We should try to extract valuable lessons from our experiences, even if they’re redundant or rudimentary. For instance: don’t make fun of people. This is something of which I was reminded by the Portland Cello Project show at Music Fest Northwest last night, and it’s a lesson I learn over and over. Ridiculing is cruel. It causes deep-seated emotional trauma. And those who do it will feel like fools years later when their victims are on stage in a notable venue, making them regret dropping out of piano lessons because it wasn’t as cool as skateboarding. Well, great. Now you suck at skateboarding, you haven’t touched a piano key in ten years, the “band-geeks” have formed an experimental cello-pop band, and are selling out shows at music festivals in your hometown.
Portland Cello Project make no apologies for any perceived band-geekyness, nor should they. So give them back their lunch money and admit that classical instruments are, in fact, very cool before they slap you with their bows. These kids (i.e., ladies and gentleman) are so cool that they can rock a crowd with a live cover of Brittany Spears’ “Toxic,” during which cellist Douglas Jenkins ditches his sheet music, jumps on the mic, and belts out his best girly-pitched Brittany impersonation.
Joke songs and all, The Portland Cello Project performed with supreme grace and professionalism. And despite the hot swampy environs of a late-night venue crammed to capacity, Portland Cello Project kept it cool, real cool.
DOWNLOAD: Portland Cello Project - Tallymarks. Featuring Thao (MP3) or Follow us for more Portland Cello Project MP3s (Twitter)
Ugh. Paste’s profile of Free Energy made me kind of hate them. So does your review. It’s this unctuous defense of good-time rock-and-roll ("we’re just here to party, and we’re awesome!") that seems more self-serving than fun-loving.
by beth on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 09.41 pm from the entry: Foreign Born + Free Energy - The Knitting Factory (Brooklyn, NY; Mar. 12, 2010)
that inescapable feeling you are referring to, is that like when you hear something and you could have sworn you heard it before because of the nostalgic catchy quality? or is is like when you’ve heard a band exactly like said band?
great post by the way!
by paul on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 03.15 pm from the entry: The Novel Ideas - "The Sky Is A Field" - Borrow It
Whoa! I had no idea she was enegaged. You would never know with the way she behaves! Wow!
by art on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 09.48 am from the entry: Nikki Darlin and John McCauley: 1+1=1
This comment stream is so meta. Great review Kelly.
by chris on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 07.50 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
no prob. The whole album is excellent, combining some of the harder sonics of Los Angeles with the meat of his debut and obviously difficult to summarize in only 50 words… 
I’d say it’s on par with the debut, but better than Los Angeles.
by kelly on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 06.23 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
By the way, I really liked the mp3 posted. Thanks.
by Joshua H on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 06.17 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
WHO WROTE THIS...PUKE ! “WHO WROTE THIS...PUKE ! “Picture yourself coasting your bike past space funk palm trees, homeless harpists, vintage video arcades, electronic drum circles, and 60s psychedelic singers who’re waiting for the bus. Cosmogramma is kinda like that if someone suddenly tripped you just as you’re starting to enjoy the ride. But in a good way.””
by Joshua H on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 06.17 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
