KLAC did a remote broadcast at Disneyland on a Saturday back in the late 1970’s. It was “KLAC Country Music Day” at Disneyland and there was Barbara Mandrell, Freddy Fender, Lynn Anderson, etc., bunch of great country acts. We broadcast from the Main Street train station all day starting at 7:00 am. I was there …
Catherine O’Hara was born to play Kevin’s mom. In every film and television production in which she appeared, O’Hara seemed born to play her part. The Toronto native was also born with a rare condition in which her internal organs were reversed in her body – a condition which may or may not have contributed …
During my primary school years, I dressed in a red tomtë outfit, sang Nu Är Det Jul Igen* (It Is Christmas Again) with tomtën in a church basement, and danced around the Christmas tree to celebrate St. Lucia.Day (or Sankta Lucia). “Lucia,” an older female dressed in a white gown, would then appear, wearing a crown …
I heard Midnight Oil before I saw them. Not everyone had cable in those early days of MTV – and Midnight Oil music videos didn’t often appear on that channel, anyway. Not then. I heard Midnight Oil before I saw them, in early 1983. “The Oils” were played on local college radio and “New Wave” …
Back in my salad days, some might’ve gotten into Malcolm McLaren via his hits “Double Dutch” or “Buffalo Gals.” Or, maybe through this odd band he shaped, the Sex Pistols. Me, I latched onto a lesser-known, legendary, yet now oft-overlooked offering named “Madame Butterfly.” I think a lot of things are oft-overlooked these days. The …
Sunday morning’s the best morning for Simon & Garfunkel… though I prefer to play them at night, in the dark. Though they’re rightfully inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame, the music biz’ mechanizations have sort of put the duo’s albums in the same folk package as Judy Collins or Carole King. No …
Where do we find the ultimate beauty in this 1980 song from Van Morrison’s classic Common One album? That’s a hard question. Is it in the reassuring structure of the song, the composer’s mighty artifices? That’s a soft maybe. The soothing orchestration is wind-driven and friendly, reminding us of the most comforting moments in Britannia’s …
Rarely has a movie captured a time and place as “Saturday Night Fever” does. As a cultural artifact, “Fever” is remarkable. Bell bottoms, working-class Brooklyn and the brief reign of disco are all celebrated in the 1977 story of young Tony Manero, ruling New York dance floors at night while struggling on the city’s mean streets during the …
My alma mater, North Park College (now University), completely dominated NCAA Division III Mens Basketball just prior to my arrival on campus. With a cumulative record of 86-10, in 1978, 1979, and 1980, NPC won the national championship three times in a row. Growing up in Minnesota, I never saw any of those early championship …
The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. He said …
Below is a list of worthy anti-colonial (#anticolo) movies—perhaps the best ever made. A cursory Google search has not uncovered a single list of the best anticolo flicks of all time. The aggregated minds of East Portland Blog have come together to generate a list and potentially be the first website to broach this subject. …
Years ago I read in the San Diego Computer Edge magazine that Andy Rathbone had been added as a contributing writer. Besides being the author of the original Windows for Dummies books, Andy is also known for being the inspiration for the character “Rat” in the movie Fast Times at Ridgemont High. The “rat” character …
I had no idea that “The Wave Speech” from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas had been given a name and taken on a life of it’s own amongst Thompson mavens and literary academics. I had wrongly assumed that I was the only one to find beauty in these six paragraphs and to return to …
Among the dozens and dozens of Paul Weller-penned jewels, “The Butterfly Collector” has always been of the most intriguing, most fascinating songs to digest and ponder. I’ve always felt it was about disdain for an aging groupie living vicariously through a never-ending succession of “butterflies” in her collection. Rumour has it that I’ve been correct …
“… for as long as the world still spins and still hums, wherever you are, and no matter what comes — the best part of Christmas will always be… you beneath my Christmas tree.” — The Spirit of Christmas, 2009 The best children’s book is one that always prompts a kid’s heart to soar – …
I write about this song every year – and I’ll share it once more this season. A “lost” classic that I rediscovered about a dozen years ago – and I’m sure I hadn’t heard it since 1986 or so. Why don’t you remember it, perhaps? Probably because you might’ve never heard it to begin with. …
The other day I received an email from the EPB Admin who advised, “The Farhad spike is still going on…It’s an 11-year-old post buried in a minor blog site, but it’s getting 1000 views every 30 days. Some people out there are obviously very curious about Farhad.” I then realized I needed to provide an …
In October 1968, the Viking football team fielded by North Park College (Chicago, IL) highlighted its season with a Homecoming pasting of the North Central College Cardinals (Naperville, IL) by a final score of 104-32!! The Vikings finished the season with a winning record of 6-3, and three players from the team got selected during …
Cymande are a British Funk group that was originally active in the early ‘70’s. The band name derives from a Calypso word for “Dove,” which symbolises peace and love. Cymande were noted for an eclectic mix of Funk, Soul, Reggae, Rock, Calypso, and African music that they called “Nyah-Rock.” The band formed in 1971 and released …
Skåne-born guitarist Filippa Nässil laid the foundation for Thundermother in the Autumn of 2009. While originally based in Växjö where she was pursuing her studies, she later relocated to Stockholm in her quest to assemble a band. In the early years the band had a number of lineup changes, but from 2012 the band solidified …
Since well before the pandemic, Reggies has served as Chicago’s base for live metal (all kinds), post-punk, grindcore, etc., and offers metalheads bus transportation to and from Chicago Black Hawk games. I’ve attended concerts at both of Reggies’ settings. (Kinda like First Avenue and 7th Street Entry in Mpls.) I have also seen a “local” band, Burned in …
