Vince Staples and Mean Jeans Are Playing Dr. Martens' Project Pabst Kickoff Party

Tickets are free, but you better get them ASAP.

By Matthew Singer

Each year for the last few years, Dr. Martens has hosted a free kickoff party for MusicfestNW the night before the official start of the festival. Past performers have included Killer Mike, Ted Leo, Mariachi El Bronx and Typhoon, which are all awesome.

But for the inaugural version of MFNWpPP—MusicfestNW presents Project Pabst for long—they've really gone above and beyond, with a double bill of Long Beach rapper Vince Staples and Portland party punks Mean Jeans.

Related: "Vince Staples Is the Present and Future of West Coast Rap—but in His Case, the Past Doesn't Much Matter."

For the uninitiated, Staples is one of hip-hop most potent young voices. Last year, his debut double-album, Summertime '06, got nearly as much critical plaudits as Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly. He's also a dynamic live performer, in addition to being one of the funniest dudes in music.

Mean Jeans, meanwhile, are Portland's answer to the Ramones—pop-punk idiot savants with a seemingly endless supply of undeniable hooks, power chords and infectiously goofy humor. For its new album, Tight New Dimension, the band signed to Fat Wreck Chords, which is probably the most ideal match of artist and label you can think of. And they're pretty hilarious, too.

Related: "Album Review: Mean Jeans, Tight New Dimension."

The show takes place in the parking lot of the downtown Dr. Martens store at 2 NW 10th on Friday, Aug. 26. Tickets are free, and you can get them at the store while supplies last—and trust us, they won't last long.

Willamette Week

Willamette Week’s reporting has concrete impacts that change laws, force action from civic leaders, and drive compromised politicians from public office. Support WW's journalism today.