Grizzly Bear ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

Some notable calendar listings have appeared in the past week or so we thought you might want to be aware of:

Grizzly Bear coming to the Moore Theater, Friday October 16th
$23 - presale starts Thursday July 16 through the Moore. PW: KEXP.

Monotonix coming to Neumos September 19th
$13 - 21+ - Tickets available at Ticketswest

Pearl Jam coming to Key Arena September 21st and 22nd
$68 - Tickets go on sale to the General Public, Saturday July 18 at Ticketmaster.

The Dirty Three coming to the Crocodile September 18th
$15 - 21+ - Get tickets from the Crocodile

Fruit Bats coming to the Crocodile August 20th
$12 - 21+ - Get tickets from the Crocodile

MP3 - “Ruminant Band” by the Fruit Bats courtesy of Sub Pop

KEXP Summer Mural Concert Series at the Seattle Center Mural Amphitheater
All these shows are free and all-ages, including the BBQ. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.

Friday 7/31, 5-8pm
Blitzen Trapper
Throw Me the Statue
This week daytrotter posted their session with Blitzen Trapper.

Friday 8/7, 5-8pm
Dyme Def
Fresh Espresso

Saturday 8/8, 7th Annual KEXP BBQ! 2-9pm
Dinosaur Jr
Viva Voce
Cymbals Eat Guitars
Japandroids
Born Anchors
Champagne Champagne

Friday 8/14, 5-8pm
The Dodos
Army Navy
We highly recommend streaming the Dodo’s new album Time to Die at timetodie.net.

Friday 8/21, 5-8pm
Fruit Bats
Johnny and the Moon

The Builders and the Butchers ::: Photo by Josh

Last year Sasquatch showed Seattle’s up and comer’s a whole lot of love, and this year Portland is the local city with the honor of the most performers. In fact it’s a veritable who’s who of notables coming out of PDX: Hockey, Blind Pilot, Loch Lomond, M Ward, The Decemberists, Viva Voce, Pt. Juncture, WA, The Builders and the Butchers, Blitzen Trapper, Horse Feathers. We can honestly say there’s not a bad one in the bunch and something for everyone, with a small gripe that maybe a little more female representation from the Rose city might’ve been nice (Laura Viers, Mirah, Explode into Colors… the list is lengthy).

To help you decide about which of these distinguished Oregonian bands you should see, I’ve assembled a nice list of free tracks from each of these bands (except one band who keeps a tight grip on their tracks online) for you to evaluate on the long drive to the Gorge. Enjoy and make sure to pick up these band’s albums should you like what you hear. A number of these bands including the Decemberists and Blind Pilot will be signing their albums at the Easy Street Booth throughout the festival, so take a look at that schedule too.

MP3: “Go On Say It” by Blind Pilot courtesy of SXSW 2009

MP3: “Blue Lead Fences” by Loch Lomond courtesy of SXSW 2009

MP3: “Never Had No One Like You” by M Ward courtesy of Merge Records

MP3: “Here I Dreamt I Was an Architect” by The Decemberists courtesy of Kill Rock Stars

MP3: “Devotion” by Viva Voce courtesy of Barsuk Records

MP3: “Sick on Sugar” by Pt. Juncture, WA
courtesy of Pt. Juncture, WA

MP3: “Devil Town” by The Builders and the Butchers

MP3: “Gold For Bread” by Blitzen Trapper courtesy of Sub Pop Records

MP3: “Curs in the Weeds” by Horse Feathers courtesy of Kill Rock Stars

Video: “Too Fake” by Hockey

The Shaky Hands ::: Photo by Josh

Randomly this weekend features a selection of the best of what PDX has to offer, all on bills supporting each other…

Friday April 10 at Chop Suey
Viva Voce (from PDX and is now a four piece!)
The Shaky Hands (PDX)
Rafter (San Diego)
Tickets are $10 adv. at Ticketweb.

Friday April 10 at the Vera Project
Starfucker (PDX)
Guidance Counselor (PDX)
Navigator vs. Navigator (Sea-town)
All-Ages. Tickets are $8 at TicketWeb.

Saturday April 11 at Neumos
The Thermals (PDX)
Panther (PDX)
Parenthetical Girls (PDX)
All-Ages. Tickets are $15 adv. at TicketsWest.

How one stands up to the weight of expectations and the glare of the spotlight sometimes is not entirely in ones control. After the last few days, James Mercer, lead vocalist of the Shins, probably knows that all too well. He’s been suffering from a throat ailment of some sort, causing him lose some of his higher register notes, and forcing him to pop Ricola’s and sing with them in his mouth. I was actually afraid he might choke on his remedy at least once, but he powered through his set without letting his throat dampen his mood for a second sold out set at the Paramount in Seattle.

With a 50 foot high rendition of their album cover as a backdrop, the Shins started their set with a couple of my new favorites, “Australia” and “Phantom Limb” and then dove into the old favorites. A number of the tried and true tracks had been retooled to slower and sparser arrangements that seem more in the style of the new album. A notable highlight happened when a fan threw a very large set of grannie panties tightey-whitey’s on stage with the writing “this is how much we love you.” “I Love you THIS much.” Martin (the keyboardist) thought that was hilarious and draped it over a mic stand for a few songs. The pair of underwear were so big he thought he might wear it as a shirt for a song, but that didn’t work out so well.

Despite Mercer’s vocals being rough and strained at the high note moments, it didn’t detract from the quality of the performance. They were all clearly happy and prepared to have a good time on stage, and that rubbed off on the crowd. The new songs were much tighter than when seeing them at Deck the Hall ball, and when put in a concert context, seemed to fit in with the rest of their catalog seamlessly. I do think that this size venue is really their limit though.

Viva Voce was also very good. I was rather suprised by it actually. I haven’t delved deeply into their newest album so didn’t know any of their stuff, but it didn’t matter because they had an effusive energy that was difficult to resist, especially drummer Kevin. His shoutout and acknowledgement to the front row member with the headband matching his own, and who he saw waiting in line when they arrived, was one of the nicest things I’ve seen in a while. Being a superfan has its benefits.

Related

Flickr Set:  The Shins - The Paramount - February 20, 2007

I almost forgot this week’s show of the week is the Silversun Pickups and Viva Voce. We’ll be there. Maybe we’ll see you there too.

In comparison to the previous unnatural week this week is rather tame. I can’t wait to see Regina Spektor at Easy Street though. Her album is a top ten album of 2006 in my humble opinion.

10/23 - The Black Angels - Neumos

10/25 - Now It’s Overheard - Chop Suey

10/25 - Cut Chemist - Neumos

10/25 - Ziggy Marley - Showbox

10/26 - Regina Spektor - The Moore

10/27 - Regina Spektor - Easy Street Records - Free In-Store - 6pm

10/27 - Silversun Pickups, Viva Voce - The Crocodile

10/28 - Slender Means - The Crocodile