  
|
|||
|
It’s been a long, fun month for HillyTown. Thanks to all the bands who played the OFFStage free concert series at SPACE Gallery, Otto for the pizza deals, the artists who designed posters, Allen West for doing sound for pizza and cranberry juice, everybody who volunteered at the events, and everybody who came out to enjoy the free shows! Here are photos from the final one this past Wednesday, which featured White Light, Blood Warrior, and Mark Summers. Mark Summers White Light Blood Warrior Mark Summers
As we get into the third installment of the our month-long Wednesday night free, all ages concert series, OFFStage @ SPACE, we reach a very special one. This show’s headliners are calling themselves Phantom Computers (and as you can see in Annie Godfrey Larmon‘s poster for the event, a Buffalo At Sea provides the other half of the clue to just what that band might be) and the collaboration they have in store should be pretty special. Rumor has it that the song that inspired this very website’s name may be involved. The middle act of the night is an out-of-town band once again, this time Happy Machines from Red Bank, NJ. They’re a super fun electro-fuzz pop duo who I’ve wanted to get up to Portland for some time now, and it was finally able to happen. Don’t miss them. Get a preview of them in action here (I’ll be expecting awesome dancing like the fan in the video at the show tonight). Opening the show are Dead End Armory, the ever-evolving Wesley Hartley-front rock trio. See you tonight! In celebration of HillyTown.com’s first year, I’ve put together a free, all ages, Wednesday night concert series for the month of August at SPACE Gallery. Tomorrow kicks things off with Haru Bangs, Theodore Treehouse (formerly/members of The Cups), and the debut performance from Boxy (members of Brenda, Graeme K). Tune in to Liberation By Sound on WMPG today from 3-5pm (that means now! to hear me talking a bit about the series and playing music from some of the bands who’ll be performing.
The excellent poster for this show was created by Tim Burns, whose band Phantom Buffalo will be teaming up with Computer At Sea on the 19th for a special performance at OFFStage as Phantom Computers. Sad news, Deer Tick fans, their highly-anticipated show scheduled for this evening at SPACE Gallery has unfortunately been cancelled due to illness (tonsillitis, specifically). It seems like a lot of people in town were planning to make it out to the show, so where will everybody end up now? Luckily there are a few decent (and free) options for entertainment tonight. Check it out: There’s Gin Circus at Slainte, Putnam Smith at Blue, and over at Empire, Kurt Baker from The Leftovers is debuting a free DJ night called Buzz Electric, featuring 60′s/70′s Rock N’ Roll, Glam, Mod, Power Pop, and Punk. If you’re willing to travel a bit, Rotundo Sealeg are apparently playing a free show tonight at 7pm at the Auburn Mall Hot Topic. That will almost definitely be worth it.
Two of the best shows I’ve seen in a while here in Portland were hip-hop shows this week. Both were also sorely under attended. Granted, they happened mid-week, but that’s no excuse. The locals (DJ Mayonnaise, Brzowski, Moshe) all brought top-notch performances, and the touring acts they were supporting were just unbelievable. As Boyfriends, Inc., Astronautalis and Bleubird are an unstoppable two-headed beast full of purposefully not-quite-right pop culture cracks and kitty lovin’ crammed into tongue-twisting blasts of complex lyrics. It can be hard to tell if they’re doing a standup act or a concert, though when the beats start there’s no doubt that they’re at the top of their game. Similarly, Th’ Mole injected a lot of humor and all-around awesomeness into his last minute set at SPACE the other night, thrown on the “Our Accents Sure Are Pretty” show unannounced.
The Wilco presale happened and there are rumors that the remaining tickets are few and far between. We’ll find out in about an hour when they go on sale for reals. Happy Birthday Dilly Dilly! Somebody should give her a record deal as a gift. Her new record is super tasty and you can make like a bazillion dollars if you put it out, honest. She’ll be singing from the Tower Of Song tonight along with Sontiago. Being First Friday, of course it’s gray and wet out. Hopefully it’ll clear up. Keep an eye (and ear) out for a thunderous truck roving through town while you’re sippin’ yr wine and nibblin’ on cheese. The big show tonight is at Port City Music Hall, as Sweden’s The Sounds drop in to remind us that while we may enjoy that new YYY’s record, it’s sorta been done before, and with a comparable (maybe even more notoriously naughty these days) frontwoman. If you miss them this time around, you might have to settle for their opening slot on the upcoming No Doubt tour. It’s time to vote for the Buy Local Indie Biz Awards! |
 |
|
|
|
|||
Lastest Comments