three7: Hip Hop History

What's up world!? For the whole month of November we celebrated hip hop history on Welcome to the Neighborhood. Starting with classic material from the 70's, each week we celebrated a different decade and saw the evolution of the art from.

Along the way we paid respect to an MC who passed far to soon, "The Overweight Lover" Heavy D who first came on the scene in the late 80's and just this year released his last album.

You can catch up on missed episodes on demand at the KZME website.

Welcome to the Neighborhood is airing at a new time, 7-9pm pacific on 107.1FM in Portland metro area, and can also be streamed live here via the KZME site.


Be sure to check out the new Welcome to the Neighborhood Facebook page and be on the lookout for announcements on upcoming studio guests from this northwest hip hop movement.

Also check out the three7 MUSIC blog for links and updates on the upcoming feature on Welcome to the Neighborhood currently in production by Evergreen NW Media and much more.

Spread the word, KZME Radio is on the air!

Until next time,

Klyph.

The Local Artist Speaks: Wax Fingers

Wax Fingers recently played at a KZME sponsored show at Mississippi Studios. I didn't get to go to the show, but heck - this is better!

Meet....Wax Fingers!

**********************************
How long have you lived in the Portland area?

Zac - I've lived in Portland just over 5 years from Florida.
Pete - I've lived in Portland for 7 years from Chicago.
Tommy- I'm from Portland, I will never leave.

Give us a brief history of your band/project:

We met on Craig's List...we're a Craig's List band. We all met on the "casual encounters" section, but decided our time would be better spent playing music.

What’s the first song you ever learned to play?

Zac - Taking Care of Business by Bachman Turner Overdrive.
Pete - No way, me too!
Tommy - I hate you guys.

What’s your favorite local venue to play? To see other bands?

Zac - Doug Fir is a great venue...the sound is wonderful and the staff is attentive and professional. Always fun playing there.

Speaking of other bands, who do you like in the Portland music scene?

Zac - Off the top of my head: Nice Nice, Yeah Great Fine, No Kind of Rider, AAN, Red Fang....I think I need to listen to more Portland based bands...most of the music I listen to comes from the Balkans.

Tell us about a recent “Only in Portland” moment you might have had.

Tommy - I stopped by a convenience store in NE Portland, like right around Killingsworth and 40 something... to grab some beer. A hooded guy burst through the door carrying a gun, I was right at the cash register with cash in hand as this was happening. The dude who was behind the cash register seemed to know the drill automatically, he kept his cool and began taking out the money and neatly placing it in a paper bag. It was eerily quiet in the store, I was the only customer in there and I was so scared I could barely move. The armed hooded guy's cell phone starts ringing, and his ring tone was that one song off of Yo La Tengo's album If Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out. I can't remember the name....anyways, I thought that was somehow a funny and terrifying Portland moment.

Finish this sentence: “I cannot live without_____”
Zac - Pete's guitar riffs.
Tommy - Yellow raisins.
Pete - My mommy.

Follow them at:
www.facebook.com/waxfingers
waxfingers.com
@waxfingers on Twitter

The Local Artist Speaks: No Kind of Rider

No Kind of Rider will be playing at Mississippi Studios on November 15 along with yeah great fine and Wax Fingers.

I caught up with Jonathan Van Patten and he answered these very important questions.

Meet....No Kind of Rider!!!

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How long have you lived in the Portland area?

- We arrived in Portland by Caravan on September 6th, 2008.

Give us a brief history of your band.

-The band, with its five members, has been together approximately five and a half years. We began playing together in late Feb/early March of 2006. Four out of five of us, Wes, Sam, Joe and myself(Jon), knew each other from high school in Tulsa, OK. The other member, which was Jeremy, became known by Sam and Joe from university. I had been playing in another band for roughly a year in Dallas, TX and by end of that year the band had dissolved over a period of a couple months. I moved back to Tulsa to work and go to school. Three months had gone by and I had been feeling restless, began looking for some people to play with and miraculously, got in touch with Sam through this weird website called Myspace. I think our moms had something to do with it. Moms. It was odd because I had never really been close friends with Sam or any of the other members, but we knew of each other and found to our delight, the five of us all got along quite well from the very beginning. Musical interest as well as personality was on par, which is rare. At the end of the night, after setting up and playing together for the first time, I looked around at the guys and said, "I'm gonna leave my drums here." They looked at me and the general consensus was, Yep, that seems like a good idea. And now, here we are, five and half years later.

What is the first song you ever learned to play?

- The first song No Kind of Rider wrote together is a song off of our new EP, Away Colors. The song is called 'Song 1(Bulletproof Tiger).' Though we only just released the song, it was the first song the five of us collectively wrote.

What is your favorite local venue to play? To see other bands?

- We've pretty much always been a fan of places like Doug Fir and Mississippi studios. They have a good atmosphere and good sound. Also, there are good people working at those places.

Speaking of other bands, who do you like on the Portland music scene?

- I can't speak for everyone here, but I'm pretty sure most of us fall in the same boat with a lot of this stuff, so I'll just mention some of the bands we've come to love collectively over the past couple years. We're big fans of Jen Moon's project, Old Wars. Also, Hello Electric, Yours, Wax Fingers, Greylag and the list goes on. If I'm forgetting anyone, please forgive me. I'm definitely forgetting people, but there is so much happening in the lovely city, sometimes it's difficult to keep up.

Tell us about a recent "Only in Portland" moment you might have had.

- That's a tough one. Every day in this city seems to be an "only in Portland" moment.

Finish this sentence: "I cannot live without______"

- I cannot live without Parks and Recreation(the show). . . Also, the parks in this are quite nice as well.

Show deets by clicking here!

The Local Artist Speaks: MY SUMMER AS A GOTH

'Tis the seen for ghoulish delights and great local films! Tara Johnson-Medinger and Brandon Roberts I making a film about explorations in the goth culture. There's a big party going on at the Hollywood Theatre tonight (Oct. 28) to celebrate meeting a recent fundraising goal (click here for details) but in the meantime, meet the duo behind the film!

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How long have you lived in the Portland area?

Brandon: Most of my post-adolescent life, with a 6-year interlude in Los Angeles, and two years spent in Ashland where I graduated from SOU.

Tara: I moved "back" (I'm from Salem) to Portland in 2002 from Los Angeles, CA where I lived for six years.

Give us a brief history of your project:

Brandon: MY SUMMER AS A GOTH is the film that we co-wrote and are co-producing. It is the story of a "normal" 16 year-old girl, Joey, who is sent to live with her grandparents for the summer and ends up being transformed by the mysterious neighborhood Goth boy. It's a sweet, empowering film about how sometimes as teenagers we try on other identities to find out who we are. It's not just a story for Goths, although we have taken great pains to make sure that culture has been treated respectfully- it's more of a story for anyone who felt different as a teenager and grew as a result of that. I hope it speaks more universally to people in that way.

