Music Blog

Tonight marks the beginnings of both the PDX Pop Now! festival, and (unofficially) the late summer festival of music festivals, with Pickathon, the Portland Folk Festival and MusicFest NW still to follow. It's fun to refer to these fests in such terms, though in reality each brings a unique angle and personality to the concept of a music festival, and each serves a niche that is often exclusive to itself (although there's plenty of crossover).

PDX Pop Now!, for example, sets itself apart in several ways, not the least of which is that it's a free, all-ages event. Hand in hand with the DIY ethic of the festival, they've made it their mission to help cultivate the next generation of musicians and fans, a mission that's furthered in other ways by partnering with Music in the Schools and including young, up-and-coming acts alongside the more established on their comps and in their festival lineups. It's the kind of thing the under 21 set has opportunities few and far between to experience, and the presence of that exuberance is always felt, even by us olds (there was nothing remotely like this in the cultural backwater where I grew up-- needless to say, I wouldn't have had to spend years wandering in a musical wilderness that included White Lion and Bell Biv Devoe had there been).

It all starts tonight at 6 at Rotture (315 S. 3rd Ave.) with Blue Horns on the indoor stage. We're looking forward to all of it, naturally, but two of the more intriguing names on tonight's bill include AgesAndAges (8p) and Tu Fawning (11:35p). AgesAndAges (formerly known as plain old Ages) is the new band from former Pseudosix ringleader Tim Perry, from whom we've been waiting for something, anything since that band dissolved a couple of years back. Luckily, his new act's PDX Pop Now! comp-included "No Nostalgia" does not disappoint, an almost celebratory tune filled with harmonies and vaguely reminiscent of some of his old band's best moments. The other part of this is the mystery and intrigue-- for those of us who have yet to see them live that song is all we have to go on, at least until the Chris Funk-produced debut sees the light of day this year on Partisan. What will they sound like??

Tu Fawning's (pictured) is a set not to miss for two reasons: first, they've taken their live performance to marked new heights over the past couple of years, a good reason why they'll be opening for Menomena on tour in September. Like that Portland trio, they're a former "side project" who have at this point eclipsed the presence of the primary acts that formed the band in the first place-- based on what we've heard so far, their upcoming Hearts On Hold (out October 5th) will only further cement this fact. Which leads us to the second reason not to miss tonight's set: it seems likely that it will be filled with songs from that record, giving most of us a chance to hear them for the first time and in an ideal setting.

Can't make the festival, or parts of it, in person? They're streaming the performances live here all weekend courtesy of Radio 23.

And of course, we'll have coverage here for the duration, including scores of photos, reviews and maybe a surprise or two. Also, our Twitter feed will be blowing up with 140 character accounts Kanye West-style. IT's A PROCESS!! 

Have fun, kids!

Tagged: PDX Pop Now 2010