Music Here is the second half of Jeff Rosenberg's extensive conversation with the pop-music Zelig who goes by the name of Van Dyke Parks, in which they discuss his lyrical style and subject matter, musical tastes, political opinions, and (yes) a little bit about Smile.

WW: In you...   More

Music Van Dyke Parks plays Portland tonight. Immediately tweet the following peeps: 1) Beach Boys/Brian Wilson obsessives, 2) students of rock history and 3) anyone interested in the intersection of popular and classical music. Talk about a rare opportunity: Though Parks has made records since 1966, this is the Los Angeles composer/arranger/producer’s first concert tour—and it’s...   More

Music Stories Van Dyke Parks plays Portland tonight. Immediately tweet the following peeps: 1) Beach Boys/Brian Wilson obsessives, 2) students of rock history and 3) anyone interested in the intersection of popular ...   More

Music Well, we don't usually do this, but seeing as how Van Dyke Parks is a living legend and his Portland show is at Mississippi Studios on Wednesday (inconveniently, the same day WW comes out), we decided to run an extended Q&A with him a couple days before the article hit the racks. Enjoy...   More

Music The King Can Drink the Harbor Dry (Pet Marmoset Records)

[ANTIQUE POP] Dimes, can you spare a brother? Spare me your tedious mid-tempo strumming, wan melodies, sedate vocals, and especially, your humorless lyrical gloss on a CliffsNotes summary of a high-school American history textbook. Yes, your sophomore release, The King Can Drink the Harbor Dry, sure sounds pretty...   More

Music Stories [ANTIQUE POP] Dimes, can you spare a brother? Spare me your tedious mid-tempo strumming, wan melodies, sedate vocals, and especially, your humorless lyrical gloss on a CliffsNotes summary of a high-sc ...   More

Music Matt Cadenelli steps out from behind the drums to work on his anger issues.

[SINGER-GODFATHER] “There are so many Matts,” Matt Cadenelli says of his singular sobriquet, the Don of Division Street. “I was glad when that stuck; it was something different I could perform under.” Cadenelli got the nickname after working two jobs on Southeast Division. No doubt pa...   More

Music Stories [SINGER-GODFATHER] “There are so many Matts,” Matt Cadenelli says of his singular sobriquet, the Don of Division Street. “I was glad when that stuck; it was something different I cou ...   More

Music Woodbrain’s Joe McMurrian lets go of his ego to open up his sound.

[PROGRESSIVE BLUES] Singer and guitarist Joe McMurrian made a name for himself around the Northwest with his quartet’s heady brew of blues, folk and rock. But now, he’s choosing to relegate that name to the background. The former Joe McMurrian Quartet is heretofore known as Woodbrain—a coinage...   More

Music Stories [PROGRESSIVE BLUES] Singer and guitarist Joe McMurrian made a name for himself around the Northwest with his quartet’s heady brew of blues, folk and rock. But now, he’s choosing to relegat ...   More