portland names. Skull Diver‘s alternative psych rock is sure to make everyone swoon, while the raw energy of the Woolen Men should perfectly juxtapose the gloominess of today. 

Other youth-oriented organizations and programs were also a part of making this event possible, such as My Voice Music, Outside the Frame, Marrow PDX, Momentum Alliance, SMRYC, the Rock n’ Roll Camp for Girls and the Bus Project. It should be noted that water and restrooms are available inside Portland City Hall, but that patrons will have to undergo a back check upon entry. 

If you’re looking for something free, fun and inclusive of all-ages and people, Music For Everyone Day is definitely something worth checking out.

The Oregon Coast is a beautiful place, with an enjoyably somber air to it for majority of the year. Now that summer is coming to an end, there’s one more opportunity to enjoy the coast at its brightest. 

In its inaugural year, StackStock Music Festival takes some of the most popular and pleasant artists coming out of the Pacific Northwest and stages them in Cannon Beach, backdropped by rolling ocean waves at the Haystack Gardens.

Coming from hospitality company owner Ryan Snyder, StackStock’s sole purpose is to "bring rock to the town with the rock" and that, he’s done well. In collaboration with Live Wire! Radio’s Kate Sokoloff and local booker Alicia J. Rose, the trio nabbed some in town favorites like the choral pop of Ages and Ages, harmonic folk from duo Wonderly and some latin-influenced guitar sounds from the Edna Vazquez Acoustic Trio. A dream pop flare will come from Pure Bathing Culture along with some pretty rocking folk ballads from a solo headlining set from Colin Meloy, the lead singer of The Decemberists. An interactive pop set from the OK Chorale PDX will get the festival crowd going as well.

"The North Coast of Oregon is not really on the tour schedule for big name touring acts like Colin Meloy or Pure Bathing Culture," says Snyder. "STACKSTOCK is my way of sharing this incredibly unique music with the community here and our visitors alike."

Saturday’s StackStock runs from 1-9pm. Advance sale tickets are $40 and $50 the day of. For directions, ticket purchasing and more information, head to www.STACKSTOCKFEST.com.

*Photo by Jeremy Hernandez

The name Katherine Paul may or may not ring any bells. As a musician, Paul has contributed to other Portland acts like Genders and Forest Park, but Paul’s recent output as Black Belt Eagle Scout is of particular noteworthiness. 

She doesn’t necessarily fancy herself a songwriter, but what she’s poured into the songs on her sophomore album Mother of My Children speaks otherwiseto her abilities. Queer and indigenous as part of the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community of just outside Anacortes, Washington, Paul was already equipped with intriguing stories and experienes to tell. Once she was hit with a couple losses, Paul had even more emotional material.

“It’s about my best friend. We dated for a really long time, and I thought she was gonna be the mother of my children, quite literally," Paul told Seattle’s The Stranger. "And so this past year, I just realized that was never going to happen… I had to let go.”

This, paired with the loss of a dear friend and mentor, bred Mother of My Children. Its songs are cathartic and put together with a particular beautiful sadness. Paul played every instrument herself, from the free Casio that gave"Keyboard" its tunes, to every participating unit that created the loud crashing of "Just Lie Down." 

Everything about Mother of My Children is tender and vulnerable, while still possessing a captivating energy. Stream it below.

A lot has changed for Rare Monk over the last few years. Their very first release, the Death By Proxy EP back in 2013, dotted them on Portland’s indie rock map, with 2015’s self titled EP locking them in place. But as with any classic band story, things got a bit iffy for the Rare Monk in the months to come. They’ve reached a point now where that iffiness has turned into a stable, fully developed sound that fits the band perfectly.

Rare Monk’s most advantageous change came along with their shifted lineup. What started out at a 5-piece with an entirely different guitarist and violinist has now become a 4-piece focusing more on expansive guitar lines and complimenting harmonies thanks to the addition of lead guitarist/vocalist Hugh Jepson.

Along with Dorian Aites (vox, violin, keys, guitar), Rick Buhr on drums and Forest Gallien on bass, the foursome have based their summer release No Future on the lack of control humans have over their personal and collective futures. It’s experimental indie rock with a dystopian base that’s all sorts of enjoyable for how poignant its theme is.

See Rare Monk perform No Future tomorrow at Bunk Bar for a show they’re playing with New York trio Wilsen. 

Ben Braun is definitely known for being half of local synth-pop act Mackintosh Braun, but he’s also got his toes dipped deep into the solo music pool, and the temperature is just right. With Braun‘s first solo album Silent Silence, there’s a lot of electro-synth-pop and a bit of musical history that makes it enjoyably legendary.

Granted Braun’s pedigree, having created many synthy tunes with Mackintosh Braun partner for the last decade, the presence of that style on his album makes total sense. One of the first Silent Silence tracks to be written, "Washed Away" features a guest sax solo from Charlie DeChant. Music buffs may recognize DeChant’s skills from the 10 years he spent playing with Hall & Oates. (Braun’s father, drummer Michael Braun, also played with Hall & Oates)

To be originally recorded on his laptop, "Washed Away" has a consuming production that’s hard to not get caught in. Listen to it below and look out for Silent Silence in October.

 LiquidLight‘s journey has taken them many places. Tours, poll wins, lineup changes and pretty much any achievement or hurdle that can pop up for a band along the way did, but that didn’t stop the foursome from foraging on in their pursuits. Now, one of our Best Bands of 2015 have reached yet another high point in their music career – the release of their sophomore album.

What Uninitiated had done for them back in 2015 their newest, Wicked Radio, should do the same for them this year. The album sees LiquidLight plunging deeper into their known schtick of psychedelic alt-rock, accented with melodic vocality and rhythmic sweeps. They’ve released a couple tracks from Wicked Radio so far but today, we’re premiering another one in preparation for their album release show this Sunday. 

"Keep Me Out Of It" is as enjoyable as any other LiquidLight track, starting fiercely with a steady guitar flow. It’s yet another fine example of LiquidLight’s collective mastery of their instruments, and another good look into what Wicked Radio will be like as a whole.

Dive into "Keep Me Out Of It" below, and be sure to hit up their album release show on 9.10 at Bunk Bar with Hollow Sidewalks and Down Gown.