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.

Cure for the Mondays: Best Coast - "The Only Place"

Best Coast - "The Only Place"

Summertime dreams for the better weather.



The Southern California duo Best Coast have been in a perpetual state of movement since their 2010 debut release of Crazy For You. With the highly praised follow up album The Only Place in 2012 and endless touring including a recent stent with Green Day, they continue to build an amazingly faithful fan base. In their continuous mission to spread their infectious energy this spring and summer hold a headlining tour and the release of an EP with all new material.  Right now they don't have any shows scheduled in the NW but we can only hope that the summer months might still hold a show for us.

Cure for the Mondays: They Might Be Giants - "Icky"

They Might Be Giants - "Icky"
Gamma-radiated hipsters, God help us all.



The kings of catchy pop gems, They Might Be Giants are at it again, with the recent release of their 16th studio album Nanobots. Just as fun and twice as wise this band is sure to make it fun to listen to music again.  Lucky for us, a new album means a tour this spring which will include a night at or own Crystal Ballroom in mid-June. So keep your eyes peeled because the tickets are sure to go fast.