Matthew Logan Vasquez is feeling optimistic.
That’s not necessarily apparent the first time you spin his new full-length solo album. Each track on Matthew Logan Does What He Wants feels urgent and intense. Impatient landlords, financial woes and other frustrations fan the agitation embedded in the opening track, “Same.” Isolation darkens the brooding images of “From Behind The Glass.” Death takes a bow on “The Fighter.” Vasquez can’t help but juxtapose the celebration of “Fatherhood” with a lament that “we ain’t got the money to pay the hospital.”
The music enhances this impression. As fans of his work with Delta Spirit and Middle Brother know well, Vasquez knows how to fuse passion and poetry in his writing and then ignite this volatile mix with extraordinarily expressive singing. In this sense he stands as a peer and a worthy successor to those who influenced him as an up-and-coming artist — Neil Young, Kurt Cobain, Pink Floyd, Lou Reed and others often mentioned, none of them known for their upbeat, sunny lyrics.
“My point is that life is a struggle,” Vasquez continues. “But how can you have optimism and hope if you don’t have something negative? Context is what makes it meaningful.”
For Vasquez, context involves drawing from dramatically different settings. Growing up in Austin Texas and along the California coast, hunkering down for years in Brooklyn as he finessed his music in a more pressurized urban context and then heading back to Austin to put all the pieces together, he took note of the differences and similarities these places offered. During much of that time he channeled his experiences into Delta Spirit, whose albums inspired critics to laud the band as “restless and defiant” (Paste), its music infused by “waves of measured ferocity” (Uncut) and “significant depth” (Austin Chronicle).
To keep his path clear and work on his own terms, Vasquez built a studio in his home for this past year — a trailer parked about an hour west of Austin. Here, in Texas Hill Country, surrounded by evergreen oak trees, he wrote and recorded basic tracks and then brought in singer Kam Franklin from The Suffers, Shakey Graves drummer Christopher Booshada and Jud Johnson of A. Sinclair to add parts as needed. For backup vocals and string parts, he worked long-distance via sound files with the Parkington Sisters, who he performed with during a Middle Brother set at last year’s Newport Folk Festival. “They performed a miracle, giving me a 3-D depth that makes the tracks they appear on jump out of the speakers,” he insists.
In final form, Does What He Wants is like a hall of mirrors, each capturing a different image of one self-aware and restlessly creative individual. This music is diverse yet unified, which of course was a priority for its author.
And, in the end, it turns out to feel pretty optimistic after all — a perfect statement for these times and possibly for some time to come.
HOLOCENE AND XRAY.FM PRESENT...
WILD COMBINATION: A BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE TO ARTHUR RUSSELL
CHANTI DARLING, KARL KLING, GOLD CASIO, CASPAR SONNET, NOAH BERNSTEIN, JOHN NIEKRASZ, JONATHAN SIELAFF, MOOREA MASA, DJ HONEST JOHN, DJ SET BY STEVE KNUTSON (AUDIKA RECORDS), LECTURE BY MATT MARBLE, VISUALS BY SHAWN CREEDEN
SUN MAY 21
7:30 PM
$8.00 - $10.00
TICKETS
This event is 21 and over
Join us in honoring this visionary's memory on his birthday! An evening of live cover song sets, a lecture and DJ sets. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Cascade AIDS Project.
Ohmme: an experiment in voice and sound by Sima Cunningham and Macie Stewart. Inspired by the Chicago improvisational music scene, Cunningham and Stewart joined forces in 2014. Their combined vocal and musical talents yield a dichotomy of harmony and chaos leaving the audience wanting more. Ohmme has been compared to PJ Harvey, Kate Bush and Tortoise, but their inane chemistry creates something uniquely satisfying and different from their predecessors.
Alina Bea: Progressive pop à la Bjork and Kate Bush
Amenta Abioto: Songwriter, producer, and actor, Amenta Abioto is on the cutting edge of all that is musical, theatrical, and literary. Her music is boldly mystical and soul-fired, and her raw live performances invoke elements of both theatrical surprise and magic through ancient African diasporic sounds and stories. Weaved into syncopated rhythms and dichotomies of comedic proportions, Amenta surprises and tantalizes audiences with mind bending ideas. She brings to the music scene funky academia while skipping vocally from soul shaking gospel to smooth jazz and then onto hip hop rhythms wrapped in West African beats.
Graduating from Idllywild Art’s Academy in 2010, she trained in musical theatre. Since graduating she has courted the music scene and produced one self-titled EP, Amenta Abioto , and one upcoming album, Opening Flower Hymns. Receiving inspiration from the best-seller work Women Who Run With the Wolves, mythological characterization and cultural stories are reflected in the original works of Amenta Abioto.
