BLOCKHEAD, SIGNALPATH, NOCANDO, DJ BIOSONIK, MR. WU(Refuge, 116 SE Yamhill) Anthony Simon splits time behind the recording console and the stage, where his Blockhead moniker can set the party off at the drop of a beat. Out on Ninja Tune, his latest is The Music Scene, which sets the bar for instrumental hiphip at heroic heights. EAC
CASIOTONE FOR THE PAINFULLY ALONE, OTOUTO, OZARKS, CONCERN(The Artistery, 4315 SE Division) Read our article on Casiotone for the Painfully alone.
EFTERKLANG, BUKE AND GASS(Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside) Can we consider Efterklang a local band? I suppose not, except on a technicality: Among the auxiliary musicians who augment the Danish quartet in the live format are former (and future?) Portlanders—and siblings—Peter Broderick and Heather Woods Broderick. It's a testament to how incredible Efterklang's music is that the Brodericks dedicate their time to it: They're both in-demand session musicians with remarkable solo careers of their own—Heather Woods Broderick's album From the Ground, in particular, is among the most exquisite local releases in recent memory. But now Efterklang's got 'em in their wily Danish clutches, and it makes perfect sense: The band is dynamite, with both complicated and gorgeously simple musical passages finding common ground between high art and pop. Meanwhile, Brooklyn duo Buke and Gass are exactly what their name says: the "buke" is a modified baritone ukulele, played by singer Arone Dyer, and the "gass" is a guitar-bass combo played by Aron Sanchez while he's doing double duty on the bass drum. Expect plenty of low-strung strings, heavy foot stomping, and intricate, near-mathy passages. NL
Ezra Carey and Willie Nelson after the jump!
As always, you can also find our complete live show listings here.