Jessica Hart, owner – The Know

It all starts with a celebratory “farewell” show for the quintessential “GREEN NOISE RECORDS NITE”, which will be on indefinite hiatus while it’s host, Ken Cheppaikode, digs into his school books while also continuing to release tons of records/bands through his heralded label.

Quick backstory of Green Noise Records Nite’s:
Since August of 2010 Ken Cheppaikode, owner and operator of Green Noise and Dirtnap Records, has been presenting a monthly showcase of bands at The Know. Over these past 2+ years Ken has never “recycled” a single band in any of his line-ups!!! Instead, choosing to highlight an extensive ‘cross-section’ of underground music. This format, and his insatiable drive to produce unique events each month, has provided many memorable shows at The Know.

Green Noise Nite’s have been comprised of lauded national/international-caliber acts, as well as “fresh-faced” locals playing their first show! This range of opportunity exemplified on these nights will be sorely missed, as few people possess such passion for musical “discovery” as Ken!  

Given the above stated significance of these monthlies, it’s only fitting that Green Noise Records Nite would conclude it’s final incarnation with local-legends, PIERCED ARROWS!!!

The parallel between the DIY work-ethic and unwavering (often under appreciated) drive of Fred and Toody Cole is not dissimilar to what Ken has achieved with Dirtnap Records. All parties have have spent 20+ years curating classic rock&roll in one form or another. Fred and Toody with Dead Moon (now continuing their legacy in the form of Pierced Arrows), and Ken closing in on his 150th label-release!!!

Come show some love to the folks who’ve helped put Portland’s underground rock&roll-scene on the map!

NOTE: the evenings events will be brought to you at an incredibly reasonable cover charge (of $6) courtesy of Pabst Blue Ribbon who’ll also have some schwag to give away to the evenings early entrants! Opening acts will feature the ‘must-see’ performance of GHOSTWRITER, who’s faithful adherence to crafting unadulterated rock&roll will leave attendees in awe! FREEDOM CLUB are also playing, adding a healthy dose of piss-and-vinegar to the mix.

amazing flyer by MOSHBURN — facebook event here

 Friday, March 1st sees the continuation of our wild Rock&Roll Weekend in the best way possible.  We host Minnesota (via Japan) duo, BIRTHDAY SUITS, who are out on tour in support of their most recent release, “Wonderland America” on Asian Man Records!   

If there’s one thing to know about these frenetic garage-sters, it’s that you’re in for a hell-of-live-show!!! A fellow performer at a recent Birthday Suit’s show is quoted as having witnessed “Hideo [guitarist] do four high kicks in a row.” He “stood on tables, the bar, the railing that runs the length of the room,” and “once he kicked the air conditioner, which [was] about six feet off the ground!” Now that’s rock&roll!

The local contingent of bands lined-up for this high energy outing have been strategically selected to keep ‘pace’ with the Suits.  We’ve got the finest garage-punk offerings of the immensely popular YOUTHBITCH, who, continuing the Dirtnap theme from the prior evening, have a highly anticipated 7″ coming out on the label later this month!

RAT PARTY also throw down with their wiry take on Stooges/Radio Birdman-styled proto-punk offerings. The new band (featuring a handful of the crew from now defunct Archers) have written one of the best songs I’ve heard in a while…check out ‘This Isn’t It!’

facebook event here.

How do you maintain the momentum of the previous two shows, and encapsulate the Rock&Roll Weekend in one tidy package? Well…it starts by getting a visit from mighty Texans, OBN IIIs!!!

This band has been hyped like few others since their inception in 2010, and this will mark their first/long-awaited tour to the Pacific Northwest, which is cause for alarm! Featuring members of Bad Sports (who happen to be on Dirtnap Records!?!?!), OBN IIIs come to The Know with a string of acclaimed releases, and a legendary live show (see: photo at end of post)! Expect a room full of adoring fans being splattered with beer (and possibly blood) as OBN IIIs hyperactive rock&roll takes hold!!!

Supported by yet another Dirtnap Records artist, GUANTANAMO BAYWATCH, one can expect a surfy, sexy and fun lead-up to OBN IIIs set.  BOOM!, the ‘sister act‘ of Guantanamo will fire things off with their poppy punk jams!

facebook event here.

If you like getting wasted and having FUN, then you’re likely already planning to attend this outrageous ‘weekend’ of shows.  If you dislike having fun, then you’re cordially UN-INVITED!!! Fuck you!

Thanks for reading.
-D Rose

BUT this day in age there are countless genres within genres and “independent artists” suckling from the teet of corporate sponsors, releasing their material through loosely-veiled “farm labels” (i.e. subsidiaries of major labels that harvest their “crop” of indie artists with hopes of “breaking” them).  It’s a strange time we live in…digital media is still new/an object of contention, touring is infinitely more expensive than ever, and the past really doesn’t really serve as a good gauge of how music/bands will exist in the future.

