Given that it’s officially October, I think it’s safe to declare that it is now Halloween season. As such, you may find yourself in search of some good tunes to fit your ghostly mood. Look no further than Soft Butch. The band is, without a doubt, spooky. The synth is otherworldly, playing over the subdued purring of the electric guitar. The band’s lyrics are satirical and derisive, sometimes blasphemous. At the core of Soft Butch’s appeal is the glittery, infectious pop playing underneath the gothic overtones. Too many bands avoid using any sort of early-2000’s pop style in their music, and thus miss out on the delightful buoyancy it can inspire in the audience. “She’s Electric” especially stands out in regards to this. The ravenous growl of the song plays over a decidedly upbeat rhythm. T.S. (lead vocals) speaks in an exaggerated, at times near slurring, Valley Girl accent. Make sure you play it at your next Halloween party.

  By Avril Carrillo

Bitch’n just released a single off their upcoming album Let’s get Easy, motivated by the “collective feminine growl that is sounding across this country and world.” The song, “On the Edge” is packed with a taut anxiety that makes your back stiffen and your fists clench. Dissonant beats and jangling chords reproduce the pain and frustration left over from this past week’s political turmoil. Chanting the lines in unison, the members present a forceful unified front. "On the Edge" is a battle cry made for screaming at the frontlines of this war.

Bitch’n will be at the High Water Mark Lounge along with Nasal Rod and Wild Powwers (Seattle). 

  By Avril Carrillo

-By Avril Carrillo

Folk artist Lindsay Clark is releasing a new album, Crystalline, tomorrow September 21st. The album maintains a nice balance between vulnerability and resiliency. Clark’s words are intimate and delicate. Her music is deeply grounded in a strong sense of self that permeates each song. Part of this stems from the religious aspects of her music. Like most folk music, the album deals with questions of faith and spirituality. In Crystalline, these questions are permeated with delightfully vibrant depictions of nature. In “Rosehips” Clark’s calm, steady voice bathes the song in a subtle sensuality. The song invites you to forget yourself within the evocative call of Clarke’s voice, and the vivid portraits she creates. Overall, the album envelops the listener like a warm blanket on a cool fall evening.

Lindsey Clark is playing tonight, September 20th, at the Holocene in honor of her upcoming album. The show will also feature Ezza Rose, Anna Hoone, Jacob Miller, and Malachi Graham.

By Avril Carrillo, Photo by Myles Katherine Photography

Ural Thomas has a new album, The Right Time, coming out with his band Ural Thomas & The Pain, via Tender Loving Empire. Thomas is best known for opening for legends such as Otis Redding and the Rolling Stones. Now, at 80 years old, Thomas is releasing a brand new album. The album is a great one, proving that time can’t dull a talent and passion for making music. On “No Distance (Between You & Me),” his voice is fresh, bright, and full of a hopeful energy that is heartening to hear. On some slower songs, like “Gotta Say (I Love You),” Thomas’ crooning is incredibly tender and smooth. It easily rivals acts such as The Miracles. Yet, despite how rooted in 60’s R&B Thomas is, it doesn’t mean his music isn’t for the modern day. Ural Thomas makes music that could soothe any heartbreak or put some fire in anybody’s step, be it the 60s or 2018. While the album won’t be out till September 28th, you can pre-order the album now, here. Ural Thomas & The Pain will also be playing the Aladdin Theater a day after the release, on Sep 29th.

  -By Avril Carrillo, Photo By Brud Giles

As rainy days begin approaching, you may find yourself in search of some music to suit the changing seasons. Enter Mimicking Birds, and their two recently released song “On the Warm Side” and “Hi Lo.” When listening to “On the Warm Side,” you cannot help but move your head along to the slow, mournful tones. It is a soft, melodic meditation on change and self-interpretation. “Hi Lo” has a faster, more synth-based beat. While each is strong on its own, listening to them side by side provides more depth and clarity on the band’s message. Warm and inviting vocals elevate the music. In conjunction with the steady percussive heartbeat and romantic, airy synth lines, Mimicking Birds has made music perfect for the dreamy, rainy weather up ahead.

Mimicking Birds are currently on tour, but will be back in the PNW starting September 28th with a show in Ashland. You can get more information here.

  -By Avril Carrillo, photo by Jimmy Russell

Mexicadelia//PDX, a cultural celebration and Pueblo Unido benefit, is coming up this week. Mexicadelia is an underground festival from Guadalajara, full of talented and creative artists. The Portland festival, presented by The Portland Mercury and XRAY FM, is no different. This “music-driven cultural exchange” will be taking place September 15th through the 17th at different locations across town. All three days of the festival will be supporting Pueblo Unido, who support vulnerable Latinx immmigrants through hiring lawyers for deportation cases, getting people released from detention, and reuniting families.

