Whats up? Man Last night was super fun. My favorite part was playing Rock Band on Grand St out of the back of a "pimped out" Matrix. I have never played the game before, it seemed very unnatural, but I see the appeal. It was really fun to watch others just completely and utterly fail. I also had a blast with the complementary cell phone lights. I don't know how many people's eye sight I permenantly damaged, but I know it was worth it(shinging bright lights into your friends eyes is hilarious and fun!).
Anyway here are some more show suggestions for you.
Tuesday, August 26th
As many of you already know Dramady is playing at Valentine's tonight. What you may not know is that Pelican Ossman and The Bugs are also playing. This will definately be a worth while show. It is FREE but donations will gladly be accepted. The show starts at 9 PM.
There is a super cool exclusive show thing happening at Rontoms tonight. Its FREE and actually i guess not all that exclusive. But you do need to RSVP to it to be allowed entrance. Here are some details: "Drambuie and Myopenbar will present the first installation of Lost & Found. Lost & Found was an avant-garde film society established in New York City in 1943 which aimed to create a total multimedia immersion by pairing short films with contemporary musical scores. More than six decades later, Lost & Found mysteriously reappears in Portland and tries to recreate the bygone era's ambitious visions. The evening's program will feature short films by Jan Švankmajer and David Lynch paired with a live performance by a local musical collective A Weather, complimentary Drambuie cocktails and hors d'oeuvres with veggie-friendly options." Sounds good right? The event starts at 7 PM.
Or you can go to Pix Patisserie in North Portland to catch some FREE tunes from Super XX Man and Leigh Marble. I have lived in Portland for four years and I still have not seen Super XX Man play. Its ridiculous because I genuinly enjoy the music he makes. I have not really heard much of Leigh Marble but I know that he has played a few shows with Super XX Man which totally puts him on my radar of people to watch. The Show is FREE (and I'm pretty sure ALL AGES) and starts at 8 PM.
So if you see me at any of these shows come up and say "Hi".
-Ben
Super XX Man plays Pix Patisserie on Tonight. For FREE.
p.s. What shows did I miss last week that were to die for?
Would you or someone you know like to DJ the dance party I'm throwing for my brother's wedding celebration? It's hard to find DJ's online because you can't listen to their music.
The dance party will be September 12, 2008 (short notice?)
East End is having a show with some of my very favorite local acts Down South Sallie and Y La Bamaba are both playing sets. I have been writing about both of these ladies (though I am to understand they both have bands now) for as long as CIMTB has been around. Admittly I am biased as I play bass in Y La Bamba. But seriously ask other people and they will agree that Y La Bamba is something special. Drew Grow and The Pators' Wiveswill also be playing. I seem to reckognize the name, but I don't really know what he is all about. The show is FREE and starts at 9 PM.
The Tube is having a show tonight too. Their's is a little bit heavier though as Nanda Devi will be playing with La Fin Du Monde. I have seen Nanda Devi and it is a sight to see. They are kinda heavy and have some really cool gear. If you like any kind of post-rock or quasi-metal, come them out. The show is at 9 pm.
are all playing sets. You are gambling much at $5. The show music starts at 9:30 PM. So Let me know what I have missed and if you come out to East End, say "Hi".
I'll keep this short and sweet as I am very very busy (read = getting stoned & drinking beer and watching old nba games & bad mtv2 shows on veetle). Anyway, in case you missed Dykeritz when we played live @ PDX-POP we've got a couple more shows coming up in the very near future.
Saturday Sept 6th for MusicFestNW @ the Hawthorne Theater (All Ages) w/ Dirty Mittens, Copy and Dan Deacon
as well as
Thursday September 18th @ the Doug Fir (21+) opening for Starf**ker at their CD release with DJ Beyonda getting the party started before we go on.
Yes, I know, I know. I should have been a good blogger and embedded links to the venues and the other bands, but that's what's google is for. Right? Particularly as I am currently way too busy to do so.
Lastly, feel free to comment, but be forewarned that all of my posts, beginning with this one, will require super difficult captchas to separate the wheat from the chaff so to speak. Don't say I didn't warn you.
