Portland Exceptionalism

The best local albums of 2012.

Music Stories Admit it: You love lists. C’mon, you know you’re reading every single “Best of 2012” piece, either nodding with the satisfaction of having your own opinions validated or boiling with anger   More

 

Wednesday, December 26, 2012 WW MUSIC STAFF

The Best From Everywhere Else 2012

Our music writers’ favorite albums of 2012 not made by their neighbors.

Music Stories Aesop Rock, Skelethon  The old-school indie MC breaks a five-year silence with a characteristic torrent of impassioned poetry over rock-influenced beats. JONATHAN FROCHTZWAJG.   Ava L   More

 

Wednesday, December 26, 2012 WW MUSIC STAFF

The Best of Everything Else 2012

We didn’t just sit around listening to records all year. Some of us actually left the house.

Music Stories Best Show Almost No One Saw: Matthew Shipp Trio It was quite a surprise to find Jimmy Mak’s not even one-third full for a rare Portland appearance by powerhouse pianist Matthew Shipp and his t   More

 

Wednesday, December 26, 2012 AP KRYZA

The Last of the Jewish Cowboys

The profanity and the profundity of Kinky Friedman.

Music Stories Remember Ann Richards? The former Texas governor, famous for the giant cotton ball on her head and for warning Girl Scouts about “Prince Charming on a motorcycle with a beer gut and a wandering    More

 

Wednesday, December 19, 2012 MARTIN CIZMAR

Con Bro Chill: Saturday, Dec. 22

Are these guys serious? Very serious. Sort of.

Music Stories [GOOF POP] You know Con Bro Chill is readying for a video shoot when it looks like a rainbow exploded in the band’s garage. Neon-colored duct tape—a motif running through the five YouTube hits   More

 

Wednesday, December 19, 2012 MATTHEW SINGER

Primer: Paul Di’Anno

Music Stories Born: In 1958 in London.
Sounds like: Early Iron Maiden songs performed by less capable players who have not taken very good care of themselves.
For fans of: Iron Maiden, Blaze Bayley, Tim “Ripper
   More

 

Wednesday, December 19, 2012 NATHAN CARSON

Garage Days

Portland’s Woolen Men graduate from tapes to vinyl. Is world domination next?

Music Stories Stuffed into a booth at My Father’s Place, the three men who make up the Woolen Men wear serious expressions as they talk about touring and their place in the continuum of Portland’s punk- and   More

 

Wednesday, December 12, 2012 ROBERT HAM

Primer: Kreayshawn

Music Stories Born: In San Francisco in 1989 as Natassia Gail Zolot.  Sounds like: An undergrad exercise in hip-hop compiled by a fitfully charming lass of compelling backstory and rather more friends tha   More

 

Wednesday, December 12, 2012 JAY HORTON

Guitar Shorty: Thursday, Dec. 13

Fifty-plus years on, a tireless bluesman is still searching for the crossroads.

Music Stories [BLUES] Guitar Shorty gets no respect. Actually, that’s not entirely true. Among hardcore disciples of the blues, the 73-year-old singer and guitarist—did you think he played flugelhorn?—i   More

 

Wednesday, December 12, 2012 MATTHEW SINGER

Northern Exposure

A tour through the Vancouver music scene.

Music Stories Compared to spending a Friday night circling the streets of downtown Portland looking for a free parking spot, venturing 15 minutes north on I-5 and slipping into Vancouver’s city center at nigh   More

 

Wednesday, December 5, 2012 ROBERT HAM