Navigate NXNW Intro ABOUT LAST NIGHT Schedule by Club Reviews of the Acts: Thursday Friday Saturday A-to-Z List of Acts Club Descriptions Conference Info Critics' Picks The Winners! Preview: Seattle's Sweet Mother record label zaps electronic music with an organic touch. Preview: Dave Bazan keeps Pedro the Lion running after his bandmates split. Preview: L.A. DJ the Angel spins her way out of the conception that women can't bring the beats.

friday WHAT REALLY HAPPENED AT NXNW COULD BE TOMMY TUTONE’S BIG BREAK: The better half on Wang Chung is working NXNW as an A&R guy for Warner Brothers SLICKEST MOVE TO THE OTHER SIDE: Eureka’s Tongue, who we reprimanded last night for missing their show, explained that they had bum directions to Portland; Friday they booked a last minute show at Club 21, playing a non-NXNW gig with Gnodel BEST BREAK DANCING: Pete Miser at the Original P MOST OVERDRESSED: Daniel Johnston, who wore a thick parka for his steaming sold-out performance at Berbati’s BEST COVER: Richard Buckner’s alt-country version of Pavement’s “Play” WHERE’S ELLIOTT?: Mr. Smith ain’t playing, but a Calfornia-based crew working on a documentary about him are in town filming interviews STRONGEST DRINKS: Tonic Lounge PRETTIEST SONGS: For Stars CAN’T KEEP THE IRISH DOWN: The Dolomites were so amped after their Thursday night show, they played an impromptu set at the trade show in the Hilton MAYBE STEAK NEXT YEAR?: Hummus’ vaunted place at NXNW parties has been usurped by chicken wings BEST ICE BREAKER: Stephen Spyrit kicked off his spoken word set by handing out homemade chocolate banana bread at Umbra Penumbra MOST UNLIKELY HOT SPOT: Sandy Lanes bowling alley BEST QUESTION FROM AN OUT-OF-TOWN BAND MEMBER: Do you think it would be bad for me to eat a honkin’ huge burrito before our show? BEST MUSICAL INTERPRETATION OF SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING: Severna Park SHORTEST SET: REO Speedealer played for just 20 minutes of its 1 am EJ’s slot MOST SURPRISING BAND TO COME OUT OF BOULDER, CO.: Munly de dar he (the skeletal lead singer led trio in alternative yodeling) SEX AND THE CONFERENCE Once a critic sleeps with a musician, can he or she still write about their bedfellow’s band? That and other questions were discussed during “Dilemmas of Regional Press,” a Friday afternoon panel at the Hilton. The Stranger’s new music editor, Everett True, and the Austin Chronicle’s rock critic Raoul Hernandez butted metaphorical heads about journalistic ethics. The group, which also included WW’s Richard Martin and the Oregonian’s Marty Hughley, decided that even though the line between covering a scene and being part of one is thin, it’s important to stay on the objective side-and out of that cute guitarist’s bed. Pinback 10 pm, Berbati’s Pan A seven-car police chase down Burnside kept some fans from getting to this show on time, but the few songs they did catch were fluid, flawless, and just as good as Pinback’s recordings. Layered vocals, unusual bass lines and deliberate keyboard parts (these were sadly muddled due to a less-than-perfect mix) blended seamlessly. Hipsters peeked in noncommittally throughout the set, but those who stayed were heartily rewarded. Zoot Suite Friday The dance scene in Portland is alive and well, and Zoot Suite is at the crux of it this weekend. A tardy, atmospheric set by Perfume Tree was followed by DJ Pimp Daddy Nash, spinning serious grooves from the booth above the comfortably crowded dance floor. In the upstairs bar, DJ’s filled the space between sets and tank top-clad girls showed off their moves on the impromptu dance floor. The sound at this rookie NXNW venue tends to bounce off the walls and high ceilings, and the bass levels sometimes scramble the molecules in your body, but the fashionable dance crowd last night didn’t seem to mind. Undercover Records Party Friday afternoon Delicious free beer, an amazing view of Portland from a rooftop, sunshine, socializing, and quality sets by local faves King Black Acid and Luther Russell made this party the afternoon event. Birddog, Pedro the Lion and other local celebs made the arduous climb up several flights of stairs. The event made a fine start for day two, and the perfect impetus for an early evening, pre-show siesta, as well as training for all those great parties to come at South by Southwest in March (and the Rocket party at Satyricon this afternoon). TAKE BACK THE STREETS A lone mic stand outside of the Ash Street Saloon provided a makeshift stage for a slew of indie troubadours. A sweet busking performance by former Rattlecake singer