"Cannibals Week" Cure for the Mondays: Sun Angle - "Raspberry"

Sun Angle - "Raspberry"

How many Sci-fi references can you identify?




Marius Libman is a genius! -Marc Swart of the Summer Cannibals

The kaleidoscope sound of Portland Oregon band the Sun Angle's music is filled with erratically lovely energy that morphs through a sonically psychedelic tapestry. Wildly rich and joyfully fanciful it's no wonder someone started a record label just to put their music out into the the world. This video was created by Sun Angle's Marius Libman.

In addition to their work with the Summer Cannibals Marc Swart and Jessica Boudreaux run the Portland records label New Moss Records. Started in 2013 to release the Sun Angle's debut LP Diamond Junk. It has now become the home label of the Cannibals as well.

"Cannibals Week" Living Room Performance: Summer Cannibals - "Not Your Turn"

Summer Cannibals - "Not Your Turn"

Mississippi Studios

Portland, Oregon

December 8th, 2013


I can't think of a better way to start a week in honor of the awesome Portland band the Summer Cannibals then by showing you what this band can do live. Whether playing shows in support of their latest EP or continuing the work with their New Moss Records label, this band is building some amazing momentum that will not be denied. So enjoy this great live performance and let me proudly welcome you to "Cannibal Week." 

Living Room Performance: Vikesh Kapoor

Vikesh Kapoor

KEXP Studio

Seattle, Washington

October 8th, 2013




If you have some free time, here's a little concert of Vikesh Kapoor to get you over your hump day. Like a Bob Dylan for the 21st Century, Kapoor plays a authentic folk rich with story and voice. Beautiful with a uniquely rustic urban sound, you can here the ghosts of Guthrie and Cash in these songs. Kapoor will be opening for Eleni Mandell at Mississippi Studios this coming February 19th. Don't miss your chance to see this amazing artist live.

About Last Night: Summer Cannibals @ Doug Fir Lounge 01/09

Last night in the cozy confines of the Doug Fir Lounge, those of us willing to shrug off the weight of our work week and dreg through another miserably wet Portland night, were rewarded with an ass shaking, jaw dropping and mind blowing rock show.

By Mark Lawrence IV

Opening the night was the catchy garage pop of the Spookies. This was my first time seeing the band, and now I’m hooked. At times vibrating with a certain kind of eccentric pop madness, the bounding performance of lead singer, Mayhaw Hoons was a true pleasure to behold. Matching the wildness of his ginger locks, Hoons seemed barely able to contain himself at times, stepping from the mic to scream his lyrics with out audio enhancement so as not to overload the system. Energetic and fun, the infectious rhythm of their opening set leapt from the stage causing the audience to break out into random feats of joyous dancing. The uncomplicated dynamic of the bands single vocal set up has allowed Hoons voice to find compliment in the instrumental support of a band of awesome musicians whose focus is absolute in the music they are playing. The end result is a seamless tapestry of sound built with the tightly woven guitar play of Alex Arrowsmith and Jeff Lehman and the rhythm and sway of Nightmaren Couch and Colin Anderson’s Bass and drums that holds to a near perfect groove. The Spookies’ opening set was truly memorable and proved my long standing additive that opening slots are where you can find great bands.

By Mark Lawrence IV

Quick to follow was the bold punk sound of Hurry Up! True to their name the band came on fast and furious. Aggressively raw, this band is awesome and rightly so compiled of Thermals’ Kathy Foster and Westin Glass on drums and guitar and scene staple and The Bangs member Maggie Vail on bass. Every time I see this band I love them that much more and they’re quickly becoming one of my new home town favorites. As though connected on a harmonically psychic level this band’s music is built of a near perfect sonic architecture. Adding to the uniqueness of their music is Glass and Vail's trading vocals. The energy of the band continued the acceleration of the night as the house filled and the crowd grew more excited for the main event.

By Mark Lawrence IV

Finally the time came for the Summers Cannibals to take the stage and they took it with no quarter, launching right into their darkly rich rock ‘n’ roll. Celebrating the release of their new Make You Better EP, this night was all about them and the band was in top form. As always Jessica Bourdreaux commanded the stage with her vibrantly potent demeanor. Tearing through their set with pure abandon the Summer Cannibals were like a storm of sound and fury. Marc Swart and Bourdreaux both dug away at their guitars with an animal like aggression while Valerie and Lynnae's  grooves and rhythmic beats were hypnotically sensual in nature. Yet again this band proved why they are quickly becoming one of my new favorite live Portland acts. Even though they played every song in their catalog, leaving nothing for an encore. When the lights were brought up many of us wished they could have kept playing, the echo of such an awesome rock show so fresh in our ears.    