Lineup:
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Oddisee http://www.bandsintown.com/Oddisee/facebookapp?came_from=64
Oddisee http://www.bandsintown.com/Oddisee/facebookapp?came_from=64
GOOD COMPNY http://www.bandsintown.com/GoodCompny/facebookapp?came_from=64
Olivier St. Louis
Find Local Concerts: http://www.bandsintown.com/facebookapp?came_from=71
Portland rap promoter and professional MC Idris Oferrall, better known as “StarChile,” is hosting a benefit for Trail Blazers’ DJ O.G. One (David Jackson) at Holocene on May 7. Jackson, who has been the Trail Blazers’ in-house DJ for nine NBA seasons, has not yet been able to resume his role with the team following major complications from cancer surgeryon March 14. He has instead needed assistance with medical expenses while unable to work, which you can read more about on his GoFundMe page, here.
The benefit, presented by Holocene and XRAY.FM, will feature an impressive lineup of local artists with whom Jackson has built relationships over the years.
LOUDER THAN WORDS: A BENEFIT FOR DJ O.G. ONE
SAEEDA WRIGHT, MIKE PHILLIPS, FARNELL NEWTON & THE OTHERSHIP CONNECTION, VURSATYL, MIC CAPES, JON BELZ, DJ JUGGERNAUT, HOSTED BY STARCHILE
DOORS: 7:00 PM / SHOW: 8:00 PM
Tickets: $8.00 - $10.00
This event is 21 and over
The community is coming together to actively join David "DJ O.G. One" Jackson in his fight against cancer and recovery from post surgical complications. A benefit event will be held at Holocene Portland featuring some of the many artists O.G. has built with and mentored throughout the years, great musicians and artists from right here in Portland.
The outpouring of support for Jackson has been tremendous, with over 200 people contributing financially in the last three weeks. If you’ve been hoping to help, now is your chance. You can join the community of giving by showing your support at the upcoming event. For ticketing and venue information, visit the Holocene website.
Open Signal's first Open House drew more than 800 Portlanders to see our newly renovated facility and find out about our new media-making programs.
In fact, it was such a great party that we've decided to do it again!
On Saturday, May 6 from 4 to 10 p.m., Open Signal staff will throw open our doors to the community. Come explore our space, see work by independent media-makers and learn how we can help you realize your vision.
In Studio A, XRAY.FM will be hosting a live hip-hop show, featuring Alexis Cannard, Neka Perini and Blossom!
We'll also be screening XRAY TV, a new, curated television block created by XRAY.FM and Open Signal; offering 10% discounts on class registrations; and showing projections by digital media students.
Come hear live music, get your photo taken in a video synth photo booth and chill in a ten-foot-tall, twenty-foot-wide electronic pyramid installation (created by middle school students at Open School North and Open Signal resident artist Kello Goeller).
We'll have pizza and alcoholic beverages available for purchase, and those who register via Eventbrite will get a FREE slice of pizza and drink ticket.
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/open-house-tickets-29905165154
The Bridgetown Comedy Festival celebrates its tenth year of bringing the best in comedy to Portland. View the full lineup of over 100 performers and themed shows here.
2017 highlights include:
- Janeane Garofalo (Saturday Night Live, The Larry Sanders Show)
- Andy Kindler (Bob’s Burgers, Everybody Loves Raymond)
- Eugene Mirman (Bob’s Burgers, Delocated)
- Karen Kilgariff (My Favorite Murder, Mr. Show)
- Guy Branum (Talk Show The Game Show, Chelsea Lately)
- Baron Vaughn (Grace and Frankie, Fairly Legal)
- Jackie Kashian (The Dork Forest, Lady Dynamite)
- Laurie Kilmartin (Conan, Last Comic Standing)
- Kevin Avery (Last Week Tonight with John Oliver)
- Matt Braunger (Agent Carter, Big Dumb Animal)
- Brooke van Poppelen (Hack My Life, Girl Code)
- Nico Santos (Superstore, Chelsea Lately)
- Dave Hill (@midnight, Inside Amy Schumer)
- Eliza Skinner (The Late, Late Show with James Corden)
- Debra DiGiovanni (Just For Laughs, Last Comic Standing)
- Ahmed Bharoocha (Adam Devine’s House Party, Conan)
- Chris Fairbanks (Almost Genius, Conan)
- Annie Lederman (We Have Issues, @midnight)
- Shane Torres (Conan)
- Andy Erikson (Last Comic Standing)
Lock in your pre-sale festival now at a savings of $10 off of the standard price and visit bridgetowncomedy.com for performer and show updates.
*Note that festival passes do not include admission to the pre-festival special event Patton Oswalt show at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall on May 2nd, ticketed separately atportland5.com, or any shows taking place at Revolution Hall, ticketed separately at revolutionhallpdx.com as they are announced.
***Performers and shows subject to change***
It's time to debate rent control in Portland!
