Over the last half decade tat Portland's And And And has been bumping and grinding, they have become the epicenter of a bubbling scene of melodramatic dark-rock bands that make their home in the city's inner east side.  However, due to family troubles and self-admitted depression bogging down frontman Nathan Baumgartner, the band only managed to release two EPs and a few singles over the last five years. Though they still managed to earn themselves the title of Best New Band in 2011 by the Willamette Week, and are some of the most diversely active and friendly menbers of the local music community as a whole. 

Alas, these Portland staples are finally ready to unveil their long awaited debut full lenth. Out on Party Damage Records, And And And will celebrate release of The Failure on January 15 at Doug Fir with the support of Hosannas and Ah God.  But for now, wet your whistle on their brand new, silly ass hobo-fest of a video for the album's first single, "A Real Case of the Blues." 

- Travis Leipzig 

Tomorrow night at Bunk Bar, Trumans Water, a heavy experimental act from the Pacific Northwest, headline a memorable show with tour and release-mates Permanent Makeup, and Octagrape with local support from And And And. The out of towners are on tour in support of a brand new compilation cassette, Lotions & Cream, as well as a brand new release of covers by Octogrape titled Major Mayor Maxion Marble. Octagrape have the ability to make you feel anonymous where identity is no longer private. Their sound builds the longer you listen and it's proven to be ideal even for art rock/noise. Permanent Makeup, though less arty and arguably noisier, grasp onto that perfect '90s sound. Local full-time do-gooders, part time musicians And And And jolt their audiences into the mindset of being ready for anything. 9pm. $10.

- Colette Pomerleau

I'd be lying through my teeth if I told you there wasn't much going on this weekend. What I can genuinely state is that the Lose Yr Mind music fest should take highest priority. Over the course of two days, the AudioCinema warehouse located in industrial southeast will host a memorable party with an amazing lineup full of psychedelic, garage, lo-fi, alternative and grunge. 

It would be hard for someone to argue against the statement that Portland has its quirks. When you throw in​ creative individuals who desire a strong sense of community, you get magic. You get someone like Bim Ditson. He's gone on to be one of the stand-out innovators in the Portland music and arts communities. His invention? Rigsketball (and lots of amazing music and chainmail accessories).

You might've seen Rigsketball before, especially if you hang around local music venues. There's only one brightly-painted van with a hoop attached. The game is seriously defined as "a yearly bracket style basketball tournament played between Portland bands at locations across the city on a regulation height hoop attached to the back of a van." What happens next? Music.

Semifinals and finals will occur in the parking lot of The East Portland Eagles Lodge this Friday, July 25th at 5pm​. Live performances by six of our favorite Portland artists, Bearcubbin', Sons of Huns, The Ghost Ease, And And And, Talkative and Old Age and they can be experienced between two stages. Everything is free. Everything. See you there.

Portland's infamous New Moss Records are rolling out a new compilation cassette series titled "HITS." Featuring songs the label's favorite bands from Portland and beyond, the first installment of the series, "HITS Volume 1," features thirteen tracks including six unreleased tracks by Grandparents, Wimps, Old Light, Spookies, Summer Cannibals and Natural Blonde. Also featured on the compilation are tracks by Charts, The We Shared Milk, XDS, Wooden Indian Burial Ground, Still Caves, And And And, and Sad Horse. The cassettes are priced at $6, but only 300 copies will be made so don't be a slow-poke in picking one up. You can pre-order HITS Vol. 1 here, or, if you're the smart type you can go to one, two or all three of New Moss Records' masterfully curated compilation release parties this weekend to pick up a cassette in person. 

Release Parties:

Friday, May 9th at the Firkin Tavern (no cover): Summer Canniblas, Sad Horse, Charts

Saturday, May 10th at the Know ($5 cover): And And And, Old Light, XDS

Sunday, May 11th at Rontoms (no cover): Grandparents, Spookies

Official Todd Walberg photos from the release parties to come! 

- Travis Leipzig