Local music, local musicians, local music scene.

Settle in around the fire everyone and I’ll tell you a story. A tale of two people who started a podcast just about a year ago with a silly little song contest. Dr. Normal lured me into our basement studio to record a short audio clip announcing our song contest (which was being held on my blog), and then sprang on me that we were doing a podcast. After the contest was over and done with we took a little break, but it was only a matter of months before we were recording a show every week like clock work and now Strange Love Live is a huge part of our life together.

Okay, sappy paragraph is over, now onto the 2nd annual Kaos Holiday Song Contest. We’ll have a post up later this week to fill in all the details, but the deadline for submissions is Friday December 12th at midnight. Email submissions to strangelovelive @ gmail.com with Holiday Song Contest as the subject. Judging will occur in the days that follow and we’ll announce the winners of both categories (Naughty and Nice) on Friday December 19th.

Take a listen to this very short episode to hear the tune for this year’s Holiday Song contest and to get a little info on what to do with it.

SLL Episode 59: Kaos Holiday Song Contest

With all the formalities out of the way, we kicked back with guest and fellow Portland Podcaster Will Radik. We had some rum, we decorated a tree and he and I wore a skimpy Santa shirt. Good times were had as we brought an official start to the holiday season in our home, talked about his show, photographs and the blurry fuzzy creature that has been roaming his home chewing on things. Join us and listen in on this NSFW Afterhours episode.

EXPLICIT CONTENT

SLL Episode 60: Holiday Kick Off with Will Radik

You can listen to the shows here, download them, subscribe or pick us up on iTunes so you can always be the first to know when we’ve released a new episode…

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Join us Friday December 5th at 10 PM on ustream or at Vidoop as we broadcast from the Cyborg Camp kickoff party. Check out the upcoming page for details as things are solidified.

Documenting the construction or destruction of a building is an interesting process. Both involve a lot of planning, but there’s also an opportunity to be creative. Case in point, Mississippi Studios is in the midst of a huge renovation and expansion project.

As the project moves forward, they are inviting local bands to perform amongst the wreckage and are posting the videos on Razing Mississippi.

This process reminded me of what’s been done in the Burn to Shine series, which started in DC, and has traveled across the country, including Portland, to show area bands performing in structures that will be destroyed at the end of that day.

The estimated venue opening date is March 2009, but in the meantime, check out some of the great artists who call Portland home.

The day that never comes finally did- last night. The mighty Metallica rolled through town, leaving a loud, smoky mess in its wake. Was a good time had by all?

Most deaf.

Thanks to friend of the blog Morty, I was able to attend last night’s show. In this day of tight finances, I would have had to choose between bills or a show. My heavy metal prayers were answered, and it was the capper to a fun weekend.

How was it, you ask? (Sorry, ears are still ringing a bit.) It was gooood… The show scratched my metal itch, mixing old and new. They kicked off the night with new songs, whipping the crowd into a frenzy. Most of the songs were up-tempo, Ride the Lightning and For Whom the Bell Tolls jammed, a fiery performance of One, then slowing things down during Nothing Else Matters. The head bobbing reached critical mass during a pounding version of Sad but True.

The stage was huge, extending like an off-kilter basketball court. Someone said it resembled the flight deck of an aircraft carrier. Light rigging in the shape of huge coffins hovered over the band, and I fully expected a Spinal Tap moment. The fire? One would think after some of James Hetfield’s experiences, they’d quit throwing barbecues so close to their lead singer. Metallica was the main act, not the main course. Lars tapped out one rogue flame onstage as he returned from one of his many trips under the stage. Whatever he was doing under there, it revitalized him!

The crowd was what you’d expect, with more girls! As Morty pointed out, usually these things are a sausage-fest. The female of the species was well (and beautifully) represented.

Opening act Down was fun to watch as well. A mash-up of the bands Pantera and Corrosion of Conformity, the boys came to play, and play they did! They bring new gravity to the term HEAVY. Sludgy, chunky riffs wrapping around Phil Anselmo’s guttural growl. Phil’s stage banter is hilarious, (he comes off like a drunken pro wrestler at times) but his expletive-laden proclamations of love were heartfelt.

And now? I have to figure out how to obtain the free download of the show. Everyone with a ticket gets a download of the show. I have dialup. Hmm… this could take weeks. Nobody call me, mmmkay?

Thanks Morty, for a most entertaining evening!

19 years ago my husband, a lifelong Portland resident, made this creepy little video to celebrate Halloween…  Now I share it with all you.

Happy Halloween to you and yours.  If you’re out tonight be safe and keep your eyes wide open.

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Join us tonight at 10 PM for special Halloween episode of Strange Love.  It won’t be live, but it’ll be quite lively.  Join us at the usual time and place for a very special episode hosted by my evil twin Killmilla Kaos, her man slave Dr. Strange and a very special guest you’re sure to gobble up.

Did you know that Art Alexakis of Everclear lives in Portland? You did? Well, did you know that Everclear released their new single “Jesus Was A Democrat” last August? Well, since I live under a rock, I didn’t hear it until today. But YOU can download the MP3 for free at the band’s website, or just listen to it here: