What is it about Portland that attracts musicians and bands to it like an odd, overcast magnet? Portland definitely gets a steady and welcome immigration of musical talent. It’s almost as if at the gates of the city we should post a sign stating: “Give me your folk, your pop, your huddled masses yearning to rock free.”
The Women’s Resource Center presented “Under Pressure: Women, Oppression, and Leadership” Friday, a daylong conference on feminism that highlighted the history of feminism and where it can lead. The conference had four goals: to set up coalitions between feminist and other campus groups; to be inclusive and focus not just on feminism but also other groups involved with civil rights; to help view how those groups intersect; and to tackle marginalization of women, said Zena Piccolo, who works at the Women’s Resource Center and organized the conference.
Some bands give you a certain style, and keep on giving you that same sound for years to come. This strategy is fine, if it works and we listeners don’t get so bored with the shtick that our ears bleed.
Environmental Sciences professor Elise Granek has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the Sea World and Busch Gardens Conservation Fund for research in the Comoros archipelago. The research aims to examine the relationship between the marine and land environment with the social and economic realities of the communities living on the islands.
The Associated Students of Portland State University will host the third city commissioner debate between Charles Lewis and Amanda Fritz this Friday, Oct. 24 at PSU. The debate will take place on the ground floor of the Smith Memorial Student Union building in the Parkway North room at 2:30 p.m. It could stand as the last debate between the two candidates before voters decide and determine who will be the next city commissioner by Election Day, Nov. 4.
With some scattered pops, a few beeps and some nice kicked-up reverb woven throughout their songwriting, Climber’s alternative-pop melodies offer Stumptown a nice selection of tunes not often found in the underground rock scene. For five years Portland’s Climber has been producing music in search of an edgier and more groundbreaking sound, whilst working through some “personnel changes” and a slight on-and-off again relationship with its constituents.
The Soda Pop Kids have been popping up on show fliers around Portland for years. With a sound that’s half ’50s malt shop and half ’80s glam, they set themselves apart from other local groups by producing some of the most unique sounds to echo from the Willamette Valley. The Vanguard was able to catch the ear (or inbox, rather) of Diet D., guitarist and vocalist for the band, to pose a few questions about their past and plans for future mayhem.
The Kenny Rogers Experience is the “audio equivalent of an exploding school bus.” At least that’s what they claim, and audiences will be able to verify for themselves at the Al Maly’s Ball Ball at Dante’s tomorrow night. You read that right, “Al Maly’s Ball Ball.” Al Maly, a local musician, who during these hard times has experienced some medical issues concerning … well, you can figure it out for yourself given the suggestive title of the ball. Proceeds from the show will go to help cover Maly’s medical costs.
Professor Patricia Wetzel and assistant professor Masami Nishishiba never thought they would enter the technological realm. But with a new $500,000 grant to develop an online interpretation and translation program for the Japanese and Arabic languages, the two professors are diving head first into the world of e-learning. Last month, the International Research and Studies division of the U.S. Department of Education awarded the three-year grant to Wetzel and Nishishiba.
Oh Darling has made the most of their two years in the City of Roses. Capitalizing on a wealth of adorable melodies and a healthy propensity for matching outfits, the group has scored themselves a recording deal with Los Angeles-based Creative Works Records and a healthy local following to endorse their speedy rise to prominence. The band consists of Oregon natives J. Marie Hall on bass, Jasmine Ash on vocals and keyboards, Jake Endicott on drums and Daven Hall on the guitar.
First of all, it’s the Power of County, not country. This is a mistake that founding member Matthew Stark says people often make. Five years ago, Stark met up with Rives Curtright upon the recommendation of a mutual friend. After eight hours of jamming, they had compiled a set list of 28 songs consisting of a handful of originals and some old-school bluegrass tunes.