Editor’s note: In case you are wondering why there is not uniformity of order or nearly anything among our writers…one of the founding principles of Oregon Music News was that our writers each have a distinctive voice. Turns out, they do. And the one’s who are just developing theirs are developing nicely. Thus, the anarchy of these lists. We like it that way. — Tom D’Antoni
Since many of my most-prized local memories of 2010 (Y La Bamba, Pickathon, Tu Fawning, Billygoat, PCP, and more) are so well documented below by a slew of OMN staffers with (dare I say?) impeccable taste, I give you 6 non-local shows that blew my mind in ’10:
1. Sufjan Stevens at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall on Friday, October 29th.
2. Jónsi (of Sigur Rós) at the Roseland Theater on Tuesday, April 13th.
3. Major Lazer and Big Freedia at the Roseland Theater during MFNW on Thursday, September 9th followed by Big Freedia live at Sassy’s (the strip club).
4. Janelle Mon√°e wowing a sold-out (for of Montreal) Roseland Theater on Thursday, October 28th.
5. Peter Hook & Friends at the Doug Fir Lounge playing Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures in its entirety on Thursday, December 9th.
6. The Flaming Lips at Eugene’s McDonald Theatre on Wednesday, September 29th.
Followed by epic festival coverage at PDX Pop Now!, MFNW, and Sasquatch. And since I just can’t resist… here are some locals who deserve love from the last year: Climber, Reporter, Soft Metals, Remix Artist Collective, The Angry Orts, The Ascetic Junkies, Strength, Pegasus Dream, Menomena, and Seattle’s Brent Amaker & The Rodeo and Hey Marseilles. I mourn the end of Explode Into Colors but look forward to more creative and bombastic incarnations. To anyone I’ve forgotten, I apologize but I hope to see plenty more of you in 2011.
But why look back when you should be looking forward? Here are the best, local musics that you’ve likely enjoyed this past year but I am anticipating even brighter futures (and fresh, alphabetically organized, full-length albums) in 2011:
1. AgesandAges’ debut album Alright You Restless due February 15th, 2011 (via Knitting Factory Records).
2. The Blow returns to the NW with new material and eventually a new album.
3. Deelay Ceelay took the last half of the year off to hit the studio and are now mixing things.
4. Red Fang’s Relaspe Records debut due in early 2011.
5. Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside have kept us waiting for a better part of the last year but their debut album is coming.
6. Starfucker’s second album (performed and recorded under the name Starfucker and no other name, abbreviation or derivative) out March-ish (via Polyvinyl).
7. Lastly, Vanimal has only a demo EP thus far but we’re excited to hear what’s next.
In alphabetical order (links go to the OMN story):
1. Avishai Cohen (the bass player) at Winningstad Theater. Interview / Review
2. Gretchen Mitchell at Waterfront Blues Festival. Story
3. Glen Moore/Dan Gaynor/Gary Hobbs at the Mission Theater. Story
4. Devin Phillips Black and Blue at Waterfront Blues Festival. Story
5. Christian Scott at Jimmy Mak’s as part of Soul’d Out Music Festival. Story
Photo gallery by Kevin Tomanka
Having said that, there are dozens of others that could go on here. I just took the first five off the top of my head. Lots and lots of others. Don’t hate me, musicians.
Most memorable moment:
The Waterfront Blues Festival was one of the most unique experiences in my career. Mark Niemann-Ross, Steve Murray, Jack Berry, Jon T. Cruz, John Rudoff, Karen Fox, Jamie Stewart, David Krebs (there could be more) and I wrote or took photos for around 40 stories in 4 days. Sitting in our booth, at our work table, writing and sending reporters and photographers to cover bands and then putting them up on the site, and seeing them on the huge monitor we had there, sometimes while the stage was still warm, was just about heaven.
Sometimes stories came in I didn’t know were coming. Thank you Mark.
Most hopeful development:
The maturation of the Indie-Jazz players around here. Seems like yesterday they were playing in youth bands, or college bands. Most of them are still in their twenties. People like Dan Duval, Ben Darwish, Andrew Oliver, Mary-Sue Tobin….I could go on and on.
Most Valuable Player:
Terry Currier. He’s the glue for the whole music scene in Portland. Go buy some albums and keep him around.
There were so many great concerts in Oregon over the past year that I can’t hone it down to five.
