Tagged: jessegelwicks

The Weight play the kind of country music I like listening to- the kind that pairs well with beer or bourbon, and follows in the footsteps of the 70s outlaws. The Weight take the traditional country twang and infuse it with some solid southern rock guitar licks. It has neither the pop sheen of current country, nor the self-seriousness of some alt. country. The songs are scuffed and Joseph Plunket 's voice is rough and a perfect fit for a lively night out at the bar or while out hauling ass down Highway 5. If that all sounds [...]

If you haven't seen Sharon Jones live, you should. Not only are you missing out on her powerful soul shout vocals and the Dap-Kings ' ultra tight funk, but Jones is a fantastic performer. Even with seven other musicians on stage, Jones dominates the spotlight. She struts and shimmies across the stage - dress tassels flying - with almost manic energy. It's almost as if James Brown had been reincarnated as a middle-aged woman. It's hard to believe she's not 25 and this is actually her second, third or fourth [...]

For the last few weeks, All The Great Aviators Agree by Scotland Barr & The Slow Drags has been on heavy rotation. It's a solid set of lively, good-timing country made for bars and hanging out on porches. The songs are accessible and should appeal to fans of both alt. and more mainstream country. Barr isn't pushing the genre, but when the quality of the songwriting and musicianship remain consistently high throughout the album it doesn't matter at all. The mix of classic rock chords and country twang just sounds good. Barr's [...]

Sometimes you just need some upbeat pop confection to get through the day and Lenka 's fun, starry-eyed perspective is the solution. Her recent self-titled album is a solid set of contagious songs that demand a smile. Her sound reminds me a bit of the Cardigans or Jem , but with optimistic lyrics that overlay a youthful innocence on love and heartbreak. I seriously questioned whether the energy and her pristine voice captured on her debut album could hold up to a live concert. However, from the moment [...]

Three groups with a total of 30 musicians - as Blind Pilot 's Israel Nebeker said, this was a "night of huge bands." Apparently, one benefit of being a local band is having a pool of friends to join you on stage and fill out songs with violins, cellos, and horns. It's hard to imagine that these up-and-coming indie bands can afford to tour with this many people, but for a local show, the more the merrier. The Old Believers kicked off the evening with their 11-piece indie folk band. [...]

Caught In Motion is a local Portland band that is new on the scene with their debut album On The Edge Of A Dream . It sounds like a private confession, as if lead singer Banah Graf came over to play in your living room, bringing with him a handful of songs he wanted to share with you. The stripped down music - comprised mostly of an acoustic guitar or piano with the occasional light snare - lends itself to the intimate heartfelt lyrics, which often return to the themes of death, loss, and regret. [...]

How many other artists have as consistently a good pop catalog as Carl Newman ? Choose a random song he wrote off any of the albums by Zumpano , the New Pornographers , or solo and it's likely a great song. Compiling a single disc "best of" is going to be difficult - it might have to be a box set. Get Guilty is no exception. It's another solid collection of pop gems. I'm not sure how Newman decides which albums should be New Pornographer songs and which he should do [...]

Not so hot on the heels of their breakout Ships , Danielson has released this compilation of the best of their pre- Ships output. If Ships piqued your curiosity but you never went back and sifted through their 10 years of back catalog, then this might be the place to start. There is no way around it, Danielson will not appeal to everyone. They're just too eccentric. Daniel Smith 's nasal falsetto alternates between a screech and a chant as quickly as the music changes directions, abandoning one hook [...]

There's something to be said for catching a band right after it releases its best album to date – when the set list reads like a future greatest hits compilation. It's even better to see a band on their home turf, even if it means standing out in the cold for 20 minutes waiting to get up to the ticket counter. Just as their album Furr was making various best of 2008 music lists, Blitzen Trapper returned home to Portland's Wonder Ballroom, and to a full house after a long North American tour. As a result [...]

The Asteroids Galaxy Tour kick off their new Sonic Arts EP with a couple knocks on a cowbell and then launch into a series of horn blasts cribbed from any number of classic soul bands, effectively announcing that these Danes are here to party. And that is exactly what "Around The Bend" is all about. Over a funky beat, Mette Linberg lets you know that she is down for some "hot love on a platter," which judging from her looks should be enough to get her a decent following. Between the catchy [...]

The Asteroids Galaxy Tour kick off their new Around The Bend EP with a couple knocks on a cowbell and then launch into a series of horn blasts cribbed from any number of classic soul bands, effectively announcing that these Danes are here to party. And that is exactly what "Around The Bend" is all about. Over a funky beat, Mette Linberg lets you know that she is down for some "hot love on a platter," which, judging from her looks, should be enough to get her a decent following. Between the [...]

• The Asteroids Galaxy Tour - The Sun Ain't Shining No More (Thomas Gold Remix)