So recently when a band, that had the makings of a Pitchfork ”Cut of the Day” artist, solicited us for a show I very politely declined; thanking them for their interest in our venue and then suggesting that they “would be better served elsewhere.” I followed that up with some alternate-venue suggestions and contact info. Couldn’t have been nicer!

Their booking agent wasn’t taking ‘no’ for an answer though and went into “leverage mode” where they try to catch you on some technical detail (our “wide spectrum of music”-thing has definitely been quoted in the past).   This particular agent tried to get his foot in the door with the ‘ol “what genres do you program at The Know,” to which I replied:

our focus is along these lines: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rW22tsMjJvU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBEq0Yy6Di

and sent this accompanying photo montage:

Thing is, that our programing is way more diversified than the above media alludes to.  The music of bands like Warcry, Gag, and Spectral Tombs definitely forms a ‘backbone’ for us, however, and that’s what this agent needed to understand.  The Know is not your typical rock club, and that’s a phrase I steer clear of because it conveys something entirely different than what we do.  We’re a ‘punk’ club, which doesn’t necessarily mean studded leather, flying-V guitars, full-stacks with shitty guitar-tone and a pissed/violent frontman/woman. What it DOES mean is that we host bands that subscribe to a DIY ethos, and aren’t trying to use our venue as a springboard to stardom! Bands that play their first show at The Know would happily play their last here as well…there’s no upward trajectory in ‘punk’ (though there are varying degrees of success within it’s range).  Our venue is one of only a handful of spaces that WANTS the sonic-range, often qualified as ‘punk,’ to happen within it’s walls.

All this brings me to previewing 3 outstanding shows we have coming up, each of which have their own unique and distinct ‘flavor.’ These shows are the embodiment of our “wide spectrum of music,” and they are all ‘punk’ shows despite existing at varied ends of it’s reaches.

Saturday, February 16th - We get a visit from Brooklyn-based synth duo, BLACK MARBLE, who’s coldwave output has quickly gained a legion of admirers.  Dreary pop numbers utilizing a vast array of electronic tone/instrumentation put the band’s sound in a tidy space between the ‘live’ sound of Joy Division and the methodical offerings of Depeche Mode.  Their music is topped-off with gorgeous baritone vocals that sit in a echo chamber. If you like to dance with your hands in your pockets than these are the guys for you!

Local support comes in the post-punk variety, and is spearheaded by the practically flawless dark-wavers BELLICOSE MINDS.  This tightly-wound 3 piece is capable of generating 80′s production and sound (a  la Bauhaus, Joy Division or The Chameleons) through careful choice of equipment and tactful composition…hardly ever touching electronics to do so. Shit’s impressive!

DEAD CULT and SHADOW HOUSE round things out. —- facebook event —- preview from the Portland Mercury

Wednesday, February 20th - Be sure to brush your teeth after digesting the sugary-sweet bubble-gum pop of PATAHA HISS, whose playful keyboards  and primitive guitar and drum combination will have heads-a-bobbing.  Speaking of which…their fantastic song ‘Dear Joey’ refrains about a particular dirty type of head bobbing.  You can listen to it here.

This Wednesday night showcase also sees the perfected power-pop of THE CRY along with surfy meanderings from up-and-comers, SHARKS FROM MARS!

Come out and rock out!!!

Friday, February 22nd - “Epic” is the order of the evening.  It scares me to see eternal-veterans STONEBURNER listed in an opening slot of any show, and is also testament to how rife-with-talent the current doom metal scene is in Portland! If you like the feeling of having your head in a tonal ‘vice’ (picture a musical equivalent of that part in Casino!) then this is the perfect event for you.  Each band will produce crushing-riff after crushing-riff, with only blackened interludes to lend momentary reprieve to the punishing-weight of the next guitar stroke.

USNEA celebrates the official release of their first recorded output on this night of worship to the dark lord! It’s a monumental “first” offering for any band…fuck a CD, tape or 7″ – these guys are too epic (there it is again) for that shit! 12″ LP right off the mutherfuckin’ bat!!! I guess you really have no choice when your songs range from 10-18 minutes each?

And let us not forget that Portland’s own metallic “super group,” EPHEMEROS is playing this epic (once again) bill as well! Consisting of members of Nux Vomica, Elitist, Anon Remora…and the list goes on.

Really though, as much as I distain the word ‘epic,’ what else are you gunna use for something this…well…EPIC.

