by SP Clarke. Part 4: Mid-‘80s (Continued) For acts seeking National exposure, 1985 began sweetly. Robert Cray, who had swept the Best Artist, Best Album, Best Song and Best Single prizes at the National Blues Awards, had already returned to…

So much product to review. So little time. So little space. *****************************************************   Jelly Behind the Sun Terry Robb with lke Willis. Recorded at Spectrum Studios, with a veritable plethora of Portland’s finest R&B session players. Robb’s JelIy Behlnd the…

Ah, the New Year. Time to buy the old, invent the new and carry on. 1993 was what might be called a “building year” for the Portland music industry. Certainly a few bands trundled out of town to show the world a glimpse of Portland music,…

History: Mission & Tradition— Gravelpit Schizophonic Records               Now among the elder statesmen of the local alternative scene, Gravelpit submit their second CD to the listening public; another compendium of well-written and well-performed material. But this outing finds the…

Tree Frogs Live At The LaurelThirst LaurelThirst Records BUY Just in time for Christmas and a mere six months in the wake of their April studio release Leap Year,  the Tree Frogs return with an eight-song, seventy minute set recorded…

Alphabitch Advance Tracks Self-Produced Since she organized the Mia Zapata Benefit back in March, fortunes have changed drastically for Chelsea Rae and Alphabitch. Since then, the band has found a benevolent backer, the original drummer and lead guitarist have rejoined…

Rubberneck Nosotros Locals Only Recordings BUY Rubberneck’s long awaited first CD has finally hit the streets. And it was worth the wait. Eleven new songs (and a reprise) mark the occasion, celebrating the band’s talent for cutting loose with well…

On A Llama Pre-Release Advance Tracks Self-Produced At last, long awaited product from Portland’s best kept musical secret. Over the past year or so, On A Llama have acquired a reputation among cognescenti for being a smart three-piece band, who…

Various Artists I-5 Killers III Schizophonic Records BUY Upholding a tradition is difficult in the world of regional independent record labels. For one thing, it’s hard for an independent label to hang around long enough to even have a tradition.…

Everclear Songs From An American Movie… Capitol Records BUY Everclear’s third Capitol release reflects a sense of maturity on the part of leader Art Alexakis, as well as an independent attitude that he and the band have earned, through what…