The Triple Crown: 01/01 - 01/15

Thursday, January 5th
Shut Your Animal Mouth
P.R.O.B.L.E.M.S/Hairspray Blues
Ash Street Saloon
225 SW Ash Street
Doors:8PM/Show:9:30PM
Cover:$5
21 & Over

This night of homegrown garage punk is sure be one heck of a good time with three amazing Portland bands who have perfected the art of melding together the grit and grind of garage rock with the street and sleaze of punk. Headlining the night is the band Shut Your Animal Mouth whose sounds is a sultry robust creature with a speed and swagger that could make a monk weep. With aggressive instrumentation topped with dominating female vocals, this band makes the kind of bar rock that's sure to hit the sweet spot when echoed off the walls of the Ash Street Saloon. Filling out the rest of the bill is the amazing duo of Hairspray Blues with their awesome live show and unforgettable sound and the mind blowing fury of P.R.O.B.L.E.M.S.. Combined these three bands are going to rip the studs from the wall and if you're not there to see it your going to hate your self so grab a friend and stuff enough cash for a taxi some where you won't spend it on drinks and start your weekend off with a bang.


Monday, January 9th
The Resolectrics
Mike Midlo/Sam Fowles(of Parson Red Heads)
White Eagle Saloon
836 N Russell St
Show: 8:30PM
Free!
21 & Over

The Resolectric play a bluesy roadhouse soul that spills over with an organic groove that's perfect for the bare brick and seasoned timbers of the White Eagle. A joyfully gritty beast that mixes the sound of 50's, 60's optimism with the dirty tarnish of the 70's, their music is filled with a potently retro flavor. Ripe with a confident attitude these boys play songs that don't need to be loud or aggressive, but that are more powerful in the subtleties of their full bodied performance. If this doesn't get you out on the dance floor you might want to check your pulse.
Opening the night are sets by Sam Fowles and Mike Midlo, two musicians well know in Portland circles for their work with amazing local bands but who are stepping out on their own for the night. This show is certain to be awesome, so turn off your televisions and order yourself a beer, cause nothing cures a case of the Mondays, like good music and a drink or two.





















Wednesday, January 11th
Dick Dale
Star Theater
13 NW 6th Ave
Doors:8PM/Show:9PM
Adv.:$20/Day Of:$25
21 & Over

The Godfather of Surf Guitar himself Dick Dale will be gracing our city for one amazing night a the new Star Theater. Vicious with six strings, this master of the guitar has single handily defined a genra of music that captures the white tip curls of the Pacific Ocean and the sun tanned dreams of the California coast. With out Dick Dale the 50's and 60's would have lacked much of their distinct flavor. In recordings his music is mind bending with jaw dropping licks but live his music takes on a whole new level for which there is no equal. It's near mystical what this man can do with a guitar, he truly is an a American treasure that should be experience buy all that have a chance, and this show at the Star Theater is yours so make sure you don't miss it.

About Last Night: Hairspray Blues @ Ash Street Saloon 05/12

Last night I fought the urge. You know the one, that nagging weariness after a long days work; the one that encourages you to bag your plans for a night on the couch and bed by 11. That urge of getting old. But I did it, tired as I was, I headed down to the Ash Street Saloon and I'm damn glad I did.

The crowd was spars for a Thursday night, but in hind sight I think we'd all agree that we count ourselves lucky. The dark rings beneath our eyes and the hangovers of the next morning were our badges of honor, gladly worn with pride. All worth it for the awesome feats of musicianship we witnessed the night before.

Starting off the night was a revved up opening set by Pitchfork Motorway. Busting strait out of the gates with a full frontal guitar assault, their high tempo gasoline punk took the room by force. Unrelenting the boys banged away with each song. Like a muscle car chewing up the miles, the band pushed through their set without even the slightest pause for breath. A perfect starter for the night, Barry Williams and is gang have a sense of showmanship that is wildly aggressive and speed lovingly fun. I've been following this band for 3 years now, but this was my first opportunity to catch them live. As I suspected they were awesome. Make sure you check them out yourself, you won't be disappointed.

Unfortunately what energy Pitchfork Motorway put out was quickly dissipated by the free-form psychedelic rock of Mega Dynasty 5. Jumbled together with elements of surf, funk and ball park organ grinding, this is the kind of music I imagine Morrison and the Doors might have gotten stoned to. An experimental blend of music that lacks any true cohesion, except that possibly contrived through the use of high levels of heavy narcotics. There were moments in which I would begin to enjoy a song only for it to disintegrate into auditory chaos from which the band was never able to recover. In addition, the band seemed so disorganized on stage that I felt I now understood why I couldn't find any information on the band prior to the show. I do feel the band might be able to make something of themselves, but there's a lot of work to be done.

Luckily, the night wasn't totally lost. As the Thundering Asteroids! took control of the stage, they quickly grabbed hold of the room and shook it back to life. Their exuberant energy is so powerful it resurrected the show in just mere moments of the band's set. I grow more enamored with this band with each show I see. Endowed with spaz-tastic energy, their stage show was awesome. Like Mario in hyper-speed I found myself bouncing along with Minn and the boys, thankful that their quick actions saved me from another assault of the nagging weariness from earlier in the evening. It was apparent to all of us in the audience that this band was having a blast up on stage. That fun and enjoyment spilled out into the room making us all giddy with punk wonder and ready for Hairspray Blues.

