This week's LivePDX.com Music Blog.

Tue, 03/11
by Tom D'Antoni

While realizing Obama can't use "Yes We Can" as his campaign song, no matter how perfect it is, because nobody under 35 knows it....

March Fourth's fifth anniversary at the Crystal Ballroom was packed and rocking. They deserve every good thing they get. They're not sitting still. More members are writing new tunes, many with international flavor. It's always a pleasure to hear them start up "Space Hole," one of their (my) long-time favorites. As usual, spectacular costume/outfits on the women and NW drab on the men.

Picture this: At the Knitting Factory in L.A. last week, the Blind Boys of Alabama, touring behind their album Down In New Orleans, were joined onstage by PRINCE! Reports are he played guitar and keys as Jimmy Carter (their singer, not the ex-President) took his "blind walk of faith" thru the crowd.

I sat with Spanish guitarist Pere Soto and saxophonist David Valdez between sets in Pine Street Bistro the other night. I'm doing a preview for the Oregonian of their March 29th gig at Jimmy Mak's, so I better shut up. Their album Oasis comes out at the end of the month. Soto is getting a lot of work during his stay in Portland. He's playing with tap dancing saxophonist Shoehorn at Jimmy Mak's this Friday, March 14. His band is called Shoehorn's Hatband Circtet and includes Skip Elliott Bowman on bass, Dan Gaynor on piano, Ward Griffiths on drums.

Portland's Tuvan throat-singer, cab driver and avant-good guy Soriah will be a part of the anti-war protest on Saturday in the North Park Blocks. I'd pay to see him in that. One look at this and you'll know why:



What band doesn't play publicly nearly enough? John Nastos' E4. John is on reeds, Drew Shoals on drums, Damien Erskine on bass and Clay Giberson on keys. There are so many young jazz ensembles around town right now and so few venues. Every time I see Drew, I wonder if it will be the last time before he leaves town for fame and fortune. Not that I've heard anything about his leaving. It's just that this town may not be able to hold him. He's that good. Of course, Nastos and many others have come back to Portland after being in New York, not because they failed, but just because they'd rather live here.

Pianist Ben Darwish was in the house and sat in.

Very happy to see Nann Alleman surfacing this Saturday night at the Mission Theater in Miz Kitty's Parlouras part of Spigot with harmonica player David Lipkind (who claims to have jammed with William Burroughs). For some reason, all of the people who hold the indie boys up as poets seem to ignore Nann, who can write wrings awround those guys. For my money, nobody writes better lyrics in this town. She always astonishes.

The Barons In Trees CD release and "Arts Collaboration" gig at Someday Lounge on Wednesday, March 19, will include these activities: "an artist paints, a clown with antics, dancers imbue physical texture, all the while the collaborations are being captured in video and projected real time." The Barons are all over the place in absorbing influences. Vagabond Opera and March Fourth's Lesley Kernochan will be there, too.

Now I can't get Yes We Can (the song) out of my head.