When it comes to throwing your hands in and being a team player, there isn’t a finer group of young gentleman that knows more about this than our own Hands In. Sensual wailer Erick Crosby heads the forefront of this endeavor, backed by Chad Davis and Cody Berger, both of whom are members of two other Portland psych-garage fits, Ah God and Talkative. Hands In have been featured on The Deli Portland before as part of last year’s PDX Pop Now! post, but it’s due time to give them proper mention. Hands In will provide your ears with the utmost refreshing jam sesh and can be found playing shows around time quite often. Keep up with them via their Facebook page and catch them live!

–Cervante Pope

Under the Covers with Satan is a free show complete with a costume contest presented by Volume Bomb Records at the World Famous Kenton Club for the release of their newest compliation. Disenchanter is rounding out their tour and celebrating growing interest with their first full-length album "Strange Creations". With artwork to match their dark and enchanting approach on doom metal, the album was released last month with the support of their fans through Kickstarter.

Other bands performing include The Thorns, The Latter Day Skanks, 42 Ford Perfect, Perfect Monster, and Stumble Bum.  

Naomi Townsend

 The latest track from the Portland power-pop outfit Landlines is called "Crystal Healing Vibes" (streaming below) and it is the first single from their upcoming full-length debut. Rife with jangly guitars, catchy melodies, and an air of collegiate casualness, the music of Landlines makes a comparison to indie-rock legends Pavement inevitable. The songs on their previous releases, such as last year’s "Log Out, Tune Up, Drop Dead," are bursting with an infectious energy and are more-or-less starightforward, not relying much on effects but rather on simple and memorable guitars, driving bass lines, and choruses that demand to be sung along to. But don’t take this to mean that Landlines are a Pavement copycat. There is enough of their own personal touches to set them apart while simultaneously delivering everything that fans of lo-fi garage pop are looking for. If you’re not careful, you might just find yourself jamming along to the music any chance that you get. While you’re waiting for their upcoming release you can catch Landlines here in Portland on September 28th at Mississippi Studios. Don’t miss out! – Patrick Wolff 

 Despite the masculine name, the band Joseph is in fact a trio comprised of three sisters, Natalie, Allison, and Meegan, who hail from Portland and whose debut album, "Native Dreamer Kin," was released last March. Despite its youth, the record is delightfully mature, well-produced, and full of rich harmonies and hauntingly beautiful melodies. The songs themselves are folk-steeped americana with slightly dark overtones, and one can’t help but picture themselves atop one of the Pacific Northwest’s fog-covered mountain-tops when experiencing them. The gentle coffee-house guitar compliments the warm, full voices of the sisters’ wonderfully, and the celestial echoes of the piano lend a haunting tone to tracks such as "Not Mine" (streaming below). Joseph will be performing at the Wonder Ballroom on September 26th, where they will be opening for another sibling sibling folk duo from Texas, The Oh Hellos. Check them out! – Patrick Wolff

 Echos of the UK’s ’80s, goth-tinged post-punk are everywhere on "Let Us Have Madness Openly," the full-length debut from Portland’s Lunch. The post-punk quintet channel the likes of Joy Division, Echo and the Bunnymen, and The Cure into a splendidly dark record that offers ten well-crafted and impressively produced tracks. Replete with chillingly bright guitars, brooding and passionate vocals, and a generally haunting air, the album is a compelling debut, and an excellent compilation of post-punk compositions. The band doesn’t shy away from their punk roots either, including short and punchy tracks such as "Bad Cut" and "Brand New Shirt" as well as driving bass lines. Lunch will be performing at The Know on September 24th, and you can check out their track "Not An Ocean" below. – Patrick Wolff

"Heresy," released early last month, is the latest album from the Portland based post-punk group Soft Kill. The LP, which contains 6 tracks and runs for just under thirty minutes, is a collection of tight, polished, gothic post-punk with unmistakable influence from groups like Interpol and The Cure. The spectral vocals blanket the eerie guitars and the pulsing drums like a fog, giving the record a definite haunting appeal. The title track (streaming below) closes out the LP with 7 minutes of dark, trance-inducing music that begins with some ghostly guitar play, building into a fuller and heavier sound as the song goes on. The album is currently available on Bandcamp for a limited time, and a 12" physical release is expected sometime this fall. Soft Kill will be performing at Star Theater on September 18. Check ’em out! – Patrick Wolff 

 Formed here in Portland in 2008, Just Lions is a pop, rock, and jazz trio consisting of brothers Chandler and Brady Strutz, and their longtime friend Andrew Shepherd. Over the course of their time together, the group has managed to put out three EPs (currently available on Bandcamp and Noisetrade), and with influences ranging from The Beatles to The Strokes to Elliot Smith, its no surprise that they’re able to combine a satisfying variety of musical elements into their songwriting. The title track from their latest EP, "Great. Okay." (streaming below), is a radio-friendly indie-pop gem rife with infectious whistling and catchy melodies, while the final track, "On the Road," showcases the group’s ability to employ more complicated rhythmic and melodic work, as well as to combine elements across various genres (in this case, rock & roll intensity, jazz complexity, and bluesy guitar play). The trio just recently signed with Randm Records out of San Diego and they’ve begun work on their first full-length album. In the meantime, you can catch them tomorrow night, August 21, at Mississippi Studios. – Patrick Wolff

 Northern Youth, the solo project of Portland-by-way-of-California musician Luke Messimer, released a 4-song EP, "Color," this past June on Astro Lizard Records. The songs on "Color" are an assortment of folk-influenced indie-pop tracks that are reminiscent of such popular acts as Delta Spirit or Dr. Dog. "Hide You Away," the third track on the EP (streaming below), is a glistening, 6-minute composition of nostalgic melodies and lyrics fit for cruising along coastal highways, while the opening track, "Misunderstood," offers a glimpse into the darker side of Messimer’s indie influences, even including some elements of punk rock. Overall, the EP offers 4, well-crafted examples of what this artist is capable of, and it warrants at least a couple of listens. As of today, Northern Youth has announced a number of upcoming shows, including one on September 26th at The Foggy Notion, so be sure to check them out! – Patrick Wolff

