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Music

Monday, May 20, 2013

Music Monday! Drunk Dad, Mirage, Eidolons & More

Posted by Ned Lannamann on Mon, May 20, 2013 at 4:31 PM

It's a manic Music Monday!

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LISTEN: Drunk Dad - "Scum Fee"

Portland sludge-math-noise-metal-??? band Drunk Dad have a 12-inch on the way, and the violent closing track "Scum Fee" premiered on Pitchfork today. Listen to it for yourself, and get tied up in knots by the savage riffing, the drums that sound like bunch of heavy items being dropped down the stairs, the roaring vocals that hurt just to listen to. Good times for the whole family! The Morbid Reality 12-inch comes out on local label Eolian on June 11, and Drunk Dad play a record release show at Ash Street Saloon on Saturday, June 7.

• • •

Italians Do It Better released the long-awaited After Dark 2 compilation on Friday via iTunes, and here's the contribution from Mirage: "Let's Kiss" echoes Prince's "I Would Die 4 U" by way of some crunchy vocoder. Compiled by IDIB mastermind Johnny Jewel, After Dark gathers unique and new Italo-disco tracks from the label's artists (including Glass Candy, Chromatics, and Desire) into an integrated album meant to stand fully on its own.

• • •

Here's the new track from local band Eidolons, who have a new album called Skyhook coming out digitally on June 3. A cassette release will follow on Friday, June 7 with a show at a Portland house venue to celebrate its release, with a national tour to follow. "Gordy" is a tangled, exploratory song that runs a range of dynamics, interpolating between harmonious moments and discordant instrumental passages.

Click the jump for tracks by Quiet Life, Bear & Moose, Keep Your Fork There's Pie, Perhapst, and not one but TWO remakes of the new Radiation City song "Zombies."

Continue reading »

Ray Manzarek, 1939-2013

Posted by Ned Lannamann on Mon, May 20, 2013 at 3:14 PM

Ray Manzarek, keyboardist for the Doors, has died. He was 74. Manzarek passed away in Germany this morning; he had been fighting bile duct cancer. Along with his work with the Doors, Manzarek produced X's classic Los Angeles album from 1980. Here are the two best songs he did with the Doors:


Tonight in Music

Posted by Courtney Ferguson on Mon, May 20, 2013 at 11:59 AM

Stay Calm (Via)
  • Stay Calm (Via)

RottureStay Calm, Week of Wonders, Surfs Drugs, 9 pm, $5
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall–Brahms' First Symphony: Oregon Symphony, 8 pm, $21-95, all ages
Kelly's Olympian–Eye Candy: VJ Norto, Phantom Hillbilly, 8 pm, free
LaurelThirst Public House–Portland Country Underground, 6 pm; Kung Pao Chickens, 9 pm, free
Roseland–Fabolous, Pusha T, Portland Express, SupaNova, Mr. C, 8 pm, $25, all ages

Kanye West Has a Few Things on His Mind, Still Thinks He's Jesus

Posted by Erik Henriksen on Mon, May 20, 2013 at 11:44 AM

I know the Stefon clip was the thing on SNL everybody wouldn't shut up about over the weekend, but, ah... you guys noticed Kanye West kind of killed it, right?

West performed two new tracks, both of which are generally and accurately being described as "intense" (here's the other one, "New Slaves"); they're presumably from his upcoming album, Yeezus (subtle, Kanye), which'll be out June 18. Considering West's last solo album, 2010's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, was his best and weirdest thus far (here we are three years later, and I'm still not sick of "Runaway"), and that even the relative let-down of his Jay-Z collaboration Watch the Throne still led to some astonishing live shows, it's safe to say Yeezus will be worth getting excited for.

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Pure Bathing Culture's First Album Is on the Way

Posted by Ned Lannamann on Mon, May 20, 2013 at 11:14 AM

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The week kicks off excitingly with news about Pure Bathing Culture's forthcoming album, Moon Tides. It's their first full-length, following up their splendid 2012 self-titled EP, and it's due on August 20 on Partisan Records (in the UK, August 19 on Memphis Industries).

