Pop Dr(((O)))nes: Episode 16

My liver and I managed to survive the weekend-long, garage/punk/scuzz fest that was Smmr Bmmr, and I brought back some new scraps of wax to prove it. Highlight of the epic fest proved to be Mayyors, who created a a frothing fury of flying bodies the moment they hit the stage. The crowd was pretty laid back until those now-too-familiar buzzing riffs ripped through the Rotture speakers. Check the youtube videos below for some proof of the mayhem. Thee Oh Sees, who headlined the Friday night show, almost toppled the back patio that they'd set up on. It was kinda like watching the band while on a wooden trampoline filled with drunken, flailing bodies. Unfortunately they had to end a little earlier than expected due to the possible death of the entire crowd. Ganglians were another highlight, mostly because they eschewed their Beach Boys-esque harmonies for their noisier side, which I definitely prefer. Pens were a nice, yet unexpected, break from the macho punk strut of the bands that had been playing for the the last three days. The three UK cuties playfully stumbled through a half hour set of adorable, catchy garage pop that eventually won over the crowd. Expect big things from the ladies when their debut LP drops on De Stijl next month. Meth Teeth, with brand new LP (pictured at the top) in hand, played an amazing set of their distinct chiming, twangy garage, which was probably the best set I've seen from them yet. That new LP has risen to the top of my best of '09 list and is essential listening for all you listeners out there. Re-recorded versions of the best tracks from their 7"s and cassettes all make an appearance on the LP. Ty Segall, solo, and with Sic Alps was another winner of the weekend, though I was hoping to see Ty do his one-man blown-out garage set solo.

Of course, when in Portland, most of the daytime is reserved to hunting around in the many amazing record shops that the city has to offer. Mississippi and Exiled, neither of which I had been to when I was there last, receive the top marks, not to mention, most money spent.

Picked up during the hunt were some hard-to-find (at least up in Vancouver) newer LPs, including the Long Legged Woman LP, San Francisco Water Cooler's amazing LP from last year, The Hunches supposedly mail-order only LP of outtakes and live material, and the brand new LP from Eternal Tapestry. Plenty more where that came from, but you'll have to wait until next week for the rest.

In cassette news, Luke Meat from CiTR's Anoize show lent me brand new cassettes by Edmonton's Famines, which comes with an actual book, bound and filled with uneccessary info from all the band members and their families (easily the cassette package of the year!), and a new EP cassette from Calgary's Hunter Gatherer. The Famines, who've rocked Vancouver a few times now, laid an explosive live show on this new cassette, and is a great primer for anyone who hasn't laid ears on the 7"s yet. The Hunter Gatherer cassette is a great noisy pop affair, and I suspect something great coming from the trio in the near future. You can download the EP from their myspace for free, which I highly recommend you do...asap!

Also, the new set from Hozac's Hookup Klub dropped this week, and they were well worth the wait. Check out Raven Sings the Blues article on them here.

Download this week's episode here. (right click, then Save As)



Pens "The Weekend Starts Here" 4-Way Split w/Graffiti Island, Christmas Island & Dum Dum Girls 7" (Art Fag) 2009
White Mystery "Powerglove" Powerglove 7" (Hozac) 2009
Mother of Tears "Litte Ratty" Litte Ratty 7" (Hozac) 2009
Art Thieves "I've Had It" I've Had It 7" (Hozac) 2009
The Hunches "Floating Sinks" Home Alone 5 LP (In The Red) 2009
Meth Teeth "Unemployment Forever" Everything Went Wrong LP (Woodsist) 2009
Long Legged Woman "Vinegar" Nobody Knows This Is Nowhere LP (Pollen Season) 2009
Ebonics "Mexican Thunder" split w/ Gestapo Khazi 7" (self released?) 2009
The Famines "Gimme Some Numbers" July 14, 2008 CS (self released) 2009
Hunter Gatherer "Carrion Hearts" EP CS (self released) 2009
Black Pus "Bark Of The Tree" Down Da Drain 7" (Corleone) 2009
San Francisco Water Cooler "Rockers Escape" s/t LP (KDVS Recordings) 2008
Eternal Tapestry "Prism Light Traveller" Palace of the Night Skies LP (Three Lobed) 2009
Oneohtrix Point Never "Zones Without People" Zones Without People LP (Arbor) 2009
Stefan Roigk "Walkman" Up. Rising. LP (Tochnit Aleph) 2007

Mayyors@Smmr Bmmr Part1


Part 2


Part 3


Eat Skull@Smmr Bmmr


Meth Teeth@Smmr Bmmr


Ty Segall@Smmr Bmmr