Anton Newcombe talks about life and love Interview by Alexander Laurence | Photos by Angel Ceballos I did an interview with Anton Newcombe of Brian Jonestown Massacre in 2000. At that point the band was in transition. The initial lineup had broken up, and a new one had taken its place. Anton had introduced me to a lot of new music [...]
The Shins; King James, Version 4.0
Mercer reclaims pop’s throne with Port of Morrow It’s been a long time coming, but with the latest album from The Shins, Port of Morrow – the “band’s” fourth long player, it becomes abundantly clear that James Mercer is a master songwriter – and the one in charge. Who knows why it’s been five years since [...]
Sleigh Bells Slay Again?
Sleigh Bells first crashed onto the scene a couple of years ago. With a distinctive mix of blazing guitars, bass turned to 11, screams and high-pitch vocals, they sounded like Katy Perry hijacked by the guitarists from Slayer. Their first album, Treats, grabbed attention for its blend of sonic turbulence and pop swayings. Visually, the [...]
Tramps Like Us Born to Rock
Van Etten wows, War on Drugs channel Springsteen live in Portland It doesn’t hurt when Bon Iver covers you, The National produce you, SXSW adores you, and hip websites anoint you the latest musical “it” girl. That being said, Sharon Van Etten – touring on the strength of her latest, Tramp, didn’t disappoint a packed [...]
Spring Shows of Note – an Update
Friday, March 23rd – The Aladdin (the Friday night which “begins” spring break) Sharon Van Etten/The War on Drugs ($16): her newest record has been growing on me, but the jury is still a little out; they (The War on Drugs) are solid – David and I caught a bit of them opening for Destroyer [...]
The Golden Age of San Francisco Indie Music
The 1980s in San Francisco, and Heyday Records – An Interview with Pat Thomas by Alexander Laurence This week is another Noise Pop in San Francisco. This is a yearly event where for five days many of the main venues in the city have nightly shows featuring some worthy bands. They are celebrating their twenty-year anniversary [...]
Plumb Full of Prog-Pop
Field Music’s latest unearths more pop gems Brothers David and Peter Brewis (the core of Sundland England’s Field Music) have channeled numerous disparate elements in concocting their brilliant 4th long-player, Plumb. Hints of Yes and Steely Dan (chief songwriter/vocalist David even sounds like a young Donald Fagen at times) appear, along with their continued channeling of [...]
Jay Reatard: Better Than Something
The documentary on the short, but prolific life and musical career of Jay Reatard is playing now at little movie theaters across the country. We got to see Jay Reatard and his band at an in-store show at Jackpot Records in Portland shortly before his untimely death (murder). I’m glad we did, but it makes [...]
Y La Bamba a Musical “La Nina”
Luz Elena Mendoza’s band, on Court the Storm, bring latin radiance to Portland pop If you’ve already heard Y La Bamba (there’s a reasonable chance, what with all the positive – and well deserved – press they’re getting, including multiple plugs on NPR, where the album is currently streaming in its entirety), then this is [...]
Pete Krebs: Portland’s Lesser-Sung Hero
If you were into Portland music in the early nineties, you likely heard of Pete Krebs, or at least one of his bands. Early on, this would have been the heavy-bass sounds of Thrillhammer, but a more likely encounter would have been a couple of years later with Hazel. Featuring the dueling vocals of Krebs [...]
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