There's also a new track to listen to—"Pendulum" just premiered this morning on Gorilla vs. Bear, but you can listen to it here. The track graced many of PBC's hometown live shows last year, so it should sound pretty familiar. With Dan Hindman's immaculately clean electric guitar and Sarah Versprille's beautifully airy but distinct vocals, the track will also open the new album, which—like the self-titled EP—was recorded with Richard Swift at his Cottage Grove, Oregon, studio.

Here's the tracklisting for Moon Tides; amazingly, it will not duplicate any of the incredible tracks from the EP:

1. Pendulum
2. Dream the Dare
3. Evergreener
4. Twins
5. Only Lonely Lovers
6. Scotty
7. Seven 2 One
8. Golden Girl
9. Temples of the Moon

Pure Bathing Culture plays the Wonder Ballroom this Saturday, May 25, opening for Father John Misty—AKA Josh Tillman, whose brother Zach plays bass in Pure Bathing Culture.

Friday, May 17, 2013

Friday Cheer with Janelle Monáe

Posted by Courtney Ferguson on Fri, May 17, 2013 at 4:44 PM

Sigh. Everyone went to see Star Trek into Darkness and I'm stuck Googling the correct spellings of various dried Italian meats. I'm going to watch my own futuristic space opera with Janelle Monáe's new song "Q.U.E.E.N." from her upcoming album Electric Lady. That'll cheer me up. It'll work for you too, I bet. She has that effect.

Video Vriday! Scout Niblett, Wampire, the Parson Red Heads, Youthbitch & More

Posted by Ned Lannamann on Fri, May 17, 2013 at 3:59 PM

Oy vey, it's Video Vriday!


Just in time for the upcoming Rose Festival, here's a new video from Scout Niblett, which must have been filmed at last year's Rose Fest. Niblett is no stranger to wearing wigs, but here she goes one step further with full Snow White regalia. She fits right in, while the slow-burning, seething undercurrents of the track "Gun" provide a bizarre and hilarious counterpoint. Scout Niblett's new album, It's Up to Emma (her first name is indeed Emma), comes out this Tuesday, May 21, on Drag City.
• • •


Here's Wampire, whose new album just came out on Tuesday. This video for "Orchards" shows the two fellows on a long drive through what looks like Eastern Oregon. Naturally, a little hot-boxing is bound to happen, but then of course shit gets weird. This same exact thing has happened to me on every single road trip I've taken. Wampire just played their record release show, but they'll play a hometown show again at Holocene on July 3.
• • •


The Parson Red Heads have a new EP coming! It's called 6, can you guess how many songs are on it? It comes out June 4, and here's the video for "Times," which was shot while the band recorded the track at Type Foundry Studios with Scott McCaughey and Adam Selzer in spring of last year. The EP is just a taster of the Red Heads' forthcoming full-length, Orb Weaver, which will come out in the fall. The group has two upcoming shows scheduled for the Doug Fir: Saturday, May 26 in which they open for Beachwood Sparks, and the EP's release show on Tuesday, June 4.

Videos from Youthbitch, Barry Brusseau, and Sara Jackson-Holman after the jump!

Continue reading »

Some Questions and Answers About the New Lord Dying Album

Posted by Ned Lannamann on Fri, May 17, 2013 at 12:59 PM

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Who is Lord Dying?
They are the doomy Portland metal band who recently signed with Relapse Records.

When does their first full-length album come out?
July 9, 2013 in the year of our dark lord.

What is it called?
Summon the Faithless.

What does the cover look like?
Cast your eyes upward to the top of this post.

What are the titles of the eight tracks contained within?
1) In a Frightened State of Gnawed Dismemberment
2) Summoning the Faithless
3) Greed Is Your Horse
4) Descend Into External
5) Dreams of Mercy
6) Perverse Osmosis
7) Water Under a Burning Bridge
8) What Is Not... Is

What formats will the album take?
Long-playing vinyl record, compact disc, and digital download.