New Century Schoolbook Super Mini Mini Tour Hello everyone, this upcoming week I will be playing several shows with New Century Schoolbook. I refer to it as a super-mini mini tour because we were planning to do Eugene, Portland, Olympia and Seattle, but Seattle and Eugene decided to be super stupid and not book us, so here's the itinerary : on Monday the 25h, we will be on KPSU (1450 AM) on Arya's Sound Judgement at 10 pm On Thursday, the 28th, we will be playing at Le Voyeur in Olympia On Friday, the 29th, we will be playing at Exit Only and on Sunday, the 31st, we will be playing at Kelly's Olympian with rad Oakland ladies the Hot Toddies.
The Joys Of Modern Technology
Recently I haven't been out and about to any shows or anything like that, and I haven't been playing music all that much myself (though I did play through the first two movements of Widor's Suite in Eb on my flute the other day to bust out of a funk, and New Century Schoolbook has shows coming up end of the month) but I've been in a very thoughtful mood lately, and one of the things I've been thinking about is this... People in general (ie, people who love music, being the only people who count, right?) are pretty lucky to live in an era right now where it's easy to get a hold of the devices necessary to make some rad music and get it out there where people can hear it. This does have a downside - the accessibility of technology has lead to a glut of bands and it's much rarer now for a rock band to make their living that way.. but anybody with the will and means to save up a couple hundred bucks to get some gear and something to record with can make a CD or post on the magical internets and have their music heard, and that's pretty amazing. This thought came to me while I was listening to my ipod on the bus - (on random mode, my favourite way to listen to music) and the Modern Lovers' "Important In Your Life" finished, to be followed by "Haircuts In The Sky" by former? (they haven't played for about a year, but are putting out a new album soon) portland band "Noise From The Sky" - composed of some of my best and oldest friends, and I thought about how fortunate it is that I was able to listen to something recorded in my ex-boyfriend's basement. Today, as I was riding home from a late breakfast, I ran into my good friend John Lee and he invited me into his house to listen to some recordings he had made. I guess if there's a point to this, it's go take advantage of the awesomeness available to you, and make something cool. Take a moment to truly appreciate the rad stuff other people around are making. Put in a good word for your friends' projects. Let's share some love.
Favorite Portland, Oregon Karaoke
Here is a list of karaoke bars in Portland, Oregon. These are recommendations from CIMTB Readers and Bloggers. Leave a comment and give us your favorite!
Dr. Something says:Singing with Karaoke from Hell (live rock band karaoke) is great! They play at Dante's every Monday, and sometimes other places.
In terms of regular old karaoke, The Galaxy, The Alibi and Chopsticks III are usually a good time.
Ben Moral Says: 1) Kiknbaque Lounge - I'm probably biased by the proximity and the manager's propensity for free drinks, but I can't help but love the shit out of this place, especially Wednesday and Thursday nights for Karaoke.
2) Yen Ha - Rad little Korean restaurant/bar with Karaoke some nights. I think it's only on the weekends now, but they used to do Thursdays. I haven't been there in a little while, but the last few times I went, the bartender did one of the greatest renditions of Thin Lizzy's "Jailbreak" I've ever heard.
3) The Alibi - Karaoke every night, but less crowded than Chopsticks 2, closer than Chopsticks 3, less crappy than Galaxy. Also, buckets of beers, free food on Saturdays.
Karaoke from Hell at Dante's 1 SW 3rd Ave Portland, OR 97204 (503) 226-6630
The Galaxy 909 E Burnside St Portland, OR 97214 (503) 234-5003?
Chopsticks II 2651 E Burnside St Portland, OR 97214-1755 Phone: (503) 234-6171
The Alibi 4024 N Interstate Ave Portland, OR 97227 (503) 287-5335?
Chopsticks III 535 NE Columbia Blvd Portland, OR 97211 (503) 283-3900?
Kiknbaque 3536 NE M L King Blvd Portland, OR 97212 (503) 282-1833?
Yen Ha 6820 NE Sandy Blvd Portland, OR 97213 (503) 287-3698? (503) 288-3773?
