GIVERS

I was planning on going to the MusicfestNW Announcement Party on Tuesday night at the Star Theater, but I arrived a wee bit early. Or, a LOT bit early. So I decided to head up to the Mission Theater in the meantime and check out GIVERS. Turns out, my early arrival mistake turned out to be the best band I saw all night.

GIVERS is a band I first heard about on All Songs Considered in early 2010, and they have been on my "Check Out That Band" list ever since. Now I'm kicking myself for not seeing or listening to them earlier, because they put on a fantastic show. All 5 members played every single song like it was the last song of the night, and the energy was completely infectious. The space between the tables and the stage at the Mission was totally backed with bouncing bodies and flailing hands. Not a full house by any means, but the band didn't seem to notice and rocked - HARD - through their set.

There were tons of instruments on stage ranging from a glockenspiel to a computer. The guy lead singer/guitarist (Taylor Guarisco) switched it up and played bass for a few songs, and the girl lead singer (Tiffany Lamson) played ukulele, guitar AND percussion. Multiple keyboards surrounded the keysman (who also played flute), and the bass player had some intricately arpeggiated guitar lines on a few tunes. All of the songs are hugely percussion-based and feature the guy/girl vocal harmonies throughout, which GIVERS do very well. Here's a good example:
GIVERS Up Up Up by Glassnotemusic

GIVERS play MusicfestNW in September, and their new album In Light is out on June 7. Give GIVERS a chance - you'll dig it.

By the way, if you want a preview of their MusicfestNW performance, visit KCRW's website in the next few days for their archived Morning Becomes Eclectic performance.

GIVERS website

It's Official: My Favorites of 2010

Well, this has been a work in progress, but I am ready to make it official: here are my 10 favorite albums of 2010.

1. The National - High Violet

I am an admitted late-comer to The National. I know they have a few albums under their belt (which I have subsequently gone back to and now love), but for some reason I was unable to grasp their music until High Violet. And actually, I wasn't crazy about the first single ("Bloodbuzz, Ohio"). It wasn't until I heard the track "England" that I was hooked. The way the piano builds along with the drums is mesmerizing, and when the drums fully kick in they provide a simple backbeat that is juuuust enough to take the music to the next level until the end of the song. The simplicity of interweaving parts throughout the album and the discipline of the drummer barely using cymbals makes everything sound tight. High Violet is a damn near perfectly crafted album, and I will be listening to it for years to come.

2. The Tallest Man On Earth - The Wild Hunt

One day last summer I was out for a run, and "Burden of Tomorrow" came on my iPod. While some tracks by The Tallest Man On Earth might not be the best workout/running music, that song hit it right on the head. From there I explored the rest of the album and could not stop listening. Kristian Matsson's melodies are infectious and, despite it being your classic dude-with-a-guitar set-up, the entire album is compelling and will leave you digging deeper into his catalog. The Wild Hunt (along with another EP, Sometimes the Blues is Just a Passing Bird, released later in 2010) is an album that fits a variety of situations and moods, and am looking forward to more music down the road from The Tallest Man On Earth.

3. Local Natives - Gorilla Manor

Ever since their residency at LA's Spaceland in August of 2009 I have been excited to a) see this band live and b) get my hands on their debut album. I accomplished the former goal a few times (Holocene & Doug Fir with Edward Sharpe in 2009 and then a heading gig at Mississippi Studios in 2010), and their live show is stellar. Multiple harmonies, syncopated rhythms, lush guitars and accented keyboards are all blended perfectly on stage, and all five members are clearly having a GREAT time playing the songs. Fortunately, all of that translates into a great debut album - still full of the energy from their live show with a few added studio nuances to make it all the more enjoyable. These guys have been on the road since about September 2009, and I hope it continues to pay off. Check out their blog for road stories and pictures, and go listen to Gorilla Manor: it's terrific.

