Portland

I discovered Naomi Hooley's warm, powerful music a few months ago, when a friend pointed me first to her song "Tornado" and then the album that spawned it, the gorgeous It was a Great October. Her sound is earthy and approachable, and her backstory is the stuff of serendipitous musical legend. My theory is, no matter where you listen to Naomi's music, you will be reminded of home.

I have a complicated relationship with Portlandia. To start, I was born in Portland and I still live here, and I want everyone in the world to know that it's a great city with more to offer than coffee and bearded white dudes, so I am psyched that it is getting national, positive attention. However, Portlandia does little to challenge stereotypes about Portland and instead reinforces them by mocking bearded white dudes drinking coffee, causing my Facebook friends from the east coast to message me out of the blue, reminding me to "put a bird on it!" (I hate birds). And like others of you, I wish Portlandia was more critical of Portland and of white hipster culture in general, because a lot of race and class privilege is required before you can sit around all day watching Battlestar Gallactica and have audiences get the joke instead of telling you to get a job.

Founder and janitor of the Oregon Department of Kick Ass, Portland-based artist Vanessa Renwick has made over 40 films and installations.  Her work ranges from towering gold-leaf BMX bike sculptures in front of Powell’s Books to super 8 shorts of her hitchhike sojourn to the Native American reserves in South Dakota during a two and a half year period spent barefoot, her wolf dog by her side, a pair of tweezers to pick glass out of her feet in her pocket. In an interview with the artist, Renwick talks about her affinity for nature and repair stores, her inner voice that says: "stop walking on concrete," local history, getting shit done, and the great grey wolf.   

Call me old-fashioned, but I think most of the best voices in the world come out of folk singers. Maybe that's just because you can actually HEAR the singing, instead of the beats or the effects (which both have their places in my heart, don't get me wrong). Over the last year I've immersed myself in the Pacific Northwest's stellar Celtic folk music scene, and Colleen Raney has been the clear standout on my playlists and concert-going schedule. I'ma let you finish, but her voice is the best one I've heard in years.

Earlier this week I wrote about Autry!, a Portland-based, goof-punk musician set to release her debut album A.U.T.R.Y.! on July 29th. Autry!'s unique musical style as well as the success of her personal blog Hello, My Poopies has helped her gain an impressive internet following that will no doubt continue to grow. I was lucky enough to sit down with Autry! and interview her about both her music and her growing internet presence. You can find Autry!'s music at Hello, My Poopsies, Myspace, and Youtube.  A.U.T.R.Y.! will be available on iTunes, Amazon, and CD Baby. If you are in the Portland, OR area be sure to check out Autry!'s CD release party on July 29th at In Other Words Bookstore from 5 to 9pm, all ages.

I spent my weekend hanging out at FOC (Females of Color) FEST, a new Portland-based festival celebrating musicians of color from the West Coast. Two nights of bands in an empty bike shop may sound meager for a music festival, but by the time 2am rolled around on Saturday night I was completely exhausted (in a great way) from the weekend of awesome music.

Wif-pdx (Women in Film-Portland, natch) is part activist organization, part information network, and part event sponsor. This very week, for example, they are joining up with NW Documentaries, another kick-ass grassroots film center in Portland, to screen an as-yet-unfinished documentary called Austin Unbound. And if you're in town, I think you should go see it.

Did you Bounce a little too hard yesterday? Need a comedown for day two of your MFNW marathon? Look no further than Portland's own indie-folk outfit Y La Bamba. Their gorgeous, soaring harmonies and quirky, thoughtful lyrics (not to mention mega crush-worthy singer Luz Elena Mendoza) will be on display at Someday Lounge tonight at 11:15.

Ready for warm fuzzies? Check out this performance from Mississippi Studios last year.

Y La Bamba - Juniper from Smoke Signals on Vimeo

Who needs overpriced beer and heatstroke when you can enjoy a music festival in the comfort of your own city? That's how I feel about Musicfest Northwest, taking place in Portland next week from September 8-11. Bitch Media will doing special daily blog posts on the upcoming acts. Don't worry--we won't flood the interwebs with any more updates on the Walkmen or The National, we'll be covering queer and female artists who maybe aren't getting as much attention as the bigger acts. PDX-ers can be informed about which shows to catch and non-locals can look forward new music, mp3s, and videos from shows. This week's mix is emblematic of the Pac-NW unknowns and international stars playing Portland next week. From New-Orleans bounce to artsy-dance and folk rock, hopefully you'll find something you like! Track list after the jump.

Attention PDX-ers (that's code for Portland, Ore. residents)! Don't forget that next Tuesday is the semi-annual Bitch Clothing Swap!

Note: Leslie Hall will not actually be present at the clothing swap. But that doesn't mean there won't be a sequined leotard with your name on it.
This year we'll be at the happening Jupiter Hotel at E. 8th and Burnside. It's only $10 to attend and swap to your heart's content, and $7 if you bring in a bag of your own clothing to exchange. There will be some boutique items on sale for additional moneyz. Get there early to drop off your clothes and get first pickins' (although as someone who has had last pickin's, there are great finds throughout the evening!) All proceeds benefit Bitch Media, and items left at the end of the night are donated to the community. One person's awkward jacket is another person's priceless find, so spread the word, clean out your closet, RSVP on Facebook, and support what you love while getting a new wardrobe! Details after the jump....