SOTSMusic.com
Reviews of local bands, musicians, concerts, and live music venues in the Portland area.
Tinmantle Intimidates at Redroom
Apr 21st
Yep – after hearing Tinmantle go at it for awhile at the Red Room last night – I heard some musicians saying things like, “I quit. I give up.” They were in awe of the Tinmantle duo. So was I!
I can’t figure out how to describe them – because my knowledge of music is not super extensive and I don’t have a co-writer to help me at the moment – but while listening to them shred and rock and groove the phrase, “Tinmantle – The Ultimate Chaos Machine” came to mind. I have no idea if they like that tagline or not More >
Leaves Russell Live at the Bing Lounge
Apr 15th
Wow – we enjoyed one of the most amazing local music events ever. (And to think we almost didn’t go.) We like punk, we like metal, we like funk, we like rock, we like blues, we like folk, we like classical, goth, industrial, techno, and we LOVE Leaves Russell. In fact, Kink.fm is so impressed with them, that they recorded a live show at the Bing lounge Friday night. It was only $7.50 to get in, and they were serving free beer and wine – we enjoyed three beers each (sorry – we’re called SOTS after all!) and a world class show for just More >
Teen Thrash Metal Band Gladius Debut Show at Red Room 8-13-11
Aug 14th
Gladius put on a very impressive debut show last night at the Red Room in Portland. This five member start up thrash metal band are all teens, except for total rock star front man, Nick – who adds a super high pitched Rob Halford (Judas Priest) scream to the otherwise “big four” style thrash.
Tyler Becker
Alex Huddleston
Ryan Mitchell
This first show drew a large, shoulder-to-shoulder crowd whose overwhelmingly positive reaction was certainly amplified by Nick’s crowd engaging antics and showmanship.
The four youngster musicians all gave solid performances which time and practice could tighten into pro-level technical ability. The members are Tyler Becker, More >
The Mediam at Ash Street or Smmr Bmmr at Plan B Friday August 5 2011
Aug 5th
Portland Live Music Pick for Friday 8-5-11 is The Mediam or Summr Bmmr
Adam Pike’s “other” band The Mediam is playing at Ash Street tonight. The multi-talented Adam also plays for White Orange, owns Toadhouse Recording Studios and Toadhouse Rehearsal Studios, and does the sound for venues like Ash Street and Branx. Therefore! I am going to check them out! Not sold? Watch this music video Slide by The Mediam and YOU decide! They haven’t performed much lately but Adam says they are absolutely worth coming out to hear. The cover is only $2 so what can you lose?!!!
If you have a More >
White Orange Review
May 19th
White Orange Songwriter, Rhythm Guitar, and Vocals - Dustin Hill
White Orange Sightingby Madison J. Locke
When I first saw them, I was reminded of those stories about alien abductions. I felt like their so-called “instruments” and “voices” were in disguise; like they were actually getting into my thoughts, using the reverberation of sound waves, i.e. music, as a technique to capture and convey messages. Obviously it wasn’t scary or painful, but it was somewhat anxiety producing, although in the most comforting way. They’re futuristic, they’re enlightened, and they’re loud. They are White Orange.
Dustin Hill, the vocalist, plays rhythm guitar. Ryan More >
Chris Margolin & The Dregs Review
May 6th
Chris Margolin & The Dregs: American Pop Rock Done Just Right
Chris Margolin - Singer, Rhythm Guitar
by Madison J. Locke
You’re at that dive-bar, the one you usually walk right by. You’re there because it sells cheaper drinks than the one you usually go to; or so you tell yourself. The cigs starting to reach the filter, but you don’t really care because it’s your last one anyway… so you drag it. You try not to, but you can’t help but think about her as you sip down a cold glass of Bourbon, the only warmth left. Then, it hits you More >
LIVE LOUD N LOCAL Metal Music Festival Set Times
Apr 26th
Four Day Metal Music Festival at Bossanova Ballroom in Portland, OR
This Thursday through Sunday (4/28/11 to 5/1/11) - IF YOU LOVE METAL – check out the LIVE, LOUD N LOCAL Metal Music Festival at Bossanova Ballroom at 722 East Burnside in Portland near the Doug Fir. Tickets are just $12 for all four days. You can get tickets from most any of the bands listed below. Most of these local bands are on Facebook, just “Like” them and ask for tickets. Or, you can still get tickets for $15 at the door.
This is an “All Ages” event!
Headliners are from the Hell Hath More >
Full Moon Fire Jam
Apr 26th
by Sally Dee
Heading westward, all the way from Washougal to downtown Portland, we were treated to the ahhhh-some beauty of the ever changing setting sun before us. We then unloaded tribal drums of all sizes and tinkerbells onto the cold concrete under the Hawthorn bridge – the weekly destination of drummers from all walks of Portland metro. Yeah, even with the warmth of the setting sun, it was cold – but not as cold as it had been in the weeks past. There were already a few drummers and bystanders when we arrived and the crowd continued to gather and More >
Swamp Surfer Review
Apr 24th
Swamp Surfer: Hard Rock Soul Food for the Rude Dude
Nick: Swamp Surfer Front Man
by Madison J. Locke
In the age of light-speed information, rock is getting heavier, more technical, and more complex by the second. Whether it’s the latest Digi-Something X-3000 Synthesizer complete with an A.I. chip, or the Quadruple Bass-Kick pedals that give an extra thump or two for those blast beataholics… today’s rocker just can’t deny that everyone’s competing for the next big sound! And we here at SOTSMusic commend this growth 110%!
But… where did the groove go?
Where the funk is that funk!? Hmmm…? I just wanna know. Where’s More >
NINJA Metal – the Kind of Metal You Slay a Dragon With
Apr 14th
by Madison J Locke
Photo by Tamra Tiemeyer
What IS Metal?
Is it the dark side of rock? Is it the deafening confusion and silence before a rapid barrage of heavy, distorted riffs and war-drum ridden, double bass kicks? Is it the blood-stained t-shirt you wear honorably as your mark of battle when you leave the pit? Is it the visceral primal scream? Is it black?
Most die-hard metal-heads would agree that the answer is truly, “all of the above”. So, when asked, “Are Ninjas metal?” We here at SOTS Music would have to give a resounding, “F**k yeah!”
NINJA… The band NINJA… is… Metal.
NINJA: Born February More >
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