1. Thomas Quasthoff’s performance in Mendelssohn’s Elijah, which was presented by the Oregon Bach Festival. Review.
2. Oregon Symphony with Arnaldo Cohen in Beethoven’s Piano Concertos No. 1 and No. 4. Review.
3. Portland Baroque Orchestra and oboist Gonzalo X. Ruiz turn in superb Bach Orchestral Suites concert. Review.
4. Portland Opera’s Cosi fan tutte (Review) and Hansel and Gretel (Review).
5. Rossini Stabat and Schubert 6th with the Oregon Symphony. Review and the Elina Vähälä Britten Violin Concert and Mahler No. 1 concert with the Oregon Symphony. Review.
6. Orion Weiss and Anna Polonsky piano duo at Chamber Music Northwest. Review.
Listed in astrological order:
1. Linda Hornbuckle
1. Mike Prigodich
2. Hashem Assadullahi
3. Trio Flux
4. Baskery
5. Punch Brothers
6. James-d and the ‘Sploders
The astute readers among you will figure out that most of these shows happened during the latter part of the year. This isn’t to dismiss any of the, I’m sure, incredible shows that went on throughout the early part of 2010. Rather, until September of this year, I was living in Seattle–a 14-month sojourn that at the time felt necessary but in retrospect feels like a weird blip in my life’s trajectory. All that is to say is that these are the best concerts I saw this year. Attending these shows was a not-so-subtle reminder of how great it feels to be back.
1. Sir Richard Bishop/Bill Orcutt (October 1st @ Hawthorne Eagles Lodge)
The strange environs for this show – the home of a fraternal organization that looks as if its décor hasn’t changed in at least 35 years – only added to its brilliance. The ever-amazing Bishop’s furious jazz and blues instrumentals felt as lived in and dusty as the room in which they were played. And having Orcutt ramble out moaning acoustic improvisations that skirted the edges of blues and noise made for a perfectly surreal juxtaposition.
2. The Need (October 8th @ Berbati’s Pan)
It’s been a long time since I saw this magickal duo kick the shit out of prog metal on stage, and their return as part of the Fall Into Darkness fest was a very welcome one. They filled the room with sage smoke, had a friend bash a trashcan for percussive emphasis, and threw in some wonderfully wonky bits of theatrics. But my favorite moment was the bold and badass move by drummer/vocalist Rachel Carns who tossed off her shirt about halfway through the set, bravely showing off her double mastectomy scars.
3. Moon Duo (October 20th @ East End)
For some unfathomable reason, the folks at East End decide to shove this dreamy psych duo at the bottom of the stairs at their venue, with the room featuring a stage and PA locked up. The band seemed none too happy at this prospect but didn’t let it affect their performance, throwing everything they had into their lo-fi drum machine pulses and hypnotic repetitive synth lines.
4. Pancake Breakfast/Loch Lomond (December 2nd @ The Woods)
A beautiful study in contrasts. Loch Lomond, augmented by a string trio, has never sounded better. Front man Richie Young was in perfect voice throughout aided achingly by band mates Dave Depper and Laurel Simmons. And the sound of the group felt full of purpose yet fragile, as if the smallest tremor would cause them all to shatter. Pancake Breakfast, on the other hand, reveled in the clamor and potential disarray that could come from eight people on stage playing a rollicking hybrid of jazz, folk, and country. They were infectious from the get go, having more fun than any one band should be allowed to have on stage. It was the best kind of set: one that made you want to start your own band immediately afterward.
5. Jandek/Thurston Moore (April 29th @ Hollywood Theater)
A one-off improvised collaboration between these two peerless musicians. As a friend observed, it was exactly what you would expect with Moore’s piercing, tense guitar tones rubbing up against the slower, lucid strumming of the enigmatic Jandek. There was much friction in the air, but the sparks that those two created made for some of the most electrifying moments I witnessed all year long.
1. Best New Band/ Album: Black Dub feat. Daniel Lanois, Trixie Whitley, and Brian Blade. Simply Astonishing.
2. Best Music Festival experience–ever: PICKATHON 2010, Pendarvis Farm.
3. Best Local Artist record release: Joe McMurrian–Get Inside This House.
4. Best Small Venue Performance: Robyn Hitchcock w/ Joe Boyd @ The Woods.
5. Best Multi-Artist Club Show: Tom Waits tribute @ the Laurel Thirst, produced by Susanna Weaver.
(5+ — I didn’t get into music so I could play by the rules. Almost too obvious to state yet too crucial to forgo–Best Record Store on the Planet: Music Freakin’ Millennium!)
This is my top 5 five Portland bands of the year, in order.
