You know this video. Of course you do, it's been a YouTube sensation for quite a while now (1.7 million views and counting) and there is no denying that no matter how goofy—and ska heavy—the song is, "Jesus Is My Friend" is a pretty catchy and a total guilty pleasure.

So in an interesting turn of events, local indie label Arena Rock (home to Talkdemonic, Woom, etc.) is actually releasing an EP from those earnest '80s Christians in Sonseed. The EP—which will contain "Jesus Is My Friend"—will be out later this year, and it's not the (secular) label's first forays into the murky depth of Christian music; as they previously released the excellent Larry Norman anthology, and Daniel Amos' underrated Darn Floor, Big Bite recording as well.

See? Jesus is for everyone.

End Hits: Voted Portland's 6th best Christian music blog.

The modest drumkit of Mr. Peart. Probably not for sale at Revival.

I'm not going to lie to you, dear readers. I know nothing about drums. Sure, everyone is aware of the fact that drums were invented by Neil Peart when he joined Rush in 1974—previous to Fly by Night, percussion did not exist—but that's about all I know.

Thankfully Revival Drum Shop is opening soon and will answer all my questions. The store is the work of Jose Medeles (The Breeders) and Scott McPherson (Beck, M.Ward), and is scheduled to open early February at 1465 NE Prescott (next to Tiga). Here is Medeles with some details:

A little about Revival Drum Shop:
- It will be a place where a drummer can come hangout, hit some great vintage and custom drums, cymbals, and eclectic percussion pieces. Or check out the gallery of drum art done by local artists,
sit down have a coffee, thumb through a drum book while listening to Coltrane spinning in the background.
- Our services will include rentals, repairs, lessons, workshops, clinics, kids programs, sell, trade and host solo drum performances. Revival will stock drumheads, sticks, accessories and parts.

I hope this adorable 'Lil John Bonham shops there.

End Hits: If you think we know nothing about drums, wait until you find out how little we know about that one instrument... um, the one with the strings on it.

It's only fitting that the same week we toss some coverage towards the always splendid The Penny Jam, they go out and release a new video. This time it's one-man-band, and Blazers superfan, Jon Ragel of Boy Eats Drum Machine performing at Kush Carpets.

Good thing Ragel didn't breakdance—no one wants to witness a grown man get rugburn.

In our upcoming issue—out on the frozen streets of Portland sometime tomorrow (Godspeed, you brave distribution drivers!)—we ask dozens and dozens of members of this city's local music community to list their top five albums of 2008.

Now it's your turn.

Head on over to End Hits and share your best musical picks of the year.

End Hits interrupts its ongoing Arctic Death™ series to bring you the following bulletin:

Due to weather, tomorrow night's (Wednesday's) Blind Pilot/Loch Lomond show at the Aladdin Theater has been rescheduled for Jan. 17, 2009. All tickets will be honored at that show.

Just so ya know!

Photo taken outside the Mercury offices

There is nothing like waking up to frozen car doors, ice everywhere, and the shrill panic of our local action news. But since we here at End Hits are still part of the media, we feel the need to contribute to the weather-based hysteria in the only way we know how: through song. So, all this week—or until we get bored with the idea, or the weather improves—we'll be posting music to soundtrack this icy hand of death that currently grips Portland. Panic! Arctic Death will kill us all!!

LISTEN:

Black Sabbath - "Snowblind"

Much like Scarface was an uplifting tale about a young Cuban entrepreneur—and nothing else—"Snow Blind" is definitely only lyrically focused on frosty weather and the limited visibility triggered by a snow storm. I mean, what else would a reckless rock band like Sabbath write about? Just like their tender ode to gardening, "Sweet Leaf," here Ozzy and company gives us a weather report that we can all relate to. Oh man, I can't feel my face.

End Hits: It's so cold outside that we were forced to keep warm inside a hollowed-out tauntaun.

BEHOLD! The most amazing music video of all time. Seriously. Anybody who's thinking about making a music video? Just forget it. Do something else with your life. The best music video has been made, and this is it. All others can... oh, how you say.... SUCK IT.

Presenting Chris Dane Owens' "Shine."

More musical mayhem at End Hits!

