An amazing act which I’ve just discovered, The White Buffalo (aka Jake Smith), will be co-headlining a Wonder Ballroom show in Portland on April 8 with the equally amazing Chuck Ragan, unleashing the local manifestation of what their publicist promises will be the manliest tour on Earth. Both the White Buffalo and Ragan rock out …
Month: March 2014
At the 2013 San Francisco Giants Fan Fest at AT&T Park, I waited the entire day on the field for an autograph, left empty-handed and resolved never to do that again. This year, I had my daughter Jillian with me and didn’t want her to endure such a frustrating and exhausting experience, so we planned …
Both Portland, Oregon and Austin, Texas pride themselves on being weird places to live. In fact, each city has adopted the slogan ‘Keep [city] Weird” begging the question, who is actually weirder? Each city will claim they take the crown, and no doubt there are some unusual things going on in both cities, but only …
The Chicago Cubs will celebrate the 100th anniversary of playing at Wrigley Field this year! Think of the historic events. Babe Ruth’s “called shot.” Kid K’s breakout game. Harry Caray. The collapse of 1969. Jose Cardenal’s afro. Sutcliffe going 16-1. Andre Dawson’s magical MVP season. Bartman. All of the aforementioned took place without a World …
Here’s “Trouble’s Lament,” the engaging first single off Tori Amos’ upcoming album, Unrepentant Geraldines, which will be available May 13. Amos will tour the Pacific Northwest in July with concerts at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle on July 17 and at the Oregon Zoo Amphitheatre in Portland on July 18. “Trouble’s Lament” is an eerie …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUj3hVWdpv0
Celebrity update: Yesterday I drove Austin Carlile from Of Mice & Men in my cab. I had no idea who this person was. At the request of his very tough female tour manager, I had to back the van up into a roiling human sea of equipment movers and fans in order to pick him …
This is from Seasick Mama’s new EP, Tip Top Shape, which can be heard here. There’s another video at that location also.
This is quoted directly from the video description, “A coalition of satanic players have mounted a cunning, occult attack on Christianity, and every moral system, through the entertainment industry. Music and entertainment play a major role in Satan’s plan to destroy Christians, yet many are oblivious to the clever and effective ways by which that …
This tune wasn’t produced by Bob Clearmountain but it’s got three Clearmountain Pauses or at least Clearmountain-like pauses at approximately 1:18, 2:27 and 3:10.
This Quiznos commercial has gone viral in the Philippines for obvious reasons:
East Portland Blog is run by a man I’ve never met, but have become good friends with over the past few years. Let’s call him Davey. And just to prove that Davey takes notice of what he puts up on EPB, in one of our email conversations the other day, he asked “So what’s going …
Funny stuff. Why is the long-haired cat allowed on the hide-a-bed and not the short-haired dog?
“Exuberant and rhythmic, somehow both wild and innocent, delivered with captivating melodic clarity and an irresistible playfulness,” says the Boston Globe about Hanneke Cassel’s playing. Such charismatic fiddling has brought the native Oregonian many honors and awards. She is the 1997 U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Champion, she holds a Bachelors of Music in Violin Performance …
Friday night, March 7, Seattle’s El Corazon hosted five explosive punk bands headlined by the infamous Richie Ramone, the third drummer for the Ramones (1983 to 1987). Richie began the set behind a large drum kit, but switched to being the front man with a mic while rhythm guitarist Ben Reagan (and probably the most …
Amtrak Writer in Residence Program Seeks to Put Creative Professionals on a Train and Take Them Away
Amtrak’s Writer in Residence Program is a great idea. I did this informally and on my own dime in the train equivalent of coach class in the 80s numerous times when I traveled between Seattle and Chicago on the Empire Builder, a train with a stout and classic name, and recorded the straight fire angst …
Former record label executive and electro-soul singer-songwriter Drew releases her new single “Plus One” off her upcoming debut EP, The Other Side. Produced and remixed by Robert Lux and recorded in the famous Cutting Room Studios in NYC, “Plus One” is the second single of her debut EP. Drew’s “Plus One” features a conversation between …
JONNY TWO BAGS, heretofore better known as Jonny Wickersham, guitarist for Social Distortion, will be appearing in PORTLAND, OR at WONDER BALLROOM on TUESDAY, APRIL 8th – opening for Chuck Ragan and the Camaraderie. Doors: 7:30pm, Show: 8:30pm. Tickets: $20.00 – $23.00. In January 2014, Rolling Stone premiered the lead track from Two Bags’ new, …
YES, this is it! The Hebrew language cover of the Del Vikings tune “Come Go With Me.” In the early days of Facebook I was looking for this tune and no one on the social media landscape would even believe that it existed. But I had heard it from Terri Gross, so it had to …
Can Arabic-language pop conquer America? A Tarzana ingénue and her power manager say ‘inshallah’
Take a look at the video below as it contains snippets of what sounds like a very promising new album entitled The Invasion Parade which has just been released by Cuban pianist and composer Alfredo Rodríguez. The album was produced by the legendary Quincy Jones and features Portland’s own Esperanza Spalding on bass. The one …
Ms. Cecile McLorin Salvant singing the Raymond Hubbell & John Golden standard “Poor Butterfly”. For more videos, photos, touring info and more, visit http://cecilemclorinsalvant.com/
It’s hard not to love this catchy tune and the accompanying spot-on performance art video. It breaks every boundary with such ease and simplicity. According to their publicist, “Brooklyn-based alt-rock/indie-pop quartet Folding Legs have just premiered their video for “Drown In Light”, the visceral title track form their debut EP (out now via KID Recordings)… …
This was really before my time, but I vaguely remember seeing it on TV at some point. You’ve got to hear the trumpeters play “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.” Also, Goliath’s voice and sardonic dog comments are fantastic. Davey and Goliath Wikipedia Page http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUrQfzZrqFA
When I opened for Nappy Roots recently it struck me on stage like a bolt of lightning that I should start offering free harmonica lessons at shows. Folks just need to bring a decent harmonica down to the shows and I’ll send em’ home smiling with a valuable lesson or two. It’s good to keep …
Thirty years ago today, March 2, 1984, the film This is Spinal Tap was released. This rockumentary, or mockumentary, directed by Rob Reiner, featured Christopher Guest (Nigel Tufnel), Michael McKean (David St. Hubbins), Harry Shearer (Derek Smalls), and a bevy of actors and actresses in guest spots. Numerous actors filled in the role of drummer. …
JOHNETTE NAPOLITANO will perform in a solo acoustic show, Saturday, June 14 in our beloved PORTLAND, Oregon at the mighty Doug Fir Lounge. Doors/Show/Onstage: 8:00pm/9:00pm/10:00pm – Tickets: $20.00-$22.00 www.dougfirlounge.com/ Johnette did a one-off solo show in New York a couple of months ago, then one in LA, and another packed one in Denver. Now, one …
Low on honeymoon budget? Check out these inexpensive honeymoon ideas and get that much-awaited romantic week off with your spouse. After spending a fortune for your wedding, it’s hard to imagine that you need to spend again for your honeymoon. But after the long and tireless wedding preparation, you and your spouse need to get …