Lonnie Walker, out of Raleigh, NC, releases their debut full-length These Times Old Times today. The name suggests a solo act, but Lonnie Walker is actually a full band. One word describes this album: fun. Fans of The Magic Numbers, Dan Bern and even Bob Dylan will appreciate the smart lyric writing and snarky, nasal
Recipe for the perfect indie band: Start with beautiful voices that can sing the lowest lows and the highest highs. Stir in an assortment of instruments, most especially organs, harmonicas, trumpets and electronic keyboards. Add a dash of British flavor. Lastly, wrap up the package with outstanding lyric writing. If you follow this recipe, you
Little Beirut is one of my new favorite bands. Ever since I heard them on 94.7 Too, a radio station that plays only Northwest artists, I have been captivated by their solid indie pop sounds. I caught a free (!) show by Little Beirut at University of Portland’s Buckley Hall last night. It was a
Do you know the name of the bassist in your favorite band? Didn’t think so. Bassists are usually overlooked in bands, playing second fiddle to the more spotlight-friendly lead singers and guitarists. An interesting “supergroup,” consisting of Smiths bassist Andy Rourke, New Order and Joy Division bassist Peter Hook and Stone Roses bassist Gary ‘Mani’
Being an opening band can be frustrating: the crowd has not yet arrived and most audiences chatter throughout your performance—that is, if they’re not outside smoking or getting a drink at the bar. I’ll admit, even I sometimes don’t give due deference to the openers, which can be a big mistake! At Paschal Coeur’s finale
At Paschal Coeur’s last show ever at The Woods on November 27, I got to sit down with four of the five members, lead singer Danielle Fish, guitarist Kacy Mazur, synthesizer player (synthesist?) Tim John O’Brien and bassist Ed Thanhouser for an intimate last interview.
You know how the ocean lulls you to sleep, with its rushing waves and constant roar? It’s one of my favorite things about going to the beach. But an album called Kudos by a New Zealand band called Surf City led me to expect something more akin to Annette Funicello’s Beach Blanket Bingo. Maybe I
I didn’t know too much about Paschal Coeur before I saw them play at The Woods last night. I knew their genre classification was all over the map, from country to electronic to pop. I knew that last night was the last show they would play before disbanding and becoming the Don’t Say Nos (new
Eux Autres, the San Francisco-based pop band, released their third album Broken Bow today. I listened to most of this album on a freezing, slushy day in Portland, but Eux Autres’s sunshine pop kept me warm. The first track, “Jamais,” which means “never,” is a good representation of Eux Autres’s signature sound. The poppy, energetic
At The Woods last night watching Blood Beach open for (former BestNewBands.com Artists in Residence) Rumspringa and Bear Hands, the very first thing I noticed was the hair. The self-described “garage/basement band” is blessed with four heads of shiny, flowing hair. Check out the video of their song “Soft Serve” to see for yourself. BestNewBands.com