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CULTUREPHILE: PORTLAND ARTS

Posts tagged with: folk

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Local Videos!

Secret Superheroes edition.

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Copy

I met Marius Libman, the one-man band known as Copy, twice in one week in 2006. Both times, he was bartending—first at Dunes, and then at Holocene. “Jeez, you work everywhere,” I said. “Nah, just four places,” he replied. The next time I saw him, was on the cover of Willamette Week, under the caption, “Best New Band.” I never asked him if that was his fourth job, or his fifth. I also never asked him if he’d secretly cloned himself to achieve greater productivity, and if his band name was a teasing hint. In any case, looks like Copy is still workin’ it, with a brand-new release, Hard Dreams , out last month on Audio Dregs. Copy’s signature style has always evoked the 80’s video-game world, and this piece reinforces that theme with a Tron-like light-scape:

Y La Bamba

I remember sitting in the back of the old Mississippi Studios at one of Y La Bamba’s early shows, and overhearing a nearby lady. “We saw her walking down the street earlier, and we were like, ‘Who is that?’ And here she is, I can’t believe it!” Some people just have star-quality and look beautiful in pictures, and Luzelena of Y La Bamba, bless her heart and face and tats, is one of them. That said, I think this video in particular compliments its song, and captures Luz’s mysterious allure. In the wake of Tender Loving Empire’s recent Y La Bamba release, Lupon , Culturephile has posted up a storm about this band. But I defy you to watch this video and say it’s not justified:

Reporter

Reporter used to be Wet Confetti. No. That’s not an insult—that’s their old name. I’ll be honest, I hadn’t checked in on them in a hot minute, except to order fries from drummer Mike McKinnon’s much-loved Potato Champion food cart. Anyway, it turns out that in August, while the fryer was on its busiest sizzle, Reporter managed to release a brand-new album, Time Incredible , followed by this video. Watch it once through to hear the whole tune, then watch it again and pause all the text panels to read the cryptic novella it contains:

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Tags: music, portland, northwest, monday fun, video, folk

Local Video Roundup

The “brother-egg” edition.

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Hosannas, comprised of brothers Brandon and Richard Laws, has just released a new album, Then & Now & Then, alongside the following video, which seems to elevate the egg well above brunch-fodder, to art objet:

Meanwhile, with more fraternal fowl play, here’s an older video from the now-dormant Binary Dolls, formed by brothers Nick and Matt Dabrowiak, plus Paul Alcott. Here, the inspiration is a whimsical rubber duck:

The three former Dolls are currently active with other projects: Matt and Paul play as electronica duo Dat’r, and Paul also plays with Menomena side project Ramona Falls:

Meanwhile, Nick fronts a band as Nick Jaina, and is currently raising money via Kickstarter, to release a new project in which his songwriting is paired with local female vocalists, including Corrina Repp, Laura Gibson, and Luz Elena Mendoza.


Culturephile tries to post something fun for you on Mondays, so check back! Or for more arts and culture options, visit our Arts & Entertainment Calendar anytime!

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Tags: music, portland, northwest, monday fun, video, folk

phile under: music

Local Music Videos!

The forestation, meadow-larking, and jazz standards edition.

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The Brothers Young
Fresh from a west-coast tour in support of their new EP, Good People , the Young brothers submit this psychedelic kaleidoscope of—REforestation? As interestingly conceived and carefully constructed as their riffs:

Y La Bamba
The band is still on the west-coast warpath in promotion of their new Tender Loving Empire release Lupon , but meanwhile, here’s a little taste of live magic:

The Sarcastic Dharma Society
The word “bromance” was recently added to the Oxford Dictionary, but not before prolific local indie-rocker Mat Vuksinich and bandmate Trey Young (no relation to the Brothers, but très young, indeed) demonstrated their flowering phileo with a Hoagy Carmichael cover and this blurry summer tableau. Culturephile suggests you check out Dharma’s newest self-released EP, Sanyassa: Songs Of Love, and use this as inspiration for your own afternoon park-frolicking:

Dory Hylton
And finally, a birthday shoutout to this local torch-singing luminary, who celebrated her 70th yesterday at The Woods. “I’m a septuagenarian!” she exclaimed. “When it’s about me, it’s really about me! [Exaggerated stage-wink].” Unsurprisingly, Ms. Hylton doesn’t have a huge online video repertoire, but even a basic point-and-shoot reveals her sultry live stylings:

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Tags: music, Live, jazz, portland, TLE, northwest, monday fun, folk, leviethan

phile under: music

The Brothers Young
Release New Album

Portland chamber folk’s other Youngs, are making a name for themselves.

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Get this gimmick: The Brothers Young is a band which features three actual brothers, actually named “Young.” The group, formed with the encouragement of their elder brother Ritchie Young (frontman of transcendental chamber-folk combo Loch Lomond), brings a darker timbre than Ritchie’s haunting falsetto. Like three Cains to Ritchie’s Abel, the Brothers often sing in a baritone unison, of world-weariness, caution and betrayal—sometimes bursting into open-ended Gregorian harmonies.

Supported by the drumming of Leviethan (whose PCS residency Culturephile covered earlier this summer), and the guitar-playing of Trevino Brings Plenty, the group will present a new EP, Good People, this Sunday at Rontoms (6th and E Burnside), and launch a west-coast tour. Whether or not you brave the Rontoms Sunday-night throng, you ought to lend this pioneering band of brothers your ears.


For a more comprehensive list of upcoming events, visit the Arts & Entertainment Calendar!

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Tags: Publishing, music, chamber, album, portland, portland, northwest, folk

phile under: gallery

Tender Loving Empire
Showcases Soft-Sculpture

Kelly Rundle’s heart-melting felt, plus musical guests!

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Kelly_rundle_rollerskates

These skates could roll all over your tender li’l heart. Rundle’s soft-sculpture will be showing at TLE throughout September.

Love Always (solo project of Kathy from The Thermals) and Woodwinds (solo project of boppin’ redhead hottie Megan Spear, of Jared Mees & The Grown Children) will provide the live backing tracks for the opening night of Kelly Rundle’s cozy soft-sculpture show at the headquarters of local record label and craft-curio carrier, Tender Loving Empire (412 SW 10th Avenue). Surrender to the benevolent power of Tender Loving Empire. TLE will hug and kiss and never hurt you.


Culturephile can only feature a few First Thursday picks, but for a more comprehensive list of upcoming events, visit the Arts & Entertainment Calendar!

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Tags: Galleries, sewing, folk art, galleries, folk, northwest, TLE, portland, crafts, First Thursday, Crafts, children

phile under: music

Holy CD Releases! Blue Cranes or Sean Flinn & The Royal We

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You shouldn’t suffer for lack of options this Saturday night, as two critically-acclaimed local acts release new albums at two approachably-posh venues. Maybe try a quantum-physics feat, and put yourself in both places at once. Neither of these events are to be missed.


For a more comprehensive list of upcoming events, visit the Arts & Entertainment Calendar!

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Tags: weekend picks, folk, northwest, portland, album, Live, music, Weekend Plans, weekend,

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