One World, One Wave

KBOO’s Sunday shows go around the world in 390 minutes.

Music Stories The charter for KBOO, Portland’s left-of-the-dial community radio station, vows to use its frequency to fill needs that other media doesn’t, bringing content to underserved groups. Tune in to    More

 

Wednesday, June 6, 2012 ROBERT HAM

Truckstop Darlin’: Saturday, June 9

How many twangs does it take to get to the alt-country center of a local rock band?

Music Stories [TWANG-ROCK] When Nick Foltz’s input dislodged from his bass during a recent Truckstop Darlin’ performance, he ran offstage mid-song in search of a quick fix. Within less than two tunes, he ha   More

 

Wednesday, June 6, 2012 EMILEE BOOHER

Primer: A Place to Bury Strangers

Music Stories Formed: In 2003 in New York City. Sounds like: A lovely sample platter of mopey rock sounds from the ’80s, ’90s and aughts flipped over and then rubbed into the carpet.  For fans of: Bauhau   More

 

Wednesday, June 6, 2012 CASEY JARMAN

Divide, Conquer

Illmaculate’s long-delayed debut album has guts—now can it find ears?

Music Stories Greg Poe hasn’t grown any—height-wise—since gracing the cover of WW in 2009. The Portland MC, better known as Illmaculate, is still 5-foot-5 with a crooked Blazers cap. And while he jokes ab   More

 

Wednesday, May 30, 2012 CASEY JARMAN

Emily Wells: Saturday, June 2

Wells moves beyond her classical/hip-hop mash-up reputation into new territory.

Music Stories [POST-CLASSICAL] For three years, Emily Wells has carried the Notorious B.I.G. on her back. In 2009, the Texas-born singer-producer went into the studio and, in her distinctive warble, recited t   More

 

Wednesday, May 30, 2012 MATTHEW SINGER

Mic Check: Destroyer’s Dan Bejar

Music Stories Dan Bejar’s longtime musical project, Destroyer, has gone through many permutations, from edgy, drip-dry pop to motorik showtunes written on MIDI synths. For 2011’s Kaputt, Bejar and company   More

 

Wednesday, May 30, 2012 ROBERT HAM

Mbilly: Saturday, May 26

William Helfrich tries to untangle his past and makes his best album in the process.

Music Stories [SINGER-SONGWRITER] William Helfrich woke up one morning a few years ago and realized he was a grown-up. It was something none of his previous life experiences—not going to college, not holding    More

 

Wednesday, May 23, 2012 CASEY JARMAN

Killer Kitsch

Guantanamo Baywatch mines the dirty intersection of surf rock and punk.

Music Stories Chevelle Wiseman had never played bass when she agreed to be the bassist for Guantanamo Baywatch, a handicap she overcame by...    More

 

Wednesday, May 23, 2012 SHANE DANAHER

Primer: Tycho

Music Stories Formed: 2002 in San Francisco. Sounds like: A Saturday Night Fever-style dance floor made of melting chocolate.  For fans of: Boards of Canada’s Geogaddi, anything on the Ghost Box label, Luk   More

 

Wednesday, May 23, 2012 ROBERT HAM

What Hearts: Sunday, May 20

A journey from old-timey Americana to pop that would rather not be called cute.

Music Stories [HOMEMADE POP] Julie Vitells grew up in what she calls “a pop-culture vacuum.” With hippie parents and a natural proclivity toward “old-timey stuff,” the young musician—who spent her ear   More

 

Wednesday, May 16, 2012 CASEY JARMAN