Paul Laxer (Producer)

Typhoon’s in-house producer readies his masterpiece.

Music Stories The past year of Paul Laxer’s life is coming down to four plinking piano notes.  It’s a chilly Thursday afternoon, and the 28-year-old producer is in his Northeast Portland mixing studi   More

 

Wednesday, February 27, 2013 MATTHEW SINGER

Flashback: Patti Smith

At Crystal Ballroom, Aug. 5, 2001.

Music Stories Her performance of “Spell” that night, during which this photo was taken, appeared on the 2002 compilation Land. Photographer Jeff Bizzell recalls what happened after the show: “[Patti Smith] c   More

 

Wednesday, February 20, 2013 WW MUSIC STAFF

The Satin Chaps: Saturday, Feb. 23

Welcome to Swinging Portland.

Music Stories [INDIE A GO-GO] Much as one shouldn’t judge an album by its cover—least of all debut collections from mostly instrumental troupes born to flood dance floors— the chicly retro figures frugg   More

 

Wednesday, February 20, 2013 JAY HORTON

Lawz Spoken’s CHRON: Legacy

A weed-scented, hip-hop crime drama, with an ’80s sound and a ’90s soul.

Music Stories A suburban upbringing leaves lasting and vivid impressions that rival those produced by even the dankest of joints. Matthew Gonzales can testify. The Portland producer, known as both Lawz Spoken   More

 

Wednesday, February 20, 2013 MARK STOCK

Primer: The Residents

Music Stories Formed: In 1969 in San Mateo, Calif. Sounds like: The history of popular music and modern art as viewed through a funhouse mirror, with aspects coming into focus then warping out of proportion.&n   More

 

Wednesday, February 20, 2013 ROBERT HAM

The A/V Club

Eight Portland music video directors you need to know.

Music Stories Twenty years ago, it used to be that only Axl Rose and Michael Jackson could afford to make music videos that looked like glorified short films. Now, with the advent of the Internet and affordab   More

 

Wednesday, February 20, 2013 MATTHEW SINGER

Kenny Fresh (FRSH SLCTS)

How to blog Portland hip-hop and occasionally alienate people.

Music Stories A lot of people have heard of 25-year-old Portlander Kenny Fresh. Most don’t know why. The New Jersey transplant, creator of music blog FRSH SLCTS, has become a significant fixture in the Nort   More

 

Wednesday, February 13, 2013 REED JACKSON

Tomahawk: Wednesday, Feb. 13

When weird goes pop.

Music Stories [PATTON POP] Kristen Mystirie Calderon, a club hostess and makeup artist from Los Angeles, does not like Tomahawk’s new single.  “Tomahawk, your music made me wet—juicy even!” she wro   More

 

Wednesday, February 13, 2013 RUTH BROWN

Primer: The Presidents of the United States of America

Music Stories Formed: In 1993, in Seattle. Sounds like: Early Green Day without the fat basslines or affected accents; the Cars without synthesizers; Cheap Trick without all the heavy sociopolitical commentary   More

 

Wednesday, February 13, 2013 MARTIN CIZMAR

Peer Reviews

Four Portland artists critique each other’s new albums.

Music Stories Everyone’s a critic—even artists, who are predisposed to hating critics. So, with several major Portland albums dropping Feb. 19, we let the artists do our jobs for us and take a shot at rev   More

 

Wednesday, February 13, 2013 MATTHEW SINGER