A new electronica act with a cleverly celestial nome de guerre and a handful of digital tracks, Spesus Christ comes home… well, the Oakland/Portland-based trio returns to Portland from their other Bay Area locale for a "homecoming" show this Saturday at "what used to be the Funky Church on Tamarack (just north of Division)," according to producer/mixer Cameron Spies.

Filling out the bill are the seriously jamming synth-pop duo Adventures! With Might, electro-ambient Soap Collectors (which also features Spesus Christ’s Lizzy Ellison), stomach-friendly folk from Leviticus Appleton, and mournful beatmasters Your Canvas.

Behind the moans and machines, Spesus Christ pulsates an unclassifiable twinkling and tapping of beats with stream of consciousness raps. Right Cameron?

"Our sound is a mixture of analog and electronic instrumentation. It includes elements of down-tempo hip-hop, rock music, indie, and smatterings of about everything else we like listening to. It’s sort of problematic to try to describe our music using genre titles like we’ve just done, so I suggest that you just listen to our stuff."

Take the man’s advice and download the simplistically titled yet multitudinously layered EP 1. Evolving so rapidly, their concert poster can’t even keep up with them – the $2 cover has been nixed, the show is donation-based.

And gushing with new material, Cameron says, "We are planning to release an EP every month for the next six."

But until the first is mixed (possibly by next week!), Soap Collectors also celebrate a tape release but remind you that "Soap Collectors are people who gather together varieties of soap and compulsively log and organize them into neat piles."

Save me Spesus.

– Chris Young

 

There’s a unique sort of interest that piques when a drummer steps out from behind the kit to showcase their songwriting talents. It seems entirely possible that every drummer might be bound for Josh Freese status and the misery known as The Notorious One Man Orgy. But Brent DeBoer, keeper of tempo for the Dandy Warhols, has officially shed percussive skin and stepped into a new beam of light with the release of his first solo effort, The Farmer.

With just eight tracks totaling 22 minutes in length, DeBoer provides listeners a warm dose of sedate, open-chord pop. “You Can’t Love Me” ushers in The Farmer’s distinct vocal styling, one that hearkens to the airy side of Courtney Taylor-Taylor, while also dipping into Iron & Wine’s well of glossy spook.

By “Is That All,” the record’s third cut, DeBoer also makes apparent a surprising musical strategy from that of a drummer, that being the conspicuous absence of nearly all percussion. Aside from the steady chick of a hi-hat and the occasional slight thump of a tom, DeBoer shuns his natural calling, and, while this move feels admittedly strange and unexpected upon initial listening, the crisp song-craft pleasantries of The Farmer quickly shine through in lieu of kit. Because on album-closer “I’m Alright,” when DeBoer softly moans “Let’s get wasted, stay up all night/Drink a bottle of cheap red wine,” we are intent upon agreement, leaving The Farmer a tender and successful collision of singer/songwriter musings and Dandy-esque pop sensibilities.

Check out "You Win" from The Farmer below:

On April 30th, DeBoer will celebrate his album release party at The Woods. All proceeds from the show will be going to benefit the National MS Society. Highway Rob Bonds will perform and fellow Dandy, DJ Rescue (aka Zia McCabe), will be manning the turntables. Tickets start at $15 though purchasers will be able to pay more should they be inclined to donate.

– Jacob Sprecher

 

"We will eat, we will eat, we will eat your brains!" screamed the horror-rock band Toxic Zombie to the crowd at Hawthorne Theatre last Saturday night. The band was there celebrating the release of their new CD Poison The Airwaves. This is the group’s first record under the label Dizaster, and the Hawthorne party marked the beginning of their national tour.

Seeped in zombie lore, rock and ’80s punk, witnessing a TZ show is the most fun you can have legally. If you’re curious about the band’s moniker, you movie buffs out there might recall a B-horror movie of the same name. The film is about a group of people growing cannabis who inadvertently get contaminated with a chemical, which turns them into anthropophagical zombies. Much like the zombies in the film, the group gnarled and scratched at the audience on Saturday, wooing them with their living dead attire, sweet rockabilly sound and oh-so-hot zombie go-go back up singers.

