Despite the arguably volatile conditions that have developed around the Portland music community as of late – hyper increased development in inner urban areas displacing low-income artist types and forcing venues to close; increased noise curfew enforcement; obtusely racist police interference with hip hop shows – there is still one beautiful, unalienable force that is overflowing throughout our tired and artistic collective: FRIENDSHIP.

PALS FEST 2014, taking place August 9th through 15th, is the perfect celebration of the friendship that ties together Portland’s musical community, and back for the festival's third year, the lineup couldn’t include any better best-bud-bands. This year, the celebration offers seven crazy nights of music, each at a different venue across town and curated by different local tastemakers, and all free or $5 entry. However, if you’re like most day-job slaving humanoids and don’t have the stamina to take in seven nights of live music in a row, here is our abridged list of shows you probably don’t want to miss:

When Michael Finn quit drumming for Old Age a couple of years ago, all I could think was "what the fuck man? Old Age Kills! You Kill! WHAT THE FUCK?!" But then I watched Finn play a handful of solo acoustic sets which showcased a side of the artist I hadn't seen yet, some startlingly beautiful chops and an honest knack for songwriting. And when I heard the first tracks from his new project, The Domestics, where he's teamed up with fellow songwriter Leo London, I finally felt at ease about Finn's departure from Old Age. The Domestics absolutely kill, too! Which is why they've earned themselves the righteous title of Deli Portland's Artist of the Month. Congrats boys!

With a sound that's Part Elliot Smith, part The Beatles and a dash of Nick Cave, The Domestics write songs from the heart and their delivery couldn't be more polished. Keep your eyes on this band, they're shure to make a big splash with the release of their forthcoming self titled debut album due for release on September 5, 2014. 

- Travis Leipzig

It would be hard for someone to argue against the statement that Portland has its quirks. When you throw in​ creative individuals who desire a strong sense of community, you get magic. You get someone like Bim Ditson. He's gone on to be one of the stand-out innovators in the Portland music and arts communities. His invention? Rigsketball (and lots of amazing music and chainmail accessories).

You might've seen Rigsketball before, especially if you hang around local music venues. There's only one brightly-painted van with a hoop attached. The game is seriously defined as "a yearly bracket style basketball tournament played between Portland bands at locations across the city on a regulation height hoop attached to the back of a van." What happens next? Music.

Semifinals and finals will occur in the parking lot of The East Portland Eagles Lodge this Friday, July 25th at 5pm​. Live performances by six of our favorite Portland artists, Bearcubbin', Sons of Huns, The Ghost Ease, And And And, Talkative and Old Age and they can be experienced between two stages. Everything is free. Everything. See you there.

Back for it's third year of madness, PALS FEST 2014 will take place August 9th through 17th. The festival serves up a week of debauchery, hosting shows every night of the week at different venues across town featuring the best of Portland music, then culminates in a weekend-long party at PALS Clubhouse featuring the same bands from the previous week but packed into an intimate cul-de-sac and backyard setting. 

Still interested? The lineup for PALS FEST 2014 will be announced TONIGHT at the Firkin Tavern! The announcement will be celebrated by live solo performances and a ridiculous drunken krautrock jam session by members of Sama Dams, Old Age, Noble Firs, The We Shared Milk and The Domestics. The announcement party will also serve as a fundraiser for the show to help pay for bands, permits, port-o-johns, etc. There will also be an auction with proceeds going to PALS FEST, with items including: a famed and signed photo of Talkative (shot by Todd Walberg), Banana Stand Media swag, Rigsketball swag, various local band merch, AND a free pizza! Party on dudes!

- Travis Leipzig

Portland super group Tada is coming out of hibernation with their third self-released album since 2008, Way Out. The album offers listeners an elegant ebb and flow of sonic tension and release. Although it sounds soft as a kitten at times, and showcases beautiful instrumentation and harmonies by the album’s numerous collaborative members (including members of Builders and the Butchers, Cambrian Explosion, Kelli Shaefer, Modern Kin, and Turbo Perfecto to name a few), it’s not a stretch to feel the presence of Tada front-man Matt Thornton’s dark roots in hardcore and metal music.

Thornton was awesome enough to give The Deli Portland the privilege to be the first to share his tracks ‘Not Alone’ and ‘Way Out.’

‘Not Alone’ begins with the melancholic, slow drone of Matt’s bass strumming, but quickly transforms into a newly inspired, upbeat, banger as he is joined by piano and then drums, as if he’s just realized that significance of who the musicians are who’ve just joined him. Appropriately enough to that theme, the song ends with the triumphant chanting of “we are not alone”, leaving the listener with that feeling of, “fuck… we can do this shit!”  

The album’s title track, ‘Way Out’ carries a similar droning, washy resonance of sadness, but builds to an epic climax of reverbed-out slide guitar, cello and heavy drums. This track has the brilliant and heavy feel of something you would expect to hear if Mogwai, Pink Floyd and OK Computer era Radiohead were to drop acid together and write a song in one day. It’s a good thing.  

Join Tada for the release of Way Out at Red and Black Café on March 15. Kelli Shafer opens up the show at 7pm and Old Age close out the night.

- Travis Leipzig and Cory Huennekens