Born in a small Oregon town, Laura Gibson seems to be a nature girl. Her work is ethereal. Her lyrics could be about relationships, to herself or songs written to the forests. Her voice is balmy with a vintage treble, whether covering a flirty "Little Red Riding Hood" by Sam the Sham and the Pharoahs, playing as an acoustic folk and flower girl, or singing songs like sea ballads, rising eerily from rocky coasts and creeping into the terrior. After a Euro/Tel-Aviv/Ugandan tour with Indie Mariachi band, Calexico, Gibson has returned to her native lands. She laid down a gospel style track for an album benefiting Deschutes River Conservancy, had a bonus track, “The Carob Trees”, featured on NPR and released her new album, La Grande. The album is a continued journey along Oregon's topography, in part inspired by the town of La Grande and history within the Wallowa Valley. Songs such as "Milk Heavy, Pollen Eyed" offer the enchantment we know of Gibson, but much of the album lays down a more classic western styling with brushy percussion and mysterious growls and whispers under the songstress's vocals. She is currently touring with the organic family of Typhoon who play a multi-instrumental set with 12 or more people on stage or sometimes in trees. Hopefully this will lead to collaborations during the show that will also feature local talent Lost Lander at the Crystal Ballroom on November 23rd. - Brandy Crowe 

March Madness just ended and all of you bracketologists out there are probably pretty sad you'll have to until next year to get your bracketology on, but don't fret! Back for a second year by popular demand, in a move that is sure to establish itself as a Portland institution - it's Rigsketball! If you're late to the game, Rigsketball is halfcourt, 3v3 basketball played on a regulation hoop attached to the back of a van, just about anywhere the cops won't bust the party. However, when played in a bracket-style tournament with 32 of Portland's most ballin' bands and a couple of well-coordinated city permits in the 2012 calendar year: it becomes Rigsketball 2k12! - a summer tradition monstrosity that threatens the safety of every man, woman and child in a 50-foot radius, all the while promoting physical exercise, good attitudes and teamwork! Not to mention connecting 32 seemingly disparate bands and their fans in friendly opposition while providing all parties involved the chance to see each group do something new and exciting outside the studio or venue. If you like sweat, beer, bands, jams, vans, basketball and the possibility of some extremely minor bloodshed - then you'll love Rigsketball 2k12!

Last year's bracket was constituted by Typhoon, Starfucker, And And And, Radiation City, Rock n Roll Soldiers, Jared Mees and the Grown Children, Archers, Aan, SKELETRON, Sean Flinn and the Royal We, TxE, Laura Gibson, Support Force, Animal Eyes, Charts, The Woolen Men, The Blast Majesty, Dirty Mittens, Monarques, My Autumn’s Done Come, Youthbitch, Rocky & The Proms, SUPER MONSTER, The No Tomorrow Boys, Surfs Drugs, Hello Electric, Rabid Wombat, Lee Cory Oswald, Otis Heat, Ugly Flowers, Mannequinhead, and The Taxi Boys. 

Rigsketball 2k12 registration will open April 15th (filing taxes optional.) The first 32 eligible bands to register will be a part of this year's tournament and it is sure to fill up quickly after last year's buzz. Actual competition begins July 26th and goes through August 9th. If you're in a band, be sure to save the registration date. If you're an adoring fan, be sure to donate. The Deli will see everybody out on the court. Wherever that is.