Is there a very short album trailer I can watch?
Yes.

Where can I pre-order the album?
From Relapse's site, or on Lord Dying's Bandcamp.

Will this album destroy us all?
Undoubtedly.

Help a PDX Hiphop Lover Out

Posted by Ned Lannamann on Fri, May 17, 2013 at 11:28 AM

This turned up in the ol' feedbag—I mean letterbag. (Christ, what did I just eat?)

I have been searching for weeks for an exclusive hip hop club Saturday nights here in PDX. No luck. Jones had a West Coast '90s hip hop for a while and then poof it's over. Crown Room is gone now. Where do you recommend? I'm getting the feeling PDX doesn't like hip hop very much. No radio stations either. What's happening? Do you have any recommendations for me?
Since I typically spend my evenings Settlers of Catan-ing (I have not left the house since 2002—music is so loud, you guys!), I thought I'd put out the call to you readers.

Can anyone help her out? Leave your suggestions in the comments. Where's the best hiphop dance night in town?

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Tonight in Music

Posted by Courtney Ferguson on Fri, May 17, 2013 at 10:59 AM

Cat or Astro-cat? (Via )
  • Cat or Astro-cat? (Via )

Doug FirMan or Astro-Man?, Audacity, 9 pm, $16-17
Biddy McGraw's–Lynn Conover, 6 pm, all ages; Counterfeit Cash, 9:30 pm
East End–The Paul Collins Beat, Blue Skies for Black Hearts, The Cry, Thee Four Teens, 9 pm
The Know–Gun Outfit, Nucular Aminals, Industrial Park, 8 pm
Landmark Saloon–Hank Sinatra, 6 pm; Pete Krebs & His Portland Playboys, 9 pm
LaurelThirst Public House–The Yellers, 6 pm; Red Cotrell & the Outlaws, The New Iberians, 9:30 pm
The Lovecraft–Perforce: Ortrotasce, DJ Barry Convex, DJ Sharpie, Musique Plastique, 10 pm, $5
Mission Theater–A Simple Colony, Swansea, Ritchie Young, 8 pm, $10-12
Record Room–Havania Whaal, Ron Wayne, Silent Numbers, 8 pm, $5
Rotture–Shut Up & Dance: DJ Gregarious, 9 pm, $5
Wonder Ballroom–The Quick & Easy Boys, Sassparilla, World's Finest, 9 pm, $11-12

Win Tickets to See Sigur Rós in Bend

Posted by Ned Lannamann on Fri, May 17, 2013 at 9:59 AM

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We're giving away TWO PAIRS of tickets to see unsurpassed, the inimitable, the unpronounceable Sigur Rós, who are playing the Les Schwab Amphitheater in Bend, Oregon on Sunday, May 26. Click over to End Hits for your chance to win!

Thursday, May 16, 2013

XRAY Fest Is Coming

Posted by Ned Lannamann on Thu, May 16, 2013 at 1:29 PM

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For nine days in June, XRAY Fest will offer affordable—and in many cases, free—live music, DJ sets, and music-related films at various venues around town. It all happens June 8-16, and its purpose is two fold: to celebrate and explore Portland's DIY culture and music, and to raise awareness (and possibly a little cash) for the upcoming KXRY radio station, which'll be known as XRAY.FM. That station will launch on 91.1 on your radio dial, one of four new low-powered FM signals coming this fall to the Portland area, all to be helmed by nonprofits. So not only is a cool fest coming to town, but Portland radio is about to get a whole lot better.

XRAY.FM, named after the influential X-Ray Cafe venue from Portland's past, has been a long work in progress for the folks at the Cascade Educational Broadcast Service (CEBS). The station is hoping to offer true, listenable free-form radio, much in the manner of the influential New York-area WFMU station. The self-proclaimed mission is "to advance a new radio outlet focusing on the exposure of innovative recording artists, presented by music anoraks heavy-into collecting vinyl." So yeah, you'll be wanting to free up one of those preset buttons on your car stereo.

