Portland based singer songwriter Robin Bacior has been touring for most of February promoting her new album, I Just Left You, Still in Love, and on March 8th The Piano Fort will be welcoming her back to the Bridge City with open arms. Be it playing the piano, strumming a guitar or singing her poetic lyrics, it is clear Bacior knows what she is doing. She has a way with light feminine vocals and deeply rooted instrumentation that creates an ever-changing landscape of keys, strings and harmonies. That contrast in vocal and instrumental texture echoes the theme of her latest album. The 5 track release, recorded in a single day, explores ideas of letting go and moving on in the midst of feeling tangled and frozen. As the album shifts from quick footed songs like “Box-A-Bed” to weighty and surprising “Shapes and Seasons” her emotional exploration pulls the listener in and does not let go until Prelude. Bacior will be sharing the night with Portland wonder Ryan Francesconi and the ever dreamy Sparrow Song Research. These three different and talented acts will take turns on a stage made entirely of pianos, and we can all agree that is a mighty fine way to spend a Friday night. – Joy Pearson

Sometimes you need a little bit of variety and Battleme gives his listeners plenty of that. Even so, his music doesn’t get so vastly different that there’s no flow between songs. He has a unique way to mesh different styles in the way artists such as Beck can. The pleasantly high pitched vocals of Matt Drenik bring everything together. While one song will breakdown in an electronic rock way like the last time you heard Daft Punk, another will sit back on the acoustic guitar in folk fashion. Matt’s voice combines with carefully written songs and masterful production (with help from Timothy Turner of Ghostland Observatory) to set the stage for the three piece live band to give a phenomenal and intimate performance at the Bunk Bar this Saturday night with Bike Thief. – Colin Hudson

Despite gaining notoriety on a national level, Starfucker (or STRFKR), is still humble in their artistic approach and work ethic. Their new album, Miracle Mile, is highly dance-able with familiar twinkles and pop, but pushes deeper bass and funky tunes that could make for one dreamy, mirror ball and light saturated roller disco party (please guys do this someday). Most of the 15 track double LP was written and recorded in an Astorian Beach house here in Oregon, and has the added guitar talents of new member Patrick Morris. Tonight marks the hometown show of their tour at the Roseland Theater; there is also the opportunity to have drinks and dance with the guys from the band at the after-party/DJ set at Someday Lounge for just $3. – Brandy Crowe

If you are lucky enough to be at Backspace on March 1st, do yourself a favor: Show up early, grab a beer and get a spot at the front of the crowd because you are going to want to absorb this show in its entirety. Portland natives, Sama Dams, are simply electric on stage. Their avant-rock sound is deeply textured with digital goodness that is rivaled by front man, Sam Adams, haunting and controlled melodies. If you haven’t had the pleasure of hearing them live this is going to be a good night for you. Sama Dams will be sharing the stage with the upbeat and irreverent Walter Mitty and His Makeshift Orchestra, the pop-tackular hard rocking Tiananmen Bear, and the enchanting Amenta Abioto who weaves African folk music and loops so harmoniously she will get your ears high. Backspace will be alive with some of the best sounds Portland has to offer and all for a $5 cover at the door. – Joy Pearson

Sama Dams have recently launched a kickstarter campaign in order to fund their upcoming full length album. Click here to learn how you can help. 

Andy Ferguson with Peter Valois are finally releasing their self-titled debut as Scrimshander. With big beats and echoing vocals they bring to mind Lord Huron, but with fatter rock strides and shuffling tambourines  One of the stand-out qualities of Scrimshander is their ability to combine folk, pop, and electronic elements using looping and a tapping drum machine. It makes for futuristic, lonely cowboy music, such as the dirty, foreboding guitar followed by banjo, fiddle, and content vocals in "Head Hang Low". "Don’t Be Afraid of Me" ends in dreamy synths like dust settling after being awarded an epiphany at the end of a desert vision quest. The songwriting and deep sounds provide solace before bright, clashing breakouts into oblivion. Ferguson’s day job is as a children’s storyteller/song leader, and both he and Valois show a love of puppetry. Tonight, along with their album, they release their first music video for "Forest Fire", made with local marionette and stop motion extraordinaires Belly & Bones. – Brandy Crowe

Someday Lounge with Desert Days(formerly Pigeons), and Fanno Creek

Scrimshander: Forest Fire from bellyandbones on Vimeo.

