I hauled my butt out to Mississippi Studios last night. Earlier in the week some folks said I had to go see Darkswoon and described them as Jesus and Mary Chain like. Which, I mean, sold.
First band up was @rayonrayonrayon -- a more melodic and easily danceable Sonic Youth. I obliged by dancing but most of the early crowd failed to join me (although there was some vigorous head-bopping to my right).
Then @darkswoon took the stage and they were as advertised -- pedal-heavy guitars backed by all sorts of synth sounds that you could feel in your chest. Less dance with abandon music and more for swaying, bending, and swooning to -- like a queer wood nymph in a clearing on a cloudy night and wearing some big over-the-ear headphones. Also! I know nothing about gear but I love pedals -- they're like electric witch magic to me -- and bassist Norah Lynn was a complete badass doing her nonchalant pedal stomping/switching.
Finally, @_prids, all these years later, giving all of us Portland middle-aged goth indie rock fans the indie rock we want. Mistina didn't hold any bouncing rocker energy back and her spirit was infectious and multiplicative. I also unexpectedly saw an old friend for the first time in ten years there to see them -- bonus warm feelings.
I had to leave early to catch a bus -- Mississippi's always been a journey when you live in SE, (which is probably why I'd somehow never managed to see a show there until tonight). My transfer downtown wasn't too sketch -- for all the local media and power brokers shitting on all of downtown all that really seems to have happened is old town's bleakness expanded a bit up to Washington/Alder (which does sucks if you're trying to run a venue/bar/club in the area). It's the same problems that two decades of Portland civic leadership have left unsolved.
But it was midnight-ish and there were skater kids chilling at The Quest sculpture (Three Groins in the Fountain) doing dumb young people shit and all felt right in the world.