Holy Shit: Gorillaz Tour Hits the NW

This is big, like really really big. You probably have a better chance of seeing another Blur reunion than catching Damon Albarn with the Gorillaz live again. This could be their last album and tour. In the past, they have rarely played more than a handful of shows, so this is the exception. It is a bit expensive bringing 40 people on tour with you.

Their newest album, Plastic Beach, is pretty darn great. I'm drilling my brain trying to think of a show hitting the NW bigger than this, but the only acts I can think of are U2 (who they replaced as the headliner at Glastonbury), reunion bands who are not yet reunited (Talking Heads, Led Zeppelin), and maybe that one dude who doesn't like playing live music anymore (David Bowie). Okay, if you are over 40, you can name another fourteen or so almost dead guys who are bigger than this.

On the "Least Biggest Surprise" meter, another huge act is skipping Portland because the arenas here suck ass. Time for another road trip.


Key Arena, Seattle
Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010
$48.50 to $89

Rogers Arena, Vancouver (BC)
Wednesday, November 3rd, 2010
$65 to $106 (CA)

New Shows: Cowboy Junkies, Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan, Kimya Dawson, Apocalyptica

Cowboy Junkies

Aladdin Theater, Portland
Wednesday, October 6th, 2010
$35

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Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan

If your opinion of Mark Lanegan ranges anywhere from "indifferent" to "dislike," call your doctor and arrange to have your taste buds tested. There is a decent chance you have none left.

Doug Fir, Portland
Wednesday, October 27th, 2010
$18

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Kimya Dawson

King Buzzo's solo project.

Wonder Ballroom, Portland
Saturday, August 21st, 2010
$14

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Apocalyptica

What happens when three cellists tell their parents to fuck off and create a metal band? Orchestras are for pussies anyway.

Roseland, Portland
Sunday, September 12th, 2010
$20

New Shows: Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, EOTO, Surfer Blood/The Drums

Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros

Music that old folks and youngsters alike can rock along to, listening to this crew sounds all too familiar. It's mostly the 60's free love sound that appeals to the oldsters, and probably not Ima Robot, since Edward Sharpe is the same guy. I know, it's odd.

It is nearly impossible to listen to the song "Home" more than twice without getting it stuck to your brain, ala "Hit Me Baby One More Time." During the Sasquatch! Music Festival this year, more people at the campground were singing or playing "Home" than MGMT's "Kids!"

You also might recognize another song of theirs from the Ford Fiesta commercials. I'm not going to say this band will blow you away live (yet), but this will be a fist pumping good old time. Just be sure to practice which beat you should be raising your hand. They'll help you out.

Wonder Ballroom, Portland
Thursday, September 2nd, 2010
$18

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EOTO

String Cheese Incident fans unite. This spin off electronic jam band duo should keep the crowd moving. I really hope they play my favorite songs.

Alright, that was a joke, they don't actually play songs.

Wonder Ballroom, Portland
Friday, October 1st, 2010
$18

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Surfer Blood/The Drums

If you miss your chance to catch Surfer Blood at the MusicFestNW Nike Showcase, here's your next chance. Their recent album Astro Coast will be seen on many best of year end lists. This will be their fourth appearance in the NW this year, a bit odd for a band from Florida.

Wonder Ballroom, Portland
Sunday, October 3rd, 2010
$13

New Shows: O.A.R., Neon Indian, Felice Brothers

O.A.R.

Hippies unite. Are you ready for a three hour show consisting of four songs? Deodorant optional.

Roseland Theater, Portland
Thursday, October 7th, 2010
$27.50 - $37.50

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Neon Indian

Wonder Ballroom, Portland
Tuesday, Septemeber 28th, 2010
$15

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Felice Brothers

These guys are a blast. Their lead singer's voice is often compared to Bob Dylan, but it's more the style rather than the actual sound. If anything, his raspy voice is as unique as it comes. Expect several slower tempo songs featuring the lead singer and minimal backing instrumentation, but when they get going, don't expect to be standing still. They feature an accordion and a fiddle when they really get down.

It's a tough call choosing between this show and the second night of the Black Keys. That should tell you how fun they are live.

Doug Fir, Portland
Tuesday, October 5th, 2010
$15

New Shows: Blonde Redhead, Built To Spill, Gaslight Anthem

Blonde Redhead

Roseland Theater, Portland
Saturday, November 20th, 2010
$22

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Built To Spill

If you've missed Built To Spill live the last few times through town, you probably live under a rock, have been in a coma, don't own a computer, or are married. They recently played their fourth local show in the last eleven months, now they are playing again in November. It's nice to see they have finally graduated to a larger venue.

