capitol hill block party

The Capitol Hill Block Party begins in exactly a week and in an effort to promote some of (what I feel to be) the stronger acts, I'm going to be recommending some artists everyday until the festivities begin. For a smaller event, there is certainly a lot to choose from and hopefully I'll make the task a little easier for some of you with with this feature. See you Friday!

Kicking things off, we've got neighboring Portlanders Menomena. These guys have a truly unique approach to making music with everything from musical arrangements, vocal alternations and production sounding organic but painstakingly calculated. Such a balance comes from them being gifted musicians with an ear for the uncanny. Live, all three sing and they sound just as tight as on record. When I saw them last, they were playing with a backup choir and whether or not they'll be doing the same this time around is unclear. Either way, I'm sure they'll be just as good with or without the additional members. My favorite track by them is "Wet & Rusting." I listened to this song so many times last summer it's not even funny. AMAZING piano parts, great drumming and really beautiful lyrics all coalesce into a hell of a punch for a 3 and a half minute track.

See them Friday @ 6:30 on the Main Stage

mp3: Menomena - Wet & Rusting