A collaborative effort from Banana Stand Media and the Portland Mercury, Sound + Vision is a monthly showcase that presents some of the best acts in town. Sound + Vision only began last month and with their second installment happening tonight, the showcases promises a solid duration of enjoyable artists.

In just a couple hours, the best flavor in Dorito pop comes from Cool American, who will be sharing the stage with the softly sad alternative of Boreen and the Malkmus-esque indie of Perfume V. It's quite a steal when you think about it, seeing these three acts take to the Mississippi Studios stage for free. If Sound + Vision keeps it up, they'll be seeing growing crowds with each one.

Good Cheer Records has essentially taken over Portland. The somewhat new label has already given us damn near all of the most poppin acts in the scene right now and thank goodness the label will be giving us the gift of seeing a handful of them live for the holidays.

Originally planned for last week but moved to tomorrow due to weather, Good Cheer's takeover of Holocene consists of two stages and six bands worth of all ages action. Turtlenecked is doing a solo set, current Artist of the Month nominees Alien Boy will take to the stage like they're "At Goth Easter," and Cool American will make our ears dusty with their Dorito pop. A dark heaviness comes our way from Two Moons, but the ultimate noisiness will be coming from the label's breakout stars of the year drowse (who is subbing in for Mayhaw Hoons and the Outsiders) and Floating Room.

Just $7 gets you into the bash, with proceeds going to Young Audiences of Oregon & SW Washington, an arts-in-education organization.

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 It's not technically night time yet since summer loves its long days, but what better to help bring you into the July 4th holiday than a track from new band Cool American?

"Playing Along" premiered a few days ago on Stereogum, who accurately defined the single as a mixture between Motion City Soundtrack and Pavement. We couldn't agree with that statement more.

Who wouldn't appreciate a band who takes their name as a play off of that sparkly blue flavor of Doritos? For this July 4th weekend, be a cool American with Cool American and enjoy "Playing Along" on this Saturday night.

Open wide: tonight, decibel diner pehrspace serves up a five-course meal for East LA with sommelier Bed Weather and maître Diy4Lyfe. Alex Nevins (fka Songs for Ghosts to Haunt to) cleanses the palette with a selection of acoustic amuse-bouche as Simi Valley shoegazers SHEER stir a hunger fierce with their debut album Uneasy. 

Chicagoan settlers Young Jesus make good on their promise to sate volume-starved fans after a close call at Emerald House, and Portland touring bands Sioux Falls and Cool American will likely leave Echo Park yearning for seconds — you'll be relieved to know that the Oregonians are also playing Thursday at Fullerton's Programme HQ. Bon apetit. - Ryan Mo