The Gertrudes

The Gertrudes are what happen when the band geeks grow up. The Canadian 9 member group is a  down-home amalgam between Passion Pit, Wolf Parade and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros minus the cult of personality. Self-proclaimed pioneers of "nerdgrass," the Gertrudes are what happens when you want to start a band and you have eight friends who are amazing musicians crashing at your place already.

This song, "Wind from the South", along with the rest of their debut album is a love letter to the Gertrudes' hometown of Kingston, Ontario. Even though the song's lyrics are referencing their own crossstreets and familiar places, "Wind from the South" evokes your own brand of nostalgia, wherever your hometown may be.

Wind from the South - The Gertrudes

Currently, their cover of "Ronny Hawkins" is nominated by CBC Radio 3 as Most Canadian Song ever. They made it past round one of these Bucky Awards and could sure use your help with round two. Vote for them here and watch a video of them performing it live below.

Oh how we've missed you, The Twelves

Over the summer, The Twelves tore it down at the Whiskey Bar here in lovely (and rainy) Portland. If you missed it, don't beat yourself up because we are beating ourselves up for not recording this. Yes, thats Luciano of The Twelves. Yes, thats a Volcano City house party. Yes, it was the most fun I've ever had dancing but don't fret because I've got some new Twelves remixes that'll cheer you right up!

Me and Madonna (The Twelves Remix) - Black Strobe

Violent Love (The Twelves Remix) - Munk

Echoing Pixels (The Twelves Remix) - Neimo

Be Like You (The Twelves Re-Edit) - Alan Parsons Project

Surprise bitches. It's a new original Twelves production they made for Skyy Vodka. It's a dancey psychedelic tune that'll bring a smile to your face. The Twelves can do no wrong.

Air - The Twelves

Come back to Portland!!

Check this out...

Flight Facilities - Paris Social Club '70's DJ Set' by Ubbs

Flight Facilities - Crave you ( Go Go Bizkitt! Remix) free download! by Go Go Bizkitt

Some lovely tunes provided by Shook

Only recently have I discovered the immense talent that this mysterious Dutch producer, Shook, possesses. His weapon is a synth and his strategy is to enrich your ears with as much electro funk as possible. It was only about a month ago that I heard his remix of Phoenix's Lisztomania and to be honest, it's probably my favorite remix I've heard to date. And I've heard A LOT. Who can say no to that funky piano? Or a that bass line in Jupiter's CHiP? This Dutchman is all class. His original productions are impressive as well. Picture Moment sounds like something out of Röyksopp's Melody A.M. album with a touch of Daft Punk's Nightvision. Postive and Focused Records recently released Shook's debut EP entitled The Glow. Get it (here) while it's hot as there are only a limited number of copies. Oh, and its also available on RED vinyl!

Phoenix - Lisztomania (Shook Remix) by Shook (Official)

Jupiter - CHiP (Shook Remix) by Shook (Official)

Shook - Picture moment (Unreleased) by Shook (Official)

Shook - Snippets you might know and some you don't. by Shook (Official)

Award Show Season

It's that time of year again, when the red carpets are rolled out and the celebrities get dolled up. OK, so I'm not actually sure if it's actually award show season BUT IT IS IN PORTLAND. The Portland Music Awards are gearing up to take the city by storm. I first learned about this courtesy of the h8rs over at The Portland Mercury who said people should boycott this prestigious award show. FUCK THAT. Not only does this event get the Volcano City seal of approval but if you keep reading you will find the inside scoop on who gets our vote.

Arcade Fire - The Suburbs VIDEO

New video for Arcade Fire's The Suburbs. Directed by Spike Jonze.

Vanguard Vanguard Vanguard!

If you haven't heard Vanguard yet don't you dare stop reading. The group is comprised of two young lads from the UK, Tom Morgan and James Thomas, and they produce french touch/disco house tunes. Their sound fits somewhere between Louis La Roche, Kavinsky and Opptimo, needless to say it's pretty epic.