In the meantime, XRAY Fest has a lot to offer, including DJ sets from Mudhoney's Steve Turner, Voodoo Doughnuts' Tres Shannon, and former mayor Sam Adams, plus live shows from the Bats, Kelli Schaefer, and lots more—plus some cool film screenings as well. Check out all the goings-on after the jump, and hop over to XRAY Fest's site for more info.

Continue reading »

Tonight in Music

Posted by Courtney Ferguson on Thu, May 16, 2013 at 11:29 AM

Morning Ritual (Via)
  • Morning Ritual (Via)

Doug FirMorning Ritual, De La Warr, 9 pm, $10
Alhambra Theatre–Mobb Deep, 8 pm, $18
Backspace–White Rainbow, The Memories, Donnie Blossoms, Dani Shivers, Unkle Funkle, Rob Walmart, 9 pm, $6, all ages
Bunk Bar–Black Pus, Deep Fried Boogie, 10 pm, $8-10
East End–Autopilot Is for Lovers, Bubble Cats, Armorada, 9 pm
The Know–Steve Adamyk, Needles & Pins, Youthbitch, 8 pm
Rotture–Eidolons, Bike Thief, Noble Firs, 9 pm
Savoy–Anne-Marie Sanderson, Margaret Wehr, 9 pm
Star Bar–DJ Overcol, 10 pm
Star Theater–Laura Marling, 9 pm, $17
Tony Starlight's–The Satin Chaps, 7:30 pm, $15
Wonder Ballroom–Yo La Tengo, 8:30 pm, $18.50-20, all ages

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

This Week's Mercury Music Section

Posted by Ned Lannamann on Wed, May 15, 2013 at 3:59 PM

Morning Ritual
  • Morning Ritual

Another week, another Mercury music section to push aside as you collect your dollars and cents to purchase the musical equipment of Vancouver, Washington's finest talent. Priced to move! Everything must go!!!

For his first endeavor under the Morning Ritual moniker, keyboardist-about-town Ben Darwish recruited the Shook Twins for a conceptual piece about the search for water. Drinking water is a pretty good morning ritual. What's yours? (Mine involves some Carnation Instant Breakfast and Sugar Ray's "Every Morning" and I've already revealed too much.)

LISTEN: Morning Ritual - "The Search"

I know, I know, the name Black Pus is enough of a turn-on, but there's also plenty of legitimate exhilaration to be found in the warped spazz rock from Brian Chippendale of Lightning Bolt.

LISTEN: Black Pus - "1,000 Years"

The word "psychedelic" is officially meaningless. That said, the Black Angels are super psychedelic! Can we bring back the word phantasmagoric? Far out.

LISTEN: The Black Angels - "Evil Things"

With their second album Bathed in Blood on the way, the members of Witchburn still haven't taken advantage of their music-biz connections to make them stars. The Seattle metal band is quite capable of doing it on their own.

LISTEN: Witchburn - "Bleed the Stone"

And the Up & Comings you've grown accustomed to.

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Houndstooth's First Album Due in July

Posted by Ned Lannamann on Wed, May 15, 2013 at 11:29 AM

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This has been a good week for album announcement news. Local jangle-jam-folk-Southern-krautrockers Houndstooth have announced their much-awaited debut album, Ride Out the Dark, is coming out July 16 on Philly/Brooklyn psych label No Quarter. That's the album cover up there (shades of Tango in the Night?), and below is the first single, "Canary Island," a splendid Crazy Horse-style chugger that opens up into guitar-spangled majesty, and has been a familiar staple of the band's great live show.


The 10 tracks on Ride Out the Dark also include favorites like "Francis" and "Bee Keeper," and while it doesn't include any 20-minute freakout jams, contains plenty of band fireworks from the ensemble of local all-stars: Katie Bernstein, John Gnorski, Courtney Sheedy, Mike Yun, and Graeme Gibson.

Houndstooth plays June 7 at the Doug Fir with Eyelids and Denim Wedding.

