Tuesday Dould Feature: The Black Angels "Better Off Alone" & Cody Bebee &The Crooks " Hold The Line"

Since we focused on opening acts in The Triple Crown, this week's Tuesday double Feature has videos by two of the headlining acts.

The Black Angels - "Better Off Alone"



The murky dredge rock of the Black Angels is thickly atmospheric psychedelic layered on tightly woven fuzz guitars and top heavy rhythm. Touring in support of their latest album Indigo Meadow, the band will be headlining at the Wonder Ballroom with Wall of Death and Hanni El Khatib on Wednesday May 15th. You can find the details in our latest Installment of The Triple Crown.

Cody Bebee & The Crooks - "Hold The Line"



The working class rock n roll of Cody Bebee & The Crooks is thick with blood, sweat and unruly guitar. Built with root elements of blues and down home rock this is the music of the back breaking masses. These are the anthems of those with grease beneath their nails, whiskey in their veins and those who still believe in baseball, apple pie and the American dream. Beebe will be playing the Doug Fir Lounge this Saturday night celebrating the release of their latest album Out Here. Check out The Triple Crown for the details.

The Triple Crown: 05/06 - 05/19

In this edition of The Triple Crown we're highlighting some of the amazing bands that are playing opening slots in the next two weeks. With richly vibrant music and top-notch live shows, these bands are worth the price of admission on their own. So get to the shows early because the you'll not want to miss a note. 



Saturday, May 11th
Super Water Sympathy
Redwood Son / Cody Beebe & The Crooks(Headliners)
Doug Fir Lounge
830 E Burnside St
Doors: 8PM / Show: 9PM
Adv.: $10 / Day Of: $12
21 & Over 

The dreamy self-styled water pop of the Louisiana based Super Water Sympathy is boldly ripe with emotions. With the ability to rage like flood waters or fall hapless like soft rain, the music of this band is a wonderfully malleable thing that has the beauty of a waterfall and the cleansing properties of a baptism. Fronting the band is the wonderfully fluid sirens call of Ansley Hughes whose luscious tones are unforgettable. Touring on the heals of their sophomore release Hydrogen Child the band will be opening for the roots-rock powerhouse of Cody Beebe & the Crooks. Known for their working class anthems and the lovely crunch of their blues guitar rock the band will be celebrating the release of their own latest album Out Here. Finishing out the lineup is the folk pop of Portland's own wonderfully talented  Redwood Son. With a pairing like this the night should be unforgettable.






Wednesday, May 15th
Hanni El Khatib
Wall of Death / The Black Angels(Headliners)
Wonder Ballroom
128 NE Russell St
Doors: 7:30PM / Show: 8PM
Adv.: $16 / Day Of: $18
21 & Over

The fuzzedelic garage rock of LA based Hanni El Khatib has all the guitar crunch and unabashed rhythm you want to in your music. Boldly aggressive and wildly energetic this is the soundtrack of crime sprees and dive bar brawls. Dirty in all the right ways the concussive power of Khatib will grab your attentions with an evil eye and an switch blade smile. A perfect compliment to the headlining act The Black Angels whose murky dredge rock holds all manner of hidden secrets and buried bodies.You might want to tuck a little money in the bottom of your shoe, cause with a show like this who knows where you'll wake up. While you're their make sure to pickup a copy of Hanni El Khatib's new album Head in the Dirt .
Make no mistake, the damage your going to sustain from this show will last for years but the stories will make you a legend. 
      




Friday, May 17th
Sassparilla
World's Finest / The Quick & Easy Boys(Headliners)
Wonder Ballroom
128 NE Russell St
Doors: 8PM / Show: 9PM
Adv.: $11 / Day Of: $12
 21 & Over

If you haven't seen Sassparilla  live, it's a damn shame. Quite easily one of the best stage shows in Portland, this wild roots rocking jug band is unforgettable. Their sweet mix of juke-joint blues and prohibition jazz is fueled by authentically potent emotions. Armed with the instruments of a by gone era including a wash board, cigar box guitar and washtub bass, Sassparillia brings their classic sound to the modern day with clear and powerful amplification. Like a roving band of carpet-baggers Sassparillia, seems hellbent on finding some sort of salvation in the loving embrace of an audience.Their set, no matter how short should be a highlight of this uniquely eclectic show at the Wonder Ballroom. Also on the bill is fellow openers World's Finest with their broad musical influences and the wildly fun Quick & Easy Boys holding the headlining slot. This show is the perfect ending for an amazing Triple Crown so make sure you pace yourself so you can make it through three of these awesome shows.

Cure for the Mondays: Kate Nash - "Pumpkin Soup"

Kate Nash - "Pumpkin Soup"

A little bit of whimsey to get you through your Monday.