As if that wasn’t entertaining enough, the band had the haunted hotties the Unchained Girls at the show leading the crowd into chants and trivia. The famous NW horror host Uncle Eerie brought his clan of ghoulish burlesque gals to keep the fun going in between bands, and Ditch Digger opened the show with some head-banging rock. Railer closed with even more rock to blow our minds.

Toxic Zombie is one of a kind and you won’t see any other show quite like it. Some might even say they give a KILLER performance.

– Deanna Uutela

 

This House Has Been Condemned, the debut album from Portland five-piece Ape Machine, will be self-released on May 4th through their own Ape Machine Music.

Featuring ex-members of Slowdance Records’ The Evening Episode, Grey Day Records artists Minmae, and MCA Records alumni Fenix TX, Ape Machine drives a psych-rock groove over stoner-worthy riffs and soaring vocals. It’s interestingly catchy, given the slicker facets of the songwriting. Essentially, it’s not your Tee Pee Records-type stoner rock, gorging itself on filthy dynamics and flaccid drumming. Ape Machine has their act together, and if leaked track "All Times" is any indication, this could become one of the more notable local releases of 2010.

Check it out below:

– Ryan J. Prado

The video for Boy Eats Drum Machine‘s first single, and title track, off his new record Hoop + Wire is a quick-stop animation joint, which chronicles the mischievous blue cassette tape featured on the album’s cover art, which is just as quirky and playful as the music itself.

CHECK THE VIDEO OUT HERE

If you have yet to feast your eyes on a Boy Eats Drum Machine live show, have no fear, for Jon Ragel will be performing at a venue near you (if you live in Washington, Montana or Oregon).

Upcoming Shows:

4/24 sat-Portland,OR: Aladdin / LEP benefit ALL AGES/12pm

4/24 sat-Molalla,OR: Clark Park 5pm

5/01 sat-Portland,OR: CAP Art Auction w/ Cirque du Soleil and Linda Hornbuckle

5/06 thr-Portland,OR: TLE grand opening

5/07 fri-Bozeman,MT: Zebra Cocktail Lounge

5/08 sat-Missoula,MT: The Palace w/ That 1 Guy

5/09 sun-Spokane,WA: Empyrean

5/11 tue-Bellingham,WA: Wild Buffalo w/ That 1 Guy

5/13 thr-Seattle,WA: Tractor Tavern w/ That 1 Guy

5/14 fri-Portland,OR: Doug Fir w/ That 1 Guy

5/15 sat-Eugene,OR: WOW Hall w/ That 1 Guy 6

/05 sat-Portland,OR: Backspace TLE b-day party

-Katrina Nattress

 

Mark Lore, creator of The Days of Lore blog, knows a thing or two about music. Lore is the former arts editor of California alt-weekly Chico News and Review, and when he is not slaving away on The Lore blog, he’s writing for music mags like Spin.com and our own Portland Mercury. Oh, and the dude apparently used to play in a couple of bands.

Consumed by music he is, and acting as a musical Jedi and thus a guardian of peace and justice in the music world, it is up to him to pass his wisdom onto us. Lore has used the Force to bring together three great bands tomorrow, April 16th, at Doug Fir: the Bay Area Americana-rock staple the Mother Hips, along with ’60s-speckled garage-rockers The Hugs, and indie-popsters Jared Mees & The Grown Children.

It’s an impressive lineup of bands whose music is fun, fun, fun and oh so danceable. I wonder if Jedi’s ever bust a move? I guess we will have to wait and see tomorrow.

Show starts at 9 p.m. The cover charge is $15, but watching Lore dance could be priceless.

– Deanna Uutela

 

The best 5 bucks you’ll spend all week will be on a beer at the Laurelthirst…while Blue Giant is knocking the electric blues piss outta ya for free!

The band will be holding down a residency at the LaurelThrist Public House from 6 to 8 p.m. every Wednesday in April…

Wait, wait, wait. "What’s a residency?" asked singer and country guitar slanger Kevin Robinson. Well, it’s where you show up and play to the people that are already in the bar. Okay, that sounds pretty good to The Robinsons and Co. because Blue Giant will be trying out new material and jamming with old friends alongside their normal arsenal of slide and steel guitars, and anything that you can strum in between. Bring a mandolin or banjo.