Tara: MY SUMMER AS A GOTH has been in development for about two years thus far. We spent that time focusing on getting the script right and assembling a talented crew to help us get this film made right. In the month of October, we are in the midst of a Kickstarter.com fundraising campaign, raising initial capital to get the film off the ground. We hope everyone will donate and help make our little dream come to life! For more information about the Kickstarter, go to: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1759327397/my-summer-as-a-goth?ref=live


What were some of the musical inspirations behind the film?

Brandon: We were definitely inspired by the music of our youth, especially 80's Goth bands. I personally listened to an inspiration soundtrack featuring Siouxsie & The Banshees, the classic Ministry track "Everyday Is Halloween," and new music by M83 and Bat for Lashes. M83's "Graveyard Girl" is the song that relates most to this script; I listen to it repeatedly as I work on rewrites. Same with This Mortal Coil's "Song To The Siren."

Tara: I have been a long-time fan of Robert Smith and The Cure, as well as Joy Division and Bauhaus. I don't think any Goth soundtrack would be complete without "Bela Legosi's Dead" or any number of Cure songs-- there are almost too many good ones to choose. We are going to try our darnedest to get some of these Goth classics on the soundtrack!


Where do you hope to premiere MY SUMMER AS A GOTH?

Tara: We want to throw a black carpet premiere in spring or summer 2013 at the Hollywood Theatre. It is the site of the Portland Oregon Women's Film Festival, or POWFest, which I am the director of in addition to being a film producer. It's a beautiful Portland landmark theater, and it's also rumored to be haunted, which is just too good and Gothy to pass up.

Speaking of other bands, who do you like on the Portland music scene?

Brandon: We recently caught a local Portland Goth band that we felt had a ton of potential, Mortal Clay. They were playing at the Lovecraft, a Goth bar that reminds us of Fangtasia, the vampire bar from the tv show True Blood.
Tell us about a recent “Only in Portland” moment you might have had.

Brandon: When I went up to introduce myself to the lead singer of Mortal Clay, she brightened and said, "I've heard of your film!" In that moment, I was reminded of how truly small Portland is. I'm hoping that works to our advantage and that we can get our friends and neighbors excited about our project and supporting our efforts.

Finish this sentence: “I cannot live without_____”

Brandon: MUSIC. For reals. It drives so much of what I do; I couldn't write or create without it. I'm a lifelong music obsessive--always have been, always will be.

Tara: [insert answer here]---having a super hard time answering this one! Uh...everything? My family, my creativity, my support systems (friends, family & greater community), Portland. So yeah...everything!

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Hear their interview on ArtclecticPDX by clicking here! Check out the details about the film by clicking here! There's also a blog - click here!

three7: Tony Ozier talks to Oregon Music News about his new album "Beats Galore ...

Check out Tony's appearance on Welcome to the Neighborhood here:

Tony Ozier on WTTN part 1

Tony Ozier on WTTN part 2

Klyph

THAT WAS THEN, THIS IS NOW: PORTLAND MUSIC VIDEOS Presented by NW Film Center's Reel Music Festival

One  way to have a good time is to sit in the balcony of The Mission Theater drinking Terminator Stouts while watching 120 minutes of local music videos. This is what I did last week at the Reel Music screening of That was then, This is Now: Portland Music Videos, a compilation of local music videos curated by Alicia Rose.  The selection was a showcase of the talent and craftsmanship that makes the Portland music and film scene so extraordinary. I enjoyed all of the videos but I thought I'd share a few of the favorites I found on YouTube.

Nirvana: Seasons In the Sun
Directed by: Lance Bangs

The last thing I expected immediately at the start of this screening was a heavy, emotional experience. I could write a bunch of lame crap about mortality, my generation and personal glimpses into seemingly private moments but I'll spare you of that. You should still watch this though. See if anything happens to you.

Menomena: Evil Bee
Directed by: Stefan Nadelman


I understand exactly what is going on here but I am not exactly sure what it means. It's a great video with great animation.

Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside: I Swear
Directed by: Matthew Ross

I am not sure why I hadn't heard of Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside before, but after poking around on the internet I can see it is my own fault. I hope that I would have seen this video eventually.

Red Fang: Wires
Directed by: Whitey McConnaughy
This is what happens when you pack a video full of awesomeness and then drive a car through it.

Elliot Smith: Lucky Three
Directed by: Jem Cohen
The quality of this youtube video does no justice to the film and, by the end, the sound is pretty out of synch. Still, I would be remiss without mentioning this piece. It made think a lot about mortality and my generation. It is an intimate portrait of a person I would like to know better and a place I love more everyday.

It also set the mood for the upcoming screening of Searching For Elliot Smith this Friday. I can hardly wait.

The Local Artist Speaks: IAN MOUSER

107.1 FM KZME radio is a proud sponsor of the My Voice Music 3rd anniversary party that is taking place on October 15. It will be a celebration of all the great stuff going on at the organization, including the release of its very first compilation CD. You can listen to that CD by clicking here as it was featured on Trixie Pop earlier this month.

Ian Mouser is the executive director for My Voice Music, and I recently caught up with him to find out a bit more about the man behind the music.

Meet....Ian Mouser!

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HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN THE PORTLAND AREA?

I moved to Portland in 1999 (wow, that was a really long time ago!) with my band at the time, American Hit List. We played a bunch of 70’s sounding rock tunes with big guitar solos, drum fills and lots of attitude (I still have the scars!). That band eventually broke up, but I continued to play in bands, most notably playing bass for the band, Another Cynthia. We made very little money so I had day jobs and all that. - Portland is such a great town. I can go out just about any night and see a friend, or a friend of a friend’s band play a small club and blow me away!

GIVE US A BRIEF HISTORY OF YOUR BAND/PROJECT:

I worked as Treatment Counselor and Skills Trainer in a residential treatment center for youth experiencing mental health and behavioral challenges. I brought in my guitar one morning and played it as the boys woke up. Typically, they would wake up yelling at each other and whoever was present. The first morning I played my guitar on the unit, the kids woke up, came out of their rooms and instead of yelling and fighting each other, sat down in front of me and quietly listened. It was like I had waved a magic wand across the room and chaos was replaced with calm - insecurity with a sense of place. That experience transformed my perception of what I was supposed to be doing with music.