4. Tame Impala - InnerSpeaker

Thanks to Rachel Reynolds and KCRW for turning me on to this band in their Artist You Should Know series. These Aussies came through Portland recently and rocked Doug Fir - you can read my blog post below this one - but before that, InnerSpeaker immediately got my attention with the reverbed guitars, lazy vocal delivery and scratchy lead lines. Take "Lucidity" as an example. Vocals start in at the beginning, and they are layered over the top of a strong beat, washed out guitars and looooong drum fills. As soon as I heard this track I knew I was in for a treat, and I also force fed it to any of my friends who would listen. Fortunately, they all agreed: this band rules. Tame Impala manage to make music that sounds like it is from the 70's, but they update it with current effects and a laid back attitude of awesomeness. I'm hooked.

5. Delta Spirit - History From Below

Well, Ode To Sunshine was fantastic, and History From Below is the natural follow-up. The songs are crafted in much the same way, but Delta Spirit are heavier on the rocknroll this time around. A friend made the comment that it sounds like Delta Spirit made this album thinking about how the songs would be played live, meaning everything is unnecessarily just a liiiiittle bit louder, but I think it sounds great. There are tasty licks all over this album, and particularly on "Golden State," my favorite track. Delta Spirit played Doug Fir a few days after the release of this album, and not only did the show sound incredible, but the energy was just up up up up the whole time - a perfect compliment to a great album.

6. Gospel Claws - C.L.A.W.S.

This one caught me by surprise...in October. Thanks to my hosting a music block for opbmusic, I have access to a nice, concise list of new releases each week. Well, on October 26, 2010, Gospel Claws released C.L.A.W.S. and I thought it proper to play a track during my set. I want you to experience it the way I did, so do me a favor: go here and listen to "Walk Me Down." Then come back. ... I'll wait, go ahead. ... Okay. Is that not one of the more killer songs you've heard all year? I mean seriously. "Walk me down / doo doo doo doo doo doo walk me down / ooh ooh ooh." AWESOME. And the album maintains that strength through the remaining 10 songs. The vocals remind me of early Bono mixed with Band of Horses (in a good way), but the music has more balls. If you're in the mood for some solid, catchy rock, go for Gospel Claws.

7. Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More

This is another one that snuck up on me. A friend mentioned seeing them during the summer and said they were great, so I bought the album on that recommendation. Turns out it was a good move. Mumford & Sons sound as though they could be an American bluegrass band who secretly listened to rock and roll while totally digging on Irish jigs. The best tracks build to an epic chorus/ending full of four-on-the-floor bass drum, jangly banjo and soaring vocal lines, but all of the songs are good. "Little Lion Man" or "The Cave" are good places to start, and, as long as you're into that, you'll enjoy the rest of the album.

8. Boy Eats Drum Machine - 20 Beats

Jon Ragel IS Boy Eats Drum Machine, and I think he is one of the most creative solo artists I have ever seen. Not only does he play nearly everything you hear, but he also has a sweet live set-up: twin screens at the back of the stage onto which all of his hand movements are projected from the turntable & Kaoss pad he plays through. Oh, and there's a drum and a saxophone he plays live as well. And singing too. All of those musical elements - minus the singing - are presented on 20 Beats, and they showcase BEDM at his best. As you might have guessed, there are 20 tracks on the LP, and it's a great mix of the beat-based, synth-lead hip-hop Jon Ragel does best.

9. Garotas Suecas - Escaldante Banda

"Swedish Girls" is the exact translation of Garotas Suecas. And that has nothing to do with the band, really. Garotas Suecas were first put on my radar by Ms. Carrie Brownstein, and I have been dying to see them live and/or get some of their music ever since. 2010 was the year for both. Garotas Suecas played MusicFestNW this year, and I, along with about 40 other lucky people, watched this band turn Ash St. Saloon from a room full of I'm-going-to-stand-here-and-analyze-this-show into a room full of everyone-needs-to-be-shaking-their-ass-NOW! Their music is tough to categorize, but I would call it their own Brazilian style of funk/rock/pop you can't help but groove to. The band is relaxed on stage, but the output is...well...FUN. Like Carrie says in her blog post: "Garotas Suecas shouldn't merely be listened to or witnessed; they should be absorbed."

