The Girl From Y La Bamba

It is late February, seasonably chilly and wet. Luz Elena Mendoza and I are sitting amidst the noisy clatter of the busy Barista cafe in Northeast Portland. Luz is the extraordinary vocalist and passionate, shamanic presence fronting the nuevo Latino folk band Y La Bamba. The release of their second album Court the Storm on February 28th, heralds a new level of excellence within the band. MORE

The Shins
Port of Morrow
Aural Apothecary

It's been five long years since James Mercer and his band the Shins released the Grammy-nominated Wincing the Night Away. In those intervening years Mercer (that's Mister Shins to you) divorced his longtime band mates and set off on numerous musical adventures. Those took him all over the world, real and conceptual. With the release of Port of Morrow, we find James Mercer exploring a deeper sense of introspection... MORE

New Musician Arrives in Portland

Brianne and Jared Mees, empress and emperor of the Tender Loving Empire, welcomed baby July Simone Mees into the realm on March 21st, 2012 at 6:22PM. With a fighting weight of 8 pounds 9 ounces, little July is expected to release her first album sometime in 2013 on the Tender Loving Empire label. Proud mother is recuperating. Proud father is bouncing off the walls. Let's all wish them well.

Support the future of Oregon's musical coolness... donate $12 in '12

Help the Oregon Music Hall of Fame inspire the next generation of talented Oregon Musicians! Please give $12 in '12 to the Oregon Music Hall of Fame, and PLEASE SHARE this link on your FaceBook wall. MORE

Lost Lander
DRRT
Self-Produced

See, this sort of thing has been going on for some time in this town. Incest. Oh, not that kind. Although, it’s always been apparent in Oregon that there is a bit of that in the backwater towns. No, I’m talking about the intermarriage of bands. Over the past decade it’s only gotten worse. And the aggregation affiliated with the creation of this project (and its various predecessors) is the perfect example of this intermingling. MORE

Y La Bamba
Court The Storm
Tender Loving Empire

It’s said that there are no straight lines in nature. If that is in fact the case, then this is the most natural album ever made. There’s no “shortest distance between two points” here. Nothing resolves as expected. Just when you think you’re moving toward something, you veer. No straight lines. Still, as beautiful as any tree. Songs as lovely as wind and birds. MORE

WaveSauce
at BYTE ME 2012

If you’re like me, you’ve probably been asking yourself “Why don’t more surf bands use a theremin in their act?” You also may be asking yourself, “What in God’s name is a theremin?” And for that you are to be forgiven. MORE

The World of T,E.D. and How You’re Probably In It

I have seen the future of art. I wasn’t expecting it and I certainly didn’t anticipate it coming from the mouths of talking teddy bears, but such are the cumulative quintessences of kismet and epiphany. Ephemeral. Ethereal. Evanescent. Temporal. All exists in the moment. Like a room full of talking teddy bears venting their deepest, darkest secrets. MORE

Laura Gibson
La Grande
Barsuk Records

It’s hard to believe it’s been almost three years since Laura Gibson’s last recording, Beasts of Seasons, was released. But it’s not as if she’s been sitting on her hands the whole time since then. Early in 2010 Laura collaborated with sound collagist Ethan Rose for the ethereal Bridge Carols. And she has toured relentlessly all across the US, with occasional forays into Europe and the UK. MORE

A Day At The Races

On a chilly Sunday in December I ended up at the Portland Meadows for “Oregon Championship Day.” The horseracing season in Oregon runs from the middle of October to the middle of March. I’m no authority, but if I were a horse, I’m not so sure how much I would enjoy sprinting in the neighborhood of a mile through the miserable chill and the sort of slop an Oregon fall and winter might dump on a racetrack. MORE

Shakers’ Sessions- Various Artists
Burgerville Records

Yeah, you read it right. Burgerville Records. This is the biggest corporate coup since Andy Pribhol (Pribal) hooked up with Plaid Pantry. And before you start turning up your nose at the Burgerville connection, there are a couple of things to remember. First, Burgerville is locally owned. MORE

BURGERVILLE RECORDS SHAKERS' SESSIONS LAUNCH PARTY: November 15th at Hawthorne's Burgerville

The Shakers’ Sessions is a compilation of Northwest musicians singing songs written by Portland musician, and Parkinson's patient, Rob Barteletti. The album will see one-hundred percent of profits going to the Brian Grant Foundation, a non-profit organization that is an informational and inspirational resource for a community of people empowered to live unique and fulfilling lives with Parkinson's. MORE