Thanks for reading,
DRose

I don’t remember narrowing-down last year’s Top-10 being such a chore though. I’m not saying less consideration was given, or that the quality of events was inferior.  It’s that the quantity of high-caliber/memorable events that we hosted this past year was just absurd!  After having flipped back through the calendar, the preliminary list that I attempted to narrow-down read like a book…not something that could be reduced to a Top-1o.

That said, I’m hoping people have their own memories of events in our homely venue-area that left an impression.  I was only able to skim-the-surface of note worthy shows.

Here we go (in chronological order):

01.12. [7th Anniversary] – ARCTIC FLOWERS / MUNDO MUERTO / AUTISTIC YOUTH


The combination of our anniversary celebration with the return of beloved post-punkers, Arctic Flowers, following a rather long hiatus due to a line-up change, made for one of the most oppressively packed nights I’ve witnessed at the bar.  The music was phenomenal, with California’s raging latino-punks Mundo Muerto having timed their tour to perfection, and Portland’s youngest ‘veterans’ of Autistic Youth setting a frighteningly high precedent in the opening slot. Also: lets not forget the riotous champagne toast!

04.20 – SCREAMING FEMALES / HURRY UP! / GUANTANAMO BAYWATCH

I was anticipating this show to be good based on label affiliations (Don Giovanni, Kill Rockstars, and Dirtnap Records),  but was completely unprepared for how good.  I recall this being one of the first outings for Hurry Up!, a newer project from members of The Thermals.  They absolutely lived up to their lineage, ripping through some of the most soulful rock&roll numbers, complete with sharp dual male-female vocals that kept things feeling particularly ‘fresh.’ Then it was turn for New Jersey’s Screaming Females to finish-off any non-believers, as their technical prowess in relation to pop composition left jaws agape and musicians in attendance scurrying home to practice!

5.24-30 [Memorial 'Week']
 VANNA INGET / WEEKEND NACHOS / UNNATURAL HELPERS
Ok, so I’m “cheating” in relation to this entry, but realistically listing each of the 7 unforgettable shows we hosted over the course of our “Memorial Week Show-Series” would’ve wiped out the ability to highlight much else in 2012.  I’ve written about this a bit in the past, but the advent of this “series” could be attributed to serendipity. Coinciding dates for Chaos in Tejas, Rainfest and 1234Go!’s Showcase (3 BIG festivals for ‘punk’ bands) happened to send a slew of INCREDIBLE foreign and national-caliber touring bands through our venue within a few days of one another. Each show was special, though a couple particular moments stand out to me:

• Vanna Inget, of Sweden, played some of the most gorgeous power-pop I can recall.  Blending darkened post-punk elements with sultry and haunting female vocals, which is practically a staple export for Sweden at this point (examples: Gorilla Angreb, Mass Hysterii, Terrible Feelings)!

• Chicago’s Weekend Nachos won my “sleeper” award (i.e. pleasant surprise/unexpected standout) of the week-long showcase. I’ve not seen a room light-up like that in over a decade!!! They’ve perfected (hardcore) musical ‘crowd-control’ by seamless parring scathingly fast tempos with punishing breakdowns, each of which somehow connects to a primordial pulse within the human body. The band functioned as a lightning rod for energy displacement into the crowd, complete with their drummer playing furiously…clad only in a studded-leather thong, assless chaps and bridled with a ball-gag!

• Unnatural Helpers make the list for a second year-in-a-row, and deservingly so! Dean Whitmore, of Unnatural Helpers, is one of few ‘master craftsmen’ of the lo-fi garage-rock revivalists (which in my opinion are far too many).  Unnatural Helpers wrote one of the most catchy/inescapable song in recent memory with ‘Hate Your Teachers’ from their latest LP on Hardly Art Records.

06.09 – WHITE LUNG / WAX IDOLS / SILENT NUMBERS / FOR THE LASH

What’s to say about Vancouver BC’s White Lung that hasn’t been said before? Their live shows are the stuff of legend, and they put out what could be considered one of the most stand-out/unique releases of 2012 with ‘Sorry’ on Deranged Records. White Lung is a one of few bands that truly deserves the overused phrase, “it’s hard to pin-down a genre/tidy description of the band.”  Blending a tight-wound version of melodic hardcore with post-punk ‘experimentation’ and catchy female vocal-lines that are both shouted and sang. It’s safe to say that White Lung are doing their own thing, and it happens to be damn good! A delighted audience left our venue the night of their visit.

