The Triple Crown: 05/20 - 06/02

This installment of the Triple Crown has a little bit country and a little bit rock n roll, but is all soul. Filled with some amazing acts this Triple Crown also has a the added bonus of being kind to the billfold. So take your pick or see them all, either way it's a great selection of music to choose from.

Tuesday, May 21st
The Detroit Cobras
Pangea / No Good Lovers
Dante's
350 W Burnside St
Doors: 8PM / Show: 9:30PM
Adv.: $13 / Day of: $13
21 & Over

If you love music but don't know about The Detroit Cobras, something is drastically wrong. Having spent nearly the last two decades dusting off forgotten soul gems and revitalizing them with a rock perfection only they are capable of, The Detroit Cobras have earned their place as queens and kings of the musical underground.  Rachel Nagy and her band of merry men and women truly do create some of the greatest soul rockin' music around. Live, the band has few equals, bursting with an energy that attacks with the speed and force of a Bruce Lee movie.
Sharing the night is the garage magnificence of Pangea from LA and Portland's own freak rockers the No Good Lovers.Together this show should be a must, and as for the next morning. The week's already half over, why not make the hump worth getting over.       

Photo By Mark Lawrence IV

Friday, May 24th
Thundering Asteroids!
Pitchfork Motorway / The Vacillators
Katie O'Brien's
2809 NE Sandy Blvd
Show: 9PM
Donation of $3 - $5
21 & Over

Like a good meal, rock shows are always better when bands are perfectly paired. Such is the case with this punk rock show at Katie O'Brien's. The triple threat of these top tier Portland punk bands should make this night memorable. Headlining the festivities is the fabulously fun nerd-core of the Thundering Asteroids!. Righteously energetic their set is always a riot, with songs so drenched in pop culture reference that it's know to cause bouts of 80's retrograde flashbacks. Also on the bill is the all-power, no mess of  Pitchfork Motorway. Their high octane speed rock will red-line your senses and will make you beg for more . While opening the night is the garage tease of The Vacillators with their crunchy guitars and front woman Camille's sultry vocals. If you're looking for good thrills to fill your Friday night I can't think of anything better and the price line is unbeatable.     

Friday, May 31st
Patterson Hood
Mississippi Studios
3939 N Mississippi
Doors: 8PM /Show: 9PM
Adv.: $14 / Day Of: $15
21 & Over

All the best song writers are story tellers at their core. Van Morrison, Ronnie Van Zant, Springsteen and certainly Patterson Hood. As one of the front men for the Drive-By Truckers Hood has brought dignity to character back to Southern Rock. As a solo artist Hood reveals a deeper side with songs that are filled with honest stories that are revealing of the wonderful and at times heartbreaking nature of the human experience. Touring in support of this years earlier release of Heat Lighting Rumbles in the Distance, Hood will be bringing his solo act to the warm environs of our own Mississippi Studios. This rare opportunity should not be missed and with tickets still available you should move fast. Make sure you take a second and check out the interview and review of Heat Lighting Rumbles in the Distance we did earlier this year, and I hope to see you at the show.

About Last Night:Thundering Asteroids! @ Kaite O Brien's 08/10

Last night I saw the Phoenix rise in the form of the Thundering Asteroids!. Having taken a hiatus to gather strength and to find a new drummer. Portland's funnest troupe of Punk rocking nerds has returned with a Wrath of Khan worthy vengeance.

With a revitalized energy and  a bonafide DC Punk Legend on the skins the Thundering Asteroids! took no quarter and tore with full force into their set at Katie O'Brien's.  Stacked with true believers elated to hear the band live once again, the small room almost vibrated with excitement. Like the rest of the crowd I found myself either chanting the lyrics or basking in the wonderful geek brilliance of songs like the Labyrinth inspired "I Have a Thing for the Goblin King." Playing as tight as I've ever seen them, it was as though they had never missed a step, blowing the crowd away with their signature fun loving energy. 

It's apparent, that the time off seems to have done the band well, their music sounded amazing as they plowed through one crowd pleasing song after another. Minn was a ball of hyper speed movement throwing herself into each song. It wasn't until after the show that she confessed to waking with a cold that morning, but you wouldn't have know it by the way she belted the lyrics and hopped about like Frogger on a speed level.
The addition of CS-DU3(Colin Sears of Dag Nasty fame) on the drum seems to be a perfect match, melding seamlessly with Scott Starkiller's bass and Dwight Solo's guitar. This amazing show straight  off the bench has got me excited about what we can expect next form the gang. Word from the band is that they're looking to catch up with their current catalog with official recordings and to then turn their attentions towards working on new materials. No matter the plan you can be certain that I'll be keeping a close watch on them with fingers crossed that their next musical tribute might be to The Monster Squad or the video game Rampage.
I unfortunately had to head home early for work the next day and didn't get to see The Anxieties play, but the the opening slot was a wonderfully emotional set by the 42 Ford Prefects(sorry guys that I miss spelled your name in the Preview). Powerfully abusive I love the drive of the band but admit that I think it would have been more powerful if I could have understood the lyrics more. This would have allowed me to become more invested in their songs. Over all though, it was a great night at Katie O'Brien's and I'm glad I was they to see the Thundering Asteroids! shake the ashes from their wings an sore once again..       

Quick Pick: August 10th

Friday, August 10th
Thundering Asteroids!
The Anxieties / 42 Ford Perfect
Katie O'Brien's
2809 NE Sandy Blvd.
Show: 9PM
Cover: $3
21 & Over

I haven't anticipated something this much since 1983 with the original release of Return of the Jedi. Like the Empires Strikes Back, I've been  filled with unanswered questions since the unexpected hiatus of Portland's Nerd-puck outfit the Thundering Asteroids! earlier this year. Will the band return to continue their blessed Geek-core? Will the new drummer be able to fill the shoes of his predecessor and bring something of his own to the table? Me, I feel like The Six Million Dollar Man, this band has what it takes to rebuild themselves. They have the technology. They have the will. To be better, stronger, Faster than they were before and this show at Katie O'Brien's will be the first time for them to prove it. Fan boys of the world, prepare yourselves to once again to bow at the will of Minn and her warriors of 16-bits.
Filling out the rest of the bill is fellow Portland conspirators The Annxieties with their self-professed three cord sass and the 42 Ford Perfect, who will be celebrating the release of their album on, believe it or not, glow-in-the-dark vinyl. What ever the reason or obstacles you might have to over come, make sure you make it out for this great return show. It's the perfect chance to let your geek flag fly. You know you want to.