East Portland Blog has been around for ten years and for at least 7 of them we’ve employed the motto, “Where East Meets West for All the Best.” It’s a fine principle, guiding us to better things every year. The mighty Peter Dysart is the writer who came up with that theme and he has …
Today, Waxploitation announces the reissue of Zoo Animal’s three full-length albums. Zoo Animal: The Complete Recordings contains the collected works of Zoo Animal with new artwork and bonus tracks / remixes. The first single “Gravedigger” is a preview of unreleased material from an amazing, yet underappreciated artist. Singer, songwriter, guitarist and drummer Holly Hansen created Zoo Animal in Minneapolis, after moving to the city from the …
What do you think about this sneak peak at my latest song out of Jamaica? I took this back to MY Roots. I have yet to try to sound Jamaican. I don’t see the point. I just have common influences. I feel the African diaspora in my blood. Even if my DNA didn’t come up …
AIDA is a Canadian based singer/songwriter originally from Paris, France. Of this tune, she says, “Toastin’” is about love, but more specifically, it’s about the importance of personal space in a relationship, and being in sync with yourself before jumping into anything with someone else.” https://www.instagram.com/aidasolive/
LOST CHOCOLATE LAB, the solo project of Damian Kastbauer, is now based in Seattle and has released a debut offering. Loaded with experimentalism, floating weightlessly between space rock, alternative rock and shoegaze with ambient elements, there’s something here for the guitar lover in you. http://lostchocolatelab.com/ Lost Landscapes by Lost Chocolate Lab
https://youtu.be/hOmZXG19Ets The commercial above is inspired. Nothing more need be said. Queen is said to have been the most educated band in rock history. Every member had at least a college degree. Brian May got a PhD. Queen, the movie, is scheduled for release on November 2, 2018.
“Simple Man” is sure to be a hit and will make Conn Raney a huge star. He writes from his enormous, red-blooded heart about family and identity. On songs like “Show Up” and “Simple Man,” Raney shows himself to be as tall, strong and life-affirming as the towering pines of the Oregon he once called …
My son Kyle reminds me that much of our attitude is a choice. We can choose to be positive or negative. We can choose to be jealous or appreciative. Entering 2018 I decided that I would be a more grateful person, more appreciative of the people in my life, the experiences I have had, and …
Baby NEIL YOUNG and his first girlfriend, PAM SMITH, 1964. Thanks to Steve Hoffman (http://www.stevehoffman.tv/) for this photo. It illuminates, in some small way, the unmistakable quality of innocence that has pervaded Neil Young’s music from the beginning to the present. In other news, Neil Young married movie star Daryl Hannah twice in the last month. The …
Going back to that magic place Thursday. I am recording with Mell Dettmer. She captured and crafted some of my greatest vocal performances, particularly in the last year or so. Listen to the vocals on ‘Jack The Ripper’, my Dennis Brown cover of ‘How Could I Leave’, ‘I Don’t Want to Leave’, ‘Free Your Mind’, …
This Thursday, I am recording on a Sly & Robbie Riddim for the Reggae Powerhouse Band‘s debut album. I gotta do what I do, because I hear this riddim the way I hear it: Listen Mamacita, You can call me papi Second coming of Daniel Santos, embodies The Rebel spirit, my blood is Taino a loyal …
Any chance to post “Both Sides Now” is a chance I’ll take. They don’t dance ’em like this anymore. Fans of “Bob’s Burgers” will recognize an early, chaste version of the Hiney Limey when they see it.