1. Typhoon – For the album Hunger and Thirst, which is my favorite local album of the year. The song “Starting Over” which is my favorite song of the year, and their CD release at Someday Lounge, which was one of my favorite shows.
2. Y La Bamba – For the new release, Lupon, for the song “Juniper,” for the awesome interview with Luz Elena, and for great shows throughout the year.
3. AgesandAges – For the song “No Nostalgia,” which was on the PDX Pop Now! comp and is my second favorite song of the year. Plus, for memorable performances at PDX Pop Now! and MFNW.
4. Tu Fawning – For “The Felt Sense,” excellent performances at Mississippi Studios and PDX Pop Now!, and their new album Hearts on Hold.
5. Nice Nice – For the album Extra Wow and live performances.
A More Than Honorable Mention goes out to Jared Mees and Tender Loving Empire for dropping three of the best local albums of the year (Typhoon, Y La Bamba, and Boy Eats Drum Machine) while playing in his own excellent band, operating a retail store, and supporting the Portland arts community.
This group of singers have been providing million dollar back up vocals behind their frontmen at live shows and on recordings. Listed in random order are this writer’s favorite second chair vox artists along with their chosen instrument of preoccupation.
Tim Huggins-Rob Stroup and The Blame (Bass) Also known for his recording studio expertise at 8 Ball Studio and for his ace rock and roll web design.
Susannah Weaver-Casey Neill and The Norway Rats (Guitar) She’s also the singer songwriter of her own catalog of Little Sue albums. Look for her 2011 release of Recipes for Disaster the cookbook she is editing with recipes by and for Portland musicians.
John Moen-The Dharma Bums (Drums) This valley grown Oregonian also drums for a little act you may have heard of…The Decembrists.
Ezra Holbrook-The Minus Five (Drums, that is for this band at least) Ezra is: That boingy front man for funk-hop act Dr. Theopolis, plays in a mess of other bands, is music producer extraordinaire, booking agent for new slick live music venue The Secret Society and Board Member for The Jeremy Wilson Foundation, providing medical support for those who make the soundtrack of our lives.
Chervona- Lead singer Andre Temkin of St. Petersberg Russia is backed up vocally by this entire band of highly trained and professional international musicians-Moscow guy Roman Tchamkin (Tuba & Bass), The American Adam Schneider (Trombone), The Russian Andrew Alikhanov (Clarinet), Brazilian Thomas de Almeida (Drums), American-but-speaks-German Antone Van Oosbree (Accordion & Trumpet), Polish lady Olimpia Trusty (Violin) and new guy to the group, American Kyle Buts (Bass Trombone & Accordion).
1. Mannequinhead at the Salty Sea Dog (house show) during the summer.
2. Yob with Sleep at the Roseland. Yob stole the show.
3. Disemballerina at Mississippi Pizza.
4. Ceremonial Castings at Black Metal Fest NW.
5. Mary Shelley at the Tiger Bar.
Here is my top 5, in order of preference:
5. Vadim Gluzman preforming Tchaikovsky’s violin concerto. Witnessing this classic preformed on the actual 1690 Stradivarious it was composed was stunning. It’s not often that you actually hear history.
4. Marco Benevento at the Ax & Fiddle. In terms of playing outside the box, this guy is one of the brightest voices in jazz.
3. Karnivool at the Roseland. The inheritors of Tool’s prog metal mantel. Amazing band.
2. Toubab Krewe at McDonald Theatre. In terms of uniqueness and innovation, this was the best show I saw all year.
1. Charlie Hunter at WOW Hall. What this man does should not be possible. Musical mastery.
Accept – Blood of Nations, Nuclear Blast Records 2010
Armed with a new singer Mark Tornillo Accept arose from the dead in 2010 with the best effort since Metal Heart. Accept will be playing Peter’s Room April 27th of 2011.
Jackyl – When Moon Shine and Dynamite Collide, Mighty Loud Entertainment 2010
No frills rock ‘n ‘roll in the tradition of AC/DC. This Jackyl’s strongest effort since their 1992 self-titled debut.
Danko Jones – Below the Belt, Bad Taste 2010
Over the top production, well crafted songs combined with the power pop of Cheap Trick. Danko Jones rocked Portland December 18th when the decimated Doug Fir Lounge.
Angels of Babylon – Kingdom of Evil, Burnhill Union Records 2010
This is a great power metal band and album that features bassist David Ellefson who later reunited with guitarist Dave Mustaine in Megadeth. Hopefully you caught them when America Carnage played in Portland on September 4th.
