Day Two

Musicfest NW 2011
by Justin Patterson and Joshua Cooke

Suuns brought a hard-hitting set to Branx Bar Thursday, smoldering their way into the psyche of Rotture’s more capacious alter ego. With songs like “Gaze,” the band lingered on the lulling malcontension of ’90s ambient industrial music (though, in this case, the sound was almost completely produced live and largely absent of samples) and, with the writhing Ben Shemie in command, successfully hammered it into the shape of an imminent and opium-forged doom.

Next up was Portland-based Talkdemonic, a coed violin and drummer/producer band, who are about to release Ruins, an all-new album which will be out on October 4th. The duo, whose recordings have often contained long, droning, and lushly-populated soundscapes, featured their signature sound in their eardrum-exploding set.

Afterward, the Handsome Furs showed up with a more somatic selection of some of their more popular tunes. But where Talkdemonic focused on atmosphere-rupturing sound, the Furs put on a more physical performance. “When I Get Back” was delivered faster, longer and harder than it comes on Spotify — with fully-airborne, leg-pumping synth riffs from Alexei Perry. Guitarist and singer Dan Boeckner crooned on “Damage,” lighting the adoring Portland fans on fire. Ruthlessly amped (shouts of “Portland, we fucking love you!!” between songs), the electro Furs put on a show that was purely rock and roll. Portland was dancing which means I think we love you, too.

Headlining Thursday night at the Doug Fir, Josh Carter and Sarah Barthel of New York’s Phantogram performed to an excited and full venue. The crowd was into it; even as Sarah came out for sound check, the crowd awoke with screams. Phantogram’s sound echoed off the Doug Fir walls as Sarah’s seductive voice took over the show. Her straight, midnight black hair bounced as she commanded the keyboard along side Josh’s rhythmic guitar riffs. The crowd pleasers were, of course, the hits, like “Mouthful of Diamonds,” as everyone sang, the world is not around because of you, you know I’m not around because of you. Phantogram was high on my list of people to see for this festival and I don’t think I was the only one who left a happier person that night.