Music seen at Empire Dine and Dance, July 5, 2008
By CHRISTOPHER GRAY | July 9, 2008
In indie-rock, familiarity usually breeds contempt. It’s a silly irony — the “genre” is essentially becoming a radio-friendly updating of any semi-neglected music scene of the past 20 years — but it makes sense: if a songwriter, structurally or lyrically, doesn’t have anything new to say, why bother with them?
Brenda poke a lot of holes in this reliable theory. Their debt to the more halcyon moments of ’90s heavies like Sunny Day Real Estate and Pavement is suffused with a fuzzy, earnest nostalgia. Along with Phantom Buffalo, they’re one of the only indie acts in Portland with genuine crossover appeal, “good times" music in the non-pejorative sense.
The group is fronted by Cult Maze’s Joshua Loring, with sideman Peet Chamberlain (Cult Maze, An Evening With) and a dreadlocked fellow named DJ on drums. Loring and Chamberlain continue to have impeccable chemistry; Brenda’s rhythms aren’t as jagged as Cult Maze’s, but their chord changes still turn on a dime, which keep the songs bouncy and involving, even before you consider DJ’s nasty kick in back.
Loring’s quickly developing a knack for writing a good pop song too. Brenda’s subject matter — summer nostalgia, overcoming adversity, girls — is hardly groundbreaking, but Loring’s lyrics are focused and punchy, more so with each new song, and his delivery is warm and charismatic. Brenda are a pretty ideal no-frills, no-pretension band to have around this summer.
Brenda play at Slainte on July 10 with Moneycastasia
Related:
Cult Maze, The death of 'Do This,' and more, Let’s talk numbers, More 
- Cult Maze
Early on in Cult Maze’s all-too-brief tenure as Portland’s best indie-rock band — probably when they were still called The Funeral — I offered to buy Joshua Loring a beer before his set.
- The death of 'Do This,' and more
Photographer/songwriter/BOXY member JOSHUA LORING and SPACE GALLERY were awarded a grant by the MAINE ARTS COMMISSION to document the underground rock scene.
- Let’s talk numbers
There’s some talk that Cult Maze are the best rock band in Portland right now.
- Ready to wear
It’s difficult to keep up when Jamie Lidell is talking.
- Portland scene report: October 27, 2006:
Moss Mountain Project, a dark and mysterious alt-country outfit, will be releasing Catfish Grouper Snapper December 16 at SPACE, despite earlier reports that it might happen in October.
- Wilderness + Micah Blue Smaldone
Wilderness returned to SPACE Gallery on Wednesday, after two years of skipping town on us.
- Damaged goods
This isn’t the first concept album from Dirty Projectors and I’d be surprised if it were the last.
- Everything but the girl
What would rock be without girls?
- Dead End Armory
Don’t you love it when an already solid band just gets better?
- Farewell, sweet Alehouse
I’ve still got the rock ‘n’ roll all over me from Saturday night. The Alehouse's last night
- Intimacy issues
Singer John Flax’s stage presence could have worked an audience 10 times as big; it was a shame to think their wick has only three weeks to burn.
- Less
Topics:
Live Reviews
, Entertainment, Music, Pop and Rock Music, More
, Entertainment, Music, Pop and Rock Music, Chris Gray, Sunny Day Real Estate, Joshua Loring, Indie Rock and Emo, Less
