Ryan McCalmon |
You know, ideas are the easy part. It’s the execution that gets tricky.In past years, I’ve used this space to propose such outlandish things as an all-local radio station, a local-music listening library, and a Portland musicians’ co-op. The first is pretty clearly a pipe-dream, rather than a real idea. Let’s just scratch that one.
The second I’m talking about with a couple guys at the Portland Public Library later this month (a solid year after putting the idea to hard-drive). What’s sad is that it would never have got even that far if it wasn’t for a Christmas party at my uncle’s house. But that’s another story.
The final idea, loosely based on something Tipitina’s used to fund down in New Orleans (I’m frankly unsure of its status right now), has received a fair amount of interest over the past two years and it seems like maybe something like it is getting off the ground right now. Thanks to a push from Gateway’s Adam Ayan, who’s more inspired by the Austin Music Foundation, we’re about six months into the life of the Portland Music Foundation, a loose band of about 15 or 20 local industry types who have some ideas about fostering the local scene with some educational and networking initiatives.
Sounds easy, right?
Well, little do you know. Anyway, if you’re interested, drop me an e-mail. We’re trying to put together a kick-off event for late spring you might want to attend.
All of that is to say I’m tired of big ideas about grandly taking the local music scene into the great and lustrous future it so rightly deserves. This year, no big ideas. Just big bands. The following are five supergroups I’d like to see form, practice, play some shows, release an album, and then break up in a big and showy fist-fight on the streets of the Old Port.
1 THE GIRL’S NEXTTOUR (aggressive alt-country)
Portland’s roots scene was once much bally-hooed, but has fallen off of late and could use some new blood. No reason why that new blood shouldn’t be infused with estrogen. Darien Brahms reportedly has another album in the works for Cornmeal Records, to be released this spring. Fronting a side project would be just the way to create some hype leading up to the release date. As Brahms provides some seasoned swagger, Hot Tarts drummer Cyndi Pappenfus would be the perfect crashing backing, paired with one-time A Giant Robot bassist Gwyn McGinty to fuel an indie-rock edge. Songs could include a slightly altered Diesel Doug cover, “If I’d Shot Him When I’d Met Him (I’d Be Out of Jail by Now),” and a punkabilly version of Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.”