Dry—Maria Catherine Callahan
Self-Produced

Maria Callahan is a seasoned veteran in the local music scene with a career stretching back to the early ‘90s, first as shredding guitarist with Insane Jane, then through the ‘90s as part of Doris Daze, and as a member of the “supergroup” Sophia Starlight in the early ‘00s. In that time she has distinguished herself as a solid singer and songwriter and a very talented multi-instrumentalist, though her specialty is guitar. MORE

Buko Magazine Attends The Om-Hoffies

You’re right. The “Ommies” or the “Hoffies,” maybe. There’s probably a better name for them. The awards themselves sort of look like the shards of a shattered windshield. Maybe the Shardies. There’s something vaguely mountainic about the objets. Like Mount Hood. Maybe the “Hoodies.” MORE

Ronnie Montrose a guitar legend.

Ronnie Montrose‘s guitar work helped shaped the sounds of classic rock greats like Edgar Winter, but it was his band, Montrose that put him into the spotlight to showcase his many talents. With the help of Sammy Hagar on vocals, Denny Carmassi on drums, and Bill Church on bass, they made the kind of music that defines rock n roll. MORE

Y La Bamba makes a special appearance on NPR

Rachel Taylor Brown
World So Sweet
Penury Pop

Put on your thinking cap, it’s another Rachel Taylor Brown album! You may have misplaced your thinking cap since Rachel’s last release in 2009 (Susan Storm’s Ugly Sister), so we’ll wait here until you find it. While you’re at it, better put on your scrutability belt–because there’s a lot here that’s not particularly scrutable. And without your scutability belt in place, you’ll recall, your pants of discernment will fall to the floor. If not your scrutability belt, then better wear your best ironic underwear. MORE

RACHEL TAYLOR BROWN RELEASES CD, “WORLD SO SWEET”, JULY 29TH AT MISSISSIPPI STUDIOS.

Robert Cray
Headlines First day at SWBF

Check out pics from day one of the Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival. MORE

Day Two Day Three

Vocal Cord Surgery
for Pink Martini's China Forbes

China Forbes has been forced to take an extended hiatus from her duties as Pink Martini vocalist. Suffering an injury to her vocal cords earlier this year, at first it was hoped that an extended respite might restore her to health. But it has since been determined that she will require throat surgery. MORE

Steven “Pearly” Hettum
The Jangler + 2 Unreleased
Self-Released

Steve Hettum has been a presence within the local music scene for the past thirty years. He first made his name as the manager for Billy Rancher and the Unreal Gods back in the early ‘80s. He managed other acts as well. He had his fingers in numerous pies. His affable, accommodating nature has always stood him in good stead in the greater Portland musical community. MORE

Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival returns July 1-4

Read about the History of the Waterfront Blues Festival
by Keith Laurent
This artical was published for the 20th Aniversary of the festival, but its always good to refresh your memory about its humble beginings.

Some video interviews from previous SWBF

Official Blues Festival website

Oregon Music Hall of Fame Awards $5000

Oregon Music Hall of Fame is pleased to announce that Alex McDougall, Emily Potter, Emma Davis, Jean Choi, and Jasmine Terry-Shindelman are the recipients of the annual OMHOF College Scholarships. MORE

Rich Layton & the Troublemakers
Making Trouble in Tough Town

Rich Layton's thick accent and even thicker musical history comes from deep roots in Houston and along the Gulf Coast. Its been said the brilliance of any flower is determined only by its longest root. MORE

Only Good Thoughts Can Stay-
Jared Mees & the Grown Children
Tender Loving Empire

Generally, when a label owner releases his own band’s work on that label, suspicion might suggest “vanity project.” But Jared Mees is no ordinary label owner and the Grown Children are no ordinary band. MORE

It’s Black ‘N Blue time. Again!
"HELL YEAH!"
To be released on Frontiers

Frontiers Records is excited to announce the release of the new album from Portland-based Rockers Black ‘N Blue on May 13 in Europe and May 17 in North America. Hell Yeah! is a proud comeback statement for a band that wrote the pages of hard rock history in the 80′s. MORE

The King is Dead - Decemberists
Capitol Records

It is not apparent whether the Decembrist’s contract with Capitol was a five-record or three-record deal. One gets the impression it must be a three-record deal,  as most record companies would have a major solid gold cow if one of their acts decided to hiatus in the middle of their contract. Especially riding a hit album like this should turn out to be. Cue the Greatest Hits package. MORE

