You can’t throw a rock at PSU without hitting an aspiring musician. This small compendium is nowhere near comprehensive, but hopefully it covers a range of acts both new and old playing about town.
Garmonbozia, together for three years, has given up on its original goal of world domination and settled for rocking wildly.
Ten-year veteran Funk Shui has expanded on Garmonbozia’s world domination scheme and set its sights on the entire universe. Its consistent gigging and more-than-ample musicianship will no doubt help its cause.
This was our plan: to seek out bands that have had different experiences in and take different approaches to the Portland musical landscape.
Garmonbozia
Who are the members of your band and what do they do?
Tao Jones: drums, vocals, turntable; Mr. Peeps: electric piano, organ; Prairie Hayden: guitar, vocals, flute, keys; Tito: strings, synth, guitar, percussion, sitar; Lando: guitar, vocals, bells, percussion; Dutch D. DeFuca: bass, trombone.
How would you describe your “sound”?
This is the impossible question, but common remarks include: old-time rock, tomorrow music, apocalypso, twisted and freakish.
Probably much of our “sound” derives from the equipment we use, which is invariably ancient and in ill repair.
Who are your influences?
Harry Mancini, Thurston and Kim, Stones/Kinks/Beatles, Stravinsky, Caetano Veloso, Raffi, Kenny Rogers, Shuggie Otis.
How long has your band been playing together?
Three years exactly.
What album would we find in your band’s tour van?
Tonight’s the Night by Neil Young.
What is your band’s ultimate goal?
We used to say it was world domination, but nowadays, it’s more like we just want to rock hard so that people who love rock music will be glad that they’re alive; we want to become as good as we can at what it is we’re doing together. Collaborative art is tricky business.
What is your Web site address?
http://audible.transient.net/gmbz
Do you have any recorded music available?
Yes, emphatically. We’ve self-released eight records in the past three years. Some are impossible to locate now (and are crap anyway); much of our oeuvre, however, is available at our Web site. There is also an archive of our Portland radio shows available – quite popular with the kids, I hear.
When is your next performance?
April 4 at Ash St. Saloon with our old friends Room 101.
Finally – Lennon, McCartney or Harrison?
What do you guys have against Ringo?
Funk Shui
Who are the members of your band and what do they do?
Jeff Duffy: drums; Sean Nowland: bass; John Henry Bourke: guitar; David Murphy: guitar; Rob Mathews: saxophone; Robbo Gilfeather: trumpet.
Everyone sings, and John Henry Bourke, Sean Nowland, David Murphy are the principle songwriters
How would you describe your “sound”?
Funk and rock ‘n’ roll. Somewhere between Curtis Mayfield and Dr. Demento.
Who are your influences?
Louis Johnson, Otis Redding, Stevie Wonder, Alice Donut, Tom Waits, and Thom
Lehrer.
How long has your band been playing together?
Almost 10 years.
What album would we find in your band’s tour van?
Musiquarium
What is your band’s ultimate goal?
To rule the universe and rock the world (for the kids, of course)!
What is your Web site address?
www.brothersgoombahfilms.org
Do you have any recorded music available?
Yes, much.
When is your next performance?
Feb. 28, Friday, Biddy McGraw’s, 60th and N.E. Glisan, 10 p.m. to late, no cover.
Finally – Lennon, McCartney or Harrison?
Harrison.
Charmparticles
Who are the members of your band and what do they do?
John J. Adams: drums; Sara FitzGerald: guitar; Pamela Rooney: bass/vocals; Adam Wayne: guitar/vocals.
How would you describe your “sound”?
A Huge wall of guitars, cascading soundscapes, catchy vocals and powerhouse drums. Come check it out. Find out first hand.
Who are your influences?
All the basics that go along with the sound that we are going for. Catherine Wheel, Ride, My Bloody Valentine, Jesus and Mary Chain, Lush, Cocteau Twins. The Cure are the roots that we go back to, and are commonly influenced by. The list keeps growing and changing every month for all of us individually.
How long has your band been playing together?
We played together in this warehouse below our bass player’s office for about a year prior to our first show. Talk about an echo tank. It sounded like we were practicing in the Grand Canyon! I think it’s been about two years since we set up to play for the first time.
What album would we find in your band’s tour van?
On our last trip out of town we had: Doves, The Last Broadcast; Black Rebel Motorcyle Club, Self Titled; Boards of Canada, Music Has the Right to Children; Enon, Believo.
What is your band’s ultimate goal?
It’s probably the same ultimate goal that every band has. We are dead-set on taking this as far as we can. We will always be stepping forward toward progress. Our current goal is to get our record out sometime next year, and to do some touring overseas. In April, we will be recording another EP to hold people over until the full-length album is out next year.
What is your Web site address?
www.charmparticles.com
Do you have any recorded music available?
The debut EP is out in stores locally, and available at www.cdbaby.com online. Check out the Web site to find out where it can be purchased locally. There are a few songs that are downloadable on our Web site if anyone wants to hear us before picking up the EP, or seeing us live.
When is your next performance?
Catch us at Dante’s opening up for Mark Gardener (Formerly of Ride) on April 5th.
Finally – Lennon, McCartney or Harrison?
Don’t know. Never heard of ’em 😉
Stickfigure
Who are the members of your band and what do they do?
Shawn Quigley: guitar, vocals; Alex Carney: drums; Marcus Brown: bass.
I heard that Alex was involved with KPSU.
Yeah, I have a radio show on Friday nights from 11 p.m. to midnight.
What kinds of venues has Stickfigure played at?
So far, Porky’s Pub and the Ashland.
How did you guys get started?
I have known Shawn, who writes the songs, for a long time, like, since we were kids.
How would you describe your sound?
Um …(calls to Shawn) hey, Shawn, how would we describe our sound? (Shawn unintelligible) Yeah, sort of primitive garage rock, I guess.
What kind of stuff are you influenced by?
I’d say the Oblivions, Sonic Youth, Mudhoney and the Gories.
What are your plans for the future?
Mostly to ride our friends’ coattails (laughs). We went to South Eugene High School with the Hunches, you know, so we’re just going to ride along on their success.
Do you have any upcoming shows?
Yes, March 22 at Porky’s (835 N. Lombard).