Portland, OR

If you’re into independent music (or any other type of music, actually) you should absolutely keep your eyes on The McMenamins The Crystal Ballroom webpage. There are always concerts going on a The Crystal, and some of the upcoming ones are featured here today!

Thursday, October 25 The Aladdin Theater presents VHI You Oughta Know Tour, featuring Brandi Carlile (first video featured) and A Fine Frenzy (second featured video). Doors open at 7pm and show begins at 8pm. $24 tickets at the door, and if anyone wants to purchase my ticket, I will sing your praises in a post! Personally, I love Brandi Carlile’s scratchy, raspy, sometimes-even-screamy voice.

The Story is also infamous already for the crack in Carlile’s vocals on the title track, a “technically wrong” but “emotionally right” accident kept on the record since it’s so indicative of the intensity and raw vulnerability of the singer’s performances.

The Story is definitely one of my favorite songs as well as Follow and Tragedy. There is just something about her that hits home with this Portland woman. I first heard of Brandi Carlile while watching Grey’s Anatomy. The new artist has had three songs featured on the hit TV show (which is quite unheard of for newbies!) including Tragedy, What Can I Say and Throw It All Away

I purchased A Fine Frenzy’s album (One Cell In The Sea) soon after seeing a clip of her on (the oh-so-dreaded) MTV. Almost Love, on the video featured, is my favorite song from the album she describes as “a soundtrack to a fairytale gone wrong,” and following closely behind is Rangers. I absolutely recommend this album if you’re into moving lyrics and a powerful voice.

So, if you don’t have anything to do on Thursday night, and are interested in seeing two up & coming female solo artists, I absolutely recommend heading over to The Aladdin Theater to check out Brandi Carlile and A Fine Frenzy for an evening of spectacular music!

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Last Tuesday I spent some time talking about bands from Portland, and I said that I would continue the list, but then yesterday I was incredibly overwhelmed, so I’m working on it for today. Tunes on Tuesday on Keep Portland Weird Wednesday. Eventually I’ll get caught up. For now, I apologize!

This week, I’d like to feature:

Pink Martini: Pink Martini consists of a full dozen members doing vocals, playing the piano, the trombone, trumpet, violin, the vibraphone, doing percussion, the drums playing a harp and a bass. Pink Martini was originally brought together to play political functions in Portland and made their European debut during the 2003 Cannes Film Festival. Sympathique, their debut album has sold over 1.3 million copies worldwide thus far! Their music shows up in many movies (In the Cut, Nurse Betty, Josie & the Pussycats, Tortilla Soup, Shanghai Kiss and Mr. & Mrs. Smith) as well! I have embedded my first YouTube video here just for you to hear my favorite Pink Martini song!

Next, I’d love to write about The Shins! The Shins are another Portland-based band. Playing mostly indie rock (along with some folk & alternative country stuff). James Russell Mercer (singer/songwriter/guitarist), Martin Crandall (keyboardist/bassist/guitarist), Dave Hernandez (bassist/guitarist), Jesse Sandoval (drummer) and Eric Johnson (of the Fruit Bats). I adore their song Slang which was featured on the Garden State soundtrack. (Check it out! Another embedded video!)

Finally for today, I’d like to mention Elliott Smith. I’ve never been a huge Smith fan, and my first exposure to his music was actually in the Oregon State University craft center while learning I’m not a potter. Smith wasn’t born in Portland (Omaha, Nebraska, instead!) but he lived a long time here in my beautiful city. He lived in Portland when he first started gaining popularity, as well! Smith’s “Miss Misery” was written and featured on Good Will Hunting and was nominated for an Oscar in the 1997 Best Original Song category. Smith lived with alcoholism, drug addiction and depression for years; with all topics appearing in his lyrics. (Smith allegedly committed suicide in 2003.) Since I’m not a fan, I didn’t feature a video by him, but would LOVE to know which songs I should listen to (again) to see if I can get into this fellow Portlander. I have also been recently informed that another musician, James Mercer (from The Shins) currently lives in the deceased Smith’s house. Interesting!

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