Quick Pick: Thundering Asteroids! (CD Release) @ The Sandy Hut 11/07

 Friday, November 7th
Thundering Asteroids!
The Decliners /The Vacillators /  The Googins
The Sandy Hut
1430 Northeast Sandy Blvd
Cover: $3-5
Doors: 8pm
21 & Over

The overlords of Portland Nerd punk; the Thundering Asteroids will be rocking The Sandy Hut this Friday night to celebrate of the arrival of their shinny silicon child.  Conceived in throws of long passionate studio sessions and blessed with a musical genetic code that has the power of punk rock and the fun of a comic convention, The Nerd Punk Guide to the Galaxy is sure to be the musical masterpiece we've all been waiting for.
Rounding out the night will be sets by an A-list of NW Punk Rock bands primed to help celebrate this joyful event .
If you haven't taken a chance to catch this band onstage, you're truly missing out on one of the funnest live acts in town. So take this opportunity and pick-up a copy of the new CD so that great local music like this can continue to thrive. 

Quick Pick: Two Cow Garage @ Dante's 10/26

Photo By Mark A Lawrence IV

Saturday, October 26th
Two Cow Garage
I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch in the House / Barons of Industry
Dante's
Doors:8PM/Show:9PM
Adv.:$8 /Day Of:$8
21 & Over

This band of Midwest troubadours are some of the the greatest unsung heroes of modern rock "n" roll. Driven by the purest of punk rock energy and blessed with the poetic heart of song writers Two Cow Garage travel the roads of America like the angry love children of Bruce Springsteen. Whether in the studio or on stage this band goes all in shedding more blood, sweat and tears than any other band you'll ever know.
Lucky for us, they'll be playing a show this Saturday night at Dante's. Touring in support of their latest album The Death of the Self-Preservation Society.and playing with local favorites and long time friends I Can Lick any Sonofabitch in the House this show should be one for the record book. Also on the bill is the rustic sound of Barons of Industry.
So clear your schedule and get a sitter for the kids, because you don't want to miss this show.    

Quick Pick: Austin Lucas @ Dante's 10/15

Photo By Mark A Lawrence IV

Tuesday, October 15th
Austin Lucas
Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires / Eric Schwieterman / Jeremy Wilson
Dante's
350 West Burnside
Doors: 8PM/ Show: 9PM
Adv.: $8/ Day Of: $8
21 & Over

Born with a coal miners soul, the music of Austin Lucas has a certain honesty to it. As though told through the revealing golden light of bourbon his songs are achingly beautiful tales. Able to possess you, there is something comforting to them  like the creek of hardwood floors or your Grandfather's voice. 
Three years ago I caught his set at the White Eagle and I haven't been able to get that show out of my head ever since. The depth of his voice and the purity of his guitar left an impression I can't easily explain. If I'm lucky,  that same magic will fill the air of Dante's this Tuesday night.
With his latest album Stay Reckless out on the New West label, Lucas should be flush with new material. Joining him on stage is a list of great supporting acts, so even though it's a weeknight make sure you don't miss this show.

Quick Pick: Eddie Spaghetti @ Dante's 07/14

Sunday, July 14th
Eddie Spaghetti
Dante's
350 West Burnside
Show: 9PM
Cover: $8
21 & Over

Eddie Spaghetti, the hard rocking front man of Seattle’s Supersuckers and bad boy country convert will be playing his drunken-style country-kung-fu at Dante’s this Sunday July 14th. No stranger to the seedier bars and venues of our fair city you can guess this show should be a good one.

Spaghetti’s country songs have a great hair of the dog feel to them. Certainly composed in the blurry eyed hangover of many a rock show, they have the painful honesty and bitterness of to life hard lived and hard played on the road. Carrying the sweet burn of half whiskey and half diesel you can only wonder which might kill you first.

Celebrating the release of The Value of Nothing, his latest album on the Bloodshot label. The night should be memorable. If we’re lucky we might even have a few surprise appearances by some of Portland’s own country outlaws. So make your weekend last a little longer and ward of the Sunday-nighters with a little bit of country and what ever poison makes you smile.