Sister Sin – True Sound of the Underground, Victory Records 2010
Sister Sin opened for Michael Schenker at Dante’s when he rolled through Portland on August 12th and they put on a moving performance.
Five Best Songs of 2010 (local):
John Heart Jackie – “You’ve Been On My Mind”
Calling to mind a much earlier era of songwriting, this was my favorite track from JHJ’s We Are Gold Mounds. It has the kind of plaintive melody that just will not let you go.
Nick Jaina – “Sleep Child”
Jaina really surprised and impressed me with the entirety of A Bird In The Opera House. I pick this one somewhat arbitrarily, as it’s hard to find a weak link on what is possibly the most consistently enjoyable record out of Portland this year. Jaina is perhaps Portland’s most masterful songsmith and is certainly our best kept secret.
Y La Bamba – “Juniper”
The only thing better than finally getting a YLB full length was having it live up to, and even at times exceed, expectation. “Juniper” is one such moment–the perfect combination of voice, ambiance and stylistic prowess. Luz Elena is Portland’s preeminent diva of 2010.
Brainstorm – “Battling Giants”
Although the tuba thing initially seems gimmicky, there’s no denying the pure spasmodic glee of a band like Brainstorm, whose virtuosic command of the pop format allows them to manipulate, twist and otherwise completely shred your expectations throughout proggy pop epics such as this gem.
Sean Flinn – “Patient Heart”
I would never have thought to ascribe a word like “contentious” or “controversial” to Flinn’s music. Rather, I always thought of it as fairly amicable and enjoyable chamber folk. To use a word like “harmless” isn’t quite right, and sounds too insulting… but I was nonetheless surprised at the extremely divisive reception this record received. It would appear that Flinn’s critics are incredibly harsh, and his supporters are equally effusive. I fall firmly in the later category, and songs like this one are the reason.
Five Best PDX Live Bands of 2010:
O Bruxo
The stomping, clapping ranchero rhythms of “Papi” Fimbres are at the heart of what makes (er, made) O Bruxo Portland’s most infectiously danceable live acts. Now on ‘indefinite hiatus,’ those who missed this band’s unfortunately short tenure will hopefully get another chance someday.
Blue Cranes
All too often jazz gets stuck in the jazz club. Not that I mind a night at Jimmy Mak’s per-say, but it can often feel monotonous or, at worst, stale. Blue Cranes are one of those precious few jazz combos stretching and testing the limits of what live jazz can do. That and they cover David Bowie.
Wampire
I’m not as young as I used to be, but watching sweaty teens lose their shit to the pulsing beats of a duo wearing nothing but skivvies, I get it… even if just for a second, before I cross my arms and lean disaffectedly against the back wall.
Billygoat
It’s funny to mention this group here, since when you go to see them, you don’t really see “them” at all… at least not in the sense of a traditional performance. Rather, you go to see the beautifully sculpted, stop-motion animation universe that Billygoat constructs their compositions around. The lush, atmospheric music–arranged, looped and performed live on dozens of instruments–is almost an afterthought to the amazing visual abstraction it soundtracks.
Operative
Something about the meticulous construction of Operative’s epic compositions fares a good deal better in a live setting than on their debut LP. This is despite the fact that Scott Goodwin & Co. are largely hidden behind their array of homemade gizmos and noisemakers. Maybe because it’s the sort of pulsing, crescendo-laden trance-inducing electro that requires the kind of sound system that will make your guts quiver with each bass hit.
Best new track: Portland Cello Project – “Dazed and Confused”
Best live show: Radio Moscow (@ East End) (tied with) The Slackers (@ Mississippi Studios)
Best surprise: Missionary Position (@ Ash St. Saloon)
Best band I had never heard until this year: Red Fang
(Also, best music video that I found this year: “Prehistoric Dog” by Red Fang)
Best new band: Hosannas (what can I say? I dig the hippy/squalor/clearly living out of a van sound)
I had a great time in 2010, and enjoyed every show I went to. But a few of them stand out in my mind as being above the rest. All great shows and in Chronological order:
Marv Ellis and the Platform CD Release Party at the Crystal Ballroom 3/20/2010
The local hip-hop artist brought an incredibly large crowd to the Crystal Ballroom when he released his third studio album Mental Picture Machine. True to form this show had a marketplace featuring merch from local artists and live art painting going on at the show. Marv brought out special guests Lafa Taylor and NRG to do a few songs with him. I got some great shots that night as well as had a good time.
