i think myspace is smoking something...

I don't know what it is, but in the spirit of experimentation I'll take two!

What am I talking about, you ask? Well, it certainly is not anything worth making a blog entry over, but if you must know; it says i have had 65 views this week which had me quite excited over my new-found popularity until I also noticed that it says there were 2 posts this week and I know that isn't true!

Sorry to say my little ones, our neglectful host has not posted in over 2 weeks! That ends now though.

I do not really have much to blog about but I did go see a show last weekend. Somehow the planet's aligned or something and I happened to be heading to Portland for my only weekend off in the middle of a 5 week stretch and one of my favorite emerging artists was playing at the Doug Fir Lounge that Sunday night. No worries, not a school night for ME! I said. So the tickets were cheap too and that was it, I didn't hesitate.

So I have never been to the Doug Fir but from what I read online it sounded interesting, state of the art sound and a very contemporary environment for enjoying an intimate musical performance. I thought it would be easy to find but alas, it is a hole in the ground, very easy to miss. It is underneath the Jupiter Hotel, so if you are ever looking for it, don't! Just look for the hotel and then go to the restaurant and head underground.

Anyway, the show got started pretty late, two opening acts each with their own take on blending psychedelic influences of various forms with the overall freeform of the jam band phenomena. Quite a contrast with Alexi Murdoch really. Oh, did I neglect to mention him earlier? Well for those of you who do not know, he is the critically acclaimed artist whose much-anticipated debut album finally came out this winter. I don't know what the hold-up was, nor do I care, but it has been 3 years since his 4 song EP came out and won him limited attention from American radio, particularly here in the NW and of course in California where I understand he's been hold-up trying to finish the album for some time.

I say this only to say that I guess I knew this show would just be a random run-through a small setlist of songs off the new album. I mean when it takes that long to make an album you have no right to expect to be surprised with oodles of older material. Of course during the encore he did treat us to something interesting which I suppose he feared would tag him as a religious zealot of sorts (since he chose to inform us that he is not).

So what did I think overall? Definitely keep your ears open for this one if you haven't already discovered him. The album is great and he will not disappoint you if you have the chance to see him live.

On another note, if you have a chance to see a show at the Doug Fir go ahead and get there early and secure one of the coveted outer tables. We sat on the steps which were the next best thing until the chick from the 2nd opening act decided to tell everyone sitting Indian-style on the concrete floor to stand up. I really wish she'd let them just stay put, cuddle up if necessary, and join in a good ol group sing like we had in kindergarten. Ah good times!

So I have no idea who opened the show. They only played one song and there were no words--plus they all wore masks. The next band was called Midnight Movies I do believe. They're on myspace and appear to be quite popular among the disenfranchised young female set. Definitely a contrast to Murdoch's flavor, but not in a bad way. Someone has to draw in the kids with the fake ID on Sunday nights!

Well, that's about all there is to say about it. Looking forward to Damien Rice at Benaroya hall in April and hopefully Sasquatch in May. Stay tuned for all of that!

Peace,

b