Admittedly, "ready" might not be the right word, as I'm not sure if anyone could ever truly be ready for the pure power of Hairspray Blues. From the first count off the the last explosive crash, this band rode a freight train of energy right through us. As though possessed by a tornado, the speed and fury of Leslie Stabile on Drums and Kyle Stabile on guitars was almost frighting to witness. Aggressive and violent they tore into each song like it owed them money or had screwed their best friend. A small part of me felt sorry for their instruments, but the rest of me just enjoyed the show with a sick sense of pleasure. Minn of Thundering Asteroids! phrased it perfect when she said " After a set like that I imagine they have some wild dirty, dirty sex." The only disappointing thing about the Hairspray Blues' set was stage banter that foreshadowed a break for the band. It's not fair, now that I'm hooked, how am I going to get my fix?

This show was awesome and well worth the next-day drag at work. Hairspray Blues, Thundering Asteroids!, and Pitchfork Motorway are, in my opinion, some of the best punk bar-bands in Portland. All are worthy of a must-see status. So if you catch word that they're playing somewhere in town, join me in fighting that urge. Believe me, you'll feel younger for it.

The Triple Crown : 05/03 - 05/16

This Triple Crown has a little bit of everything, from rootsy-pop, fun punk frenzy and old soul song writing. There's sure to be something for everyone. So get out of the house and reclaim the night, because once it gets warmer it's going to get crowded.

Friday, May 6th
The Dimes
Derby/Violet Isle
Doug Fir Lounge
830 E Burnside
Doors:8PM /Show: 9PM
Adv.:$8/Day Of:$10
21 & Over

This night of homegrown indie rock is filled with an A-list of some of Portland's movers and shakers. Top of the list is the rootsy pop of The Dimes. With a perfect balance of earthy acoustics and pop sensibility these boys are in the same class as The Shins and The Decemberists. Having spent the last few years perfecting their stage presence this show in the intimate setting of the Doug Fir should be fantastic.
Opening the show are two bands with their own clout in the local indie circles. Derby's living room pop is energetic and comfortably familiar. Dynamically fun, their sound is a perfect compliment to The Dimes. Meanwhile, the Violet Isle has a music that is wonderfully multi-faceted. Bold and detailed all at the same time their acoustic pop gives each song a distinct flavor.
No matter how you look at it, this is a great way to get your weekend started off right.


Thursday, May 12th
Hairspray Blues
Thundering Asteroids!/Mega Dynasty 5/Pitchfork Motorway
Ash Street Saloon
225 SW Ash St
Show:9:30PM
Cover:$5
21 & Over

The walls of the Ash Street Saloon will be pulsing with a punk-frenzied-sweetness so powerfully luscious they're going to feel it all the way in Lake O. With a line up that includes 3 of Portland's best little secrets this show should be one for the record books.
Headlining the night is the primitive beats and ferocious six-string attack of Hairspray Blues. Their dark bastard blues is made of the bassets of emotions and claws at the scenes with the sames addictive thrill as a good 70's horror flick . Stripped of any pretentiousness and blessed with just the slightest of garage-retro-voodoo this band is wickedly delectable.
Joining them on stage is a who's who of Portland's funnest acts and a visitor from the Cajun country. Top of the list is the geek chic pageantry of Thundering Asteroids!. Their nostalgia rock is lighthearted and youthfully energetic, elements only magnified by the stage presence of the band and their lead singer, a bonafide fanboy-siren. In addition the high octane garage punk of Pitchfork Motorway is sure to get the crowd worked into a lather with their face melting, rubber burning fury. Completing the lineup is Mega Dynasty 5 visiting from New Orleans, a complete mystery, but sometimes that can be the tastiest of treats.
This line up has no equal and with only a $5 cover, they're almost paying you for this awesome show.


Saturday, May 14th
Joe Pug
Celilo(CD Release)/Strand Of Oaks
Doug Fir Lounge
830 E Burnside
Doors:8PM/Show: 9PM
Adv.:$10/Day Of:$12
21 & Over

Like the sudden discovery of an unexpected treasure, I'm anticipating this show at the Doug Fir with bated breath. Somewhere between Ray LaMontagne, Chris Smither, and Classic Bob Dylan, the music of Joe Pug is boldly haunting. Filled with some of the most insightful and thought provoking lyrics I have heard in years, his richly organic songs are a folk, as powerful as wisdom itself. His live presence is certain to be an awe inspiring thing that will send tingles strait up the spine leaving your head swimming in a euphoric bliss.
Opening the show is Portland's own Celilo whose mid-west soul is ripe with broad strokes of instrumental texture with liberal leanings toward early Neil Young. This hometown band will be celebrating the release of their latest album. So support local music by picking up a copy. Finally, filling out the rest of the bill is the breathy ethereal dream-scape folk of Philadelphia based Strands of Oaks.
A night of amazing music, this is defiantly a show not to miss and the perfect way to earn your triple crown.