La Roux at the Wonder Ballroom 4/12/2010
Chris had me shoot this show last-minute. The show was sold out, and the band played like they were rocking a stadium. I got up close without having to fight a crowd and got some great shots. Shortly after this “Bulletproof” hit the radio nationwide and I heard and saw them everywhere. They started selling out shows across the nation and now it even appears they have a new single with Kanye West of all people! This was an excellent “Saw them before they were big” story.
Gil Scott Heron at the Aladdin Theater 4/15/2010
Doing jokes to open the show, playing the attentive crowd like a cat with injured prey. Is he going to read poetry or sing? Why is he telling jokes? I’ll never forget him calling me out when I took a seat in front on the floor with my large camera lens. “I’m just gonna tell you now, if you flash that thing in my eyes I’m comin’ up off this stage at ya.” Whatever it was, and I’m not really sure, it was not what I had expected.
Ben Darwish at the Silverton Wine and Jazz Festival 5/8/2010 or at PDX Pop Now! 8/2/2010
I may be a bit biased because I know him and know that he’s genuinely a nice guy – and people like to see genuinely nice guys succeed. But when I see Ben Darwish play, I always leave saying, “Damn, that guys is going to be HUGE someday.” He can play anything! Straight-ahead in a jazz club, original tunes at a pop venue, or he could comfortably play an Afrobeat Tribute to Michael Jackson. Ben has the Midas touch right now and everything he touches is shiny, I just wonder how long before everyone else realizes he’s gold.
Sublime with Rome at the Roseland Theater 11/10/2010
After a 14 year hiatus following Bradley Nowell’s death, the guys finally found someone to carry the torch and stand in the guitar spot. Twenty-two-year-old Rome Ramirez was the perfect choice, even though he’s young. He’s got a good grip on the “Sublime Style” and he’s doing the band proud. Doing the interview with him was a high point for me this year. Some of the songs have been my favorites for over a decade but have never been played live (Bradley died before their tour to support their 3rd studio album). It was good to finally see them and have all those memories of my youth come back.
Lion King, touring company Broadway Across America.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Portland Center Stage.
She Loves Me at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
Gracie and the Atom at Artists Repertory Theater.
Sweet Charity at Lakewood Theater.
So tough to pick best lists … first, it’s the remembering (particularly about live shows – often the most recent crowd out things you attended 10 months ago) …. but here goes:
2010 local recordings (alphabetical by artist):
Blue Cranes – Observatories
Casey Neill & The Norway Rats – Goodbye To The Rank & File
Rob Stroup & The Blame – Glass Ceilings
Three Leg Torso – Animals & Cannibals
Laura Viers – July Flame
2010 local performances … because it’s too hard to remember, I’ll mention these …
Tony Furtado’s residency series (at The Woods and then The Secret Society) – can’t pick just one show of the 15, but the quality and musical collaborations with a rotating series of guests were truly inspired and satisfying.
The Gulfsongs benefit show at Alberta Rose (Sept 25) … okay, this is a somewhat selfish choice, but it was a pretty special night of music.
Lewi Longmire on almost any Thursday happy hour at the Laurelthirst – music that will always make me smile.
My Music Faves for 2010, listed chronologically:
Brazilian-born Luciana Souza, Portland Jazz Festival opener in February makes poetry of music and vice versa. Her “The Waters of March” was worth the whole evening,
Omar Sosa and his Afreecanos at Jimmy Mak’s in April: “Sosa is a masterful impressionistic pianist who travels from one-note beauty to eye-popping Oscar Peterson keyboard speed, but he is always himself and forever a performer.” –Angela Allen, OMN
Bill Beach’s Brasil Beat CD released in April on Axial Records: One of Portland’s favorite jazz pianists sings, too– “precisely articulated, beautifully phrased – in Portuguese.” –Angela Allen, OMN
Emerson String Quartet with clarinetist David Shifrin, in early July at Reed College as part of the Portland Chamber Music Northwest, playing Bach and Mozart. Their rendition of “Five Fugues from the Well-Tempered Clavier” shows why these guys have been performing together since 1976. “Hansel and Gretel,” Portland Opera, November at the Keller: Sleek, scary, Sendakian-toned production directed by hipster Benjamin Davis with hilarious performance by Allan Glassman as the Julia-Child-on-drugs witch.
bob priest on Oregon Symphony’s Carin Miller Packwood discusses the crazy reed-making process for bassoons
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Thanks Mark!!