Tonight in Music

Posted by Courtney Ferguson on Wed, May 15, 2013 at 11:14 AM

A Volcano (Via)
  • A Volcano (Via)

Kelly's Olympian–Oker, A Volcano, Steel Hymen, 9 pm, $5
Aladdin Theater–Milk Carton Kids, Barefoot Movement, 8 pm, $15
Holocene–PDneXt: Objekt, SPF666, Graintable, Plumblyne, Danny Corn, Natasha Kmeto, 9 pm, $5
The Know–Eternal Tapestry, Family Stoned, 8 pm
Revival Drum Shop–Unico, 8 pm, $5-15, all ages
Star Theater–White Fang, Colleen Green, Heavy Hawaii, Comaserfs, 9 pm, $8
Valentine's–Sweeping Exits, City Squirrel, No Parachutes, 9 pm
Wonder Ballroom–The Black Angels, Hanni El Khatib, Wall of Death, 8:30 pm, $16-18

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Beth Ditto Gives Excellent Advice

Posted by Ned Lannamann on Tue, May 14, 2013 at 1:59 PM


The last time we mentioned Gossip lead singer Beth Ditto on the blog, it was not very flattering—no need to rehash, although feel free to search the archives if you want.

Which is why it's only fair to post this wonderful video of Beth Ditto, offering advice via the website Rookie, an online publication for teen girls. This is part of their "Ask a Grown Woman" advice series, kind of like Amy Poehler's "Ask Amy" video series, in which grownup ladies answer questions from the site's young readers.

In this lengthy and thoughtful video (sorry, I don't know how to adjust the aspect ratio fixed!), Ditto answers questions like "Why do people ruin good things?"—in particular, a young girl's questions about coming out to her parents. What Ditto has to say is beautiful, and well worth a listen.

Monday, May 13, 2013

Music Monday! The Taxpayers, Carcrashlander, Alela Diane, Dust, the Ecstatics, Black Prairie

Posted by Ned Lannamann on Mon, May 13, 2013 at 4:44 PM

We already heard a new Typhoon song this morning, but there's much more Music Monday!


Local DIY punk-folk-goof-etc. band the Taxpayers have a new album on the way titled Cold Hearted Town, and and here's the opening title track, in two parts: "Cold Hearted Town Pt 1" and "Cold Hearted Town Pt 2." A rollicking, seasick-drunk jaunt with ragtime overtones, the two-parter is lively, dark, and immediately gripping—"Pt 2" in particular is really outstanding. The album comes out digitally on June 1, then June 15 on CD via the band's own Useless State Records, and will also be issued on vinyl in July. It's available for pre-order on Bandcamp, and those pre-sales will fund the physical release.

• • •


Carcrashlander, the musical project of Portland's Cory Gray, has a new record on the way as well. A Plan to Tell the Future is slated for release on August 13, but things being what they are in this crazy computer age, you can hear all of it right now over on Bandcamp. Here's the album's second track, the spectacularly moody "All My Light Begins to Dissipate," a song that's thick with clattering boxcar percussion, rusty guitar moans, barroom piano, and Gray's own trumpet emitting golden shafts of light through the darkness. Go over to Bandcamp to hear and buy the whole thing; a vinyl edition will be available on local label Jealous Butcher, and cassettes to come via Curly Cassettes.

More Music Monday—with tracks from Alela Diane, Dust, the Ecstatics, and an EP stream from Black Prairie—after the jump!

Continue reading »

Photos of Last Friday's KPSU Kruise

Posted by Ned Lannamann on Mon, May 13, 2013 at 2:36 PM

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Photo by Rachel Milbauer.

Over on End Hits, we've got photos and a quick writeup—courtesy of Rachel Milbauer, as Boat Cop was unavailable—of last Friday's midnight KPSU Kruise, with music from Onuinu and Grandparents aboard the good ship Portland Spirit. Click on over to check it all out!

