Preview: The Faint at the Roseland on May 31

It's been six long years since Omaha's cyborgiest band last caressed our earholes with a full-length, 2008's 'Fasciinatiion'. Bush was still in White House for crying out loud! So much in the world has changed since even then: Electropunk dance rock is now easy money for cookie cutter groups, conspiracy culture paranoia is pervasive and Conor Oberst is on CBS This Morning playing songs from his new major label release. Meanwhile, The Faint has stayed true to their sound and vision and, if anything, they've only gotten more cutting and contentious. "We don't need soap, We don't need straws, We don't need software, To tell us we’re lost…". But there's still a sliver of a silver lining to be found a moment later with, "We don't need prophecies, Ending in doom…" Sometimes on previous Faint albums, there would be a short rager that sort of split the A-side from the flip. But now with 'Doom Abuse', it almost seems like they just made a whole record of ragers. This album also marks the first time the band isn't on hometown label Saddle Creek or on their own imprint. It's a brave new world for all of us and The Faint has the soundtrack for the savages.

Preview: Mogwai at the Roseland in Portland on May 24

The mighty Mogwai, as I usually refer to them as, really are just that: mighty. I first saw the band back in 2001 (?!) and, next to Atari Teenage Riot, they were the LOUDEST band I've ever seen; I could feel the sound waves making my clothing move. And then the Scottish boys even tricked the sound guy into turning it up even louder! In the nearly 20 years the band has been making records (and film scores and trouble), they have slowly, but surely and assuredly, become the high standard for instrumental rock. Explosions In The Sky might be nipping at their heels, but Mogwai continue to grow and morph. Their latest, 'Rave Tapes,' is the band's eighth studio full-length and it has a great analog-y sound with synths replacing - or at least augmenting - their usually piano-based song structures. By the time the third track kicks in you'll be hooked... and then comes the backward masking!

Preview: Chet Faker at Doug Fir Lounge on May 22

Once I got past Chet Faker's hilarious effing moniker (which pays tribute to that man with the horn AND the voice), I got into the sound. It's that super icy, Jimmy Edgar-like soul sound that makes you feel like the lonely future will still give your rhythm the blues. The Melbourne maestro has made a few appearances on PUTV and his first time was with "No Diggity", the sweet slab of sound that helped turn mild-mannered Nicholas Murphy into the mighty Chet Faker that we now have. Maybe, since Mr. Murphy looks a hell of a lot like Sam Beam, he should open up for Iron & Wine when he's finished with his current stateside tour...

Preview: Radiation City at Doug Fir Lounge on May 21

Radiation City is just one of a ton of great bands here in Portland and the company that releases their albums is THE best toy store/record label out there, hands down. Founded in 2009, they were named "Portland's Best New Band of 2012" by the Willy Week. The quartet, made up of two couples and a poor fifth wheel dude, released their second full-length exactly one year ago. Their sound reaches back to the Velvets and Stereolab while sounding great alongside contemporaries like Tennis and the late, great Broadcast. Hopefully these new shows (one at the Doug and then this weekend at Sasquatch!) mean that the band is road-testing some new material as the only complaint about Radiation City is that there's not enough new music.

Preview: Gardens And Villa / Pure Bathing Culture at Doug Fir Lounge in Portland on May 15

Gardens and Villa fooled me with their appearance, I thought that that many dudes just had to mean jam band. They're really more of a groove band and not in an over-the-top way. The almost-world beat pop sound is perfect for now: it's hot, you want a cold drink and an even cooler sound washing over you. And doing it at the Doug is even better... Hey and Portland's own Pure Bathing Culture are the opening act!

Preview: Lo-Fang at Doug Fir Lounge in Portland on May 7

Los Angeles-based musician Matthew Hemerlein, aka Lo-Fang, might be classically trained but that surely doesn't make his music so high-minded as to be boring. On the contrary, his debut album, 'Blue Film,' - on the legendary 4AD Records, no less! - is a beautiful bit of 21st century baroque pop. All it takes is about thirty seconds of the full group's appearance on the 'Late Show' to show your ears all the simple, old fashioned ways you can still make a joyful noise. Are those skateboard wheels? Go to the Doug Fir and give those wheels a spin...

Preview: James Supercave at Wonder Ballroom in Portland on May 1

Not merely a man but a five piece from Los Angeles, James Supercave are currently on tour warming up for another LA group, Warpaint. The band is young, hard to pin down and just when you think you've wrapped your ears around their upbeat "Old Robot" sound, they bust out the chilled out "A Million Ways". I think they really are just getting warmed up...

Preview: I Break Horses at Holocene in Portland on April 30

It's been said that the new album from I Break Horses has the Swedish duo looking up from their shoes and upping the tempo and the ante on their second full-length. It feels like a smart move because now your feet can move as much as your ear's gears. And the thump of tracks like "Faith" are perfectly programmed for one the best places in Portland to boogie.

Preview: Katie Herzig at Doug Fir Lounge in Portland on April 11

Katie Herzig kicked off her current tour last month at SXSW which was exactly when we featured the Nashville-based artist on Episode101 - Ready to Go. Her new record, 'Walk Through Walls', was a fan-funded venture for the multi-instrumentalist who originally hails from Colorado. She has done well to get her music out there by being featured on a ton of film and television shows. And the Doug Fir Lounge is, of course, a nice and cozy venue for down home folk on a Friday night.

Preview: CHVRCHES at Crystal Ballroom in Portland on April 10

Of course CHVRCHES are from Scotland! The land of a thousand brilliant bands just keeps on giving and the Glasgow trio start their US tour right here in Portland. If it's a structure that sounds familiar (two knob-twiddling dudes backing a single siren), they transcend this current cliche by just making electropop music that sound pure, effortless and - best of all - bumpin'! And I told my friend Raleigh that "I wanna know if they play "Do I Wanna Know""...