But honestly, Blue Giant doesn’t strum. Sometimes it’s mellow and folky acoustic, sometimes slightly psychedelic. Lots of Southern twang with a fiddle here, then electric riffs and ass-kickin’ harmonica there – Bringing It All Back Home-era Dylan.

"Got to pay your dues if you want to play the blues, you know it don’t come easy," sings Kevin Robinson.

But it’s damn easy to enjoy Blue Giant for free.

– Chris Young

 

Singer, guitarist and songwriter Ben Barnett has a new sound, a new band, and a new LP – World Record – coming out April 20th. I got a chance to check out his band, Blunt Mechanic, at Berbati’s Pan last Thursday, along with Portland groups And I Was Like What? and Lee Corey Oswald.

The crowd was sparse and the atmosphere quite dark, but that didn’t keep any of the bands from rocking out hard. The Oswald duo opened the show and reminded me once again how much I love listening to acoustic guitars and a sweet harmony. However, I have to admit that their harmonization was a little off live, and they at times sounded like they were trying to yell over each other. They got the crowd all warmed up and raring to go though, and once And I Was Like What? stepped on stage, the crowd was ready to groove to their Americana pop beats.

This all-bearded band really had their shit together and it’s hard to believe they are still unsigned. They sounded fantastic live, and I absolutely loved the band’s use of the electric violin.

By the time Blunt came on I was starting to feel the fatigue setting in, so I was hoping they were going to bring some mad energy to the stage. Lucky for me they did. The best was definitely saved for last in this case, and Blunt was just as much fun to watch as they were to listen to. Barnett is not new to the music scene; in fact, he released 10 albums with the band Kind of Like Spitting and works as the Music Director of Seattle’s School of Rock. All of his experience shows on stage, and his enthusiasm and passion pours over you like a banana split with a cherry on top.

All three bands have upcoming shows in the Northwest, so keep your eyes glued to The Deli and your ears tuned to your local radio stations.

– Deanna Uutela

Sometimes I find myself in the mood for poorly produced music. Just focusing on some passion rolling through the cones of your speakers can relax the inner critic. No need to strain the ears for chord changes or ruffle your cerebral cortex in an effort to detect if the vocalist is slightly sharp of flat. Just enjoy it; loud, mangy, guitar-driven garage rock for your pleasure.

Please direct your attention to the White Fang show with Numerators and Magic Johnson at East End this Friday starting at 9 p.m. Also, make sure to check out White Fang’s fun short video (for a short song) for the track, "Space Gemz,"

White Fang released their first record fall of last year entitled Pure Evil, which Willamette Week reviewed saying, "Pure Evil is the rare record where everything sounds like crap—only, you know, in a good way."

 

Enjoy, kids! Show is 21 and over, and will set you back a meager $6.

– Joel Sommer

Nice Nice’s debut album on WARP Records has been a long awaited one. After churning out damn near one record a year on their old label, Temporary Residence Limited, Jason Buehler and Mark Shirazi have made us wait four years to hear some new discombobulating yet soothing, formless yet melodic tunes.

The duo has a knack for finding order in disorder, and this new album, aptly titled Extra Wow, is no exception. Though as a whole the record flows seamlessly, its fluidity is often threatened with disjointed electronics, guitar riffs, or drum beats. But Buehler and Shirazi handle chaos with such ease that it sounds natural.

The record begins with an apparent ‘60s acid-rock influence. Opening track "Set & Settting" is saturated with psychedelic buzz, static, and electronic bleeps, accompanied by Buehler’s muffled vocals, pedal-addled guitar and cymbal-heavy drums. The track meshes into “One Hit,” which may very well be homage to the great Jimi Hendrix, with Buehler asking his listeners, “Are you experienced?” The track follows its predecessor’s structure for about 40 seconds, and then takes a spastic turn, as if Buehler and Shirazi lost complete control of their hands. But amidst the drastic, chaotic change, Buehler manages to keep the melody with his vocals, and even when the two break into a disorganized instrumental bridge, they manage to effortlessly come back to the original structure of the song.

After “One Hit,” the album takes a calming break with two lucid instrumental tracks, but picks up again with “Everything Falling Apart,” another song with an acid-rock vibe, and “Big Bounce,” an aptly titled bouncy, space-y electronic track, which transitions into the album’s first single, “See Waves.” This track is still heavily experimental, but much more structured and accessible than the rest of the album. Electronic blips lead a quick-handed guitar riff and structured vocals, with tribal drumming exuding a primal nuance.

