The featured shot may belie what I am about to say, but flying through fast shredding guitar riffs and screeching solos like four horsemen on amphets’, Portland’s Bubble Cats sure know how to shake it up in their outbursts of soulful garage punk. The distorted vocals, resembling in dramatic intensity Pixies’ Black Francis’ screams of despair, build upon a racing rhythm section a shambolic, and most electrifying style a la Reatards. It’s alive, sounds like teenage fire, and if anything is certainly worth a trip down to the club to bang your head and break a sweat. Check out our listings on the right for more information on their upcoming gigs, as they’ll be performing five shows in Portland over summer, kicking off at The Wilshire Tavern next Saturday! – Tracy Mamoun