Oregon

“I’m really working on getting free on stage.  I’m normally quiet, being on stage isn’t my natural state, so I’ve been really loving this last year of playing shows, getting a new taste of being a bit more comfortable,” says Portland, Oregon-based singer/songwriter Anna Tivel, reflecting on her most...

“As an Alaskan, I have a lot of thoughts on Thanksgiving,” says Portugal. The Man’s John Gourley, laughing, coyly admitting, “I never really believed in that holiday or the origins of the celebration.”  However, during a recent phone chat, the indie rock band’s founder, primary songwriter, and only constant...

Portland, Oregon’s Pure Bathing Culture are longtime phriends of PHILTHY (We first met them in September of 2014, while they were on tour with Tennis.), but I’m pretty sure they haven’t headlined the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection in close to a decade… and I haven’t gotten...

“Union Transfer is amazing and one of my favorite venues, like Top 3.  That’s the place I would want to go to see a show,” says Josh Hodges, founder and mainman of Portland, OR indie rock outfit STRFKR.  The band has played the Eraserhood ballroom numerous times over the...

Although historically most associated with the aughts, Portland-based indie rockers Modest Mouse’s breakthrough sophomore record, The Lonesome Crowded West, actually dropped in 1997.  This 25th anniversary of the Calvin Johnson-produced album – ranked 29 on Pitchfork’s 100 greatest albums of the 1990s and 59 on Spin’s 100 greatest albums...

The other night on Twitter, I invited ZZ Ward fans to tweet me questions they might have, in preparation for my latest chat with the chanteuse whose personal blend of soul, blues, and rock has earned the moniker “dirty shine.”  To my surprise, Ms. Ward herself wanted to get...