For those with a hankering for island/psych/surf jams, direct your attention to Rockoon, the newest effort from The Noble Firs. According to front man Jeremiah Brunnhoelzle, these Portland based boys were formed due to a serendipitous mix of craigslist and “lots of Portland mingling.” After adding a new drummer Nic Kohagen (contributor to hip hop project, SMAK BANG) in July, the band was itching to release some new material. This combined with the opportunity to record with producer Nori Lockhart (of Cambrian Explosion) made for a promising release. The group describes their sound as “major key chill with a splash of surf”, but there seems to be more beneath the surface. The record boasts shimmering intricacies of guitar and drum work fastened tight like stained glass into quick-pulse rhythms. The first track, “Love’s For The Birds” successfully splices a subdued, pulsing verse with an epic, cascading crash of a chorus full of vocal and guitar harmonies that verge on post rock. “Boy in a Man Suit” features lots of nice, tight rhythmic interplay between guitars and bass with even a little percussion (kongas/bongos) break in the middle. The “surf” influence is most potent in “Feathered Feet”, a throwback romp of 60s surf rock/Beatles mash-up and “Lemming Long Jumps” which features nice guitar/vocal doubling and a mid-break into a surf-groove bridge. The Noble Firs are DIY at the moment, so support the sound and the movement by popping over to their bandcamp page and checking out their tunes! – Ted Jamison

In the debut session of the new web series, Twinterviews, hosts Colette and Meggyn sat down with one of the busiest drummers in Portland, Papi Fimbres, who you may recognize from one of the 21 bands he currently collaborates with (seriously). Probably best known for his work with experimental indie-rockers, Sun Angle, Papi reveals his early influences and more in what proves to be an enlightening interview. Watch the video below and keep your eyes out for the second session of Twinterviews in the future. – Benjamin Toledo

The wonderful local songstress, Anne-Marie Sanderson has just released a new video to debut her song, “Out Through The Window”. In the video her voice and acoustic guitar are accompanied by a cello, violin, drum set and vivid harmonies that flow through the black and white frames of this moving studio performance. Watch the video below and be sure keep your eyes on Anne-Marie’s website for news of a new release that’s rumored to be in the works. – Benjamin Toledo

On the newest episode of the fantastic local music podcast, Party Boyz, Elizabeth (aka Party Boy #1) and Rachel (aka Party Boy #2) sat down with Sama Dams for an especially interesting conversation. Topics ranged from the band’s highs and lows tp local foliage and a particularly exciting game of yahtzee over a soundtrack that includes songs from The Dirty Projectors, Banned Books and Catherine Feeney. You don’t want to miss this one, listen below and be sure to give Party Boyz and Sama Dams your likes on facebook. – Benjamin Toledo

Sama Dams just launched a Kickstarter campaign to help fund their next record, click here to learn more and show your support for one of the most musically adventurous acts in town.

Souvenir Driver plays Dante’s this Saturday, let’s take a minute and explore exactly why this is going to be a hell of a show. You may recognize these boys from projects like Soft Paws, Happy Prescriptions and Hawkeye, but Souvenir Driver has taken most of their efforts as of late, which is evident. The band identifies as post punk which certainly rings true in their first LP, Lifts the Curse. Lead singer, Nate Wey says the record was made in efforts “to lift our sadness, our obstacles, our darkness, in order to come to a place of bliss and understanding.” Upon listening, you realize that this album is a process – a cathartic journey from tumbles down jagged sonic valleys of tracks like “Futures” and “Philosophy” to the slow crystalline ascension of “Daylight is a Movie”. In preparation for their new LP, Living Water (self-released in April) the band has been leaking singles to their bandcamp page. “Kiss You Close” and “Feel the Flood” combine heavy bass with echo-heavy kick-snare and vocals like a sedated Joe Strummer to produce a slick, sinister new wave sound. In “Feel the Flood” Nate screams, “everybody hear the sound of your own blood.” This statement is beautifully indicative of a live set with these boys, producing a sound just as physical and visceral as the ringing in your ears afterwards. – Ted Jamison

Noble Firs play a laid back variation of the indie-rock genre that’s as likely to induce swaying bodies as it is headbanging enthusiasts. Their latest release, Moss Mouth, is a three track showcase of bright guitar tones, kinetic drumming and animated vocals that move between breezy verses and moments of turbulence that seem to be designed to move an audience. If you’d like to be part of that moving audience this is a good month for you. The Noble Firs have taken up a residency at the Firkin Tavern (making it the Noble Firkin Tavern?) and will be performing there for the next two Saturdays, ending in their record release show on November 30th. Catch them this Saturday night with Autonomics and Ghost Frog. – Benjamin Toledo