Quick Pick: Saint Warhead @ Branx 05/10

Friday, May 10th
Saint Warhead
IAME / Quiz Zilla / Bad Habitat/ Tawk Sicc
Branx
320 SE 2nd Ave
Doors: 8PM
Cover: $5 or $10 with CD
21 & Over

Hip Hop versus zombies, why wouldn't you go to this show? Admit it, you got a thing for the the undead, whether its World War Z, Romero's classic films, or you've just hopped on to the Walking Dead band wagon the mobs of shuffling corpses have your attention. Saint Warhead knows it's true, and with aggressive beats and lethal rhyme attacks he's going to take out as many of the rotting bastards that he can before becoming one himself or eating a bullet.

Celebrating the release of his latest album #Zombie Kisses, Saint Warhead has amassed some of the best hip hop in Portland for the occasion. This should be one of the record books. With a stage set for a  high caliber line-up that includes IAME of the Sandpeople, wise beyond his years Quiz Zilla, Portland's favored sons Bad Habitat, and the suave Tawk Sicc this night might in fact raise the dead. Just to warn you though, don't be surprised if you glimpse one of the cursed among the crowd. Word gets through the graveyard like guts spill through teeth and with no cover for zombie ladies and undead dancers, you might want to keep a tight hold on your brain pan. So take precautions, but don't miss this show and if tonight is the start of the zombie apocalypse make sure to go for the head.     

Quick Pick: Hurry Up @ Mississippi Studio 05/05

Photo By Mark Lawrence IV

Sunday, May 5th
Hurry Up
Kim Baxter / Summer Cannibals
Mississippi Studios
3939 N Mississippi
Doors: 8PM / Show: 9PM
Adv.:$5 /Day Of:$5
21 & Over

For those of you that are in need of your weekly music fix but want to avoid the downtown madness of Cinco De Mayo, this cheap show at Mississippi Studios tomorrow night is perfect. With an amazing lineup of local acts, there might not be a better bang for your buck in town. Headlining the show is the fitful energy of Hurry Up. A dynamic three piece that plays a raw crunchy rock n roll made of tightly woven full throttle chaos. Consisting of Maggie Vail and Thermals' alum Kathy Foster and Westin Glass this threesome are known to make some ruckus.

Photo By Mark Lawrence IV

Equally deserving of mention are the two opening acts of Kim Baxter and the Summer Cannibals. Long time Portland music staple Kim Baxter is well remembered as a member of the All Girl Summer Fun Band. Now a solo artist under her own monicker, Baxter is playing a boldly atmospheric electro-mod-rock. Finishing off the line up is the Summer Cannibals. The youngest group on the bill, this band of new comers to the Portland scene has some of the greatest potential I've seen in years. Having caught one of their recent shows I was blown away by the powerful nature of their crunchy fuzz rock and the Honestly raw sensuality of front woman Jessica Boudreaux. This is one of those show where you'll want to get there early to catch all the great music. So come on down and have dinner at one of the many amazing eateries lining Mississippi and make a night of it before you have to start another week of the grind.  

Quick Pick: King Dude @ Mississippi Studios 03/27

Wednesday, March 27th
King Dude
Of The Wand And The Moon / A Story of Rats
Mississippi Studios
3939 N. Mississippi
Doors: 8PM / Show: 9PM
Adv.: $8 / Day Of: $10
21 & Over

Channeling elements of Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison, the tombstone country folk of King Dude is a darkly mournful sound filled with the ache of train whistles and ghost tow wails. A purely organic musical form this is rock'n'roll before it found its danceable rhythm.  Fresh on the heels of his latest album Burning Daylight he is playing a few limited west coast dates including a show this Wednesday evening at Mississippi Studios. Joining him on stage will be Of The Wand And The Moon and A Story Of Rats, two equally dark acts. So if you're like the rest of us and the idea of spring break is a distant memory buried under a 9 to 5 job and responsibility, take this opportunity to rebel against the system with a late night and some live music. 

Quick Pick: Ramona Falls @ Doug Fir Lounge 03/01

Friday, March 1st
Ramona Falls
Social Studies / The Ecstatics
Doug Fir Lounge
803 E Burnside
Doors: 8PM / Show: 9PM
Adv.: $12 / Day Of: $14
21 & Over

Tomorrow night, the warm walls of the Doug Fir Lounge will be oozing with the dream perfect sound of Portland's own Ramona Falls. Boldly optamistic and grande in scope the sound of this band is equal parts pop-addict freakout and  Bowie concept album. Fun without being frivolous, this band is highly imaginative as they proved on their latest album Prophet, released at the end of last year. Great on tape this band truly shines live.
Joining them for the night is two equally enjoyable bands, The Ecstatics and  Social Studies. With their slack-jazz smoky deliverance and building tempos Natalia Rogovin and the boys of Social Studies are producing amazing songs with unforgettable presence. Powerful in their own right this San Francisco band has been winning hearts and sharpening their teeth since their inception in 2009.
Opening it all is the energetic Portland duo the Ecstatics. Bouncy and beautifully spastic this band is getting some recognition having opened at the Crystal Ballroom earlier this week. This is certainly a show for those people looking to have fun. 
This strong lineup should make for an awesome show so take this great opportunity to shed off the past work week or if your like me, really earn the ass dragging at work the next day .        