  Apparently "lured into existence from the depths of a Portland basement," Tiny Little Empire is a young indie-rock quartet with a refreshing sound. The group released their freshman, four-track EP, "Above Ruins," back in May, and the debut single, "It’s Working Now" (streaming below), serves as a powerful introduction to their sound. The track opens with intensity (a wistful guitar and keys melody layed over a driving percussion section), rising and falling from there between valleys of hushed verses and mountains of passionate and hauntingly melodic choruses. The rest of the EP ("All That I Want," "Make Me Stay," and "Weather the Storm") carries on in a similar tone, with the bass and the drums driving spirited-yet-somber melodies and vocals. Overall, "Above Ruins" is 21-minutes of polished indie-rock tracks that make quite the first impression. While Tiny Little Empire currently has no scheduled shows, their sophomore EP is reportedly in the works, so be sure to keep an eye out. – Patrick Wolff

Portland’s annual festival celebrating the local music scene, PDX Pop Now! returns this weekend for three days of all-ages adventure at Audiocinema (under the Hawthorne Bridge). Check out the full schedule here, plus The Deli’s top picks for the weekend below:

Balto: Daniel Sheron’s psych-Americana project is lyrically driven and big and melodic. His first record Call It By Its Name is a diverse mix of country, folk, and pop that sounds like Blitzen Trapper’s love child with a dash of outlaw thrown in for good measure. Catch them at 6:40 p.m. on Friday.

Golden Hour: Portland’s tender-hearted garage group Golden Hour are like the younger sibling in a cool band that you never had but always wanted. Their catchy, relatable lyrics and upbeat, declarative songs will linger with you long after you hear them–in the best way possible. Don’t miss their set at 4:10 p.m. on Saturday.

 

Hands In: Bedroom psych favorite Erick Crosby brings his dreamy tunes to the stage Saturday evening at 6:50 p.m. Hands In provides the perfect soundtrack to your angst, your dance mood, or general party attitude. 

The Last Arful, Dodgr: A new voice in the Portland hip hop scene, Dodgr brings a fresh sound to the festival and holds it down for lesser-represented genres in the local music scene. Don’t miss her breakout set at 6:10 p.m. on Saturday.

The Stops: These self-described "five girls playing punk" do not mess around. Their fast, hard, sorry-not-sorry songs are sure to get the crowd moving at this weekend’s festival. Representing the all-ages scene, their debut album Nameless Faces is a dirtier, grittier version of local favorites Summer Cannibals. Get down to Audiocinema early on Saturday, The Stops play at 2:10 p.m.

These and many more perform Friday through Sunday at Audiocinema. The music festival includes a street fair, beer garden, and plenty of opportunities to get immersed in the Portland music scene. 

-Zibby Pillote

The brothers Govea and sax-man Mark Macomber are taking the vibe back and making it sexy. This live PA power trio are set to release their first full length this fall. In support, they are throwing a make-out party and shooting a video for the first single ‘Now Kiss’. This is just how they roll. Expect a proper mix of funk and electro via live bass and saxophone, vocoders, and a slew of controllers.  Don’t miss a beat with The Best Dancers. Baby making music at it’s finest.

Check out their latest track, “Love Knife” featuring Jay Murphy of Up Until Now, featured on Tomahawk Recordings – Rainmakers Vol.1 streaming below, and keep yours peeled for the video release of their first single ‘Now Kiss’ off the new album as well as future events!

Music like the music that Ezra Bell makes is living proof that not all musicians need to hide behind heavy effects: fuzz, distortion, reverb, and even auto-tune to make music that people really enjoy listening to, and that was very apparent at their EP release last Wednesday. They played alongside the Bevelers and Fanno Creek, gracing Mississippi Studios with some deeply beautiful, danceable and heartfelt tunes.

The Bevelers played first as the crowd filtered in, and although the two-piece group has a soft demeanor, it was impossible not to pay attention. The foundation of their whole set is their two beautiful voices creating harmonies so sad and lovely at the same time that you want to get lost in the world that their voices create.

Ezra Bell played second in the evening when attendance was at its peak, kicking off their set with a few familiar songs. Ezra Bell is such a complex machinery of humans and instruments and it seems like having 7 people on stage, something shouldn’t work about their set-up. But everything works. Their music is complicated yet not cacophonous, focusing more on interesting sound pairings than everyone fighting for focus. Even the bass and drums took turns being the lead rhythmic force of a song, which felt uncommon, but was just one of many facets of their music that sets them apart from other folk-pop bands around Portland and beyond.

The audience at Mississippi Studios was stoked to see them, cheering loudly between songs and singing along with their older music, which sounds every bit as tight as their recordings. It’s rare that a local band can get an entire audience to dance along rather than stand stoically, arms crossed, but it’s really hard not to dance when you listen to them.

Fanno Creek ended the night with a surfier, and less folk influenced set by comparison. Ezra Bell was the ideal middle point between Fanno Creek and the Bevelers because unlike the previous bands, Fanno Creek is heavier and more bluesy. They were the perfect choice to end the night though, because, despite a big chunk of the audience leaving, those who stayed were ready to dance and Fanno Creek is dance-y as hell.

Together, all three bands were a match made in lineup heaven, giving the crowd a solid range of folk and pop music to groove along to all night long. You can check out Ezra Bell’s new EP, We Came by Canoe here:

– Photos and story by Sarah Eaton