By Mark Lawrence IV

The Triple Crown: 12/31 - 01/12

Thursday, January 9th 
Summer Cannibals
Hurry Up / Spookies
Doug Fir Lounge
830 E Burnside
Door: 8PM/Show: 9PM
Cover: $5
21 & Over

The gritty mood rock of the Summer Cannibals is a breath of fresh air and further proof that Portland is truly a magical place if you love great music. With their boldly powerful songs and a dynamic stage show, this band is certainly one to watch in the new year. Celebrating the release of their Make You Better EP the band is commandeering the Doug Fir Lounge for an all out rock 'n' roll joyride. Joining them on stage is the ferocious power of Thermals side project Hurry Up and the throwback mod-garage rock sound of the Spookies. In all, this should be an amazing night of awesome music. So start you weekend a little early.  


Friday, January 10th 
The Reverend Horton Heat
Thw Nekromantix / Old Man Markley
Wonder Ballroom
128 NE Russell St
Door: 8PM/Show: 9PM
Adv.: $22 / Day Of: $25
21 & Over

Like a rock 'n' roll tent revival, this show at the Wonder Ballroom should be a near religious experience. Headlined by the amazing Reverend Horton Heat himself, he has surrounded himself with a lineup of awesome supporting acts including the phychobilly saints, The Nekromantixs and the Twangy rockabilly of Old Man Markley. With a line up like this how can anyone not have fun; surrounded by pompadours and dolled up rockabilly girls, one might consider this the perfect formula for a Friday night. 


Sunday, January 12th
Maria Taylor
St. Even / PJ Bond
Mississippi Studios
3939 N. Mississippi
Door: 7PM / Show: 8PM
Adv.: $12 / Day Of :$12
21 & Over

Th angelic voice of singer/song-writer Maria Taylor is a sonic slice of heaven.Compelled by a song birds heart her music is richly human, breathtakingly honest and has just a touch of the southern charm of her Alabama upbringing. You could easily spend a lifetime listening to her records but watching her in concert is so much more rewarding. Always a fun and comfortable experience her live show has the feel of a family affair. Touring in support of her latest album Something About Knowing, Taylor has brought along fellow artist St. Even and PJ Bonds to join her on the stage of the amazing Mississippi Studios. This is a perfect way to spend a Sunday night and with this sweet music still in your ears, it just might make Monday a little easier to deal with. 

Tuesday Double Feature: The John Butler Trio "Only One" & Red Fang "Blood Like Cream"

An oddly perfect metaphor for the changing years, zombies keep going no matter what happens. So this week's installment of the Tuesday Double Feature has some living dead videos for you to shuffle in 2014.
So enjoy and don't forget, two in the head and you know they're dead. 

John Butler Trio - "Only One"



Australian jam masters the John Butler Trio are known for their energetically upbeat music. With a rocking reggae vibe and a  folk heart Butler and his gang create some amazing tunes, while their live show is outstanding. Luckily we'll have a chance to see both with the up coming release of their highly anticipated album Flesh & Blood, which will bring them to the Crystal Ballroom for a show February 18th.

Red Fang - "Blood Like Cream"



The broody metal of Portland's own Red Fang has been steadily conquering the world one country at time.  Touring in support of their latest album Whales and Leeches, released this past October on the Relapse Record label, they are currently working their way through Europe. Unfortunately for us here in the Northwest the band won't be back home until the first spring rains. If we're lucky though, maybe they'll bring us back a travel-gift of new music and a couple of home town shows.

Cure for the Mondays: The Hard Lessons - "Sit and Argue"

The Hard Lessons - "Sit and Argue"



With the release of their latest album Start What You Finished (which we at BLS names as on of the 5 most anticipated albums of early 2014)The Hard Lessons are proving that in fact, you can improve upon perfection even after 10 years. Their Blues-slathered rock'n'roll has a soul marked with the fingerprints of Detroit's rich musical heritage. With the release of the newest album we can only hope for a possible tour in the near future. So, if you haven't heard of this band yet, stop everything but breathing and check them out. It will be worth it, I swear.