08.20 – TENEMENT / BIG EYES / CRYPTIES

This show sticks out in my mind more-so than most. Appleton, Wisconsin’s Tenement and Seattle’s Big Eyes are two bands who appeal to fucking EVERYONE! if you don’t like them, or can’t find enjoyment in watching/listening to them, than you ought to get your head checked. Surveying our venue-area on the night of their appearance was like taking a cross-section of Portland’s ENTIRE independent music scene! Pop-punkers, power-poppers, crusties, raw punx, hardcore kids, art school students, indie-rockers were all present.  Why, one might ask? Answer: ’cause Tenement and Big Eyes are playing music that is undeniable.  It appeals to such a large demographic without being a varied/schizophrenic-mess. It’s just simple, tuneful and strangely “familiar.”

09.09. – RED DONS / THE ESTRANGED / BELLICOSE MINDS / FREEDOM CLUB

The grandiose home-coming for acclaimed ‘locals’ Red Dons (who have members strewn across national and continental borders) served up a night of revelry and quality that would be tough to match anywhere.  It felt like an episode of Cheers or some shit…’everyone-and-their-mom’ was present (literally and figuratively), especially since the bar has been a perpetual stomping-ground for all the bands/people involved with the show.  Hugs and handshakes abounded and made for a true “Know-styled” family affair!

09.22 – THE EVAPORATORS / THE TRANZMITORS / THE BLOODTYPES / YOUTHBITCH


The iconic face (and wardrobes) of Nardwuar the Human Serviette within our venue walls was a sight to behold. When it came time for his merry-band, The Evaporators, to take the stage following the flawless and rousing power-pop of fellow Canadian’s, The Tranzmitors, few could have anticipated the interactive experience that would unfold.  A performance artist, beyond a mere musician or media personality, Nardwuar and his troops doled out a serious lesson in audience engagement and performance.  I defy anyone to avoid cracking-a-smile while witnessing a man in a latex speed-skating suit, bedecked with Canadian Maple-leaf insigna, crowd-surfing atop an ecstatic audience!

10.23 – THE MOB / TRAGEDY / BI-MARKS
Hosting legendary UK peace-punk forebears, The Mob, was definitely one of the more rewarding moments of the year for us at the Know. It seems too often that “reunion tours” offer a castrated or hodgepodged version of the original band that had once left such a strong impression. The Mob, however, absolutely bucked this trend offering up one of the most impassioned recreations of quintessential songs from their 1982 LP ‘Let the Tribe Increase‘ along with solid new material. People were packed so tightly into the room that they were practically on top of one another to catch a glimpse of the performance on stage. Several times throughout the show the audience became an impromptu choir, as the volume with which they sang along to their favorite songs exceeded that of the sound system and band! It was a beautiful thing to watch.

11.24-26 – JONATHAN RICHMAN
Being asked to host the ageless Jonathan Richman for a second time was a remarkable honor. Jonathan has taken to The Know, explaining that he likes the idea of doing ‘stays’ (3-consecutive days in this case) at a small/intimate venue “like the old days,” he told me.  The graciousness with which he handles his cult-like ‘celebrity’ was never more obvious than upon arrival at our venue for his last performance during his tenure in Portland.  Seeing a sizable line of people who had been denied entrance to our space, which had reached capacity for the 3rd night in-a-row, Jonathan took pause on our sidewalk and unsheathed his acoustic guitar from its case.  What followed was one of the most humbling performances I’ve ever witnessed, as he played a string of songs (with accompanying dance numbers) exclusively for the forlorn fans who’d been waiting in hopes of attending. He seemed unaffected by the cold, lack of vocal warm-up, and curious passerby, completely transfixed on ‘connecting’ with each of the members of his audience…that just happened to be stranded outside.

12.28 – TOYS THAT KILL / DIVERS / FASTER HOUSECAT

Members of Southern California’s Toys That Kill have weathered many-a-storm within the world of melodic-punk over the past couple decades, having spent time in F.Y.P, the band’s previous incarnation.  Needless to say, with over 20 years experience crafting pogo-inducing pop-punk, they’ve dialed in their songcraft to a near-science.  It showed when they hit our stage for the first time this past year! “Captivating” would be an understatement…the audience was hinged to every single note and swell in their music. It was particularly great seeing Toys That Kill billed along with Northeast Portland’s ‘boys-done-good’ in Divers, who also possess a certain knack for exceptional songwriting and will likely outgrow the confines of The Know over the coming years.

So there you have it! 10-Shows over the course of 2012 that I hope many readers were able to attend.

Special thanks to all the folks who’ve been filling the room, making for a good time, suggesting to bands they play here…etc…etc. It sounds cliche, but the shows wouldn’t be what they are without each and every person; from attendee, to performer, to people passing out handbills or taking photos (extra thanks to Moshburn, Bryan Phippen, Jaqui Beast, Jared Prophet, Alec, Neil Rathbun and any others who contributed art content to our website/blog).