The second half of the album is much more ambient and mellow than the first, consisting of tracks with little to no vocals, giving your brain a chance to slow down and process everything it has heard, and leaving you with no words to describe the record other than “wow.”

-Katrina Nattress

 

Hosannas, formerly known as Church, are only a little over a month away from seeing the release of their Hush Records full-length Then & Now & Then. Cursory listening sessions with the advance of the album reveal a lush, melodic soundscape full of acoustic guitars, lots of echoed vocals, and layered keys, specifically in opener "The Sea."

Subsequent spins have uncovered even more sonic noodling from the Portland quartet. There’s an innocence employed here, with tempered digs into early ’00s Merge motifs, as well as a (hopefully) prevalent sense of purpose. It’s all pretty intoxicating stuff, even if its oft-lauded tag of psych-pop doesn’t really fit.

But be warned: The first leaked track, "Happiness," is the least indicative tune for the purposes of considering listening to this album, but is still a decent listen. Give it a whirl below…

Take our word for it, and get your hands on the full disc or download when it’s released on May 11th.

The band will hold what’s likely to be one of the most anticipated Portland album releases of the year on May 9th at Mississippi Studios. Opening will be the amazing Tu Fawning, and Ah Holly Fam’ly. $6, 9 p.m.

– Ryan J. Prado

Here at the Deli Portland, we’re all about being professional. Always educational and more on the reserved side, The Deli Magazine exemplifies "serious" music blogging. We would never think of doing something immature, like, for instance, posting who we think some of the hottest local bands are – oh wait, yes we would!

Here is my list of the guys and gals from some of our favorite local bands that make my heart skip a beat. This is purely my opinion, so feel free to comment with your faves; in fact, we encourage it!

Dropa 

 

The indie/new wave band Dropa’s members look more like they belong on the cover of GQ than a record. Their tight fitted T-shirts and well groomed 5 o’ clock shadows might just distract you from their true goal, which is their music. And if you need even more convincing of how hot this band is, the keyboardist and drummer are brothers, which makes them practically twins (fantasy!). They bring some major eye candy to the group and really complement singer Micah’s geek-chic look.

Nice Boys

You can tell by the smirk on these boys faces that they are anything but "nice," and I like that. Their ’70s Mick Jagger style works well with their psychedelic punk sound. It takes a confident guy to pull of the white John Travolta pants, and the Nice Boys most definitely have that. I applaud them for keeping alive the ’70s rock style that still makes bands like The Rolling Stones and The Black Crowes so popular today.

Stephanie Schneiderman

This ambient-pop princess controls the stage with her voice, and enchants us with her girl-next-door face and feminine style. She looks equally as hot in jeans and a T-shirt as she does dressed couture. She has a mystery about her that keeps you wanting more.

Very International Love

If you are into the electronic pop style and sound, you will squeal for this baby-faced duo. Maybe it’s the singer’s long eyelashes, or the guitarist/keyboardist’s perpetual curl in his hair. Whatever it is, it works, and makes female and male fans alike fight desperately to get their attention. The problem is figuring out which one you like more.

Beyond Veronica

 

Much like some of Bonnie Veronica’s influences – like Blondie and The Yardbirds – the Beyond Veronica vocalist is a front woman through-and-through, and her male band mates don’t seem to mind that one bit. Who wouldn’t like a hot, fun rocker chick fronting them in knee-high boots and a short skirt? Punk Globe magazine called them one of the best bands they have heard all year, but I call them one of the hottest bands I have seen all year.

Toxic Zombie

The rockabilly, horror-pop band Toxic Zombie has everything I love: tattoos, zombie attire and hot go-go dancers. If you haven’t seen this band perform, you are sorely missing out. They have a fun, catchy sound that is best seen to enjoy, and once you catch a glimpse of their sexy zombie go-go dancers/back-up singers Kelly and Robyn gyrate on stage, and their sweaty, shirtless guitarist Sam jump head first into the crowd, you will understand why I call them one of the hottest bands in Portland.

Bonus Category: Hottest celebrity band

She & Him

 

Two words, Zooey Deschanel.

– Deanna Uutela