Backspace has a good all-ages New Years show. Also, I spoke with the CEO of Ground Kontrol the other night, and he said that the ticket for this Backpace show also gets entry into the Ground Kontrol show (and vice versa?)
More 2008/2009 Portland New Years event info here
Pictures from New Years Parties in Portland 2007/2008
From Backspace/Miranda:
It is with great pleasure that I announce our New Year’s Eve show here at Backspace! Starfucker, Blue Horns, and The Hugs with DJ sets from Assemble the Empire.
New Year’s Eve 12•31•08 Backspace
$10
Starfucker
Sharing their name with a punky Belgian girl group resembling the Donnas and one of the raunchiest Rolling Stones songs on Goats Head Soup (which was changed to the title “Star Star”), Starfucker is an indie pop/indie electro band comprised of Sexton Blake’s Josh Hodges, Junkface’s Ryan Bjornstad, and Mr. Fredrick’s Shawn Glassford. It’s like playing an 8-bit video game where your primary objective is to overcome heartbreak and an obsession with death, your only weapon a love laser mounted on a space bike that zaps out bright red blips and neon bleeps.
With notable live performances that featured some instrument swapping, dual drumming, and stage diving, as well as some outlandish costumes, Dylan Magierek’s attention was drawn to their set and he signed the band to Badman Recording Company. In September 2008 the album was released to the public and hailed by critics for its abundance of dance-friendly hooks, and described as “a cohesive package of electro indie pop with a light hip-hop after-taste.”
The experience of seeing Starfucker’s live performance delivers a certain nostalgia; a reminder of what it was like to be a teenager: inspired, curious, open, hungry for anything new, and smiling uncontrollably. Whether dressed in ’80s era Brooklyn hip-hop style, electro clash, or full drag, live, the three bring a new experience and unpredictability to every show.
“If I was a betting man, I’d bet Starfucker will be the breakout Portland band of 2008. The kids love Josh Hodges’ low-fi dance-pop steez, and they show up in droves whether he plays house parties or clubs.” – Willamette Week
Learn, look, listen…
http://www.badmanrecordingco.com/artists/starfucker.html
Blue Horns
“The album (recorded in two days last spring at Justin Higgins’ Old Standard studio) is full of catchy, throwback rock; at eight songs and just over 30 minutes, it’s sequenced like the vintage LPs the band reveres.
Most of the album is composed of skittering, incessant foot-stompers; the kind of songs that sound good on first listen but five times better after frequent spins and a few beers. Taking cues from early-’80s post-punk and jangle pop, Blue Horns is the rare guitar band that can actually get a Portland crowd to dance.” – Michael Mannheimer, Willamette Week
“It’s jangly, good-time indie rock, not a million miles from the Shaky Hands, particularly in the frenzied shuffle of ‘Boots On’ and ‘God Had Other Plans.’ The wordless hooks of ‘Shotgun Wedding’ dig in deep, and seem to do so without much effort, but the momentum of a song like ‘Ships Sink’ is carefully built, and ‘Let’s Go Hunting’ has a stately, loping Television gait. Brian Park’s vocals have a joyous, snotty energy, and the whole band sounds like the soundtrack to a glorious, sun-baked Portland summer. I don’t know about you, but as we turn the corner into the depths of dark, wet winter, that sounds pretty damn good to me right about now.” – Ned Lannamann, Portland Mercury
Learn, look, listen…
The Hugs
Fresh out of high school, The Hugs commanded the attention of two of the biggest and most respected names in the British music industry. Roger Sargent and James Endeacott flew out to Portland from London just to witness the garage/pop-rock band, returning home poised to sign and manage the group of teens.
Now living in London, The Hugs have signed a deal with 1965 Records and Columbia UK. Their debut album is being recorded with Liam Watson (who recorded White Stripes’ “Elephant”) and the band is working with Gus Van Sant for their first music video.
“Under the floppy bangs and slouched teenage shoulders lies a group of kids on the cusp of something great. Much like the early forbearers of the jangly Brit-rock sound, the Hugs have a loose charm, a perfectly content sense of confidence that permeates throughout their sound, no matter how sloppy it might be at the time. Their music has the rough kinetic energy of Slanted and Enchanted-era Pavement, and the haphazard punk of (pre-crack and tabloids) the Libertines.” –Ezra Ace Caraeff, Portland Mercury
Learn, look, listen…
Assemble The Empire
Assemble the Empire, aka Carlos Cortes & Azad Gazurian, have been Production/DJ Duo since 2002.
Their DJ sets are over the top fresh with a healthy mix of live Mash Ups, Baltimore Club, Baile Funk, Electro, & just plain Booty Shaking goodness. The Empire has remixed PXD new wavers The Gentry, produced with electro cutie Michele Wylen, and is currently the musical force behind Logan Lynn. The video for their first single “Burning Your Glory (Empire Edit)” spent several weeks last spring/summer on the Mtv owned LOGO Network show NewNextNow. Now they’re nearing completion on Logan’s LP for the Dandy Warhols label, Beat the World Records, due summer 2008.
Learn, look, listen…
http://www.myspace.com/assembletheempire
Backspace, 115 NW 5th, Portland, Oregon
All ages, now with Beer and Wine for those over 21!
tickets available at www.brownpapertickets.com
December 14, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Slight correction/clarification regarding the dual-entry aspect of the Backspace & Ground Kontrol NYE events: You’ll be able to purchase a $15 wristband that will get you in to both events, or pay for a single event for $10. Obviously it’s still an awesome deal, and we hope lots of people take advantage of it. – Art Santana, Ground Kontrol manager
December 26, 2008 at 7:47 pm
so this isn’t a very clear description to people that have never been there, just wondering if there’s a place to chill? party?? relax??? besides alcohol what else is there for us youngins… we’re just looking for a fun spot to be at on new years.