Celebrate the American Legion Post 134's centennial anniversary this weekend, starting tomorrow. Over the years the Legion has shown a lot of love to the local scene, and this is a great chance to send some of that love back their way. Local bands Nick Normal, No Aloha, Deathlist, and more will be playing. Each day goes from 5-11. There’s gonna be plenty of grub (vegan food included), and raffle prizes throughout the day. It’s only $7 per day, which is only $21 for the whole weekend. If you bring a canned good donation, the price drops down to $5. Check out the full details and lineup at the Legion’s facebook page here.

  -By Avril Carrillo

This Saturday, a benefit show for Animal Aid will be taking place at the High Water Mark. Animal Aid is a nonprofit, no-kill animal rescue and welfare organization that has been serving Portland since 1969. Other Lights, Dog Years, and Childspeak will all be playing in support of the organization. With each band filled with animal lovers, you can expect each set to be high energy and full of enthusiasm.

-By Nick Hartman

Feminist folk trio Sparkle Carpet are the tough, goth ladies we’ve been waiting for. Their album, We Do Stares, has such an “I don’t give a shit” attitude that reviewing it almost feels redundant. Emphasis on almost. Their music is lively and boisterous. “Mrs. Robinson Digs Me,” a playful take on the Simon & Garfunkel original, is incredibly fun to listen to. The use of triangle adds an enjoyably childlike aspect to the songs, but in no way does it make the music childish. It makes the music sharper, bringing attention to the cheeky smirks behind each word sung. Other songs, such as “You Don’t Think” reveal the steely inner core at the heart of the band. The resolve and determination in the song’s hoarse vocals are rousing.

Sparkle Carpet's next show is Friday, April 19th at Murder Mine. Loud in the Morning, Earth of Foxes, Geophagia will also be playing sets. 

-By Avril Carrillo 

A while back I had a friend ask me why I listen to ambient music. For a bit, I rambled on about the way ambient music can be a soft place to mentally curl up in. It provides you room to think while also gently guiding the direction of those thoughts. However, if I had been asked the very same question today, I would have just made my friend listen to Amulets' Future Fog. Each song creates a vastly different mood, but it’s done so subtly and gracefully that you don’t pick up on it unless you’re paying close attention. You don’t get lost in his music, it gets lost with you.

Amulets, who also goes by Randall Taylor, has most recently released Mountains Past / Immortal Yeller. Created in conjunction with fellow drone artist Bus Gas, the album explores the relationship between cause and effect. It does so beautifully. “Mountains Pass” in particular stands out. The song maintains a balance between emotional distance and bare-bones vulnerability. Not too mention this doesn’t even touch on live performance. With the use of handmade cassette tape loops and live guitar loops, Amulets focuses on recontextualizing his soundscapes to produce unique and immersive experiences for every audience.

Amulets' next show will be Saturday, April 6th at the High Mark. Slow Crush, Holy Fawn, and Long Hallways will also be performing. 

  -By Avril Carrillo, photo by Thomas Fang

This coming Friday pop-folk ensemble Lili St Anne will be releasing their album, Bone Marrow. The first single, “Eveline” has generated plenty of buzz around the album, and there’s a reason why. In it, vocalist Elizabeth Fagan sings with a fluid, languid tone. She sings the way two lovers would dance in the moonlight; intense but unhurried. The song is passionate but is layered with a strong desire to stop and enjoy each moment as it passes. The accompanying drums and trombone turn her voice into a distant memory, both comforting and confusing. Each instrument is played with a gentle tenderness that is hard to produce with louder instruments. It melts into you, as calmly and smoothly as day turning into night.

If you want to check out “Eveline” live, Lili St Anne will be playing a release show this Friday, February 8th. It will take place at The Hallowed Halls, with doors opening at 7pm. Indira Valey and a special guest will be performing as well, which means you have all the more reason to go. You can find out more information on the event’s Facebook page, or buy tickets here.

  -By Avril Carrillo