Recently launched PDX label Smoking Surgeon is preparing to release its first compilation, You Play Music Like A Girl, just before the holiday hits. Don’t let the title upset you though, Portland. The main focus of the compilation is to spotlight Portland’s various female-inclusive acts, attempting to counteract the phrase’s negative connotation in a satirical and talented way, bringing new life to the phrase.

…Like A Girl will feature some of the city’s finest in fem power, from bassists and guitarists to keyboardists and songwriters. Vocalists, too. Enjoy the sounds of locals Old Wave, Haley Heynderickx, Coco Columbia and Pony Village on the comp, plus many more.

A release show will be held in celebration of its launch at the Liquor Store on December 22nd. Playing the show will be Lubec, The Century and Moniker with entrance only being $5. Just so you know, $8 will get you entry plus a copy of the comp!

Smoking Surgeon Records was bred by lovely lady musician Emma Browne and Justin Chase, who happened to come from a home of musically inclined women. Aside from a mutual passion and respect for women in music, the two also share the stage as part of the band Rare Diagram. Both in the band and as a record label, the two only manifest a greatness worthy of all our attention.

-Cervante Pope

 “Butter” is the fuzzed out new track from Foxy Lemon, and the overall sound harkens back to a different time for music. Would it have seemed out of place to hear a song like this at Altamont or Woodstock? It doesn’t seem so. Their stellar organ melodies and fuzzed out guitar riffs fit right alongside the Portland garage rock scene, but stand out from the crowd by capturing the iconic feel of classic American rock music. If ever there is a remake of Dazed and Confused, “Butter” would undoubtedly make it onto the soundtrack. This single is the first teaser from their forthcoming extended single, Jelly, which will undoubtedly maintain the same heavy, catchy crispness as this first release. You can catch Foxy Lemon at The Know on December 19th with Maszer and Spirit Lake.

In all things deemed "typical Portland," a slew of our news outlets, including KGW and Willamette Week, have covered local rap artist Moshow over the past couple days. Setting aside Moshow’s ability to flow at the drop of a hat, his particularly adorable schtick is the predominant facet of his viral appeal. Winning the most clever approach to music ever, Moshow is Portland’s feminist cat rapper. Just let that sink in for a minute.

Yes, a feminist cat rapper. Those three words could not be more Portland once they’re put all together. He climbed the viral ladder quickly on his Instagram, posting clips of himself spitting that fire with his main ladies, three Sphynx kitties named Sushi, MegaMam and Tali, along with cat memes and pictures of other cat lovers. He says he identifies with the hairless beauties. "They kind of remind me of myself. I’m kind of a human Sphynx," he told KGW, also stating how much he loves "crazy cat ladies."

Moshow supports cat lovers of all varieties, but shouts out men specifically with his "Men Love Cats Monday" theme on his Instagram. "I want guys to man up and show your love for cats," he says. 

Since our gloomy town reigns when it comes to cat owning residents, I imagine most of you will enjoy his YouTube channel.

-Cervante Pope

When it comes to Portland’s underground hardcore scene, the kids turn out, turn up and get rowdy. All in good fun, though. Our punky paradise, Black Water, will be staging the likes of Young Turks, Unrestrained, Raw Nerves, Frontflip, and a yet to be announced band for the sake of a good cause. On top of being a great excuse to circle pit, the show on Saturday, December 12th is doubling as an adoption fundraiser to help a local family expand. 

Tickets are $10 and the shows at 8pm. Click the link above to learn more about the cause and see how you can help bring that little boy to his new home!

–Cervante Pope

Earlier this week, metal maestros Disenchanter announced their brutal new alignment with DHU Records. Dark Hedonistic Union Records will be releasing the vinyl version of their late summer opus, Strange Creations, come 2016. DHU teases a "grand release," "limited editions" and some new art in a post on their Facebook page, only making fans consumed with an even higher level of anticipation for next year’s release. 

Check out Strange Creations below and keep an eye on the Disenchanter and Dark Hedonistic Union Record’s pages for the latest news.

-Cervante Pope  

Mr. Bones has been the lo-fi, garagey, pop punky delight that we’ve all needed to get us a little rowdy here in Portland. The Deli mentioned them back in February, when their self titled debut tape came out off Good Cheer Records. We’re bringing the boys of Mr. Bones today to debut the new single of their upcoming album, Bites, due out some time early next year. "Do You Wanna Feel Alright" is a minute and 45 seconds worth of refreshingly pleasant garage pop that is damn near impossible not to get into. 

"Do You Wanna Feel Alright" premiered on THRDCOAST and can be listened to here.

The Mr. Bones dudes will be playing at the Analog Cafe and Theater December 13, so give the track a listen and come ready to have a good time.