CIMTB Team Building/Bonding
If anyone cares, this blog post isn't about Portland indie music. It's about love.
Cab Ride to the Border: A Memoir
Portland, Oregon's working class has a contempt for the upper social class like no other I've seen. The poor, poor dears if they only knew what it felt like to get cramps from holding fists full of cash! If those Little Beiruties spent a day in my Jimmy Choo's they wouldn't be so quick to judge. It literally took me hours to find a condo in the Pearl. HOURS!
Just the other night when the Harry Swindells-Schnitzer and I were leaving the Weiden Kennedy Champagne-A-Thon fundraiser for The School of The Americas, I felt a strange sensation. Was it that time of the year? My insides where shivering like one of those Street Roots volunteers. I clutched my tiny waist as we got into the strangest looking limo. It was short, with only four doors. Was this the new hummer I had heard about? No. That's not it. The interior was not leather. The smell reminded me of mother... Channel Numba 5 served up straight in an ashtray. I leaned over to Harry to ask him if we had any of that crushed aspirin he's so fond of shoving up his nose when he blurted out, "Let's make a run for the border!"
"Good lord Harry! Canada? This time of night? What on earth would we do in Canada?" Pamplemoose season was not for another month or so. Oh, how I missed scatter shot and gin parties up north. One year Uncle Jeff Gianola and I bagged a nice 4 point Pamplemoose. I haven't had that much fun since babysitting for Neil Goldschimdt!
"Kendell! Making a run for the border is a little trick I picked up from the kids at The Lakewood Center for the Arts. After a night of drinking they get in their parents Bentley's and drive to the nearest Taco Bell and order food through the window of the car!"
"Taco what?" What on earth was Mr. Swindells-Schnitzer talking about? I was feeling empty. Had I not drunk 4 bottles of champagne? Normally that does the trick but tonight was different.
"Taco Bell you drunk bitch! Taco Bell!" He kept shouting and pointing. The limo driver turned around and looked me right in the face. I hadn't seen the eyes of a limo driver in years!
"I don't make 'runs to the border.' It stinks up the cab." Cab? What was all of this gibberish I was hearing tonight.
"Darling Harry, I feel queer and all this eye contact from the limo driver is making me uncomfortable." I said, holding my stomach. "I think I am hungry."
"That settles it. Driver! Take us to Taco Bell at once!" barked Harry.
"Couldn't we go to Four Seasons or something?," the city was starting to look blurrier than usual.
The limo driver turned around and looked me in the face again. She must have left her manners at home along side her drivers cap! "Lady, this is Portland, Oregon. It's not my job to cart your sorry drunk ass around and take orders from your gigolo. You want to go to Taco Bell, suit yourself. You are what you eat, corporate, mad-cow, soul-sucking scum!"
I will end this story here because I can't quite rememba what happened next. I tend to black out just when things get interesting. Harry must have gone home on his own. There were yellow wrappers and what seemed a million little pieces of lettuce everywhere...
Kendall Cassadine-Shaprio photo by Annie Leibowitz for Vanity Fair
This is a video promoting a future dance tour produced by lizziemoves multimedia group.
More info at: www. lizziemoves. org presented by Lizzie Karr + friends (Gabriel Darling)
Tuesday, August 26th!!! 8-10PM @ Someday Lounge 125 NW 5th Portland, OR
$7-$15 sliding scale 5% pf proceeds to Central Asia Institutue
ALSO!!!
Tomorrow (Tuesday the 19th) is Incubator. Incubator is a kick ass, baaaad ass OPEN MIC! @ Someday Lounge 125 NW 5th Portland, OR 9pm til 11pm-ish If you want to try out some of your "stuff" and have a great sounding place to "do it" at, with a wonderful sound guy, you should totally come and check it out!
Ben Moral, CIMTB's newest blogger, reminded me that I want to put together a list of Karaoke places.
give me your faves and then I'll make a list of all of them.
The next time the Mayor of Funtown come's around we won't sweat it if we have temporary memory loss and can't think of where it take him! Yay! Then I can consult our list. It will be like a letter to the future
