I’m Painting a Picture of a Western Aerial:
Summer’s Here Kick Ass Rock’n'Roll Extravaganza

I wouldn’t advocate sex, drugs, rock &roll, alcohol or lewd and vain behavior to anyone. So my medical advice  is to see Western Aerial anytime you can and you’ll get all the above….in one dose. Its much more fun, easier on the pocketbook and there’s absolutely no cut.
No argument here that there are dozens of top notch bands hailing from PDX. Equally inarguable, is that  Western Aerial is the defining and unparalleled factor for hard-rock in the region. Not an offhanded muttering or breathless whisper has been confirmed to the contrary thus far. This can only mean their super show this Saturday will be packed with music fiends from far and wide.

While the execs upstairs have been listening for the next Justin Beiber, snorting tic tacs and losing at Nintendo, Geoff Metts has been writing hit songs. And somehow, thru the familiarity of the riffage and percussion, this band attains something very unique among a plethora of saturated bands who flash in and out of the scene. Charisma, talent and pure desire to succeed.
Sometimes I wonder if the distraction of one-hit-wonders keeps our collective ears off the ball. This power trio’s been batting record home runs since the first day they arrived.

I distinctly remember the first WA show I attended. Earlier that night I pulled up their website. I had to loosen my collar listening to tracks like “Fifteen”, “Wait” and “Hot as Hell“.  My usually cool and dark basement office began to glow, engulfed by a sweltering heat. A ravenous magnetism summoned an intense desire to bolt up, play air guitar, slam a beer and jump up and down wildly.
The music pounded, adrenaline surged. And somewhere between my sweaty thrashing and sheer decibel levels, heat-seeking fruit flies were suddenly everywhere, hovering and batting wildly above the speakers. The little fiends stuck to the walls and wallowed in my cup of crude liquor like pigs in a vat. I flapped my arms wildly, threw on my coat  and left for the show or I’d surely be consumed like a rotten banana.

Finally down at the club, rejoicing at my narrow escape, all seemed normal until Geoff struck the first chord- turning a December night in a cavernous room into a tepid and swampous boiler room of sweat infused delerium.
And suddenly, there they were…again!  It was hard to see in the darkness of the room, except for the flashes of stage lights and clicking cameras. This time they seemed to have grown much, much bigger. They screamed and yelled, donning leather jackets, tattoos and assorted jewelry. They were swilling beer again and hovering around the speakers. For a brief moment I thought the little bastards had followed me down. Then the thick swarm roared when Geoff said, “How many of you people want to rock and fucking roll?” A grand relief came over me that I was among my own kind.

That’s when I realized that no one can quite touch what they do. To see Western Aerial is  like dipping a greedy middle finger for a taste of all the things we shouldn’t have, except you don’t feel guilty about it the next day.

Expect to be impressed from this ‘pull-all-stops-at-all-costs’ band . Pretty sure they will kick out the right songs from their substantial catalogue while pulling beastly gems from their upcoming release.

To top the epiphanic experience, highly rated Stripperland contenders, the Dragonflies and American Bastard will stomp this show down through the cement, echo throughout the Shanghai Tunnels and shoo the ghosts back into the Willamette.
Meanwhile, you’ll be safe and (very) warm above, batting wildly in the air… with the fruitflies.

Saturday, 9pm at Dante’s- 1 SW 3rd ave PDX

Check the Facebook link below and join:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=111338915621717

Marko passed away last night fittingly on Memorial Day. The Garden of Eden bass player was stricken ill w/ several major health problems a few months ago and had decided to take control and spend his last few days at home where he was most comfortable.

Garden of Eden is one of Portland’s most embraced metal bands. Headed by leader singer/ guitarist Dan Crenshaw, they’ve been on the scene at least since 1985, playing w/ the likes of Metallica, Ratt, Great White, B.O.C., Pat Travers and many, many more.
Marko brought a fit and style to this band that is simply described as…one-of-a-kind.

Surmounting medical bills w/ no viable insurance is a common place issue of our age, setting the scene for many years of political divide to come. The battle for  universal coverage where everyone pays something to share the load has been forever contrasted against the private sector, where everyman is for himself. While hard lines are being drawn and bitter arguments ensue, good people like Marko everywhere are caught in the trap.

several months in a hospital can generate astronomical costs.
It matters not whether a patient lives or dies, as the bills are generated regardless.

Please help show your love and support with many in the music community this Saturday in celebrating the life and music of one of PDX’ best and most dedicated players.

There will be no shortage of great music . 6 top notch metal bands will be there to help rock Marko to the heavens.

God speed Marko!

Our exclusive interview with ALL 5 members of the original line-up, filmed just before going on stage to accept their award for outstanding achievement by the Oregon Music Hall of Fame and play a riveting set of stone-cold hits, obscure sleepers and newly penned rocker’s, from their May 13th scheduled release titled, “Hell Yeah!”

Admissions of torrid sex parties, legendary bar-room tabs or fist-fights with Axl Rose? Garden-row sized rails behind the amps? Not a chance.
However.. backstage in a secret room, the band intimately tells us about the importance of music education, their influences, touring details and how they all still get along at nearly 30 years…a rare beast in this industry. Perez Hilton’s got nothing on us, baby.

A Portland creation, Black “N Blue was formed 1981 by Cleveland, Lake Oswego and Sunset High School students, developing themselves into one of the forefront hair/metal bands of the period- and making an indelible mark & influence upon the genre.
They eventually attracted the attention of Gene Simmons, who subsequently Produced their next couple albums, helping to blow album sales in excess of a million units.
Jaime St. James later went on to join immensely popular and successful band Warrant, while Tommy Thayer kept in contact w/ Gene, eventually being invited to join Kiss in 2002- assuming “Spaceman”, Ace Frehley’s lead guitar position.

Buko was there from the very beginning with Two Louies Magazine, covering and shooting the band in virtually every show at the time. The entire Buko crew had an immensely great time hanging with these guys, and it was especially great for me to interview them.

Pssst! If you weren’t in attendance at the 2010 OMHOF Award Ceremony, you missed an all-star jam with the Kingsmen and Black “N Blue, along with various other legendary musician’s and Inductees. If you weren’t there, suffice it to say, you shoulda been!

The great part is, that now you can see a bit of what you may have missed, and meet these guys through Buko TV. Enjoy.