Underestimate Capricorn and Aquarius season at your own peril, friends. While there are fewer touring acts coming through town this time of year, it's an excellent time to catch up on your locals. But what am I saying? We've got Uniiqu3, Steve Gunn, and Rehash gracing Portland with their presence this week! Plus a bunch of local talent to boot.
This show is organized by David "Papi" Fimbres (of local bands Orquestra Pacífico Tropical, Boink, Friskies, et al.), who will headline as part of his duo Dreckig with his wife Shana "Azúcar" Lindbeck, who make a trippy, groovy blend of Latin dance music informed by cumbia, electronic, and krautrock-infused music with lyrics sung in Spanish, German, and English. Notably, this huge New Year's Eve bash will also see a live performance from Portland-based neo-soul R&B mainstay Blossom,
Since starting at the Portland Mercury in February, I've spoken with dozens of people in various Portland music scenes, all of whom echo the opinion that it feels as though Portland is having a bit of a renaissance at the moment. Everyone is leaning more deeply into their artistic practices, starting bands, and excavating old projects no one ever thought would put music out again.
On Rollercoasters, The Barbaras remind us it's okay-and often more fun-to not have your shit together. Instead, they endorse a lifestyle of falling in and out of love, and falling in and out of lust, while staying in love with yourself, and who you are perpetually becoming. And flashing your boobs! Refreshingly young and femme, The Barbaras' deceptively complex take on twang country-a genre notoriously rife with misogyny, racism, and
At the time of this column's filing, I am 12 weeks postpartum, potty training a three year old, and exclusively breastfeeding a three month old. As someone who's already overwhelmed with the happenings of my inner world-while also being aware of the atrocities, injustices, genocides, wars, fascism, and disenfranchisement happening globally-I don't have much of an appetite for music "news" these days. Just give me the good stuff, slam it straight into my veins.