I began teaching music to many of the youth in the treatment center, as well as, to youth living in foster care and attending therapeutic schools. I developed a curriculum that taught youth to play music, write songs, record them and perform as a band. Quickly, I began receiving letters from parents, therapists, teachers, and program directors telling me stories of how these music programs were having remarkably positive impacts on the youth attending them - leading to breakthroughs in therapy sessions, boosting school attendance, lowering violent outburst and aggression; fostering positive social interactions for the first time in a child’s life…stuff like that.

I decided to expand these programs so they could reach many more youth than I could ever work with on my own…but, I had no money, and little knowledge regarding how to form a business. Fortunately friends who heard me talk about the program and my vision for it volunteered to do everything from design logo’s, to buying a program van. One of my private student’s parents gave me their Dodge Durango and told me to sell it in order to found the organization. My friend/music attorney, Peter Shaver, helped me to prepare the mountains of paper work…and there you have it, My Voice Music was created – serving over 500 youth per year as of today!

WHAT IS THE FIRST SONG YOU EVER LEARNED TO PLAY?

What a great question! “I Could Have Lied”, by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, from the Blood, Sugar, Sex album. I haven’t listened to that song in years.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL VENUE TO PLAY? TO SEE OTHER BANDS?

I really enjoyed playing at the Doug Fir. Those shows were always packed and a blast. I think that is my favorite place to listen to a band too, but I have a weird unexplainable love for the White Eagle. I love that place like I love an old pair of wool socks. It’s a toss up.

SPEAKING OF OTHER BANDS, WHO DO YOU LIKE ON THE PORTLAND MUSIC SCENE?

I like so many bands on the Portland scene – oh my! This is a tough question. I will give this the Inego Montoya one-handed list of top six bands in my current playlist:

Tango Alpha Tango, Sara Jackson-Holeman, Mike Midlo and Pancake Breakfast, Jared Meese and the Grown Children, Mackintosh Braun, Ages and Ages

TELL US ABOUT A RECENT "ONLY IN PORTLAND" MOMENT YOU EXPERIENCED:

I was sitting at a stop light when a man with a twirled mustached man wearing suspenders and a bowtie passed by riding a unicycle. As he passed he looked over at me for a second and then winked. - I felt powerless and alive all at once.

Finish this sentence: “I cannot live without... dentists - I love me some healthy chompers!”

Check out this cool video that is an interview with Ian:

three7: Tony Ozier is back with Beats Galore!

After releasing two solo albums, Mental Candy in 2006 and Aural Penetration in 2009, then following that up with the Doo Doo Funk All-stars' Keep The Funk Alive in 2010, Tony Ozier is back showcasing his production skills with his first beat tape BeatsGalore Volume 1.

But more than a beat tape, it's really a comprehensive album with 24 tracks featuring live instrumentation as well as neck breaking drums with guest spots from artists and entertainment personalities all over the record. Tracks like Mr. Bad Azz showcasing Ozier's skills on the organ, Amel and Sky featuring local artist Farnell Newton on trumpet and the pure funk of Original Doo Doo that's already been getting major radio air play.

BeatsGalore Volume 1 is just another example of why Tony Ozier truly is the Doo Doo Funk King of Portland and world wide.

Tune in to KZME 107.1FM Portland this Tuesday, October 4th for the BeatsGalore listening party on Welcome to the Neighborhood with DJ Klyph.

KZME Live Stream

The Local Artist Speaks: PRIORY

Priory was one of the many fine bands who played at Rontoms during MFNW. 1071 FM KZME and KMHD2 did a live broadcast from the venue and things opened up with this fine band. They gave us one fine performance!

Greg Harpel is plays lead guitar for the band and shared some info about the band. Meet Priory!

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How long have you lived in the Portland area?
We've all had varying residencies here in Portland. Brandon and Joe grew
up here and never got it out of their system. Kyle and I are from central
Washington originally, really only burying the tent stakes here in
Portland until recently. Being part of this musical project has really
been a big part of becoming regionally rooted.


Give us a brief history of your band/project:
Kyle and Brandon started collaborating years ago during their undergrad
phases. But they followed some varying, separate leads in varying,
separate cities after that chapter. But in 2008 they found themselves
back in the same town, very much so on the same page when it came to
songwriting. They started working together again and writing what would
become the Priory material. I jumped in during the second inning, tagging
a hook when appropriate/possible. Joe got jumped on the train during the
3rd inning stretch.

What is the first song you ever learned to play?
Me personally? Smells Like Teen Spirit. It was junior high and we were
passing a guitar and that song around like a bad cold. As a band, a song
that we wrote, was Lady of Late. That song survived from first jam to
first record.


What is your favorite local venue to play? To see other bands?
Mississippi Studios has been good and generous, a fond environment for all
of us. Always ideal. We had our cd release there this summer, we'd do it
again. Great sound, great room, great coordinators. We'll go there most
often to see other bands too.


Speaking of other bands, who do you like on the Portland music scene?
Our friends and label mates in Blind Pilot are a great crew. Typhoon and
several of the TLE bands have also been inspiring acts in the community.


Tell us about a recent "Only in Portland" moment you might have had.
I passed a garage sale where you got a free chai latte with a purchase at
a garage sale.


Finish this sentence: "I cannot live without_____" Dr. Scholls insoles. God bless the good doctor.

three7: Media Blast for NW Hip Hop

Welcome to the Neighborhood has hosted The King of the Northwest, shared the Slum Funk and been a part of One Movement. We Out Here!

A lot's been happening since last month. In mid August One Movement visited the station to talk about their latest album and doing shows from Portland to Ashland. Check out the audio from that show here: One Movement on WTTN

Libretto of Misfit Massive visited the next week in support of his latest project Ride To Dat on Liquid Beat Records. He's been real busy recording and writing for multiple projects.

Theory Hazit and Ohmega Watts also made appearances talking about the album release party for Braille's latest Native Lungs on Humble Beast Records. Here's a link to part one of that show: Libretto on WTTN 1st hour.

I've been a fan of Luck-One Conscious for a while now and was so pleased to have him live in studio. We talked about his latest projects True Theory, The King Of The Northwest and the state of NW hip hop. He even kicked a freestyle to end the show. He is definitely an artist to continue to pay attention to. Here is audio from his visit to the show: Luck-One Conscious on WTTN

Hopefully you've been reading We Out Here Magazine on the regular. Started by NW MC The Kid Espi, it's becoming one of the best sources for information on music, fashion sports and northwest lifestyle in general. Check out audio from Espi and columnist Josh Seech here: WOHM on WTTN

Check out video clips from form the show here on the Vimeo starting with this clip of Luck-One:



We are doing another benefit for KZME coming up on Sunday September 25th hosted by yours truly again at the Skyway Bar and Grill, so come through and say what's up and be a part of the Northwest movement.