Minden are as groovy a they are captivating. Their sounds are layered with contagious rhythms, hypnotic guitar leads and fluid bass lines that result in some of the best party music the city has to offer. Their latest release, Exotics Cakes, is a driving yet calming collection of indie-pop gems that brings to mind the therapy that comes with a momentary loss of inhibition. Soothing vocals, tight instrumentation and magnetic hooks make it an addicting album that you’ll find yourself moving to without realizing it. This Sunday night Minden will be sharing their music at Rontoms with De La Warr and Reva Devito, be there for a vivid performance. – Benjamin Toledo

A soulful night and rocking party is set for two bands to release new albums this Friday at Mississippi Studios. Portland jammers, The Resolectrics will headline the bill with their bluesy-reggae sound that always gets the crowd moving. The songs are based around flawless instrumental work, but they can sing some sweet harmonies as well. Electric guitar solos combined with easy Sunday morning piano choruses define their tone while surf rock rhythms explain what the band is all about. Providing complementary grooves will be Steelhead. Similar to The Resolectrics, this group is heavy in soul and can also carry a vocal tune that stretches into R&B. Behind these vocals is a pop rock undertone that blends a big city (from LA originally) force into laid-back, wintertime Portland songwriters. – Colin Hudson

Catherine Feeny has joined forces with fellow portlanders Nate Crockett (Horsefeathers), Daniel Dixon (Greylag) and Sam Adams (Sama Dams) to write a song for One Billion Rising. The organization is raising awareness of the disturbing statistic that one in three women will be beaten or raped in her lifetime and is calling for a stand against the violence. The campaign is building up to a worldwide dance party on Valentine’s Day with the intent of bringing people together to recognize this issue and start working together to solve the problem through education and cooperation. Watch the moving video below and go to onebillionrising.org to learn more. 

The Greater Midwest balance passionate songwriting and musical integrity with their latest release, Consumer Confidence. The lucid indie rock anthems within are infused with poignant lyrics, hazy tones and energetic percussion synchronized with utmost precision. The vocals transition between fervent shouts and soothing melodies, at times accented by harmonies that strengthen the band’s powerful crescendos. Tracks like “I Do a Great Impersonation of Myself” and “Comfort Cigarettes” contain contagious hooks that could drive any crowd to dance while “Urban Wilderness” and “Afraid” entrance the listener with intricate guitar melodies and driving rhythms. The Greater Midwest will be celebrating the release at Backspace on Friday, February 15th with The Hague and Tiger House. Be there for a dynamic performance. – Benjamin Toledo

It takes a lot to approach the music world as a power duo, and Portland’s rock heads, Aina Haina has just that. Their sound is grounded in distorted riffs behind thrashing yet simple rhythms that deliver a heavy punch served by music that creates a party. The duo consists of guitarist and lead singer Mike Ailes and drummer/back up vocalist Dylan Magierek. They originally played together while attending college in Hawaii and since have reconnected their tunes here in Portland. Although the band is new to Portland scene, they certainly are not. Dylan is the founder and owner of popular recording label Bad Man Records (Starfucker, My Morning Jacket) and is well known for his engineering work. They’ve reconnected and never forgot how to rock. That being said, their initial album is released today and if you’re wondering how good it is, “it’s better than the new Van Halen." – Colin Hudson

The Deli Portland has cooked up something special for you this Friday night at the fantastic Mt. Tabor Theater. The Lower 48 will be rocking the concert hall with their captivating harmonies and vintage tones alongside the progressive indie rock compositions of Eidolons, and Bike Thief’s moving post-folk anthems. In the Lounge, The North Wind will be putting on a performance of epic proportions supported by Soft Shadows’ hypnotic brand of shoegaze and the enchanting dream-pop of Appendixes. The show starts at 9pm sharp, come on out and experience some of the most delicious music that Portland has to offer.

The heavy, well-orchestrated sound of hometown quartet Ape Machine is something that draws from bad-ass retro rock. The band uses vintage equipment and tube amplifiers to accomplish dooming deep bass, lo-fidelity fuzz, bluesy guitar stretches and classic rock-n-roll drumming that involves some cowbell. Well tuned cries from Caleb Heinze channel a more intelligible Ozzy from the ‘70s or from the grunge days, Chris Cornell. Songs such as "Can’t Cure Deceit" from 2011’s War To Head are thick in darkness before vocals echo straight in psychedelic form. The song drones slowly, teasing with powerful rumbles and an unexpected stint from a harmonica to lead the listener towards the light and break from meticulous revs of guitar and charging rhythms. Chances are you’ll have a sore neck Monday morning. – Brandy Crowe