There are few local bands that I can imagine getting more serious play on alt-rock stations across the country than Little Beirut. The local quartet?led by singer-songwriter Hamilton Sims?do power pop the right way, with big, fat choruses and driving guitar chords that wouldn’t sound out of place on the Angus soundtrack. The band’s new [...]

The whole event was rushed. After scheduling SNAFUs and rearrangements, I got in line behind a million invisible reporters on a million different conference calls, all waiting to talk with a brand new band, Jenny & Johnny. It’s a bit surreal that a new group has developed this much hype this quickly, but given the [...]

By George Winston “Hey Now Baby”I’ve been working on the 1949 version of this piece from Professor Longhair’s reissue album, New Orleans Piano, for 31 years, and I’m almost there (maybe). “Break on Through (to the Other Side)”From the Doors’ first album in 1967. This is the album that inspired me to begin playing organ. I’ve been [...]

Mind-reading trio foretold Portland’s dance future. [DIRTY DANCING] Anyone who has ever heard the slinky, aggressive confidence of one of Strength’s “love jams,” or caught the Portland synth-disco trio at one of its too few and far between local shows, would expect its members to be cocksure, strutting sex gods. But the three humble, soft-spoken gentlemen [...]

Mel Brown’s bassist takes the reins for his first record in over a decade. [JAZZ] Ask Portland bassist Ed Bennett about his songwriting inspirations, and there’s something funny about his response. “Horace Silver—the way he writes, he makes instant arrangements in the tunes themselves,” Bennett says. “Also, Bill Evans, Miles [Davis]—if you looked at my record [...]

p>Formed: 1981 in Huntington Park, Calif. Members: Tom Araya, Kerry King, Jeff Hanneman, Dave Lombardo Latest release: World Painted Blood, released in late 2009, finds Rick Rubin back as executive producer, Dave Lombardo on the drum throne and songs that balance hardcore and melodic song structures. Why you care: Face it: Metallica let us down, Dave Mustaine is [...]