Another week, another Mercury music section to read while you are getting a new knuckle tattoo. To the brave soul with the "Holy Shit" tattoo, I salute you, good sir!

An unofficial exit pole of our annual Top 5 lists from local musicians finds more than a few mentions of Blitzen Trapper's Furr. Not as many as 'Lil Wayne, but it's close. Watch out Carter, the Trapper boys are coming for you.
LISTEN:

Blitzen Trapper - "God + Suicide"

A writer's writer, Chris Robley has a gift for the pen, and really lengthy album titles; hence his latest, Movie Theatre Haiku (a Masque of Backwards Ballads, a Picturesque Burlesque). Thankfully it's not as long as that one Fiona Apple album title.
LISTEN:

Chris Robley And The Fear Of Heights - "My Life in Film Festivals (haiku #1)"

Okay, who hid White Fang's Ritalin? The local punk band does their best work without practice, and with the short attention span of a... hey, what's that over there? Wait, what was I saying?
LISTEN:

White Fang - "Breakfast"

A name so nice you wanna say it twice: Champagne Champagne, Seattle's unlikely hiphop (ex-Blood Brothers?) newcomers are ready for the spotlight.
LISTEN:
Champagne Champagne - Live in Seattle

Put down that mouse, we ain't done yet. In this week's columns, Cary talks about the lovely (and so very French) new EP from White Hinterland. While I talk to the Thermals about their new record label, all-age music, and how tired my drummer jokes are. Now we're done.

LISTEN:

White Hinterland - "Mon Ami La Rose"

LISTEN:

The Thermals - "St. Rosa And The Swallows"

Photo: Jade Harris

End Hits: If we got a knuckle tattoo, it would read "BLOG LIFE." Either that, or "LFTR PLLR."

Friends, readers, goths, sad teenagers with unfortunate haircuts:
I stand before you with a pair of Nine Inch Nails tickets to their Sunday, December 7th concert at the Rose Garden.

Do you want them?
Of course you do. Just head over to End Hits for your chance to win them.

The latest horsies to join the Lucky Madison stable, World's Greatest Ghosts have just recorded a set for the fine upstanding auteurs at The Penny Jam.

So, what exotic location was this video recorded at? Underwater submarine? Atop the St. Johns Bridge? Next to the bumper pool table in Greg Oden's rumpus room? Nope, none of those place (although, Pennyjam people, feel free to use any of my brilliant ideas), instead the band performed at the Matrix Networks, a company with slogan of: "The technology guys on your side."

After their set, the band gathered around the Matrix's email servers and proceeded to read all your emails. Yes, all of them. You should be ashamed for some of the things you write.

End Hits: We really enjoy the term "rumpus room"

Some guy from New Jersey is so desperate for you to hear his new song, "Working On A Dream," that he is literally giving it away for free!

But just for today only, come tomorrow you pay $.99 to work on your dream, so hop to it. Thanks, Bruce.

As a public service to our readers, I present the following classic music video so you can go ahead and get tonight's nightmare out of the way. The boy band in question is b4-4. The song is called "Get Down." There are a multitude of reasons why this video is a complete marijuana freakout, but here are just a few:
1) The b-boys of b4-4 are as orange as Oompa-Loompas.
2) They are singing a song about oral sex...
3) ... to a young black child.
4) And it kind of looks like their heads were photoshopped onto their bodies.
5) And those matching puka shell necklaces? Gaaaahhh!

Activate freakout.

For more nightmares, hit End Hits!

***Update to the earlier post***

I just spoke with Mike Quinn of Monqui Presents who was kind enough to shed a little light on the project: "[We've been] doing a feasibility study on a 2,000 capacity venue on a couple of sites." He also confirms the involvement of Brad Malsin in the project, "So now he [Malsin] is in talks with the PDC to be the key developer for that site, and we are in talks with him to potentially be part of that, the theater would potentially be part of that build out there." But like any project of this magnitude, Quinn was cautious to confirm anything and stressed how early they were in the proceedings.

Also, contrary to my post earlier--it was pre-coffee, leave me alone--this prospective space is the aforementioned 300b. Thanks for letting me know.