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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 5, 2003)
September 5. 2003 • Ju st o u t MUSIC eatingout ............▼............... REVIEWS T he S m ell of O u r O wn The Hidden Cam eras • Sanctuary Records ext had T he Hidden Cameras had to cancel their show at The Blackbird in June— Portland certainly could use a dose of the trippy orchestral homo-pop stuff the hand’s shooting off. Their latest release, The Smell o f Our Oum, is catching the eyes and ears of the queer folk and the indie-rock straight kids, text. Title of the first track? “Golden Streams.” You can probably surmise the topic at hand: “My golden wand waves down your golden rtxl/Our gold held high in sunny breezy sky/Then a stream of gold released from golden stone enipts late at night and/melts the winter ice.” Sporting more than a dozen members, some of whom strip down to Speedos and masks during live performances, The Hidden Cameras are a juicy and strange concoction— think Belle &. Sebastian do G odspell after overdosing on the latest Q ueer as Folk epistxle. Lead singer Joel Gibb calls his band’s sound “gay church folk music” and warns: “[Our] dancers are there to take away some inhibitions. It’s about enjoying yourself and your body.” W hile G ibb and his troupe of Canadian lovers shout their love of God and Man from the rooftops, the band also tackles the heart break of the queer community ( “He places a blossom in my hair/and undress me/He tells me that I’m the only one/that can carry his disease”). If hedonism is alive and well, so is consequence. Let’s hope we can get T he Hidden Cameras back to town to fill our hearts (and pants) with song. — Con Taratoot T G rand Erin M cKeown • Nettwerk Records rin McKeown’s anticipated third release, G rand, has finally seen the light. It’s a glori ously innovative album filled with vibrant, delicious puns, acerbic irony and wonderfully complex lyrics, showcasing the same flair of sophistication established in 2000’s Distillati<m. The 25-year-old started playing piano at the ripe age of 3 and has since covered a wide range of instruments, including electric and acoustic guitar, bass, piano, organ, banjo, accordion and mandolin. The result is a striking if challenging mix she labels “ixldball pop cabaret rock.” The cute and sassy McKeown leaves no style untouched on Grand's impressive track list. Her crystal voice meanders from bouncy and titillating to sultry or taunting while skill fully and effortlessly blending pop, folk, jazz, swing, blues, lounge, surf.... Accompanying the singer are dnimmer buddies Brian Jones (Agents of Gixxl Rix>ts) and George Javori (Natalie Merchant, Shiva- ree) and, of course, steadfast pnxiucer (not to mention bassist and guitarist) David Chalfant. A natural entertainer, McKeown has a knack for the theatrical and admits to feeling drawn to artists like Edith Piaf and Judy Gar land. Grand’s rendition of the lush “Lucky Day”— the pivoting point of the whole album— was directly inspired by Garland’s Hoi- lywcxxJ days. “Judy Garland is a touchstone for this record,” McKeown told Tower Records online, “influencing the time periixJ, the language, the colors. 1 don’t think of her as the lady from The Wizard o f O z, nor do I think of her as a stning- out addict. I imagine her in the full glory of her concert years, an amazing singer and a master entertainer.” Grand is the best of the modem and the old-fashioned. What more can we ask for? — Els Debbaut eatingout eatin eatingout eating out P iz z a , S a la d , S a n d w ic h e s , a n d O re g o n M ic ro b re w s sold here Free Delivery (60th*River, Glisan-Woodstock) 3701 SE Hatvthorne 5 0 3 -2 3 1 -0 9 0 1 FINE D IN IN G FROM TH E SEA 3520 NE 42ND AT FREM ONT 503-249-8486 DINNERS FROM 5:30 TO 9:30 WEDNESDAY - SATURDAY GREAT STEAK G O O D VALUE ATTENTIVE SERVICE O B V IO U SLY, W E R E NOT A CHAIN For over SO years, Sayler’s has been serving Portland families urith what you might expect: great food at a reasonable price served with attention and respect. We're not a national chain o f steak houses. Then again, we never aspired to be one. S<MfU> E v e r y o n e E l se K n o w s Y o u ’ ll B e F in e Luster • Self-released OLD COUNTS? KITCHEN n response to readers’ flabbergast over the Rolling Stone “Women in Rtx:k” issue with its Britney-Shakira-Avril cover, San Francisco W eekly decided to run a piece titled “Joan Jett Set” in its 2003 “Listen Up” supplement. The paper sought credibility (their writers were, ahem, male) and so off they went, scour ing the Bay Area music scene for experienced, intelligent female musicians. There they found Jen Daunt and Kate Howser, the power couple of Luster. It seems the lesbian rtx:kers know a little bit about gender equality in the music industry. “W hen they see that we have two female vtKalists,” commented guitarist Daunt, “they always ask me to turn my amp down, and I know they never ask the guys to turn their amps down. I’ve come across just as much sex ism in San Francisco as anywhere.” If Luster is at all downcast about the state of rcxrk ’n’ roll, you don’t hear it in the music. Maybe it’s the bliss of being in a band with your significant other, but the trio (drummer Ted Koterwas makes three) manages to create straight- up indie pop with only the slightest hint of angst. Everyone Else Knows You’ll Be Fine features 11 tracks of fuzzy rhythm guitar, twin har monies and perky progressions reminiscent of Portland’s Rebecca Gates and the Spinanes (circa 1993 Marvjs era). Luster seems to be on the righteous track— where music is music, and girls with guitars kick ass. I — cTjn 105th & S .E . Stark 503-252-4171 & Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy at G riffith D r 503-644-1492 It’s Just Better! You’re gonna love the bread Si everything in between! 1 5 4 5 NE Sandy Blvd (503) 2 3 3 -4 5 4 0 BSS NE Grand Avi (5 0 3 ) S 34-S5S5 Open 8am-8pm M-f • 11 am-8pm Sat Open 8am -7pm M-F f u 7 / / Y . in ¿ ' e r r / and ‘Dinner, ‘B arfarc and cocktails ‘l i fcckcnd breakfast Closed ‘Tuesday eveninqs 503.2 32 .4 45 8 2411 SE Belm ont Portland 37
