Last year, news broke that MusicfestNW was somewhat merging, somewhat absorbing one of the newest fest’s to hit the PNW, Project Pabst. With skepticism concert goers awaited for the new superfest to announce its lineup and now that the fest is here, they’re proving a fruitful merger by selling out their weekend pass tickets and individual tickets for Sunday. 

Headlining Project Pabst will be Ice Cube and Duran Duran on Saturday and Ween and Tame Impala on Sunday, so of course it makes sense why Sunday’s bill is sold out. Since the reuniting of Ween last year, their sporadic playing of shows has fans devouring tickets like crazy. 

Festivities for PP technically started last night with a comedy show at Dante’s featuring Toddy Barry, Bryan Cook and Joann Schinderle, and with hip hop mainstays Digable Planets and Camp Lo at the Crystal Ballroom.

Local, more underground artists seem to be dominating the Project Pabst night shows (with the exception of Kyle Craft, who is blowing up and will be opening up the weekend fest tomorrow at 1 p.m.!), with Y La Bamba, Orquestra Pacifico Tropical, Haley Heynderickx, Candace and Talkative all playing tonight. Zirakzigil, Muscle and Marrow, And And And, Souvenir Driver, Rilla, Grand Lake Islands, and Summer Cannibals all play tomorrow night, with Last Artful, Dodgr and My Body opening up for Shy Girls Sunday.

Make note of the fact that Project Pabst’s weekend day shows are no longer at their usual Zidell Yards, but are now held at MusicfestNW’s location of the Tom McCall Waterfront Park. Tickets to the weekend shows (minus individual ones for Saturday) are sold out, but ticket purchase for PP night shows are still available.

To find the Project Pabst schedule, purchase Saturday tickets and to find out just where and when the Project Pabst night shows are, visit the festival’s website.

Melt has got a grip of good shit in the works, including an upcoming EP and a near 20 day West Coast tour, starting with their tour kick off next week on the 30th at the Liquor Store. Seeing them off properly will be Ah God, VCR and, with one of the greatest band names probably ever, EBT BBQ. 

To even more delight, we’re sharing a fresh new track off Melt’s upcoming release. "Black Gold" is a quick diddy that rides on a more mellow, almost 60’s era melody with an incredibly catchy hook. With a run time of just about 2 minutes, it’ll leave you wishing it was twice that long for sure.

If you got any plans to travel before summer is officially over, glance over Melt’s tour dates while you check out "Black Gold" below. [House show info can likely be found by asking-a-punk or a social media search]

8/30 Portland, OR at The Liquor Store

9/1 Tacoma, WA at The New Frontier Lounge

9/2 Seattle, WA at a house show

9/3 Portland, OR at a house show

9/4 Eugene, OR at a house show

9/5 Chico, CA at a house show

9/6 San Fransisco at venue TBA

9/7 Santa Cruz CA at Crepe Place

9/8 San Luis Obispo, CA at venue TBA

9/9 Highland Park, CA at GnarBurger (matinee set)

9/9 Los Angeles, CA at Church of Fun

9/10 Tucson, AZ at La Cocina

9/11 Phoenix, AZ at Lost Leaf

9/12 Las Vegas, NV venue TBA 

9/13 San Diego, CA 

9/14 Los Angeles, CA at The Hi Hat

9/15 San Fransisco, CA at venue TBA

9/18 Portland, OR at Angelo’s

We’re not talking about sexual intimacy here, though by all means get freaky. But tonight, a nice relaxing night will hit Bunk Bar with acoustic force. 

Nick Delffs translated his mammoth aptitude for guitar playing and songwriting from his established Shakey Hands project to his work with Tiburones, but more relevantly, in his solo effort Death Songs. His rich vocal quality adds dimension to his production, and also helps keep his "one man on stage" live performances intriguing. Expect this performance to include a mixture of not yet released material as well as favorites from his vast discography.

Leaving his usual post as the frontman of the more heavier rock band And And And, Nathan Baumgartner will be sharing some of the band’s past, present and future songs in their original form, as they all begin acoustically during the writing process. Baumgartner’s knack for creating songs of emotional turmoil will only be showcased more when backed by the personal playing of them on an acoustic guitar.

Joining Delffs and Baumgartner will be Christopher Francis and his soul-infused folk, swaddled by his crooning, husky voice. You might recognize him from playing with the Portland Cello Project, but you’ll definitely remember him for his solo efforts.

Tickets to tonight’s show are only $5, with music starting at 9 pm.  

We love XRAY. The community radio station has done tons in the realm of supporting not only local bands and solo musicians, but supporting other DIY outlets that promote artistic and creative endeavors. They give a lot to all of us so here’s another opportunity for us to give back to them.

Tomorrow, Dig A Pony will be hosting a benefit show with the witty title of X-ILE on Ray Street. Tickets will be $5 and all proceeds going back into the volunteer run station.

Theo Craig and Chancie Chance will be playing tunes in between sets by the ever-entertaining Lola Buzzkill and the darlings of Psychomagic, not to mention the benefit also acting as the album release and tour kickoff show for the loveable Reptaliens (who also help set the benefit up!). Adding even more intrigue to the set, a secret special headliner will also be taking the stage.

Head down to Dig A Pony on SE Grand at 8 p.m. tomorrow to give a lil something to XRAY’s cause, hang out with much of the fellow music scene and to figure out who the secret headliner is!

