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Best Show Almost No One Saw: Matthew Shipp Trio
It
was quite a surprise to find Jimmy Makâs not even one-third full for a
rare Portland appearance by powerhouse pianist Matthew Shipp and his
trio. Granted, theirs is not the most straightforward of sounds, relying
on angular rhythms and paroxysms of noise, but to have it ignored by
the Rose Cityâs so-called aesthetes was downright embarrassing. ROBERT
HAM.
Most Batshit Stage Banter: Sun Angle You simply must see Sun Angle liveâif not for the local trioâs amphetamine psychedelia, then for its (figuratively) coked-up banter. At one show this year, drummer Papi Fimbres claimed to be âtripping balls.â At another, guitarist Charlie Salas-Humara told the crowd he wanted them âinsideâ him. JONATHAN FROCHTZWAJG.
Best Use of the Old Church: Pure Bathing Culture Deity or no deity, those old storied walls and creaking pews turned the bandâs already gooey sound into something downright spiritual at MusicfestNW. MARK STOCK.
Best Obstacle-Crushing Performance: Los Cojolites
Most Batshit Stage Banter: Sun Angle You simply must see Sun Angle liveâif not for the local trioâs amphetamine psychedelia, then for its (figuratively) coked-up banter. At one show this year, drummer Papi Fimbres claimed to be âtripping balls.â At another, guitarist Charlie Salas-Humara told the crowd he wanted them âinsideâ him. JONATHAN FROCHTZWAJG.
Best Use of the Old Church: Pure Bathing Culture Deity or no deity, those old storied walls and creaking pews turned the bandâs already gooey sound into something downright spiritual at MusicfestNW. MARK STOCK.
Best Obstacle-Crushing Performance: Los Cojolites
While
en route to Pickathon from their home in Veracruz, Mexico, Los
Cojolites were detained at the border just hours before their set. The
groupâwhich plays the traditional style of son jarochoâfinally arrived
at around 1 am and immediately took the Starlight Stage for a stunning
and energetic summer-night performance. EMILEE BOOHER.
Best Cover: Daft Punkâs âDigital Loveâ by Zoogirl
Best Cover: Daft Punkâs âDigital Loveâ by Zoogirl
After
an extended hiatus, power-emo supergroup Zoogirl played three shows
this summer before calling for another indefinite break. The shows were
rowdy and wonderfulâespecially when the daft punks covered Daft Punk,
and absolutely nailed it. ARYA IMIG.
Best Locally Memorialized Hip-Hop Hero: Adam Yauch
When the great Adam Yauch, aka MCA of Beastie Boys, succumbed to cancer in May, the music world lost a sage. In Portland, people responded by remembering his legacy. From a tribute bringing together groups as diverse as Doctor Theopolis and Pinehurst Kids to subtle nods to James Wintersâ viral re-enactment of the âSabotageâ video, featuring his small children dressed as â70s cops, Portland channeled its grief the best way possible: by paying homage to the art he left behind. AP KRYZA.
Best Locally Memorialized Hip-Hop Hero: Adam Yauch
When the great Adam Yauch, aka MCA of Beastie Boys, succumbed to cancer in May, the music world lost a sage. In Portland, people responded by remembering his legacy. From a tribute bringing together groups as diverse as Doctor Theopolis and Pinehurst Kids to subtle nods to James Wintersâ viral re-enactment of the âSabotageâ video, featuring his small children dressed as â70s cops, Portland channeled its grief the best way possible: by paying homage to the art he left behind. AP KRYZA.
A Tribute to MCA. Kids Reenact Sabotage from James Winters on Vimeo.
WWeek 2015