Happy New Year,
D.Rose

12.20.12 – THRONES, PLEASURE CROSS + ROLLIE FINGERS  [Facebook event]

Joe Preston, and his solo-incarnation THRONES, need no introduction.  Mr. Preston is a veteraned/hallowed Northwest practitioner of all things heavy, having served time with The Melvins, Earth, Sun O))) and High On Fire.  That laundry list of experience has yielded an incredibly diverse and unique output when encapsulated under the THRONES moniker.  The unifying theme to THRONES being Preston’s ability to produce sound that blurs the lines between human and mechanism.

PLEASURE CROSS, conversely, is an ‘infant’ within the PDX underground.  So new in fact that there’s no recorded output from this “supergroup” as of now.  Let their former/current bands be a gauge of what to expect though.  Members of PLEASURE CROSS have honed their abilities to ‘blast-and-smash’ in bands such as Engorged, Superbad, Basement Animal, Lords of Light and Walls! Technical proficiency can be anticipated to be VERY high, and the familiar blood-curdling cries of frontman, August Alston, will undoubtedly make your skin crawl (in that good way)!

THRONES and PLEASURE cross are joined by the calculated onslaught of ROLLIE FINGERS on this night of tonal depravity.

BONUS: All the above takes place just hours before the world ends!!!

If we’re still alive come the conclusion of the Mayan calendar, our ‘tune’ will be one of promise/hope.  We intend to celebrate our renewed appreciation for life the only way we know how…with infectious sing-a-long punk on:

12.28.12  w/: TOYS THAT KILL, DIVERS + FASTER HOUSECAT  [Facebook event]

TOYS THAT KILL are yet another undeniably catchy band on San Pedro’s Recess Records. AND…like several other acts on the label, TTK features label-founder Todd C (also of F.Y.P. and Underground Railroad to Candyland) assuming guitar and vocal duties. Todd C/his bands and label have tapped into the pulse of ‘good time’ vibes, creating pop-punk anthems that are instantly pogo-inducing.  The sincerity with which TTK (and associated acts) play their brand of pop-punk flies in the face of the mainstream ‘tainted’ genre.  If there were ever a cast of characters that could make you forget about the post-Dookie adaptation of ‘pop-punk’ for Warp Tour’s purposes it would be Todd C and his merry band of musicians. TTK have weathered the storm of the late-nineties and have remained steadfast in their unadulterated DIY song-craft. Come have your faith in pop-punk restored!

TTK are accompanied by the pop-savvy compostions of DIVERS and the guitar-heavy offerings of FASTER HOUSECAT.

Shortly after the aforementioned events we roll into a new year, and with the calendar change we begin preparations for The Know’s birthday celebration on:

01.12.13 – CRIMINAL DAMAGE, NO STATIK (CA), DRAPETOMANIA (CA) + SAD BOYS (NY) [Facebook event]

Not much needs to be said about this gargantuan line-up other than that it is punk-as-fuck and classic-as-fuck!

If having the elusive and beloved Blitz-channelers, CRIMINAL DAMAGE back into our venue after several years hiatus wasn’t enough, just continue down that list of bands! San Francisco’s  NO STATIK can’t be considered an ‘old’ band by any means (having formed in 2010), but merely 3 years later the band has achieved  nearly-legendary status (deservingly so) amongst hardcore’s avid followers. NO STATIK have established a sound that is distinctly their own and innovative, yet also retains welcome-familiarity through use of old-school ‘hooks’ and song structure. They are hands-down one of the most furious/best HC bands in the game today and should not be missed!!!

This show gets more ridiculous with the inclusion of SoCal’s DRAPETOMANIA who’s gruff/classic punk offerings will have fists-a-pumping!

BUT wait, there’s more!!! Our anniversary night kicks off with the playful street-punk of NYC’s SAD BOYS, who are fronted by a former Portland-punk, and their appearance will undoubtedly serve as a sort of “homecoming.” i.e.- cause for additional celebration on our 8th BIRTHDAY!

Thanks as always for reading,
DRose

• Day-of-Show “tickets” are NOT actually tickets!!! They are more accurately “spaces,” with approximately 40 being made available on EACH of the 3 nights. i.e.-you will receive a hand-stamp upon paying the day-of cover-charge, which is $12.00.  Attendees with advance tickets will ALSO receive a hand-stamp.  These stamps designate your attendance on that particular night and allow for re-entry to the bar/venue in the event that you need to ‘step-out’ (for a cigarette, phone call, breath-of-fresh-air, etc…etc…).
• Day-of-show entry is NOT GUARANTEED! Again, there are approximately 40 day-of-show “spaces” available.  They will be allotted on a first-come/first-serve basis!!!
• Day-of-show entry begins AT 8PM! You CANNOT procure day-of-show entry prior to 8PM!!!!
• The bar/venue will be CLOSED from 7-8pmEACH night of Jonathan’s 3-appearances.