On Saturday, the Shivas will be headlining at Dig A Pony at a free, all ages show. Orquestra Pacifico Tropical will be headlining at Romtoms on Sunday, which will also be a free show. Finally, Tribe Mars will be at Mississippi Studios Monday the 17th. You can see the rest of the lineup on the facebook page here. Hope to see you there!

A statement from Mexicadelia//PDX describing who they are and what they do is below:

“Mexicadelia//PDX intends to be an opportunity for bridge building, multilingual conversation, and catharsis through sonic diplomacy. The festival aims to be an example of what can be done as artists and community organizers to heal, strengthen, and embolden others to act in solidarity in these divisive times. By activating a network of friends, venues, non-profits, artists, purveyors, and music fans we believe it’s possible to display a commitment to inclusiveness and equality through the channels we already know and love.”

-By Avril Carrillo 

By Nick Hartman

Black Belt Eagle Scout, composed of musician Katherine Paul, has a new album Mother of my Children coming out September 14th via Saddle Creek. Two songs off the upcoming album are already released. “Soft Stud,” which debuted mid August, expresses the frustration of unfulfilled desire. The song brings the point across with simple and poignant lyrics. The guitar playing is tense and brittle. Blunt base riffs and ephemeral electric chords create a nice harmony. Through them, Paul conveys a mournful yearning that can be hard to express vocally.

The second song, entitled “Just Lie Down” is angsty but adult. Opening with heavily distorted guitar, it produces a raucous, bone-rattling noise that veers shy of grating. The chords are stripped and distilled to a gritty, hypnotic rhythm. Paul’s vocals are soft and listless. They reach an angelic tone that resonates deeply over the explosion of noise. Both songs display intimacy, honesty, and sheer talent. When the rest of the album is released, I highly recommend you give it a listen.

-By Nick Hartman, Photo by Black Belt Eagle Scout

Mini Blinds has a new EP coming out, and the release show is this Saturday, September 1st. The EP, titled Dust, is the band’s first album since their well-received Air Signs, which came out in 2016. Dust is only 4 songs long, but if every song is as well done as the already released “Ashes”, then Mini Blinds should be proud. “Ashes” is slower and less pop-centered than their previous work. Leaning more towards shoegaze and surf, the song is slow and romantic. It’s more mature than what we’ve seen from the band so far, but still just as dreamy and fun. The accompanying video is strange and playful. It toes the line between indie-pop music video and the sort of aesthetic favored by found footage fanatics. It’s a great indication of where the band is looking to go. 

Mini Blind’s release show is this Saturday, September 1st at The Fixin’ To with Plastic Cactus and the Pool Boys.

By Avril Carrillo, Photo by Erin Holcomb

Fantastic Plastic just released their first full-length album, Cities on Fire. Full of insatiable anger and bitter irony, Cities on Fire is a great catharsis for the shit show that is 2018 America. Songs “Parasites” and “Guilt Plea” have an incredibly tense, claustrophobic tone. You can feel your muscles instinctively clenching as you listen. Luckily, Cities on Fire also provides a great outlet for all that built up stress. Stylistically, the album is reminiscent of The Cramps and early Siouxsie Sioux. The vocals and lyrics run wild with their anxieties. Each song throws both the band and the audience into frenetic, chaotic movements. The guitar playing provides a nice balance to this chaos. The wavy, loose chords guide the audience through each song. They never lose their purpose and provide a nice sense of stability.

You can catch Fantastic Plastic at the Firkin Tavern September 21st, along with Retirement and Hollow Sidewalks. 

  -By Avril Carrillo

Pure Bathing Culture, composed of Vetiver’s Sarah Versprille and Daniel Hindman, is playing a show this Saturday at the Doug Fir. The duo has most recently teamed up with Turntable Records to cover The Blue Nile’s album Hats, an homage that has been quite a few years in the making. In fact, Pure Bathing Culture was first introduced to The Blue Nile while recording their first ep. According to Versprille, they were both “immediately obsessed with their world of nostalgia and longing.” Pure Bathing Culture does the album immense justice. Their voices blend into a deep, romantic harmony, and they bring a new element of wistfulness to the album’s dreamy nature . 

Pure Bathing Culture will be at the Doug Fir Lounge this Saturday, August 25th, along with King Who and Kasey Johansing. 

By Nick Hartman, quotes courtesy of Stereogum.