Here we go, another week, another Daytrotter session featuring a Portland band, this time semi-supergroup Blue Giant . Featuring Viva Voce's Kevin and Anita Robinson among others, the acoustic rock that Blue Giant forms crosses paths with blues, country and roots rock. Intimate enough to feel cozy, but appropriately echoed and surprisingly hard driving, the band kicks out some moderate jams and makes a perfect little mark in the studio. Below, check out "Clean the Clock," and go to Daytrotter for the full set. LISTEN: [...]
It's almost hard to believe that it is summer here in northern California and the Pacific Northwest, because it has been unusually cool, and even rained (which almost never happens in the Bay Area during summer). One of the best things about summer is taking trips to the beach. We're blessed with being only a [...] Read more, get songs or stream the entire mix on Indie Rock Cafe
It's almost hard to believe that it is summer here in northern California and the Pacific Northwest over the past week. But the unusually cooler temperatures, and even rain (which is almost non-existent in California in summer). Nevertheless, the rest of the country is enjoying the summer, and it'll soon be returning to these parts. [...] Read more, get songs or stream the entire mix on Indie Rock Cafe
The Portland duo's Kevin Robinson lends us his voice Follow Owl and Bear on Facebook and Twitter for contests, MP3s, and links that don't make it onto the blog.
Last week IRC presented the first springtime mix for 2011 (see 2010 and 2009) as part of the weekly Sunday 25 Mix. As we indicated then, there will be at least one, perhaps, two more springtime mixes, including today's mix, before it's time to unleash a new set of summer-themed playlist mixes. We doubt though [...] Read more, get songs or stream the entire mix on Indie Rock Cafe
The Portland duo will unveil songs from its new album at The Loft. Follow Owl and Bear on Facebook and Twitter for contests, MP3s, and links that don't make it onto the blog.
As you know, it's not "All Seattle, All The Time" here on Seattle Subsonic. We broaden (and shrink) our palettes like any other discerning, in-the-know music fan. Lucky for us here in Worshington, 180 miles downward is the perfect excuse to test our tastes. It's no secret that Portland (the OREGON one) is a hip, emerging town with more to offer than bicycle lanes and breakfast spots. A vibrant music scene is a keystone to any desirable city, and our sister town to the south has one of the best. If you slept on the Rose City this year, here [...]
I know that it's pretty rainy out here in the Bay Area, and also very cold, so going to shows is a tough thing to do, but I think that these options are worth braving the elements! Thursday, December 9th The Temper Trap, Sleigh Bells, The Limousines, A Silent Film (Club NSSN; Live 105) at [...]
Portland's Blue Giant made their first Denver appearance last week at the Hi-Dive in support of Bobby Bare, Jr. After performing their own set of indie country/folk, they took the stage a second time as Bobby's supporting band. Blue Giant's eponymous debut, released in July, is available for purchase from Amazon. Blue Giant 9.15.2010 Hi-Dive, Denver, CO Source: Microtech Gefell M3002s > Lunatec V3 > Oade Mod Edirol R44 @ 24/48 > SDHC > Adobe Audition 3.0 > Resample to 16/44.1 > CDWave [...]
Viva Voce was one of my favorite groups that popped up on my radar in 2009. So the fact that VV members Kevin and Anita Robinson are a part of alt-country/folk outfit Blue Giant gave me a good feeling about ... Continue reading
I went down to the Capitol Hill Sonic Boom last Thursday to catch the free in-store performance of Blue Giant . Led by the guitar-slingin' couple of Viva Voce , Blue Giant is a newish band out of Portland swingin' sweet, melancholic country rock. Kevin and Anita Robinson, it seems, just couldn't get the native Alabama out of their system without taking a turn towards the honkey-tonk. I'm a big fan of VV's last album, Rose City , which is full of nasty and nimble psych rock, but I'd never seen Blue Giant live. Their [...]
Because you asked; here's another summer mega mix to keep you entertained during the long, hot days, and warm, balmy nights of mid-July. Not much else to say; we'll let the music speak for itself. Let's go skinny dipping. "Race For The Prize" - The Flaming Lips "Floating Vibes" - Surfer Blood "Days Drag" - Holiday Shores "Cloudbusting" [...] Related posts:Summer 2010 Mixtape, Vol. II: Animal Collective, The Drums, Jay-Z, Magic Kids, The Flaming Lips, Spoon, LCD Soundsystem, Radio Dept.Vol Summer 2010 Mixtape, Vol. I: The Drums, Surfer Blood, Local Natives, Arcade Fire, Radiohead, MGMT, Beach House [...]
