When we imagine Portland, we imagine it “a promised land,” of every artist being appreciated and supported in whatever creative endeavor they might dream up that day. Of a place where music is simply one means for any artist to express themselves. A place where being DIY is the point.

Former Seattlite, now Portlander Laura Veirs is no doubt one of those artists who help to perpetuate the vision of an indie utopia. In addition to making her own music and spending some time as a Decemberist, she’s recently offered her services as a songwriting instructor to a few lucky people. It’s a mark of her own confidence (and some would say ego) that she’d do such a thing, yet with Saltbreakers, and now July Flame (being independently released in January of 2010) on her resume, if I wanted to be a serious songwriter I’d plop down more than a few bucks to here what Viers has to say. She’s so serious she grades her own practicing.

Upon hearing her newest effort July Flame, lead Decemberist Colin Meloy dubbed it “best album of 2010.” While that may be a bit premature considering it’s still 2009, without a doubt her newest mines a wide-range of influences that add up to songs that sometimes feel classic Laura Veirs, and sometimes feel right out of another classic American musical songbook. The first single “Wide Eyed, Legless” is a lot of the former, with a quirky PDX orchestra on the side:

MP3: “Wide Eyed, Legless” by Laura Veirs from July Flame (out Jan 2010) courtesy of Laura Veirs

Tonight at Neumos, Laura Viers opens for fellow PDX residents Blind Pilot, with Mimicking Birds kicking things off. Tickets are $12 in advance.