Kim Norlen was arguably the evening’s nicest surprise. Other street musicians included the bizarrely-garbed Tu Tu Band and the amorphous parade of percussionists that careened through Old Town. DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE 10 pm, Tonic Lounge Distortion got ‘em down for the first couple of songs. After that, this all-male Bellingham quartet furthered the notion that Seattle’s suburbs produce better bands than the Emerald City itself. With an overall sound that’s comparable to Modest Mouse, Death Cab’s weak vocals get redeemed by a bass player who’s not afraid to act like a guitarist, a drummer who’s not afraid to act like a flea circus marching band, and a guitarist who’s not afraid to play keyboards (and is the cutest band member of NXNW). DIAL 7 11 pm, LaLuna The all-male posse Dial 7 wins the collective fashion victim award-no contest. These Laguna Beach, Calif., boys sported a holster, goggles, wallet chains that scraped the floor, sweatbands, one yellow mesh T-shirt and dreadlocks. The band’s almost threatening barrage of hip hop, heavy metal and reggae was almost as suspect as their clothes. While Dial 7 didn’t seem angry, they struck a menacing chord. Here’s what they did have going for them: Good cop/bad cop interplay between the two lead vocalists and tough, buff bods. EVERYONE SHOULD SEE THE PINEHURST KIDS Portland’s finest emo-punk band played one of their best-sounding shows ever at Satyricon on Thursday (although Gene, who left the band to be a dad, is was sorely missed). Luckily, they’re pounding out another set at the Rocket’s annual party this afternoon at Fellini/Satyricon. UNDERDOGS: what the critics overlooked > > The Green and Yellow TV 11 pm, Tugboat Brewpub > > Poolside 11 pm, Tonic Lounge > > Chris Combette midnight, Sandoval's > > Earthlings? 10 pm, EJ's > > Yogi 10 pm, Berbati's Pan EXCELLENT (inexpensive) EATS, DRINKS AND CHICKS NEAR THE NXNW CLUBS > Pearl Street Bakery (102 NW 9th Ave.): house-baked bread and pastries, $3.75 turkey sandwiches > Old Town Pizza (226 NW Davis St.): Slices and pitchers in a comfy New Orleans-style lounge > La Patisserie (208 NW Couch St.): Omlettes and smoking under one roof > Magic Garden (217 NW 4th Ave.): Indie-rock strippers dance to great jukebox selections > Shanghai Tunnel (211 SW Ankeny St.): Full bar, udon noodles and black- bean-and-spinach quesadillas served underground CLEAN UP YOUR ACT Take advantage of NXNW's new summer date and give your lungs, ears and liver a quick daytimebreak. Drive or take bus #63 to the Rose Garden at Washington Park, (follow signs up Southwest Vista Drive) for a stroll among the roses, a nap in the grass and a stellar view of Portland. Across the Willamette River lie the remains of an ancient volcano, Mt. Tabor Park (Southeast 60th Avenue and Salmon Street). Take the #15 bus, then walk to the hill's breezy peak. Circle around to the east side for a crisp gaze at Mt. Hood, then park it westward for the sunset (you don't have to go to every party). NO REST FOR THE WICKED Instead of spending Sunday mending your sore throat, laundering smoky clothes and sipping liver-repair tea, party more. Chika Chika, Dura Delinquent and Caustic Resin all perform at the NAIL Distribution post-NXNW party. A $5 cover doesn't just buy you the best of Idaho-you can bowl and play air hockey, too. Lucky invitation holders are also entitled to complementary refreshments before the show thursday FIRST CLUB TO SELL OUT: Ash Street Saloon COOL WATERING HOLE: The Jasmine Tree--Stephen Malkmus and his agent held court there MOST DISAPPOINTING TURN OUT: EJ's BEST EXCUSE: The drummer from the Precious U's (who were filling in for no-shows Copyright) couldn't perform because he had to go to Lamaze class with his wife CIGARETTE OF CHOICE: Parliaments BIGGEST FUCK YOU: Member(s) of Tongue/Caustic Resin who didn't show up HIGHEST INDUSTRY PER CAPITA RATIO AND COOLEST NEW VENUE:Poker Face WORST ACCIDENT: Girl who fell outside the Spot while imitating the Gap khaki ads IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE?: When Caustic Resin's bass player didn't show, an audience member who happened to know all the songs stepped in BEST ATTENDED NON-NXNW VENUE: The Paris Theater BEST PLACE TO WATCH BANDS WITHOUT A WRISTBAND: Rocco's Pizza MOST-FREQUENTED SNACK/COCKTAIL JOINT: Shanghai Tunnel BEST MANTRA: Fuck Hanson!, yelled out by the 13-year-old member of Minor Effects MOST DANCEABLE ACOUSTIC SET: Kevin Seconds BEST MAKE-OUT MUSIC: Melody Unit at Cobalt Lounge THE PANELS NXNW--the conference--kicked off with a discussion among publicists