Is Portland's music scene better than ours?
So says Slate today, which calls Portland "America's indie rock mecca." Yeah, members of The Shins, Spoon, The Decemberists, Death Cab for Cutie, Pink Martini and Viva Voce all live there. So why does Slate bestow such an honor over Seattle? "You can venture into public dressed like a convicted sex offender or a homeless person, and no one looks at you askew. It's lush and green. Housing is affordable, especially compared with Seattle or San Francisco. The people are nice. The food is good. Creativity is the highest law. For young, hip Portlanders, financial success is a barista job that subsidizes your Romanian-space-folk band or your collages of cartoon unicorns." I think Portland is very cool, but personally, it doesn't trump the Seattle music scene. Seattlest has a running debate here.
Comments
What music scene in Seattle?! Post grunge bullshit, a Dj, Acid Jazz from hacks how want to explore the dorian mode...Death Cab for Cutie what a fucking joke.
Posted by: Jim horn | September 11, 2007 11:04 PM
Dude Jim, don't be a hater since obviously you don't appreciate new and inovative music. Ganted I don't care for most of it but that doesn't mean you have to be an ass.
On the other side... How many groups have come out of Portland in recent years that have done more than be just a flash in the pan? Don't Say Death Cab for Cutie because they got started up here around Seattle. All those others... not good and not worth mentioning.
Also, considering as long as Portland has it's little known secret of being a drug town, the area of course will continue to keep prices down and be more supportive to most of these band because no one cares!
Posted by: Chris | September 12, 2007 7:12 AM