Until next time, y'all be blessed!

Klyph.

The Local Artist Speaks: AUTOPILOT IS FOR LOVERS

Adrienne is from Montclair, New Jersey. Paul is from Salem, Oregon. Adrienne is the great-niece of Henny Youngman, the "King of the One-Liners", author of such classic phrases as "Take my wife - please." When Paul was seventeen his choir sang at Carnegie Hall, but he and some friends were sent home early when a bottle of whiskey was discovered in their hotel room. They never even got to drink the whiskey. -

From www.myspace.com/autopilotisforlovers

Meet Adrienne of Autopilot is for Lovers!
********************************************

How long have you lived in the Portland area?
I've lived here for 9 years! Wow I am old.

Give us a brief history of your band/project:
I started out on my own, playing shows by myself with just a guitar in college before I picked up the accordion. Since I moved to Portland the band's gone through lots of different members. Currently we have Matthew Ulm and Dustin Daniels from the band Old Age - on drums and bass respectively - and Eric Tergerson on viola. We would LOVE to have a full-time cellist to play harmonies with Eric, but cello players are in high demand in this town.

What’s the first song you ever learned to play?
I think maybe it was House of the Rising Sun? Possibly Paint It Black? You can see how such upbeat songs might set the tone for the rest of my pop songwriting career.

What’s your favorite local venue to play? To see other bands?
Oh God, there are lots of great spots in Portland. Places that come to mind are the Knife Shop, the Someday Lounge, Ella Street Social Club, the Woods, Doug Fir, Saratoga...

Speaking of other bands, who do you like on the Portland music scene?
Again, almost too many to list, but I will try - Ezra Carey, Porches, Mike Coykendall, Schicky Gnarowitz, Ashia Grzesik, Grey Anne, Mike Midlo, On the Stairs, Y La Bamba, St. Frankie Lee, Lost Lockets, Alameda, Woodwinds, Donovan Breakwater, Loch Lomond, Wooden Indian Burial Ground...

Tell us about a recent “Only in Portland” moment you might have had.
That's a tough one. Yesterday I met a balloon animal artist with anger issues. He's personally cussed out some people I know (though I wasn't there, maybe they had it coming). He traded my friend a balloon heart for a cigarette.

Finish this sentence: “I cannot live without_____”
My International Centromatic accordion, my wiener dog, and my jewelry studio.




Check out Adrienne on Hello Cruel World (thanks, John!):

My MFNW: Wheedle's Groove and The Kills

Music Fest North West assumed control of Portland on Wednesday with over 20 different stages at clubs and theaters throughout the city. With so many bands and venues it can be a tough call on who to see and who to miss; when I sat down to plan my schedule I had to make a few heart wrenching decisions. Wheedle's Groove, however, was an easy choice. Browsing through the MFNW lineup I came across the trailer for the film. I knew from about fifteen seconds in that screening at The Mission Theater would be my main event on Wednesday. Just watch it yourself.

See? Doesn't that look awesome? It turns out Wheedle's Groove is a bunch of things. A song,
 a compilation album of Seattle's Finest Funk and Soul, the movie itself and, most awesomely, a band comprised of surviving members of the Seattle soul scene. If you ever get a chance to see/hear any one of these things take it. Following the film there was a Q & A with the director and then the band Wheedle's Groove came out and played. I mean really played.

The band was hot. The lineup of the members changed around during the show, each version a reborn incarnation of one group from back in the day. One after the other they played their old tunes and set the place on fire. The crowd wasn't huge and was mostly confined to the chairs they were sitting in but where there was room people danced. Everyone seemed to be  enjoying the hell out of themselves. I could give a rundown of my favorite highlights (like Robby Hill, Patrinell Staten and Portland's own Overton Berry) but really the whole thing was a highlight and to shine a light on any one performer would do a disservice to the rest of the band. I don't know how often these guys play out but it would be worth a drive up to Seattle to see them.

When they played their last song and said goodnight the crowed wouldn't have it. The bandleader yelled, "Are you sure you want more?" We indicated that we did. They jammed on for another twenty minutes or so as they introduced each member of the band, finally bringing it to an end with an uptempo, funky-soul version of Paul McCartney's Blackbird. They smoked. I left very happy.

Being that it was only 11:30 or so I thought I might take a stroll over to the Crystal Ballroom to see if The Kills were still playing. They were. I wondered in. It was freaky hot and loud in there. The first thing I noticed was that The Kills are awesome. The second thing was that somebody around me smelled pretty ripe. I moved. Not just get away from the smell but also to get a better view. The view got better but the smell didn't. Panic began to set in. I was thinking, "My god, is that me?" It took me a bit before I was able to  confirm to myself that it was not... it was everyone else. The entire place smelled like b.o. and backsweat. I guess that is all I wanted to tell you about The Kills. They bring awesome, freaky hot, loud and smelly rock and roll.

The Local Artist Speaks: CELILO

Celilo was one of the bands who played our our pre-launch party last year and I developed an immediate crush on the band. A couple of the fellows even drove all the way out here to Gresham to record an in studio performance for my former podcast, The Z Spot. You can check out that show by clicking here.

From their MySpace page:
Celilo (pronounced suh-lie-low) from Portland, Oregon, USA gives a slight nod towards Dark Side era Pink Floyd, 70's Neil Young, and the Fleet Foxes straddling the boundaries between indie rock, psychedelia and atmospheric folk. A banquet of dreamy soundscapes, surreal rhetoric, and an early Genesis-like tendency to shift gears mid song to emerge from a dark forest of sound onto the modern sunlit plain ...

They have a new album coming out on September 27 called Buoy Bell which I'm sure is going to be quite a listening treat.

I caught up with Sloan Martin, lead singer for the band, earlier in the summer. Meet...Celilo!

********************************
How long have you lived in the Portland area?
Since the 4th grade, I'm almost forty, do the calculus, long time!

Give us a brief history of your band/project: I quit drums cold turkey, got turned onto bluegrass, drifted into songwriting via Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Ryan Adams, continued drifting back to some of my Led Zeppelin roots, met the folks in my band now, booked some gigs!

What’s the first song you ever learned to play? When the Levee Breaks (drums), Harvest (guitar)

What’s your favorite local venue to play? To see other bands? Doug Fir Lounge

Speaking of other bands, who do you like on the Portland music scene? Dolorean, Ezza Rose, Lost Lander

Tell us about a recent “Only in Portland” moment you might have had. Colonel Sumner Park, total bohemian San Francisco late 60's scenes revisted but with crusty anarchist hipsters instead of hippies.