and music editors. All decided AP magazine sucks, putting too many one-hit wonders on the cover. "Can Music Murder?" should have been called "Can this Panel Get its Act Together?" Neil Strauss from the New York Times and the Rocket's Tina Potterf couldn't make it. The debate began by focusing on murders in Eugene committed by teen fans of death metal band Cannibal Corpse. Mid-way through, Krist Novoselic (of Nirvana and JAMPAC) showed up. One of the substitute panel members embarrassed everyone present by asking him who he was and why he was there. The mistake was understandable: Mr. Novaselic looks more like a used car salesman than a rock star. CORRINA REPP 8 pm, The Mission Theater Last night, this local soloist played a show more engrossing than most films at the Mission Theater, with close to a hundred rapt show-hoppers witnessing her melancholy hybrid of somber pop and folk. Repp juggled acoustic and electric guitar, playing songs from her latest album, A Boat Called Hope. Kaitlyn ni Donovan sat in for the last few songs, complementing Repp on violin before her own set at 10 pm (you'd never know she cut her finger moments before taking the stage). If you were too busy looking for a parking space somewhere downtown to catch this show, you can still see Repp with her band, The State Flowers, on Saturday (Cobalt Lounge, 1 am. THE DOLOMITES 9 pm, Sandoval's Portland's best local band that you haven't heard of, the Dolomites, transformed Sandoval's Mexi-scape into publand. The crowd thickened throughout the quartet's inspiring set of jubilant Celtic swill. One of the band's underage members, Max Skewes, posed with a beer, although at a recent gig he was arrested for possession of alcohol by a minor. He evaded jail time by making a poster that advises minors not to drink (like him). P.S. In Dublin, the Dolomites got drunk with....none other than Shane McGowan (and we all know how choosy he is about drinking partners). They don't want to be associated with Riverdance in any way. HALF-FILM 10 pm, Satyricon Sometime good things come in threes. Half-Film, a San Francisco trio, play droney pop with a dash of Brit. Less style-conscious than the Dandy Warhols, with half the personnel of the Brian Jonestown Massacre, this sparse combo (a cute and talented girl on bass always helps) almost hover in the background while the sounds they create swirl around and fill the room, as well as your head. One audience remarked, "It's kind of like faster Low songs--in a good way." Highly effective simplicity, but where the hell was everyone? Some local scenesters in the know made it, but the room should've been more than half-full for Half-Film. RICHARD MELTZER 10 pm, Umbra Penumbra All the cool grown-ups--including Penny Arcade--were out to see ex-Blue Oyster Cult lyricist Richard Meltzer. Although he's been living in Portland for several years, Meltzer recently expanded his fan base from beer-swilling adolescent boys to the literary crowd. He did his usual schtick, which is a lot better to listen to then almost anyone else's. Besides reading the marriage manifesto from his novel, The Night Alone, he shared his thoughts about having his dick up some lady's ass, and read an instalment of his music column, published in the San Diego Reader, which is all about bands he's never seen or heard. Slim Moon, scheduled to perform after Meltzer, didn't show up for his gig, although he was seen around the trade show earlier in the day. WESTERN STATE HURRICANES 11 pm, Pokerface One of this year's critic's darlings, the Western State Hurricanes, lived up to the expectant hype. Rows of people replaced racks of clothes at the suddenly white-walled Pokerface to see if all the chatter about this Seattle trio was worthy. The queerly contrasting vocals of John Roderick and Stephanie Wicker seduced listeners into jerking about to their not entirely danceable tunes. Unlike lots of other bands you'll hear at NXNW, you can understand what Roderick and Wicker are singing, though you have no chance of grasping their chemistry. Roderick is a Lennyesque bumpkin complete with mesh cap set high atop his noggin while Wicker projects a renegade aggressiveness that's borderline riot grrrl. WALTZING MICE 11 pm, Flanders Street Brewpub Exhuming the ghost of William Faulkner, the moody Southern Gothic of the Waltzing Mice saved my soul. Between the echoing chorus of guitar, the slow-yet-sharp strains of banjo and the warped warble of vocals, there was a sublime surrealism that spoke of a coverall-clad Nick Cave fornicating with Angelo Badalamenti. It was eerie, yet cheery. Weird, that.