Music Blog
A more than sufficiently busy week begins tonight in earnest with bills in action, including Rebecca Gates and Martha Wainwright at the Doug Fir. Gates, as you may recall, is the former force behind The Spinanes, and is in the area for a couple of performances this week, including Wednesday night's Mississippi Studios' re-opening bash. Wainwright has the lineage, to be sure-- she's part of a musical family that includes her father Loudon and brother Rufus, as well as her mother Kate McGarrigle-- but for whatever reason doesn't seem to have gotten the attention that her older sibling has thus far despite two solid solo albums. Her most recent, I Know You're Married But I've Got Feelings, Too, came out last year on Rounder.
A fairly busy new release Tuesday this week includes the latest from U2, No Line On the Horizon, an album that finds them reunited with both Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois and sounding, if not at the level of their hey-day at least the best they have in a while. Elsewhere, the much-awaited fifth studio album from Neko Case, Middle Cyclone, drops on Anti. It's the on again for Neko's on again-off again Americana love affair (which splits time with her New Pornographers gig), and the familiar classic country leaning touchstones are here, albeit with a pop sensibility about them-- check the cover choices of songs by Nilsson and Sparks for further reference points in Case's post-modern roots stew. M. Ward, Calexico's Joey Burns and John Convertino, and none other than Garth Hudson help out along the way.
MP3: Neko Case, from Middle Cyclone- "Middle Cyclone"
Speaking of welcome returns, Portland welcomes back Mississippi Studios this week, with a huge opening night on Wednesday for the new and improved venue. Weinland, Rebecca Gates, The Dimes, Pete Krebs, James Low, Chris Robley, Stephanie Schneiderman, and more all do their part to breathe life back into the space, which has been closed since last summer for expansion. Here's hoping one of the most intimate live music experiences around remains so even while tripling their previous capacity. Blind Pilot follows the next night with two shows (7 and 10p.) to help jumpstart their national tour-- Portland's Sabertooth opens both.
Also at Mississippi later this week, the Portland Cello Project, they of the newly-inked deal with kill rock stars, stage a run of five performances in three days. Beginning Friday night, the PCP will be joined for two shows (7 and 10p.) by Thao Nguyen and what should be a sneak preview of material the artists recently recorded together, as well as Justin Power and Chris Robley. It's the same times, same place the next night with the additions of Tu Fawning, Tahoe Jackson, and Weinland's Adam Shearer to to the list of collaborators, while Sunday sees a 2:00 matinee. In short, it's cello a-go-go. The collective's kill rock stars debut is due in June.
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Archived Comments
scott melkerson / March 2, 2009
As a slightly greying music fan that came of musical age in Chicago on Old Style stubbies and The Replacements I was rather appalled at Justin Townes Earl's cover this evening. I'm sure that any son of Steve Earle meant no musical disrespect but please..... First and hopefully last time I've ever turned off your otherwise fabulous show.
Jeremy Petersen / March 2, 2009
Thanks, Scott. His is a definite reworking, but I'm sure he's a fan and, as you say, meant no disrespect. It's different enough that I didn't even realize it was the same song until I looked at the credits. I suppose that's the double-edged sword of covering long-loved songs-- see TV On the Radio's new version of Bowie's "Heroes" for further proof, as it produced a similar reaction to yours last night (via email). People are passionate about the music they love, and I feel the same way when someone covers something I feel a personal relationship with in a less than flattering way. The irony is that those doing the covering often feel the same way we do about those songs. Happy listening, here's hoping you aren't ever compelled to switch me off again!