The Triple Crown: 01/07 - 01/20

We stretched our musical boundaries in this Triple Crown to cover a little bit of it all.  From locally grown rock and Hip hop to the comforting sound of a touring folk band. Take a gander and I'm sure you'll find a show that tickles your fancy. It's a new year and if you haven't made a resolution or goal yet, can I suggest supporting more music by catching more live shows. Just a thought.

Friday, January 11th
Crown Point (Album Release)
Western Aerial / Threebit Bourbon
Doug Fir Lounge
830 E Burnside
Doors: 8PM /Show: 9PM
Adv.: $8 /Day Of: $8
21 & Over

You know you've been part of the music industry for a while when you get as excited about the opening bands as you do the headliners. In this case the dynamic bar rock extravaganza of Wetern Aeiral and the blues drenched thickness of Threebit Bourbon. Both bands will be opening for the artsy radio rock of Portland's Crown Point. Celebrating the release of their Curtains EP, Crown Point will be showcasing their new material with their signature high energy live performance. With new wave elements mixed with the energy of arena rock, this band has been able to distill and down size some awesome elements into a wonderfully enjoyable sound and live show. Teamed with a great opening lineup this should be a great show, and a wonderful way to start a new year by supporting live and local music.    

Wednesday, January 16th
Birds of Chicago
Jenn Rawling & Basho Parks / HuckNotari
Mississippi Studios
3939 N Mississippi
Doors: 7PM / Show: 8PM
Adv.: $10 / Day Of: $12
21 & Over

This line up of richly organic folk should make for such an amazing show,  that they'll talking about about it for weeks. Topping the bill is the freshly formed Birds of Chicago that pairs Allison Russell and JT Nero. Separately amazing artist of their own, their songs play like modern day echoes of Jim Croce's Pennsylvania farmhouse jam sessions. The ways that Russell's bluesy and emotionally rich vocals mixes with Nero's own earthy tones makes for warm comforting songs. The end results is a fulfilling musical tapestry ripe for discovery by the masses.
Sharing the stage for the evening  are two more equally fantastic acts. The artisan folk of Jenn Rawling and Basho Parks is a fluid creature that seems to drift through a forest from a different time.  While, Huck Notari plays a back-to-basics guitar folk in the vein of Dylan and Guthrie. No matter who you come to see you won't be disappointed.

Friday, January 18th
Bad Habitat
Two Planets / New Pioneers / Cray
Mt. Tabor Theater Lounge
4811 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
Show: 9PM
Cover: $5
21 & Over

This showcase is filled with some of the best grassroots hip hop acts this town has to offer and the music they're playing is the truest, purest of it's kind heard in the clubs today. Topping the bill is the powerhouse of Bad Habitats. With tight beats and rhymes that are pieces together with a brilliant architecture, this band is creating powerful and positive Hip hop. Harking back to the days when this music was a celebration of life instead of a weapon, this band is setting themselves apart from the hordes of gangster rap. Another brilliant element of this band is their unique use of some interesting 80's songs for sampleing, making for a totally original sound. Also playing, is a who's who list of Portland's thriving hip hop scene making for an unforgettable lineup. So if you've yearned for the days of Biz Markie, Doug E. Fresh and Big Daddy Kane this is the show for you.