-Cervante Pope

At some point or another, it’s likely you’ve been asked if you’re "DTF" or not. Usually, the acronym would imply you’re down for some, let’s say, "sensual relations," but here in Portland in references a different sort of gathering. December to Forget is our giant "F U" to this month of lame weather, ugly sweaters and gifts you didn’t ask for. The last December to Forget, hosted by Party Boyz in 2013, got quite crazy. The ladies of Party Boyz are hoping for the same this year.

December to Forget will be held at the Liquor Store this Saturday, December 12th. Sets at the show include breakout band Moon By You, our beloved Wampire and San Francisco’s Everyone Is Dirty. Tickets are $5 and the show starts at 9pm, so come prepared to get messed up with the best of us!

DTF is also doubling as a canned food drive, so if you bring a can of shelf stable food with you, you’ll get $1 off your ticket! All the food is being donated to the Oregon Food Bank to benefit those less fortunate this holiday season, so nutrient dense foods are highly needed (think vegetables, soups, etc.)!

-Cervante Pope

The ethereal voice of Sunbathe (and Genders, respectively) can only be attributed to one Maggie Morris. With her devine murmurs in tow, she’ll be debuting and releasing a new, surprise music video. She’ll be sharing the premiere fame with the golden girls of Golden Hour and the ever popular Is/Is this Saturday, December 5th, at Valentines. It’s not entirely clear which video she’ll be premiering, but it’s sure to be a delight, especially combined with those additonal performances. Tickets are only $5 at the door. WORTH IT.

-Cervante Pope

Last month’s Deli Portland Artist of the Month, PASS, is holding the release show for their latest EP off the Portland DIY label Good Cheer Records. Ways Out is five tracks solid worth of a raw vocal delivery and heavy instrumental execution. PASS is sure to bring some ruckus, along with sets from Rod, Alien Boy and labelmates Sabonis, at one of the only bastions left for good music in this city. Anarres Infoshop and Community Space is hosting this all-ages event tomorrow, December 4th, with tickets going for $5. The space is sure pack quickly, so get there before 7pm to stand a chance.

-Cervante Pope

The underlying and often overlooked hip-hop scene in Portland is constantly expanding and developing, with our local hip-hop stars dishing out consistently on point beats and tracks. For the past few years Patrick Lamarr, monikered as Horizun, has been making a name for himself by covering hits by other artists (like Usher and Drake) and by dropping his own jams that mix silky croons with smooth r&b and bass heavy beats.

Horizun’s "Sunset Drive" demonstrates Lamarr’s sensual vocal ability with a music video to boot. The track, which was produced by WIZE and mastered by Jeff Bond, makes the best use of 808 trap beats and perfected melodies that translate into a visual "o" face in the Perry Jay directed video. Take a look at the galatic lust of "Sunset Drive" below. 

For more of Horizun’s steamy sensations, check out his Soundcloud page.

–Cervante Pope

On this indulgent day of thanks and forced interactions, enjoy more than just a tryptophanic coma with Blesst Chest’s new music video for "Def Gary." The single, which comes off their official debut album Wish You Were There, is another surrealistic endeavor by video directer and 1/3 of Blesst Chest, Jay Winebrenner. The "Def Gary" video features a montage of humans doing run of the mill things, like dancing alone in a basement, in an alternate reality wherein everyone’s heads have been very creepily replaced with hands. Just like Blesst Chest’s predecessing video, last year’s "Sebedad," their newest is alike in its intriguing discomfort. Watch the awkwardly awe-inspiring video below.

Wish You Were There will be releasing hopefully before the year’s end, so keep an eye out for it.

–Cervante Pope

*photo by Todd Walberg. 

And And And‘s kooky and lively drummer Bim Ditson announced late last month that he’s gunning for Portland’s 2016 mayoral seat. As a staple of Portland’s music scene, Bim’s announcement (spurred from a long-running joke) came as a welcomed surprise. Since he’s so tight knit and beloved within the community, it’s guaranteed he’ll focus on what’s important to us locals, stating that affordable housing will be the main focus of his campaign. "I want people to be able to afford their rent, " Bim told the Willamette Week. "Things like that are really important to me."

Those things are important to all of us out here in the streets, too, which is why heading down to Bunk Bar tonight for his campaign launch party is really important. There, he’ll have all the necessary paperwork needed to get him officially on the ballot. The more people to show up and help out, the better his chances! Sam Coomes and Wooden Indian Burial Ground will be providing the tunes, we just need to provide the signatures. Doors are at 8pm and music begins at 10pm!

Be sure you’re registered to vote in Oregon and to bring along a non-perishable food. The launch party is doubling as a Thanksgiving food drive to benefit the needy for the holidays. 

–Cervante Pope