Back for its second year, the Portland Psych Fest has made good with presenting what's finest in the psych realm along the West Coast. This is exactly what we can expect from this weekened's happenings as well.

Starting tomorrow night and running all day Saturday, Portland Psych Fest features 17 artists and 3 DJs from here all the way down to Mexico, with a couple hailing from Idaho and Chicago. Four artists are slated to represent good ol' PDX, with two performing each night of the fest.

The much adored Jacksoon Boone will be taking the stage Friday along with Zozma, whose witchy psych includes trippy elements pulled from Middle Eastern pop.

Hawkeye's lo-fi indie britpop will surely delight fans of Spiritualized, as their influence can be heard throughout Hawkeye's songs. For a band made up of members of Souvenir Driver and Hollow Sidewalks, the influence makes sense and has only been perfected by the members' all around mastery. 

Portland psych can't really be discussed without mentioning Cambrian Explosion, who even for being in the scene three years have already solidified their place in it. Internal changes within the band haven't hindered them in any sense musically. They'll be on a few slots before headliners Spindrift and will be helping properly close out an intense weekend.

To view the few lineup and purchase tickets, visit the Portland Psych Fest website. Howler opens up the fest at 7:30pm tomorrow, so make sure you come out early.

It's one of the first truly beautiful days of the season, so tonight is guaranteed to be optimal in weather and in fun times. Dante's will be hosting Seattle's Night Beats, Hollow Sidewalks and Câlisse in what is sure to be a lively set of performances. The Night Beats have gone through the usual trials and tribulations you see in most bands - disagreements, breakups, makeups, but tonight they'll be sharing the stage with a pair of incredibly talented Portland acts. Deli favorites Hollow Sidewalks have previously been featured in perfectly "fitting the bill" as an opener for Ringo Deathstarr, and the same can be said for their inclusion in the show tonight. Nora Muphy Hughes' comforting croon is but one of the appealing draws to Hollow Sidewalks; their increibly relatable songs and perfected instrumentation being some of the others.

Câlisse is set to begin the night with their classic call to garagey pop rock. They just released a new video for their single "Stay" last month, coming off their upcoming album Farewell, Blacksheep, due out on the 15th. A song of longing, "Stay" calls to anyone who has ever desired deep connection with another.

Tickets for tonight's show are $10, with music beginning at 9pm.

Oh, the illusive "perfect bill." All venue bookers, show promoters and bands are constantly seeking an unmarred night of cohesive, fluid musical enjoyment. Unfortunately, it's never as easy to plan as it may seem. Yet last night's show at the Star Theater proved a successful feat on Portland's end, hosting a stacked bill comprised of locals LiquidLight and Hollow Sidewalks, and Texas living Future Death and Ringo Deathstarr.

There's a reason why LiquidLight won the Deli Portland's Best of 2015 Readers Poll, and they more than validated that victory on the stage. It's clear that each member of the band knows how to play their respective instrument well, all of them exhibiting a clean and clear mastery without coming off as pompous, only pleasant. You found yourself easily lost in the technical sweeps of both Anthony Medici's and Cory West's guitar playing, while Zackary Rodrigues pounded out intricate drum beats with ease. Though he kept it low key towards the back of the stage, you could still feel bassist Gage Dean's presence strongly as he maintained the songs' heavy rhythms.

With a slightly differing sound compared to that of LiquidLight, Hollow Sidewalks (pictured above) shared with the audience a different approach to the conventional post-punk form. Lead vocalist Nora Murphy Hughes has a deep and alluring quality to her croon that aids in the band's signature delivery - psyched out post-punk presented in a mellow and enjoyable fashion. Setting the mood with darkroom hued lights, their music warbled and pulsated through your gut, leaving you wanting more of their short and sweet songs.

Each band played as if they place was packed, and though it wasn't, that type of vigor is what helps define a good band. Giving their all, both LiquidLight and Hollow Sidewalks truly fit the bill.

-Cervante Pope

Well, you're certainly in for a once in a lifetime line up on September 23rd! Music Box Presents and the Elbo Room will be hosting an incredibly well curated pre-party for the Desert Stars Music Festival. The San Francisco based neo psych outfit, Cellar Doors and Rachel Fannon, formally of the SF based band, Sleepy Sun will be shining beacons on the line up. Portland's new ensemble, Hollow Sidewalks which features the legendary neo psych rock aficionado, Jason "Plucky" Anchondo will be performing as well. If Cellar Doors, Rachel Fannan and Hollow Sidewalks are not enough incentive to attend this pre-party celebration, the lead singer of The Black Angels, Alex Maas will be sharing a very rare Bay Area solo performance.

If you're in San Francisco and you don't make a sincere effort to attend this show, you're going to miss a very unique night that you'll probably remember for some time. Make your way down to The Elbo Room on September 23rd to celebrate the dawning of the 2015 Desert Stars Music Festival.

Tonight is going to be a legendary night of rock and roll at Oakland’s The Night Light. Angelina Moysov of the Oakland based ballad-centric rock band, Persephone's Bees will perform as a special guest as she shares the with bill with the Portland based band, Hollow Sidewalks and Los Angeles based, Greg Ashley Band.

Greg Ashley is the singer of the influential psychedelic rock band, The Gris Gris. Ashley’s solo band is an experimental, avant rock band that can be considered trippy, but more like Lou Reed and less like Pink Floyd. Hollow Sidewalks features Jason “Plucky” Anchondo who is known for his work in the legendary neo psych bands, The Warlocks and Spindrift. There’s going to be a lot of history hanging out and performing at The Night Light tonight. Enjoy some great music as these hardworking musicians show the crowd how it’s done!