Cure for the Mondays: Youthbitch - "I'm In Love With Girls"

Youthbitch - "I'm In Love With Girls"

I'm not confirming anything, but there might be too many pictures of me in drag to run for public office.



The raunch-rock of Youthbitch is ripe with gain distorted guitars and bare bone rhythms. Their latest 7" I'm in Love With Girls was released on Dirtnap Records, the same label that brought us the immortal Exploding Hearts. Luckily, we won't have to wait long to see their lusciously fuzz-drenched garage madness in person as they will be playing Dante's this Friday for the triumphant return of My Life in Black and White.Check out the details in the Triple Crown and make sure you get their early because this show is sure to sell out.

The Triple Crown: 06/03 - 06/16

This installment of The Triple Crown is stuffed full of goodies including some wonderfully potent outlaw country, the celebrated return of one amazing Portland band, and the release of another local act's latest EP.. No matter how you line it up, it won't be hard to earn your triple crown if you don't mind missing a little sleep to catch some great  music. So cheers and have at it.

Tuesday, June 4th
The Parson Red Heads
Desert Noises / Said The Whale
Doug Fir Lounge
830 E Burnside St
Doors: 8PM / Show: 9PM
Adv.: $8 / Day Of: $10
21 & Over

The urban folk of Portland's Parson Red Heads is rich with a rustic sound. Acoustically masterful in their instrumentation  this band skirts the boundaries between pleasantly spars and perfectly layered. Vocally their lyrics are delivered in a warmly comforting manner that has the feel of a late summer evening. Refreshing in a  classical style this band and their wonderful sound are a joy to experience both recorded and live. A fact made sweeter by the celebration of the release of  their latest E.P. "6."
Just as exciting is the return of Desert Noises to Portland. Boldly powerful, this band 's music wonderfully pieces together grand elements of sound to form awesomely unforgettable songs. I had the pleasure of catching them last time they were in town and their performance blew me away. Also on the bill is the vibrant rock energy of Said the Whale making for a great night of music.    

Friday, June 7th
My Life in Black and White
Youthbitch
Dante's
350 W Burnside St
Show: 9PM
Adv.: $7 / Day Of: $7
21 & Over

This show at Dante's marks the triumphant return of Portland's blue collar punk band My Life In Black and White. This isn't the adolescent angst of your run of the mill mall punk .With a working class ethic, Dylan Summers' lyrics are the anthems of the hardworking masses with dirt beneath their nails and hearts filled with calloused handed dreams. This is the kind of rock n roll that makes you feel alive played by some of the best guitar slinging bastards that this town has to offer. This band could smoke a long list of internationally touring and radio played acts all without breaking a sweat. In my opinion this group is one of strongest bands to ever play this rainy city our. If you've ever seen them you know what I'm talking about and if you haven't and are reading this preview then trust my eleven years of musical coverage.
After a two year hiatus, this show is a must. Come and watch them shake off the cobwebs because it sure to be a joy to see. Sharing the stage is the is the rambunctious Youthbitch and their wild rocking energy.    


Saturday, June 15th
Whitey Morgan & the 78's
Denver
Dante's
350 W Burnside St
Show: 9PM
Adv.: $7 / Day Of: $7
21 & Over

Like the rebirth of outlaw country, Whitey Morgan digs deep from the influences of Haggard and Jennings. Rejecting the deluded travesty of the current CMT hick pop sound, Morgan plays true honky-tonk Country. Best heard in bars where the smells of cigarettes, whiskey and blood mix into a potent bouquet that is uniquely American in nature. This is the soundtrack to hard living, hard drinking and hard luck. Filled with heart ache and the wreckage of broken promises and dead dreams these songs still hold hope for the hard headed working class dreamers that make this country strong.
Opening the night is Portland's own Denver who's haunting petal steel and mournful vocals are the perfect musical companion to Morgan's headlining set. So order up some whiskey for you and your friends and chase it with a pitcher of beer or a bottle of wine. If you got it in you, take them both and earn your own triple crown.

About Last Night: Michael Dean Damron @ The Blue Monk 01/27

Last night was just one of those nights. I was tired, parking sucked and I couldn't get my camera to work. It's one of those night's when I wonder to myself why I keep doing this shit. But sitting there in the basement of The Blue Monk, I remembered that in the end the only reason I do any of this is for the music. There might not be fame or fortune at the end of the night but it doesn't matter when you get the chance to see a show this good.

Opening the night was an acoustic solo set by Dylan Summers. Best know as the front man for the working class punk band My Life In Black And White, thankfully his powerfully dark lyrics came across as equally potent in this pared down format. Singing a mix of My Life standards and a few newer songs, Summers highlighted a raw emotional well from which he seems to draw even deeper when it's just him and a guitar on stage. It's a treat to see that an artist like Summers has more than one facet. With My Life currently on hiatus, I look forward to seeing more of Summers solo work. I feel he is developing into an awesome song writer and was a perfect choice to warm up the crowd and set the mood for the night.

As Dylan's set wrapped up it was clear that the crowd had filled in nicely with family, friends and long time fans, all there to support Micheal Dean Damron. Like most of them, I too was there to witness and be part of his recording of a live album slated for release sometime later this year on the Suburban Home label. So as Damron stepped to the stage, joined by harp man extrodinar David Lipkind and Eric Kotilla on percussion, the room was nearly buzzing with excitement. Maybe he was feeling it too because halfway through the first song he forgot the lyrics and so in perfect Damron fashion he said "F**k It!" and launched right into the next song on the set list. I sure as hell hope they keep that for the record.

With that hiccup out of the way the rest of the show went great. Playing a diversely rich set, Damron tore into a long list of songs that included a broad mix of originals from the last ten years and some wonderfully unexpected covers from artists so drastically different as David Allan Coe and Concrete Blonde. Aggressive and raw Damron ripped away at each of these tunes with his wonderfully ragged voice and a passion so powerful we in the audience were awe struck as he gave new life to these songs we love so much. As usual Lipkind blew away on his harp with an unearthly vigor that took this performance and these songs to the next level. Over all this was an amazing night filled with the outstanding energy we have come to expect out of Micheal Dean Damron over the years. If the record captures even half the energy of the night then it might become, in some circles, as cherished as Johnny Cash: Live at Folsom Prison.

Walking through the cold night to my car, I had a clear and present reminder of what I'm doing this for. Even the day after, the songs dancing around in my head and body buzzing with the energy of last night. I count myself blessed, because life is better when it's filled with music this good.