First things first:
Tonight, there are a whole bunch of ways to help the people of Haiti in downtown Bend. The centerpiece is a concert at the Tower Theatre featuring David Jacobs-Strain, Rootdown, Reed Thomas Lawrence and Eric Tollefson. There’s also a pre-party before the show at the Astro Lounge, and an afterparty happening at the Liberty Theater. Get all the details by clicking here.
The Portland Cello Project will bring its blend of classical music and pop-culture know-how to McMenamins Old St. Francis School next week. I chatted with PCP founder Douglas Jenkins about the group’s repertoire, which features … well, just read on:
“If (audiences) leave with … a lot of confusion, I’m fine with (that),” Jenkins said. “Like, ‘Why did Arvo Pärt come after Britney?’”
Pärt is a contemporary, minimalist classical composer from Estonia. And, yes, “Britney” is Britney Spears, the pop tart-turned-tabloid star whose Grammy-winning 2004 hit “Toxic” is the most-requested song in PCP’s repertoire.
It’s that mishmash of a repertoire, combined with PCP’s classically-trained chops, that has made the group an unlikely breakout star on Portland’s overflowing music scene. According to www.portlandcelloproject.com, PCP’s material includes everything from Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and Outkast to Bach, Beethoven and Argentine tango composer Astor Piazzolla.
In between, there’s Michael Jackson and Led Zeppelin, Pantera and Pink Floyd, ABBA and A-ha, plus Bon Jovi, Guns N’ Roses and Metallica, theme songs from films (“Star Wars”), television shows (“Star Trek”) and video games (“Super Mario Bros.”), Portland-based indie faves like The Builders and The Butchers, Weinland and Laura Gibson, and original tunes, too.
Intrigued? You should be. And you should read the whole thing here.
Elsewhere in this week’s music section: Mark Schultz and Point of Grace, The Irish Rovers, Little Fish, Audiolized, The Autonomics, and a busy week at Silver Moon Brewing & Taproom, including Nettle Honey, John Cruz and a “Herstory” open mic to benefit the Human Dignity Coalition. And you’ll always find lots more in our complete music listings.
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