How this will work:

at 6:30pm the day-time bar staff will announce a “last call” for drink orders. Shortly following that, ALL patrons inside/outside will be asked to finish-up and LEAVE (or get in line outside) because we’re CLOSING for an hour (from 7-8pm on 11/24-26)

• 8PM is when the bar will re-open for the purpose of hosting the show!

• People wishing to gain day-of-entry to the Jonathan Richman performance will need to LINE-UP per the instructions of our door-staff in a single-file line along our building’s exterior wall (Please don’t block pedestrian traffic on the sidewalk!!!).
• We can’t say precisely when this line will begin to form for the 40 available day-of-show “spaces,” but it’s safe to assume that if you REALLY want to gain day-of-show entry that you should arrive EARLY and wait in line!
  Please understand that arriving EARLY doesn’t mean showing up at 5:30pm and going into the barroom, which will be open for regular (drinking) business, and asking the bartender if you can get a ticket/hand stamp/day-of-entry…etc to the Jonathan Richman show.  YOU CAN’T!!! Because DAY-OF-SHOW ENTRY is ONLY available starting AT 8PM at the show ‘doors’ .  

  
  

ALL ADVANCE TICKETS SOLD OUT!!! 
day-of-show tickets will be available as detailed below.

In May of 2010 The Know hosted Jonathan Richman and Tommy Larkins for two consecutive nights. Their appearance was undoubtedly one of the most memorable moments of the bar’s existence! The performances were stirring and decidedly unique, with Jonathan retooling his song-selection/demeanor to account for and accommodate distinctly different audiences between the two-nights.  From an insider’s perspective I was completely floored by the humility and consideration Jonathan extended to us (The Know) and the attendees.

It takes a certain-type of person to ‘fall in love with’ the weathered, simple and somewhat decrepit interior of our venue, which has light-heartedly been described as “a ramshackle container for cheap beer.” That said, Jonathan Richman apparently has taken a particular fancy to our space and recently requested to play The Know again while on a short-tour in celebration of his recent record, O Moon, Queen of Night on Earth. Needless to say, we’re THRILLED for another opportunity to host this living-legend!

For those of you less-familiar with Mr. Richman I would suggest you take a glance at his wikipedia article to get an idea about just how prolific and influential he’s been as a writer and performer.  He’s one of very few artists that have established such iconic/cult status, while retaining control of their music and environment.  A testament to this fact is that he chooses a place like ours for his show, where he can curate an evening of song-and-dance that retains intimacy and liveliness unattainable in larger spaces.

Come partake in the experience!

Jonathan Richman and Tommy Larkins perform three-consecutive nights at The Know:

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24th

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 25th

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 27th

Ticketing information for ALL SHOWS is as follows [READ]:

• 98 presale tickets will be sold for EACH show
• Presale tickets will go on sale (exclusively available at The Know) at 9pm on MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12th for $10 each
  
• only TWO presale tickets will be made available to each purchaser!!!
• There will be approximately 40 day-of-show ”tickets” available for EACH show for $12 per person (NOTE: there will be NO paper ticket given with day-of admission)
• NO VIDEO RECORDING devices are allowed during the performance!!! (NOTE: this day-in-age everyone’s phone is capable of capturing video…don’t be an asshole.  Please respect this simple-request made by Jonathan and refrain from taking advantage of our performers with your hand-held technology)

The names of the bands in the following posts may not resonate with readers as strongly as The Mob (which ruled, and you’re dummies if you didn’t see at least one of their two shows in PDX), Antisect, Amebix, The Vicious, Systematic Death…et al. BUT…these bands should warrant the same interest because they too possess an intrinsic-ability to render a PERFECT musical/show experience! Never mind the fact that some of these visitors have overcome serious mutherfuckin’ hurdles to be here!

