Music Stories [TECHNO DRONE ROCK] There’s a good chance that Ark of War—the debut album from local producer Paul Lynch’s one-man-band, ((In Mono))—has the most convoluted mythology of any record to come o   More

Music Stories [SHINY INDIE POWER POP] “It feels like we’ve been doing this forever,” says Brandon Johnson, lead vocalist for indie-pop quartet Priory. The statement is hard to believe because Priory, having   More

Music Stories [ROOTS POP] It was roughly this time last year that it became official: Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside was on a roll. The pop-Americana quartet had taken top honors in WW’s Best New Band poll,    More

Album Reviews [SHOW-TUNE TWEE] New Century Schoolbook is an orchestral pop quintet composed of what I suspect are ex-drama students. They are literary and enamored of the twee-er edges of pop, and they express t   More

Music On Saturday afternoon Matt Brown—Bladen County Records founder, man about town, and general bearer of good things—sent out the following email:
Subject: Wavves tonite
at bunk bar.
?1028 SE Water Ave. ?they play at 10:30. ?8 bucks. ?just one band.
...   More

Music Water & Bodies delivers on the promise of its deep Portland roots.

In 2008, Kaddisfly was within sneezing distance of the majors. It was a Portland band that never saw much of Portland, and with good reason: The prog-metal quintet had spent a decade touring and maneuvering itself to the cusp of stardom. There were side stages at the Warped Tour, albums released with an increasi...   More

Music Stories In 2008, Kaddisfly was within sneezing distance of the majors. It was a Portland band that never saw much of Portland, and with good reason: The prog-metal quintet had spent a decade touring and maneu ...   More

Music Pulling a stylistic fast one before bidding farewell.

[EXPERIMENTAL POP] Though landing a berth on PDX Pop Now!’s annual compilation CD is an auspicious occasion for any Portland musician, the members of At Dusk had extra cause for celebration when they found out they were to be included on this year’s LP: At Dusk’s members—Cary Clarke, Greg Borenstein and Wi...   More

Music Stories [EXPERIMENTAL POP] Though landing a berth on PDX Pop Now!’s annual compilation CD is an auspicious occasion for any Portland musician, the members of At Dusk had extra cause for celebration when ...   More

Music Untangling the roots of Portland’s Jaguar Love.

After emerging from the suburbs of Seattle in 1997, the Blood Brothers spent a solid decade at the forefront of Northwest hardcore. Before its implosion, the sextet had become a seemingly irrepressible institution with its maniacal song structures and strutting, fashion-conscious stage theatrics. By the time unnamed band drama br...   More