The Triple Crown 6/14 - 6/28

This installment of The Triple Crown serves up the CD release parties of 3 of Portland's greatest bands. In the mix is a little junkyard blues, some hard hitting radio rock and the return of the best band ever. Make sure you hit them all, because what's the point unless you can walk away with the crown.

Friday, June 18th
Hillstomp (CD Release Show)
Yogoman Burning Band/Sassparillia/DJ HWY 7
Wonder Ballroom
128 NE Russell Street
Door 8PM / Show 9PM
$10
All Ages

Kicking with the power of copper coil moonshine the junkyard blues of this Portland duo will have the Wonder Ballroom shaking with the stomp of a hill country gig in no time flat. Built with the rawest of bare bone elements, mastered to the brink of perfection and charged with wild youthful energy, the music of Hillstomp is as rich as the Willamette Delta and sung from a soul as old as the river itself. Celebrating the release of their latest studio album "Darker the Night" the boys have planned a party that's sure to be the talk of the town. Joining them on stage by way of Bellingham, Washington is the Jamaican-style soul of the Yogoman Burning Band with danceable cuban beats and reggae like vocals to groove away any residual stress of the week. While the lively jug blues madness of Portland based Sassparillia rounds out the lineup and will get the crowd all limbered up and ready to go. Don't miss it and before the show swing into Russell Street BBQ for some to the best pulled pork in town.


Saturday, June 19th
I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch In the House
(CD Release Show)
Drag The River / Dry County Crooks
Dante's
1 SW 3rd Ave
Door 8PM / Show 9PM
$11 Adv./ $12 Day of
21+

Like a child of divorce, I've been waiting a long time for this reunion and finally it's here. After 5 years the boys of SOB are doing what God intended and making some of the best damn rock and roll music in the world. As for those of us familiar with the band, we can attest that every I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch in the House show has the power of a sonic Mack truck capable of altering the earth's rotation and draining the whiskey reserves of Lynchburg, Tennessee. Saturday night should be no different and marks the release of "The Sounds of Dying" an album some of us feared we would never see. Joining them will be their long time friends and new label mates, Drag the River whose world renowned country-rock is the music of beer drenched dive bars and the aching loneliness of the open road. Filling out the bill is Portland's own Dry County Crooks whose roadhouse cow-punk has more Johnny Cash to it than Clash and will start the night off on the right foot. Sure to be filled with a few surprises this show cannot be missed. After the show make sure you swing by Voodoo Doughnut, because it's not a night at Dante's without a bacon maple bar.

Saturday, June 26th
Western Aerial (CD Release Show)
Marv Ellis / Merrill / DJ Sexarkana
Dante's
1 SW 3rd Ave
Door 8PM /Show 9PM
$10
21+

If there's one thing these boys know how to do, it's put on one hell of a rock show. Whether in a packed venue or in a prison yard they 'll make it fun and they'll make it loud. Portland's favored sons of hard driving radio rock, Western Aerial is making the down and dirty guitar screaming rock that drives the ladies crazy and makes all us men wish we were rock stars. They might be pretty, but don't be mistaken this is one of the hardest working bands in town, having honed their music into lean muscular things that run clean and punch hard. Saturday night the 26th their going to be lighting up the stage and tearing down the walls at Dante's in honor of their latest CD "Try to Keep Up." Make sure you get your tickets early, but the night has a very odd line up with the NW hip-hop of Marv Ellis and the self-described "Happy Hardcore" of Merrill; so if you just want a dose of rock'n'roll goodness you might want swing in a little later .

The Triple Crown: 5/24-5/31

Wednesday May 26^th and Thursday May 27^th

John Butler Trio

/State Radio

Crystal Ballroom

Doors: 7PM / Show: 8PM

$25 Adv. / $28 Day of

All Ages

For two nights, the John Butler Trio is going to set the Crystal Ballroom a jumping. Propelled by the near tribal rhythm of their revolution rock this Aussie native will bring the place to life with his tasty stew of politically minded lyrics and perfectly executed rock’n’roll. Able to open minds while moving bodies this music is something everyone can enjoy. Who knew you could dance your way to social conscientiousness.

Opening the show will be Boston’s State Radio; a killer band in their own right, with an infectiously danceable rasta-rock. State Radio’s music compliments Butler’s threesome like the perfect wine can increase the pleasure of the right meal. This is a definite must see show. So pick a night or hit them both because whether you’re coming for the music or the message, with the spring loaded dance floor they’ll be able to feel the bouncing all the way in the Hollywood District.

Friday May 28^th

Laura Marling

With Patrick Watson /Smoke Fairies

Doug Fir Lounge

Door: 8PM / Show: 9PM

$11 Adv. / $13Day Of

21+

As powerful as the winds that blow across the English Channel and as beautifully subtle as the purple of a thistle bloom, Laura Marling will bring her earthy folk Friday night to the Doug Fir lounge. Blessed with the aged and seasoned voice of a person twice her years, Marling sings from a soul deeper than a Welch coal mine. The complicated emotions of her music are more than mere sorrow or joy and are sure to take on a new potency echoed off the fir log walls of the Doug. Sharing the night with the breathlessly hypnotic balladry of Montréal’s Patrick Watson & the Wooden Arms’ and the eerie guitar blues of fellow Londoners the Smoke Fairies. This night of beautifully entrenching music is a perfect way to start the weekend.

Sunday May 30th

She & Him

With Band Of Horses / Dawes
Les Schwab Amphitheater

Gates- 05:00PM | show- 6:00pm

All Ages- Tickets available Ticketmaster

$35 GA advance ticket.

Sunday the Bend night air will be alive with the ethereal sound of three wonderful bands including the lovely lullaby of She & Him. Like a June and Johnny for the hipster age, this duo combines the beautifully soft spoken voice of Zoey Deschanel with the tranquil music of M.Ward. With a classically light heartedness to their songs, listening to them is as refreshing as driving through a warm summer night with the windows down. On tour in support their sophomore album Deschanel and Ward will be sharing the stage with the ghostly rock of Seattle’s Band of Horses who has been making a name for themselves since 2006 with their scenically expansive tunes. Opening the show is the southern Cali sun-baked rock of Dawes whose organic vocals and cleanly woven acoustic music is very much in the style of Neil Young.

If you don’t have plans for the long weekend yet, this show alone is worth the drive. While you’re their, why not make a weekend out of it and take in some of the wonderful things Bend has to offer.