The amazingly unique song writing of Brittan's Kate Nash is both fun and honest. Having just self-released her third album Girl Talk in early March, Nash is touring in support. Lucky for us we won't have to wait long for our chance to see her as she'll be playing Mississippi Studios next Monday night. Don't miss your chance to see this award winning musician here in our own backyard.
Here are the show details:
Monday, May 13
Mississippi Studios
3939 N Mississippi
Doors:7PM / Show:8PM
Adv.:$15 / Day Of: $15
21 & Over

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.  

Tuesday Double Feature: Bleached "Next Stop"& Kim Baxter "Devil On My Side"

This week's Tuesday Double Feature focuses on two female garage pop acts coming to Portland this week. So take a listen, dust off your mod wear and get yourself to a show.

Bleached - "Next Stop"


Made up of Jennifer and Jessie Calavin, the LA sister act Bleached are cruising high with their sun baked garage pop. Having just released their debut album Ride Your Heart on the Dead Oceans label, the ladies are on the road in support. They'll be playing the Star Theater this Friday, May 3rd.
Details:
Doors:8:30PM / Show:9PM
Adv.: $5/ Day Of: $5
21 & Over


Kim Baxter - "Devil On My Side"


No stranger to the Portland music scene, Kim Baxter spent ten years in the All Girl Summer Fun Band. Now on her own, Baxter released her first solo album last spring The Tale of Me and You with the recent vinyl re-release on the German label Expect Candy. She'll be playing Sunday, May 5th at Mississippi Studio with Hurry Up and the Summer Cannibals.
Details:
Doors: 8PM/ Show:9PM
Adv.: $5/ Day Of: $5
21 & Over

Cure For the Mondys: Juliet Simms - "Wild Child"

Juliet Simms - "Wild Child"

On Monday morning who doesn't want to go wild.



Lead singer of the long suffering band the Automatic Loveletter, Juliet Simms became a household name as runner up on the second season of the reality TV show the Voice. A sultry rock queen Simms has a bold and powerful energy to her music. A fact that is sure to be apparent on her debut solo album set for release later this year. This summer will also see her return to the Vans Warp Tour stage with a few select dates set for July. So keep your eyes and ears open and don't forget to let your wild child run once in a while.

About Last Night: Palma Violetes @ Holocene 4/25

Last night I a received a rock n roll omen by way of the radio and in my experience these things are rare and hard to decipher. So I was tentative as I walked into the Holocene. I’ve never been in the venue before, its unique layout and white washed décor was a bit unusual but possibly more due to the fact that I’m use to seeder venues.  
First on stage was the Eidolons, and from the first notes I could tell they’d be the jangly hipster depression rock synonymous with Portland. Never pushing beyond the veil where true emotions seethes and cries out with a primal force, their music did nothing for me. For goodness sakes the singer never went above a mic chomping drone. The few times the band did get after a song they’d change tempo half way through and lose all momentum. All I can say is that they had some fairly nice equipment. So my suggestions to the band is go out and get your heart good and busted, drink some whiskey, get angry and take one of those really nice guitars and learn to play the hell out of it.

As you can guess with a opener like this It made me a little bit nervous when the Guards began to set their stage but once the band boldly dashed into their first song I began to feel more like I was at a rock show. Brooklyn based the Guards played their dreamscape mod rock with the drive and conviction of a modern day band of gypsies. Shrouded in smoke and darkness this band relied on the magic of their music. The boldness of Richie Folin’s showmanship mixed with the aloof sensuality of Kaylie Church created a stage mysticism whose building energy was like an intoxicating storm. The richness of their atmospheric psychedelic was well worth a trip to the merch booth. All I can say is thank God the Guard were better than the band before cause if not I might have been tempted to leave in which case I would have missed out on one of the best show I’ve seen yet this year.

Now the Guards might have brought the fire to the stage, but the Palma Violets brought napalm to blow it all to hell. I had heard the whispers from SXSW but it wasn’t until the band stepped to the stage and threw themselves into their first notes that I knew it was all true and the party really got started. What this four-piece can do on stage is short of a miracle. Raw, wild, and boisterous this band has tapped a vein of rock n roll that was feared dried up long ago. Bounding across the stage with what seemed like endless energy all the while playing some of the best music the audience had heard in some time it wasn’t long before we were all bouncing along with the band. I’m not saying the lame were made to walk but there were two people on crutches that through them away to join the dancing. Really, this was one of the most fun shows I’ve ever been to. I have to say if you get the chance to see this band do everything that you can short of trading your left nut, but I guess it worked wonders for a certain cyclist.

So lessons learned, The Palma Violets are with out equal and I’ll trust in rock n roll omens and search for them diligently is the static rich airways of my radio.