Celilo have been quite the indie darlings since the release of their album Bending Mirrors in 2009. The alt-country, self-described ‘bootgazing’ five piece from Portland has seen their share of hardship and triumph over the last few years. Since the death of their drummer, Kipp Crawford in late 2009, Celilo has worked to move past the tragedy by finding a drummer who fit their sound and touring the U.K.

I got the chance to see Celilo play last night at Mississippi Studios, and they did not disappoint. Playing a mixture of tracks from Bending Mirrors and their upcoming new album, which is “70% done,” Celilo showered the audience with “rain-soaked rock.” There is definitely an element of darkness in all that Celilo does. They opened with “Sunken Ships,” a song with searching lyrics sung by Sloan Martin and plaintive steel guitar whining throughout.

Celilo even treated the audience to the very first performance of a new song from their upcoming album. “Four Fields Up” speaks of strangers, loneliness and longing. Check out the exclusive video below.

My first taste of Celilo came through 94.7 Too, an AM radio station that plays Northwest artists only. I heard “Street Sweeper” and immediately loved it. Little did I know that the song is about the death of Kipp Crawford, which makes it all the more meaningful.  It’s a truly beautiful song, with elegant tempo changes and poignant harmonies. I’m so glad I got to see it live! Below is the video of “Street Sweeper.”

On the surface, Celilo comes across as slightly disjointed: each member brings a specific look to the stage. But really, does that matter? I think not, as Celilo blends their differing styles into a fantastic swirl of Portland indie goodness. Keep an eye on Celilo’s Facebook and MySpace profiles for news of their upcoming new album. I’ll definitely keep them on my radar.