Finish this sentence: “I cannot live without_____” coffee/weed.... hee hee

More on this band at their MySpace page - click here. They will be playing at Jimmy Mak's on September 9th with Holcombe Waller and y la bamba for MFNW.

Kory Quinn & the Comrades

Last Friday I was fortunate to be able to attend NW Documentary's Homegrown DocFest and the premiere of the documentary Treeverse, which was absolutely excellent. I'd love to write about that, but this a music blog. That being the case, it WOULD be appropriate to tell you about Kory Quinn & the Comrades, the musical act that played before and after the films. They played some great bluegrass and folkish americana that was almost exclusively original and entirely enjoyable.

I'm not straight on if what I saw was technically Kory Quinn & the Comrades. I feel like sometimes there are probably more Comrades than that. This was just Kory and another fellow who played the lap steel and the banjo. It is hard for me to ascertain whether or not someone is actually good at the banjo, but when this he played the lap steel it was clear that he was very, very good at playing the lap steel. Like really good. I kept wanting to yell, "Lap steel solo!" But I didn't because that didn't seem like a very good idea.

Kory is a good singer and performer but I think he really stands out as a songwriter. There is a travel weary authenticity that comes through and you get the sense he is a bit of a bindlestiff road kid. I get the impression that he is from Illinois somewhere (Chicago? Aurora? Waukegan?) but he is a Portlander now and you can (and should) go listen at one of their upcoming shows.

Find out when these shows are and more about the band here:

Reverb Nation

Myspace

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The Local Artist Speaks: THE QUICK & EASY BOYS

The Quick and Easy Boys have created their own brand of rock n’ roll mixing together honky-tonk, funk and a DIY attitude. Their shows are an interactive party with electrifying stage antics and profound musical moments as the trio pours out every ounce of their energy, leaving nothing behind. The Quick & Easy Boys’ high-energy, thought-provoking original music provides a bounce to the step that only dancing can cure. So if you’re tired of the same old sounds and looking for the next big thing, The Quick & Easy are sure to give you a run for your money.

How long have you lived in the Portland area?

The band has existed in ptown since 2006, but Jimmy and myself grew up here. Mike is originally from Des Moines, but we all met at the university of Oregon.

Give us a brief history of your band/project:

We started as a four piece, but then in 2007 had to reconfigure as a power trio. We've recorded 2 full albums with a third on the way, and spend most of our time gigging on the road.

What’s the first song you ever learned to play?

As a band we probably learned one of our own songs, but something by Willie Nelson maybe.

What’s your favorite local venue to play? To see other bands?

Doug Fir is a great spot to play and see bands. The Goodfoot is also a great spot to jam and party til the end of the night. The Crystal Ballroom is always a blast.

Speaking of other bands, who do you like on the Portland music scene?

We are fans of the Excellent Gentlemen, Lewi Longmire, and the Freak Mountain Ramblers.

Tell us about a recent “Only in Portland” moment you might have had:

In ptown we were filming an episode of Band Van, and the guys hitchhiking turned out to be Jimmy's uncle Peter after a long weekend with his good friend Art.

Finish this sentence: “I cannot live without...air."

Tonight is the final night of Music on Main Street and The Quick & Easy Boys are sure to have folks dancing in the street. Details here!

three7: Northwest Hip Hop is kind of ridiculous

It's been a crazy few weeks. I've had the opportunity to connect with some really cool people in this NW hip hop scene and things don't seem to be slowing down anytime soon.

Since the last time I was here, I've had the opportunity to interview a west coast legend, LMNO of the Visionaries crew, local DJ and business owner DJ KEZ of 360 Vinyl, The Fix and Rockbox Dance Party attend the 1st Fire In The Canyon music festival, introduce local MC/producer/DJ Theory Hazit as a regular contributor to Welcome to the Neighborhood and so much more.

...and it don't stop, and it won't stop...

This coming week I get a chance to sit down with Libretto to talk about his new project, catch up with Ohmega Watts as he pays a quick visit to the NW and maybe even a surprise guest.

Then in September one of the best MC's in the northwest Luck-One stops by to talk about his upcoming mixtape King of the Northwest and a potential sequel in the works - the man never stops working.

Later in September The Kid Espi is coming through to talk about the new online magazine We Out Here a spot that is truly representing the northwest music scene, arts, sports and more.

Looking forward to new music from Lifesavas, Braille, Theory Hazit... I'm sayin' man, ridiculous.

And of course the station is continuing to build as we strive to represent this NW music scene. Check it:

 

I continue to feel so blessed to have this platform to support such good music and good people. Stay tuned, who knows what's next.

Until next time,

Klyph.

The Local Artisit Speaks: LISA MANN

Yes. Two posts this week! I'll be out on vacation next week so I didn't want to miss out and share this post with you about Lisa Mann.

Internationally recognized Blues singer/songwriter and award-winning bassist, Lisa Mann has taken the world by storm with Lisa Mann and Her Really Good Band. Her influences run the gamut, from low down blues sisters Etta James and Koko Taylor, to singer-songwriters like Bonnie Raitt and Sheryl Crow, to R&B belters like the late Little Milton. She writes the majority of her recorded material and her songs paint pictures of a gritty history of personal experience in life, love and the not-always-pretty music business.

Meet...Lisa Mann!!!

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How long have you lived in the Portland area?
I grew up in West Virginia, but came to Portland for my teen years. I
moved to Seattle for some time, but have been here in Portland full-time
since 1998.

Give us a brief history of your band/project:
My "Really Good Band" (yes, that's the name of the band) was formed in 2006 after I cut my first CD. It featured original members Jeff Knudson, Dave Melyan and Alex Shakeri. Dave and Alex ran off after they joined the Blues Music Award nominated Insomniacs, and now soul-man Brian Harris and swing-cat Michael Ballash play keys and drums respectively. We've been blessed to play some great festivals like Waterfront, UnTapped and Sunbanks, as well as making it to the semi-finals in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN.

What’s the first song you ever learned to play?
Smoke on the Water, of course! But actually, the first song I ever learned all the way through was "Space Truckin"- another Deep Purple hit.

What’s your favorite local venue to play? To see other bands?
Oddly enough, I enjoy festivals on the one hand and small, intimate venues on the other. I love blowing it out on one set at the Waterfront Blues Fest for instance, or singing to and chatting with a smaller audience at a place like Halibuts II, Trail's End or Tigardville Station. As for seeing other bands, that doesn't happen much, I'm working full time. But I love Duff's Garage!

Speaking of other bands, who do you like on the Portland music scene?
Kevin Selfe and the Tornadoes smoke, and not just because my husband is the bass player.