Adventure Galley is coming to you with a brand new LP, Anywhere That’s Wild, and it is well worth the wait. It is primarily based with synthesized riffs backed by solid drum rhythms that won’t leave any doubt about their ability to rock. Similarly to the likes of Franz Ferdinand and Bloc Party they flirt in and out of the boundaries of pop and indie rock through demanding vocals and danceable beat patterns but bring you back to ground with engaging progression and raw execution. Anywhere That’s Wild is the band’s first LP and is being released off of the Portland label (and arts collective) Internet Piracy Records. This album is one of the most complete to come out of this city in 2013. There is a clear amount of effort to make such a clear sound come across on record and the production value is on par with any major label you will find in a similar category. It’s not easy to cross the synthpop/rock lines that Adventure Galley has done, but this album shows that they belonged on the same stage as Of Montreal earlier this month. The album release party is tonight at Holocene with Minden, Exotic Club, and Lassi. – Colin Hudson

There’s a lot of downsizing going on, especially through company hiring processes, christmas gift giving, coffee allowances and band members. Bear and Moose are lucky to exist as a minimal band with maximum sound. The two members, Eric Mueller and Simon Lucas, take influence from early 90s alternative and colorful surf rock. The newest album, Inside the Eyewall, proves that these men do not subscribe to any rules in regards to writing music. Unconventional twists and sounds occur frequently. Feedback delicately masks melodies, distancing them from the listener. Unrestrained vocals give way to a push-pull race for power with the instruments, "Something We Can’t Share" is a perfect example of this. Just when you thought you had this band figured out, you are lost again. This is a good thing. – Colette Pomerleau

If you’ve been at all active in Portland’s garage rock scene over the past couple of years you’ve probably come into contact with a volatile act that goes by the name of A Happy Death. Since they first appeared in town they’ve transformed their dissonant and explosive songs into refined movements founded by a tight core beneath their chaotic presentation. These guys (and gal) have proven to be one of the most hard-working bands in town, gigging relentlessly and embarking on multiple national tours. It’s in the midst of such a tour with Cadaver Dogs that A Happy Death find themselves playing a hometown show at Kelly’s Olympian, with a much anticipated debut full length LP on the horizon and a brand new single that’s on a tour of its own online. Listen to the new single, “Wet Dreams” below and be sure to get to the show tomorrow night. You’ll be glad you did. – Benjamin Toledo

Alameda have just released a stunning new music video to accompany the track, “Little Lives” off of their upcoming 7” record, Frozen Architecture (to be released November 25th through Ash From Sweat Records). The video, created and animated by Sanda Anderlon, reflects the emotions of the music as small creatures move through magnificent landscapes; the juxtaposition of of their scope lining up with the song as it ranges from minimal moments to sweeping crescendos. Watch the video below and mark your calendars for Frozen Architecture’s release show at the White Eagle Saloon on November 25th. – Benjamin Toledo

Alameda – Little Lives from Alameda on Vimeo.

Damn Family plays Saturday night at the Alleyway on Alberta and I highly encourage your attendance. The band features some of the most boisterous folk-pop-grass I have heard in a long while. Their sound provides an excellent bridge between the polarities of the frenetic folk (a la Trampled by Turtles) and the subdued strummers (like First Aid Kit) – a binary most folk acts seem compelled to adhere to these days. Damn Family’s varied collection of laid-back, loping tunes like “Banish” as well dust-ruckus romps like “Scratch” is sure to provide a dynamic show. Instrumental banjo, mando and guitar breaks weave throughout their latest record adding a welcomed layer of complexity to their seemingly traditional sounding tracks. The whole album was just recently put up to stream on their bandcamp page so give it a listen and check out their set on Saturday! – Ted Jamison

Wild Ones have released a brand new music video for “From Nothing” off of their debut LP, Keep It Safe. Filmed in a ghost town in eastern Oregon, the location and premise are enticing. What starts as a simple video to accompany addictive synth leads and endearing vocals slowly turns into something more concerning and unexpected. Enjoy the video below and be sure to catch Wild Ones at the Crystal Ballroom on November 29th with Typhoon. Don’t spend too much time worrying about the video’s cliffhanging conclusion, the band has promised to release alternate endings in the near future. – Benjamin Toledo