The Days of Lore

TDoL Presents: Jen Moon, Mbilly and Wax Fingers at The Woods

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010 | musiX, pdX | 3 Comments

Because the last TDoL show just wasn’t enough. On Wednesday, June 9 The Days of Lore is teaming up with our friends over at The Deli Portland to bring a rousing, rollicking, rip-roaring night of music at our favorite funeral parlor-turned-venue The Woods.

This time around we’ve got ourselves a crafty little bill that includes the sassy pop stylings of Jen Moon, Mbilly and his quirky folk-pop (and endlessly glib between-song banter), and Wax Fingers, a band that gives prog a personality (and for that I’d like to personally thank them).

And because I love you, dear TDoL reader, I’m going to give away some tix. Just leave your name in the comments. Winners will be notified before the show. Come on down, say hi, enjoy a cold Terminal Gravity and rock out … in that order.

“Sticky Bees” - Wax Fingers

Like The Days of Lore on Facebook. Follow TDoL on Twitter.

Tags: Jen Moon, Mbilly, TDoL Presents, The Deli Portland, The Woods, Wax Fingers

Blitzen Trapper can’t keep a secret

Friday, May 7th, 2010 | musiX, pdX | No Comments

Live: Blitzen Trapper and friends at The Woods, 5.05.10

It was a casual affair as evidenced by Blitzen Trapper frontman Eric Earley’s casual attire—beige shirt, and faded black jeans tucked into the tongues of a pair of old-school, white (and rather clean) Converse.

More A-List party than rock show, Blitzen Trapper celebrated its 10-year anniversary with a low-key bash at the cozy confines of Portland’s funeral-parlor-turned-music venue The Woods. Wednesday night’s not-so-secret, secret show had the band in loose, fine form. And seeing the Trappers again—especially in such an intimate space—reminded me what makes them such a good band.

Blitzen Trapper’s set was largely comprised of songs from their forthcoming LP Destroyer of the Void (June 8 on Sub Pop), which offered fleeting glimpses into ’70s Southern rock, Abbey Road-era Beatles and even a little Queen pomp—the title track might have included all three. While it certainly doesn’t hurt that Earley is a fantastic songwriter/storyteller and a musical wunderkind (he bounced from banjo to piano and then proceeded to effortlessly rip into some guitar shreddery), it’s the rest of the crew that makes Blitzen Trapper a keeper. Guitarist/keyboardist Erik Menteer traded his own echoey solos with Earley throughout the night, and added spacey noise on keys. Same with Drew Laughery, who cut in and out with rumbling keyboard bursts while guitarist Marty Marquis and drummer Brian Koch contributed to those stunning harmonies. A musical collective in the truest sense.

Portland songstress Alela Diane also joined in on the fun, adding some understated, beautiful harmonies to new song “The Tree,” as well as playing a few of her own tunes beforehand. Prior to Blitzen Trapper taking the stage, it was a rapid-fire barrage of songs from local musicians, friends and tourmates, including some banjo pickin’ from Earley in his country-covers project Denver.

Blitzen Trapper won’t return to Portland until late July. By then Destroyer of the Void will have been fully absorbed, and the Trappers will be in full-on festival mode. If you were there, consider yourself lucky … you caught them in full-on festive mode.

Photo by Greg Schroeder

“Heaven and Earth” - Blitzen Trapper

Like The Days of Lore on Facebook. Follow TDoL on Twitter.

Tags: Alela Diane, Blitzen Trapper, Destroyer of the Void, Portland music, Sub Pop, The Woods

Swimming in a Sea of Bees

Wednesday, April 21st, 2010 | musiX, pdX | No Comments

I like sad music, though I haven’t really listened to much of it in the past couple years—mainly because it hasn’t fit my mood …  plus a lot of it is boring. Then I was introduced to Julie Baenziger.

Sea of Bees makes me wish I was sad. Her latest LP Songs For the Ravens (out June 1 on Crossbill Records) centers around that haunting voice, but there’s much more to it. The songs are filled with odd arrangements and intricate layers, and Baenziger played most of the instruments herself … wait, this is her debut?!

Well, actually, Sea of Bees released the Bee Eee Pee last year (recorded in one day after getting a quick ProTools lesson from producer and Tape Op publisher John Baccigaluppi). And while many of Baenziger’s performances feature nothing but her and a guitar, Songs For the Ravens is full-on, with an arsenal of glockenspiel, slide, marimba and keys. But you might not even notice all that when you hear her vocal register, which lies somewhere between that of Björk and Leigh Nash … I know, too good to be true, and it is truly gorgeous. And you don’t even have to be sad to enjoy the songs, a contemplative mood on a gray Portland day would serve as a perfect backdrop.

“Gnomes” - Sea of Bees

“Wizbot” - Sea of Bees

Like The Days of Lore on Facebook. Follow TDoL on Twitter.

Tags: Bee Eee Pee, Crossbill Records, John Baccigaluppi, Julie Baenziger, Sea of Bees, Songs For the Ravens, The Woods