In response to the housing crisis, the state legislature is considering lifting the statewide ban on rent control, and members of Portland's City Council are openly discussing what rent control might look like in our city. We need more public discussion of this important and controversial set of policies that will shape housing in the city and the state for decades to come.
XRAY.FM and the advocacy group Portland Forward are hosting a spirited debate between advocates on both sides of the issue: Economist Dr. Gerard Mildner of the PSU School of Business Administration and Margot Black, an organizer with Portland Tenants United. Jefferson Smith of XRAY in the Morning will be moderating the debate and the whole conversation will be recorded live for future airing on XRAY.FM and KXRW Vancouver.
Come participate in democracy!
This event is ALL AGES (alcohol will still be sold, don't worry)
Tickets are $7 (all fees included) and proceeds go to XRAY.FM
In 19-some years, Califone haven't really changed. Which is to say they've had no need for reinvention. Unlike surfers of the stylistic zeitgeist, Tim Rutili's rusty, warm, tactile, vagabond folk continues to crack with the utmost distinction. Like a hobo's fire, the Chicago group's vast catalog warms and warbles, flickering in haunted harmony.
Record Store Day was conceived in 2007 at a gathering of independent record store owners and employees as a way to celebrate and spread the word about the unique culture surrounding nearly 1400 independently owned record stores in the US and thousands of similar stores internationally. The first Record Store Day took place on April 19, 2008. Today there are Record Store Day participating stores on every continent except Antarctica.
This is a day for the people who make up the world of the record store—the staff, the customers, and the artists—to come together and celebrate the unique culture of a record store and the special role these independently owned stores play in their communities. Special vinyl and CD releases and various promotional products are made exclusively for the day. Festivities include performances, cook-outs, body painting, meet & greets with artists, parades, DJs spinning records, and on and on. In 2008 a small list of titles was released on Record Store Day and that list has grown to include artists and labels both large and small, in every genre and price point. In 2015, 60% of the Record Store Day Official Release List came from independent labels and distributors. The list continues to include a wide range of artists, covering the diverse taste of record stores and their customers.
While there’s only one Record Store Day a year, the organization works with both independent and and major labels throughout the year to create contests, special releases and promotions in order to spotlight the benefits of supporting these independent, locally owned stores with music purchases throughout the year. In 2010, Record Store Day coodinated its first Black Friday event, which gives record stores exclusive releases as part of the attempt to redirect the focus of the biggest shopping day of the year to the desirable, special things to be found at local stores.
Come join XRAY's own Sex, Drugs and Basketball at the excellent Lost and Found bar for their first ever live broadcast in front of a audience! Join co-hosts Shannon Balcom and Arthur Bradford as they discuss the three titular topics and take live questions and texts from the audience. The show begins broadcasting at 8pm onXRAY.FM (107.1 fm and streaming at xray.fm) but come early to get a drink and practice heckling your hosts! What better way to start of your 4/20 evening?
• Preservation Hall Jazz Band- Crystal Ball Room 4/7: 8PM, 21+
• Giant Panda Gorilla Dub Squad w/ Kevin Kinsella- Mississippi Studios 4/7: 9PM, 21+
• Ice Cube- Roseland Theater 4/8: 8:30PM, 21+
• President Brown w/ Jahdan Blakkamoore- Mt. Tabor Theater 4/8: 10PM, 21+
• Donald Harrison- Jimmy Mak’s 4/9: 8PM, All Ages
• Ms. Lauryn Hill- Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall 4/9: 8PM, All Ages
• Afro Cuban All Stars- Wonder Ballroom 4/10: 7PM, 21+
• Black Joe Lewis & The Honey Bears – Dante’s 4/10: 9PM, 21+
• Rafael Saadiq- Wonder Ballroom 4/11: 8PM, 21+
• Louis Hayes- Jimmy Mak’s 4/11: 8PM, 21+
• Francis & The Lights- Peter’s Room 4/12: 8PM, All Ages
• Dr. Lonnie Smith- Mississippi Studios 4/14: 9PM, 21+
• Rusko- Roseland theater 4/15: 8:30, All Ages
• Trent Mollar- Refuge 4/15: “Late Night,” 21+
• The Motet- Mt/ Tabor Theater 4/15 & 4/16: 9PM, 21+
• Mos Def w/ Hot 8 Brass Band- Roseland Theater 4/16: 9PM, All Ages
• Ellis Marsalis- Aladdin Theater 4/16: 7PM, All Ages
A percentage of Dig a Pony's proceeds ALL NIGHT will go to XRAY.FM's Spring Fund Drive.
4-6pm The Path is the Destination w/ DJ D'Jon Mustard
6-7pm Chor Bazaar w/ DJs Anjali & The Incredible Kid
7-8pm Circa Rad w/ DJ Tex
8-9pm The Denim Dinner Party w/ DJ Ramophone
9-10pm Songs From Under the Floorboard w/ DJ Dave Cantrell
Then a mix of XRAY DJs for the rest of the night!
