He really does sound like a whiner. If he is so concered with the fall of local papers, why doesn't he contact the papers instead of whining on a stupid blog?

If it is that guy, he always struck me as terrible. I never liked a thing he did.

Better yet, he should do his own blog and cover Portland - if he is that concerned.

You realize you sound like you're whining rather randomly about someone whining rather randomly about somthing, right?

Whiner.

I know I know.

Racist!

That wasn't me.

David who?

Walker is correct. The 2 major birdcage liners in this town are extremely slanted, and ignore huge parts of the local cultural community. For example, the city has huge growing metal and roots music scenes, and neither registers a blip on the radar unless the show is hosted by (major advertiser) Thrasher Presents. The writers would rather wax on about their little scene of hipsters than write about veteran act or a performer doesn't fit into the Pitchfork mold, no matter how many people they might actually draw.
It would appear that both papers went to the same group of people with the exact same lack of tastes to staff their music departments.
I will agree that someone should promote bands that play casio keyboards and 2 string basses while banging on 55 gallon drums over turntable loops, but not every issue. How many times do I need to be told how cool Yacht, or Peanutbutter Wolf, or Quasi are? I've heard them and they are all just OK. Now move on.
Both papers would do better with changing the name of their music sections to advertiser pages. You then could be open and write those "Here's what Thrasher is paying us to promote this week", and "Here's what Monqui is paying us to promote" pieces. The rest of the pieces could be labeled something like "these guys didn't pay us as much, so only go to them if the Thrasher or Monqui show you want to see is sold out".

david walker was one of the most brilliant writer's ww has ever seen (along with caryn brooks, boy do i miss her). he's been my favorite film critic throughout my many years in portland and was also a genuinely good person to work with the short time i interned at the willy. not sure why they lost him but it is indeed their loss.

is this post a little whiny? perhaps. i get that way too sometimes when i get frustrated with so so coverage...

Um, for the record, the guy who posted under my name above was not in fact me. I'm whining about it on my own blog instead.

Thanks, mate. And sorry about the sock-puppetry.

Walker is right the WW is slipping. "blah" sound like a whiner though.

I take it that "whiner" is the new "unpatriotic flip flopper" in Mercury speak.
What a great way to encourage an open discussion.

I hate blah so much.

blah, this is going to be one of those trends that i declare over before it really even gets its teeth in the national consciousness, but many people who really love music are not impressed by the people who began loudly proclaiming their affinities for metal last year. black sabbath was great. they are also the beginning and end of the metal one needs to appreciate in a non-ironic sense. everything else is imitation.

yes, i've heard mastodon. it's boring. i'm sure if a non-boring metal band arises from the mists of eternity, the mercury will be all over it. until then, please seek a new bandwagon. the one you're on now isn't going to fill up with hot chicks.

Great insight, wheee.
Except you left out Motorhead and Slayer. Or, are they just "imitation?"
If you're gonna knock metal, at least figure out what you're talking about.
xoxo

David Walker Whining? I think not. Here's a local author (who isn't Chuck P) who wrote a book that none of the local press will give the time of day.

Walker has a very important point and that is that the local press can often be a little apathetic when it comes to supporting and covering non-music local artists. Take the feedback he's given as constructive criticism and do something about it.

Calling him a whiner shows that you don't have the balls to actually respond to the issue. Instead you resort to name calling.

So grow a f'ing pair and check to make sure you're really doing the job that your readers want you to be doing!

Racist!

That wasn't me. Actually it probably was. Racist!

Neither of the last two posters were me.

Or were those posts by me? They do have my name on them! Readers will never know!