10. Sun Airway - Nocturne of Exploded Crystal Chandelier

Sun Airway is another group I discovered late in the year, and they arrived almost simultaneously via opbmusic and KEXP. "Shimmering electronica" is the way I would describe this album; there are certain effects that makes the songs shimmer, and the duo only uses electronic instruments. Almost every review or mention of this album makes an apt comparison to Animal Collective, but where Animal Collective tends to get too strange for me, Sun Airway keeps the song structures simple, the melodies basic and the music easy to listen to. There were a few other contenders for this #10 spot, but I picked Nocturne because it, moreso than others, has stayed with me ever since its release. Bottom line: if you liked Merriwether Post Pavilion, you'll love Nocturne of Exploded Crystal Chandelier.

What were your favorite albums of 2010?

Also, go submit your favorites for opbmusic's Listener Poll!

Portland Radio: opbmusic

I love radio. But I think most of all I love the idea of radio. Most of my listening these days is in the form of online streams or podcasts; however, none of this would be possible without the basic radio stations to program and broadcast the content.

Ever since high school I wanted to work at a radio station, and 94.7 NRK was the Portland station that sucked me in and made radio exciting. The music on the radio at that time (the late nineties) seemed fresh, and I was actually discovering new bands via the airwaves. I thought I would never find anything better.

Since that time my musical palette has expanded along with my radio taste and knowledge, and I realized my initial love for 94.7 was premature. There are much better radio stations out there, specifically two: KCRW in Los Angeles & opbmusic in Portland.

KCRW

I lived in Los Angeles for 10 years and worked for college, corporate and non-profit radio stations. I played in bands and discovered a lot of great music beyond the scope of what would normally be played on traditional terrestrial radio. And then I found KCRW. KCRW is easily the most innovative, cutting-edge, forward-thinking radio station in the country. They have found a way to balance eclectic music, NPR and original talk programming in a way that is interesting and constantly entertaining. (There is also a 24-hour music stream: Eclectic24.) No city will ever have what KCRW is to Los Angeles or the music industry in general, but Portland is getting close with opbmusic.

opbmusic

When it comes to local Portland radio, opbmusic is setting the standard. Started by David Christensen and Jeremy Petersen a little more than three years ago, opbmusic does a terrific job of balancing local music with national acts on the weekly In House radio program (Saturday & Sunday nights from 8-11pm on 91.5FM). The only disadvantage is that they are on terrestrial radio for those 6 measly hours a week; everything else is broadcast online at opbmusic.org or via HD radio at 91.5-2. Portland needs opbmusic to be more of a presence in the local music scene. Everyone in or around music in Portland knows how amazing the scene is, but the way to promote it is lost.

There are many other local stations playing local music (see Local Cut’s extensive look at Portland radio), but opbmusic has the potential to become more. The balance of playing new, recent and upcoming releases among national and local artists alongside music relating to the thousands of shows that are coming to town is tough, but opbmusic is doing it. Their music library includes an amazing variety of music with a strong focus on local talent, and they have recently been expanding their online broadcast to include new volunteer hosts. These new hosts will bring their own distinct voice to opbmusic, which will keep the content unique. On top of that, opbmusic.org includes over 100 in-studio performances ranging from internationally known artists like Sloan to local up-and-comers such as Mimicking Birds. The foundation is solid; opbmusic just needs a bigger and more exposed platform.

I don’t believe a station has to be exclusively local to be a great local radio station. I am a fan of (and play keyboards in) a lot of local bands, but there are other bands I want to hear on the radio. This format – if you want to call it that – is exactly what opbmusic is all about: they support all things local while remaining relevant on a national level. This is the progressive, all-encompassing frame of mind that sets them apart from every other station in town.

Listen to In House and the online stream and see for yourself.

In House airs on OPB (91.5 FM) from 8-11pm on Saturday and Sundays nights. The online stream can be found anytime at www.opbmusic.org.

(Full disclosure: I was recently hired as a volunteer host for opbmusic. My show airs on Tuesdays online. Also, I worked as a volunteer at KCRW for a few years, but I can guarantee my opinion will be echoed if you give them a listen.)