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Tonight in Music

Posted by Courtney Ferguson on Mon, May 13, 2013 at 12:29 PM

Bath Party (Via)
  • Bath Party (Via)

Valentine'sBath Party, Talkative, Couches, 9 pm, $3
Backspace–The Appleseed Cast, Hospital Ships, Ugly Colors, For the Life of Me, 7 pm, $12, all ages
Beech St. Parlor–Dorian Duvall
East End–Leopold & His Fiction, Bike Thief, 9 pm
LaurelThirst Public House–Portland Country Underground, 6 pm; Kung Pao Chickens, 9 pm, free
Roseland–Big Boi, Killer Mike, 8 pm, all ages

They Need More To Do On the International Space Station

Posted by Dan Savage on Mon, May 13, 2013 at 11:14 AM



Via TPM. Says Josh:

When I first saw this I couldn’t tell if it was cringeworthy or simply awesome. But listening to the whole thing I’m gravitating heavily toward option two. This is Chris Hadfield, commander of the International Space Station, performing Bowie’s Space Oddity from … well, space.

New Typhoon Song! New Typhoon Album in August!

Posted by Ned Lannamann on Mon, May 13, 2013 at 10:29 AM

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After many anxious sleepless months, we finally have some details about the new Typhoon album, which is titled White Lighter and will be released on August 20 on LA's Roll Call Records, also home to Rubblebucket, Army Navy, and On An On. A preview track appeared over at the Wall Street Journal, of all places, this morning. It's of course another stunner from the 11-piece local band, a swirling, rumbling mini-epic filled with all the drama and dynamics the band is so skilled at, making the most of the band's massed vocals and even expanding their instrumentation to include piano and pedal steel.

Typhoon singer Kyle Morton has a little bit to say about the new song, "Dreams of Cannibalism," over on WSJ, and the album, which was recorded at Pendarvis Farm (site of Pickathon) and other locations with longtime Typhoon collaborator Paul Laxer has a full track listing posted on Typhoon's site. (Interestingly, one of the 13 tracks is named "Hunger and Thirst," which was the title of Typhoon's 2010 full-length—shades of "Houses of the Holy.")

August 20 cannot get here soon enough, but in the meantime, take a listen to "Dreams of Cannibalism" above, and download it on Soundcloud.

Friday, May 10, 2013

Video Vriday! And And And, Wooden Indian Burial Ground, & More

Posted by Ned Lannamann on Fri, May 10, 2013 at 1:29 PM

Va va va voom, it's Video Vriday!


Fresh off their Arrested Development party at Holocene earlier this week, Banana Stand Media have announced their new live album—and this one's coming from And And And, who performed and recorded a show in the Banana Stand basement back in December. Here's a clip of the song "Bow Down" from that show (video by Collective-47); typically, it's great. The album will be released on Tuesday, May 21 and will include several new/unreleased songs from the band, and to celebrate, And And And is playing a show on the day of the album release at Bunk Bar with Sama Dams (click it to ticket!); meanwhile, they're about to hit the road with Sun Angle. And And And's Live from the Banana Stand is Banana Stand's first release since partnering with CD Baby, who have become an official sponsor of the live recordists—they'll manufacture and distribute this and other upcoming releases from Banana Stand.
• • •


Here's Wooden Indian Burial Ground's new video, for "Helicopter," the frenetic, hypnotic opening track from their excellent recent self-titled album. If you love ponies and lysergic, nightmarish psychedelia, this is the video for you, my friend. Wooden Indian Burial Ground just kicked off their current tour on Tuesday night with a show at the Know; right now they're somewhere in Idaho or Montana, and will cross this proud nation with nearly two months of shows before returning back to Portland for a homecoming show at the Star Theater on June 29. It has been great to witness this band—who've been around for a near half-decade or so, despite some inaccurate reports—hitting their stride in the past few months. They have been getting lots of new attention, and deserve every bit of it.

Videos from Cat Doorman, Interiors, Black Prairie, and Love Cop after the jump!