Tell us about a recent “Only in Portland” moment you might have had.
Abandoning the block-long line at Voodoo Doughnut downtown to cross the river to hit the east side location.

Finish this sentence: “I cannot live without_____”
Voodoo Doughnuts!

Lisa will be performing at the August 24 Music on Main Street event. Full deets here!

The Local Artist Speaks: MIDNIGHT SERENADERS

With a combination of hot jazz, Hawaiian instruments and belting out the blues, you can't go wrong. Doug Sammons is the band leader and shared some juicy tidbits about the band. Meet the Midnight Serenaders!!!!

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How long have you lived in the Portland area? I moved to Portland from New York City twenty years ago this August, and I'm very happy that I did.

Give us a brief history of your band/project: Hawaiian Steel guitar player Henry Bogdan and I started playing music together in early 2005, when we discovered a mutual appreciation for the music of country music legend Jimmie Rodgers, who recorded in the 1920's and early 30's. We were especially drawn to his jazzier pop recordings that featured horns and steel guitar. Very soon we decided to add other instruments to the mix, and began to include in our repertoire more pop oriented songs from the early 20th century. The band was together about a year when the current lineup came together: Doug Sammons - guitar and vocals, Dee Settlemier - ukulele and vocals, Henry Bogdan - Hawaiian Steel guitar, Garner Pruitt - trumpet and vocals, David Evans - sax and clarinet, and Pete Lampe - bass. Far from a simple repertory band, the Midnight Serenaders infuse their repertoire with a genuine groove and energy truly appropriate to this revolutionary music that took the country by storm in its heyday. In its six years together the band has released three full-length CD's, which are chock full of well-preserved ditties written in the 1920's and 30's, as well as a growing number of vintage-sounding original songs penned by ukulele player/vocalist Dee Settlemier.

What’s the first song you ever learned to play? Personally, I believe it was House of the Rising Sun....a long time ago. The first song that the band worked up was a song originally written and recorded in1928 by Jimmie Rodgers entitled "My Carolina Sunshine Girl."

What’s your favorite local venue to play? To see other bands? We love to play in venues where people can dance, but also enjoy performing in front of a sit down, listening audience. One of our favorite venues to play that has both dancing and listening is the beautiful Victorian-era Secret Society Ballroom. As for going out to hear other bands, the Aladdin Theater is probably one of the best venues to see and hear live music. Every seat is a good seat, the sound is always superb, and the audience usually keep quiet and listen.

Speaking of other bands, who do you like on the Portland music scene? Bands that we like that are doing vintage swing are the Stolen Sweets, Bridgetown Sextet, Swing Papillon, Trashcan Joe, Kung Pao Chickens, Pete Krebs Trio, Shanghai Woolies, the Jenny Finn Orchestra. We also like Trolley Jane, Little Sue, Foghorn Stringband, Jackstraw, Saloon Ensemble, etc.

Tell us about a recent “Only in Portland” moment you might have had. When I learned that a musician friend had sold her car and now bikes to gigs.

Finish this sentence: “I cannot live without my Fats Waller box set.”

The band is playing TONIGHT at Music on Main Street presented by The Portland Center for Performance Arts and sponsored by KZME 107.1 fm. Click here for the details!

Check out this performance by the band on OPB's Artbeat:

The Local Artist Speaks: Stereovision

I met Nancy Hess a lifetime ago when I was a co-host of a show on KBOO called A Voice of Her Own. The program showcased music created by women and we dedicated one show a month to a local talent. One of those programs included a little chit chat with Nancy.

I haven't talked to her in YEARS. I think I bumped into her on Facebook while we were both back on the east coast. She's back in Portland these days and is busy on this great project, Stereovision.

I caught up with the other half of that band, Dave Camp, to talk about the band. You might want to check out their MySpace page and listen to some of their stuff while you read this interview - just click here.

Meet.....Stereovision!!!

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How long have you lived in the Portland area?
10 years

Give us a brief history of your band/project:
Nancy and I met playing a gig in New York in 1999 – she had flown out from Portland to do it
and I was living there at the time. We hit it off and she said if you ever want to do any recording
I have studio in Portland. About year later I literally showed up on her doorstep with a drum kit and a guitar. Nancy had just come out of a record deal with Warner Bros. with her band Seven Day Diary and I had dissolved my band in Austin recently and neither of us were anxious to
get back into trying to be rock stars. But after I went to Burning Man 2001 I got the idea
that there were lots of interesting freaky people doing cool things and started writing
with that in mind. We also wanted to approach what we were doing as more of an
integrated, sonic, visual experience rather than the traditional big rock bands we had been doing. Less focused on the singers and more on the total atmosphere.

What’s the first song you ever learned to play?
I think the first song I learned to play was "When the Saints Go Marching In" on my families
goofy Hammond organ. Now when I hear New Orleans bands play it I'm stoked that for whatever reason that's the one I picked out the book. I suppose it could've been Afternoon Delight!

What’s your favorite local venue to play? To see other bands?
There are lots of great places to play and I'd hate to overlook anyone but it would have to be
the Doug Fir. The sound on stage is always absolutely fantastic, it sounds great in the house,
it feels intimate without being too small, big without being too big.... I've just never had anything but an easy time and a good time playing the Doug Fir. That said, the Someday Lounge and the Alberta Rose Theatre have great onstage and house sound and we have a blast playing those venues as well. We will be playing every other Monday all summer 7 to 9 at Backspace so maybe that will be our favorite venue!

To see bands?:
As long as the band rocks– anyplace is good.

Speaking of other bands, who do you like on the Portland music scene?
Billygoat is awesome! I know they had to change their name- whenever their name their animation is unbelievable and the music is beautiful. Starfucker, Yacht, Climber, Solovox....
We are most often hidden away recording music (we have a business doing commercial and film music) so sometimes it's hard to keep up with everything else. We're going to get out and see everyone this year!

Tell us about a recent “Only in Portland” moment you might have had.
Last weekend I was at the Blue Monk watching some friends of mine The Saloon Ensemble
and it was somebody's birthday. In her honor, they started playing a song wherein
they encourage everyone to take off their clothes. In about 30 seconds the band is in their underwear, the birthday girl is topless, the audience is quickly disrobing, and I've managed to get my jacket and shirt off while banging away on the piano that's on the dance floor. As the song ends a friend of mine taps my shoulder and says, “Hey Dave, I want to introduce you to my brother-in-law he just got in from Missouri.” I stood up, politely looked him in the eye, and said nice to meet you. He cautiously took my hand, his eyes darting back and forth between me and a dance floor full of slightly more than half naked partygoers. In my instinctive rush to good manners it didn't occur to me that perhaps meeting a shirtless volunteer piano pounder in a crowd of stripping lunatics under the direction of a banjo-playing Nine Inch Nails cover band might not be the average Saturday night in Missouri. And I thought, “thank God I don't live in Missouri.”

