Portland Spoke – The Official Blog of Travel Portland

Portland is known for its fine food and drink, its natural beauty and its indie style. Now it seems it’s our musicians’ turn to take the world by storm.

Blind Pilot rocks Astoria; photo by Larry Clark.

Blind Pilot, fresh from headlining at MusicfestNW and launching their second release, “We Are the Tide,” in Astoria, is now on a nationwide tour and will return to Portland’s Crystal Ballroom in November.

TLE's Jared Mees with Typhoon's "A New Kind of House" on clear vinyl.

Portland’s Tender Loving Empire label is also riding high. TLE’s Typhoon appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman (and on The Portland Collection’s video debut) and Radiation City performs multiple gigs this week at New York’s CMJ Festival.  Meanwhile, chamber pop ensemble Loch Lomond will tour Europe and the UK – where they have already gained notoriety thanks to a remarkable Scottish cyclist. (more…)

Downtown Portland is a vibrant place that never ceases to surprise — even around 9:45 on a Saturday night in  mid-July, when I happened upon this scene in front of the Nordstrom on Broadway: self-described “street band” All the Apparatus, wrapping up an energetic (and, judging from the assembled crowd of dancers and head-nodders, enthusiastically received) set.

The band — which, according to my colleague Courtney, moves around to two or three downtown street corners on Saturdays — might soon be popping up in a city near you. Check their website for details of their August tour of western states.

The Fruit Bats playing at Pickathon, photo by Tim LaBarge

Am I the only one who’s been listening to the Decemberists’ latest album nonstop since it came out in January? The Portland band’s most recent record, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard chart, is filled with songs at the same time fresh and nostalgic, channeling musicians like Tom Petty and R.E.M. in the band’s distinctive style.

“The King is Dead” was recorded in the Workshop Barn at Pendarvis Farm, one of six venues at the annual Pickathon music festival, coming up Aug. 5-7, 2011. (more…)

Some exciting news from The Biggest Little City: Pre-production work is underway on a film version of The Motel Life, the first book by Portland musician and writer Willy Vlautin, a Reno native.

Vlautin’s novels, which have drawn comparisons to Steinbeck and Carver, are like his songs: plainspoken yet lyrical, heartbreaking but hopeful.

You can catch Vlautin and his Richmond Fontaine bandmates in Portland on April 14 at the Doug Fir.

Vlautin’s other novels include Lean on Pete – a finalist for this year’s Oregon Book Awards — and Northline.

Fernando Viciconte

Growing up, my best friend Tim’s access to his older brother’s record collection — The Kinks, Clash, Bob Marley, early R.E.M. – was a godsend. The albums were a refuge for us, a couple of dorky contrarians [editor’s note: some things never change] trying to navigate the cheesy ’80s soundscape of our junior high and high school years.

Now, I can thank R.E.M. (or, to be more specific, guitarist Peter Buck) for riding to the rescue once again.

Buck helped coax Fernando Viciconte, one of my favorite singer/songwriters in Portland, out of retirement.

The happy result: a spirited CD release show at Dante’s on Feb. 5, for which Fernando assembled a crackerjack lineup, including Richmond Fontaine guitarist Dan Eccles and  multi-instrumentalist Lewi Longmire on organ.

Tour dates are planned, and the new record, “True Instigator,” takes its place alongside Fernando’s late-’90s chestnuts: the rootsy, foot-stomping fun of “Old Man Motel” and the bristling rock en Español of “Pacoima.”

If you have the chance, check him out live. Or, better yet, pass along the word to a friend’s kid brother.

I love Portland for its eclecticism. Especially when it comes to music, local venues like Doug Fir give performers of all kinds a place to play. With an average of three bands a night from Portland and around the world, each visit to the lounge feels different.

On Sundays throughout the summer there are free acoustic shows on the patio in the afternoons (“Pickin’ on Sundays”), stationary bike races on the first Monday of each month, and music every night from every genre under the sun. I can’t wait for this Friday’s show by the Portland Cello Project – where a band of cellos and their myriad collaborators promise to “bring the dance attack!” A cello-powered dance party? Awesome. Thanks Doug Fir, for keeping it weirdly wonderful here in PDX!

Here’s a little taste of what you’ll find at Doug Fir, from the Travel Channel Europe’s series, “Oregon Uncovered”:

Portland’s annual jazz festival shakes its way into town starting February 21, bringing live music from far-flung corners of the globe like Brazil and Norway, as well as performers from PDX’s own back yard.

The top-notch tunes will be heard in venues around town.  However, these rocking hot spots aren’t one-week wonders. If you can’t make it to the festival, stop by another time for smooth tunes.

Venue: Norse Hall
Who’s Playing the Jazz Festival: Christian Wallumrød,Trygve Seim and Frode Haltli, In the Country
Rest of the Year: Norse Hall, run by the Sons of Norway, features occasional live music and lots of dancing.  Tango, swing, ballroom and folk:  you’ll find it all here.  Check the calendar of events for future shows.

Venue: Crystal Ballroom
Who’s Playing the Jazz Festival: Dave Douglas Brass Ecstasy
Rest of the Year: This beloved restored McMenamin’s property swung open its doors in 1914, as a ballroom and dance academy.   The mechanical, “floating” dance floor may be the only one of its kind left in the country.  Music here ranges from Bollywood to ’80s dance party, and local acts to big name touring bands.  The Crystal Ballroom calendar lists performances for the upcoming month.

Venue: Brasserie Montmartre
Who’s Playing the Jazz Festival: Dave Fleschner Jam Session
Rest of the Year: You can find live music seven nights a week at the recently re-opened Brasserie Montmartre restaurant.  Now LEED Gold certified, the Brasserie promises “a touch of Paris” with jazz, swing and piano ensembles.  Preview artists at the Brasserie Montamatre MySpace page.

Need a place to stay while you’re in town for the festival?  Check out this list of Portland Jazz Festival hotels.