Continue reading »

Tonight in Music

Posted by Courtney Ferguson on Fri, May 10, 2013 at 11:14 AM

Red Jacket Mine (Via)
  • Red Jacket Mine (Via)

White Eagle–The Reverb Brothers, 5:30 pm, free, all ages; Red Jacket Mine, Steelhead, Don of Division St., 9:30 pm, $8
Aladdin Theater–Richard Thompson, 8 pm, $35
Al's Den–Richmond Fontaine, 7 pm, free
Blue Monk–Rare Monk, Damn Divas, The World Radiant, 9 pm
Dante's–The Vandies, Kings & Vagabonds, 9 pm
Doug Fir–Kurt Vile & The Violators, The Fresh & Onlys, Steve Gunn, 9 pm, $15
Eagles Lodge–In the Cooky Jar: DJ Cooky Parker, 9 pm
Habesha–Old Light, Virgil Shaw, Sad Horse, 9 pm, $5
Holocene–Ecstasy: Kim Ann Foxman, Willie Burns, DJ Beyondadoubt, DJ Maxx Bass, 9 pm
The Know–Stovokor, Wartorn, Night Nurse, 8 pm
Langano Lounge–Havania Whaal, Tiny Knives, Smoke Rings, Magic Mouth, 9 pm, free
Mississippi Studios–Sun Angle, Nice Nice, Like a Villain, 8:30 pm, $6-8
Portland Spirit–KPSU Kruise: Onuinu, Grandparents, 10:30 pm, $10-15, all ages
Record Room–Night Mechanic, The Rarities, DJ Charles Austin, 8 pm, $5
Rotture–Live and Direct: Rev Shines, Slimkid3, DJ Nature, 9 pm, $5
Star Theater–Born Ruffians, Moon King, 9 pm, $11, all ages

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Let's Get the Catholics' Take on the New David Bowie Video!

Posted by Ned Lannamann on Thu, May 9, 2013 at 1:59 PM


David Bowie's new video, directed by Floria Sigismondi and starring Gary Oldman, contains some of my very favorite things (these being Marion Cotillard, booze, sex, shame, and Bowie himself, among other things). But making sense of all this nutzoid religious imagery is easier said than done. Let's turn to the Catholic League's take—they should be able to offer a clear perspective on the dense layers of symbolism we're seeing.

Take it away, poster "Bill":

David Bowie is back, but hopefully not for long. The switch-hitting, bisexual, senior citizen from London has resurfaced, this time playing a Jesus-like character who hangs out in a nightclub dump frequented by priests, cardinals and half-naked women.

The video is strewn with characteristic excess: one priest bashes a homeless man, while others are busy hitting on women; self-flagellation is depicted; a dancing gal with bleeding hands makes a stigmata statement; and a customer is served eyeballs on a plate. The lyrics refer to the “priest stiff in hate” and “women dressed as men for the pleasure of that priest.” The song concludes with, “They can work with Satan while they dress with the saints.” In short, the video reflects the artist—it is a mess.

...Not sure what he believes in today (anyone who is “not quite an atheist” is not an atheist), but it’s a sure bet he can’t stop thinking about the Cadillac of all religions, namely Roman Catholicism. There is hope for him yet.

SOME THINGS OF NOTE:
• Bill refers to Bowie as "switch-hitting" AND "bisexual." Just so it's perfectly clear.
• While the imagery is lurid, the video's humor seems to have totally escaped Bill. Note Bowie's bizarre breaking of the fourth wall at the end.
• Remember that this is the guy who played Pontius Pilate in The Last Temptation of Christ. That seems significant to me for some reason.
• Am I the only one who notices a visual reference to the "Let's Dance" video?
• Kudos for referring to Roman Catholicism as "the Cadillac of all religions." If you mean elitist, impractical, and entirely out of step with the times, you are bang on, sir.
• Are Catholics even allowed to watch this kind of stuff?
• Sweet hot Jesus sandwiches, how I love Marion Cotillard.
• Seriously, Bill, this video is fucking awesome. What's your problem?... oh yeah.

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