By America’s National Parks™ In 2026, the United States will celebrate a significant milestone: 250 years since declaring its independence. Since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, America has endured high points, low points, and everything in between. Today, our nation’s national parks have been stewards of the American story, preserving important locations and …
By Claude Iosso After a heavy dose of heavy indie, delivered at full volume over the weekend, the first Psychic Salamander Festival looks like a keeper. Healthy crowds converged on Remlinger Farms in Carnation, Washington to see a parade of electric guitar mavens, headlined both nights by the Flaming Lips and Modest Mouse. The Lips …
All photos by Zach Putnam All the way from Sweden, Arc de Soleil turned Portland’s Wonder Ballroom into a danceable dreamscape on Monday night. With an electric guitar, a constellation of effects pedals, and a well-oiled full band, Daniel Kadawatha conjured vast, shimmering soundscapes that felt equal parts intimate confession and cosmic voyage. Notes bent …
Over the Labor Day weekend, I attended my fourth SYSTEM OF A DOWN concert! This represented my first concert at Daley’s Bathtub aka Soldier’s Field, home of the NFL’s Chicago Bears, and I have yet to watch a football game in the remodeled financial boondoggle. I selected Section 309 – upper deck and looking west …
When I was a kid, JAN & DEAN made a personal appearance at the opening (if you can believe it) of a new WHITE FRONT store and it was broadcast locally on KTTV.. The KTTV cameras looked just like this. I was a happy kid that day, saw Jan & Dean and I was on …
Pexels Image – CC0 Licence Are you a musician? If you said yes to that question, how serious are you about turning your love of music into a career? Because if you’re very serious, you’re going to want to get involved with your local music scene. In doing so, you can set yourself up for …
Photo Credit: Natalie Sakstrup With characteristic honesty, Geffen Records artist Laci Kaye Booth captures the bewildering moments when everything seems to be crumbling on her poignant new single, “Luck Of The Draw.” Emerging with a clear-eyed acceptance of whatever fate may bring, she sings, “Blame it on the luck of the draw.” She wrote the song with Ryman Wooten, who …
I listen to music nearly everyday. Morning, afternoon, evening, after midnight! I’ve often wondered about what moves us to listen to music. Obv you got yer favs, right? Songs that bring back memories, recollections, danceable crap (🙀), and sentiments that echo the life you lived through (even if it grinds on and on). They’re not …
White Stripes photo by Wikipedia Potentially Questionable Band Names That May Be Deemed Politically Incorrect* Over the past several years I’ve watched iconic statues that stood for many decades in our cities and parks be removed. Even worse, I’ve watched bands/artists adjust their names to avoid the edge of Occam’s razor because of outside pressure from …
August 29, 2025 — Atlanta, GA — Just ahead of the long weekend, Platinum selling artist J.I.D and legendary rap duo Clipse have released the official music video for track “Community” — watch below or via HERE. Directed and edited by Omar Jones, the video is a visually striking production mirroring the mastery displayed by three of hip-hop’s most skilled wordsmiths. The track is …
Today, LA-based songwriter and producer Jordan Patterson announces her latest project, The Hermit, set to drop independently on September 19. The Hermit, Patterson’s most realized body of work to date, casts a light into the spaces where grief, self-inquiry, and spiritual longing meet. Entirely self-written and co-produced alongside JEHU and Eric Van Thyne, the project is a gentle force—a composite of hushed folk, ambient textures, …
Tristen is set to release her 5th studio album, Unpopular Music, on November 7 via Well Kept Secret / Secretly Distribution. The Nashville-based recording artist has built a reputation for crafting melody-driven songs rooted in clever, story-forward lyricism. As she explains, “I don’t write by genre — I write honest songs. I want listeners to feel something: the sting of heartbreak, …
Nashville, TN (August 22, 2025) – International country-pop sensation Twinnie recently partnered with Musicians On Call (MOC) to bring joy and healing through music to patients at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. The singer, songwriter, and actress performed a live set at Seacrest Studios, treating patients and their families to an intimate performance, Q&A session, and meet-and-greet. Twinnie performed some …
Credit: Acacia Evans August 22, 2025: Today, the Indiana-born, Nashville-based rising star Stephen Wilson Jr. announced a new EP Blankets and released his moving interpretation of Nirvana’s “Something In The Way.” Arriving on August 29 via Big Loud Records, the four song EP will also feature covers of Temple of the Dog’s “Hunger Strike,” The …
August 22, 2025 – Today, the Nashville-by-way-of-Texas country artist Tommy Acker releases his new single “10 & 2” via River House Artists. With arena-ready guitar and an effortless vocal delivery, “10 & 2” finds Acker using driving metaphors as a way to express his dedication to keeping a relationship on track. This follows a busy …
In the lead up to the release of her highly anticipated debut album The Eldest Daughter (October 3rd), rising alt pop force Gatlin teases fans with not one, but two singles from the upcoming collection. Following the success of her recent offering ‘Jesus Christ & Country Clubs’ she drops ‘Happy’ and ‘Pipe Dream’ on August …
The new revision will be unveiled at Sacred Harp convention in Atlanta, GA in September The Sacred Harp, first published in 1844 in Hamilton, GA, has been in continuous use since its original publication and has been the musical life blood of first, 19th century southerners and now, both 21st century rural farmers and young …
In case you already have an awesome track to present to the world, you definitely do not need to get lost in this jungle of possibilities. The decision of where and how to exactly release your music is a little like deciding the ideal location of your first major concert, something both stimulating, terrifying, and …
Today, the Minnesota-based group Maygen & The Birdwatcher are encouraging all of us to welcome joy into our hearts on new single “Millie Moon” from upcoming LP The Americana Dream, out October 10 via Yellow House Music Collective / Missing Piece Records. The song finds lead vocalist Maygen Lacey, vocalist/guitarist Noah Neumann and banjo player …