Which leads me to this:

Saturday, November 10th, 2012 - O INIMIGO, from Brazil, make a stop at The Know while on a West Coast tour! A band with a foreign-origin playing our stage is not particularly significant unto itself, but one has to consider the context of how hard it is to tour from BRAZIL!!! this isn’t a euro-to-american dollar exchange…one Brazilian ‘Real’ (their currency) is the equivalent of .50 cents American! That’s just the tip-of-the-iceberg though.  In their most recent interview in MRR O Inimigo explains the “the idea of doing a US tour has always been a distant thought,” largely “due to the hardships involved in getting a US visa.” Well guess what? They fucking did the damn-thing and they’re gunna be HERE! What’s even more awesome than making it to the US, despite the cards being ‘stacked against them,’ is who they sight as their musical influences….”the whole idea was to make a sound in the shape of Dischord bands” (they go on to reference bands like Embrace, Rites of Spring, ALL, Minor Threat, Dag Nasty, Minutemen and Husker Du!). YES!!! A breath of fresh air in an otherwise conformist punk-scene that caters too heavily (IMOO) to rewarding euro-centric obsessions, be it Finish-HC or Dis-beat from England.  Speaking to a certain ‘someone’ who was instrumental in bring O INIMIGO to the states, we both waxed poetically about the ‘suicide’ a band (from Portland, SF, NYC, etc.) would be committing if they were to cite simliar influences.

So lets enjoy a fresh/exciting perspective for an evening and embrace the energy and undeniable craftsmanship of our visitors who fought the ‘good fight’ to be here! O Inimigo plays rippin’ melodic-punk with a great cast-of-local-characters in the form of CHEMICALS (Record Release), MASS EXIT and RAD HABITS!

Sunday, November 11th - brings us another special appearance in the form of SYNTHETIC ID, who are also in the business of ‘trend bucking!’ Hailing from SanFrancisco, and a serious slew of “punk-famous” hardcore-bands (Yadokai, Ecoli, Face the Rail, Hunting Party, etc), these gents deliver a completely different take on punk than one would imagine! I personally can not stop listening to their 3-song demo, and will have to agree with Robert over at Terminal Escape that Synthetic ID is the “best new band in San Francisco.” They’ve latched onto the angular guitar flourishes of British legends like Wire and The Fall, and retain a frenetic sense of melody that likens aspects of the “Denton-sound” (a la Marked Men and Co.). Seriously this shit is blowing my mind!!! I can’t get over how un-fucking-believable it is.  There had to be a backlash to the incestuous hanger-ons of 90s-early 2000′s crust/dreary punk offerings, and THIS IS IT! sing-along/tap-your-toe/kill yourself/pogo or slam-dance…it’s all here!!!

SYNTHETIC ID play with Portland’s “best new band” (according to me), SICK RATS and both DI DI MAU + LUNGE (note: these guys didn’t make it in time for the flyer…sorry!)

Friday, November 16th - brings us to the “big show!” TERRIBLE FEELINGS, from Sweden, join us for an evening that will see their gorgeous blend of pop and post-punk intermingled with the ferocious likes of hardcore-veterans, WARCRY, and the playful-Adolescents-worship of AUTISTIC YOUTH!  This is without a doubt one of the most diverse line-ups we’ve seen involving such heavy-hitters within their respective genres!!! This grandiose ‘hurrah’ and “united front” is result of Terrible Feelings’ visit…the gravity of which I cannot emphasize enough! Similar to fellow Swedish post-punk acts like Masshysteri, Vanna Inget and Gorilla Angreb, this band has struck the perfect balance of melody and intensity.  The result being a cross-pollinated fan-base ranging from punks to more indie-based music lovers.  There’s something for everyone at this show, and that therefore makes attendance MANDATORY!

thanks for reading,
DRose

These “bands” often take months of dedicated practice only to play a show or two (and cease to exist immediately therefore-after).  A co-worker, who also maintains the studios at the punk-practice-space location, made the observation that during the months leading to Halloween he sees the cover bands practicing infinitely more than the comprising members actual bands…some even going so far as to put their primary bands on a temporary hiatus during the lead-in to the holiday!

Speaking of the composition concerning the Halloween crop of ‘bands.’  I’ve compiled a list of the cover bands involved with our 3-day long celebration AND the associated bands from which each cover band is derived.  You’ll notice that we have some VERY FUCKING SERIOUS players in these groups.  It is this musical pedigree that lends to eerily accurate and outrageously enjoyable band RECREATIONS. Come see some of your favorite bands of all-time, dead-or-alive, and sing along to their flawless soundtrack!

MONDAY OCTOBER 29th

• 80′s HARDCORE [Various HC Classics!] members: Tragedy, Bi-Marks, DeathMachine, Frenzy, Trauma, Raw Nerves + Salted City
• STRANGER DANGER [The Stooges] ex members of: Drunken Boat, Spider Test + Remain Indoors
• COWER [Misfits] members: Cower

• THE ROLLING SHITS [The Rolling Stones] members: K’Tel 79, Fine Pets, Havania Whaal + Needles & Pizza
• PLANET CLAIRE [B'52s] members: Nucular Aminals + Forever
• BABYSITTER [Various covers + originals]: on tour from Vancouver, BC!

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 31st – [Green Noise Records presents] HALLOWEEN!

