Tag: portland

Where Division Ends

Where Division Ends

Atmosphere! Atmosphere! It’s everywhere and oh so clear.

Where Division Ends is comprised of Tyson and Jessica Kingrey and is perfect for fans of Radiohead or My Bloody Valentine. I lived with Where Division Ends for some months and never saw them perform. What I did hear came in the form of laptop speakers. I really should have insisted on making them play a show since the truth is I might not even be having a kickstarter for Take Out the Trash if it weren’t for them.

What happened is: I got a band together for one show. 1 show. After the show Tyson said, and I quote: “I’m not quitting.” This was the catalyst that enabled The Pac-Away Dots to form and Take Out The Trash to be recorded in the first place. It was Tyson’s attention to detail that empowered Take Out The Trash to become the record that is.

Tyson and Jessica are not just generous people – after all they let the album be recorded in the basement and all over the house. They truly created a rad space to live and rest in. It is this attention to detail and curation that makes Where Division Ends a compelling project that you should check out.

In their own words:

“Where Division Ends is somewhat of a young ghost in the Portland music scene. You can hear them, but rarely do you see them, and what you hear is only a fraction of what you know of them to be. That is, if you know them at all. Their music echoes the wonder years of 90’s Grunge and Shoegaze bliss while trying to find a slot in the present and a pathway to the future.”

Where Division Ends will be contributing song to Nate Allen’s Kickstarter Mixtape.

For more info go to: facebook.com/wheredivisionendspdx

FFO: Amusement Parks on Fire, M83, Maps & Atlases, Cocteau Twins, CSNY

Click here to turn Nate Allen into a video game. Make your order by 8:59pm Pacific Time on Wednesday Nov 5.

McDougall

McDougall

McDougall is a foot stomping, bluegrass hustling one-man-band based in Portland, Oregon. Scott’s music has elements of folk, gospel, bluegrass, blues, and always a good amount of rock n’ roll. His live show is not to be missed and each record he makes takes a huge step-forward. Distinctively intense vocals also characterize this creative take on traditional Americana.

I like to say Scott McDougall is our rock n’ roll priest because the first 2 times I met him were on significant days in my life. We played shows together the night Tessa and I got engaged and the day we buried my Grandfather.

McDougall is contributing “Ones and Twos” to the Nate Allen Kickstarter Mixtape.

For more information visit: mcdougallmusic.com/  FFO: Larry and His Flask, Muddy Roots, Jack White

McDougall recently released McDougall. Check it out below:

Watch one of my old personal favorites “Grandma Holley’s Blues” below

Click here to turn Nate Allen into a video game. Make your order by 10:59pm CST on Wednesday Nov 5.

Garret Potter

Garret Potter

Garret Potter is a spoken word artist and performance poet. His gentle softness and ability to articulate emotion make him compelling and easy to listen to. He is a man who cares and feels deeply for people and the planet. He longs to make a difference in this world and love people well.

When I was finishing school and working on my Destroy Nate Allen songbook, Garret was in the same library, working on his first book HIDE AND SEEK: A Poet’s Memoir. Not only did he teach me how to play speed scrabble, but I learned a lot from seeing Garret’s writing process. Not so long ago, Garret moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan from Portland, Oregon and helped resurrect Ann Arbor’s poetry slam team, which recently went to Nationals.

I have rarely met a more genuine person that Garrett Potter and I am honored to call him a friend.

Garret Potter’s poem “Spray Bottle” will be featured on Nate Allen’s Kickstarter Mixtape. This playlist includes over 30 artists and is included with any pledge amount. Order by 10:59pm CST on Wednesday Nov 5.

For more information visit: garretpotter.com

Experience “Reconciling My Apartment Complex Below” below.

Autry

Autry

Autry plays celebratory, acoustic, punky rock n’ roll out of Portland, OR. She makes a great mix of goofy faces and funny voices. In short, her bright colors are the sugar that help make her honest and witty lyrics just that much more accessible. Musically she bounces somewhere near the Violent Femmes or The Go-Go’s, with a modern twist. She also does a killer Johnny Cash cover.

Autry makes handmade vinyl fanny-packs that you can pick up at one of her shows. We own a sparkly blue and yellow one.

Autry will be contributing a song to Nate Allen’s Kickstarter Mixtape.

For more information visit: autrysmusic.com

Watch the fantastic “Bug” music video below:

FFO: Leslie and The Lys

Seth Martin

A few years ago,  Seth Martin burst into my awareness. He must have been a few weeks ahead of us on tour because everywhere I went people asked me, “Do you know Seth Martin!” They would say things like “He’s from Portland.” “He plays sing-a-long folk.” “He’s an Christian.” “He’s an activist.” “You must know Seth Martin!” But I didn’t. I had never heard of the man.

So I made a decision.

Seth Martin does not exist.

Seth Martin is a mythological creature.

This served me well for a while and then I met THE Seth Martin.

It turns out his compassionate hippie charm is only the beginning. Seth has a fire inside. He burns to fight injustice and loves people. I’m pretty sure Seth has never met a stranger and has more energy than most people I’ve met. He loves to talk and loves to sing – ESPECIALLY with others! If you’re looking for a communal musical experience I would highly recommend you check out Seth Martin and his band The Menders.

Seth Martin will be contributing his song Goodbye, Goodbye to the kickstarter mixtape.

For more information visit: sethmartinandthemenders.bandcamp.com

Listen to Seth’s latest album Halfway Home below.

Click here to order the Kickstarter Mixtape featuring over 30 bands!

Greg McKillop

Greg McKillop

Heartfelt. Adventuresome. Focused. Prolific. Depressingly funny. Poetic. Ringleader. Honest. Kind. Uplifting. Generous. These are just a few of the words that come to mind when I recall Massachusetts poet and folkie Greg McKillop. 

Greg had just started playing guitar when we met, but from the start his burning passion to create was already evident. Being from Oregon and on my first tour, one of my goals was to see what Portland, Maine was like. I didn’t know anyone in Portland but I got in touch with Greg via myspace and he invited me to drop by an open-mic. When I got to town I met Greg, Jesse Frayne and a few other people right away. It was instant community.

After the open-mic we all headed across town and played another open mic together at Slainte Wine Bar. Slainte offered me a show the next night so we all hung out again. A few days later Greg hooked me up with a show in Worcester, MA. That show helped me make just enough extra gas money to print the first copies of my second album Take It Easy. The way things came together that week still stands out as magical.

Greg has spent his last 8 years touring the country performing in every type of space imaginable. His songs have become the stuff of legend. 20 of them were covered this year on Please Make Sure Someone’s Singin’ Somewhere For You: A Tribute To The Music of Gregory McKillop.  Greg’s band Speaker For The Dead swelled to a circus-like crowd of over 20 members before calling it a day a few months ago. He is now focusing on his solo material and relaxing a bit.

Greg will be contributing “I am on the Radio,” a previously unreleased song to Nate Allen’s kickstarter mixtape. This is an acoustic version of the last song from his upcoming full length due out in February.

Order the mixtape here.

For more information visit gregorymckillop.com.

No More Train Ghosts

No More Train Ghosts

No More Train Ghosts play loud, driven, fast, sweaty, crunchy rock n’ roll. They epitomize what I love about Portland – good friends and basement shows.  No More Train Ghosts shows are sloppy in all the right ways and I definitely miss getting to hang out with them. Rarely does a band wear honesty on their sleeve at just the right tempo to energize the blood and connect with your heart.

Their song “Hey Rube” will be on our Kickstarter Mixtape.

Check out more of their rock n’ roll on bandcamp.