If you’re looking to enjoy some straight up rock & roll roots, local maestros in the craft Balto will be providing a freek week of it with their new week-long residency at Al’s Den, downtown at the Crystal Hotel.

Beginning today and lasting through the 27th, Balto’s residency will mainly be solo performances from band frontman Daniel Sheron. It was Sheron’s ventures from Moscow, Russia through Siberia that have helped inspire much of Balto’s songs and sounds, from their October’s Road debut to their recently released 7" Call it By its Name.

"CA LUV" is the latest to come off Call it By its Name and is an airy roots track that will act as the perfect taste holder for fans as the wait for yet another Balto release.

All of Balto’s Al’s Den residency shows begin at 7 p.m., are free and for those 21 and over. They’ll be joined by other acts throughout the next week, all of which can be found here.

Fusing jazz, psych and r&b are what Astro Tan are masters at doing and their new single, "HYFY," further proves it.

"HYFY" premiered on Impose this last Thursday and what the track stands for (presumably "hell yeah, fuck yeah") is exactly the excitment it brings. Jazzy tendencies playfully circle around distorted guitars and an intriguing drum beat, while party-like lyrics bring a lighthearted air to the track. 

The trio just took off for a West Coast tour and return September 4 for a show at Rontoms, but let "HYFY" be your hell yeah, fuck yeah anthem as this Saturday night cools down. 

Our latest winners of our AOTM poll, the Empty, produce a sound that is anything but musically void. The trio, comprised of Bobby Dezfulli, Sean Dant and Jacob Schmitt, have crafted their distinct balance between mood, melody and rhythm over the last 10 years that they’ve been in Portland’s music scene.

Reverberated guitars, analog synths and beat machines lay the foundation for spurts of fuzzier vocal tones that all come together to create a mesh of indie, electronica and rock that is pleasurable to the ears both in headphones and live. 

The Empty have already dropped a few tracks (and a couple accompanying music videos) from their upcoming post-summer release, which will be acting as the followup to their Lost Levels album from 2014. 

Dive into our most recent winners and peak into our Fall release with "Inside Edition" below. Congrats on the win, guys!

Expressing snarky banter and melancholy through fitting songwriting and equally expressive guitar work, The Late Great convey both innocence and feminist tones with their dark pop execution, as seen on their debut album Easy. 

The sincerity of the lyrics from "Shape of the Sea" are a good example of this, where songwriter and The Late Great leader Sarah Lane imparts strength and power by saying "I’ll take on the shape of the sea/Lord go on & lay it down on me/I am your pride, I’m your enemy/So go on and take what you want from me." Women do take on a lot in the world and Lane welcomes that weight without fear – a message that’s both relatable and empowering. 

Easy will be digitally released on August 17, with a release show happening on August 20 at the Turn! Turn! Turn! with Mike Coykendall and Hollow Sidewalks. Dive into the "Shape of the Sea" below.

Blowout left for tour last week, just before their highly praised No Beer, No Dad came out on the 5th. We won’t be seeing them back home until near mid-September, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy them tonight.

With a showering of the Perseids leading us into the weekend, all the gazing up into the stars has left us feeling a bit romantic. Blowout’s "1 I Want" is a simple, sad song about a love lost. The lyrical repetition of "The one I wanted is the one you took from me" really acts to drive home the loneliness, especially when sang through vocalist/bassist Laken Wright’s tender voice.

"1 I Want" packs both a powerful punch and the delicacy needed for a soft emo heart on this Saturday night.

Just in case you didn’t get to make it out to HOMIEFEST 3 Friday and Saturday, you’ve got second chance to catch the Domestics and yet another Papi Fimbres affiliate, the established groove pop group Minden, play on Sunday at the next Rontoms’ Sunday Session.

Sweet, Simple Things, the anticipated followup to last year’s Saint, dropped on August 5 and continues to show Minden as the indie pop group that’s got a bit of soul. This week’s Sunday Session is a celebration of the album’s release, and they’ll be joined by the Domestics and Reptaliens (just days before they head out on tour) for the party.

As always, the Sunday Session is free, 21+ and starts at 8pm. Stop by Rontoms tomorrow and enjoy the last fun thing happening this weekend.

Art pop and classical stylings converge with elemental hip-hop and r&b through the new duo Sheers, and their distinctive debut single "Depth."

Lily Breshears heads up the duo, bringing her seasoned experience from working with artists such as Big Haunt and Haley Heynderickx along with classical training as a harpist and pianist to the table. Intertwined with her mastered piano playing are melodic refrains, emotionally pertinent lyrics and jazzy beats from drummer and collaborator Grant Pierce. 

Produced by both Sheers and Scott Schaus and mastering done by David Polluck, "Depth" is only the starting point for what is sure to be an established effort for Breshears.

Sheers will be playing Mississippi Studios with Robin Bacior on the 17th, with a co-album release show also at Mississippi with Lynnae Gryffin on September 19th.

Check out the official premiere of "Depth" below. 

 That’s right. The four dudes that redefined modern indie with a nostalgic twist are heading out for the next seven days, starting tomorrow with their tour kickoff show at Twilight Cafe. They’ll be doing a show a night (including one in a mystery city on the 12th) in support of their Castles EP, which helped them become one last month’s Deli poll winners. 

For a sneak peek at what you’ll get to experience from them live, check out their performance of "Cooler Coast" on the Dan Cable Presents podcast below and go see the boys off in style tomorrow!