Super Rock Block
Posted by: Greg | From: July 29, 2006
Since my last post, it's turned into a good afternoon for those pdxpopsters who were feeling like they weren't getting enough Vitamin Rock in their festival diet. The appropriately named Boy Eats Drum Machine (they apparently finished the job so thoroughly that no shred of the machine was to be found amongst the guitars, keys, turntable, and drum kit that made up their actual instrumentation) provided a helping of straightforward 80s-ish rock. Unlike The Upsidedown before them though, the 80s that seeped into BEDM's music was more synth pop-y, making them feel, at their best, like a second cousin of The Postal Service, not Gang of Four.
With The Conductor's set we seem to have left the 80s and firmly entered the 90s. This foursome plays classic East Coast College Rock a la The Replacements, Throwing Muses, and The Pixies. There's surprisingly little of this type of music in Porland and The Conductors definitely did it justice with their catchy well-harmonized tunes and rock solid rhythm section.
Unfortunately, I only caught the very end of Holcombe Waller's set. After The Conductors, I decided I'd be much happier the rest of hte evening if I ran out and got coffee. PDX Pop PR Master Brent and I went walking around inner Southeast in search of java, which turns out to be a tougher prospect than you might expect. When we finally found our way back, Waller was just finishing up. From what little I saw, this solo acoustic singer-songwriter seemed a little folky and a little country and perfect for the incredibly nice summer day it is outside (if not the dark intense Music Hole it is in here).
This Super Rock Block is being rounded out right now as I write this by The Dimes, who seem (from my Blog Station in the corner behind the merch booth) to be putting a little more of a U2, big stadium spin on it.
As soon as they're done, I'm going to run upstairs and stake out a good spot for the super eclectic trio of Alela Diane, Thanksgiving and Parenthetical Girls that's coming up next.
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