Music  The project: Help Nucular Aminals Record With Steve AlbiniWho's behind the project? The surf-garage-pop quartet with the adorably malaproptastic name, Nucular Aminals. Why do they want your money? The band has secured some studio time in Chicago with respected pr...   More

Music Stories [ELECTROACOUSTIC] The lines separating traditional acoustic music and music that requires laptops, synthesizers or drum machines have been getting blurry as of late. The crisscross has roots goi   More

Music  Are you staring wistfully out of your office window, wondering when the clouds are going to burn off to let the sun take over for another glorious spring day? You're not alone. But, your friends here at Local Cut are here to help; help with some better stuff to ogle instead of the frustratingly overcast skies. Start with a new clip by the first hip-hop artist signed to Amigo/Amiga Recor...   More

Music  The project: Sandpeople Euro/US TourWho's behind the project? Portland's own underground hip-hop collective Sandpeople, of course. Why do they want your money? The 10-person strong crew wants to book a tour that will take them through Europe (confirmed so far are Denmark, ...   More

Music  The vinyl record obsessives among you have been thinking about this day all year long: socking away money in a special savings account that your significant other doesn't know about, working your elbowing techniques to keep that sorry bastard away from that MC5 7", and mapping out the best route between stores for your best chance at exclusive swag and special events. Wait no longer, de...   More

Music  There are days...and there are days. Days like this one where I spend a good 45 minutes putting together a new Video Roundup and then close the browser window on accident and lose everything I've done. It's enough to drive a man to bite a pillow, I'll tell you what. Anyway...Just like the holiday we just celebrated, let's resurrect this sumbitch and move on forward. Starting with Ms. Ka...   More

Music  You want a quick litmus test to see how long someone has lived in Portland: ask them how they feel about a new Rebecca Gates album finally coming out. If they furrow their brows trying to place the name, you know that they're recent imports from some other far flung place. If their eyes light up and an excited grin comes across their face, they've been here for a stretch. Because for us...   More

Music  There's something poetic about the fact that Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly is known as a "quiet storm" band. The genre designation has to do with radio stations that would give over their late night programming to silky DJs playing smooth R&B and soul jams to help you relax and/or make your bedroom activities a little sexier. Maze has been providing such a soundtrack for over 40 ye...   More

Music Stories [ECLECTIC, SPIRITUAL POP] Here’s a poorly kept secret all music fans should know: As excited as we get about a band’s CD-release parties, by the time said group gets to the point of releasing    More

Music  Hearing The Black Keys and seeing their massive rise of success has been, well, kind of cute. What more can you say about a pair of dudes playing watered down blues-rock meant for Victoria's Secret ads and shitty frat parties? It's cute. Me, I prefer a shot of the pure stuff. The raw, unfiltered skronk that burst from the deep South and has been echoing through the world for 70+ years. ...   More