AristeiA brings the classic shoegazer

Being four years old at this point, PDX Pop has seen some pretty significant changes in the styles of music preferred by Portland bands. Some styles, like 'freak folk' and various forms of dance- and 80s-based pop have risen in popularity while others have fallen. Specifically, the variety of loud, epic, largely instrumental guitar rock that goes by the name of 'shoegazer', which was so dominant the first year or so of the fest (and which was such a mainstay of Portland for so long up to that point) has gradually faded from the scene somewhat.

That's why AristeiA's just-completed set put me in a sentimental mood. They play classic shoegazer, complete with wide guitar-playing stances, swelling, hair-swinging crescendos, and pounding drums. Maybe I'm just getting old, but it does my heart good to hear this kind of thing at least once at the fest every year.

I wonder if at PDX Pop Now! 2010 I'll be singing this same lament about people with broken acoustic guitars and warbly voices...