Quick Pick: Golden Feilds @ The Crystal Ballroom 02/25

Monday, February 25th
Gold Fields
The Ecstatics
Crystal Ballroom
1332 W. Burnside
Doors: 8PM / Show: 9PM
Adv.: $0.94 /Day Of: $0.94
21 & Over

With the tribal energy of Midnight Oil and the artistic subtleties of Ah-Ha the band Golden Fields is sure to be the next powerhouse from down under. Combining all the right elements this band is on the brink of breaking out. Dynamically energetic Golden Fields has all the brow furrowing thought of alternative rock with the motivating rhythm that will make you want to dance. Fresh on the heels of their latest album Dark Again the band is burning through their US tour. Rightfully so, they'll be playing tonight's 94.7NRK's I Saw Them When showcase at the Crystal Ballroom.
Sharing the stages is Portland's The Ecstatics, with their electric jive guitar freakout. True to their name this band is ecstatic in nature with all the fun that comes with it. I know it's a Monday night but for the unbelievable price of 94 cents you can't miss the chance to catch these 2 bands. So tell that responsible part of your brain to sit on it and come out and dance.  

Quick Pick: Crushed Out @ Mississippi Studios 01/31

Thursday, January 31st
Crushed Out
Desert Noises / Summer Cannibals
Mississippi Studios
3939 N. Mississippi
Doors: 8PM / Show: 9PM
Adv.: $6 / Day Of: $8
21 & Over

The bare bones garage rock of Crushed Out is an energetic whirlwind of building momentum. Ripe with gain lovely guitar and wildly driving beats, their music has all the groove and attitude of Mick Jagger's hips in 1963. Based out of New York this duo should not be underestimated. Powerful and sassy, Frank Hoier and Moselle Spiller make fun sexy songs. Not just another White Stripes,Crushed Out has a classic feel that tributes both two part blues and the Endless Summer sway of 50's beach rock.
Luckily Portland will get the chance to see them live this Thursday, January 31st at Mississippi Studios. Joining them on stage is the thick sultry go-go rock of Portland's own Summer Cannibals and the broad-sky highway rock of the Desert Noises. Combined this should be an awesome night of great music and a wonderful way to get your engines revved up for the weekend. So get your party shoes on and don't forget to support the music with a few buck at the merch booth.       

Quick Pick: Friday, June 15th

Friday, June 15th
Rockabilly Rally Jam
(Go Ballistic / The Back Alley Barbers/ The Koozies/ The Hardcount)
Tiger Bar
317 NW Broadway
Show: 9PM
Cover: $7
21 & Over

Hollow bodied Gretsch guitars, pompadours, Lucky Strikes in rolled up sleeves and tattooed rockabilly girls dressed to the 9's. These are some of my favorite things. Which makes this show at Tiger Bar that much more appealing. Celebrating Portland International Raceway's Rose Cup, this evening is going to be filled with the speedway rock'n'roll that gets the blood going and makes you feel bad in all the right ways.
On the bill is some to the best dragster rock and psycho-billy the northwest has to offer. Headlining the show is the maddening guitar speed of Portland's own Go Ballistic. Full throttled and out to thrill this band is going to run you over with 2 tons of pure power.
Just as amazing is the supporting acts of the evening.  Serenading the crowd will be the soulful strut of Salem's The Back Alley Barbers with the haunting vocals and sexuality of Queen Pirate and the solid sound of her motley crew.While Seattle's The Hardcount's mix of one part Bon Scott, two parts Johnny Cash is going to shock and amaze. Though, I have to admit, the band I'm most excited to see is The Koozies. Very likely one of the best bands to see live these boys form Eugene are all about the fun and Tuan plays the Mandolin like it's a Gibson Les Paul and he's Jimmy Page.
So do yourself a favor.  Start your weekend off right and make your way down to the Tiger Bar. Like a race track wreck, you might feel it in the morning but it's going to be one thrilling ride.