Finish this sentence: “I cannot live without_____”
Blueberries and chips. Rice chips, potato chips, tortilla chips, whatever. I've got a pretty bad chip problem.

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Stereovision is performing at Music on Main Street TONIGHT - wish I could be there but I need to be on television! Details here.....

The Local Artist Speaks: Alameda

I discovered this band while checking out First Friday at MilePost 5. The band wasn't actually there but they had some kind of presence at the venue so I left my KZME business card.

As I recall, Jessie (she sings and plays the cello in the band) dropped me an email after finding my card to find out who the heck I was and what the heck a 'director of organizational advancement does'. So I wrote back, we chatted a bit about the band and I asked to get more of the 'skinny' on who they are.

Meet Alameda!

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How long have you lived in the Portland area?
Stirling and I moved to Portland from Boulder, Colorado with our then current band, Strangers Die Every Day in 2006. I'm not sure how long Jenn has lived here, but certainly longer than Stirling and me.

Give us a brief history of your band/project:
After our previous band ended in 2008, Stirling switched from playing bass to guitar, and began composing folk tunes with lyrics. I stress the "with lyrics" part because our previous project was a post-rock instrumental group. Some time in 2009 we began playing as Alameda with a violist and a violinist. We started sculpting our sound into an orchestrated folk feel when Jenn (Jennifer Woodall) replied to an online ad looking for a violinist. The funny part is, she's a clarinetist. We decided to give her a try anyway. She is an incredible, classically trained musician and shortly thereafter became a core member of Alameda. Since then we have expanded our circle of guest musicians and occasional members to include a drummer, flutist, french hornist, oboist, another clarinet, varying numbers of violins, banjo and electric guitar; That doesn't include the numerous other instruments that we have on our album. Alameda's core consists of Stirling Myles (guitar/vocals), myself (cello/backup vocals), Jennifer Woodall (clarinet/bass clarinet), Kate O'Brien-Clarke (violin/backup vocals) and Tim Grimes (electric guitar/banjo).

What’s the first song you ever learned to play?
The first song I remember caring about learning to play on the cello was Bach's Minuet #2. It was the first song in Suzuki cello book 1 that seemed like actual music to me.

What’s your favorite local venue to play? To see other bands?
I love playing at The Doug Fir. They treat the bands that perform there really well. I also adore The Woods. Their sound engineers, and the room in general make acoustic bands sound excellent and warm. Both venues have very immersive atmospheres that make you feel like you're in another (cooler) world.

As far as seeing other bands goes, this town is thick with awesome venues: Valentines (for something more intimate), The Someday Lounge, Holocene, Mississippi Studios.

Speaking of other bands, who do you like on the Portland music scene?
There are too many good bands in town to name. Galviston, Pancake Breakfast, Ghosting, Point Juncture, WA, Ezza Rose, Red Fang, Nick Jaina, Run On Sentence, and Vagabond Opera are some of my favorites.

Tell us about a recent “Only in Portland” moment you might have had.
Last night I attended a dance performance on the PSU campus. After watching a variety of pretty standard style dances, there was this one piece with about 10 people in it. They all had very curious stripey, burlesque-ie , off-kilter costumes. The music was really disjointed and clunky, and the piece went on for about 10 or 15 minutes... There wasn't much dancing. It was more like running around the stage thwacking things with sticks, pretending to be driving a car (for some reason) and a bunch of other extremely random movements that left me giggling uncontrollably thinking "what the f is this?" Portland, that's what it is.

Finish this sentence: “I cannot live without_____”
High-fives.

Alameda is performing at Music on Main Street TONIGHT with another great band, Autopilot is for Lovers. Starts at 5 pm! Click here for details.

The Local Artist Speaks: WATER TOWER BUCKET BOYS

The Water Tower Bucket Boys are three fellows who take bluegrass to a whole new level. Beyond the food stomping good time, the music these guys put together has been described as "both celebratory and faintly disturbing". I think that is quite a clever combination.

Meet....the Water Tower Bucket Boys!!!

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Comments by band member, Josh Rabie.

How long have you lived in the Portland area?
We have all lived in the Portland area most of our lives, however, we started the band in Eugene. All of us went to college together at the University of Oregon.

Give us a brief history of your band/project:
Well as I mentioned we started getting serious about the band during our time at the UO in Eugene. Kenny and Cory played in a pop punk band together in high school (there hit song was, "Girls Dont Poop"), but that project fell through around the end of high school. Kenny and Josh started playing acoustic bluegrass and old time around the end of high school and by the time we all arrived at the UO the Water Tower Bucket Boys had begun. Josh and Kenny had known Cory for years, so he jumped on the band wagon and took over the banjo position. After college we wanted to get even more serious about playing music and this is now our career and our livelihood. We are best friends and have been together almost 5 years now. We started touring in Europe about 2 years ago and we now return to the British Isles every 6 months. We have a large dedicated following over there and the people are amazing. We also tour extensively along the west coast US. In addition to playing old time and bluegrass, we also play cajun, swing, jazz, and punk rock. Our original sound is blend of all these genres.

What’s the first song you ever learned to play?
Funny you should ask that, as weird as it sounds all three of us (Josh, Kenny, Cory) all got inspired to play guitar from listening to Blink 183 haha! We found this out many years later during a conversation about our first days of playing guitar, and oddly enough it was Blink that inspired us young lads-we were about 13 years old at the time. So there you have it! The first song Iearned was, Whats My Age Again.

What’s your favorite local venue to play? To see other bands?
hmmm good question...well our favorite venue to play in Portland is probably Mississippi Studios, the sound in there is incredible...However, the best sounding venue we have ever played in was in a tiny little town in southern Ireland called Kilworth. The venue is called The Kilworth Village Hall. Its an ancient little place that use to be a church back in the day. Its made entirely out of stone and was built in the 1600's. The sounds echoed through the 400 year old walls and was hands down the best gig of our last UK/Ireland tour and probably the best sounding show we have ever played

Speaking of other bands, who do you like on the Portland music scene?
Portland has some many amazing bands these days, we are definitely proud to be Portlanders. All the members of our band listen to all types of music but i can give you a few names.
I really enjoy the Fleet Foxes, Caleb Kaluder Country Band, The Bellboys, The Decemberists, I'm also a big Modest Mouse fan. There are so many good bands in this town, its a really special place.