![New Music Tuesday [July 13th, 2010] – Dark Night of the /\/\/\Y/\](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/2682358_lg.jpg)
Pretty big release week here, as we have the heavily anticipated return from M.I.A. , some new Arcade Fire and Superchunk singles to whet your appetite for their upcoming records, the big Danger Mouse/Sparklehorse collaboration and the new one from much-buzzed School of Seven Bells , plus a lot more. Check them all out below. New Music Releases - July 13th, 2010: - Arcade Fire - Ready to Start (single) ( iTunes ) - Arcade Fire - The Suburbs b/w [...]
Kevin and Anita Robinson, aka the Robinsons, aka Viva Voce, aka Blue Giant have been fixtures in Portland after moving here from Alabama years ago. The husband and wife duo's songs are pure pop whether they're couched in country, psychedelic or rock. Blue Giant incorporates them all. The band just released their debut full-length on Vanguard Records, an album that chugs and rumbles like the great outlaw country records. Songs are lean and muscular. Surprises are always around the corner. Take "The Game," which if you stay tuned will treat you to a gorgeous piano outro. [...]
Blue Giant, named after the brightest star in the galaxy, is the creation of Kevin and Anita Robinson, better known as Portland, Ore. indie-pop darlings Viva Voce. The Robinson’s new band features Chris Funk (The Decemberists), Evan Railton (Swords) and Seth Lorinczi (The Golden Bears). Produced by Kevin Robinson, Blue Giant's debut LP will be released on July 13th. Blue Giant combines the traditional sounds of American music – country, bluegrass, and folk with driving, straight-ahead rock. The twelve tracks on the album, written by Kevin and Anita, showcase [...]
Hi, Casey Jarman—WW's music editor and resident comics/videogames nerd—here. I've decided to re-launch my short-lived old column , "Casey Jarman's Crapshoot Starring Casey Jarman." I've lost a couple of the unnecessary "Casey Jarmans" in the title, to seem a bit less arrogant. I also won't be starting this re-launched version with a reference to Genesis (the band or the bible). Instead, I'll try to skip to the chase and make it a real-life list of all the crap I like ; a catch-all home for rants on music, art and technology; a little corner [...]
Er zijn een paar albums waar ik dit jaar erg naar heb uitgekeken. Naar het debuut van Mountain Men natuurlijk, naar een nieuwe plaat van de Innocence Mission en van Blue Giant . De eerste EP van het gezelschap, Target Heart, was destijds niet uit mijn CD-speler te branden. Vorig jaar zag ik Blue Giant tijdens SXSW en het optreden was voor mij een van de verrassingen van het festival. Ook al had ik de EP al beluisterd, ik had niet verwacht dat er zo’n ijzersterke band op het podium zou staan. Het klonk [...]
Portland-based rock/Americana outfit Blue Giant—founded by Viva Voce's Kevin and Anita Robinson—has a new disc coming out on July 13 on Vanguard Records. I haven't listened to it enough yet to get you a verdict, save for to say that it sounds really, really good from a technical standpoint. We'll get into that later, though. Right now I just want to give the band a digital high-five. When your band gets to the point where it's on the same label that Odetta and Joan Baez and Earl Scruggs and John Lee Hooker have been on, that's [...]
Alt-country rockers Blue Giant initially took root when Kevin and Anita Robinson of Viva Voce finished work building their new home studio in Portland, Oregon. What better way to break it in than by inviting over some friends to play music? With fellow local musical cohorts Chris Funk (The Decemberists), Evan Railton (Swords) and Seth Lorinczi (The Golden Bears) sitting in "the chemistry was immediate" says Anita and Blue Giant -- named for the brightest star in the heavens -- was formed. Rising from the duo's Muscle Shoal, Alabama roots of countrified rock and folk and tempered with [...]
A list of shows that you don't want to miss this week
End Hits
Indie Rock Podcast Stream
owl and bear
A Northwest Music Blog
Spinning Platters
Flat Response
The Wounded Jukebox
DBF Music
The Days of Lore
From Go to Whoa
LocalCut
Ketelmuziek
Direct Current
Crib Notes
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros – Better Days
Listen The Lonely Island and Solange together on “Semicolon”