Crystal Ballroom, Portland
Saturday, November 13th, 2010
$20

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Gaslight Anthem

Crystal Ballroom, Portland
Tuesday, September 14th, 2010
$20

Album Review: The National, High Violet

NOTICE: This review is ridiculous. I must have been drunk. You have been warned.

Statement made: The National can do no wrong.

I already knew this entering my first couple listens to High Violet, so I spent part of the time focusing on snippets of music that could be thought of as annoying. This proved to be very difficult. Matt Berninger's voice is one of the most soothing, and likable in music today, and his backing band is about as non offensive as you can get. How can they possibly make a terrible album?

Attempting to answer this question seemed more interesting than writing a traditional review. Digging deep to find anything annoying on High Violet, I turned to the concept of repetition. At the end of,"Afraid of Everyone", Matt repeats the word "soul" 32 times in 21 seconds. If he increases the count to 198, stretched out over four minutes, this would be our first annoying song. Just to drill the repetition in the ground, the word "do" is repeated 43 times in five minutes on "Lemonworld." Multiply that amount by six, shorten the song by 51 seconds, and there is our second annoying song.

Now that we have two annoying songs, we need to throw in a couple off the wall songs, mixed with some offensive tunes, then we're nearing a potentially terrible album.

Mock song list, The National: Fifth Reich, due in early 2012.

1. Bomb California
2. Guess Who Farted?
3. Hide the Duke
4. Soul Soul Soul Soul
5. Fifth Reich
6. Do Do Do Do Do Do Do Do Do Do
7. The Pope is My Eskimo Brother
8. Flip Flop
9. Bitches Ain't Shit
10. Is Your Mother Single?
11. Guess Who Farted Resolve

Mock Review

While the idea of band members switching instruments is not new, "Flip Flop" misses the most, and proves that Matt Berninger is indeed human. To be frank, he is a terrible drummer. I've heard it's because he keeps one drum stick clinched in both hands close to his face with his eyes closed. It's tough to keep a beat with one stick.

"Hide the Duke," showcases Matt breaking into his girlfriend's apartment hoping to catch her cheating, and his thought process when he finds out she is not home.

The most riveting song on the album is a story about lifelong enemies who become friends due to unusual circumstances. The moral of "The Pope Is My Eskimo Brother" is how petty differences can create misunderstandings, which can be overcome by a tight bond.

Then there is song number two, "Guess Who Farted?" The National really take a risk with this track, but I don't think they needed twelve minutes to get their point across. The Resolve concluding the album ends up being one of the most interesting song in the their catalog, and displays this song is more than just hot air. Who would have thought that the booming uncorked symphony wouldn't belong to the dreamy baritone of Matt Berninger, but the drummer Bryan Devendorf, who showed his diverse musical ability. Even more surprising was how the twins production was completely opposite, and makes me wonder if one might be a vegetarian?

Overall, 5th Reich is probably the National's weakest effort to date, but hey, it's the National.

Ranking: 6.1

Back to reality, it's impressive High Violet holds up compared to Alligator and Boxer. Everyone's favorite "Runaway" is a bit too repetitive to classify as one of their best, while "England" and "Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks" stand out as brilliant. Even though I haven't a clue what "Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks" actually means, I still can't help but sing along each time I hear it.

A bit on the sad side though is that High Violet marks the second straight album without Matt screaming. This means we may never get another "Abel" or "Available." The band also seems to have matured past the point of using curse words (fucking bullshit), which means we may never get another "Karen" or "Mr. November."

One small complaint is that they only have one rock song on High Violet, and it's one of the worst songs on the album. "Terrible Love" is their only attempt at making an up tempo high energy song, as there is literally no heavy guitars after this opening track.

The National is never going to make an album near the quality of 5th Reich, nor does it appear they will ever make an album as good as Alligator. Their next album will still be great, and will end up near the top of every 2012 top albums of the year list, just like High Violet will be near the top of the same lists this year. It's the fucking National after all, they can do no wrong.

New Shows: Guided By Voices, Modern English, Vaselines

Guided By Voices (with Times New Viking)

This reunion is being called "the classic 93-96 lineup." Bee Thousand is easily their best album, and just so happens to fall within that time frame, so expect to hear all your favorites off this spectacular album. That's the good news.

The bad news? You are old.

Crystal Ballroom, Portland
Thursday, October 7th, 2010
$27.50

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Modern English

How much is it worth to sit through 70 minutes of unlistenable music, just to see "I Melt With You" live? Is $20 too much? I need to work on my Molly Ringwald/Courtney Cox dance moves.

Aladdin Theater, Portland
Thursday, September 9th, 2010
$20

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Vaselines (with the Dum Dum Girls)

Wonder Ballroom, Portland
Sunday, October 24th, 2010
$15