• DOMINION [Sisters of Mercy] members: Tragedy, From Ashes Rise, The Estranged, Hellshock, Moral Hex, Vicious Pleasures, Atrocity Exhibition + Trauma
• COPS FOR FERTILIZER [Crucifucks] members: Defect Defect, Raw Nerves, Ruinacre + The Stops
• GERM FREE ADOLESCENTS [X-Ray Spex] members: Adelit@s, Vicious Pleasures + Sleepless Eyes
• MOTORGREG [Motorhead] members: Ripper, Bi-Marks + DeathMachine

As result, we’ve no other option than to compartmentalize shows into weekly “previews.” Literally, there are that many shows/bands of considerable mention that it’d be impossible to look ahead further than 7-days without overlooking something significant!

So feast your eyes and ears on the following events that are particularly special:

10.21.12 - avante-punk rockers NU SENSAE visit us while on a quick-sweep of West Coast hot-spots.  Their most recent full-length (pictured) has been released to incredibly warm reception, with ‘major’ music outlets like Pitchfork, Dusted and Brooklyn Vegan all taking their respective turns smattering the band and record with praise! I find this somewhat surprising…not because they are undeserving of acknowledgement, BUT because historically one can assume that poignant, noisy and aggressive punk-music is generally met with distain by ‘indie’ and mainstream critics.  As result of the atypical reception, I would place NU SENSAE in the ranks of other recent hardcore/post-punk bands whose ‘reach’ has extended beyond the confines of ‘punk’, such as FUCKED UP, CEREMONY or THE MEN. That’s not to say that NU SENSAE shares a particular sound with the aforementioned acts, but rather that they’ve struck a similarly enticing ‘chord’ with people as result of their craftsmanship, which they’ve honed for years in the DIY “basement trenches.”  So good-on-them for creating music that is undeniable! Their approach hasn’t changed.  NU SENSAE are still screaming, feeding-back and pummeling along as they were when they played their first show…so perhaps it’s the world that’s changing around them? Whatever the case, seeing them live is gunna be a blast!  The Willamette Week lends more insight as to what’s in-store in their article here.

NU SENSAE play with SICK RATS (recently deemed Portland’s best “up-and-comers” by myself), VICIOUS PLEASURES + their tour companion PEACE (Vancouver, BC) – 8pm/$5/21+

10.23.12 – HOLY FUCKING SHIT!!!! THE MOB (UK) – These legendary anarcho-punks, signed to Crass/All The Madmen Records, issued an absolutely quintessential LP ‘Let the Tribe Increase’ in 1982. Some 30-years later the record stills stands up, and reformed, THE MOB will take to our stage while on a US tour! THE MOB’s appearance at The Know will mark a MONUMENT in our storied, albeit short history, as they have achieved ‘cult’ super-status with punks world-wide!!!

If that wasn’t ridiculous enough…THE MOB will be joined by legends in their-own-right, TRAGEDY, who also have a prolific history! And if that wasn’t ridiculous enough…why not throw maniacal-upstarts, BI-MARKS into the mix as well!!!

It seems unreal, but it IS happening! Therefore I would encourage individuals intending to see this show to READ this excerpt from the show’s ‘event page’ on Facebook:

Quite literally the stoooopidest line-up possibly conceived for a space our size! Any of the above bands able to single-handedly pack-our-venue to the gills, and for good reason…each are paramount within their respective sub-genres of punk. That said, we will be closed from 7-8pm on the night of the show. Upon re-open we’ll be charging at the front door and limiting entry once capacity is reached. If you wanna see this show arrive punctually!!!

Show previews from Portland’s weekly periodicals here and here.

10.26.12 – Post-punk folk will be delivered by New Yorks venerable CULT OF YOUTH. Fresh off a HUGE European-tour in support of recently released ‘Love Will Prevail‘ LP on Sacred Bones Records, which has received ‘glowing’ reviews (example: Vice’s “Best Album of the Month“), one can expect a honed presentation of their gothic-tinged output!  Fittingly, they will be joined by Portland’s own post-punk darlings ARCTIC FLOWERS and the morose meanderings of INDUSTRIAL PARK.

To add to the (dark) fun of this particular evening and to celebrate the looming presence of All Hallow’s Eve, we’ve outdone ourselves and will be hosting our first ever GOTH PROM in conjunction with the show!!!

DJ’s UNRULY, KEET and AHEX will set the tone.  So wear your finest fishnet arm-stocking and black-lace! Then drearily dance to your favorite Dark-Wave, Post-Punk and Goth JAMS through the witching hours!!! Which couple will be christened (with virgin blood…duh!) the Goth King and Queen??? Gotta show up to find out!

Preview from the Willamette Week newspaper: here