The Portland Mercury | Ezra Ace Caraeff | Music | Profiles & Interviews | AAN.org

The Last Frontier: Portugal. The Man Are Like No Othernew

In lieu of resting on the crutch of their regional association, the band turned the calendar pages of 2009 by recording a pair of albums—The Satanic Satanist, their most successful release to date, and American Ghetto, due out next spring.

The Portland Mercury | Ezra Ace Caraeff | 12-17-2009 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: American Ghetto, Portugal. The Man

Dear 'Diary': Sunny Day Real Estate Returnsnew

Judging from the band's beaming comments, this current reunion -- all original members, all old songs -- feels like a sincere gesture, and while it's hard to ignore the nostalgia and historical revisionism of it all, it's just nice to have Sunny Day Real Estate back in our lives.

The Portland Mercury | Ezra Ace Caraeff | 09-18-2009 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: Sunny Day Real Estate, indie rock, emo, reunions

The Secret Life of Cass McCombsnew

A whispered recluse content in the shadows, McCombs doesn't want to talk about himself. Ever. The roving folk singer politely requests that listeners focus less on his (alleged) prickly persona and more on his craft.

The Portland Mercury | Ezra Ace Caraeff | 09-03-2009 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: Catacombs, Cass McCombs

Jesse Sandoval Discusses His Forced Exit from the Shinsnew

On May 2, without a formal announcement or press release, the band that "will change your life" performed for the first time without longtime drummer Jesse Sandoval and keyboardist/bassist Marty Crandall.

The Portland Mercury | Ezra Ace Caraeff | 08-06-2009 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: Jesse Sandoval, The Shins, indie pop

Chomp and Circumstance: Crocodiles Escape Their Pastnew

If there is hope of getting the elusive second chance that so few performers ever do, Crocodiles might have a shot. The deconstructed punk duo parlays their newfound appreciation for melody into a kind of modern-day Suicide, complete with a minimalist rock sound saddled with doomed electronics.

The Portland Mercury | Ezra Ace Caraeff | 01-22-2009 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: punk rock, Brandon Welchez, Crocodiles, Summer of Hate

The Rise of Blind Pilotnew

To think, less than six months ago most of us were unaware of Blind Pilot. There was no 3 Rounds and a Sound (their staggeringly gorgeous debut, which is primed to top many a year-end best-of list), no bike lanes traversed by their peddle-powered tours, and no ensemble cast of musicians.

The Portland Mercury | Ezra Ace Caraeff | 12-12-2008 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: 3 Rounds and a Sound, Blind Pilot

Army of One: The Coup's Frontman Goes Solonew

How does one emcee lead the revolution without a DJ, his fellow rappers, and backing band? With an acoustic guitar.

The Portland Mercury | Ezra Ace Caraeff | 10-31-2008 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: The Coup, Boots Riley

The Prids Crash. The Prids Survive.new

"We were driving and a tire blew. I struggled to correct it and the van started fishtailing. I just couldn't get it."

The Portland Mercury | Ezra Ace Caraeff | 07-31-2008 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: The Prids

1988: The Year in Portland Musicnew

Like most significant moments in any local music scene--the grand occurrences of life-changing music that changed everything--they happen on someone else's watch.

The Portland Mercury | Ezra Ace Caraeff | 07-24-2008 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: Portland, music scenes, Mayor's Ball Too, Northwest Hardcore (and More)

The Constantines Get Older, and Betternew

Kensington Heights, their new album, is still rigidly post-punk and sharp as a shimmering blade, but the pace of the record is deliberately restrained and the band's gnashed-teeth anger is more focused, and less wild, than ever before.

The Portland Mercury | Ezra Ace Caraeff | 06-27-2008 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: indie rock, The Constantines, punk rock, Kensington Heights