A huge blue presence threatens to engulf Portland this weekend and it has nothing to do with global warming or the blue man group (thankfully on both accounts). The supergroup-ish Blue Giant introduces themselves to their fellow Portlanders Friday night with a show at the Wonder Ballroom that also features a host of guests.
If you haven't heard yet, Kevin and Anita Robinson, better known as Viva Voce, recently formed the group in the interest of rediscovering "a communal music experience," as they put it. Enter former Swords Project drummer Evan Railton and current Golden Bear (among others) bassist Seth Lorinczi, and you have a quartet whose past connections reach far and wide in the northwest music scene. Their self-released demo EP (available for free in digital form to all of Friday's attendees) offers up five songs that aren't necessarily root-sy or blues-y in the traditional sense, but certainly take the kinds of steps in those directions we might expect the Robinsons (originally from Muscle Shoals, AL) to take. Add to that the presence of Sleater-Kinney's Corin Tucker, as well as openers The Shaky Hands and Lackthereof, and you have one hell of a coming out party. In addition to next week's Seattle date, more are apparently to come.
Stream new music from Blue Giant at their myspace.
MP3: Viva Voce- "When Planets Collide"
The "blue" train rolls on Saturday night as we feature an in-studio session with Portland's own Blue Skies for Black Hearts. The band's recent fourth full-length, Serenades & Hand Grenades, is full of the kinds of head-boppin' pop songs that would make Ray Davies envious. Pat Kearns and company keep the sound sunny, even if the subjects they're singing about aren't. Opener "Siouxsie Please Come Home," appeals for the return of a girl at war, while "World Without Love," considers the implications of just such a case (although it sounds pretty in love with that consideration). Hear the session on our In House program Saturday beginning at 9:00 as part of the 24/7 online stream, on our HD music channel (91.5 FM-2 in the Portland area), and on OPB radio (or stream it anytime here).
VIdeo: Blue Skies for Black Hearts- "Siouxsie Please Come Home"
On the live music front Saturday, much to get out and take in-- including a couple of CD release shows featuring Portland bands. 3 Rounds & a Sound is the debut from Blind Pilot, made up of Israel Nebeker and Ryan Dobrowski. The duo specializes in roots-tinged pop, and while it's not necessarily a sound we haven't heard before, they just do it so well it's hard not to take immediate notice. They celebrate the new album at Dante's on an intriguing bill that also features locals Hockey and Andy Combs & the Moth.
Elsewhere, at the Mission Theater to be exact, it's the CD release show for the new full-length from Buoy LaRue, entitled Spin Out of This. Perhaps equal parts chamber and rock, the band's music reflects their line-up, whose experiences run the gamut from turns in the Oregon and Eugene Symphonies to Jerry Joseph & the Jack Mormons. The result is a new record that is at once string-laden and rocking, melancholic and experimental. The Little Sue Band and Jim Brunberg open the show.
The thread is open, what's on your musical minds?
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