Dishing out insatiable classic pop for the last five or so years, New Move go about their creative exhibition employing hints of glam, indie rock and lurid doo wop. Their new album, Back in the Habit, drops today and it features a variety of local artists, including Illmaculate, King Who, Radiation City and more. For the track we're sharing today, we're focusing on this banger with Chanti Darling and Ripley Snell on the mic.

"The City Life" has an interesting beat from Cameron Spies on keys, Jesse Bettis on guitar and bass, and a soulful vocal melody from Chanti Darling that lasts throughout the track, playing with some very silkily delivered bars from Snell. Everything about it is just delightful, and worthy of many repeated plays.

New Move are having a release show for Back in the Habit tonight at Mississippi Studios along with some sets from Y La Bamba and Hustle & Drone. Minden, Boone Howard and the Domestics will all be making guest appearances as well.

Are you down with local music? Are you down with non-profits? As Portlanders, I think the answer is a resounding yes. 

PDX Pop Now! – Portland's non-profit of rock is celebrating the release of its annual compilation of local talent with a fundraising/concert extravaganza at Mississippi Studios THIS Sunday!

For those of the “below 21” persuasion – never fear. In true, punk rock fashion PDX Pop Now! is including an all ages portion of the event that starts on the Bar Bar patio at 2pm, featuring performances by New Move, Blak Neon, LEO and Natasha Kmeto and a DJ Set. The festivities subsequently move indoors for a 21+ set featuring Illmaculate, Bearcubbin'!, Sara Jackson-Holman and Hosannas.

According to PDX Pop, “all proceeds of this event will support the PDX Pop Now! mission to stimulate and expand participation in the Portland music scene” - an admirable cause to say the least, considering all the hard work this organization has done to support local art. From its early days as a listserv for Portland music lovers in 1998, PDX Pop Now! has grown into an “all-volunteer organization committed to…provid[ing] and support[ing] live performances and recorded materials.”

Listen to Hosannas for spiritual uplifting, check out the track list for the compilation and get a copy for yourself at Mississippi Studios this Sunday. 

- Ted Jamison 

With the whirlwind of amazing shows and festivals that have swept over Portland in the past couple weeks, we've got a buttload of photos to share from some of the great sets we've caught recently. Check out photos of: AAN and Illmaculate at the St Johns Bizarre; Grandparents and Spookies at Rontoms, and Summer Cannibals, Sad Horse and Charts at the Firkin Tavern for the release parties of New Moss Records compilation tape HITS Vol. 1. Photos by Todd Walberg and Linneas Boland-Godbey. 

AAN at St. John's Bizzare

Illmaculate at the St. Johns Bizarre. 

Grandparents and Spookies at Rontoms

Summer Cannibals, Sad Horse and Charts at the Firkin Tavern

- Travis Leipzig

Today officially kicks off street festival season around many parts of town, particularly with the 8th annual open air craft fair of St. Johns Bizarre. Taking place in front of the towering St. Johns Bridge, the day long event features local artists and activities for crafty folks and families, as well as an eclectic musical line-up representing many genres through local artists. This year's bill boasts beautiful soul music from Ural Thomas and the Pain, fuzzy rock from Summer Cannibals, hip hop from Illmaculate, experimental pop from AAN, and modern Mexican composition from Edna Vasquez. Check out the full schedule for the Bizarre here. 

Feels Like Home Ep #38 Ural Thomas - "Pain Is The Name Of Your Game" from INTOTHEWOODS.TV on Vimeo.