An eclectic lineup featuring a range of mostly vinyl Lo-fi, Portland-centric, Global Bass, Post-Punk, Darkwave, Psych, Funk & Soul, Metal, Rock, Indie Cuts and International Jams.
Blazers game on the big screen, of course!!!!
The Thesis is a monthly hip hop night at Kelly's Olympian.
In April, The Thesis welcomes Dead Phone Dummiez, Mothra, D3, Verbz.
The third annual Out From The Shadows post-punk/darkwave festival, brought to you by XRAY's Songs From Under the Floorboard radio show and Soundcontrol PDX, arrives once again during the first full week of April. Running Thursday April 6 through Saturday April 8th, we as always present a stunning array of bands from near and far. Tickets are $10 adv per day, $13 at the door per day, and $29 adv for all three days!!
This year's line-up features:
The Secret Light (PDX)
Shadowlands (PDX)
Otzi (Oakland)
Echolust (LA)
Mortal Boy (LA)
Vice Device (PDX)
Bellicose Minds (PDX)
DAY 1 ADV TIX: http://holdmyticket.com/event/278143
Sex Park (PDX)
The Electric West (LA)
Winkie (Brooklyn)
Second Still (LA)
Sculpture Club (Salt Lake City)
Mayflower Madame (Oslo, Norway)
Shadowhouse (PDX)
DAY 2 ADV TIX: http://holdmyticket.com/event/278144
Arcane (Seattle)
Band Aparte (LA)
Lust Era (Puerto Rico)
LUNCH (PDX)
Silence (Pittsburgh, PA)
Koban (Vancouver BC)
All Your Sisters (SF)
DAY 3 ADV TIX: http://holdmyticket.com/event/278145
3 DAY PASS!!! - http://holdmyticket.com/event/278155
McMenamins, StarChile, WE 96.3, Pabst Blue Ribbon & XRAY FM Present: MIC CHECK
Mic Check is a Hip Hop Showcase every last Thursday of the month at White Eagle, with Live performances, drink specials and good vibes!
WE 96.3 we be in the building filming the event and you can watch it on their website www.we963pdx.com as well as the Mic Check
Youtube page:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2cHeUlJhhCirZI1rTHGRnw
THURSDAY MARCH 30TH:
Special Guests...
TOPE and RARE VIBE
Hosted by StarChile
Music by Trox
Dooors @ 9pm, Show starts at 10pm...
21 and over, Tickets: $7 @ the Door
Blossom
https://soundcloud.com/whoisblossom
Blossom is an artist who has released with the EYRST Label over the past few years. She is just starting a new show on XRAY.FM so we figured what better way to celebrate this union than to have her as our guest!
Neill Von Tally, the co-founder of EYRST does live beats, remixes and general ambiance while Skelli Skel and Ian Millhollen (EmVKush) of the PDX Mandem crew play records and have guest MCs in the style of their radio show on XRAY.FM
This is an all ages event til 9 PM and entry is free so don't miss it!”
XRAY's Dave Cantrell from Songs from Under the Floorboard is raising money for his incredible post punk festival Out From The Shadow III by throwing a fundraiser/show. Besides featuring three of Portland's finest new bands (OK, new-ish so far as Murderbait is concerned), this is also a benefit to help raise funds for the Out From The Shadow III festival, so you can feel DOUBLY good attending! As with the showcases, three bands for five bucks. That's the deal.
https://murderbait.bandcamp.com/releases
https://fleshhpdx.bandcamp.com/releases
https://atomiccandles.bandcamp.com/album/eyez-ep
XRAY.FM is 3! Let's celebrate with our biggest bash yet!
CHANTI DARLING :: KARL BLAU
w/ Women's Beat League
+ XRAY DJs in Bar Bar all night and a sneak peak at "XRAY TV"
8:00 Doors, 9:00 Show
$12 ADV or DOS, $5 FOR XRAY MEMBERS
Hosted by hilarious comedian Caitlin Weierhauser and DJ Klyph of Welcome to the Neighborhood
Thanks to our generous sponsors:
Wieden + Kennedy
Hammer and Hand Seattle
Hifi Farms
Potato Champion
Rerun
Rudy's
-----XRAY DJs in Bar Bar all night long:-----------------
Encyclopedia Sound's DJ Detective, Honest John of Savage Beat Radio, DJ Kiki of Music for Neighbors, PDX Mandem, DJ Yoni
and DJon Mustard!
AND THAT'S NOT ALL:
You are invited to a pre-party! XRAY TV will premiere on the big screen at Mississippi Studios from 6pm-8pm RSVP and find more information here:https://blog.xray.fm/2017/02/20/xray-fm-presents-xray-tv/