Boogie Bone
Pro-Bone-O CD release party
Roseland 1-15-11

Half the city was in attendance. That's right…they all squeezed in to be part of one of the best shows this year so far. They also got a free full-length CD of the band's new release, 'Pro-Bone-O'. A richly decorated album containing a collection of cleanly recorded killer numbers. There's backwood boogies, uptempo Texas style shuffles, with shit-stomping Telecaster leads. There's four-bar baddies mixed with some funk- driven horn sections, and informal r&b, bringing both Smokey Robinson and Tower of Power to mind. MORE

• Web Gallery - The Boogie/Tones show

WESTERN AERIAL
DANTES
1/22/11

This was a spectacular event for the band's premier with drummer, Kevin Rankin. Youdathunk him was their's from the beginning, except for powerhouse exiting kick-drum-stretcher, Anthony Tripp was on hand to wish him well. MORE

• Web Gallery - Last show with Anthony Tripp.

• Web Gallery - First show with Kevin Rankin.

A New Kind of House (EP) - Typhoon
Tender Loving Empire

The past year has been a busy one for Kyle Morton and the ever-malleable Typhoon. Last May saw the release of their highly-praised first (real) full-length album, Hunger and Thirst which has been at the very top of innumerable Best of 2010 lists, both locally and nationally. And rightfully so. MORE

Little Me Will Start a Storm
- Loch Lomond
Tender Loving Empire

It was 2007 when we last had an album, “Paper the Walls In,” from Loch Lomond. In the interim, Bend native and refugee of the band The Standard, Ritchie Young and his troupe of versatile bandmates, have traveled all over the map: including on national tours opening for the Decemberists and Blitzen Trapper. MORE

Winos Do Not March: Philly Phunkestra's Halloween Zappa Show at the Whiskey.

What better way to trick or treat then at Portland's Premier super-nod to FZ's famous Halloween shows in N.Y. Circa 1977. It looked much like it too, especially when compared to his 1977 film, 'Baby Snakes' projected in Gigantia on the back wall for effect. Cheapness was abound in all its glory, avant-garde disregard and misbehavior was the tone set for everyone... MORE

A Man You can Trust: Rock's Original Pirate

Out of a select few people I admire, near the top is Keith Richards. Yeah, that's right. He's a better role model than too many to count. I'd even trust him with the country's loot- In fact, indefinitely more than I would about 95% of our elected officials. He's honest, tells it like it is and he pulls no punches.  He might take the cash up front, but always delivers without so much a hint of promise. This kind of raw honesty in our culture is rare, and even less so from politicians we elect time after time. Ha…send in the clowns, then try putting them up against the public-spirited character of someone like Richards…especially him. MORE

Together - Hosannas
Hush Records

It’s pretty much common knowledge that Hosannas were formerly called Church until an attorney for the band The Church in Australia cordially invited them to knock it off or get their asses sued. And so there was a brief interlude where the Portland aggregation inexplicably decided to call themselves Ape Cave, presumably in commemoration of the lava tube of the same name, situated precariously (given the mountain’s propensity for restructuring itself) on the side of Mt. St. Helens. MORE

Portland Buries The Mummies.

Finally - what we have all been waiting for... the Mummies are up next - I can't believe it. The stage has been draped with a huge sheet of muslin. The second I have noticed it, it raises and the crowd surges forward with screams and cheers for the gauze wrapped band standing behind it. Water and beer sprinklers are in full effect, drenching the audience and the band. MORE

Dan Reed
Coming Up For Air

In the past twenty-five years, Dan Reed has pretty much seen it all in the music business. Since the launch of his band the Dan Reed Network at the long departed Last Hurrah in December of 1984, Reed’s fortunes were on a consistent upward trajectory for many years. MORE

2010 Oregon Music Hall of Fame
Induction Ceremony images.

If you just want to see Black 'N Blue pictures click here.

Watch for Typod's report.

Wild Dog Matt McCourt and the new Wild Dogs.

Matt McCourt's band opened for metal monsters Raven October 3rd.
Here are some shots of Matt and the new Wild Dogs with Robert Robinson on Guitar and Troy Stutzman on drums. Not to detract anything from the 'Dogs as they are also metal monsters.

OMHOF 2010 INDUCTION
CEREMONY- SATURDAY OCT. 9th

The press conference at Jimmy Mac's has announced the inductees for the 2010 4th annual OMHOF induction ceremony, which will be held October 9th at the Roseland Theater. The house was filled with enough star power to light a fire during a monsoon. MORE