Tell us about a recent “Only in Portland” moment you might have had.
-well this is not a "only in Portland moment", but I can give you a "only in Eugene" moment...about 3 years ago we had a CD release party for our first record "The Squid and the Fiddle". The show was at the local hippie student co-op The Campbell Club. We are all really big fans of the Red Hot Chili Peppers so we decided to do the entire show with only socks on our penises. Other than bit of footwear we were completely bare. Its was a very memorable moment for all of us, and needless to say there were a few drunk girls in the front row trying to yank the socks off while we played!!

Finish this sentence: “I cannot live without_Banjos and scrambles eggs, tossed with some local arugula____”

Check out this video about the band:

Water Tower Bucket Boys from on-par productions on Vimeo.

The Local Artist Speaks: MICHAEL JODELL

I recently 'met' Miss Michael Jodell on a show I produce called ArtclecticPDX. Field producer, Lauren Oujiri, interviewed Michael for the program and also included some fabulous songs the musician has recorded. You can check out the interview by clicking here.

In the meantime, if you want to check her out in person, she will be at Music on Main Street - TONIGHT - right outside the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall (SW Broadway and Main). The show is with Mike Coykendall (click here for his blog/interview I did with him a few weeks back) and starts at 5 pm.

Meet....Miss Michael Jodell!!!!

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How long have you lived in the Portland area? I moved here in 1998, and I still love it.

Give us a brief history of your band/project: I am a singer and songwriter, who grew up singing classic country and gospel. Somewhere along the way I was moved by Rock, charmed by Americana and romanced by Jazz music. I am very fortunate to have some fantastic musicians lend their talents to the Michael Jodell songbook! They are all busy musicians, so scheduling is always a challenge, but I like challenges.

What’s the first song you ever learned to play? When I was three years old, my mom was rehearsing Kris Kristofferson's "Why Me Lord" for church. I walked in and started to sing the chorus along with her. That Sunday she stood me on a chair and I made my singing debut.

What’s your favorite local venue to play? I love the Laurelthrist, because there is a great sense of community, and I have shared some fantastic musical moments there as a listener and player. I love Mississippi Studios sound and feel. To see other bands? The Schnitzer is amazing, Doug Fir sounds fantastic, and, again Mississippi Studios.

Speaking of other bands, who do you like on the Portland music scene? I am continuously inspired by the breadth of musical talent in this city. Dolorean, Mike Coykendall and the Golden Shag, Fernando, Pierced Arrows, M.Ward, Michael Hurley, Old Light, Blitzen Trapper, The Don of Division Street, the My Oh My's, Little Sue, From Words to Blows, Caleb Clauder, Drunken Prayer, Duover...the list goes on and on!

Tell us about a recent “Only in Portland” moment you have had. How about 60 degree weather in July?

Finish this sentence: “I cannot live without air.”

The Local Artist Speaks: RACHEL TAYLOR BROWN

Rachel Taylor Brown is one cool chick. She is clever and witty; she writes good song. I've talked with her on social media and the likes but have not crossed paths quite yet. And, I can't wait because she is quite something and admired by those who know her.

She has a new CD coming out on July 29 at Mississippi Studios. The name of the CD is World So Sweet and I encourage you take a listen when you have a chance.

Meet....Rachel Taylor Brown!

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How long have you lived in the Portland area?
All my life. But for four years in Norwalk, CT, just outside NYC. I was born here, at Adidas Headquarters! It used to be Bess Kaiser Hospital. I grew up in unincorporated Gresham, a mile from Boring where I spent my youth picking berries. I used to walk the train tracks into Boring for fun. For. Fun.

Give us a brief history of your band/project:
I've been a musician forever but only started performing my own music and recording it ten years ago. I started playing piano by ear and singing when I was a kid, learned a little sight-reading in H.S. and got nudged to get my BA in Music then fell into classical (singing) gigs for many years--Cappella Romana, Portland Baroque Orchestra, Trinity Consort. I was terribly unfocused--I really do mean "fell." But I'd been writing songs ever since I could remember. My first was, in fact, composed in Mr. Saukaye's berry field, in Boring. It was called "The World's In Consternation." I remember being overly proud that I worked the word "consternation" in there, a word I read and had gone out of my way to learn. I was an insufferable child. Not much has changed as I'm an insufferable adult, too. Though I now favor simple over wordy in songwriting (though clearly not in answering simple questions). I crept into making my own music after a long isolated spell after a nervous breakdown. I was shaky and had no idea how to put together a band or make a record. I tend to work project to project, so no formal band. Most of my work is pretty private, isolated. Which I like. Some talented players have joined me over the years. My only real band now is Ben Landsverk, so talented. He and I have been doing duo shows for awhile. But I sometimes have arena rock needs, so I have an exceptional group of musicians joining me for the upcoming album release show, incl. Leigh Marble, Lisa Stringfield, my sister Katie Taylor, Jeff Langston. And Ben, of course. "World So Sweet" is my seventh album--the fifth i've made w/ my good friend Jeff Stuart Saltzman.

What’s the first song you ever learned to play?
Betty's Wooden Shoe Dance. I can still play it. It is an earworm for the ages.

What’s your favorite local venue to play? To see other bands?
The Press Club. They've been so good to me and I love the staff and owners. I've happily played there enough that I consider it home. It's a charming place. I feel charming when I play there. And I feel charmed when I hear someone else play there.

Speaking of other bands, who do you like on the Portland music scene?
Wendy Haynes (Sophe Lux), Kaitlyn ni Donovan, Leigh Marble, Michael Levausseur (Michael the Blind), Brothers Young, hurtbird, Menomena, Ali Wesley, Drew Norman (Professor Gall), Susannah Weaver (Little Sue), In Mulieribus, Bowel Candy. And I'm sure I've forgotten a few and will go "doh!" later.

Tell us about a recent “Only in Portland” moment you might have had.
I ride my bike a lot. I used to gloat that I never had to worry about a parking spot. Well, that's changed. Which is good, I guess; so many cyclists in Portland, you can't find a bike parking spot! I guess this could be a problem in Amsterdam, too, so it's not an "only in Portland" moment after all, dammit. I was so desperate for something to lock my bike to recently, I almost used a dog.

Finish this sentence: “I cannot live without_____”
Jay and Katie (my husband and my sister). And their humor. And my dear family (esp. Kristin and Eric) and friends. And quiet. And fresh, cool air. And my bike. And brain. And sleep. And the sea. And books. And animals. And Firefly. And teevee. And quiet. And (despite my uneasy past w/ them) Oregon strawberries. And, of course, making up music. I love that.

Click here for a podcast recorded in 2009 that includes Rachel Taylor Brown: Mississippi Studio Session.