Tomorrow night’s easy-does-it bill at Backspace promises to be an introspective folk-rock fiasco – at least for one of its acts. For to say that Portland’s Firs of Prey (the solo project of Andrew Miller) is anything other than a sneakily powerful display would be putting too dull a point on things. Miller’s 2008 sophomore offering, Keep the Lions Asleep, won over my nascent Northwest heart with blues-pocked fingerpicking, sultry harmonies and old-timey barbershop dissertations. A sampling of Firs’ newer tracks (or older…details on the project are pretty scarce. Case in point: Keeping the Lions Asleep was delivered to me as an unmarked CD-R with no titles) reveal more attention to the not-so-subtle layering of Polyphonic Spree-on-LSD melodies and gorgeous, meandering acoustic guitar.
It’s a minimalist triumph, and still one of the more engaging listens I’ve heard since coming to Portland two years ago. Firs of Prey will play along with the Rose City’s self-proclaimed "Rat Pack," the Love Loungers – whose 12-piece soul grooves are quickly causing the systematic smoothing of showgoers’ dancin’ soles. Also playing will be The Ocean Floor, and popsters Yeah Great Fine. Prepare for ebbs and flows, people.
Show starts at 9 p.m. and costs $5. Proceeds benefit KPSU Radio.
– Ryan J. Prado