NEW SONG ALERT: I trying to get to Adam Kutchman‘s place in one hour to cut this song at his house before work. I know we’re all busy. I have just never been this busy. I know it’s just a moment, a grind. At some point it looks like I am heading out on tour with Reggae …
I love the Euro travelogue scenery in this video. Long Tall Jefferson is a Swiss songwriter & storyteller. He has been on permanent tour for the past two years, playing over 200 shows across Europe, captivating the audience with ambiguous stories about bad days, old friends and never ending marches. STAY A LITTLE LONGER is …
After channeling the 18th Letter on the previous single from his upcoming FER EP, Rock Mecca channels The Blastmaster and taps New Jersey greats Artifacts (El Da Sensei & Tame One) for his new single “Survivor Series (Remix)”. The unapologetic boom bap anthem 21- gun salutes all emcees who keep hardcore Hip-Hop alive and maintain …
Elyse Cizek New, Raw, Bold, Female Singer-Songwriter/Model/Poet Milwaukee–>Los Angeles +Debut EP Afterlife Available Sept 27, 2018+ https://www.elysejustelyse.com/ https://www.instagram.com/elyse_just_elyse/
https://youtu.be/CDYAqz603TE “After its release in 1970, the song quickly became well known in Jamaica. According to Brent Dowe, the song was initially banned by the Jamaican government because “its overt Rastafarian references (‘King Alpha’ and ‘O Far-I’) were considered subversive and potentially inflammatory”. Leslie Kong, the group’s producer, attacked the government for banning a song …
PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. – Legendary American singer, songwriter and performer Don McLean recently helped raise funds for Teen Cancer America (TCA) and UCLA Health. At the Backyard Concert 2018, McLean joined Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Van Morrison and Roger Daltrey, as well as GRAMMY Award winner Ed Sheeran and others for a once-in-a-generation …
On a smoky Saturday night I ventured to Seattle’s Pioneer Square to a club I used to frequent often thirty years ago, the Central Tavern. This 100 plus-year-old tavern was hosting a night of local ska starring Mister Blank (with former members of the now defunct It Gets Worse). As I’ve mentioned, James Sweazea (bass, …
I had a couple days to prepare for Aretha’s passing and this video, but find my efforts to be largely inadequate in the moment. Thank you, Ms. Franklin for being a voice from God. Thank you, personally, for teaching me how to bend words in such powerful, yet melodic ways. Rest In Peace, sister. Now …
Stingshark is part of the actual backbone of the Seattle music industry. It takes players, it takes songwriters, it takes engineers, it takes seasoned veterans to pass on knowledge and opportunities to the younger versions of themselves. Stingshark is frankly among only a small handful of Seattle artists that is doing all of these things. …
Conn Raney lives in Los Angeles now, but he spent some formative years in East Portland while his father attended Multnomah Bible College, which is now called Multnomah University and is located around 85th NE and NE Glisan. In Portland Raney first heard Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise” and life was never the same after that. Another …
Oruam is an Italian record producer, songwriter and DJ currently based in Perth, Australia. Oruam started working on “Looking Straight” while on vacation in Broome, he was locked up inside a hotel room while a cyclone was happening outside. The track features a mix of dance elements, from the soft intro to the breakdown and …
To be honest, making hot records make me fear less the hands of time and the strangeness of aging. There are old men, and then there are old men with hot records. There are guys like Willie Nelson you wouldn’t even recognize before they were 40. Well maybe there is just Willie Nelson. But as …
This video is a master class in fingerstyle picking. Watch and learn kids… Darling Cora herself says, “Here is my cover of Scottish folk singer-songwriter and guitarist Bert Jansch’s “Angie”, which was based on Davey Graham’s original “Anji”. Hope you enjoy!” http://darlingcoramusic.com/
Too Fast is the breakthrough collaboration of three seasoned artists- electronic music producer Cyran, singers K-Lien and Dave L- introducing a tantalizing new sound to the music world. At its core a bracing blend of EDM and Hip-Hop, their music is infused with bold topical themes to move even the most jaded, weaving a powerful …
My word, KEXP really scored when they hired Eva Walker as the new host of Audioasis. This woman is a mega talent and I absolutely adore her long view and careful study of history. It makes her music and performances hit so much harder than what a Hipster might do scratching the surface with same the chord …
‘FUNKY KINGSTON’ is sounding nice with Hold in Fyah at rehearsal. I am coming on stage to this Maytals anthem on September 12th at Nectar when we open for Israel Vibration & The Roots Radics at Nectar Lounge. Big show and a song that I want to make a part of my sets as my album West Indian Rock come …
Heather O’Neill is a supremely gifted songwriter working out of Chicago. Take a listen to her Transmute EP. A few months ago she sent her amazing acoustic track “Red Roses for Lady Blue.” I loved it then and still do. As I said, the guitar playing on this track is haunting and tender and perfectly …
Oozing attitude and commanding attention, PSA’s new video for “Ghost” embodies the bombastic spirit of the rising Seattle pop star. Cheered on by her team, PSA lambasts a love gone sour with tongue-in-cheek flair. Native to the Pacific Northwest, PSA embodies the creativity and freedom of DIY culture as well as the drive and ambition …