Preview: Temples at Star Theater in Portland on April 10

Temples are riding their buzzy, fuzzy wave into town to play at a venue that suits their classic sound, the Star Theater. The UK quartet's new debut record, 'Sun Structures,' looks like it sounds: a stately monument built for the edification of the gods of British psyche rock.So, if you're going to the Star Theater, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair - and some Beatle boots on your feet.

Preview: Factory Floor at Doug Fir Lounge in Portland on April 9

Last fall, Factory Floor gave Episode082 its "Turn It Up" title track and now the London trio comes to one of Portland's most intimate clubs. The lineup has changed a bit over the course of their half dozen singles and a couple of EP's, but with their new full-length they've solidified themselves - and their sound. The band members wrote, recorded and produced their post-everything debut record which seems tailor-made for the label that they're now on: the one and only, DFA.

Preview: Liz Vice at The Secret Society in Portland on April 4

I was blown away when I first heard Liz Vice a few weeks ago - and then I learned that that huge voice belonged to someone in my backyard! The Portland-based singer says she grew up singing and dancing along to 'The Lion King' soundtrack, but found her true calling when she put together her love for singing with her love for God. Her debut album's title, 'There's A Light', makes me think of the Smiths - but that's probably not who she's talking about. "Singing in church, singing with local rock stars", makes for a great combination and Liz Vice will do just that when she makes a joyful noise with a long lineup of other local bands this Friday night at The Secret Society.

Preview: Lydia Loveless at Doug Fir Lounge in Portland on April 2

She describes herself as a "Singer. Songwriter. Joke maker. Quite frankly kind of a bitch." She's also got more heart, grit and soul than most of her contemporaries could hope to muster. Hailing from Columbus, Ohio, the singer-songwriter's new third record has already been called her best and it just came out a few weeks ago. Since we haven't had a new track from Mrs. Loveless on PUTV since Episode022 (for some reason), let's get some "Head"!

Preview: London Grammar Postpones Wonder Ballroom Show in Portland

The buzzy London trio called London Grammar are getting bigger by the moment and all the action on their dance card must be taking its toll because, unfortunately, they had to postpone their Portland appearances due to health issues. So, while we wait for that rescheduled date, dig their crazy, super-slow cover of INXS' "Devil Inside"!

Preview: Yellow Ostrich at Doug Fir Lounge in Portland on March 21

I had several chances to get to talk to Chris Walla of Death Cab for Cutie whenever he shopped at the cool grocery store where I used to work. We mostly talked about our shared love of Sloan and 'Favourite Worst Nightmare', but one of the last times we talked I asked him what new band he was most excited about and he said it was Yellow Ostrich. The bold Brooklyn band recently replaced one founding member with two new members as their fifth full-length ‘Cosmos’ invokes Carl Sagan’s (and I guess now, Neil DeGrasse Tyson's) way of staying amazed at the world.

Preview: Nick Waterhouse at Doug Fir Lounge in Portland on March 12

With a sound so effortlessly classic, Nick Waterhouse could be on Daptone Records alongside the other new soul standouts. While he ended up canceling their intimate set at the Bing Lounge, they still brought the sleek soul sound to the classy confines of the Doug Fir - one of Portland's best sounding venues. His new record 'Holly' just landed two weeks ago, but it's evocative sound is already making waves.

Preview: Sallie Ford at Mississippi Studios in Portland on March 7

Named Portland's Best New Band back in 2010, Sallie Ford & the Sound Outside would release two full-lengths and an EP before Sallie said "smell ya later" to the Sound Outside. As we reported to you in December, her new backing band is all female. As OPB notes: "Ford is in between labels, but she's got the look of someone about to show the world exactly what that Camaro's got under the hood. She's heading a brand-new band, fresh out of the studio with material produced by Chris Funk... So this band of Sallie's - it's an all-lady line-up, with heavy hitters like Anita Lee Elliot, who used to be in [the late] Viva Voce." Here's the interview:

If there's any justice, the sky should be the limit for this hot, young band who has new music in the can and (I would hope!) their choice of labels. "The Eagle has Landed," indeed!

Preview: Cibo Matto at the Wonder Ballroom in Portland on Feb28

'Portlandia' jokes about "knowing your chicken" aside, Cibo Matto - the food obsessed Japanese duo from the good 'ol Grand Royal days of the 90's - have cooked up a new record to go along with their reunion which was announced back in 2011.

'Hotel Valentine' is their first full-length in 15 years and if 'MFN', the collab with Reggie Watts, is any indication of what we can expect, it smells like the ingredients may have been updated, but the freaky flavor is still a classic, if an admittedly acquired taste.

Preview: Ani DiFranco at Aladdin Theater in Portland on Feb19

If it almost seemed like Ani DiFranco - the stalwart singer/songwriter/movement - decided to sit out the 21st century, the recent debacle surrounding her now-canceled "Righteous Retreat" at a former slave plantation has surely put her on the front page and back into people’s minds. Her 17th studio album, 2012's ¿Which Side Are You On?, showcased the influence that her new home base of New Orleans has had on her sound. It's been two years since Ani played Portland, so expect her to bring not only her tight brand of folk funk, but also a renewed sense of purpose that sometimes comes with controversy.

Second time seeing @AniDiFranco, this time at the @AladdinTheater in #Portland w/ @CassieCohn... pic.twitter.com/XW5dxTbMhD
— MediaMonarchy.com (@mediamonarchy) February 20, 2014