About Last Night: Thundering Asteroids @ Katie O'Brein's 05/24

Last Night’s show at Katie O’Brien’s is a bit of a blur as I roll into work at 5:45 this morning. I’m pretty sure there was a wookiee there, maybe even a slave girl. But to be honest, in my current state of sleep deprivation the only thing I am certain of, is that the music was phenomenal.

Opening the night was the speed and aggression of the Vacillators. A little like angry sex this band’s set was fast, raw and mind blowing fun. Boldly gritty Camille leads this band with a street wise playfulness that’s both refreshing and seductive. Punching through their set with unrelenting focus her band mate were unstoppable work horses. Kids, this is what punk looks like beyond adolescent angst and man is it beautiful. Tempered and honed, the power of this band was undeniable. To all you youngsters out there, you can only hope that your band will grow up to be this good.

Playing next was the always awesome Pitchfork Motorway and if the Vacillators’ set was like going 65 in a 35 then watching these boys was like one of those car chases you see on CNN. As always the boys attacked their songs with a wild abandon without regards to the innocent bystanders in the audience and as one of them I can’t tell you how great that is. Dangerously fun you feel like the worlds going to hop the track at any second and at these speeds who knows what crazy damage might be done. This band knows how to play a boldly tight rock n roll that’s amazing to behold. The two guitar attack of Barry and Shiggy is bold and diverse while the rhythm section of Doug and The Swede impishly play like madmen with explosives. Hands down this band plays faster, harder and with a true grasp of punk rocks emotional fury.

Finally, the Thundering Asteroids! took the mic and went to town. What they lacked in speed they make up in fun. Always to bell of the ball this band played their nerdcore tunes with a playful joy that is highly intoxicating to an audience. Celebrating the addition of their latest drummer (a resource they seem to burn through faster than quarter in an arcade) this band had an amazing set. Playing all the favorites and a few new tracks, the band got us singing along and pumping our fists to all the nostalgia inducing pop references in punk form. Clearly one of my own personal favorite bands currently playing Portland, I was not disappointed. Wild, fun and able to make you feel that all that useless pop knowledge crammed in your head isn’t worthless; I hope this drummer sticks around a while so we can get a few more great shows out of this band this summer.

I’m telling you if your not currently supporting local music, you don’t know what you’re missing because they are the most loyal and appreciative group of people you’ll ever meet. So for those of you that didn’t make it to this show, remember there’s bands playing somewhere in town every night of the week. You just have to pick a show and go.

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: 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.